You’re Gonna Die Out There

Hi Nature Nerds! Jen talks forest fires and fire management in the wake of the devastating Colorado and California fires. Then Megan takes us on a Pacific Journey of love and loss. Thanks to Christine for this great suggestion! Organization to support: The American Fisheries Society https://fisheries.org/about/ The American Fisheries Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization dedicated...

We're back this week! Megan is bringing you some science news about possible cures for MS in the works. Jen then talks about the recent volcanic activity in Tonga, endemic Megapodes in Indonesia that rely on heat from volcanoes, and destructive eruption stories from around the world. Organizations to support: Relief for Tonga! https://www.redcross.org.au/ Alliance for Tompotika Conservation: www.t...

This week, Jen gives us some good news on lowering carbon emissions from cows! Then Megan talks Giant Pandas, attacks by the most chill member of family Ursidae, and some fun (?) conspiracy theories! Organization to Support: World Wildlife Foundation wwf.org Adopt a panda- Our mission is to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature. From our experience as the world's leading indep...

Welcome to YGDOT 2-0-2-2! Happy New Year, Nature Nerds! We're starting off this year with a remembrance of the life and works of Edward O. Wilson, then Jen takes us on a twisting, turning journey in the Kingdom of Tonga. Organization to Support: www.islandconservation.org We work together with local communities, government management agencies, and conservation organizations on islands with the gre...

In this June bonus Patreon episode Jen tells us the story of Claire Nelson's survival in the Joshua Tree National Park. Learn a lot about Joshua Trees and yet another way to collect urine when surviving in a desert situation! Organization to Support: Joshua Tree National Park Association https://www.joshuatree.org/ The Joshua Tree National Park Association has been supporting programming at Joshua...

Get ready to learn about Nanga Parbat and the ill fated journey of two world class climbers up the Mummery Spine. More info on ways to help the Sherpa Communities: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/140424-sherpas-avalanche-help-donations

We want to say how thankful we are for all of you! Happy Super Belated Thanksgiving, Nature Nerds! It's finally here! This week Jen gives us some fun facts about pig orgasms and other weird animal facts. Then Megan tells the intertwining story of the Powhatan people, Jamestown colonists, cannibalism, and Pocahontas. It's a cornucopia of information!  TW for stories of sexual assault. Organization...

This week Megan takes us on an emotional journey with some Science News shared by Jen's mom, Julie, about the rare white Giraffes in Kenya. Then Jen goes full Science Teacher with a lesson about all kinds of Pigs followed by some gruesome, tragic stories- be warned!  Organization to Support: Conservation International at https://www.conservation.org/ To prevent irreversible harm to Earth’s life-su...

Hey Nature Nerds! This week, Jen shares a special cause that is near and dear to her heart and then some great science news about Brazilian fishing Jaguars. Then Megan tells us all about Pablo Escobar's famous Hippos!  Organization to support: African Wildlife Foundation  https://www.awf.org/  We’re working to ensure wildlife and wild lands thrive in modern Africa. Our multi-faceted approach ensur...

This week, Megan shares some good news for the future of gecko tails. Then Jen tells some stories of when the gentle giants, Giraffes, aren't so gentle anymore.  Organization to support: Giraffe Conservation Foundation giraffeconservation.org GCF is dedicated to a sustainable future for all giraffe populations in the wild.

Jen shares about tusk-less African Elephant selection caused by over hunting. Megan then does a top ten largest Crocodiles before telling the tall tale of Gustave, the man-eating Nile Crocodile.  Organization to support: http://www.iucncsg.org/ The IUCN-SSC Crocodile Specialist Group (CSG) is a worldwide network of biologists, wildlife managers, government officials, independent researchers, non-g...

It's our last Halloween episode for the year! This week Megan shares about cultural differences in death and dying. Jen continues that theme and takes us through the Donner Party tragedy. Organization to Support: Sierra Forest Legacy founded in 1996 https://www.sierraforestlegacy.org Sierra Forest Legacy’s mission is to engage land managers, scientists, and stakeholders in the management of Sierra...

Jen updates us on the current list of newly extinct species. After that downer, Megan takes us on a strange journey through a smattering of information on Familiars in Witchcraft with the help of a book written by the White Witch of LA, Maja D'Aoust. Organization to Support: https://www.blackcatholisticrescue.org/ Saving black cats & kittens from high kill shelters and the streets of Los Angel...

Welcome to week two of our Halloween Celebratory Series- Megan talks Dragonflies which are not very scary, but Jen takes it to another level with Japanese Ghosts and Hauntings to ensure no one sleeps this week! Organization to Support: https://www.directrelief.org/ Direct Relief is a humanitarian aid organization, active in all 50 states and more than 80 countries, with a mission to improve the he...

Happy Beginning of Halloween, Nature Nerds! This week, we have a special Limerick by listener Bob Potts to share! Jen does a downer science news and Megan attempts to bring it back up with campfire stories and social science research from Polly Wiessner about the Ju/'hoansi people of the Dobe Region. Organization to support: https://campfire.org/ Started as Camp Fire Girls in 1910,and founded by D...

This week Megan shares a science news about Golden Crowned Ground Squirrel personalities and speculates that more social tree squirrels might be in the mob. Then Jen talks Orcas and their plight. A great suggestion by our listener, Kaylene! <3 Organizations to support: https://savedolphins.eii.org/ https://us.whales.org/

This week Jen shares a couple science related stories, one more frightening than the other. Then, Megan takes us through a couple stories and a lot of info on Moose! That's right! It's the Moose episode! Thanks to listener Sarah Delenn for sharing about her work with Alaskan Moose, keep up the good work! <3 Organization to support: Minnesota Moose Habitat Collaborative To help moose recover, a...

This week Megan shares a fun technology related science news and Jen continues her from a distance respect for large reptiles. She regales us with some harrowing stories about the Komodo National Park and its mysterious inhabitants... Organization to Support: Komodo Survival Program https://komododragon.org/ KOMODO SURVIVAL PROGRAM (KSP) is an Indonesian-based non-profit organization established o...

TW: Graphic Content Jen starts off this episode with a different kind of science news... Then Megan takes us through the much-requested, 127 hours Aron Ralston spent in the Blue John Slot Canyon. This episode contains graphic content about self-amputation. Organization to Support: https://www.nationalparks.org/connect/explore-parks/canyonlands-national-park National Park Foundation - Canyonlands N...

Hey Hey Nature Nerds- apologies for the lateness of this episode! But here it is in all its glory! Megan tries to lighten the mood with some good news about a resilient coral at the Great Barrier Reef. Jen immediately brings us back to reality with a story (continuation, if you will, of the Patreon August Bonus) about Apsley Cherry and the Worst Journey in the World- a documentation of Antarctic E...

Jen shares some cool, cutting edge rattlesnake science news this week! Megan then gives us a ton of information on raccoons which leads into a listener suggestion for this week's horrific story about Charlotte Ponce, a 3 month old baby who survived a pet raccoon attack.  Organization to Support: https://humaneraccoonremoval.org/index.php Our Mission- We are dedicated primarily to educating profess...

This week's science news is new news- about how birds are kleptotrichy maniacs! Jen tells us about Rattlesnakes, snake bites, and two crazy survival stories- of Scott Vuncannon and Victoria Williams (of the great podcast Victoria Knits). Put on your snake boots and get your anti-venom ready! Organization to Support: snakes.ngo Advocates for Snake Preservation (ASP) – Silver City, New Mexico Changi...

We have a lot to catch up on! Shoutout to Lost Again with Jim (check him out on YouTube and Instagram), reminding us to review the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace. After some additional news, Jen gives us some more info on that adorable angry avocado frog from our Instagram feed. Then Megan continues with depressing stories and gets into thethat's happened to "animal actors" over the years in the f...

We’re sharing our Ad-free, April Patreon Episode this week! If you choose to become a Patron, this is the kind of amazing content to expect each month! Megan shares some science news about Elephant Habitats- and after we get thoroughly depressed, Jen gives us all the deets on North Sentinel Island and the most isolated people in the world. Organization to Support: www.survivalinternational.org The...

Jen starts us off with nature news about the Australian Mouse Plague - yikes. Then Megan follows up with a horrific story of the Sankebetsu Bear Attack of 1915, Hokkaido Japan's most notorious animal attack. Organization to Support: Animals Asia, www.animalsasia.org  Animals Asia is devoted to ending bear bile farming and improving the welfare of animals across Asia. We promote compassion and resp...