Forces for Nature

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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, they weren't the only things 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 one's 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

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

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!

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  

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

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!

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. 

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

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!

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?

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

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 Do
Bonnie 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   

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

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 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

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

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!

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.  

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

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!

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.

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

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!

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.

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

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!

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 

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

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?