Category: Podcast
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194: Pink Salmon Invasion on Norwegian Rivers with Jude Isabella
What happens when Pacific salmon invade Atlantic waters? How does a Soviet-era experiment from the 1950s continue to impact Norwegian rivers today? We’re answering these questions in conversation with Jude Isabella, founder and editor-in-chief of Hakai Magazine, and author of multiple books including Salmon: A Scientific Memoir. This episode was inspired by her three-week journey along Norway’s border with Russia, documented in her article ‘Where the Rivers Run Pink’. The article tells the complex story of pink salmon that have…
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193: Human-Wildlife Conflict – Romanian Bears and African Elephants with Jens Ulrik Høgh
Can hunting be an effective way to manage human-wildlife conflict? What happens when well-intentioned wildlife protection measures backfire? I spoke with Jens Ulrik Høgh, a Scandinavian hunting journalist, to find answers to these questions through the lens of Romania’s bear management crisis. When hunting was banned in 2016 under pressure from animal rights groups, it led to an unexpected surge in human-wildlife conflict, with 300 people being mauled and 26 killed by bears that had lost their fear of humans.…
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Conservation and Science 2024 Recap
If you’re new to the podcast or would like to refresh your memory of last year’s episodes, here’s a recap of all the episodes from 2024. Which was your favourite? Reply to this email and let me know.
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Christmas Wishes and a Peek into 2025
Unlike many podcasters who take a break over Christmas, I’m not taking breaks. Instead, as I do every year, I’m publishing a special episode with seasonal wishes and, most importantly, with a big thank you to all of you for being here with me, subscribing to the podcast whether on a podcast app or YouTube and particularly for signing up to my newsletter. I would also like to welcome new subscribers as well as give big shout-outs to those of…
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192: EU Green Policy – The Science-Politics Divide with Faustine Bas-Defossez
How much influence do personal experiences of high-ranking officials have on EU environmental policies? What happens when science-based conservation collides with political interests? Can farmers and environmentalists find common ground in nature restoration? In this episode, I talk to Faustine Bas-Defossez, Director for Nature, Health and Environment at the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), who provides insights into the complex world of EU environmental policymaking. In our conversation, we discuss several pressing environmental issues, including the recent changes to the Common…
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191: Rewilding Myths and Misconceptions with Ian Parsons
What exactly is rewilding? Does it simply mean bringing back wolves, lynx and bears, or is there more to it? Can we balance food production and rural community needs with land left to natural processes and wildlife conservation? To answer these questions, I talk with Ian Parsons, editor of “Great Misconceptions: Rewilding Myths and Misunderstandings”, a new book that explores common assumptions and misconceptions about rewilding. In our discussion, we address aspects of rewilding that are often misunderstood or misinterpreted,…
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190: The Geopolitics of Whale Conservation with Peter Corkeron
Is the resumption of commercial whaling inevitable? What hidden geopolitical forces are shaping international whale conservation efforts? Let’s dive (pun not intended) into the complex world of whale conservation with marine scientist Dr Peter Corkeron. In our conversation, Peter uncovers the surprising connections between military bases, national security, and the fate of the world’s largest mammals. From the history of industrial whaling to the current state of whale populations, our guest provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges facing whale…
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189: Climate Anxiety and Presence Activism with Lynne Sedgmore
Do you feel climate anxiety? Is it overwhelming you? How do we find peace while being bombarded with dire environmental predictions? In an attempt to answer these questions, I talk with Lynne Sedgmore, a well-known educator, leadership coach, activist and the author of the book “Presence Activism: A Profound Antidote to Climate Anxiety”. To set the scene, we start with a discussion about peaceful but disruptive climate protests. We discuss their effectiveness, the reception by the wider public, and the…
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188: Peer Review Reimagined – How Stacks Journal is Transforming Scientific Publishing
Is scientific publishing broken? How can we make it more accessible and inclusive? And what if peer review could be collaborative and efficient instead of opaque and burdensome? In this episode, we dive into the world of academic publishing with Dr David Green, founder of Stacks Journal. We talk about how the current system is failing researchers and science enthusiasts alike, with over half of all research never getting published and exorbitant costs imposed by a handful of publishers who…
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187: Soil, Dung Beetles, and Longhorn Beef with Elise Sutton
Can farming and conservation coexist harmoniously? How can farmers produce high-quality food while protecting biodiversity? Elise Sutton, a passionate conservationist and livestock manager at Cherry Lodge Farm, shares her experience in balancing food production with nature conservation. Elise talks about conservation grazing using English Longhorn cattle on a 650-acre farm that includes a Site of Special Scientific Interest. She explains how this method maintains biodiversity and produces top-quality, grass-fed beef. We talk about the intricacies of managing a nature-friendly farm,…