5 Podcasts About Nature, Biodiversity, and the Environment You’ll Like
Combating climate change starts with appreciating what’s there
After a sloppy 15 year hiatus, 2020 was the year I rediscovered nature. Never was I a child that loved to rummage in the mud— apparently, I didn’t like to get dirty — but I loved animals and wanted to talk to, and save, them all.
Fast forward to 2020 when going for a walk once again became an acceptable pastime for young people. At age 25, my first-ever bug phase hit me square on the nose.
The culprit? Most of the following podcasts.
1. Ologies
By now, Ologies is simultaneously the podcast behemoth of science and quirk. Presenter Alie Ward is hilarious and she interviews an extremely broad range of guests about their “ology” or expertise. From fulminology (the study of lightning), to vexillology (flags), and lepidopterology (butterflies), Alie caught them all.
Start with
Nassology (taxidermy) with Allis Markham, or Mycology (mushrooms) with Dr. Tom Volk.
2. Future Ecologies
Where storytelling meets superb sound design, Future Ecologies is the most well-produced podcast on this list.
Although I love interview-style podcasts, and they comprise the majority of my listening diet, there is something special about a solid script and complimentary soundscapes and music.
Nature is comprised of a million different species in a bouncy castle, and Future Ecologies is here to help you make sense of what is going on.
Start with
FE2.1 — Enlichenment and the Triage of Life
3. PolliNation
While many well-meaning extension programs have trouble creating a “show”, PolliNation is doing exactly that about all things pollinators.
Their logo could perhaps use some work, and audio quality is not always silky smooth, but host and academic Andony Melathopoulos is a knowledgeable interviewer who isn’t afraid to dive into the deep with his equally knowledgeable guests.
I’ve learned a ton about bees, plants, and habitats through PolliNation, giving it a strong ecological angle.
Start with
113 — Kass Urban-Mead — Bees in Trees
4. Completely Arbortrary
Tree expert Casey Clapp and his “tree-skeptic” friend and musician Alex Crowson take on one tree per episode of Completely Arbortrary, and rate them 1–10 “Golden Cones of Honor”.
That’s all you need to know really.
Start with
Episode 1: The Phantom Fir (Douglas-fir)
5. The Wild With Chris Morgan
Chris Morgan is a Brit who became obsessed with bears during a trip to the United States. Now, “he tells the stories of people working in and protecting the wild around us.”
Listening to The Wild feels like joining Morgan on his forays around the world, searching for bears and other wild (and often endangered) animals.
My only complaint is not enough bugs, but otherwise, this is an impressively produced podcast that transports you to wherever it is still wild.
Start with
Leave it to beavers, seriously
Is there a podcast that really should have been in here? Don’t hesitate to send me your recommendations.