Coffee And Conservation

In this episode of Coffee and Conservation, Mike Veale and Elias Blaset start with a topic close to home for Global Conservation Force: World Rhino Day.

Mike and Elias break down some of the latest rhino population numbers, where conservation efforts are making progress, and where serious challenges remain. With roughly 26,700 rhinos left globally across five surviving species, there’s plenty to celebrate, plenty to be concerned about, and a lot of work still happening behind the scenes.

But, as usual, the conversation doesn’t stay on one trail for very long.

From rhinos, we take a sharp turn into Pokémon and GCF’s Pokémon IRL education series, using Pokémon as a fun gateway to introduce the real animals, adaptations, behaviors, and conservation stories that may have inspired some familiar creatures.

And then things get weird.

With spooky season approaching, Mike and Elias wander from real wildlife into the world of cryptids, folklore, unexplained creatures, and the stories people have carried across cultures for generations. What starts with rhinos somehow ends up heading toward creatures that may, or may not,exist.

It’s conservation, wildlife, Pokémon, cryptids, field stories, and a little Halloween weirdness over coffee.

And this episode is only a teaser. Spooky season is coming to Coffee and Conservation, and we have a lot more planned.

In Episode 2 of Coffee and Conservation, Mike Veale sits down with Lauren Lee, GCF Education Programs Coordinator and Apprentice Instructor, to talk about the newest addition to Global Conservation Force’s education programs: Rhino Rescue™.

Mike and Lauren dive into the development of the new GCF Rhino Rescue™ board game, why it was created, and the bigger plans for using it as a hands-on conservation education tool with students, educators, communities, and conservation partners around the world.

Lauren also shares more about GCF’s in-situ conservation education programs, World Pangolin Day outreach, and her experiences teaching during past GCF bootcamps and ranger trainings—as well as what she’ll be teaching during upcoming programs.

They also look ahead to GCF’s September 26 World Rhino Day event in Vista, California, where guests will have the opportunity to play Rhino Rescue™ while enjoying a family-friendly event blending Pokémon trading cards and collectibles, mini golf, conservation activities, and updates from GCF’s work in the field.

Beyond education, Mike and Lauren explore the many different ways people can get involved with wildlife conservation. From K9 programs and ranger training to education, events, volunteering, media, fundraising, and hands-on field work, there isn’t just one pathway into conservation.

Grab a coffee and join Mike and Lauren for a conversation about Rhino Rescue™, conservation education, ranger training, upcoming events, stories from the field, and how you can turn an interest in wildlife into meaningful action.

In this episode of Coffee and Conservation, Mike Veale sits down with Global Conservation Force Conservation Officer and core team member Elias Blaset, founder of The Symbiosis Project, to talk about the many different paths that can lead to a career, and a life, in wildlife conservation.

Originally from Chile, Elias shares his journey of moving to the United States, pursuing his passion for wildlife as a student at Moorpark College’s Teaching Zoo, and eventually working at the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Mike and Elias look back at how they first connected during Elias’ student years, stayed in touch over the years, and how that relationship eventually grew into Elias becoming part of GCF’s core team.

Along the way, they share a few stories from the field, including Elias joining GCF for its annual Anti-Poaching Bootcamp in South Africa, volunteering his time alongside GCF’s conservation K9 programs, and how his role has continued to evolve. Today, Elias is helping GCF expand its conservation education outreach and media, using his wildlife experience and communication skills to help connect more people with conservation.

They also dive into a less obvious connection: Pokémon and wildlife conservation. From exploring different environments and discovering new species to learning about animal behavior, habitats, rarity, and biodiversity, Pokémon has introduced generations of people to concepts that have some surprisingly real parallels in the natural world.

Mike and Elias also tease some upcoming Pokémon-themed GCF social media content leading into GCF’s World Rhino Day x Trading Card Game fundraiser on September 26. The family-friendly event brings conservation and trading card culture together, with guests able to hunt for Pokémon cards, play the new GCF Rhino Rescue™ board game, take on mini golf, and enjoy other activities, all while helping raise funds for wildlife conservation.

Most importantly, Mike and Elias discuss how people can actually get involved in wildlife conservation. You don’t have to start as a ranger, scientist, veterinarian, or lifelong conservation professional. There are countless skills, careers, hobbies, and interests that can become valuable tools for conservation when paired with experience, consistency, and a willingness to get involved.

Grab a coffee and join Mike and Elias for a conversation about wildlife, careers, Pokémon, stories from the field, and finding your own path to making a difference for wildlife.

Episode Description – Coffee & Conservation with Rita Santas

In this episode of Coffee & Conservation, Mike sits down with Rita Santas, conservation K9 handler and founder-owner of Dogs for Nature in Portugal.

Rita shares her journey into the world of working dogs for conservation—how she got started, what inspired her to build Dogs for Nature, and what it really takes to train and deploy K9s for wildlife protection, research, and environmental monitoring.

They dive into what conservation K9 work looks like on the ground, from field deployments to training methodologies, and the realities of building capacity in a growing but still under-resourced field. Mike and Rita also unpack the challenges facing conservation K9 programs globally—funding gaps, operational hurdles, misconceptions about working dogs, and the broader challenges facing conservation practitioners today.

Expect honest insights, practical lessons, and plenty of banter between two people passionate about dogs, conservation, and building more effective tools to protect wildlife and wild places.

Grab a coffee and join the conversation.

In this episode of Coffee & Conservation, host Mike Veale sits down with Global Conservation Force instructor Amanda Smith — whose decades-long career in UK law enforcement took an unexpected turn after hearing the powerful story of Thandi the rhino and the lifesaving work of Dr. William Fowlds. Inspired, Amanda made the bold decision to leave everything familiar behind and work her way into wildlife conservation.

Mike and Amanda talk about how her law enforcement background shaped her approach to ranger training, integrity in the field, and leadership under pressure — and how everyday people can chart their own path into meaningful conservation work. It’s an inspiring look at courage, purpose, and the ripple effect one story can have.

This week on Coffee & Conservation, we sit down with BAFTA-nominated wildlife filmmaker and GCF Conservation Ambassador Anna Dimitriadis. With credits on major series such as Big Cats 24/7 for BBC2 and PBS, and field experience spanning Antarctic ice dives, Patagonian mountains, and the Okavango Delta, Anna has built a career telling powerful wildlife stories through camera, drone, and underwater work. In this episode, she shares the moments that shaped her path, how storytelling drives real conservation impact, and why she chose to partner with GCF. A thoughtful, inspiring conversation about action, representation, and showing up for our planet.

Sophie Bland, is a wildlife conservationist, photographer, former zookeeper, and part of the Global Conservation Force Team. Recently, she joined us for her first team deployment as a GCF Field Journalist working in the field as part of snare patrols, community based ranger selection and the annual anti-poaching ranger bootcamp. Tune in for part 1! In part 2, we will pick up where we abruptly, not planned, left off!

Pour yourself a fresh cup and join Mike Veale for an inspiring episode of Coffee and Conservation, featuring Karen Odendaal, Chief Operating Officer of Zululand Conservation Trust (ZCT) and Managing Director of Manyoni Private Game Reserve. With a conservation career spanning nearly two decades, Karen has been at the forefront of rhino protection, pangolin rehabilitation, and community-based conservation efforts in KwaZulu-Natal.

In this episode, Karen shares the story behind founding the Zululand Rhino Orphanage, her leadership role in Manyoni’s range expansion projects, and her passion for connecting conservation with local communities.

Mike and Karen also discuss the impactful partnership between ZCT, Zululand Rhino Orphanage, and Global Conservation Force (GCF)—from pioneering K9 tracking for live pangolins and launching Manyoni’s in-house K9 anti-poaching unit, to GCF’s hands-on support in rhino orphan care, staff training, and ranger security preparedness.

Together, these efforts are creating a stronger, more adaptive future for wildlife conservation in South Africa.

Jaidacyn Madrigal is an environmental educator, community advocate, and sustainability storyteller whose work blends activism, and grassroots outreach. A proud graduate of California State University–Sacramento, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Recreation Administration with a concentration in Hospitality & Tourism Management, and a minor in Environmental Studies. She also brings a professional edge to her environmental work with certifications in Event Planning, Hospitality & Tourism Administration, and Nonprofit Administration.

Jaidacyn is a Climate Reality Leader with Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project, where she presents climate change education to high school students and community groups, helping to translate science into action. Whether she’s speaking in classrooms, attending rallies, or creating educational content on her EcoGirl YouTube channel, Jaidacyn is passionate about empowering people to make eco-friendly choices in their everyday lives.

Through her work with Earth 350 San Diego and Fright for Future, she supports environmental and animal justice campaigns and uses creative outreach to mobilize younger generations. Her approach is rooted in the belief that climate action can be both practical and personal—starting with the habits we cultivate daily.

In this episode, Jaidacyn joins host Mike Veale to explore the intersection of conservation and consumer choices, offering insights on sustainable sourcing, ethical tourism, and how even small lifestyle changes can ripple out to make global impact.

Join us as we dive into the journey behind The Last Ranger with director Cindy Lee and writer David Lee. Based on true events in the Eastern Cape, the film tells the powerful story of Thandi, a rhino who survived a brutal poaching incident on Kariega Game Reserve, and the woman determined to protect these vulnerable animals. Cindy shares her path from commercials to becoming an Academy Award®-shortlisted director, while David reflects on his Hollywood career, including roles in Black Panther and Blood Diamond. This episode blends storytelling, conservation, and creativity over a cup of coffee.