Rewildology

When Lewis and Clark traveled the Missouri River in the early 1800s, they encountered bison herds stretching to the horizon, grizzly bears roaming the plains, and wildlife in numbers that seemed endless—but just 100 years later, it was nearly all gone. In this episode, Brooke sits down with Dr. Danny Kinka, Director of Rewilding at American Prairie, to explore the science behind the largest landscape rewilding project in the continental United States. American Prairie is working to restore 5,000 square miles of Montana's Great Plains by restoring keystone species like bison and creating the conditions for wildlife like beaver, prairie dogs, and eventually large carnivores to naturally return and thrive. They discuss why bison grazing is essential to grassland diversity, how prairie dogs are the unsung heroes of the plains, why American Prairie isn't ready for wolves yet but grizzly bears are a different story, the complexities of conservation in working ranch landscapes, community relations, and what you can do to support wildlife restoration wherever you live in the world. This is the science of rewilding, Montana's Great Plains comeback, and the tangible hope happening on the ground right now.

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 The Return of Wildness in Central Montana
00:22 Introduction to Rewildology and today’s guest
01:51 Meet Dr. Daniel Kinka: From Psychology to Rewilding
03:17 The Historical Transformation of the Great Plains
07:27 The Ecological Impact of Wildlife Loss
12:12 American Prairie: Mission and Goals
16:53 Rewilding Strategies and Challenges
26:57 The Role of Large Carnivores in Rewilding
33:15 Current Status and Future of American Prairie
35:57 Functional Recovery of the Ecosystem
36:08 Rewilding Progress and Challenges
37:37 Wildlife Restoration and Management
38:07 Community and Economic Impact
40:40 Public Support and Skepticism
50:54 Global Significance of Rewilding
57:08 Personal Reflections and Hope
01:00:38 How to Support Rewilding Efforts
01:07:28 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

SUPPORT AMERICAN PRAIRIE
https://americanprairie.org/

LEARN MORE ABOUT PROJECT PATAGONIA
https://rewildology.com/projectpatagonia/

REWILDOLOGY FIELD EXPEDITIONS
Where The Wild Calls: Patagonia Puma Expedition & Torres Del Paine Adventure, March 31 - April 7, 2026: https://rewildology.com/patagoniaexpedition/

JOIN THE REWILDOLOGY BOOK CLUB. IT’S FREE!
https://rewildology.com/rewildology-book-club/

SHOW NOTES & NEWSLETTER
Show notes & subscribe to newsletter, https://rewildology.com/

SUPPORT REWILDOLOGY
https://rewildology.com/support-the-show/

LISTEN TO THE REWILDOLOGY PODCAST
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3YXWSsF
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3oW6artLcvxX0QoW1TCcrq?si=ff3b5e2ec90542a2

FOLLOW REWILDOLOGY
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Rewildology
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rewildology/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rewildology/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rewildology
X: https://x.com/rewildology

Join Brooke and Charles for their end-of-year Nature Coffee Hour as they reflect on 2025's biggest conservation moments! They swap their usual evening beers for morning caffeine and dive into the stories that shaped this year: green sea turtles downlisted from endangered to least concern, Florida's record-breaking leatherback nesting season, the troubling rollback of U.S. wetland protections, Ecuadorian fishing communities protecting mangroves from industrial shrimp farms, and the historic High Seas Treaty protecting two-thirds of our oceans. They also share personal updates—Rewildology's Project Patagonia series becoming a Jackson Wild finalist, Charles's health recovery and new PhD students, and some unexpected philosophical realizations about humanity and our shared planet. This conversation covers the conservation wins, losses, and everything in between as we close out 2025 and look ahead to what's next.

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction
01:34 Morning Beverage Chat
06:49 Project Patagonia Success
20:05 Charles' Health and Lab Updates
30:43 Top Headlines of 2025
40:49 State Policies and Their Impact on Wildlife
41:40 Ecological Consequences of Removing Protections
43:21 Private Land and Wetland Conservation
43:54 The Importance of Wetlands and Potential Risks
44:33 State-Level Actions and Public Responsibility
46:57 Positive News: Green Sea Turtles' Recovery
47:48 Sea Turtle Conservation Success Stories
55:10 Community-Led Conservation in Ecuador
01:02:42 Global Conservation Efforts and Personal Reflections
01:12:55 High Seas Treaty and Ocean Conservation
01:21:31 Closing Thoughts and Future Plans

LEARN MORE ABOUT PROJECT PATAGONIA
https://rewildology.com/projectpatagonia/

REWILDOLOGY FIELD EXPEDITIONS
Where The Wild Calls: Patagonia Puma Expedition & Torres Del Paine Adventure, March 31 - April 7, 2026: https://rewildology.com/patagoniaexpedition/

JOIN THE REWILDOLOGY BOOK CLUB. IT’S FREE!
https://rewildology.com/rewildology-book-club/

SHOW NOTES & NEWSLETTER
Show notes & subscribe to newsletter, https://rewildology.com/

SUPPORT REWILDOLOGY
https://rewildology.com/support-the-show/

LISTEN TO THE REWILDOLOGY PODCAST
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3YXWSsF
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3oW6artLcvxX0QoW1TCcrq?si=ff3b5e2ec90542a2

FOLLOW REWILDOLOGY
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Rewildology
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rewildology/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rewildology/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rewildology
X: https://x.com/rewildology

CONTACTS
Brooke Mitchell, [email protected]

SPONSORSHIPS & BRAND PARTNERSHIPS
Send your ideas to Brooke at [email protected]

In this inbetweenersode, Brooke sits down with Natalie Cibel and Coral Carson from Planet People Podcast to explore the Mojave Desert—part of California's overlooked "desert heart". Discover the surprising Raven-Tortoise-Human conflict threatening desert wildlife, the complex relationship between renewable energy development and habitat conservation, and innovative solutions like laser technology and captive breeding programs saving desert tortoises. Learn about pressing challenges including off-roading impacts, solar farm expansion, and illegal poaching, plus inspiring conservation wins like the Chuckwalla National Monument, Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act, and the "Kill Your Lawn" rewilding movement. This episode reveals why the Mojave Desert is a critical conservation hotspot and how small actions—like closing dumpster lids—create cascading positive effects for desert ecosystems.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Introduction and Special Episode Announcement
01:03 Meet the Hosts: Natalie and Coral
04:11 Exploring the Mojave Desert
06:02 Desert Biodiversity and Conservation
09:05 Challenges Facing the Mojave Desert
11:37 Raven and Desert Tortoise Conflict
14:29 Human Impact and Conservation Efforts
21:06 Renewable Energy and Land Use
26:24 Balancing Renewable Energy and Recreation
28:01 Off-Roading and Its Impact on the Mojave
31:21 Kill Your Lawn Movement
34:30 Conservation Success Stories
38:19 The Joshua Tree Conservation Act
41:43 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

LEARN MORE ABOUT PROJECT PATAGONIA
https://rewildology.com/projectpatagonia/

REWILDOLOGY FIELD EXPEDITIONS
Where The Wild Calls: Patagonia Puma Expedition & Torres Del Paine Adventure, March 31 - April 7, 2026: https://rewildology.com/patagoniaexpedition/

JOIN THE REWILDOLOGY BOOK CLUB. IT’S FREE!
https://rewildology.com/rewildology-book-club/

SHOW NOTES & NEWSLETTER
Show notes & subscribe to newsletter, https://rewildology.com/

SUPPORT REWILDOLOGY
https://rewildology.com/support-the-show/

FOLLOW REWILDOLOGY
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Rewildology
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rewildology/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rewildology/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rewildology
X: https://x.com/rewildology

Join host Brooke Mitchell as she speaks with puma researcher Nicolas Lagos and conservation technologist Javiera de la Fuente about revolutionizing human-wildlife coexistence with Blink+A, an innovative deterrent device combining flashing lights, sounds, and IoT connectivity to protect livestock and carnivores. From selling a wildlife photography book to fund their idea to testing weatherproof devices across ranches from the US to Saudi Arabia, this unlikely collaboration between a Patagonian field biologist and Santiago digital designer shows how conservation technology can address predator-livestock conflict. Named after a one-eyed puma from Torres del Paine, Blink+A demonstrates open-source innovation in wildlife management, promoting peaceful coexistence between ranching communities and endangered carnivores like pumas, jaguars, and bears.

Support the $25,000 fundraiser to expand Blink+A testing globally at givebutter.com/projectpatagonia.

TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Introduction & Project Overview
1:45 Meet Nico & Javi
2:25 Nico's Background - From Santiago to Patagonia Pumas
4:40 Javi's Story - From Nintendo to Conservation Tech
7:35 The Problem: Century-Old Human-Wildlife Conflict
12:45 Designing Blink+A: Deterrent 2.0
16:25 15 Prototypes and Counting
19:30 Learning to Prototype on a Budget
22:55 Funding Through Puma Photography Book
26:15 Why This Device Works: Predator Biology
30:50 The Human Element: Working with Ranchers
36:35 Rancher Feedback: Virtual Fences Concept
38:25 Technical Details: Lights, Sounds & Sensors
42:10 PIR Sensors & Customizable Components
45:10 Current Status & Next Phase
47:50 What Success Means to Each of Them
51:30 How Blink+A Got Its Name
53:25 The One-Eyed Puma: Blinka's Story
54:35 Final Thoughts & Advice
57:10 Call to Action & Fundraiser
58:25 Outro & Expedition Information

LEARN MORE ABOUT PROJECT PATAGONIA
https://rewildology.com/projectpatagonia/

REWILDOLOGY FIELD EXPEDITIONS
Where The Wild Calls: Patagonia Puma Expedition & Torres Del Paine Adventure, March 31 - April 6, 2026: https://rewildology.com/patagoniaexpedition/

JOIN THE REWILDOLOGY BOOK CLUB. IT’S FREE!
September/October Book - Crossings by Ben Goldfarb https://rewildology.com/rewildology-book-club/

SHOW NOTES & NEWSLETTER
Show notes & subscribe to newsletter, https://rewildology.com/

SUPPORT REWILDOLOGY
https://rewildology.com/support-the-show/

FOLLOW REWILDOLOGY
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Rewildology
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rewildology/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rewildology/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rewildology
X: https://x.com/rewildology

SPONSORSHIPS & BRAND PARTNERSHIPS
Send your ideas to Brooke at [email protected]

Join host Brooke Mitchell for an incredible conversation with Dr. Rosa Espinoza, PhD scientist and author of "The Spirit of the Rainforest: How Indigenous Wisdom and Scientific Curiosity Reconnects Us to the Natural World." Rosa shares her groundbreaking Amazon rainforest research, including her discovery of stingless bees as Earth's oldest pollinators (80 million years old) and their medicinal honey properties used in COVID-19 treatment by indigenous communities. Learn how traditional indigenous knowledge bridges with modern conservation science, from animal self-medication research inspired by ayahuasca experiences to new Peruvian legislation protecting native bee species. Rosa explains why everyone on Earth is connected to the Amazon ecosystem through weather patterns, food systems, and natural medicines, while exploring zoopharmacognosy (animal self-medication), ethnobotany, and the beautiful indigenous concept of "living beautifully" as environmental stewardship. This episode reveals how traditional ecological knowledge from Amazonian communities guides cutting-edge scientific discoveries in biodiversity conservation, pollinator research, and sustainable environmental practices. Perfect for listeners interested in conservation biology, indigenous rights, traditional medicine, Amazon biodiversity, climate science, and innovative approaches to environmental research and cultural preservation.

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction and Warm Welcome
00:55 Rosa's Unique Upbringing in the Amazon
03:27 Journey to Pursuing Science
06:33 Cultural Shock and Adaptation
10:22 The Spirit of the Rainforest: Book Discussion
14:22 Global Connection to the Amazon
19:27 Indigenous Wisdom and Modern Science
27:26 The Importance of Preserving Indigenous Knowledge
42:24 Cultural Pride and Social Media Influence
43:40 Indigenous Voices in Science
46:17 Introduction to Stingless Bees
48:08 The Medicinal Power of Stingless Bee Honey
54:55 Biodiversity and Conservation Efforts
01:00:21 Writing and Storytelling Process
01:05:21 Reconnecting with Nature and Self
01:18:57 Book Release and Final Thoughts

LEARN MORE ABOUT PROJECT PATAGONIA
https://rewildology.com/projectpatagonia/

REWILDOLOGY FIELD EXPEDITIONS
Where The Wild Calls: Patagonia Puma Expedition & Torres Del Paine Adventure, March 31 - April 6, 2026: https://rewildology.com/patagoniaexpedition/

JOIN THE REWILDOLOGY BOOK CLUB. IT’S FREE!
July / August Book - The Spirit of the Rainforest by Dr. Rosa Espinoza https://rewildology.com/rewildology-book-club/

SHOW NOTES & NEWSLETTER
Show notes & subscribe to newsletter, https://rewildology.com/

SUPPORT REWILDOLOGY
https://rewildology.com/support-the-show/

FOLLOW REWILDOLOGY
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Rewildology
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rewildology/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rewildology/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rewildology
X: https://x.com/rewildology

SPONSORSHIPS & BRAND PARTNERSHIPS
Send your ideas to Brooke at [email protected]