Today's storyteller is me! This is a remix version of Episode 1, where I share the story of how I became a field biologist. I have re-edited it, added stories, and expanded on things I glossed over in the first version. I won't re-release episodes regularly, but I have learned so much about storytelling, editing, and podcasting in general so I wanted to do the original episode more justice. I've also had a few realizations during the past year that came to me in conversations with other guests so I had more to say about my story. So enjoy!

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You can find Rachel Villani on Twitter @flyingcypress or www.rachelvillani.com, and Storytellers of STEMM on Facebook and on the shiny new Twitter account @storytellers42.

* Episodes I reference: Blake Grisham (Episode 16) and Gina Kent (Episode 42).

* The Coastwide Reference Monitoring System (CRMS) is the wetlands project I work on now.

* LSU's School of Renewable Natural Resources: http://www.rnr.lsu.edu/

* The Student Conservation Association (SCA): https://www.thesca.org/

* Louisiana's TOPS program for tuition assistance: https://mylosfa.la.gov/students-parents/scholarships-grants/tops/

* Sherburne Wildlife Management Area: https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/sherburne

* The bird banding program was MAPS: Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship

* Book List from this episode: Katrina, A History: 1915-2015 by Andy Horowitz