Forces for Nature: Recent Episodes

Crystal DiMiceli

Get informed, get inspired, and get empowered to make more animal and eco friendly choices.The Forces for Nature podcast celebrates people who are doing great things for animals and the environment. We bring you uplifting stories of these everyday heroes; their trials and triumphs; and how they find the motivation to keep going. You’ll leave feeling hopeful, prepped with actionable tips that answer your question, “But what can I possibly do,” so that you, too, can be a Force for Nature.

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What does it look like when conservation is not just a mission, but a lifetime practice?

In this episode, I sit down with Beverly and Dereck Joubert, whose decades of filmmaking, photography, and advocacy have helped shape how the world sees Africa’s wildlife. Their new book, Wild Eye, is a retrospective of what they have witnessed—but our conversation is really about what you do with what you witness.

We talk about the shift from documenting nature to defending it, and why they believe silence is no longer neutral. We also explore the deeper operating system underneath effective conservation: how protection becomes possible when it is tied to livelihoods, when tourism is shaped intentionally, and when storytelling is treated as strategy rather than decoration.

If you work in conservation, this conversation is a reminder that long-term wins often come from unglamorous decisions, values-based tradeoffs, consistency, collaboration, and building models that can last. If you simply love wild places, it is a powerful invitation to turn connection into responsibility, and responsibility into action.

Highlights

What experience helped move them from storytellers to advocates?
How their model of “Conservation funded by tourism” has worked to stop hunting, protect land, create jobs, and see wildlife rebound.
What lesson did they learn after their terrible accident with a buffalo and what it can teach us about resilience.

What YOU Can Do

Speak up where you have influence- at work, in your community, and in the rooms where decisions get made. As the Jouberts put it, if you see something going wrong, do not be complicit through silence .
Choose with intention: If travel is part of your life, do the research. Look for ethics, authenticity, and proof that a company is working with communities and doing no harm—because conscientious tourism can either protect wild places or put them at risk .
Collaborate: You do not need to start your own foundation to be part of the solution. Beverly talked about plugging into existing work—from community power projects to conservation and rewilding—so that your skills, resources, or donations become part of a bigger ripple .

Resources

Wild Eye by Beverly and Dereck Joubert
Great Plains Foundation

If you'd like to sponsor next season (or even just an episode) reach out to me and let's chat! My email is crystal@forcesfornature.com.

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

This season of Forces for Nature featured alumni from the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders community. Across very different ecosystems and roles, the same patterns kept showing up. I pull those threads together into a handful of practical lessons you can apply whether you work in conservation professionally or you just care deeply and want to be useful in whatever you’re passionate about.

Highlights

Lesson 1: Listen first. Trust is needed before solutions.
Lesson 2: Durability comes from local ownership.
Lesson 3: Small wins are not small.
Lesson 4: Storytelling is not fluff.
Lesson 5: Coexistence is engineered in the details.
Lesson 6: The “unsexy” stuff matters.
Lesson 7: Civic participation is also a conservation tool.

What YOU Can Do

Listen: Have one conversation with someone who is directly affected by a local issue — and do not lead with your solution.
Join something local. A watershed group, park friends group, community garden, citizen science effort—show up once.
Support: Give money to the backbone — operations, salaries, field costs — or volunteer a concrete skill you actually have.
Share a story: Share one episode and add one sentence about what action it made feel possible.
Show up civically: Bentley reminded us that public comments, specific asks, and local relationships matter. Choose one thing and do the small step.

Resources

Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders
Ep. 97 with Hugo Pereira
Ep. 98 with Kaitlyn Bock
Ep. 99 with David Tucker
Ep. 100 with Gaby Ochoa
Ep. 101 with Kate Gersh
Ep. 102 with Alex Goetz & Justin Grubb
Ep. 103 with Bentley Johnson
Ep. 104 with Ali Abdullahi
Ep. 105 with Shivani Bhalla
Ep. 106 with Jamal Galves
Ep. 107 with Rhett Ayers Butler

If you'd like to sponsor next season (or even just an episode) reach out to me and let's chat! My email is crystal@forcesfornature.com.

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

For this special live conversation, Crystal sat down on stage with Rhett Ayers Butler, founder and CEO of Mongabay, one of the most trusted sources of environmental journalism in the world.

Together, they explored the current state of conservation- from resilience and adaptation to the role of journalism, storytelling, technology, and informed optimism. The conversation also opened up to the audience, inviting questions from conservation practitioners working across ecosystems, regions, and disciplines.

This episode was recorded live at the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders (EWCL) 20th Anniversary Summit, a gathering that brought together conservation leaders and practitioners from around the world to celebrate two decades of community, collaboration, and impact.

What emerged was an honest, nuanced dialogue about where conservation stands today, what is changing, what is working, and how we continue moving forward- together.

Highlights

What are the characteristics of conservation initiatives that are scalable or replicable across the geographies?
How is Mongabay adapting to the challenges of distrust in science and disinformation campaigns?
How is Mongabay using optimism as a strategy?

WhatYou Can Do

Pay attention to the stories you share. Seek out and amplify conservation stories that highlight solutions, learning, and community leadership, not just problems.
Build constituencies, not just projects. Think about who needs to be at the table for conservation efforts to succeed, especially local and Indigenous communities.
Practice informed optimism. Look for evidence of what is working, acknowledge setbacks honestly, and use both to guide action.
Support independent environmental journalism. Reliable, transparent reporting plays a critical role in accountability, awareness, and change.
Stay connected to nature and to one another. As Rhett reminds us, getting outside and nurturing community are essential for sustaining long-term conservation work.

Resources

Mongabay
Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders (EWCL)
How to Find Optimism article
Rethinking How We Talk about Conservation and Why It Matters article
Health and Harmony (Project ASRI)

If you'd like to sponsor next season (or even just an episode) reach out to me and let's chat! My email is crystal@forcesfornature.com.

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

This is another episode of the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders program series!

Affectionately known as the Manatee Man, Jamal Galves discovered his calling earlier than most. Growing up in the coastal village of Gales Point Manatee, he saw these gentle animals almost every day, never realizing they were endangered until a team of researchers arrived and opened his eyes to their struggle. At just eleven years old, he stepped onto a manatee research boat for the first time and that moment reshaped the entire trajectory of his life.

Today, Jamal leads the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute’s Belize Program, home to the longest-running manatee conservation effort in the Greater Caribbean. His work blends rigorous science with the wisdom and partnership of local communities, creating a model of conservation that is as people-centered as it is wildlife-focused.

This episode explores the heart and science behind his work from marine mammal rescue, to the shifting health of manatee populations, how he gets buy-in of his conservation efforts, and more.

Highlights

How did an 11-year-old kid with no shoes talked his way onto a manatee research boat?
How a two-day old manatee rescued after a hurricane inspired a whole nation.
A first look at Belize’s new Marine Rescue & Education Center, built to heal manatees and inspire people toward action.

What YOU Can Do

Be mindful on the water. When boating or visiting coastal areas, follow no-wake zones, avoid seagrass beds, and stay alert for wildlife.
Start young - or start now. There is no age or skill requirement to make a difference. All you need is your desire to help.
Volunteer for cleanups, youth programs, or community events.
Share stories that inspire action. Spreading positive conservation messages helps reach people who may never encounter them otherwise.
Practice sustainable habits at home. Small changes in waste, water use, or energy matter when many people do them.

Resources

Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute – Belize Program
Manatee Conservation Information (Greater Caribbean / Antillean Manatee)
Jamal’s Instagram
Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders (EWCL)
Clearwater Marine Aquarium – Belize Marine Rescue & Education Center Announcement

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

When you imagine lions, you probably picture big prides sprawled across open savannas.

But in northern Kenya’s Samburu landscape, lions live a very different life, often alone, slipping quietly through a patchwork of people, livestock, and shrinking wild spaces. It is a hard place to be a lion… and an even harder place to protect them.

For nearly two decades, Shivani Bhalla, founder of Ewaso Lions, has been working alongside Samburu communities to understand and safeguard this uniquely challenging population of lions. What started as her desire to learn why lions were disappearing has grown into a powerful example of coexistence - one where warriors, women, and even young herders play a central role.

In this episode, we talk about the realities of living with lions, the deep cultural knowledge that makes conservation possible, the heartbreaks and wins that shape Shivani’s days, and the unexpected visitor who reminded us - mid-conversation - what coexistence looks like in real time.

Highlights

Why do Samburu’s lions live so differently from the ones we see in documentaries?
What made young warriors shift from hunting lions to protecting them?
How did a group of local women convince Shivani that they could restore habitat better than anyone else?
Who was Nana, the lioness whose story continues to shape an entire landscape?

What YOU Can Do

Spend time in nature. Reconnecting with the natural world, even in small, everyday ways, builds empathy and a desire to protect it.
Help others access nature. Support programs that give children and communities the chance to experience wildlife positively.
Speak up for local green spaces and wildlife. Your voice can influence how your community values and protects nature.
Support community-led conservation. Funding essentials like salaries, fuel, medical care, emergency response, and habitat work helps organizations like Ewaso Lions stay effective.
Champion efforts grounded in local leadership. Programs created by the community, like Warrior Watch and Mama Simbas, are the ones with real staying power.

Resources

Ewaso Lions
Instagram
YouTube
Facebook

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

Most people have heard about elephants and rhinos being in trouble. But few realize that giraffes are quietly disappearing too. And also the hirola, a graceful antelope found only along the Kenya–Somalia border, is down to fewer than 500 left on Earth.

In this episode, Dr. Abdullahi Ali shares how his journey from a nomadic childhood to a Ph.D. in ecology led him to found the Hirola Conservation Program and the Somali Giraffe Project - two community-led efforts rewriting what coexistence looks like.

Ali’s story is as much about people as it is about wildlife. From restoring grasslands once maintained by elephants before they were poached to helping farmers swap mango trees for lime trees to prevent conflict with giraffes, his work shows that when conservation is rooted in local knowledge, everyone thrives.

Highlights

How Dr. Ali’s childhood herding goats (and occasionally getting lost doing it!) shaped his lifelong connection to nature.
How climate change is creating “climate refugees” - not just people, but also animals.
The power of community-led solutions: from adult literacy classes to wildlife-friendly livelihoods.

What You Can Do

Partner with the Hirola Conservation Program and the Somali Giraffe Project.
Share what’s going on with giraffes and hirolas. It might be a surprise to most.
Look for ways to design coexistence where you live - in your garden, your community, or your workplace.
Remember that conservation works best when it’s collaborative between species, between people, and across borders.

Resources

Facebook
X
YouTube

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate and review it on your favorite podcasting app! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

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What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

Federal policy might seem distant from the forests, rivers, and wildlife we care about but, as Bentley Johnson of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters explains, its impact reaches straight into our daily lives.

From an executive order that resulted in higher(!) energy prices to bipartisan efforts that ensure the water coming from your tap is clean, Bentley reveals how political decisions ripple through ecosystems, economies, and communities alike.

He also reminds us that our power doesn’t end at the ballot box. Between elections, we can still shape the laws that protect clean air, renewable energy, and wild spaces- by showing up, speaking out, and holding leaders accountable.

If you’ve ever wondered how what happens in Washington affects us directly, this episode will connect those dots and help you see what you can be doing in between elections that can make a difference.

This is another episode of the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders program Series!

Highlights

The real-world consequences of rolling back clean-energy and conservation laws.
Bipartisan success stories- from PFAS cleanup to Great Lakes restoration- that prove cooperation is still possible.
Why framing issues around health, cost, and community helps bridge divides.

What YOU Can Do

Vote in every election, especially local ones. City and state leaders decide on wildlife corridors, pollution standards, and habitat funding. **CHECK TO SEE IF YOUR AREA IS HOLDING ELECTIONS THIS NOVEMBER 4TH.
Check your representatives’ environmental records. Visit your state’s League of Conservation Voters or lcv.org/scorecard.
Speak up between elections. Attend town halls, share your story, and comment on proposed environmental rule changes.
Join or support local conservation and restoration projects. The federal picture changes, but local action keeps progress alive.
Share success stories. Remind others that clean-energy projects, restored wetlands, and wildlife protections are working. Hope is contagious.

Resources

Michigan LCV's Take Action page.
MLCV's Action Hub
Michigan LCV's Scorecard
Because Michigan LCV's scorecard is focused on Michigan, you may be interested in the national LCV's congressional scorecard where anyone in the country can look up their Members of Congress.
We also talked about the greenhouse gas emissions reporting rollback. Here is a link to take action on that (it's a national effort but this link is unique for Michigan LCV so that if people use it to make a comment, they can get credit).
Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders (EWCL) program

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

Wildlife filmmakers Justin Grubb and Alex Goetz have traveled from Costa Rica to Alaska capturing stories that connect people and wildlife in powerful ways. As co-founders of Running Wild Media, their work has appeared on National Geographic, PBS, Discovery+, and Disney+, and has been recognized with multiple awards and Emmy nominations.

In this conversation, Justin and Alex share the behind-the-scenes realities of wildlife filmmaking- the challenges, the ethics, and the unexpected humor that happens along the way. From hellbenders in Appalachia to red wolves in North Carolina, they reveal how the most effective conservation stories aren’t about animals alone, they’re about people.

You’ll also hear how they build campaigns that lead to tangible impact, why hopeful storytelling is their most powerful tool, and how each of us can use our own voice to spark change, no matter what our day job is.

Highlights

From prairie dog turf wars to crocodile close calls, what it’s really like in the field.
The ethics of getting the perfect shot while respecting the wildlife.
Why the most powerful wildlife stories focus on the humans connected to the animals.

What YOU Can Do

Justin and Alex shared several simple yet meaningful ways listeners can help support wildlife and conservation storytelling:

Tell your own story.Use your phone, words, art, or photos to share the nature you love. A story told with authenticity and hope can inspire others to care.
Be a hopeful voice. Social media can get dark. Choose to amplify the good instead. Share solutions, success stories, or even small wins happening in your community.
Engage locally.Attend or support environmental or wildlife film festivals. Ask questions, start conversations, and connect with filmmakers and advocates in your area.
Support authentic conservation media.Donate to or share films that are fact-based and community-centered. Look for productions that give voice to both people and wildlife.
Stay curious and informed.Fact-check what you share, know your sources, and help counter misinformation about wildlife and conservation issues.
Look closer to home.You don’t need to go to the rainforest to find wonder. Start by noticing and appreciating the wildlife in your own backyard.

Resources

Running Wild Media website
Hellbent (Film) – about hellbenders and the Rights of Nature movement
Running Wild Instagram
Running Wild YouTube
Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders (EWCL) program

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

This is another episode of the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders program series!

In a place where moose wander through neighborhoods and grizzlies sometimes cross backyard fences, living alongside wildlife takes creativity, cooperation, and care. The Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation is proving that when communities come together, including volunteers, landowners, agencies, and visitors alike, they can create lasting solutions that benefit both people and wildlife.

In this episode, Associate Director Kate Gersh shares how this small but mighty organization helps the Greater Yellowstone community coexist with the wild neighbors that make Jackson Hole so special. From pulling down old barbed-wire fences to hand-removing invasive weeds and collecting valuable wildlife data, Kate’s volunteers are showing that conservation success depends on everyone’s participation- not just scientists or professionals.

Kate and I first met through the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders program, where we worked together on a global bat conservation project. It’s been incredible to see how she continues to carry that same collaborative spirit into her work today.

Highlights

How community volunteers have become the lifeblood of wildlife conservation in Jackson Hole.
Why collaboration among ranchers, agencies, nonprofits, and residents leads to solutions that last.
Why conservation needs communicators, fundraisers, and advocates just as much as biologists.

What YOU Can Do

Inspired by Kate’s work? Here are some simple ways to help make your own community more wildlife-friendly:

Volunteer your time with local conservation projects or citizen science programs.
Use bear-resistant trash cans and secure garbage to keep wildlife safe and wild.
Plant native species to support pollinators and local ecosystems.
Support local conservation groups- your voice, time, or donation matters.
Advocate for smart land-use policies that protect wildlife movement and habitat.
Talk about coexistence and help spread understanding of how people and wildlife can thrive together.

Resources

Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation website
Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders program, that brought Kate and me together, is accepting applications for its next class of young wildlife professionals. Apply here and tell them I sent you!
Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation Facebook
Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation Instagram
Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation YouTube

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

This is another episode of the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders program series!

In 2011, Honduras declared all its waters a shark sanctuary. On paper, it looked like a major conservation win. But for the Indigenous Miskito fishers who had relied on sharks for generations, the law came without consultation- turning long-standing practices into crimes overnight.

My guest, Gabriela “Gaby” Ochoa, is a Honduran marine biologist and founder of Ilili, an organization named after the Miskito word for “shark.” Ilili is working to flip the script on top-down conservation by putting local communities at the center of decision-making. From training fishers in scientific methods, to blending traditional knowledge with modern science, to navigating the complexities of shark sanctuaries, Gaby’s work offers a powerful example of what conservation looks like when it’s truly locally driven.

Highlights

What was the paradox of Honduras’ shark sanctuary and why did top-down conservation backfire here.
How to build trust with fishers and transform them into collaborators and co-researchers.
The emotional challenges of shark conservation and the small wins that keep Gaby going.

What YOU Can Do

Listen first. Conservation that lasts begins by hearing all perspectives, especially those most impacted.
Find citizen science opportunities by you. And, if you are in Honduras, report shark and ray sightings through Ilili’s website.
Remember that conservation isn’t about telling people what to do. It’s about empowering local communities to lead.
Shop to support Ilili

Resources

Ilili website
Facebook
Youtube
Instagram

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

This is another episode of the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders program series!

Whether you’re trying to protect a local park, rally donations for your nonprofit, or simply get your friends to recycle, one of the hardest parts of making change is inspiring others to care. How do you move people from awareness to action? That’s the art of fundraising- and it’s about far more than asking for money.

In this episode, David Tucker of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation pulls back the curtain on what he’s learned after years of connecting people’s passions with one of the most ambitious ecosystem restoration efforts in the world. Through stories of the Bay, David shares practical strategies that anyone can use to promote their own cause.

Highlights

Why fundraising is really about relationships, not just money.
How do you get people to feel a connection to a cause?
What is more powerful, storytelling or stats?

What YOU Can Do

Even small, reoccurring gifts are helpful to an organization. Especially if it is unrestricted.
You can hold personal fundraisers, like a dinner, to raise money for a cause you believe in.
If you are a business owner, you can donate a certain percentage of the profit of a particular product to an organization.
Find out if your employer has a donor match program.

Resources

Chesapeake Bay Foundation website
CBF Facebook
CBF Instagram
CBF LinkedIn
CBF YouTube

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

This is another episode of the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders program series!

Across Africa, thousands of primates are finding themselves the victims of the illegal wildlife trade, bushmeat hunting, and habitat loss. For many, survival depends on the work of sanctuaries. These safe havens provide food, medical care, and, in some cases, even a path back to the wild.

Today’s guest, Kaitlyn Bock, has spent the past decade with the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA) helping to support these vital places. PASA is a network of 23 sanctuaries in 13 countries working together to rescue primates, fight trafficking, and engage local communities in conservation.

Kaitlyn’s stories- from orphaned chimps taking their first steps into forested enclosures to the tireless staff who keep sanctuaries running day after day- shine a light on why sanctuaries matter and how they give wildlife a second chance.

Highlights

What makes a sanctuary “good” and how to spot red flags.
Why reintroduction to the wild is both rare and extraordinary.
The hidden role sanctuaries play in enforcing wildlife laws across Africa.

Key Signs of a Good Sanctuary

No direct contact: Visitors should not be feeding, bathing, or taking selfies with the animals.
Educational focus: You leave more informed about the animals’ plight and why the sanctuary exists.
High-welfare enclosures: Spacious, naturalistic habitats that mimic the species’ environment.
Enrichment provided: Animals are given activities and materials (like branches or puzzles) to encourage natural behaviors.
Transparency: Staff openly explain each animal’s story and why they are there.
No intentional breeding: Ethical sanctuaries don’t breed animals in captivity for display or tourism.
Responsible social media: No images of animals in clothes, behaving like pets, or posing with tourists. Captions should educate, not entertain at the animals’ expense.

What YOU Can Do

Donate to sanctuaries. Even small, monthly gifts- especially unrestricted- help to cover food, care, and staff.
Volunteer either on-site or remotely with skills like grant writing or communications.
Speak up on social media when you see red flags in wildlife content.
Only visit sanctuaries that avoid direct contact and focus on education.

Resources

Pan-African Sanctuary Alliance website
X
Facebook
Instagram

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

This season of Forces for Nature is extra special- all of the guests are participants in the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders (EWCL) program, a global network of conservationists who are pushing the boundaries of how people and wildlife can thrive together. As EWCL celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, I’m spotlighting some of the inspiring individuals whose work is shaping the future of conservation.

To kick things off, I sat down with Dr. Hugo Pereira, a field veterinarian with the Mozambique Wildlife Alliance. Hugo’s job might sound like it’s all about the animals- from darting elephants, to rescuing orphaned rhinos, and rehabilitating pangolins- but as he makes clear, conservation is just as much about people. In Mozambique, communities and wildlife share the same land, which means Hugo’s work often starts with listening to frustrations, building trust, and co-creating solutions that reduce conflict and create opportunity. And while you may never lift a rhino calf into a helicopter or pull an elephant out of the mud, you probably do encounter your own version of human–wildlife conflict whether it’s deer eating your garden, coyotes prowling your neighborhood, or simply the daily choices of how your community shares space with nature. Hugo’s “people-first” approach shows us that coexistence starts with compassion, creativity, and persistence and the principles he lives by in the savannas of Mozambique are the same ones that can guide us in our own backyards.

Highlights

The adrenaline and precision behind rescuing a rhino calf orphaned by poachers.
How Hugo and the Mozambique Wildlife Alliance adapt with creativity in the field to save animals in crisis.
Why a “people-first” approach is essential for reducing human-wildlife conflict and creating space for coexistence.

What YOU Can Do

Volunteer your skills to support local zoos or conservation institutions.
Share conservation stories on social media. Spreading the right information helps raise awareness and attract wider support.
Donate to conservation organizations.
Educate yourself about organizations in your own area: Who they are, why they do what they do, and what would happen if they didn’t exist. This awareness builds empathy and informed support.
Get informed about local wildlife and why they’re present. Understanding why deer, coyotes, or other species show up in neighborhoods helps people move from frustration to tolerance.
Modify your environment to prevent conflict:
- Build or adjust fences to keep animals out of gardens or crops.
- Use deterrents like flashlights, noises, or scarecrows, depending on the species.
Recognize “tolerance” as an important step: we don’t have to love the wildlife around us, but learning to tolerate them is the bridge toward coexistence.

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

After a powerful series of conversations recorded at the EarthX Conference in Dallas, Texas, Forces for Nature host, Crystal DiMiceli, is taking this moment to pause, reflect, and share what she's carrying forward as the season ends.

In this solo episode, she talks about the common themes that emerged across the EarthX series, the value of having all stakeholders in the room—even those we may not always agree with—and why it’s okay to hold complexity in this moment. She also offers some gentle questions to help you stay grounded and engaged as we face both political and environmental challenges alongside a sneak peak as to what she will be up to in the coming months.

EarthX is more than just a conference—it’s a space for unlikely alliances, which leads to real, on-the-ground hope. If you're intrigued to check out the conference for yourself, go to https://earthx.org/

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

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Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

Welcome to another episode of the EarthX Conference series!

When you think of ocean conservation, coral reefs likely come to mind. But what if the real unsung hero of the sea is something far less glamorous—and far more vital? Filmmaker Adam Hussain brings us into the underwater world of kelp forests in his upcoming documentary Seaforestation. These underwater ecosystems cover more area than coral reefs, support an astonishing range of marine life, and play a quiet but powerful role in fighting climate change.

Adam shares surprising facts—like how kelp forests could be worth more than the Great Barrier Reef in economic value—and tells stories from the field, including sea lions hopping aboard boats and witnessing the last 5% of Tasmania’s once-vast giant kelp forests. If you've ever dismissed seaweed as just ocean salad, this episode might just change your mind.

Highlights:

Why kelp is critical to coastal ecosystems and climate stability?
What’s threatening these forests—and it’s not just one thing?
How scientists are using “assisted adaptation” to help kelp survive warming oceans?

What YOU Can Do

Most people don’t even know kelp forests exist, let alone how important they are. Just talking about what you learned in this episode can spark awareness and curiosity.
Companies that farm seaweed responsibly (rather than harvesting it from the wild) are helping create demand for sustainable ocean industries. Look for packaging and food products made from farmed seaweed.
Ocean warming is one of the biggest threats to kelp. Cutting back on emissions—from energy use to transportation to food choices—can make a difference at scale.

Resources

Seaforestation movie. https://seaforestfilm.com/

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

This is another episode of the Forces for Nature, EarthX Conference series!

What if the way we approach learning could shape not just our own success, but the future of our planet? In this episode, I sit down with James Keyes—former CEO of 7-Eleven and Blockbuster—who believes that education isn’t just about getting a degree; it’s the key to freedom, progress, and solving some of our biggest challenges. But here’s the catch: many of us stop actively learning after school, relying instead on the information that already fits our worldview. That’s where we get stuck.

In this conversation, we explore how fear is weaponized to keep people divided, why knowledge alone isn’t enough to change minds, and how we can shift the way we communicate environmental solutions to be more inviting, less polarizing, and ultimately more effective.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, an activist, or simply someone who wants to engage more critically with the world, this episode will challenge how you think about learning, decision-making, and even the way you advocate for change.

Highlights

Why fear—not lack of information—is at the root of many societal and environmental challenges.
How militant ignorance keeps people from seeing solutions (and how to avoid falling into that trap ourselves).
The three skills you actually need to be a lifelong learner—far beyond the classroom.

What YOU Can Do

Challenge your own biases: Are you truly open to new perspectives, or just reinforcing what you already believe?
Shift your messaging: When advocating for change, focus on shared values and opportunities rather than battles and division.
Reignite your curiosity: Instead of assuming you already know the answer, start asking why more often.

Resources

Education is Freedom: The Future is in Your Hands by James Keyes.
Jame's website
James Keyes’ TEDx Talk on the power of learning

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

This is another episode of the Forces for Nature, EarthX Conference series!

The health of our oceans is critical—not just for marine life, but for our economy and future sustainability. Enter Ocean Exchange, an organization dedicated to accelerating solutions that improve ocean health and coastal resilience. And, one of only four groups in the United States that was awarded the recent NOAA Ocean Enterprise Accelerator grant!

In this episode, I sit down with Millicent Pitts, the Executive Director of Ocean Exchange, to explore how they’re funding and supporting game-changing innovations in the blue economy.

From cleaning up agricultural runoff to creating bio-based chemicals from coral reefs, these solutions are already making a difference. Over the past 13 years of giving non-dilutive grants to start-ups, the finalists in their process have raised $3.1 billion, mostly in seed and venture capital rounds.

Millicent shares the challenges these innovators face, why investors are finally paying attention, and how we can all play a role in supporting ocean health.

Highlights

How Ocean Exchange helps fund and accelerate ocean-focused startups.
The growing blue economy and why it matters.
Innovations tackling biodiversity loss, pollution, and carbon sequestration.

What YOU Can Do

Even if you’re not an investor or scientist, there are ways to support these innovations and ocean health:

Stay Informed – Follow and share updates from organizations like Ocean Exchange.
Support Sustainable Businesses – Look for companies investing in ocean-friendly practices.
Advocate for Stronger Policies – Support initiatives that regulate ocean pollution and promote clean energy.
Reduce Your Own Impact – Minimize single-use plastics, choose sustainable seafood, and reduce carbon emissions.
Get Involved Locally – Participate in beach cleanups or citizen science projects related to marine conservation.

Resources

Ocean Exchange
Water Warriors
Cordelia Biosciences
Ocean Rescue Alliance
Silent Returns
Minesto
EcoSubSea

If today’s conversation sparked your curiosity, there’s no better place to dive deeper into topics like this than at EarthX, the world’s largest environmental gathering. Tickets for their event in April are on sale now at earthx.org. Be sure to grab yours and join the global community working toward a healthier, more sustainable planet.

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

This is another episode of the Forces for Nature, EarthX Conference series!

What if nature itself could help clean up our most toxic messes? That’s the promise of bioremediation, a groundbreaking process that uses living organisms—like microbes, plants, and fungi—to restore polluted environments. In this episode, we’re joined by two guests who are leading the charge in this field: Cheyne Robertson, founder of Ergofito Bio, whose expertise lies in leveraging microbial solutions to heal ecosystems, and Rudy Montes, founder of Phoenix Harvest, a U.S. Army veteran turned environmental innovator working to transform toxic sites into thriving, sustainable landscapes. Together, we explore the science, challenges, and hope behind bioremediation, and the ways it could reshape our approach to environmental restoration.

Highlights

What is Bioremediation?
What role do microbes play in bioremediation?
What are some real-life examples of Bioremediation in action?

What YOU Can Do

Superfund cleanups often rely on federal funding through the EPA. Contact your representatives and advocate for increased funding and stricter enforcement of environmental regulations.
Support legislation that holds polluters accountable for the costs of cleanup, ensuring the burden doesn’t fall solely on taxpayers.
Learn about Superfund sites in your area using the EPA’s Superfund Site Locator Tool.

Resources

Ergofito Bio
Phoenix Harvest
Get your tickets to EarthX
Keep an eye out for Richard Harmer’s EarthX ProPlanet Podcast—coming soon!

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

This is another episode of the Forces for Nature, EarthX Conference series!

As the president of the United Nations Association – Orange County Chapter - Dave Rice is committed to localizing the UN's global Sustainable Development Goals. To effectively achieve this, Dave founded the nonprofit Sustainable Impact Alliance (SIA), and its for-profit counterpart, Sustainable Impact Alliance Solutions International (SIASI). Through his mantra of "Think Globally, Act Locally," Dave demonstrates how harnessing data and fostering collaboration can make sustainable development attainable for all communities.

Highlights

The mission of SIA and how it mobilizes local communities to achieve global goals.
How SIASI bridges the gap between nonprofit initiatives and innovative for-profit solutions.
The development of a Climate Dashboard in Orange County, California, to track energy usage, emissions, and green solutions for 34 cities and 3.5 million residents.

What YOU Can Do

Join the United Nations Association.
Find a local citizen coalition or climate group you can get involved in.
Promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Resources

Sustainable Impact Alliance Solutions
Check out Local2030
Follow Dave Rice on LinkedIn

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

This is another episode of the Forces for Nature, EarthX Conference series!

What if your home could do more than provide shelter—what if it could help heal the planet? In this episode, Eric Amyot, co-founder of Issho House, Oliizoi, and ReGen Earth Studio, talks about his visionary approach to sustainable and regenerative living. We explore groundbreaking innovations in home design, including self-sufficient, closed-loop systems that produce their own food, water, and energy. You'll also learn how waste-diverted, chemical-free materials are revolutionizing construction and why rethinking community ownership is key to making housing more equitable and resilient. A sustainable world starts at home and Eric is helping to make that a reality.

Highlights

How can homes be designed to not only minimize their environmental impact but also actively regenerate the planet?
What steps can be taken to reduce the waste and health risks associated with traditional home construction?
Why is community an essential part of building a sustainable future, and how can it be reimagined?

What YOU Can Do

Conduct a Home Audit: Start by understanding your home’s current condition, including energy use, water quality, air quality, and materials. This helps identify areas for improvement.
Address Air Quality: Remove or replace items containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as carpets, paints, and cleaning products, with healthier, eco-friendly alternatives.
Improve Insulation and Windows: Ensure your home is well-insulated and replace outdated windows to improve energy efficiency and reduce heating and cooling needs.
Install Renewable Energy Systems: Consider solar panels, wind turbines, or geothermal systems to reduce reliance on traditional energy sources.
Upgrade Water Systems: Test your water quality and consider implementing greywater recycling or rainwater harvesting systems.
Adopt Waste-Reduced Materials: Use recycled or waste-diverted materials for renovations, such as reclaimed wood or innovative options like recycled paper countertops.
Grow Your Own Food: Incorporate indoor or outdoor food-growing systems to reduce reliance on store-bought produce.
Retrofit for Resilience: Look into programs or services, like Issho’s Revive, that can help retrofit your home for greater sustainability, energy efficiency, and self-sufficiency.
Take a Holistic Approach: Evaluate the overall health and functionality of your home to ensure it aligns with sustainable living principles, addressing structural, environmental, and lifestyle factors.

Resources

Oliizoi
Issho Homes
Revive- Resilient Retrofitting
ReGenEarth Studio

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

What does it mean to truly live a life of purpose, one that not only fulfills us but also helps regenerate our world? Lynne Twist, a legendary activist, philanthropist, and co-founder of the Pachamama Alliance, has an answer. Lynne shares powerful stories from her work alongside indigenous communities in the Amazon rainforest and explains how each of us can contribute to creating a more just and thriving planet. Through her inspiring journey and wisdom on our relationship with money, Lynne challenges us to rethink what we truly value and reveals how we can find our unique calling by identifying what breaks our hearts and makes our spirits soar.

Tune in to hear about her mystical connection to the Amazon, the life-changing encounter that inspired her to found the Pachamama Alliance, and practical steps you can take today to align your choices with the future you want to see.

Highlights

The story behind Lynne’s call to action from the Amazon and her partnership with the Achuar people.
How to find purpose by connecting with what breaks your heart and makes your heart sing.
Why money, like water, can be a force for healing or harm—and how to use it wisely.

What YOU Can Do

Stop worrying, start doing.
We have lost the sense of community above the individual. What can you do to help establish a sense of community near you?
Engage with organizations doing work that resonates with you, whether local, regional, national, global in scale.
As Lynne suggests, approach money as a tool for good; support businesses and causes that contribute to a sustainable future.
Recognize and support the rights of indigenous communities to protect their land and culture.

Resources

Pachamama Alliance
Pachamama Courses such as Awakening the Dreamer plus more!
Lynne's book, The Soul of Money: A transformative look at how to use money in alignment with our values.
Regeneration.org: Resources and ideas for living sustainably and regeneratively.

If you'd like to sponsor next season (or even just an episode) reach out to me and let's chat! My email is crystal@forcesfornature.com.

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

This is another episode of the Forces for Nature, EarthX Conference series!

How can the landscapes around us play a direct role in reducing carbon emissions? In this episode, we talk with Jim Blackburn, the CEO of BCarbon, about nature-based carbon sequestration. Jim shares how BCarbon is helping landowners restore prairies, forests, and wetlands to store carbon naturally, and why the voluntary carbon market could play a pivotal role in combating climate change. We explore how these projects contribute not only to carbon reduction but also to ecological resilience, biodiversity, and sustainable economic incentives for landowners. Whether you’re curious about the carbon market or looking for impactful ways to reduce your own carbon footprint, this episode sheds light on a holistic approach to climate action.

Highlights

How does BCarbon’s nature-based approach to carbon capture work, and why is it different from technological carbon capture technology?
How can we know if carbon credits are truly making a difference or if they’re just being used as “greenwashing”?
Why might investing in carbon credits be a meaningful step for individuals and businesses aiming to offset their environmental impact?

What You Can Do:

Look into verified, nature-based carbon offset options to balance out your personal or business emissions.
Support local conservation and restoration efforts that contribute to biodiversity and carbon storage.
Engage with nature.

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

BCarbon – Learn more about BCarbon and how they work with landowners for natural carbon sequestration.
Texas Coastal Exchange – A program supporting carbon sequestration along the Texas coast.

If you'd like to sponsor next season (or even just an episode) reach out to me and let's chat! My email is crystal@forcesfornature.com.

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

This is another episode of the Forces for Nature, EarthX Conference series!

Daniel Cardenas is the founder of CarbonEx, a Native American-owned carbon solutions firm. With over 20 years of experience in the carbon management field, Daniel shares his insights into one of today’s most polarizing climate solutions—technological carbon capture. As a member of the Pit River Tribe, Daniel brings a unique entrepreneurial and Indigenous perspective to the conversation, blending economic opportunity with environmental stewardship.

Highlights

How do carbon capture technologies work to combat climate change?
What are some of the potentials and some of the pitfalls of carbon capture technology?
Hear how we are not in an energy transition but, rather, an energy evolution.

Resources

The Inflation Reduction Act and the 45Q tax credit: Key federal incentives for carbon capture and storage projects.

What YOU Can Do

Support policies that promote carbon capture technologies and sustainable land management.
Stay informed about the development of carbon capture technologies and consider supporting companies or organizations working in this space.
Plant trees and restore native plants in your community to help sequester carbon naturally.

If you'd like to sponsor next season (or even just an episode) reach out to me and let's chat! My email is crystal@forcesfornature.com.

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

This is another episode of the Forces for Nature, EarthX Conference series!

Julie Thorstenson is a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Nation and the Executive Director of the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society. Julie's deep connection to the land began in her youth, growing up on her family’s ranch in South Dakota, where she developed a love for nature that would shape her career. Now, she works tirelessly to ensure that Tribal Nations are included in wildlife conservation efforts and advocates for more equitable funding for tribal fish and wildlife programs.

Highlights:

How traditional ecological knowledge complements Western science in wildlife management?
A look at the challenges Tribal Nations face in conservation, particularly around funding inequities.
What is the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act and why it is crucial for tribes, the environment, and biodiversity?

What You Can Do to Help:

Sign petitions supporting the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) to ensure tribes receive equitable funding for conservation efforts.
Contact your representatives and ask them to support the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act to boost conservation funding for Tribal Nations and other local wildlife programs.
Educate yourself on the diversity of Tribal Nations and their unique roles in conservation. Every tribe is different, and understanding their individual needs is crucial to supporting their efforts.
Build relationships: Don’t assume the answers; instead, ask questions and listen to understand the barriers tribes face in accessing resources for conservation.

Resources Mentioned:

Native American Fish and Wildlife Society: An organization providing technical assistance and policy support to Tribal Nations engaged in fish and wildlife conservation.
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA): A bipartisan bill that aims to allocate $1.4 billion to states and tribes for wildlife conservation.
America the Beautiful Challenge Grants: Collaborative grants supporting conservation projects that span large landscapes, including Tribal-led initiatives.

If you'd like to sponsor next season (or even just an episode) reach out to me and let's chat! My email is crystal@forcesfornature.com.

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

This is another episode of the Forces for Nature, EarthX Conference series!

We're never going to create the healthy and humane world we want to see if we continue to be so divided from one another. Manu Meel is working to bring us together. He is the founder of BridgeUSA, an organization that empowers young people to foster constructive dialogue across political and ideological divides. With the United States feeling more polarized than ever, Manu shares how BridgeUSA is building spaces where real conversations can happen—ones focused on listening, understanding, and collaborating to find common ground. Discover the power of vulnerability in bridging divides, learn how to establish ground rules for productive dialogue, and understand the crucial difference between attacking arguments and attacking individuals.

Whether you're feeling disheartened by today’s political climate or looking for practical steps to promote understanding, this episode will leave you feeling hopeful and empowered to take action.

Highlights

With so much polarization today, what do you think is missing from our conversations, and how does BridgeUSA address this gap?
What practical norms does BridgeUSA teach for fostering constructive conversations?
What actionable steps can listeners take to help bridge divides in their own communities?

What YOU Can Do

Be Vulnerable: Share your own experiences and reasons for your beliefs—it invites others to do the same.
Set Ground Rules: Before diving into challenging topics, agree on norms like listening to understand (not just to respond), avoiding interruptions, and focusing on ideas, not people.
Seek Out Diverse Perspectives: Challenge your own biases by actively seeking out viewpoints different from your own to foster a broader understanding.
Vote in Primaries: Recognize that fewer people vote in primaries, meaning a small vocal minority often decides the candidates. Get involved early to support nuanced, solutions-oriented candidates.
Reject Outrage Culture: Be mindful of the media you consume and share—avoid sensationalist content that drives division.

Resources

Bridge USA – Learn more about the organization and how to get involved.
The Hopeful Majority Podcast – Manu’s work that encourages nuanced discussions on social issues.
Benji Backer’s Book: "The Conservative Environmentalist – A fresh perspective on environmentalism from a conservative viewpoint.
Media literacy resources - to help identify biased or inflammatory content.

If you'd like to sponsor next season (or even just an episode) reach out to me and let's chat! My email is crystal@forcesfornature.com.

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

This is another episode of the Forces for Nature, EarthX Conference series!

Eleanor LeCain is the visionary behind the Solutions Summit, a groundbreaking event on Capital Hill that brings together bold thinkers and decision-makers to tackle some of today’s biggest challenges such as climate change, democracy, economic security, and health.

During our conversation, Eleanor shares insights on how the Solutions Summit connects those with the best ideas—“solutionaries”—with the leaders who have the power to implement them. We dive into her focus on climate solutions and how she views the transition to a green economy not as a burden, but as a massive opportunity for job creation, innovation, and business growth.

Highlights

How the Solutions Summit bridges the gap between innovators and decision-makers.
Why climate change is the biggest economic and business opportunity of the 21st century.
Practical steps individuals can take to reduce their carbon footprint and support a green transition.

Resources

Solutions Summit Recordings: Watch all four sessions on climate, democracy, economic security, and health on Eleanor’s YouTube channel.
Read Eleanor's Book, "Breakthrough Solutions" (with an introduction by the Dalai Lama).
Rewiring America: Find out more about the incentives provided by the Inflation Reduction Act for making your home and life more energy-efficient.
Eleanor's website.
The following is a list of sites where you can sign up to receive email petitions about all sorts of issues:
- Lady Freethinker
- In Defense of Animals
- WildEarth Guardians
- Care2
Get Early Bird Tickets to the EarthX Congress of Conferences in April 2025!

What YOU Can Do

Shift to Clean Energy
Use public transportation, bike, or walk whenever possible. If you drive, switch to an electric or hybrid vehicle.
Use Energy-Efficient Appliances like refrigerators and light bulbs.
Support candidates who back policies that promote renewable energy and green job creation.
Embrace a mindset of opportunity rather than crisis. View the shift to sustainability as a chance for innovation, job creation, and economic growth.

If you'd like to sponsor next season (or even just an episode) reach out to me and let's chat! My email is crystal@forcesfornature.com.

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

Theo E.J. Wilson is a TEDx speaker, social activist, and leader in fostering dialogue across cultural and ideological divides. While Theo may not come from a traditional environmental background, his work on social justice, understanding others' perspectives, and the interconnectedness of humanity makes him an ideal person to explore the link between social and climate justice. Theo shares his journey, the connections he sees between pollution, racism, and how we treat the planet, as well as the critical need for holistic thinking in solving these global issues.

One of the most moving moments? Theo’s beautiful spoken word poem, "I Am Humanity," which will leave you contemplating your role in shaping the future of our planet and our society. This is a can't-miss.

Highlights

The importance of holistic thinking in solving the climate crisis.
How understanding others' perspectives, even those who oppose you, can lead to meaningful dialogue and change.
Again, the reading of his poem, I am Humanity.

Resources

EarthX Leadership Circle: A platform fostering collaboration across ideological lines to work together on climate solutions.
Get Early Bird Tickets to the EarthX Congress of Conferences in April 2025!
TEDx Talk by Theo E.J. Wilson: His viral speech on his undercover experience in a white supremacist online community.

What YOU Can Do

Buy from Ethical Companies: Support brands that prioritize sustainability and social responsibility.
Spread Positive News: Use your social media to spotlight companies and individuals making positive strides toward environmental justice.
Get Involved Locally: Engage with groups in your community working on environmental and social justice initiatives.

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

This is another episode of the Forces for Nature, EarthX Conference series!

Brooke Carter is not your average teenager. At the young age of 13, she's already making waves in the world of wildlife education and conservation. Growing up in the Bahamas and traveling to exotic locations across the globe with her family, Brooke has had the incredible opportunity to experience a wide range of animals and ecosystems firsthand. Now, through her show, Wild Wonders with Brooke, she shares her passion for nature with the world, inspiring viewers of all ages to appreciate and protect our planet's biodiversity.

In this episode, she shares her most memorable wildlife encounters, including her top three adventures in Costa Rica, Madagascar, and the Kalahari. She also talks about some of her scariest experiences, like filming with alligators in Florida, and the valuable lessons she's learned about animals along the way. With her infectious enthusiasm and vast knowledge, Brooke will capture your heart and leave you feeling inspired to protect our natural world.

Resources

Brooke's Show: Wild Wonders with Brooke (EarthX TV, FuboTV, DirecTV)

What YOU Can Do

Spend time outside and observe nature in your own backyard.
Learn about local wildlife and ecosystems, and how they contribute to the environment.
Take small steps toward conservation by reducing waste, recycling, and supporting wildlife-friendly initiatives.
Share your love for animals and nature with others to inspire change in your community.
Encourage young people to get involved with environmental education and action, as they are the future stewards of our planet.

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

In this special episode recorded live at the EarthX Conference, Crystal sits down with Chance and Sarah Katheryn Ruder from the Conservation Connection Podcast. They discuss the power of collaboration in conservation, the importance of bringing diverse perspectives together to address sustainability challenges, and share insights from their on-the-ground experiences in nature education and science communication. You get to hear about some of the exciting guests they interviewed while at EarthX - including oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle- and Crystal teases an exciting new development coming soon for the show. Tune in for this behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like at the bustling EarthX Conference!

We're now on YouTube! If you want to watch this episode, head on over to the Forces for Nature YouTube Channel!

You can now text me directly from your podcasting app! Click on the link at the top of the show notes and let me know what you think about this episode or send me a question you may have that I can share with the guest. Be sure to leave an email address if you'd like a response because the feature doesn't include responding just yet. I can't wait to hear from you!

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

This new season of the Forces for Nature podcast is a special one! All interviews were done on location at the EarthX Congress of Conferences, an event dedicated to fostering sustainability and environmental action. Initially, though, I was hesitant about attending due to its surprising mix of sponsors and speakers, many of whom you would never expect to see at a conference about protecting the Earth. However, I chose to go with an open mind, ready to challenge greenwashing if I saw it and explore genuine intentions when present.

To my delight, EarthX was a melting pot of ideas and collaborations, uniting individuals from various backgrounds, including energy companies, environmental activists, and political figures, all driven by a shared passion for conservation.

The experience was eye-opening and underscored the importance of including all stakeholders in our environmental discussions to create lasting solutions. This episode marks the beginning of a season filled with enlightening conversations and my personal reflections on navigating this complex but crucial path toward sustainability. Tune in to hear about my most vulnerable and educational journey yet, and let's discuss how we can all contribute to a healthier planet.

We're now on YouTube! If you want to watch this episode, head on over to the Forces for Nature YouTube Channel!

You can now text me directly from your podcasting app! Click on the link at the top of the show notes and let me know what you think about this episode or send me a question you may have that I can share with the guest. Be sure to leave an email address if you'd like a response because the feature doesn't include responding just yet. I can't wait to hear from you!

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Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

Did you ever travel somewhere that left a deep impression on you? Join Crystal DiMiceli as she reflects on her recent adventure to Rwanda, where she fulfilled her dream of seeing gorillas. Turns out, that wasn't the only thing that left her speechless.

Highlights

The incredible influence of Dian Fossey.
Recovering wildlife populations in the country's national parks.
The country's resilient community spirit after a turbulent past.

If you're looking for a story that combines travel, wildlife, and a touch of inspiration, this episode is for you.

If you can't get enough of gorillas, listen to this past episode (episode 25) about gorillas in Uganda with Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka: https://chtbl.com/track/DEB9GF/www.buzzsprout.com/774236/7861105-ep25-protecting-gorillas-through-human-health-with-dr-gladys-kalema-zikusoka.mp3?download=true

You can now text me directly from your podcasting app! Click on the link at the top of the show notes and let me know what you think about this episode or send me a question you may have that I can share with the guest. Be sure to leave an email address if you'd like a response because the feature doesn't include responding just yet. I can't wait to hear from you!

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Get to know the host of Forces for Nature, Crystal DiMiceli, better! In this show swap, she joins Stephanie Manka on The Fancy Scientist podcast. Stephanie has a great show that helps wildlife conservationists navigate their careers and she also provides coaching and mentoring for those struggling and feeling stuck as to what to do next.

Highlights

How did Forces for Nature come to be?
What was Crystal's conservation career path (and how it brought her to various countries)?
What's next for Crystal and Forces for Nature?

What YOU Can Do

Sign up to receive show notes, practical tips, and eco-inspiration from Crystal (don't worry, we won't spam you!)!

Resources

Go to Fancyscientist.com for informative blog posts, free tools, masterclasses, and mentoring opportunities.
The Fancy Scientist podcast
Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook group

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

It often feels like there's only bad news being reported these days. It's easy to feel that way but, if you dig a little deeper, you can find reports of hopeful things that are happening. Laura Sitterly is a climate reporter that you can trust to find the silver lining in her stories. We talk about three recent articles she's written- one about a youth climate summit in Upstate New York, another about the downfalls (yet easy solutions) of our evolution towards a clean energy future, and, lastly, about a novel new way to help bees. Dive into some good news today!

Highlights

How are schools "filling in the gap" in terms of climate change education when they don't have it integrated into their curriculum?
How can we evolve into a clean energy future without putting biodiversity at risk?
How can you help bees with your cell phone?

What YOU Can Do

Encourage your local BOCES, community college, or school district to host a Youth Climate Summit. You can find a toolkit here.
Download the iNaturalist app to be able to become a citizen scientist with the snap of a picture.
If there are wind turbines in your area, petition the town to mandate blade speed reductions during peak migration times.

Resources

Links to Laura's Articles:

Addressing the gap, the demand for climate education in New York K-12 schools
Coping with the green-green dilemma: how can we pursue renewable development without wreaking further havoc on the ecological landscape and wildlife habitats?
No More No Mow May: how smartphones are helping a region in Upstate NY save the bees

Laura is a Climate Reporter who covers midcoastal Maine and, previously, a Breaking News Reporter for the USA Today New York State team. Her lifelong love of the outdoors was sparked by a childhood spent paddling the lakes and rivers of New York State’s Adirondack Mountains. She earned a bachelor’s degree at Auburn University and a graduate degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. She spends most of her free time cross-country skiing or swimming in the sea, depending on the season.

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Conserving land doesn't have to be all or nothing. We don't have to choose between setting aside whole tracks of forests to protect them or cutting them all down for economic development. Laurie Wayburn, the co-founder and president of Pacific Forest Trust, has found a middle ground. Since 1993, Pacific Forest Trust has transformed over 350,000 acres of privately owned forests in California and Oregon into carbon-sequestering and climate-fighting assets. Through the use of conservation easements, she works with landowners to find the best ways for them to keep the ecosystem intact, yet, still gain economic benefit from what they own. With nearly 60% of U.S. forests under private ownership, this "middle ground" could be key in protecting our natural treasures.

Highlights

How hass her international experience with conservation influenced her work today?
How can conservation and economic development go hand in hand?
How can we avoid the terrible wildlife seasons we have been seeing?

What YOU Can Do

Plant native trees, bushes, and plants within your community as part of your parks and natural areas or as borders around play fields, etc. This can be very powerful in supporting the ecosystem.
Urge whether it's your city council, your county, the commissioners and supervisors, your state legislature, your federal, representatives, etc to support forest conservation as a critical climate change policy, and that means putting some real money behind it and really guiding how that forest conservation is done for the future.
Provide financial support to Pacific Forest Trust so they can do the work that you want to have done.

Resources

Conservation Easements 101
1757 EAC Recommendations
Pacific Forest Trust

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Bonnie Monteleone is the Founder & Director of Science, Research, and Academic Partnerships of the Plastic Ocean Project (POP) whose mission is finding science-based solutions to the global plastic pollution crisis.

In 2019, she was working on a documentary about the North Atlantic Ocean. However, its plot quickly went from one about a complex, impacted ecosystem into a "who done it," following the death of a newborn critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whale that washed ashore. Was it manmade noise that caused the mother to lose her newborn, a ship strike, chemical or plastic pollution, was it discarded fishing gear, or overfishing?

Bonnie discusses her work with plastics pollution and how it relates to this new documentary project she is undertaking. The threats the ocean and its creatures are facing are vast, but Bonnie dives deep into viable solutions that everyone can support to preserve the sounds of the sea and the marine life in it.

This film, which asks what the oceans would say if they could talk, promises to inspire hope, not doom, but only if we listen.

Bonnie's work has led her around the world collecting plastic marine samples including four of the five main ocean gyres and the Caribbean. She also works in the Environmental Studies Department at UNC Wilmington as an Adjunct Instructor teaching a Plastic Marine Debris Field Studies course and manages a lab working with student Directed Independent Studies (DIS) research.

Highlights

What happened to this baby Right Whale and what does that mean for the species as a whole?
How can whales help mitigate climate change?
If the oceans could talk, what would we learn?

What YOU Can DoBonnie talks a lot about solutions her organization is implementing as well as what different industries can do. But, here are some ideas on what YOU can do:

Avoid single-use plastic.
Support the documentary either monetarily, by spreading the word, or by seeing it when it comes to a festival near you.
Filmmakers (and wanna-be filmmakers) contribute your ocean footage to the film so they have less of a need to go out and film (and use fossil fuels to do so).
Spread the word about the danger these whales are in so people are more likely to support ideas and legislation that protect them.

Resources

Information about the documentary, If the Ocean Could Talk.
Plastic Ocean Project (POP) Facebook
POP Instagram
POP LinkedIn

Use discount code EXGREEN20 and receive a 20% discount for a full week or single-day registration to the EarthX Congress of Conferences this April! Hope to see you there!

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

In a time where our planet's health is at the forefront of global discussions, understanding the intricacies of climate change is not just beneficial; it's imperative. Bryce Coon is the Director of Education Initiatives at Earthday.org and a passionate advocate for embedding climate literacy within our educational systems. He plays a central role in crafting the organization's overarching goals and roadmap to increasing climate literacy worldwide. Moreover, Bryce is instrumental in driving the efforts dedicated to the climate and environmental literacy campaign, working year-round to cultivate a nationwide movement aimed at bolstering climate literacy across various educational institutions, ranging from K-12 schools to universities, trade schools, and graduate schools.

EARTHDAY.ORG’s mission is to diversify, educate, and activate the environmental movement worldwide. Growing out of the first Earth Day (1970), EARTHDAY.ORG is the world’s largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 150,000 partners in nearly 192 countries to build environmental democracy. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day actions each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world. Learn more at earthday.org.

Highlights

What is the status of climate education across the world?
How can we equip teachers to teach climate literacy without adding more to their plates?
How can climate education fit into all subjects and all grades?

What YOU Can Do

Advocate for climate education wherever you are, from school boards to your State, and up to the Federal level.
Talk with young people about climate education. Ask what they know about it.

Resources

Earthday.org's Environmental Resources
Climate Literate Lesson Guide
Earth Month Calendar resources

Use discount code EXGREEN20 and receive a 20% discount for a full week or single-day registration to the EarthX Congress of Conferences this April! Hope to see you there!

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Our disconnection from nature has never been greater and this is resulting in not only a crisis for our planet but for our own well-being too. Ciara Byrne, the founder of Green Our Planet, has been using school gardens to help bridge this disconnect. Through her organization, these green spaces are more than just a cool project—they're a way to teach kids about taking care of our planet and each other. And it's working! She's helping to plant seeds of change and watching hope, connection, and environmental stewardship bloom right before our eyes.

Highlights

How did a school garden get a couple of kids to protect sea turtles?
How did Ciara go from documentary film making to creating school gardens?
What other benefits do school gardens bring?

What YOU Can Do

Take a walk outside. Even if it's just around your neighborhood. Observe the trees, the birds, the animals, and even the insects. Give yourself space to connect and enjoy it.
Plant a garden, even if it's just some pots on your balcony.
Advocate for getting school gardens and/or hydroponics at your local school.
Inform others about the benefits of school gardens and share Green Our Planet's mission on social media to raise awareness.

Resources

Green Our Planet Website: A resource hub for starting a school garden, with guides and success stories.

Use discount code EXGREEN20 and receive a 20% discount for a full week or single-day registration to the EarthX Congress of Conferences this April! Hope to see you there!

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

There's magic in nature and all of us. T. A. Barron integrates this belief into his life as a bestselling author, conservationist, and host of the Magic & Mountains podcast. But, it's his work honoring young changemakers with the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, that really proves this notion to be true. These individuals are making significant contributions to environmental conservation and community improvement, despite the odds that may be stacked against them. And T. A. shines a light on their heroism and the power we all have deep inside.

If you need some inspiration to keep going with the great work you're doing (along with some practical guidance), you'll find it in this episode.

Since its inception, the Barron Prize has awarded more than half a million dollars to hundreds of young leaders and has won the support of the National Geographic Education Foundation, Girl Scouts of the USA, and the National Youth Leadership Council, among other organizations. When not writing or speaking, T. A. Barron serves on many boards including Princeton University, where he helped to create the Princeton Environmental Institute, and The Wilderness Society, which recently honored him with its highest award for conservation work.

Highlights

Where can we find hope amid all the doom and gloom we hear of and experience?
What's the biggest challenge that young changemakers face nowadays? (it's not what you think)
What's the responsibility of creatives in today's world?

How YOU Can Help

Barron suggests that the best way to inspire others, especially young people, is through the example set by our own actions and choices.
Share the good stories. The bad ones seem to always rise to the top so we need to counter them with stories of the good that people are doing in the world. It's surprising how effective simple storytelling can be in inspiring action.
For those who are or know young changemakers, consider applying for the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes.
Echoing his advice for the main character in many of his books, Merlin, Barron urges listeners to recognize the unique magic within themselves and use that to create positive change in YOUR world. The ripple effects will follow.

Resources

T. A. Barron website
Magic & Mountains: The T. A. Barron podcast
Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes
Inspiring Young Heroes – a video portal featuring more incredible stories of amazing kids.

Use discount code EXGREEN20 and receive a 20% discount for a full week or single-day registration to the EarthX Congress of Conferences this April! Hope to see you there!

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

We all know that plastics have become a problem, but there's even more to it than the litter you see thrown on the ground. Dr. Roopa Krithivasan is the Director of Research for Defend Our Health, an environmental health and justice organization. They recently released a report titled Hidden Hazards: The Chemical Footprint of a Plastic Bottle which tracks the impact of plastic bottles on human health and climate change. Turns out, we can experience the hazards of our plastic use well before the items even end up in our homes- and afterward.

Highlights

What's the untold story about plastics?
What do we need to consider regarding our summer backyard activities?
Why is recycling not the answer like we thought?

What YOU Can Do

Look for refillable options for the items that you buy. And use a refillable water bottle.
Buy versions of items with minimal packaging (do you really need that cucumber that's wrapped in plastic?).
Don’t recycle canisters unless you fully rinse them out (ESPECIALLY bottles that contain chemicals or detergents).
Use laundry sheets instead of bottles of detergent (less plastic use).
Buy secondhand (to avoid having raw plastic needing to be made).
Call out companies on social media.
Write letters or sign petitions to companies and governments about reducing single-use plastics and plastic contamination.

Resources

Sign Defend Our Health's petition asking Coca-Cola to clean up its plastic.
Defend Our Health's website
Learn about plastic alternative, Notpla, with this episode of The Healthy Seas Podcast (Crystal is the host of that show too!)
In the show's outro, I mentioned my Action for Climate education program. If you know of a school who may want to empower its students with actions that experts are saying are the most impactful at reducing our carbon footprints, then let's connect!

*Since the taping of this episode, Dr. Roopa Krithivasan is no longer the Director of Research for Defend Our Health.

Use discount code EXGREEN20 and receive a 20% discount for a full week or single-day registration to the EarthX Congress of Conferences this April! Hope to see you there!

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

First, the tadpoles and frogs disappeared; then the bats and the songbirds left. Dr. Elizabeth Hilborn, a honey bee veterinarian and environmental health scientist, soon realized the bees—the vital pollinators of fruits, plants, and vegetables—were dying. Everything went still and silent. In 2017, after a large flood, most of the teeming life on her beloved family farm in North Carolina had vanished in a matter of weeks. As a scientist and a naturalist, Hilborn set about to get answers and shares her story in her riveting book, Restoring Eden, and in this episode.

No matter where you live- even if it's a city far from farmland- if you drink water and eat food, you are going to want to listen to this episode.

Highlights

The alarming findings about pesticides, particularly Roundup and neonicotinoids, on the environment, wildlife, and human health.
Why some pesticides cannot be washed off.
Strategies for individuals to minimize exposure to harmful pesticides and support a healthier ecosystem.

What YOU Can Do

Get in the know by buying her book, Restoring Eden
Support local agriculture, agroecology, regenerative agriculture, and organic agricultural practices in the food you buy, when possible.
Mow less and plant native flowers (grown from uncoated seed) to support wild pollinators.
Leaving soil undisturbed and leaving leaves when they fall are ways to support our beneficial insects.
The Environmental Protection Agency is soliciting comments about treated seed. Leave a comment in support of regulations. (find other petitions to sign once this comment period is over or create your own)

Resources

Visit Elizabeth's website
Environmental Working Group's Dirty Dozen List

Use discount code EXGREEN20 and receive a 20% discount for a full week or single-day registration to the EarthX Congress of Conferences this April! Hope to see you there!

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

The recent COP28 climate change conference concluded with mixed feelings from many stakeholders. Despite this, a noteworthy optimistic takeaway was the emphasis by top scientists on the urgent need to prioritize the protection and restoration of wild ecosystems within global climate strategies, highlighting the necessity of biodiversity conservation.

Alison Zak from the Human-Beaver Coexistence Fund champions the crucial role of beavers in mitigating the effects of climate change. Her advocacy aims to enhance the acceptance and appreciation of beavers, recognizing the enormous benefits they bring to an area- for people and other species.

Highlights

How are beavers important to other species, including many endangered ones?
What do beavers and climate change have to do with one another?
How can humans coexist with these animals on their property?

What YOU Can Do

Learn more about beavers. Apps like iNaturalist and iBeaver are great places to start.
Talk to others about their benefits and about the ways to, more conveniently, coexist with them.
Visit their habitat. This can help you to grow an appreciation for what they are capable of doing.
Donate to the Human-Beaver Coexistence Fund

Resources

Human-Beaver Coexistence Fund
Alison's personal website
Wild Asana book

Use discount code EXGREEN20 and receive a 20% discount for a full week or single-day registration to the EarthX Congress of Conferences this April! Hope to see you there!

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

What happens when you have a constitutional right that's being violated but you're too young to vote for the constituents who might fix it? These kids asked the courts to step in.

Today's guest, author Elizabeth Rusch, has captured this gripping story in her latest book, The Twenty-One. We dive into how, in 2015, twenty-one young Americans, ages 8-19, filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. government. In this ongoing landmark case, Juliana VS. United States, the plaintiffs claim that the government’s support of the fossil-fuel industry is actively contributing to climate change and, therefore, violating the young generation’s Fifth Amendment rights. They insist that having life, liberty, and property are intrinsically linked to a stable climate. Many legal experts initially thought the case wouldn't go anywhere, however, over the past eight years it has become a potential legal game-changer for our environmental future.

If you're a fan of the underdog giving "the big guys" a run for their money, you won't want to miss this episode.

Elizabeth Rusch is also the author of You Call This Democracy?, a finalist for the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults, and more than a dozen acclaimed children’s books, including picture books, middle-grade, fiction, nonfiction, and a graphic novel. In a starred review, Kirkus calls her book, THE TWENTY-ONE, “a nail-biting account of a still unresolved landmark case”.

Highlights

How a small-town lawyer created a case that could have global repercussions.
What evidence do the plaintiffs have that their rights, and yours, are being violated?
How does the recently successful case of Held v. Montana compare to this one and can it help?

What YOU Can Do

Call, Email, or Tweet the Department of Justice for your support of the case.
For a list of other ideas on how you can get involved, go to the Our Children's Trust website.

Resources

Buy the book, The 21
Elizabeth Rusch's website
Twitter/X
Instagram
Facebook

Use discount code EXGREEN20 and receive a 20% discount for a full week or single-day registration to the EarthX Congress of Conferences this April! Hope to see you there!

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

As the world makes strides toward a green economy, the U.S. State of New Jersey is determined to be a leader in the movement. And, the First Lady of New Jersey, Tammy Murphy, is ensuring that citizens are prepared. She has spearheaded the initiative of integrating climate change into school curriculum. New Jersey is now the first State to require the topic be taught across all disciplines in the K-12 grade levels. With the consequences of global warming affecting us all, there's no better time to ensure that students understand the complexities of this issue. By providing them with the knowledge of how and why things are happening, students will be better equipped to tackle the challenges they will face and succeed in the opportunities being created to address them.

Highlights
* How did she do it? * What does it look like in classrooms? * How can other schools and States do the same?

What YOU Can Do
* Talk about what New Jersey is doing with others and encourage your local schools to do the same. They can find help from the resources below.

Resources
* New Jersey Department of Education Climate Change Education Resources * New Jersey Climate Change Education Hub

To learn more about the Action for Climate School Program that I mentioned at the end of the episode, send me a message at crystal@forcesfornature.com, and let's chat!

Use discount code EXGREEN20 and receive a 20% discount for a full week or single-day registration to the EarthX Congress of Conferences this April! Hope to see you there!

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

**This episode first aired in October 2021. Listen to an update from Nina at 26: 27 about the next round of EWCL open to applicants now.

The field of wildlife conservation has some of the most passionate and determined people in the world. Building a career protecting animals requires professionals in this field to have a diverse and complex toolbox of skills and knowledge. However, as happens in many other professions, academic training is only the beginning of the learning journey and often does not fully cover the wide range of challenges and opportunities that individuals will face in the real world. Recognizing this gap, Nina Fascione (Exec. Director, International Rhino Foundation) and Jeffrey Flocken (President, Humane Society International), created the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders (EWCL) program in 2005 to afford early-career wildlife conservationists an opportunity to become better-rounded professionals. Through EWCL, participants in the program are equipped with a gamut of skills, techniques, and approaches to wildlife conservation, and are connected to an extensive network of peers worldwide. We talk about the program, its evolution, and the future, diving into some very amusing stories of how EWCL came to be and continues to change people's lives straight from the start.

Highlights

The borderline nutty dedication to getting EWCL off the ground. ;)
What kinds of impacts has EWCL had throughout the world?
How can someone become a part of this fantastic network?

What YOU Can Do

If you're an early career conservationist, apply to join the next EWCL class! Tell them Forces for Nature sent you! Applications will be accepted from October 1st-31st of 2023.

Resources

Application
Website
Instagram
Facebook

Use discount code EXGREEN20 and receive a 20% discount for a full week or single-day registration to the EarthX Congress of Conferences this April! Hope to see you there!

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

**This episode originally aired in May 2021. You can find an update from Julio at 24:44.

Today's guest is Julio Prieto. He's an Ecuadorian lawyer working with the Union of People Affected by Texaco, the organization otherwise known as UDAPT. He has been a key player in one of the most well-known battles for environmental justice- the case of Ecuador vs. Chevron-Texaco. After 20 years of litigation, Julio's team won the case that found Chevron to be guilty of egregious pollution and irresponsibility in the Ecuadorian rainforest. However, 10 years later, he is still fighting for the settlement that would benefit the tens of thousands impacted. We talk about his lessons learned, his most recent victory, and why, despite the impossible odds, he will never give up.

Highlights

What were the allegations brought against Chevron-Texaco?
What happened after they were found guilty?
His most recent victory was a case brought by nine indigenous girls. What did that involve?
Advice he shared if you find that an existing or proposed project in your community raises environmental, social, or animal welfare concerns.

What YOU Can Do

Join Julio and his team for Anti-Chevron Day on May 25th, an event that takes place every year before Chevron's annual Shareholder Meeting by using #antichevron and #beyondchevron in your social media posts in order to bring more visibility to the issue.
In the episode, Julio mentioned how a community in Richmond, California is also fighting against Chevron. He has asked that we support their efforts as well in order to decommission the refinery there. You can do so by writing support letters to officials and/or to editors and posting on social media to increase the case's visibility. You can learn more about these efforts on their website.

Resources

Union of People Affected by Texaco website
Facebook
Twitter

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate and review! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

*This episode first aired in April 2021 and Chris's title mentioned in the show has changed since.

Climate change and environmental protection haven't always been as politicized as they are today. And, unfortunately, in being so, progress on these fronts gets hindered. Chris Barnard is helping to change that. He's the VP of External Affairs of The American Conservation Coalition, a group founded by political conservatives working to transform the narrative of denialism in order to get more voices to the table. We talk about how these issues shouldn't be political, how you can find allies across the political spectrum, and which solutions may satisfy all.

Highlights

How have conservatives, at least stereotypically, come to be labeled as anti-environment or even anti-science?
What does Chris think is missing from the current environmental conversation?
What kind of work has his organization done to bridge the political divide on climate change and other environmental matters?

What YOU Can Do

Decide to be pro-environment over pro-X political party.
Have healthy discussions with others who may not necessarily share your political views. As long as your end goal is the same regarding protecting the environment, discussion and compromise can move us so much further, together.
Have an open mind to solutions you may have disregarded before.
Educate yourself. Chris, for example, recommends resources such as the Market Environmentalism Academy.

Resources

American Conservation Coalition website
ACC Instagram
ACC Twitter
ACC Facebook

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

This episode first aired in April 2020.

When Pablo Borboroglu released his first rehabilitated penguin back into the wild 30 years ago, he saw the ability that one person has to make a difference. Holding steadfast to this belief, he has since become one of the greatest voices for these animals. And, facing threats both on land and in water, they need it. Through the Global Penguin Society, Pablo uses scientific research to help guide conservation actions that have not only protected penguins but have also benefitted many other species that they live among as well as local communities. His enthusiasm for this work is palatable and he uses it to inspire thousands of people to become stewards for these animals too. Pablo is a National Geographic Explorer and recipient of the Whitley Gold Award, Rolex Award for Enterprise, and various other accolades. Though, what’s even more impressive, is all that penguins have gained because of him.

Highlights from our talk:

1:51) Some surprising penguin facts

4:28) Threats on land and in the water

11:14) Illegal trafficking of penguins

12:41) Why does Pablo feel like he has the power to make change

19:34) How has he dealt with pushback from local communities against his conservation actions

25:52) How he has overcome feeling discouraged at times

31:12) What's his biggest challenge now

What YOU can do to help penguins:

Take an ecotourism trip to see penguins. This helps local communities economically benefit from the presence of these animals and support their preservation.
Be a citizen scientist from your own home! Help scientists know when there changes in population, survival, and breeding through participating in Penguin Watch.
Pablo has seen a huge uptick in the presence of plastic in penguin habitats that comes from near and far. Help by decreasing your use of single-use plastic and recycling.
From the food you eat to the clothes you wear, try your best to make sure its origin and end are both sustainable.
Microplastics are increasingly becoming a problem as they make their way up the marine food chain. Help decrease the microplastics that escape from your laundry by using a Guppy Friend.
Help Pablo and the Global Penguin Society accomplish their work with a donation (through the Wildlife Conservation Network).

Mentioned in the Episode:

El Pedral Wildlife Refuge

Punta Tombo

Patagonia Azul

Oceans on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

*This episode first aired in June 2021. You can find the updated clip from Timothy and Nicole at 30:35*

Did you know that most of the food crops we eat are reliant on pollinators to reproduce? Fruits, vegetables, nuts, even the food fed to cattle, sheep, and pigs, need pollinators such as bees. Unfortunately, there have been staggering declines in bee population numbers over the past couple of decades that have the potential for disastrous consequences. Timothy Paule and Nicole Lindsey saw an opportunity in this crisis to make a two-fold impact. They created Detroit Hives which not only works to protect these vital animals but also to revitalize the city they call home.

Highlights

What's happening to bees and why is this actually not an issue in Detroit?
How is Detroit Hives protecting bees and helping communities?
How do you convince city developers to consider pollinators in their plans? And city residents to accept them?
Why must we protect all bees, not just the honeybee?

What YOU Can Do

Plant a bee-friendly garden. Your local plant nursery could help inform you as to what are the best native flowers to have. Even a flower box outside of your apartment window is effective.
Provide a water source (a shallow dish with small rocks above the waterline)
Use little to no chemicals on your lawn and garden.
If you have a swarm at your home, call a local beekeeper to safely take care of it instead of an exterminator.
Volunteering with an eco-oriented organization or beekeeper.
Have a honeybee hive mindset in that everyone does their own specialized part in bettering the world.
Help support Detroit Hives through a donation or purchasing some of their products.
Engage with them on social
If you liked this episode and want to learn more on how you can make your lawn pollinator-friendly, check out Episode 26 with Dave Mizejewski.

Resources

Detroit Hives Website
Instagram
Facebook
Bee City USA
Xerces Society

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

*This episode first aired in June 2020. You can find the updated clip from Ryan at 21:00*

Did you know that only 10% of all plastic that's ever been produced has been recycled?! And that just 60% of communities in the U.S. have access to curbside recycling pick-up?* Our waste is a huge problem but, today's guest, Ryan Hickman, is determined to be part of the solution. At just 12 years old (yes, you read that right!), he's CEO of his own company, Ryan's Recycling. He joins us today with his dad, Damion, and helps to demystify the confusion that recycling can sometimes cause.

Highlights from our talk:

(1:54) How does Ryan's Recycling work?
(2:43) You'll never guess how many customers he has!
(4:26) Nor how much he has recycled so far...
(6:28) Lightning round of 5 items and their recyclability
(12:49) What happens to the items you recycle?
(15:11) In addition to saving up for a garbage truck, Ryan also donates some of his profits to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center. His favorite animal there was Heartbreaker. <3
(17:02) Why does Ryan feel like he can make a difference?

How YOU can do recycling right:

Glass, steel, and aluminum can be recycled indefinitely. Try to choose these items over plastic.
Recycling codes for plastic #1 (hard) and #2 are the most widely accepted.
Plastic #1 (soft), #4, #5 some centers will accept these.
Plastic #3, #6, #7 most centers cannot take these but do check.
Pizza Boxes- You can recycle the clean lid, but compost or throw out the bottom part that has the grease.
Takeaway Soda or Coffee Cups- Despite being paper on the outside, they have a plastic waterproof lining on the inside. This makes them non-recyclable. As for their lids, they tend to be #6 plastic and very few centers will accept them. However, the cardboard slip used to protect you from the heat can be recycled!
Plastic Bags- most curbside programs won't accept plastic bags because they can damage the machines. However, many grocery stores have recycling programs for them so drop them off on your next grocery run.
Peanut butter jars- This is a lesson about how important it is to clean out the items before you throw them in the bin. Although the jar may be recyclable, if it isn't cleaned, it will be thrown out. Worse, it may cause the whole batch to be thrown out!

** You can find more suggestions in the show notes on the episode's webpage!

As per Ryan, "When in doubt, throw it out." Each municipality is different and some take more items and, some, less. A quick online search will find their number for you to call and get clarification from them.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2017/07/plastic-produced-recycling-waste-ocean-trash-debris-environment/
* https://recyclingpartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2020/02/2020-State-of-Curbside-Recycling.pdf

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Whoohoo! Sixty episodes in! This seems like a good time to take a step back and introduce to new listeners some of Forces for Nature's older episodes. So, the season break to follow won't be a break, per se, because you'll keep seeing episodes be published. But, they will be some favorites from Seasons 1 and 2, many with bonus updates from the guests!

If you have a favorite that you loved and would like to hear their "where are they now" update, let me know!

I had two asks in this episode. Here they are again:

1) Check out my other show, The Healthy Seas Podcast, right here on this podcasting app that you're using. And, if it's of interest to you, please subscribe and rate it!

2) Let me know what subjects or who you would like to hear from for Season 4. You can send me a DM on social media or an email to crystal@forcesfornature.com.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/becoming.forces.for.nature/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/becomingforcesfornature/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystal-dimiceli-4705218/

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Have you had wild animal photo opportunities while on vacation? Have you "liked" cute exotic animal videos on social? Are you dying for an opportunity to hold a baby monkey? If so, you may unintentionally be fueling a dark industry and promoting animal abuse.

Devan Schowe is the campaigns director for Born Free USA, an organization that works to ensure that all wild animals, whether living in captivity or in the wild, are treated with compassion and respect and are able to live their lives according to their needs. Devon works to increase public awareness of pertinent wildlife conservation issues and works to change legislation regarding practices that harm wild animals kept in captivity for exploitative purposes. If you want to know how to avoid supporting these dangerous practices unknowingly, this episode is for you!

Highlights

How can "liking" a video on social media endanger wildlife?
Why are seemingly innocent animal photo ops, not so innocent?
The Big Cat Public Safety Act has passed! What does this mean?

What YOU Can Do

Do not visit or in any way support places that exploit wild animals in the ways talked about.
Report any abusive online content you see on the website or platform.
Petition social media outlets to modify their definition of harmful animal content, um, to reflect a definition that is more in line with wild animal welfare.
Don't view like, comment, save, post or share the content. Even dislikes or quoting angry reactions or comments will add to the overall popularity. So restraining from doing that even if you want to.
Respectfully educate others.

Resources

Born Free USA website
Adopt a Monkey program
Their Lives for Your Likes Report
Instagram
Tik Tok
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
LinkedIn

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Driven to near extinction in the eastern United States, the Florida panther was able to escape complete persecution by disappearing into the untamed wilderness of the Everglades. However, for its long-term survival, they need more than just a small pocket of land at the bottom of the State. Carlton Ward Jr., a National Geographic Explorer, and photographer, has spent almost two decades advocating for the conservation of the vital acres of land and water that this, and so many other species, need to survive- including humans. With over 1000 people moving to the State per day, development is quickly closing in on the remaining natural lands, threatening the animals, and even the ranchers, who have called the area home for generations.

Highlights

We talk about Carlton's 2,000-mile-long trek, over two expeditions, through the heart of Florida to illustrate the natural corridors wildlife need to migrate.
How his storytelling of the panther helped lead to the passing of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act in 2021 (with full bipartisan support!)
Why two unlikely stakeholders- panthers and cattle ranchers - need one another to survive?
How can we balance the need for economic development with the need to protect natural habitats and ecosystems?

What YOU Can Do

Take various actions for panthers and a wild Florida through the website.
Watch Path of the Panther on Disney+, Hulu, or at a screening near you.
Buy the Path of the Panther book.
Not mentioned in the episode, there is also a campaign to encourage people to drive the posted speeds in wildlife crossing areas. With road collisions being one of the biggest threats to the panther, driving slower through these areas only means a minute or two added to your journey, but could mean a lifetime for these animals. To learn more tips and info on what to do if you see a hit animal go to PantherCrossing.org.

Resources

Path of the Panther Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
https://carltonward.com/

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

If you're tired of only hearing about environmental destruction and that we're around the corner from doomsday, you're going to want to listen to this episode! Grant Brown is the founder of the website and newsletter, Happy Eco News. He's not naïve to the pressures that the world is facing - we talk about what he has seen with his own two eyes - but he has also seen, and gotten to know, people who are doing something about them. He's created this platform to share their stories and inspire others to also be the change that they wish to see in the world. And it seems to be working.

Highlights

How did he go from climbing up the corporate ladder to creating Happy Eco News?
How has this had ripple effects on others?
What does he think is key to being able to make a difference?

What YOU Can Do

Figure out whatever it is that you're passionate about and use that to make a difference.

Resources

Happy Eco News

This episode is supported by Consciously Clueless, the podcast for those who want to learn about how to live a healthier life, how to live more sustainably, and how to take your everyday actions and make them work for you and the planet. All with some space for cluelessness on this journey. Listen now!

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Nothing could be cuter than baby animals. But, their adorableness can easily distract you from the lifelong responsibility that their care requires. Unfortunately, this reality check can result in animals- especially those that we associate with their wild cousins like ducks and bunnies- being dumped out into the wild after they are grown and their care becomes too much. Except, these animals don't have the instincts to survive outdoors. This "wild" is often your local neighborhood park and Mary Beth Purdy Artz knows this all too well. She's an animal rescuer and rehabilitator in Brooklyn, NY, and has saved hundreds of abandoned and injured animals through the years. If you've ever wondered about getting an unusual pet or how you could help an animal you've seen outside, this episode is for you.

Highlights

How can you tell the difference between a wild animal and its domestic cousin?
What's the craziest animal that's been found in her park? (this one's a doozy!)
When might you be more likely to find dumped animals?

What YOU Can Do

Do not buy animals for someone and be sure you know the care requirements of an animal before you buy one for yourself.
Contact help, whether you can no longer care for an animal yourself or if you see a dumped or injured one in the wild.
Petition for signage and cameras in your local park to discourage the dumping of animals and encourage the cleanup of fishing gear.

Resources

Link to all places to see the movie, Honk

This episode is supported by Consciously Clueless, the podcast for those who want to learn about how to live a healthier life, how to live more sustainably, and how to take your everyday actions and make them work for you and the planet. All with some space for cluelessness on this journey. Listen now!

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Show Swap! The host of Forces for Nature, Crystal DiMiceli, joined Carly Puch on her podcast, Consciously Clueless, to talk about her own cluelessness on this lifelong journey toward sustainability.

Highlights

What does she do when she’s not feeling optimistic about the world?
What made her almost throw in the towel on this journey?
How did Forces for Nature come to be?
What are her go-to's to lessen her carbon footprint?

Resources

Consciously Clueless on Apple
On Spotify

This episode is supported by Consciously Clueless, the podcast for those who want to learn about how to live a healthier life, how to live more sustainably, and how to take your everyday actions and make them work for you and the planet. All with some space for cluelessness on this journey. Listen now!

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

The organization, Save Pangolins, is raising awareness and supporting conservation efforts of the world's most trafficked mammal. One of their initiatives is the Pangolin Champions Program which aims to support emerging leaders in the pangolin conservation landscape. Since its inception in 2020, they have accepted 12 passionate, committed, and inspiring pangolin conservationists into its program- I speak with four of them here. The Champions comprise of a global team of conservationists who have proven dedication to pangolins, have carved their own path in unchartered terrain, and have unique and impactful contributions to these endangered species.

If you ever feel that a problem is too big or too far along, these guys will prove to you that the small can be mighty!

As a side note, also in 2020, I launched this podcast (this month, actually!) with Paul Thomson from Save Pangolins as my guest. This feels like a full-circle moment for this show. :)

Highlights

A rescue and release story that will touch your heart.
How can CSI help pangolins?
What's a surprising challenge faced by one of the champions?

What YOU Can Do

Support these champions by donating to Save Pangolins
Help raise awareness about the plight of this animal by sharing on social media and talking about it with your peers.
Or, share this episode with someone right now.
Check out the baby pangolin Mark was holding!

Resources

Pangolin Champions Program
Save Pangolins Instagram
Facebook
Twitter

Happy World Pangolin Day! (February 18th)

This episode is supported by Consciously Clueless, the podcast for those who want to learn about how to live a healthier life, how to live more sustainably, and how to take your everyday actions and make them work for you and the planet. All with some space for cluelessness on this journey. Listen now!

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Are you concerned about the state of our oceans and seas and all the life in them? Do you worry that not enough is being done to help? Come dive in and meet the people doing all they can for these ecosystems - from above and below the waves! The Healthy Seas Podcast is hosted by Forces for Nature creator, Crystal DiMiceli, and, in this episode, she takes you through snippets of the first six episodes of this show. Last year, it was ranked in the top 25% of podcasts most shared globally on Spotify. So now's your chance to see what you're missing!

Did you love it? Subscribe now on this app to never miss a new one!

Want to watch the documentary Frederic Fougea talked about? Check it out here! Use password: medAnd, by signing up for the Healthy Seas newsletter, you will receive a bonus clip of Frederic talking about the dolphin with Alzheimer’s, one of the most incredible stories told in the documentary! Sign up here

Links to each episode
* The Who, What, & Why Behind Our Organization * Nets, Divers, Action! Marine Conservation in Los Angeles * Searching for a Sea Change at the UN Ocean Conference * Lobster Pot Recovery After Storm Arwen * How to Make Black Friday Planet-Friendly * Mediterranean Life Under Siege

This episode is supported by Consciously Clueless, the podcast for those who want to learn about how to live a healthier life, how to live more sustainably, and how to take your everyday actions and make them work for you and the planet. All with some space for cluelessness on this journey. Listen now!

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

According to the OECD, if fashion were a country, it would be the fourth largest emitter of CO2 in the world*! And a significant percentage of those emissions comes from just the creation of the textiles and leathers that are to be used for clothing and accessories. Unfortunately, too many of these raw materials are left unused and either end up in a landfill or in climate-controlled (aka energy-guzzling) warehouses.

Anna Bakst and Michele Rutigliano are two fashion industry veterans that saw this waste as an opportunity and created the brand We-Ar4. Through their experience, relationships, vision, and skills, they are engineering a new fashion system with beautiful, limited-edition garments that have an immediate and sustainable impact. They use material excess for about 85% of their collection and are very conscious and transparent about what they utilize for the rest. They also have an option to resale items that have been pre-loved.

Before making your next fashion purchase, you must listen to this episode!

Highlights

What is deadstock?
Why using deadstock is one of the more sustainable fashion choices?
How is We-Ar4 reengineering a new fashion system?

What YOU Can Do

Over 100 billion items of clothing are produced a year**! Buy less.
Before you buy, ask yourself, "Will I wear this clothing item at least 30 times before throwing it out ?”
Buy better quality to wear for longer.
Choose more sustainable materials.

Resources

We-Ar4 Website
We-Ar4 Instagram
Wear Me 30x Campaign
https://theecohub.com/how-fashion-and-climate-change-are-linked/
** https://earth.org/fast-fashion-facts/

This episode is supported by Consciously Clueless, the podcast for those who want to learn about how to live a healthier life, how to live more sustainably, and how to take your everyday actions and make them work for you and the planet. All with some space for cluelessness on this journey. Listen now!

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Did you know that we send about 40-50% of our food scraps and organic material, like fallen leaves, to landfills? Landfills don't allow for proper decomposition so those materials end up releasing harmful methane into the atmosphere as they break down. To avoid this much waste, we can compost instead! Michele and Java Bradley, the founders of Java's Compost, help individuals make composting an easy addition to their recycling routine and they give us some insights as to how!

If it surprises you to learn that your banana can transform into rich soil, this episode is for you!

Highlights

Dos and Don'ts of starting to compost.
Will it be smelly, gross, and full of bugs?
Why are not all things that are labeled compostable actually so?

What YOU Can DO

See if your municipality has a food scrap pick-up program.
Or maybe a drop-off program (ask local nurseries or farms too because they would then use the dirt)
Learn to compost at home! Start here.
Get your community, school, or local farm to compost with this resource.
Look for the BPI Certification label to know if items labeled compostable truly are readily compostable.

Resources

Java's Compost Website
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
Youtube
Watch Dirt! The Movie on Amazon Prime

This episode is supported by Consciously Clueless, the podcast for those who want to learn about how to live a healthier life, how to live more sustainably, and how to take your everyday actions and make them work for you and the planet. All with some space for cluelessness on this journey. Listen now!

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Jen Gale is the founder of Sustainable(ish), a podcast and blog that have grown into a myriad of resources meant to help individuals find support and ideas in their efforts of becoming more eco-friendly. She's all about embracing the "-ish" in our actions. We all have different circumstances and, within those, she helps you to aim for progress and not the unattainable perfection. If you ever thought your contribution to saving the planet was insignificant, Jen will surely change your mind.

Highlights

Compared to the systems change that's needed, how much can our individual actions really move the needle (you'll be surprised!)?
Tips on how to change a habit.
How can you get your family or housemates on board with changes that you would like to make?

What YOU Can Do

Oh goodness, this episode is full of golden nuggets! Here are some big-impact ones:

You would be surprised at just how responsive local politicians can be if they heard from their constituents. Write to them or call!
Break down your sustainability goals into the smallest steps so that the big goal isn't so intimidating.
Lower your consumption. A trick to avoiding impulse buying is by placing the item in your cart and waiting 3+ days before going to buy it. Often, it's that pause that makes us realize that we don't really need it.
Talk about sustainability, your eco-concerns, or your goals. This helps to normalize it in society.

Resources

Sustainable(ish) Podcast
The Sustainable(ish) Clubhouse
Carbon Literacy Class
Book: The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide
Book: The Sustainable(ish) Guide to Green Parenting
Facebook
Instagram

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

With everything going on during this time of the year, you may not want to be bothered with trying to change your holiday habits to be more eco-friendly. However, I have a few suggestions on what you can do WITHOUT adding to your to-do list!

Highlights

Thanksgiving
Black Friday
Christmas

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Today's episode is different than usual in that it's actually from another podcast that I guested on a few months back. The podcast is called Casa de Confidence and it's hosted by the incredible Julie Delucca-Collins. Her show highlights people who are confident dreamers. And, although I can't say I've always done it with confidence, I can say that I have always followed my North Star in order to reach for my dreams and live the life I imagined. We chat about imposter syndrome, my path to living abroad for the last decade, how Forces for Nature came to be, and what dreams I will be chasing next.

Resources

If you liked this episode, be sure to check out others at the Casa de Confidence podcast here.

To get in touch with Julie:

Website
Instagram
LinkedIn
Facebook
ClubHouse Handle: @JulieDelCo
Her book

Description of Casa De Confidence Podcast
The Casa De Confidence Podcast highlights individuals who are Confident Dreamers. These amazing guests come from all walks of life, are of different ages, and have unique stories. The one common thread between them is that they have embarked on the path to go after their dreams. These dreamers have failed, learned, and ultimately triumphed to walk confidently and live the life they have imagined. Take a journey to learn about what it takes to Go Confidently and reach your dreams.

According to the World Health Organization, the pandemic triggered a 25% increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide. Today's guest, Beth Allgood, has a suggestion on what could help. She is an expert in well-being but in a very niche way. She looks at the connections that nature and wildlife play toward the well-being of communities. What's really interesting, but concerning though, is how our current systems are designed in a way that doesn't consider well-being nor value the elements that can lead to it. Beth is on a mission to change that through the organization she founded, OneNature. OneNature seeks to transform policies and practices to foster happiness, interconnection, and well-being for all beings.

Highlights

How has being disconnected from nature affected us?
How can ignoring the value of well-being in our economic systems actually result in the opposite?
How is her work leading to the creation of tools that can result in greater conservation successes?
Why is just considering trees, and not wildlife, in wellbeing metrics flawed?

What YOU Can Do

Connect with nature! If something like hiking is not your thing, even just pausing and listening to birds singing or playing with your dog can increase your levels of well-being.
Don't stay isolated for too long.
Look for the beauty in the everyday.

Resources

OneNature

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

This summer, it's been hard to ignore the fact that climate change is no longer something we can think of as a future threat. It is here and it is impacting lives and livelihoods on unprecedented scales. But, it's also something that many people are still trying to fully understand. Today's guest is James Lawler, the founder of Climate Now, a Webby Award-nominated multimedia resource that distills the science and economics of climate change. He's here to answer questions sent in from listeners about what climate change is, what we can expect, and what we can do- in understandable and relatable terms. And he offers exciting resources we can all take advantage of.

Highlights

Isn't more CO2 good for plants?
Is it better to use less or recycle more?
What are these terms being thrown around lately- CO2 removal, negative emissions tech, net zero, offsets?

What YOU Can Do

Take advantage of the subsidies now available through the Inflation Reduction Act to buy more energy-efficient appliances and eco-friendlier heating for your home.
Find the renewable energy providers in your area and see what other financing may be available.
Join a group like those mentioned below. There is power in collectives!
After you reduce your emissions as much as possible, offset the rest.

Resources

Citizens Climate Lobby
Climate Cabinet Action
Sealed
*For the rest of the show notes, head on over to this episode's webpage!

Did you know that bats provide you with the services of pest control and plant pollination that directly benefit the food you eat, the clothes you wear, and even the liquor you drink? In fact, for example, the existence of tequila and mezcal is thanks to these mammals. Unfortunately, industrialized farming is endangering bats, and your favorite margarita. Renowned ecologist, Dr. Rodrigo Medellin, has a simple way to fix that. He has not only spent his life working to rectify the misunderstandings surrounding these important animals but also has found effective ways for us all to help conserve them.

Highlights

What makes bats indispensable to humans?
What's the connection between bats and agave?
Did COVID-19 come from bats?
What do we have to be conscious of in our transition to renewables so that they aren't a threat to bats?

What YOU Can Do

Ask your local liquor store, bar, and restaurant, to stock Bat Friendly™ tequila and mezcal. And choose it for home as well!*
Talk to your friends, family, and colleagues about the amazing things bats do for us.
Connect with bat protection organizations in your area to do citizen science.
Buy a bat detector to learn what species of bats are flying in your area.
Put up a bat house on your property. They'll take care of pest control for you!

*This suggestion is meant for responsible adults of the legal drinking age. We do not advocate overconsumption or the abuse of alcohol.

Resources

Follow Dr. Rodrigo Medellin on Instagram & Facebook
Watch the Bat Man of Mexico narrated by David Attenborough
More about the Bat Friendly™ Brand
Tequila Interchange Project on Instagram & Facebook

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Check out the new The Healthy Seas Podcast on your favorite podcasting app and meet those doing all they can to ensure our oceans and seas thrive!

As humans increasingly dominate the landscape through building homes, farms, highways, etc, the territories of wildlife are getting smaller and smaller. Animals are finding themselves in what are now our backyards as they are trying to satisfy their own needs for food, shelter, water, and finding mates. Elephants in Malaysia are no exception. Dr. Nurzhafarina Othman is a Bornean Elephant researcher and founder of the organization Seratu Aatai whose mission is to create a society that is willing and capable of protecting and coexisting with elephants and other wildlife. We talk about how teaching people about their behavior has helped increase tolerance of their presence, what has helped her the most in protecting the animals, and her thoughts on the palm oil industry (they might surprise you!).

Highlights

Why human-to-human conflict may be the bigger issue compared to human-wildlife conflict?
The importance of understanding animal behavior where you live.
How the palm oil industry can be an asset.

What YOU Can Do

Awareness is important! Learn more about the Malaysian elephants and share that knowledge with those you know.
Palm oil is found everywhere, from the daily soap you use to the delicious Nutella you spread on your toast. Seek out the products that use certified palm oil. This creates a demand that the companies can hear loud and clear.
When visiting Malaysia, choose responsible tours that let you view wild elephants at a distance. Getting too close can change their behavior which can be dangerous for both you and them.
Create a wildlife neighborhood watch team. Learn about the wildlife in your area and share resources with your neighbors to develop a communal sense of pride and acceptance of the other beings that share your space.
Support the work being done by researchers like Dr. Farina.

Resources

Seratu Aatai
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate and review! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Check out the new The Healthy Seas Podcast on your favorite podcasting app and meet those doing all they can to ensure our oceans and seas thrive!

James Regulinksi is the cofounder of Carbon Collective, the first financial investment advisory firm focused solely on solving climate change. We talk about how we may, unintentionally, be supporting industries that we don't want to see in our world's future (such as fossil fuels and nuclear weapons) and James provides tangible resources and ways for us to change that.
*The opinions expressed in this episode are not meant to be taken as financial advice. Investing comes with risks that should be discussed with your personal financial advisor.

Highlights

There is a misconception that sustainable investing has lower returns. Is that the case?
How can someone find out what industries their investment is going towards?
Does ESG investing count as sustainable?

Resources

Carbon Collective
As You Sow
Project Drawdown
Carbon Collective's Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Investing

What YOU Can Do

Get clear on what industries and activities you are willing to support and not support.
Find out where your 401k and other investments are going.
Find an advisor who respects your values and perhaps even shares them.
Learn more about sustainable investing.

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it at https://forcesfornature.com/becoming-a-force-for-nature-free-guide/

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate and review! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Check out the new The Healthy Seas Podcast on your favorite podcasting app and meet those doing all they can to ensure our oceans and seas thrive!

By 1964, there were no successfully nesting peregrine falcons in North America east of the Rockies and south of the Arctic. They were functionally extinct. So, why do we have them now? How did they come back? And why are they loving cities? One of the heroes of their story is Art McMorris. He was the Peregrine Falcon Coordinator with the Pennsylvania Game Commission from 2004 to 2021. Under his leadership, the Peregrine came to be removed from the endangered species list. This is a story not only for anyone interested in bringing a species back from the brink of extinction but also for those determined to reach their goals while having fun- a requirement for Art.

Highlights

What makes the Peregrine super unique in the animal kingdom?
How does a species go from functionally extinct to off the endangered species list?
Once a neuroscientist, what skills did Art transfer to help the Peregrine?
What lessons did he learn from doing this?

What Can YOU Do

Engage with the natural world. It'll remind you that we are not separate, but rather, a part of it.
When you learn of the presence of Peregrine Falcons somewhere, tell that information to your local wildlife agency so they can monitor the animal.
Volunteer to monitor nests or be a part of rescue squads and rehabilitators.
If you see an injured bird, contact your local wildlife rehabilitator(s) before you try to intervene.
Vote for candidates that will support nature.
Avoid pesticides. Although we no longer use DDT, what unknown dangers might the pesticides we use have?

Resources

Pennsylvania Game Commission Peregrine Falcon page

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review the show! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Free Guide to Becoming a Force for Nature
https://forcesfornature.com/becoming-a-force-for-nature-free-guide/

It has been found that 70% of wild fish populations are either fully used, overused, or in crisis from overfishing. And with food demand projected to increase by 50% by 2050, there is simply not enough fish in the sea for fishing to be sustainable. Fish farming, otherwise known as aquaculture, is intended to supplement this demand. In fact, salmon aquaculture is the fastest-growing food production system in the world- although not without its own share of controversy. Parker Jefferson is a fly-fisherman in Cowichan, Canada, and has been an integral part of the success story for wild salmon in that area. We talk about the environmental and social importance of protecting these animals but also address how we can make choices that lessen the negative impacts of salmon aquaculture.

Highlights

How are salmon culturally important to the First Nation Tribes of Western Canada?
What are the negative impacts of salmon aquaculture in that area?
How has Parker's community come together to restore and protect the populations of wild salmon in the Cowichan?
How can salmon aquaculture lessen its negative impacts?

What YOU Can Do

Choose wild or certified fish (some certifications can be found in the Resources below).
Use a guide such as the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Guide to help make responsible choices, either on your phone or printed. The Environmental Defense Fund also has a guide called Seafood Selector.
Ask "where did this fish come from" at restaurants and grocery stores. The more people who make it known that they care, the more businesses will ask their suppliers and distributors the same.
Eat more plant-based meals

Resources

Alexandra Morton
Certifications
Global Salmon Initiative
Marine Stewardship Council (wild-caught fish)
Aquaculture Stewardship Council (farmed fish)
Best Aquaculture Practices Certification

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it at https://forcesfornature.com/becoming-a-force-for-nature-free-guide/

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate and review! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Free Guide to Becoming a Force for Nature
https://forcesfornature.com/becoming-a-force-for-nature-free-guide/

Have you seen the images of whales dragging buoys wrapped around their tails? Or turtles entangled in ropes? These are examples of what is called "ghost gear," which are lost or abandoned fishing nets or gear that then aimlessly drift through the ocean, catching whatever comes into their path. Jenny Ioannou is with Healthy Seas, an organization dedicated to fixing this problem. Their work focuses on the retrieval of this pollution from the sea, prevention activities, and awareness building. And, once these materials are removed from the ocean, they work with partners to have them recycled and given a new life as a material called Econyl (used in a lot of today's sustainable fashion).

Highlights

What is ghost gear?
What kind of impact does Healthy Seas have on marine ecosystems?
How does Healthy Seas contribute to circular economies?

What YOU Can Do

Volunteer with or donate to Healthy Seas.
Report abandoned fishing gear to your local authorities or ask for help from organizations like Healthy Seas.
Throw away your trash in the proper receptacles.
Do not cut your fishing lines and let them go into the water.
Look for products made from Econyl. You can find all sorts of products from their partners on the Healthy Seas website. (It's important to mention that Econyl acts just like virgin nylon in that it also sheds plastic microfibers when washed. To keep those fibers from going into the water system, use a bag such as a Guppy Friend when washing them.)

Resources

Healthy Seas
Ghost Diving
Aquafil

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it at https://forcesfornature.com/becoming-a-force-for-nature-free-guide/

Free Guide to Becoming a Force for Nature
https://forcesfornature.com/becoming-a-force-for-nature-free-guide/

More often than not, when you hear about the state of the natural world, you hear allllll the bad things. Yes, they are happening and, yes, they suck. But what you might not realize is that there are also soooo many good things happening. People are coming together to make the changes that we wish to see. Emma Illick Frank is a journalist and she joins us today to be the bearer of some great news. Although, our tangent about natural flavoring may make you cringe. ;)

*Correction: Emma mentioned that condors can get lead poisoning from eating carcasses killed by lead-laced bullets. It turns out, they have to actually ingest the bullets––not just the meat surrounding them.

Highlights

Beavers are back in the UK after being locally extinct.
Population boom for monarch butterflies.
Multistakeholder collaborations, including with the Yurok Tribe, are helping to bring back the California Condor.

What YOU Can Do to Help

For Beavers:
- Support their reintroduction to your local streams (if they are native).
- Don't buy their fur.
For Monarch Butterflies:
- Plant Milkweed flowers.
- Avoid using pesticides on your property. There are alternative methods available. But, if you must, use the minimum that is needed and only in those very specific areas.
For Condors:
- Same as above regarding pesticides.
- Don't use lead bullets if you hunt.

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it at https://forcesfornature.com/becoming-a-force-for-nature-free-guide/

Free Guide to Becoming a Force for Nature
https://forcesfornature.com/becoming-a-force-for-nature-free-guide/

The field of wildlife conservation has some of the most passionate and determined people in the world. To build a career protecting animals requires professionals in this field to have a diverse and complex toolbox of skills and knowledge. However, as happens in many other careers, academic training is only the beginning of the learning journey and often does not fully cover the wide range of challenges and opportunities that individuals will face in the real world. Recognizing this gap, Nina Fascione (Exec. Director, International Rhino Foundation) and Jeffrey Flocken (President, Humane Society International), created the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders (EWCL) program in 2005 to afford early-career wildlife conservationists an opportunity to become better-rounded professionals. Through EWCL, participants in the program are equipped with a gamut of skills, techniques, and approaches to wildlife conservation, and are connected to a large network of peers around the world. We talk about the program, its evolution, and future, diving into some very amusing stories of how EWCL came to be and continues to change people's lives straight from the start.

Highlights

The borderline nutty dedication to getting EWCL off the ground. ;)
What kinds of impacts has EWCL had throughout the world?
How can someone become a part of this fantastic network?

What YOU Can DoIf you're an early career conservationist, apply to join the next EWCL class! Tell them Forces for Nature sent you!
Applications are due October 31st, 2021.

Resources

Application
Website
Instagram
Facebook

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it here!

Hey there! We're wrapping up this season with an update on what Crystal's been up to and a call to action.

What would you like to see from Forces for Nature? What topics, people, tips, etc? Find me on social media or write to me at crystal@forcesfornature.com. I can't wait to hear from you!

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it at https://forcesfornature.com/becoming-a-force-for-nature-free-guide/

What action for the world are you going to take today?

Background music by Fearless Motivation Instrumentals: Meaning of Life.

Despite its protected status, the marine waters surrounding the Caribbean island of Bonaire are not immune to the global effects of climate change, warming waters, and ocean acidification. These dangers, among others, are greatly impacting coral reefs all over the world. Francesca Virdis of Reef Renewal Bonaire is working to protect and restore these ecosystems by propagating new coral growth and transplanting these animals (did you know they are animals!?) back into degraded landscapes. This work is important for us all because coral reefs not only provide important tourism income for communities but also are nurseries to many commercial fish species, protect coastlines, and provide biomedical compounds.

What YOU can do to help coral reefs:

Only use reef-safe sunscreen when you go into the ocean (see a link in the resources section of the show notes).
Don’t stand or anchor on coral reefs (only on clear sand patches).
Don't buy coral souvenirs or jewelry.
Be a volunteer for Reef Renewal Bonaire
Spread awareness of this issue.
Vote for those with a pro-environmental agenda.

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it at https://forcesfornature.com/becoming-a-force-for-nature-free-guide/

If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to subscribe, rate, and review!

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what eco-actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

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If you live in a country with a highly developed garbage collection system, such as the US, you might not be fully aware of the impact that trash and litter have. However, even the US is in the top 20 of all countries generating the greatest amount of ocean-bound trash. These items end up choking the waters we swim in, ingested by the fish we eat, and degrading ecosystems across the world. Sharona Shnayder is the co-founder of Tuesdays for Trash. What started as her way to get outside during the pandemic and do something good by picking up litter, has become a global movement bringing together people from all over with the desire to clean up their neighborhoods and, in turn, the world.

If you want to learn how YOU can help, be sure to check out this episode's show notes at www.forcesfornature.com!

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it here!

If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to subscribe, rate, and review!

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what eco-actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

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Did you know that most of the food crops we eat are reliant on pollinators to reproduce? Fruits, vegetables, nuts, even the food fed to cattle, sheep, and pigs, need pollinators such as bees. Unfortunately, there have been staggering declines in bee population numbers over the past couple of decades that have the potential for disastrous consequences. Timothy Paule and Nicole Lindsey saw an opportunity in this crisis to make a two-fold impact. They created Detroit Hives which not only works to protect these vital animals but also to revitalize the city they call home.

What can YOU do to help bees?

Plant a bee-friendly garden. Your local plant nursery could help inform you as to what are the best native flowers to have. Even a flower box outside of your apartment window is effective.
Provide a water source (a shallow dish with small rocks above the waterline)
Use little to no chemicals on your lawn and garden.
If you have a swarm at your home, call a local beekeeper to safely take care of it instead of an exterminator.
For more ideas, check out this episode's show notes on the website!

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it at https://forcesfornature.com/becoming-a-force-for-nature-free-guide/

If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to subscribe, rate, and review!

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook (Page / Private Group) and let me know what eco-actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

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Sharks have a bad rep. But Tadzio Bervoets is here to tell us why our fear should be replaced with respect and intrigue instead. These animals are keystone species that, if removed, can cause a cascading negative effect on the entire ocean ecosystem and human livelihoods- and it's already been witnessed in some places. We talk about how an obsession, not a fear, has been their main demise (an obsession for their fins), the unexpected way scientists get their hands on sharks, and how a trip to New York City can get you more bites than one to the beach.

Tadzio is the Director of the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance. He recently created the Caribbean Shark Coalition which aims to foster collaboration among various stakeholders in the greater Caribbean to increase the region's capacity for protecting sharks and rays.

What can YOU do to help sharks?

When doing shark diving tourism, be sure you are going with a reputable and responsible tour operator.
- Check if they are third-party certified.
- Ask what their safety protocols are.
- Be sure they don't let you swim too closely (there have been documented negative impacts on whale sharks because of improper diver interactions).
- Make sure operators use very little food to lure in the animals so they don't become dependent on humans to feed them.
- Don't be tempted by the lowest prices. If the standard cost is X, anything much lower is a red flag.
To avoid sharks being caught as bycatch, support responsible fishing practices. You can use the Monterey Bay Aquarium's portable guide here.
Don't buy any shark products, from jaws to leather to soup. If you would like a shark's tooth, buy a fossilized shark's tooth so as not to support the killing of these animals for their parts.
Check to see if your fish oil supplement contains shark liver.
Shark meat contains mercury. For your health, avoid eating it.
Support policies for shark conservation and sound ocean governance.
Donate to shark research and education efforts.

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it at https://forcesfornature.com/becoming-a-force-for-nature-free-guide/

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review!

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook (Page / Private Group) and let me know what eco-actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

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The connection of how consumerism impacts the environment may not always be so clear. However, when you take a moment to think about how and what products are made of, and what their life cycle may be, a very discouraging picture can start to emerge. And, to find what is and isn't "good" can be quite overwhelming when we're juggling all the other things. Jaclyn Tracy is here to help. She created the lifestyle brand, Sistain, to connect conscious consumers with sustainable solutions. She does this through careful product curation, in-depth research, and knowledge-sharing. She's working to change the perception of what sustainability looks like and how it can fit within our lives.

How YOU can be a more conscious consumer:

Start with simple sustainable swaps such as a reusable bottle or a dish brush (instead of a sponge).
Utilize Sistain's website for Sistain-Approved Brands.
When shopping for clothes, try to choose natural materials (aka not polyester, it's plastic).
Reach out to Sistain with your sustainability questions. They are happy to help!
For beauty products, assess the packaging (is it recyclable?), ingredients (natural?), is it cruelty-free.

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it at https://forcesfornature.com/becoming-a-force-for-nature-free-guide/

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review!

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook (Page / Private Group) and let me know what eco-actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

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Today's guest is Julio Prieto. He's an Ecuadorian lawyer working with the Union of People Affected by Texaco, the organization otherwise known as UDAPT. He has been a key player in one of the most well-known battles for environmental justice- the case of Ecuador vs. Chevron-Texaco. After 20 years of litigation, Julio's team won the case that found Chevron to be guilty of egregious pollution and irresponsibility in the Ecuadorian rainforest. However, 10 years later, he is still fighting for the settlement that would benefit the tens of thousands impacted. We talk about his lessons learned, his most recent victory, and why, despite the impossible odds, he will never give up.

If you want to learn how YOU can help, be sure to check out this episode's show notes at www.forcesfornature.com!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review!

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook (Page / Private Group) and let me know what eco-actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

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Have you ever watched a documentary that made you want to do something about what you were seeing? But then, after the credits, life takes back over and that inspiration quickly fades. It happens to all of us. But today's guest, Andrea Walji, is going to introduce us to a new streaming platform that lets you take action as you're watching the action. Waterbear is a free, interactive streaming platform dedicated to the future of the planet. We talk about the edu-tainment they offer, the impact they are already having, and how you can easily become a member.

Check out this episode's show notes for resources on how YOU can take action!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review!

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook (Page / Private Group) and let me know what eco-actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

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Did you know that over 100k animals still suffer and die each year due to the testing of chemicals used to make mascara, shampoo, and other cosmetics despite there being more effective non-animal testing methods available? This antiquated practice is still legal in 4 out of 5 countries but today's guest, Aviva Vetter, is part of a global team working to change that. She is the campaign manager for Humane Society International's latest project to end animal testing in the cosmetics industry, Save Ralph. We talk about their spokes-bunny, Ralph, this star-studded campaign, and the very easy things you can do to make sure your beauty routine is cruelty-free.

See Ralph for yourself in this stop-motion animation short film by Andrew Gent that features a Hollywood A-list cast of voices. Check the film here and then rush over to sign this petition. Be a part of this global movement to end cosmetics testing once and for all.

Want to do more? It's easy! Check out this episode's show notes for resources on how you can learn what is and isn't cruelty-free in your cabinets.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review!

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook (Page / Private Group) and let me know what eco-actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

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Climate change and environmental protection haven't always been as politicized as they are today. And, unfortunately, in being so, progress on these fronts gets hindered. Chris Barnard is helping to change that. He's the Policy Director at The Conservation Coalition, a group founded by political conservatives working to transform the narrative of denialism in order to get more voices to the table. We talk about how these issues shouldn't be political, how you can find allies across the political spectrum, and which solutions may satisfy all.

For tips on how YOU can help bridge the divide wherever you are, check out this episode's show notes!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review!

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook (Page / Private Group) and let me know what eco-actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

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More and more scientific studies are showing that protecting healthy soils, or regenerating degraded ones, is key to not only slowing down climate change but can actually help reverse it. This is in addition to greater water retention capabilities (aka flood and drought resistance), protection from erosion, and the ability to produce healthier foods for us to eat. Jennifer Maynard talks to us about how her regenerative farm is bringing life back to its soil and how her meal-kit company is delivering those benefits straight to your door.

Want to try Nutrition for Longevity's meal kits, use this link and Coupon Code FORCESFORNATURE for 15% off your first order!

For tips on how YOU can support regenerative agriculture, head on over to this episode's show notes.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review!

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook (Page / Private Group) and let me know what eco-actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

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David Mizejewski, a naturalist, author, and television presenter with the National Wildlife Federation, shares how our gardens can be key to helping reverse the dramatic wildlife declines the world is experiencing. We talk about current misconceptions around yards and gardens, how they may be unintentionally barren of the beneficial wildlife you would like to have (for example, birds and butterflies), and what you can do and not do in order to change that. This episode is relevant to anyone whether you have the largest yard or just a planter box outside your apartment window.

For the tips on how YOU can make your home a haven for wildlife and for a link to Dave's how-to book, Attracting Birds, Butterflies, and Other Backyard Wildlife, head on over to this episode's show notes.

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What difference for the world are you going to make today?

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When a scabies outbreak in a gorilla population in Uganda was attributed to the hygiene habits of nearby local communities, Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka knew that she would have to find creative ways to ensure that these magnificent animals and surrounding communities can co-exist. As a response, she created the NGO, Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH), which employs a multidisciplinary approach to prevent and control disease transmission between closely genetically related species such as people and gorillas, and cattle and buffalo. CTPH also improves livelihoods by supporting local communities in reducing their dependence on fragile habitats to meet their basic needs.

Her methods have garnered worldwide attention. She has received numerous awards, including the Whitley Gold Award for outstanding leadership in grassroots nature conservation and the Jane Goodall Institute Award for Conservation. In September 2020, she became the first African to win the Aldo Leopold Award from the American Society of Mammologists for outstanding contributions to the conservation of mammals and their habitats.

With zoonotic diseases projected to become more prevalent, her work is becoming increasingly relevant to each and every one of us.

For ideas on how YOU can help protect gorillas from wherever you are, be sure to check out this episode's show notes at forcesfornature.com!

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook (Page / Private Group) and let me know what eco-actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

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As this crazy year comes to an end, we celebrate the forces for nature that were featured this past season and offered rays of hope in otherwise dark times.

Season 2 coming in February 2021!

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for updates on more wins our guests from this past season achieved as well as more ideas on how you, too, can be a force for nature!

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This is our most action-packed episode to date! Today's guest is Brandon Schauer. He's the Senior VP of Rare's Make it Personal program, an initiative aimed at encouraging climate-friendly behaviors. Through their research, they have found the top seven behaviors that, if only 10% of Americans adopted, would put the U.S. 75% closer to its Paris Climate Agreement emissions targets! Without dramatic lifestyle changes! You can't afford to miss this episode. You will walk away with practical, do-able actions that you can take to reduce your carbon footprint.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review!

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook (Page / Private Group) and let me know what eco-actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

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Did you know that there is a little one-pound monkey in the forests of Colombia that looks like Albert Einstein? Many people didn't know that either. But, today's guest, Rosamira Guillen, is changing that. She's the Executive Director of Proyecto Titi, working for the past decade to protect Cotton Top Tamarins. And her efforts have not gone unnoticed. She's a winner of the National Geographic/ Buffet Award, the Whitley Fund for Nature Award, and the Premio Latino America Verde, just to name a few. We talk about the different strategies she's using that help the local communities around where these animals live to get people to buy into their protection and conservation- and how they are working!

To see some pictures of Cotton-top tamarins, check out this episode's show notes at www.forcesfornature.com

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review!

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook (Page / Private Group) and let me know what eco-actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

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The U.S. Amendments to the Constitution protect, for example, your freedom of religion, your freedom of speech, your right to vote. But it doesn't state that you have a right to clean air, water, and a healthy environment. U.S. citizens actually have more of a right to own a gun than to have the water coming out of their faucet be clean. Today's guest, Maya Van Rossum, is working to change that. She has been the leader of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network since 1994 and is the founder of the Green Amendments for the Generations Movement. She envisions a Green Amendment in every State Constitution and has been making some pretty impressive strides to get there.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook (Page / Private Group) and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

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Have you ever felt that you, alone, don't have the power to make a difference? Now, what if you had thousands, or millions, of people join you? Would you feel more impactful then? Nina Jackel uses the culmination of everyone's one voice to make a tangible difference for animals all over the world. Her organization, Lady Freethinker, mobilizes people via petitions and, as a result, has helped countless animal abuse victims over the years. We talk about some of her favorite success stories and how she uses your "small" actions to do big things.

Want to learn how YOUR one voice can help countless animal abuse victims? Check out this week's show notes at www.forcesfornature.com

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There are only four large-scale temperate grasslands left in the world whose protection would conserve a fully functioning ecosystem. However, undertaking a conservation effort of that size could be immensely daunting and difficult. Today’s guests welcome that challenge. Sean Gerrity is the founder of the American Prairie Reserve (APR) and Daniel Kinka is the APR's wildlife restoration manager. Using a myriad of talents, this long-term project is well underway to become the largest wildlife reserve in the continental United States- a North American Serengeti!

For ideas on how YOU can support this once-in-a-generation endeavor, check out this week's show notes at ForcesforNature.com!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook (Page / Private Group) and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

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Did you know that there is a small, hairy rhino species in Sumatra? Or a rhino species in Java that lives in the shadow of an active volcano? I sit down with Nina Fascione, the Executive Director of the International Rhino Foundation, and we talk about these special animals, their plight, and how, despite their dire population numbers, we have the chance to bring them back from the brink of extinction.

For ideas on how you can help, check out this episode's show notes at www.forcesfornature.com!

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The natural cleaner as effective as bleach! It disinfects & sanitizes with no toxic chemicals.

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World-renowned ecologist and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, Dr. Enric Sala,founded and leads Nat Geo’s Pristine Seas, a project that combines exploration, research, and media to inspire country leaders to protect the last wild places in the ocean. Today, we talk about how some ocean species can act as our N95 masks, how our oceans are like a global savings account, and why even those nowhere near oceans can be affected by what happens in them. We also discuss his "love letter to the planet," his new book, The Nature of Nature. Today's talk, and his book, both wonderfully illustrate how nature works and makes the case as to why protecting it, is to our advantage.

For ways on how YOU can protect the ocean, check out this episode's show notes at www.forcesfornature.com!

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The guiding principle of environmental justice is that everyone, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income is entitled to equal protection from environmental harms and risks. However, statistics clearly show that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) disproportionately bear the impacts of climate change, from storms to extreme heat, and are more often made to live alongside polluting industries such as refineries and landfills. Today's guest, Peggy Shepard, has spent decades standing up against environmental injustices and has achieved some impressive wins along the way. The mission of her organization, WeAct for Environmental Justice, is to build healthy communities by ensuring that people of color and/or low income residents participate meaningfully in the creation of sound and fair environmental health and protection policies and practices. She works to make sure that saving the environment isn't only about trees and polar bears but, also, protecting people.

For ideas on how you can help, check out this episode's show notes at www.forcesfornature.com!

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It is suspected that a wildlife market in China was ground zero for the Covid19 outbreak, but why? How did that happen? How has it happened in the past and why will it inevitably happen again unless we make some important changes? I talk about all of this with today's guest, Onkuri Majumdar of the organization Freeland. She has been working to strengthen the capacity of governments, law officials, and companies to recognize illegal wildlife trafficking and to bring culprits to justice in such a way that actually dismantles the whole illegal network. Onkuri, along with a myriad of other partners that work alongside Freeland, works tirelessly to make sure that a disease like Covid19 is not able to again bring the world to its knees.

You may not realize it, but you are witness to the illegal wildlife trade way more often than you think, which means there's actually a lot you can do to put an end to it. Want to know how? Check out this episode's show notes at www.forcesfornature.com!

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The effects of Covid19 have been far-reaching and unexpected. With the sudden stop of international tourism to Africa, vast wilderness areas that would normally have a reliable presence of tourists and workers, have been left vacant. This vacancy, and its negative economic consequences, have left these areas vulnerable to wildlife crime. There are fears that poaching will become a pandemic of its own. Today's guest, Anna Rathmann, is the Director of the Great Plains Foundation and talks to us about their new endeavor, Project Ranger. Through it, they are helping to fund front-line conservation personnel who are protecting these important and fragile ecosystems.

Want to know how YOU can help wildlife in Africa? Check out this week's show notes at www.forcesfornature.com!

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Did you know that at their current rate of decline, lions can become extinct in our lifetime?! With many of them living outside of protected areas, conservation solutions have to involve the people they live among. Today's guest is Resson Kantai Duff, the Deputy Director of Ewaso Lions based in Northern Kenya. The mission of Ewaso Lions is to conserve lions and other large carnivores by promoting coexistence between people and wildlife. They do this by involving individuals who, traditionally, have had very little say in conservation decision-making in the past- Samburu Warriors, women, and children. We have a great discussion about their projects, how to get included in governmental decision-making, and the importance of inclusion.

For ideas on how YOU can help to protect lions from wherever you are (and even the large carnivores in your backyard), check out this week's show notes at the Forces for Nature website.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate and review! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook (Page / Private Group) and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

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Have you ever stopped to wonder why an organization who, let's say, works to protect animals may still serve (other) animals at their events? There's a disconnect there that today's guest, Deva Holub, is working to adjust. She helps to run Animal Place's Food for Thought program whose aim is to help nonprofits adopt mission-driven menu policies for fundraising and sponsored events. The benefits of doing so are plenty, including (for a 150 person event) saving up to 50 farmed animal lives, 55,000 gallons of water, and a much lighter carbon footprint. In fact, she even tells us about how, after aligning their events with their mission, one organization's donor gave them a six-figure gift!

For some ideas on how YOU help better the lives of farm animals, check out this episode's show notes at https://link.chtbl.com/ep12devaholub

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Did you know that only 10% of all plastic that's ever been produced has been recycled?! And that just 60% of communities in the U.S. have access to curbside recycling pick-up?* Our waste is a huge problem but, today's guest, Ryan Hickman, is determined to be part of the solution. At just 10 years old (yes, you read that right!), he's CEO of his own company, Ryan's Recycling. He joins us today with his dad, Damion, and helps to demystify the confusion that recycling can sometimes cause.

If YOU want to learn more about what is and isn't recyclable, head on over to this episode's show notes at https://forcesfornature.com/podcast/recycling

*https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2017/07/plastic-produced-recycling-waste-ocean-trash-debris-environment/

** https://recyclingpartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2020/02/2020-State-of-Curbside-Recycling.pdf

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Is there a way to feed millions and support economies without the severe environmental footprint left behind by conventional agricultural practices? There is! Regenerative agriculture is a growing movement and it includes practices such as agroforestry and silvopastoral systems- basically, food that's grown and animals raised in a more forest-like setting. These methods help to regenerate topsoil, increase biodiversity, sequester carbon, and protect water supplies while actually increasing yields! Sounds too good to be true? Irene Montes's father, Olimpo, made the switch to regenerative agriculture on his farm in Alcalá, Colombia, and was able to revive his dying land. In this episode, Irene shares her father's story and how Pinzacuá Ranch has become a leading example in the region of how to farm more humanely and in-tune with the natural ecosystem.

Want to know how YOU can support regenerative agriculture practices and bring back ecosystem services? Check out this week's show notes!

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Anne Therese Gennari is a model, entrepreneur, activist and a great example of how you don't have to be in the environmental field to make a difference in it. She uses social media and the business she co-created, Role Models Management, as platforms to inspire others to make more conscious choices for a better future. And, her podcast, Hey Change, motivates people to embrace change and find happiness in new realities. Hear from this influencer on how she's challenging the modeling industry, her advice for a post COVID19 world, and why she's determined to be a "stubborn climate optimist."

Want to know what YOU can do to become a stubborn climate optimist too? Check out this week's show notes at forcesfornature.com

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When Pablo Borboroglu released his first rehabilitated penguin back into the wild 30 years ago, he saw the ability that one person has to make a difference. Holding steadfast to this belief, he has since become one of the greatest voices for these animals. And, facing threats both on land and in water, they need it. Through the Global Penguin Society, Pablo uses scientific research to help guide conservation actions that have not only protected penguins but have also benefitted many other species that they live among as well as local communities. His enthusiasm for this work is palatable and he uses it to inspire thousands of people to become stewards for these animals too. Pablo is a National Geographic Explorer and recipient of the Whitley Gold Award, Rolex Award for Enterprise, and various other accolades. Though, what’s even more impressive, is all that penguins have gained because of him.

Want to know what YOU can do to help penguins? Check out this week's show notes at forcesfornature.com

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So often it can feel like all you hear are the negative things that are going on with the environment. The danger in that, though, is that you can overwhelm the listener, make them want to tune out and, worse, feel like there is nothing that they can do. I mean, why try to make eco-friendly choices when you feel like it won't make a difference, right? Dr. Nancy Knowlton, a world-renowned marine biologist, saw how she, herself, was guilty of only talking about the bad and saw how it affected those that heard it. She decided to try a new approach where success stories were highlighted and the response she and her colleagues have received has gone viral. #OceanOptimism, and all that has come from it, is helping to push conservation narratives to be more focused on what is working with the aim of inspiring hope and encouraging action. On this eve of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, let's celebrate what we've accomplished and look ahead on what we can replicate and scale up for a better tomorrow.

Want to know what YOU can do to promote earth optimism? Check out this week's show notes at forcesfornature.com

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While volunteering at animal shelters, Sherri Franklin noticed that senior dogs had little to no chance of being adopted- they're not always the prettiest of the bunch, they may have unknown health issues, and the attraction of a new puppy can sometimes be far greater. This broke Sherri's heart and she decided to start Muttville, a shelter-based in San Francisco that rescues senior dogs and adopts them out to forever homes, oftentimes giving these grateful pups a loving final chapter to their lives.

If you're struggling with the expenses of your pet or with keeping your pet, check out this week's show notes for a list of resources.

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Since the taping of Sherri Franklin’s episode, Giving Senior Dogs a Second Chance, COVID19 has brought the world to a standstill. There are reports of shelters experiencing increased foster adoptions but also reports of increased animal drop-offs as people lose their jobs. I caught up with Sherri to see how Muttville has been faring the storm so far.

Refer to this show's episode page for resources on how to help keep your pet if you fall on hard times.

Katie Moore is the Deputy Vice President of Animal Rescue with the International Fund for Animal Welfare. For the past two decades, Katie has been rescuing stranded marine mammals all over the world, leading these initiatives and pioneering methods that have saved thousands that wouldn't have had a chance before. Through better treatment practices employed by her and her team, successful releases on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, have jumped from under 14% to over 70%. This success is also due to a study she was a part of that challenged the common practice of euthanizing lone dolphins who had stranded. Each individual matters to Katie and she won't let anything get in her way to save them.

Check out this episode's webpage for ideas on how you can help!

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Did you know that an unspayed female dog, and her mate, and all their offspring and their offspring's puppies can add up to 67,000 dogs in just six years!? And cats also have the same staggering statistics! Unfortunately, there aren't enough homes to take care of the potential numbers of animals that can be born. And, what's worse, is that most of these unwanted animals end up with a terrible quality of life. This was a problem that Patricia Chan was observing on the streets of Panama. Pat decided to do something about it and created Spay Panama. Spay Panama's vision is to improve animal welfare and put a stop to animal cruelty by controlling the overpopulation of dogs and cats through intensive sterilization campaigns. They provide high-quality sterilization services at low cost for animal rescuers, feeders, and families of low means. Their #1 goal is to avoid unwanted litters.

Look for this episode's show notes for ideas on how you can help!

To date, they have operated on over 200,000 animals.

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Kelly Donithan is a Senior Specialist in Disaster Operations with Humane Society International. She recently returned from Australia where she was stationed on Kangaroo Island after their unprecedented wildfires, rescuing any wildlife survivors that could be found and helping to give them a second chance. We talk about what it was like on the ground there and how, despite all the devastation she regularly sees, she finds ways to keeps ongoing.

Look for this episode's full show notes at ForcesForNature.com for a list of how you can help and resources on how to prepare your pets for the unexpected.

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What do you get when you cross an artichoke with an armadillo? A pangolin, the world's most trafficked mammal you've probably never heard of. Paul Thomson is the cofounder of Save Pangolins, an organization that has been bringing attention to these elusive scaled mammals with the hopes that to know them is to love them and, therefore, protect them.

**Update: To read an article put out by Save Pangolins regarding COVID19 and its relation to pangolins, check out this episode's show notes.

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Meet the host of Forces for Nature, Crystal DiMiceli

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