The Wandering Naturalist

Dr. John Anfinson, one of the leading experts on the Mississippi River in our area joins us to talk about the past, present, and future of the Mississippi. He tells us stories of the Mississippi as people tried to navigate the gorge, how its unique geology created the Twin Cities, and why the Mississippi between the Twin Cities was changed into a series of lakes. He also discusses the potential future of the Mississippi River and how you can learn about it and join in the conversation about what the Mississippi should be.  

In July, 2025 we had a special Wandering Naturalist rafting trip on the Mississippi River with Brandon. Several participants wore microphones and we recorded the whole experience. Raft with us as we talk to Paula Suchy from Mississippi Gateway Regional Park about how the rafting programs work and why they are so important to her as we listen to audio from our rafting trip.  

We start a new season with a new co-host, Ellen, and a new Big Year to celebrate- Big Year of Rivers! Ashley Levoir, joins us to discuss how a big anniversary for the Mississippi River inspired this year's Big Year, plays trivia with Brandon and Angela about the three rivers our park district are named after, and how you can protect our rivers even if you don't live near one.  

Every season must come to an end so a new season may begin. A warm and engaging nature expert whose voice we've enjoyed for seven seasons is signing off, ushering in a new era of The Wandering Naturalist. Wander with us as we talk about this big change and what's in store for the podcast for season eight. New and exciting journeys are ahead!

Grace Milanowski, Coordinator, Offal Wildlife Watching Project (with UMN Extension) and Dr. Ellen Candler from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, talk to us about the project they are doing in partnership with Minnesota hunters to see what visits gut piles from deer. Hunters are participating in citizen science by putting trail cams by their deer gut piles and sending the photos to the Offal project. Grace Milanowski and Dr. Candler discuss some of their findings, including some surprising scavengers of deer guts. 

Michael Kurtz, enrolled member from the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, shares how he taught himself to read animal signs and photograph them. He talks about the experiences with animals he has had following animal signs and how it connects him to the Traditional Ecological Knowledge of his ancestors.  

Adrian Iacovino, Education Program Coordinator at Mississippi Gateway Regional Park and professional animal tracker, wanders with us as he recounts how he learned to read the stories left by animal tracks and signs. He shares some of his favorite stories, the community behind tracking, and how listeners can learn to read animal stories. He also discusses how reading animal signs helps him spot preconceived notions in other parts of his life.  

Before Basset Creek was named Basset Creek it was named by the Dakota and called Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ. Tawnya Stewart, an Ojibwe woman who grew up within a few miles of the creek talks about what it was like growing up in Hennepin County suburbs as a Native person. She explores why the original names of the landscapes are important, why she likes dual naming, and the importance of education when it comes to bringing back something's original name.   

Dr. Kasey Keeler wanders with us to discuss her personal experience and her professional research on life in the suburbs as a Native American in Hennepin County. We discuss what it is like growing up as a Native person in the suburbs, how access to nature can be improved, and why suburbs are often overlooked as Native places. 

Paul Bunyan and Babe the Big Blue Ox are classic stories in Minnesota culture. Where did these stories originate from? How are they connected to Ojibwe culture and history? How have these stories shaped our views of history? Dr. Deondre Smiles discusses his research on the origin of Paul Bunyon stories and the impacts it has had on Ojibwe life. 

OK, slime molds don't write. But amazing things have been written about them, allowing us to appreciate their wonder, explore societal ideas, and inspire future scientists. Dr. Lacy Johnson, from Rice University in Texas joins us to discuss why she chose to write a creative writing essay on slime molds and why she views creative writing as essential to science communication. 

How is intelligence defined? If you define it as learning and applying knowledge, then slime molds are intelligent. How did scientists determine this? How is a single celled organism with no brain or sensory organs able to experience its world and learn from it? Dr. Nirosha Murugan from Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario Canada wanders with us to discuss research about slime mold intelligence, and maybe even a cyborg future. This may be Brandon's favorite episode ever! 

What is a slime mold? It is an inconceivable single celled organism that can weigh up to 40 pounds, think and learn, and crawl around the forest floor searching for food. How can a single celled organism be 44 pounds, learn, and move? Matt the Regular Slime Guy joins us to help introduce us to what a slime mold is and how such an inconceivable creature lives its life. 

Darren Vogt, Resource Management Division Director at 1854 Treaty Authority, joins us to discuss what the 1854 Treaty Authority is, how the Ojibwe views on partnership with the land impact how the 1854 Treaty Authority stewards the land and the living things on it, and how wild rice being viewed as a gift by the Ojibwe creates a different perspective on managing it than other organizations might have. He discusses how they engage in wild rice and the research they are doing.  

How do you restore wild rice to an area? Steven Hogg, Senior Manager of Wildlife at Three Rivers Park District, talks about the work done to bring back wild rice. From sourcing seeds, to distributing them, and making sure it grows Steven talks about the challenges, what he's learned, and how the restoration is going at Three Rivers. 

Wild rice can be found in every grocery store, but what is it? Is it a rice? A grain? Find out as we learn about this uniquely North American food that has been in Minnesota for at least 12,000 years. Ann Geisen from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources wanders with us as we paddle through that rich history and context around wild rice in Minnesota.   

Dr. Adam Berland from Ball State University joins us to talk about research on why trees are important for people in an urban environment. He also talks to us about the surprising conclusions from his research in Minneapolis on how urban foresters can plant trees to prevent future large die offs from climate change and invasive species such as we've seen from Ash trees with Emerald Ash Borer, and Elm trees with Dutch Elm disease. He gives some advice on how you can choose trees that will help increase the resilience of trees to stress in the area. 

Laila Bacon and Makayla Freeman started working with Analyah Schlaeger do Santos when they were 14 years old. Seven years later they are still planting trees in Hennepin County were tree deserts exist, and teaching their community how to plant and care for the trees. Join us as they discuss why this work is important to them, the accomplishments and challenges they have faced over the last seven years, and how they keep hope alive despite the despair they sometimes feel trying to mitigate climate change. 

Trees provide health, economic, and many other benefits just by being present. However, some suburbs and urban areas in and around Minneapolis and Hennepin County are tree deserts. Analyah Schlaeger dos Santos, Environmental Justice Youth Director & Global Climate Justice Coordinator, MN Interfaith Power and Light, among many other things,. Joins us to talk about work she has done to increase tree cover in parts of Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs that had none, why that is important, and how it became a community effort. 

While connecting with fisher researchers Angela and Brandon were told over and over that there was one researcher they had to talk to. Dr. Roger Powell, Professor Emeritus at NC State University in North Carolina has been researching fishers for decades and is considered the expert on them. He shares his insights into fishers, how he raised fishers to learn more about them, and how they fit into, what he calls, a fitness landscape. 

Dr. Michael Joyce of the Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) at the University of Minnesota joins us to talk about why NRRI is researching fishers as they move from the north woods to southern Minnesota. What are the risks and rewards for a fisher living in a Three Rivers Park? How is he studying fishers? How can you help his research? Wander with us to find out. 

Fishers have been moving from northern Minnesota south and can now be seen in the Twin Cities area. What is a fisher? Join Brandon and Angela as they discuss what makes this large member of the weasel family special, and the special adaptations it has to help it hunt foods from rabbits to porcupines. 

Why does a scientist want poop mailed to them? Find out as Dr. Dr. Michelle Power joins us all the way from Australia! She has a passion for engaging the public in scientific research using it to help study diseases. We discuss what One Health is and how that impacts wildlife and human health. She also gives advice on what you can do to prevent antibiotic resistance and diseases in animals. 

Have you ever seen a sick fish? Dr. Isaiah E Tolo, Fish Health Supervisor at the Minnesota DNR, discusses diseases that affect fish, how he monitors for them, and what, if any, impacts they have on us. Learn how to help keep fish healthy as we dive deep into fish diseases. 

Just like humans, animals can get sick too. We wander with Dr. Michelle Carstensen, Wildlife Health Program Supervisor for the Minnesota DNR. How do animals get sick? What are some of the diseases the Minnesota DNR is looking out for in wildlife and how do they monitor for them? How can you help keep animals from getting sick? Wander with us to find the answers. 

Starting their research right here at Three Rivers, Dr. Jeanine Refsnider, shares the journey of being curious about Minnesota's State Threatened, Blanding's turtle, led to having her own lab at University of Toledo.  Jeanine shares past and current studies exploring turtle adaptions.   

How do baby turtles manage to wander from their nest to a lake or pond? If turtles are male or female is decided by temperature how will climate change impact them? Do turtle hatchlings coordinate their calendars to leave the nest? Learn all of this and more as Dr. Steve Freedberg, Professor of Biology at St. Olaf College discusses his research on turtles.  

Listen as Brandon and Angela start local with guest Dr. Tricia Markle from the MN Zoo to explore turtle species of the north, research, and conservation efforts we can all take towards healthy turtle populations such as road crossings.   

One of thing neonicotinoids are good at is traveling from where they are applied, to new areas by water. This is because it is designed to dissolve in water so seeds can suck it up. The unintended consequence is that it is effectively perpetually in rivers, streams, and other water bodies. Dr. Bill Arnold from the University of Minnesota about how and why he researches neonicotinoid presence in fresh water. 

How is a pesticide that targets insects harming backyard birds? Hardy Kern, Director of Government Relations, Pesticides and Birds Campaign at American Bird Conservancy, joins us to talk about the link that has been established between neonicotinoids and a decline in backyard birds across the country. He also gives us some tips on what we can do to avoid neonicotinoids to help the birds.  

We are joined by Dr. Charlotte Roy from The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to discuss their research to determine if Minnesota birds and mammals are exposed to neonicotinoids. From monitoring simulated seed spills, to driving by farms to look for seed spills, and doing lab work with chickens to see how much neonicotinoids needs to be consumed to be toxic, Dr. Roy's research has answered many questions about wildlife and neonics in Minnesota and she has worked with seed distributors and farmers to make changes based on her findings.  

Get a taste for hands on experience with land management from prescribed fire and bison introductions with Molly Tranel from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.  Women stepping into leadership roles has been a welcomed observed change over time and provides a necessary spark for confidence building.  Brining awareness early to career opportunities is key for ensuring the future stewards of tomorrow.   

Talk story and authentic representation with guest Mary Montes to explore the importance of hands on experience within environmental stewardship.  Starting with a Marine Science degree out of Hawaii to joining Conservation Corps in Minnesota, learn how relationships to land can differ.  An important reminder that everyone is connected through story as people but also to the land and wilderness.   

Starting in forestry and branching into education to engage women specifically with woodland management, Angie Gupta, a Forestry Extension Professor at the University of Minnesota, shares her personal and professional journey.  From various learning styles to the importance of family and connection to community there are many ways to make everyone feel welcomed in the outdoors.  Ending this interview with space to address eco-anxiety and taking a deep breath.   

Our Wildlife Supervisor Steven Hogg joins us to discuss his love for muskrats, their impacts on wetlands, and the balance Three Rivers has to find for managing an animal that is key to wetland health and also has a knack for impacting humans. 

Dr. Adam A. Ahlers from Kansas State University wanders with us as we discuss his research in Minnesota on muskrats. Through relocation studies, preferred diet studies, and other research he has been working to determine how invasive hybrid cattail and muskrats impact each other. 

What exactly is a muskrat and why has such a small creature been connected to international trade, World War 2, and the survival of wetlands? Join Brandon and Angela as they follow ripples in history and water and find their source- muskrats. 

Red-headed Woodpeckers are a strikingly beautiful and increasingly rare woodpecker. Join us as Dr. Elena West from the University of Minnesota discusses her research on how to improve habitat to help their populations. From studying fledglings in the nest to determining what kind of trees need to be present around nesting trees, she is providing a roadmap to restoring these woodpeckers.

Dr. Jorge Tomasevic, Research Coordinator at Austral University of Chile, joins us to talk about the research he did in Seattle on whether Pileated Woodpeckers can survive in the suburbs or not. He was shocked at how much they thrived. Join us to find out why they can thrive near us and hear stories of Cooper's Hawks, garbage trucks, and other obstacles to his research.

Start season 7 off with a bang! Literally, as Angela and Brandon explore how all of a woodpeckers adaptations are connected, allowing them to bang their head 12,000 times a day. Wander with us as we explore why they do that and how they survive.

Wander with us as our audience asks questions and Angela and Ron answer them. What is one of Ron's most memorable dragonfly experiences? Can we see all of the colors on a dragonfly? Can you make dragonfly habitat at home?  

As season six comes to a close we look back at a summer highlight of the Big Year of Bugs.  Join Angela at Eastman Nature Center's Dragonfly Festival as she talks to Ron Lawrenz, founding and current board member of the Minnesota Dragonfly Society, in front of a live audience. Why do Plain's Emeralds live near Eastman? What is the cultural significance of dragonflies? Wander with us to find out! 

Kao Thao, Outreach Naturalist from Fort Snelling State, wanders with us to discuss the history of squirrel hunting in Hmong Culture and why this makes squirrel hunting just as important as deer hunting for them. He shares how squirrel hunting gets the entire family outside, challenges to hunting and some possible answers from technology, and what he hopes for the future. We even get some squirrel cooking tips! 

Why do squirrels do so well in our cities and suburbs? Doctorate student Charlotte Devitz from the University of Minnesota joins us to talk about her research trying to answer this question. From chipmunks realizing her live traps are nice safe shelters to finding squirrels taking food from one house's trash and caching it in another house's mailbox, Charlotte shares her stories of researching squirrels in the Twin Cities and some of the reasons why they do well in cities.  

Wander with us as we head into the treetops and explore the unique world of tree squirrels! Why are they so good at getting into your bird feeders? Do they really need to keep chewing on things or die? What happens if they fall from a plane? Come with us as we explore the unique adaptations all squirrels have, and some of the specific skills Minnesota's three tree squirrels have as we answer these questions. 

Daniel and Amanda Crawford share their personal story of how the trauma from Daniel's service in the Marine Corp impacted their family, and how 23rd Veteran helped him in living a happier, healthier life. Daniel shares the struggles he went through and what his path to his current life took. Amanda shares what she learned as she supported Daniel through his journey. 

Joining us from 23rd Veteran is the Executive Director Mike Waldron and the Program Manager Matt Rosky. They share with us how their personal experiences have shaped 23rd Veteran, how the 14 week program works, and why nature helps veterans living with trauma live happier, healthier lives. 

We are back to finish our conversation with Brandon Harding as he talks about the successes, he saw in using nature to cope with trauma. Find out why shared suffering played an important role, and why Brandon prefers the term Combat Stress Injury to PTSD. 

Veterans and active-duty military members can struggle with trauma from their service. Former military chaplain Brandon Harding joins us to discuss what inspired him to start using nature as part of the retreats he led to help veterans and active military members cope with that trauma.   

The Northern Long-eared Bat is a Federally Endangered Species. Jill Utrup from USFWS manages the recovery team for the Northern Long-eared Bat. She talks with us about what it takes for a species to be federally listed, how that changes its protections, and the work done to help the species recover. 

Dr. Christine Salomon from the University of Minnesota joins us to discuss her research on controlling white-nose syndrome. Come spelunking with us as we learn what it is, why it is so dangerous, and possible hope for the future. 

It's spooky season and Melissa Boman with the MN DNR joins us to talk about the creature of the night, bats! From what bats live in Minnesota, to how they survive winters, and the adaptations that should make you say "cool" instead of "eww" we soar through the night listening for bats. 

We are joined by Missy Anderson, Propagation Specialist at Three Rivers Park District to talk about how they grow acorns into mighty oak sapling that are planted around the park district. What makes a good acorn? Do mast years have an effect? How do you grow thousands of oaks a year? Wander with us to find out. 

Dan Comerford, Forestry Supervisor at Three Rivers Park District, walks us through how oak trees are managed in Three Rivers' parks. From dealing with oak diseases to determining where they are planted, learn what goes into caring for the oaks you can walk by in our parks. 

Dr. Doug Tallamy, famous author, professor, and more wanders with us to discuss the one plant that can have the biggest impact in your yard, oaks. We discuss why oaks are such a powerful plant for biodiversity and turning your yard into a refuge for wildlife. 

A swarm of wings that darkened the sky. Millions of bodies on railroad tracks that kept the trains from moving. Crops, clothes, and anything else organic eating. The Minnesota Grasshopper Plagues of the 1870's devastated the immigrants and settlers in the area. Zack Mohlis from Three Rivers' History Team joins us to discuss the Grasshopper Plagues. 

Dr. Hojun Song, from Texas A&M University's Department of Entomology discusses his research on how grasshopper songs have evolved. From cricket calls that evolved before ears to grasshoppers evolving ears to help them swarm, wander with us as we study the hopping orchestra. 

Hop along with us as Marissa Schuh a University of Minnesota Extension Educator joins us to explore the common grasshoppers in the Twin Cities area, and what makes them special.  

John Moriarty, Senior Wildlife Manager at Three Rivers Park District, returns to talk about how you prepare to reintroduced a rare or endangered butterfly. From planting thousands of host plants to working with Federal Agencies, wander with us as we see what goes into restoring what's been lost. 

Land management or stewardship is a complex task, especially when you are managing nature on an Army Base. Jessup Weichelt, Land Manager at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin joins us to talk about managing habitat for rare and endangered butterflies, and what makes Army Bases so uniquely suited to this. 

What is a state pollinator coordinator? Rebecca Gutierrez-Moreno, the State Pollinator Coordinator with the Environmental Quality Board, wanders with us to discuss this and explore how pollinators, especially butterflies, are doing in Minnesota.  

Dr. Dan Larkin from the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology at the U of M discusses invasive aquatic species, issues with current control methods, and how we can better work to improve treatment of them while protecting native plants. 

Justin Valenty from our Water Resources team joins us to dive into how they monitor aquatic plants in the park district and some cool management techniques they are doing. This includes some rare Minnesota plants you can see in Three Rivers' parks! 

Brandon faces his fears and dives with Angela below the water to explore the plants that call lakes, ponds, and rivers home. Donna Perleberg, Aquatic Plant Ecologist from the Minnesota DNR, talks with us about native plant species. We learn about the different type of plants living in the water, including a predatory plant! 

Sabrina Celis and Emily Althoff, graduate students at the University of Minnesota and members of Frenatae join us to learn about the bugs that keep soil healthy. From tiny springtails to animals with way too many legs, join us to learn about the different kinds of bugs and what they do in the soil. 

Alex Romano from the Land Stewardship Project joins us to talk about how farmers are leading each other to sustainable practices and healthy soil. How can farmers teach each other sustainable soil practices and does it benefit them? Wander with us to find out. 

Dr. Lee Frelich Director of the Center for Forest Ecology at the University of Minnesota wanders with us as we discuss what makes forest soil healthy around the Twin Cities. We discuss the impacts invasive earthworms have had on soil, and how a new species of earthworm, the jumping worm, is expected to impact forests. 

Meg Duhr, Three Rivers Invasive Species Supervisor and participant of Becoming an Outdoor Woman or BOW, and her BOW mentor Kathy Von Bank join us to discuss hunting Wild Turkeys, barriers to being able to hunt and how the DNR program BOW helps remove those barriers. 

Nate Huck, Resident Game Bird Specialist, and Timothy Lyon, Research Scientist and Upland Game Project Leader, both from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources wander with us to discuss the history of the introduction of Wild Turkeys in Minnesota, the ecological balance of managing a game bird, and research currently being done. 

Angela and Brandon go on their own hunt to figure out fact and fiction on the topic of turkeys.  Can turkeys fly? How did they get their name? Did Benjamin Franklin really want them to be the national symbol of the United States? Tune in because the answers are beyond belief! 

Teaching and engaging with nature takes many forms, from film, writing, creative art, and much more.  Local writer, organizer, and film producer, Erin Sharkey, joins to discuss the power of nature in unearthing black history and memory, how we are guided by relationship building between people and the land for healing. 

Connecting everyone with the outdoors and wilderness continues to evolve, those stepping in to continue the legacy of outreach is changing, creating a spark of hope ahead to everyone feeling they belong.  Interpretive naturalist, Katie Frias, shares how this force of change can come from educators to create a bright future of stewardship.   

Working in any aspect of the outdoors is rewarding to most, fresh air and endless curiosity.  Join Angela, Brandon, and guest co-host Charity, as they talk with returning guest, Judy Voigt-Englund on her career working outdoors as a part of the wildlife team at Three Rivers and then later as an educator at our very own The Lowry Nature Center.   

Can humans and the land be in a mutualistic relationship? Jenna Grey-Eagle and Gabby Menomin from Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi share their thoughts on why we are, how approaching our relationship with the land as a mutualistic relationship benefits both us and the land, and how this view point impacts their work at Wakan Tipi Awayankapi.

Dr. Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian, Curator of Mycology at the New York State Museum talks with us about how cultural biases impact how we study things like symbiotes. We discuss how the tools of science help us understand the world until they become dogmatic, and how to avoid those pitfalls in science. 

Brandon and Angela explore the spectrum of symbiotes. From mutualistic relationships that are like  you and your friend making each other better, to that one friend that just takes and takes, a.k.a. the parasite, and everything in between wander with us as we figure out the complex relationships that make up the world.

Dr. Holly Menninger executive director of the Bell Museum wanders with us to discuss her research on the bugs found in your homes! Why are they there? What are they? Should you be worries? Learn all about the amazing variety of insects that share your home. 

Dr. Robin Thomson the curator for the University of Minnesota Insect Collection joins us to talk about what running a bug library is like. With insect collections from the late 1800's to today, the Insect Collection provides an invaluable resource for studying bugs. From unidentified specimens, to figuring out how to organize a collection like this, a lot goes into running it. 

It is BYOB! Big Year of Bugs. The coordinator for the year, Bailey Kaul, joins us to discuss why Three Rivers is celebrating bugs for a year, the diversity of bugs, what bugs are, and why they are important.  

White Earth Band of Chippewa member and Fond du Lac fire program manager Damon Panek as well as Rachel Olesiak, Research Plot Coordinator for the U of M Cloquet Forestry Center join us to talk about how the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the Cloquet Science Center partnered to bring back cultural fire for the first time in 100 years. The Cloquet Science Center stopped Ojibwe from practicing their fire management 100 years ago to preserve the forest. Rather than preserving the forest, the lack of fire drastically changed it. Learn how this partnership uses TEK and...

Rebecca Crooks-Stratton, Secretary/Treasurer of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and leader of the Understand Native Minnesota campaign joins us to discuss why the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is working with Minnesota teachers to improve education in K-12 schools about Native history. 

Dr. Deondre Smiles, member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and Assistant Professor at the University Of Victoria, Canada and his graduate student Aidan Gowland wander with us as we learn what Traditional Ecological Knowledge is, Western history with removing or co-opting the knowledge, and how Indigenous People are reclaiming it. We discuss why this knowledge is important and how parks are working with Native Nations to manage land using it. 

Leslee Gutiérrez Carrillo is a local climate activist who joins us to share her personal story about why and how she has worked to combat climate change in Minnesota and how she deals with the stress and anxiety caused by climate change. 

As our climate changes, the ways we manage parks have to change as well. Dr. Heidi Roop, Director of the University of Minnesota's Climate Adaptation Partnership and Joshua Booker, Zone Biologist for the US Fish and Wildlife Service join us to talk about the research they are doing to develop a climate change adaptation framework for National Wildlife Refuges in the Midwest. 

How is climate change affecting you? Brandon and Angela share stories of how the warmer winters are impacting their lives. Dr. Luigi Romolo, Minnesota State Climatologist, joins us to give specifics on how Minnesota's climate is changing, and some things you can do to help stop climate change. 

Nighttime can bring a lot of fears of the unknown, what we can't see but can hear.  Our imagination gets the best of us...but there is likely a reasonable explanation behind the various noises. One often overlooked nocturnal species is the Flying Squirrel. Michael Joyce, Wildlife Ecologist with Natural Resources Research Institute joins the podcast to put the spotlight on this nighttime creature.  

Kyle Johnson, Minnesota Biological Survey entomologist, wanders with us to discuss how moths in Minnesota are surveyed. How many moths are in Minnesota, Kyle is trying to find out. Are there new to science species in Minnesota. You Betcha! Can you help moths in your backyard? Tune in to hear Kyle's advice. 

The nights are getting longer, the aeolians of the wind creepier…What was that? Join Angela and Brandon for a night time excursion as they explore the sounds you can hear, and not hear, at night. 

David Woods, Conservation Program Director for Urban Roots, joins us to discuss how Urban Roots in St. Paul works to encourage youth to enter careers in the outdoor field. Often Urban roots is the student's first job and Urban Roots teaches them the basics of having a job. A progressive employment model encourages the students to grow as their duties and responsibilities increase as the student's work capacity increases. Learn how this organization is helping increase diversity in the outdoor field. 

Birdability was created to help everybody bird. Virginia Rose, founder, and Michael Hurben, Birdability's local representative join us to discuss what Birdability is, why it is important to people with disabilities, and how Birdability provides resources for people with disabilities to bird. 

Asha Shoffner, founder of FIWYGIN (Fusion) Outdoors and BIPOC Outdoors Twin Cities joins us to discuss the importance of having groups people can identify with to get them outside. She talks about why she created two different groups in the Twin Cities and how they meet the needs of two different groups of people. 

Did Brandon meet his match on puns? Find out as Dr. Solomon David, an aquatic biologist, assistant professor of biological sciences at Nicholls State University in Louisiana, one of the leading experts on gar, and punster extraordinaire joins us to discuss one of Minnesota's strangest fish, gar. From their strange shape, to studying their scales for use as body armor, to the behind the scenes of crafting a legislative bill to protect an animal, this pun filled episode is one you don't want to miss. 

Tyler Winter, River Ecologist and Director of Native Fish for Tomorrow, joins us as we explore Minnesota's native fish. What are some things that make them special? Can you eat them? If, like Brandon you feel a little guilty fishing can you enjoy them in a non-extractive way? Wander with us as we find out the answers.

Dr. Andrew Rypel, Professor at the University of California Davis and the Peter B. Moyle and California Trout Endowed Chair explores the underwater world of Minnesota and explains what a rough fish is. We push our knowledge upstream as we explore the history of these fish, why they are important to our lakes and rivers, and what we can do to help these native fish. 

Barry Knisley, Professor Emeritus of Randolph-Macon College & Rodger Gwiazdowski, Adjunct Professor, Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst discuss what goes into protecting tiger beetles, why it is hard to put insects on the endangered species list, and Angela has some plans for the prairie.

David Pearson, Research Professor in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University, joins us to talk about how tiger beetle species were named, why birds were integral to his interest in tiger beetles, and how to get involved in researching them. 

Wander with us as we burrow into the world of a creature that can run so fast it can't see where it is going, Tiger Beetles! Alex Harman, PhD student at Oklahoma State University joins us to discuss the unique strategies it has as both a larva and adult to catch prey and how you can help researchers study tiger beetles.  

Sarah Fultz, Senior Pollinator Conservation Specialist with Xerces Society, talks with us about the insects that help maintain a healthy garden, how you can encourage them to live in your garden, and techniques for going pesticide free. 

Jared Dyer, an entomology educator at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County New York wanders with us to discuss what Integrated Pest Management is, how parasitoid wasps help control unwanted species, and his research on one of those parasitoid wasps, the Samurai Wasp. 

Did you know Disney World doesn't use pesticides? If they don't need them, your garden doesn't either. Hope Flanagan, member of the Seneca Nation of Indians, and Community Outreach and Cultural Teacher for Dream of Wild Health joins us to discuss how they farm without pesticides. She provides a Native perspective on our relationship with insects and provides some strategies we can use in our gardens.