Shows
Golden State NaturalistCritical Mast: Oak Trees with Zarah WylyWe need every single species of native tree here in California, but our 20+ varieties of native oaks are the most crucial of all. In this episode, join me and my guest, Zarah Wyly, on a walk through a relatively new oak woodland in Folsom dotted with two ancient, magnificent oak trees. Learn the story of how this unusual woodland came to be, find out why oaks are my all-time favorite trees, and explore such questions as: What kinds of life are supported by oak trees? If I plant one, will it wreck my house? What do you have to d...
2025-10-281h 12
City of Tea (916)Go touch grass - Golden State Naturalist Joins the Teasters - Cot 33Gabe and PJ sit down with the host of the Golden State Naturalist podcast, Michelle Fullner, to talk about nature in California, and specifically what makes Sac a dope place worth protecting. We talk trees, bugs, birds and more.
Find out more about GSN https://www.goldenstatenaturalist.com/
Check out the California Native Plant Society https://www.cnps.org/
And don't forget to follow GSN on all socials @goldenstatenaturalist (careful with Facebook's non stop AI slop)
2025-10-171h 02
Golden State NaturalistSymbiotic Cities with Kat SuperfiskyCan cities be good for wildlife? Or at least not so bad? What changes would we need to make to welcome more life into our cities? How would those changes impact humans? What are other cities already trying? Come with me and Kat Superfisky to the largest city in California, where we discuss all of this and so much more. Note: This interview was recorded in September of 2024, so any references to the Federal government are references to the government during the Biden Administration. Helpful Links:
2025-09-261h 17
Golden State NaturalistSaving California: How 30x30 Is Growing the Conservation Movement in the Golden StateCalifornia is one of only 36 Global Biodiversity Hotspots. This means that we have incredible species richness with at least 1,500 endemic vascular plant species. But here's the bummer. In order to be considered a Global Biodiversity hotspot, a place must also be threatened. So threatened, in fact, that it must have only 30% or less of its original natural vegetation remaining.
Oof.
Thankfully, Californians are not sitting idly by waiting for the rest of our biodiversity to disappear. Across the state, conservation leaders, on both small and large scales, are pulling together and protecting the places that matter to us most.
In...
2025-09-1143 min
Golden State NaturalistThe LA River with Kat SuperfiskyDescend with me and LA's first ever urban ecologist into the concrete channel of the Los Angeles River as we discuss novel ecosystems, eminent domain, Greased Lightnin', flood prevention, Ice Cube, soft bottoms, emerald necklaces, and why the LA River is the perfect microcosm of everything LA was, is, and one day could be. Helpful Links: Kat’s website Jason Wise's websiteJuan Crespi’s journal CalMatters LAPD Helicopters article Grease Filming Locations Support Golden State Naturalist on Patreon and get perks starting at...
2025-09-0345 min
All Land is BeautifulE24: Advice from the Golden State Naturalist, Michelle FullnerIn this episode, I chat with Michelle Fullner, aka, the Golden State Naturalist, to discuss the convergence of conservation and effective communication through the lens of the All Land is Beautiful perspective and the work of land trusts. The overarching theme of this conversation, at least what I can best summarize, is the inherent opposition between the values of the natural world and those of the technological.
We use Michelle’s origin story in becoming the Golden State Naturalist as a backdrop to discussing the importance of things like understanding the behind the scenes work of protected lan...
2025-08-261h 05
Golden State NaturalistCalifornia Red-Legged Frogs with Brad HollingsworthChances are, you’ve never seen our state amphibian in the wild. In this episode, find out how the California red-legged frog became so rare while also delving into international border crossings with endangered frog eggs, urban drool, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, things that can fit into a bullfrog’s mouth, and the essential mindset shift that might just change the world. Join me and Brad Hollingsworth from the San Diego Natural History Museum as we discuss all of this and so much more. Links: Trivia Night! Join me in-p...
2025-05-061h 11
Golden State NaturalistListening in Nature with Fil CorbittHow can listening deepen our relationship with place? What do birds think about highway noise? Is that ice bridge safe to cross at this time of year? How can I learn to listen more closely? Join me and Fil Corbitt as we snowshoe down the Eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in search of a handmade desk and a place to listen to flowing water, to birdsong, to each other, and to the ever-changing landscape itself. Links: Fil's podcast is called The Wind. Check out their Coyote...
2025-03-131h 03
Golden State NaturalistTorrey Pines with Jon RebmanWhat do cacti and rare pines have in common? What’s a paleoendemic? Do pinecones have teeth? Why do so many different plant species live in Mediterranean climates? Join me and Jon Rebman as we go behind the scenes of the San Diego Natural History Museum, explore the herbarium, and discuss the rarest pine species in North America. Links: San Diego Natural History MuseumUniversity of California Museum of PaleontologyCool study about redwood leavesInfo about Torrey pines and bark beetlesSuppo...
2025-02-2744 min
Golden State NaturalistRingtails with Dave Wyatt and Kristyn SchulteHave you ever wondered what little-known and mysterious beings are living among us, just out of sight? This episode is about one such creature that most Californians have no idea even exists.
Join me, Dave Wyatt, and Kristyn Schulte as we discuss clever little foxes, oak mistletoe, the floor is lava, dissolved poop, the smallest mountain range in the world, tasty taxidermy, classroom design, convergent evolution, weasel lemurs, and a whole lot more.
Links:
The California Ringtail Project
Mistletoe toxicity
Support Golden State Naturalist on Patreon and get perks starting...
2025-01-301h 19
Golden State NaturalistFire in Built Environments (Special Episode: LA Fires) with Alexandra SyphardJoin me and Dr. Alexandra Syphard as we discuss what makes some neighborhoods more fire prone than others, the Santa Ana Winds, defensible space, the massive differences between fires in forested Northern California and shrubby Southern California, the pendulum swing of public opinion, ways that climate change does and doesn’t contribute to wildfires, the WUI, positive uses of abandoned Fry's electronics buildings, waxy leaves, invasive plants, and so much more.
This episode is an attempt to add context for everyone struggling to comprehend the scale of the fires in Los Angeles, especially those im...
2025-01-161h 12
Golden State NaturalistUrban Canyons with Michelle ThompsonFlying over San Diego, you can see them: Fingers of green extending through neighborhoods all across the city.
San Diego’s urban canyon’s serve as refuges for people and wildlife alike, but they’re also often isolated islands of habitat. This can keep animals from accessing the resources they need to survive. And human neighbors aren’t always able to access these spaces, either.
In this episode, join me and Michelle Thompson as we search for reptiles in one of San Diego’s urban canyons, discuss what makes canyons spec...
2024-12-1943 min
Golden State NaturalistKeystone Plants with Doug TallamyWhat do oak trees, goldenrod, willows, and ceanothus all have in common? They all belong to the group of roughly 14% of plants supporting 90% of caterpillar species.
In other words, they’re all keystone plants.
Join me and Doug Tallamy as we discuss the vital role these plants play in their native ecosystems and how we can bring them home to welcome hundreds of species into our own yards.
Helpful Links:
Doug’s books
Calscape by The California Native Plant Society
Keystone Plants in Mediterranean Californ...
2024-12-0558 min
Golden State NaturalistBurrowing Owls with Phil UnittWhat do fake rattlesnakes, California ground squirrels, odd eye bones, bubonic plague, bizarre choices in home decor, and regurgitated mouse bones have to do with burrowing owls?
Join me and Phil Unitt as we venture into an urban canyon in San Diego to find out.
Helpful links:
Phil Unitt’s page
Rattlesnake owl noise
Urban Burrowing Owls piece by Clinton Abbott
Fish and Wildlife page on burrowing owls
Secretary Bird video
Support Golden State Naturalist on Patreon and get perks starting...
2024-11-221h 01
Golden State NaturalistSea Level Rise and the California Coast: Imagining a Better Future with Rosanna XiaThe sea is rising, and I have a lot of questions.
Questions about sand movement, seawalls, nature-based climate solutions, ecosystem engineer plants, sand dunes, climate literature, and how we can harness the power of our collective imaginations to adapt to a changing world together.
Join me and environmental reporter Rosanna Xia at Point Dume in Malibu as we discuss my many questions and explore a beach that's been reimagined with the future in mind.
Links:
Become a Heyday Member and receive a free copy of Rosanna’s book, California Against the Sea, w...
2024-10-311h 14
Golden State NaturalistBONUS: Leave the Leaves with David MizejewskiIt's fall!
And all around the country, tidy piles of raked leaves rest on the corners of lawns, ready to be bagged up and thrown away.
But throwing away leaves means throwing away free mulch and fertilizer.
It also means throwing away habitat and belching methane into the atmosphere.
Join me and National Wildlife Federation naturalist David Mizejewski as we discuss the benefits of leaving the leaves, the harms of removing them, and the kind of abundance we can buoy right outside our doors by embracing the natural habitat building opportunities...
2024-10-1851 min
Golden State NaturalistTule Elk with Orlando Rocha and Tom BatterHow is the story of tule elk tied to the story of California? What’s the difference between a grazer and a browser? Why do tule elk have such big feet? How much grazing is the right amount of grazing? Why do elk bugles sound like something straight out of a horror movie?
Come with me and Orlando Rocha as we strike out in search of tule elk in the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area, and then join me and Tom Batter as we discuss the ecological importance of tule elk along with the ties between their story and...
2024-10-101h 21
Golden State Naturalist[Greatest Hits] Central Valley Water and Wetlands with Ellen WehrDid you know that California's Central Valley once contained a vast inland sea and was home to camels, 400 lb. saber-toothed salmon, and tiny four-tusked mastodons? Or that, just a couple of hundred years ago, it was a network of wetlands, peat bogs, riparian forests, and shallow lakes? So how did this place that was once so defined by an abundance of water become somewhere marked by water-related controversy?
Come along with me and Ellen Wehr as we discuss the history of this remarkable Valley, the wetlands that remain, and what we can do to both protect and coe...
2024-10-031h 09
Golden State NaturalistWildlife Crossings with Ben GoldfarbSome animals plod across roads without hesitation. Others dart across quickly, while still more freeze at the sight of an oncoming car. A final group avoids roads altogether. Four distinct approaches, yet roads can have devastating impacts on animals regardless of their type of response.
Thankfully, wildlife crossings can help.
Join me and award-winning author Ben Goldfarb as we explore a fragment of old growth oak woodland, discussing how roads impact the environment and imagining a future that’s safer and more connected for humans and wildlife alike.
Make sure to check out Ben’s...
2024-09-121h 00
Nature's ArchiveBONUS: Top 10 Favorite Species with Griff Griffith, Michelle Fullner, and Michael HawkWhat do parasitic plants, 600 year old oak trees, salmon, and hoverflies have in common? Well, they are some of Griff's, Michelle Fullner’s and my favorite wild organisms! Today’s episode is a fun conversation with Michelle Fullner, Griff Griffith, and myself, Michael Hawk, where we advocate for our 10 favorite animals and plants. We each bring three species to the conversation…well, not physically. And we had a bit of a game to decide who got to pick the 10th one. All I’m saying is that I still think that aphids would be good at soccer, but you’...
2024-09-101h 11
Jumpstart NatureJumpstart Bonus: Top 10 Favorite Species with Griff Griffith, Michelle Fullner, and Michael HawkWhat do parasitic plants, 600 year old oak trees, salmon, and hoverflies have in common? Well, they are some of Griff's, Michelle Fullner’s and my favorite wild organisms!Today’s episode is a fun conversation with Michelle Fullner, Griff Griffith, and myself, Michael Hawk, where we advocate for our 10 favorite animals and plants. We each bring three species to the conversation…well, not physically. And we had a bit of a game to decide who got to pick the 10th one. All I’m saying is that I still think that aphids would be good at soccer, but you’...
2024-09-101h 09
Golden State NaturalistTop 10 California Native Species: BONUS Episode with Griff Griffith and Michael HawkWhat are your top ten favorite California native species?
Join me, Griff Griffith, and Michael Hawk as we joyously compile our collective top ten list (a veritable menagerie meets botanical garden) and discuss how we can help each species.
Don’t forget to follow Nature’s Archive and Jumpstart Nature wherever you’re listening now.
Learn more about the great work Jumpstart Nature is doing on their website.
The cover photo is by Charles Hood, who is generously allowing me to use it for this episode.
Support Golden State Naturalist...
2024-09-091h 14
Golden State NaturalistCoastal Wetlands with Empress HollidayAre coastal wetlands the same thing as estuaries? What about salt marshes? How can some plants grow in saltwater? Can I use them to salt my french fries? What’s an endangered river? Why do some birds build floating nests? Why should I visit nature that’s close to home?
Join me and Empress Holliday as we explore the Tijuana Estuary to admire plants, gush over birds, and discuss everything from blue carbon to baby halibut.
Helpful Links:
Divided Together Podcast
Tijuana Estuary (TRNERR)
Endangered River
San Diego Coastkeeper
2024-08-291h 01
Golden State NaturalistCalifornia Snakes with Michael StarkeyWhat makes California such a great spot for snake diversity? Where does antivenom come from, and why is it so expensive? Can you really inoculate yourself against snake venom? How did evolving alongside snakes impact who we are as humans today?
Join me and Michael Starkey, founder of Save the Snakes, as we get a close look at California snakes and then sit down to discuss bright blue snakes, snakes with legs, snake myths, evolutionary arms races, babysitter snakes, and how this diverse group of animals makes our lives better every single day.
Links:
2024-06-111h 45
Wildly Unplug10 Tips to Connect with NatureSend us a textTime Stamp:7:14 Leading from The Roots with Dr. Kathy Allen8:23 A Flicker in the Water with Bob Gonzalez8:24 Behind the Lens of Photography with John Butler9:37 This Land was Saved for You and Me with Jeffrey Ryan10:22 Yampu Tours with Monica Irauzqui 11:43 Trailblazing Talks with Amber Langham12:43 Keep Chasing Waterfalls with Jo Giese13:06 Ghostly Archive with Rosie Grant13:36 The Adventures of the Granola Squatch & the Mysterious Egg w/Tom & Landa13:48 The Magic of Forests & Music with Shannon Modrell14:41 Your Favorite Hot Mess with...
2024-06-0523 min
Golden State NaturalistSnakes, Seaweed, and San Diego: An Updates MinisodeGreetings from the break between podcast seasons! Find out what I've been up to and where I'm headed next.
More to come soon!
Links:
Podcast Feedback Form. A 5-min. way to help a ton and be entered into a drawing! Yay!
Seaweed Class! Use code GOLDEN to get 20% off Allison's two-part course.
Patreon: Support the show and get perks!
My website is goldenstatenaturalist.com
Find me on Instagram @goldenstatenaturalist.
The theme song is called "i dunno" by grapes. Find the Creative Commons license...
2024-05-1605 min
Golden State NaturalistTide Pools with Michelle KunstHow do sea stars move around? Why am I jealous of giant green anemones? When's the best time to go tide pooling? Why is life so hard in the in the place where the ocean meets the land? How have so many creatures adapted to thrive in this strange place where two worlds meet?
Join me and Michelle Kunst as we explore the intertidal zone on the Northern California coast and discuss the incredible diversity of life that can be found there.
Links:
Trinidad Coastal Land Trust
Seaweed...
2024-03-011h 01
Golden State NaturalistTEK (Traditional Ecological Knowledge / Indigenous Ecological Knowledge) with Frank LakeIndigenous people have lived in the place now known as California since time immemorial and are still here today.
In this episode, join me and Frank Lake as we discuss mutualistic relationships between Indigenous Californians and the land, traditional burning, oak orchards, the powerful ways Indigenous and Western knowledges can come together, common misconceptions about pre-colonial California, reciprocity, and how we can move from a mental model of scarcity to cultivating a shared abundance that leaves no one behind.
Links:
Frank Lake
California Indian History C...
2024-02-151h 09
Golden State NaturalistNative Bees with Krystle HickmanHave you ever noticed a bee that looked a little…different? Maybe it was a bit fuzzier than a typical honey bee, or maybe it was obsidian black, bright orange, startlingly large, or as tiny as a gnat. Chances are, if you’ve seen a bee meeting any of these descriptions, you observed one of Earth’s 20,000 species of native bees (with around 1,600 of those species living in California).
Join me and National Geographic Explorer, TEDx speaker, and community scientist Krystle Hickman as we head outside to find native bees and discuss the widely varied social lives of bees...
2024-02-021h 08
Golden State NaturalistMythologizing Place with Obi KaufmannAuthor, artist, poet, and eco-philosopher Obi Kaufmann doesn't want to craft a better argument.
He wants to tell a better story.
But what does that kind of story look like? How do we begin to convey the incredible complexity of a place like California? How do we avoid unproductive divisiveness, embrace a better worldview, and move forward together in healing the land?
Join me and Obi in a field of wildflowers on Mt. Diablo as we discuss humanity’s relationship with the earth, Mt. Diablo daisies, ways in which meaning is co-constructed, biodiversity, wh...
2024-01-191h 08Golden State Naturalist7 Ways to Connect with Nature this Year (2024 REPLAY)Happy New Year! 🎉
This episode has a great story, so I added a new intro to tell you about it.
Here are the links mentioned in the new intro!
7 Ways to Connect with Nature zine by Kate Rutter
Find Kate on Instagram @katerutter.
Patreon. This is a great way to support your local indie podcaster.
Find me on Instagram @goldenstatenaturalist.
My website is goldenstatenaturalist.com.
2024-01-0921 minNature's Archive#87: California Condors with Tiana Williams-Claussen (Golden State Naturalist Crossover!)Today’s episode is all about California Condors with Tiana Williams-Claussen, the director of the Yurok Tribe’s wildlife department. This episode is actually from my friend Michelle Fullner of the Golden State Naturalist podcast. If you don’t know Golden State Naturalist, I think this episode is pretty indicative of Michelle’s work. She travels around California to meet and interview interesting people in the field. There is a definite advantage to in-person interviews, and I wish I could do more. Even though this episode is about California Condors, and the podcast is California-centric, today’s episode is...
2024-01-011h 17Golden State NaturalistMistletoe with Joshua DerHave you ever wondered why we bring a toxic, parasitic plant indoors during the holidays...and then kiss under it? Or what ecological role this plant plays?
Come with me and Dr. Joshua Der as we discuss the ecological importance of mistletoe, its evolution, the vast array of wildlife it supports, and of course, the ancient folklore that led to all those stolen smooches.
Helpful Links:
Dr. Der's Publications
Mistletoe Folklore
My website is goldenstatenaturalist.com
Support GSN on Patreon.
2023-12-2131 minGolden State NaturalistLiving in Place: Reflections on Being a Naturalist with Justin GarwoodWhen was the last time you felt truly connected with a place? Was it somewhere rugged and wild, or was it on a leaf-strewn suburban block? What did you notice? What questions popped up in your mind? What gave you that sense of connection?
In this episode, join me and Justin Garwood in a Northern California temperate rainforest as we discuss how each of us can connect more deeply with the natural world, glaciers in California, an abundance of tadpoles, when to go off trail (and when not to), and what it means to be a naturalist n...
2023-12-1454 minGolden State NaturalistThe Klamath Mountains with Michael Kauffmann
The Klamath Mountains, straddling the California-Oregon border, are a hotspot for biodiversity. But what drives the species richness of the region?
Come with me and Michael Kauffmann to a moss-covered edge of the Klamath mountains as we discuss ancient rocks, carnivorous plants, temperate rainforests, why people are a vital part of the story of place, and why the Klamath Mountains are bursting with a truly stunning array of beings and relationships.
You can find Backcountry Press @backcountrypress on Instagram.
Serpentine Soils and Plant Ad...
2023-11-3051 minGolden State NaturalistSeaweed with Allison PoklembaIs seaweed a plant? Is it ok to eat straight out of the ocean? What kinds of creatures rely on seaweed? How does kelp fight climate change?
Join me and Allison Poklemba on the Humboldt coast as we descend into the intertidal zone to taste seaweed fresh from the ocean and discuss all of the questions above and more.
Helpful Links:
Allison's Seaweed Resources
Backcountry Press Instagram: @backcountrypress
Dandelion Herbal Center IG: @dandelionherbalcenter
Beach wheelchairs
California Marine Protected Areas
Anticancer Effects of Seaweed-Derived Bioactive Compounds
Understanding Blue Carbon
My website is goldenstatenaturalist.com
Support GSN on Patreon!
I'm @goldenstatenaturalist o...
2023-11-161h 12Golden State NaturalistCalifornia Condors with Tiana Williams-ClaussenAt the height of the last ice age, California condors could be found all across North America, and since time immemorial, these birds have held special cultural and spiritual significance for a number of Indigenous groups.
But by the late 1980's, the last wild condor had been captured and brought into a captive breeding program. They were extinct in the wild.
So what happened to these enormous scavengers to diminish their range so dramatically? How much progress has been made by the captive breeding programs? How is their cultural...
2023-11-021h 11Golden State NaturalistNocturnal Nature with Charles HoodHave you ever wondered about things outside your window--the things that go bump in the night? Or, actually, things that flutter, flap, tread softly, swim, or bloom in the night? Because there’s a whole nocturnal world out there that most of us are missing, and it’s actually not as hard or as scary as we might think to go out and see it for ourselves.
In this episode, switch on your headlamp, and come with me and Charles Hood to the Cosumnes River Preserve, where we discuss vampire bats, nocturnal ocean migrations, night...
2023-10-1959 minGolden State NaturalistNature in Your Neighborhood with Marni FyllingWhen was the last time you looked closely at the living things right outside your front door? Have you ever gotten lost in a daisy, zoomed in on a burr clover, or watched a ladybug on a rose bush?
Join me and author-illustrator Marni Fylling as we take a walk to explore the nature in her neighborhood. Along the way, learn how you can connect more deeply with the nature where you live and even cultivate more habitat that can welcome a greater diversity and abundance of life in your own yard.
2023-10-0647 minGolden State NaturalistRedwood Trees with Griff GriffithCoast redwood trees reside in a category all their own. Not only are these the tallest trees in the world, but they grow in unique ecosystems–quiet, foggy places with ferns and redwood sorrel spilling everywhere you look onto the trail.
In these forests, the sound of running water is never far away, and the redwoods themselves are by far the most prominent tree species, the warm hue of their bark dominating the landscape as they tower over the evergreen huckleberries and red-flowering currants below.
In this episode, join me...
2023-09-211h 12Golden State NaturalistArt of Nature/Nature of Art with Jane KimHave you ever looked at a piece of art that altered your perspective? Or one that challenged your thinking? Or maybe you’ve studied a piece that taught you something new.
How can art impact conservation efforts? How can it help break generational cycles of disconnectedness from the natural world? Why does art matter in a time of rapidly changing climate and habitat loss?
Join me and artist/scientific illustrator Jane Kim in the Ink Dwell Studio as we discuss nature blindness, the importance of place-based art, western monarch butterflies, endangered frogs, the purpose of mur...
2023-09-071h 04Golden State NaturalistForaging with Mia AndlerHave you ever wondered if the plants growing along your favorite trail or outside your door are edible? Or what kinds of flavors might not be available at the grocery store?
Many of us aren't familiar with the tastes of the places where we live, even though there are wild foods growing all around us. Join me and author, educator, and forager Mia Andler on a walk beside the Truckee River to learn about the wild foods of California and beyond.
Links:
Mia's website
Mia's...
2023-07-121h 07Golden State NaturalistUrban Ecology with Miguel Ordeñana (Part 2: Bats, Inclusive Urban Nature and Community Science)Do bats live close to my house? Why are they important? Do they have rabies? How can people help take care of urban wildlife? How can we involve more people in conservation and community science, particularly people from historically excluded groups? Come with me and Miguel Ordeñana to Griffith Park in Los Angeles, where we discuss all of this and so much more.
Links:
Bat Motherhood
Benefits of Bats
CDC Page on Human Rabies
National Science Foundation STEM Diversity Report
NHMLA's Community Science P...
2023-05-0557 minGolden State NaturalistUrban Ecology with Miguel Ordeñana (Part 1: P-22 Mountain Lion, Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, and Other Urban Carnivores)Have you ever wondered what kind of wildlife lives right in the middle of your city? Or why some animals thrive in cities while others don't? And how did a mountain lion end up in Los Angeles, anyway? Join me and Miguel Ordeñana, the scientist who discovered mountain lion P-22 living in Griffith Park in LA as we discuss these questions and so many more.
Links:
Keeping Cats Indoors
Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing
Safety in Mountain Lion Habitat
P-22 sightings during my visit to LA
2023-04-201h 05
Golden State NaturalistUpdates!Hey friends!
There's sooo much going on with the pod, so I wanted to check in and give you a quick update, including a little about the upcoming episode on urban ecology and some exciting interviews coming up for Season 3! I'll be back with a full episode soon!
In the meantime, check out any past episodes you may have missed, revisit a favorite, or just get some sun on your skin! See you soon!
You can find me on Instagram and TikTok @goldenstatenaturalist
My website is www.goldenstatenaturalist...
2023-04-0404 min
Golden State NaturalistGrowing Native Plants from Seed with Julia MichaelsHave you ever wanted to grow your own native plants? Where can you get California native seeds? Should you sow them directly in the ground or start them in pots? Is there anything you should do to the seeds before planting them? What time of year should they be planted? How should the soil be prepared? What are some common mistakes to avoid? What are some good plants to start with? Is this the end of the lawn as we know it?
Join me and restoration ecologist Dr. Julia Michaels as we explore Hedgerow...
2023-03-231h 13
Golden State NaturalistAmphibians with Gary BucciarelliWhat is an amphibian, anyway? Are they leading double lives? What's the difference between a newt and a salamander? A frog and a toad? What kinds of amphibians live in California? Why are California newts so toxic? How do they always, always find their way home?
Join me and Gary Bucciarelli as we explore a stream in the Santa Monica Mountains, finding plentiful frogs and newts as we discuss the questions above and many more.
Links:
Map of Amphibian Diversity
Arboreal Salamanders
California Herps
Gary's Website
Gary...
2023-03-091h 11
Golden State NaturalistCentral Valley Water and Wetlands with Ellen WehrDid you know that California's Central Valley once contained a vast inland sea and was home to camels, 400 lb. saber-toothed salmon, and tiny four-tusked mastodons? Or that, just a couple of hundred years ago, it was a network of wetlands, peat bogs, riparian forests, and shallow lakes? So how did this place that was once so defined by an abundance of water become somewhere marked by water-related controversy?
Come along with me and Ellen Wehr as we discuss the history of this remarkable Valley, the wetlands that remain, and what we can do to both protect and coe...
2023-02-231h 09
Golden State NaturalistEcological Restoration with Billy SaleWhat's the problem with yellow hills? How do you trick a seed? What are the neighbors angry about? Where do restorationists get all those seeds? What's the difference between ecological restoration and restoration ecology? What does reconciliation have to do with it? How can we keep the world brimming with strange and beautiful creatures?
Join me and Billy Sale, Restoration Project Manager at the California Botanic Garden, as we poke around a native plant nursery and discuss all of these questions and more.
Useful Links:
California Botanic Garden
Society for Ecological Re...
2023-02-0950 min
Golden State NaturalistDark Skies with Kayla Browne and Dan DuriscoeMost of us live in places where we can only see a few of the brightest stars in the sky at night, but what if that didn't have to be the case? Come with me and guests Kayla Browne and Dan Duriscoe to Death Valley, where we sit under a sky full of stars to discuss light pollution, bats, migrating birds, why dark skies are important, astronomy, places you can go to see a truly dark sky, and what can be done to bring stars back to our cities and our lives.
Links:
Friends of th...
2023-01-2642 min
Golden State NaturalistGrowth Mindset with John Muir Laws (BONUS Minisode!)How useful is IQ? What exactly is a growth mindset, and how is it different from a fixed mindset? What shifts can we make in our thinking that will allow us to learn and grow in new ways? Should you take Swahili lessons? How does all of this apply to being a naturalist and nature journaler?
In this cute tiny bonus episode, come with me and John Muir Laws as we discuss all of this and more.
Links:
John Muir Laws Website
John Muir Laws Books
Neuroplasticity
Car...
2023-01-1927 min
Golden State NaturalistNature Journaling with John Muir LawsDid you know that no pretty pictures or artistic talent are required to create a highly effective nature journal? Rather, as John Muir Laws explains in this episode, nature journaling is about paying attention, presence in the moment, and thinking more effectively about the natural world all around you.
Join Jack and I on a nature journaling adventure beside the San Francisco Bay, and find out what six things should be included in a nature journal, which art supplies to use (not a specific brand!), how to experience more of the beauty and wonder all around you...
2023-01-1257 min
The Natural Curiosity ProjectEpisode 196 - California Naturalist Michelle FullnerEver since she was little, Michelle Fullner has been a nature enthusiast. She was always the kid who wandered off into the woods, crawling around on the ground, looking under rocks and logs and rooting around in the mud. Today, in addition to teaching English, Michelle is the creator and host of the Golden State Naturalist Podcast.
Not long ago, she decided to enroll in the California Naturalist Program, which reminded her how much she loves nature. To prove it, she started her Podcast. I strongly recommend listening to it. Every episode is a mini-field trip, with fascinating guests who...
2023-01-0319 min
Golden State Naturalist7 Ways to Connect with Nature This YearHappy New Year! Are you hoping to spend more time outdoors this year? This episode is for you! In it, I'm sharing seven of my favorite ways to connect more deeply with the natural world this year and beyond.
My website is www.goldenstatenaturalist.com
Support Golden State Naturalist on Patreon.
You can find me on Instagram and TikTok @goldenstatenaturalist.
The theme song is called "i dunno" by grapes. You can see the Creative Commons license here.
2023-01-0116 minGolden State NaturalistCalifornia Native Plants with Naomi FragaCalifornia is home to 6,500 native plant species, including some that are truly iconic, like coast redwoods, giant sequoias, bristlecone pines, and California poppies. If you're like me, you have a lot of questions about this wide variety of plants, like: What is it that makes native plants so important? What's the difference between a native plant and an endemic one? Why are some plants more beneficial for wildlife than others? How many rare plants do we have in California? What's important to know about gardening with natives? How can we each help increase biodiversity in our own neighborhoods and b...
2022-12-1559 min
Golden State Naturalist2022 California Naturalist Conference Highlights with José González, Rhiana Jones, Obi Kaufmann, and more!Do you want to know what some of the most experienced, most insightful naturalists in California have on their minds? You’ve come to the right place! This episode is jammed full of brilliant professors, authors, environmental directors, outdoor equity advocates, and science communicators, and they cover topics from traditional ecological knowledge and storytelling to fire on the landscape to the ethical questions around ecosystem restoration to how healing happens.
Complete List of Guests:
Greg Ira, Director of the UC California Naturalist Program
José González, Keynote Speaker
Rhiana Jones, Keynote Speake...
2022-12-011h 10
Golden State NaturalistIce Age California with Sean CampbellHave you ever wondered what was going on in California, oh, ten or fifty thousand years ago? About, perhaps, the social lives of saber-toothed cats, just how big giant ground sloths actually were, or the difference between a mammoth and a mastodon? Join me and Sean Campbell, Senior Paleontological Preparator at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, California, as we explore what California and the world were like at the last glacial maximum.
Handy Links:
La Brea Tar Pits: https://tarpits.org/
Island Living Can Shrink Humans: https://www.science.org/co...
2022-11-171h 03
Golden State NaturalistMonarch Butterflies with Natalie JohnstonWhat makes butterflies so magical? They are a wonder and a delight, and I’m so excited to be diving into a full episode about what is possibly the most iconic species of butterfly in the world: Monarchs. Have you ever wondered why they’re bright orange, how far they migrate, or why they capture our collective imagination? I have! Come with me to the Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary to find out more about these creatures that are as graceful as they are legendary.
Links:
Monarch Joint Venture
Monarchs and The Day of the De...
2022-11-031h 02
Golden State NaturalistFire Ecology with Robin Lee CarlsonHi there! It's season two now! Have you ever wondered what makes a "good fire" different from a "bad fire"? ME TOO. How about these: Which ecosystem needs fire more frequently--oak woodland or chaparral? What happens to animals during and after a wildfire? Are there any plants or animals with truly insane relationships with fire? (I'm going to spoil that one right now. Yes. Yes, there are.)
Join me and biologist, illustrator, and author Robin Lee Carlson as we hike Stebbins Cold Canyon, a UC Natural Reserve that's burned not once but TWICE in the past ten ye...
2022-10-201h 15
Golden State NaturalistMid-Break Updates AND Conversation with Michael Hawk on Nature's ArchiveIf you've been wondering what I've been up to or when I'll be back, this episode has your answers!
PLUS, just as a bonus because I love you, here's an intro to an amazing podcaster named Michael Hawk, who is the creator of both Nature's Archive podcast and a new nonprofit called Jumpstart Nature. In the episode, we discuss both of our podcasting journeys so far (with me at 10 episodes at the time of recording, and Michael a little past 50!), where we'd like to go next, and some behind-the-scenes info on what making a podcast is like.
...
2022-09-131h 03Nature's Archive#52: The Golden State Naturalist Michelle Fullner, and Nature's Archive at 2 Years Old!Today's episode is a bit unique. As I mentioned in my monthly newsletter a couple months ago, I've been very impressed with a new podcast called Golden State Naturalist. I've had the pleasure of speaking with its creator, Michelle Fullner, a couple of times, and thought it would be fun to discuss her rapid success, and expose more people to her work. One of my goals with Nature's Archive was to find inspiring people charting unique ways to help the environment, and Michelle fits the bill!And at the same time I'm at a moment of transition...
2022-08-151h 00
Golden State NaturalistBeavers (Drought and Wildfire Superheroes!) with Emily FairfaxScale a beaver dam with me and Dr. Emily Fairfax, beaver researcher, ecohydrologist, assistant professor at CSU Channel Islands, and science communicator extraordinaire who has been featured on NPR's Science Friday and All Things Considered. In this episode, you'll hear us discuss ecosystem engineers, what beavers eat, the best time of year to look for beaver dams, the North American Fur Trade, how beavers can permanently change landscapes, rodents of unusual size, what it means to be a keystone species, dam building, the fish that live in beaver ponds, what beavers do with those flat tails, natural infinity pools...
2022-08-041h 03
Golden State NaturalistConglomerate Mesa (Joshua Trees! Desert Ecosystems! Gold Mining!) with Wendy SchneiderWhen I first heard about Conglomerate Mesa, located on BLM land right outside of Death Valley, I had no idea how much ground a single episode could cover. This one's got everything, including what makes a place a desert, a little bit of geology, Joshua trees, the General Mining Act of 1872, juniper pinyon ecosystems, the rain shadow effect, a very lovable, fuzzy-tailed rodent, a daisy that is only found on about one square mile of the entire planet, soil that is alive, the historic and contemporary importance of this mesa to Native people, and the fight to keep a...
2022-07-2145 min
Golden State NaturalistGiant Sequoias (World's Largest Trees!) with Wendy HarrisonHave you ever looked up at something much larger than yourself and felt teeny tiny, but in a good way? That's the feeling I get when I walk among giant sequoias. It is pure wonderment. Join me as I learn more about this spectacular species from Wendy Harrison, who spent 30 years as an interpreter at Calaveras Big Trees State Park and now leads the park's California Naturalist program. In our conversation, we discuss the ancient origins of these trees, what kinds of plants and animals live around them and depend on them, something called “sequoia blood,” how they spread their...
2022-07-0750 min
Golden State NaturalistEntomology (Bugs!) with Ralph Washington Jr.If you're here and you're like "ehhhhh, maybe I'll skip this one," don't! It's seriously so good even if bugs aren't usually your thing. Ralph Washington Jr. is not only a bug genius with a Master's in Entomology from UC Davis and more accolades than you can shake a stick at, but he's also insightful, passionate, and easy to listen to. You'll learn so much from him and may even walk away with new perspective on more than insects.
What do we talk about in the episode? Here's an incomplete list: cultivating curiosity, an insect that can se...
2022-06-231h 08
Golden State NaturalistCoyotes with Sara TabatabaiHave you ever been out hiking and heard an eerie chorus of barks, yips, and howls somewhere off in the distance? Or seen some scat that looked more like a bunch of smooshed up seeds and fur? You might have had a near brush with a coyote (or several!).
In this episode, I interview Sara Tabatabai from Effie Yeaw Nature Center, located right on the American River in Carmichael, California. Sara shows me around the nature preserve and helps me answer so many coyote questions, including these: How similar are they to wolves? Is one going to e...
2022-06-0954 min
Golden State NaturalistGuerrilla (Not Gorilla) Conservation with Shalaco from SFinBloomHave you ever wanted to do something for the environment but gotten discouraged because the problems just seem too big and insurmountable? This happens to me ALL. THE. TIME. Shalaco from SF in Bloom, though? Undaunted. When he and his partner, Phoenix, realized that pollinators were struggling and how much native plants could help, he got himself a bee suit, a parmesan cheese shaker, and some native wildflower seeds and hit the streets of San Francisco on his one-wheel, spreading future blooms wherever he zoomed.
Join Shalaco and me as we discuss the impact this kind of d...
2022-05-261h 01
Golden State NaturalistThe Sutter Buttes (World's Smallest Mountain Range!) with Steve RoddyDid you know that Northern California is home to the smallest mountain range in the world? It lies smack in the middle of the Sacramento Valley, and it is a hotbed for unexpected creatures and unexpected stories alike. Join me with California Naturalist, Sutter Buttes guide, and educator Steve Roddy, as we explore the heart of the Buttes and discuss what makes the place so special.
How were the Buttes formed? What kinds of plants and animals live there? What was the significance of this place to California Native People? Who lives in the Buttes? Can I v...
2022-05-121h 02
Golden State NaturalistOak Trees with Zarah WylyWe need every single species of native tree here in California, but our 20+ varieties of native oaks are the most crucial of all. In this episode, join me and my guest, Zarah Wyly, on a walk through a relatively new oak woodland in Folsom dotted with two ancient, magnificent oak trees. Learn the story of how this unusual woodland came to be, find out why oaks are my all-time favorite trees, and explore such questions as: What kinds of life are supported by oak trees? If I plant one, will it wreck my house? What do you have to do t...
2022-04-281h 12
Golden State NaturalistVernal Pools (Ephemeral Wetlands) with David RosenDid you ever catch tadpoles in a pond when you were a kid? Or watch insects glide just under the surface of a creek? Recording this episode brought me back to the magic of those childhood moments, AND I got sooo many vernal pool questions answered.
Here are a few of them: What is a vernal pool, and how is it different from other bodies of water? What kinds of creatures live in and around vernal pools? What the heck is a flower phase? When's the best time of year to see vernal pools? Where can these po...
2022-04-141h 10
Golden State NaturalistSalmon with Jason Fareira (Part 2 of 2)Why are salmon important enough to merit two whole episodes? What are they up to when they're out in the ocean? What exactly is a keystone species? Should we bring grizzly bears back to California? What is a hatchery, and why are they so controversial? What does the gold rush have to do with salmon, and why does it still matter almost 200 years later?
Join me and Jason Fareira for the second part of our outing along the American River as we discuss all of these questions and more. Let Jason draw you in and share his e...
2022-03-3157 min
Golden State NaturalistSalmon with Jason Fareira (Part 1 of 2)Ok, what's the deal with salmon? Why are they so vital to almost all of the organisms that live near their nesting grounds? What is a hatchery? Why are dams so controversial? What kinds of conditions do salmon need to thrive? How do these fish find their way back to the very rivers where they first hatched?
In this episode, I take a walk with naturalist and Fish and Wildlife employee Jason Fareira along the American River near the Nimbus Hatchery in Folsom, California. Jason introduces me to the basics of salmon reproduction, shows me how to l...
2022-03-1748 min
Golden State NaturalistCalifornia Geology with Nate ManleyEver wondered how California was formed? Or why there's a mountain range on each side of the state with a big, flat valley in the middle? Or what makes the San Andreas fault so unique and so infamous? This episode will answer all of those questions and SO MANY MORE. Join Nate and I on a hike around Folsom Lake, where we checked out some very odd granodiorite and discussed everything from plate tectonics to earthquakes to the best places to see great geology all across the state.
This page from the National Park Se...
2022-03-031h 00
Golden State NaturalistEpisode 0Golden State Naturalist is a different kind of nature podcast.
It's one that invites you out onto the landscape for a closer look, that engages your senses, and that helps you connect more deeply with the land.
It's a podcast that challenges you to reconsider the relationship between humans and this planet we call home.
Tune in every other week to learn about geology, California native plants, beavers, giant sequoias, insects, nature journaling, urban ecology, oak trees, and so much more.
Special thanks to all of the guests...
2022-02-0401 min