Global Guardians

Global Guardians

By Brave WildernessScienceTechnologyKids & FamilyNaturePets & Animals
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Global Guardians episodes

  • Big Cat Conservation: Saving Costa Rica's Jaguars - Tico Haroutiounian - Ep. 12

    Jaguar conservationist and photographer Tico from Las Oncas joins Mario for a conversation centered on one of Mario’s favorite big cats—the jaguar.

    Originally from France, Tico shares how his journey led him to Costa Rica, where he immersed himself in the culture and saw a growing need to study these elusive predators. What began as a passion for photography evolved into a powerful conservation tool through the use of trail cameras, allowing Tico to identify individual jaguars across different regions.

    One of the most exciting discoveries? The presence of rare melanistic “black” jaguars in Costa Rica’s mountainous areas. Tico discusses the threats these cats face, the importance of preserving their habitat, and how viral footage on social media is helping raise awareness and support for their protection.

    Learn More: https://www.lasoncas.com/
    Follow: https://www.instagram.com/lasoncas/?hl=en


    FOLLOW Global Guardians on Instagram - / / global_guardians_pod
    FOLLOW Global Guardians on TikTok - / / global.guardians
    FOLLOW Mario Aldecoa on Instagram - / mario_aldecoa
    FOLLOW Trent Underwood on Instagram - / thetrentunderwood

    CREDITS:
    HOST - Mario Aldecoa
    HOST - Trent Underwood
    DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY - Trent Underwood
    CAMERA OPERATOR & WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST - Mario Aldecoa
    EDITOR - Trent Underwood
    MARKETING - Matt Fujita
    GRAPHIC DESIGN - Chance Ross
    PRODUCER - Suzanne Zonner
    PRODUCER - Beau Sedivy
    EP - Coyote Peterson

    PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REENACT OR RECREATE ANY EVENTS OR SCENES  FROM OUR VIDEOS. THE ANIMALS, INSECTS, PLANT LIFE, AND TERRAIN FEATURED IN  OUR VIDEOS CAN BE DANGEROUS AND CAN POSE A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF INJURY OR  DEATH. The Global Guardians hosts and crew are professionally trained and routinely  receive assistance from wildlife experts, guides, and safety personnel when filming to  ensure the safety of our crew and all wildlife. No animals were harmed or removed from  their natural habitat while making this video. Global Guardians has obtained permission  to film in each location featured in this video.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1 hr 1 min
  • Field Notes from Australia: Crocs, Cameras, and Chaos - Ep. 12

    In this Studio Sessions episode, Mario and Trent dive into their love for Australia—one of their favorite filming destinations and a place that’s come to feel like a second home.

    With nearly 5% of all Brave Wilderness content filmed there, they recount highlights from their most recent trip in 2023, including behind-the-scenes stories about travel logistics, production goals, and the incredible friendships they’ve built over the years.

    For Mario, filming in Australia was a childhood dream come true, and thanks to their go-to wildlife guides Max and Lockie from Australian Wildlife Encounters, the team has captured some of the country’s most iconic animals. They also reflect on the not-so-glamorous side of fieldwork, from Trent’s battle with food poisoning in Darwin to Mario chipping his camera lens on a rock.

    Chapters:

    00:00:00 - Brave Wilderness Down Under
    00:08:00 - Our mates in Australia
    00:18:02 - Australia: the best place for snakebites?
    00:27:22 - New South Whales: Tazy Devils & Komodos
    00:35:58 - Sunshine Coast moments
    00:42:12 - Darwin: food poisoning & camera incident
    01:03:01 - Cape York : green pythons, flight delays, & conclusion
    CREDITS:
    HOST - Mario Aldecoa
    HOST - Trent Underwood
    DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY - Trent Underwood
    CAMERA OPERATOR & WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST - Mario Aldecoa
    EDITOR - Trent Underwood
    MARKETING - Matt Fujita
    GRAPHIC DESIGN - Chance Ross
    PRODUCER - Suzanne Zonner
    PRODUCER - Beau Sedivy
    EP - Coyote Peterson

    PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REENACT OR RECREATE ANY EVENTS OR SCENES  FROM OUR VIDEOS. THE ANIMALS, INSECTS, PLANT LIFE, AND TERRAIN FEATURED IN  OUR VIDEOS CAN BE DANGEROUS AND CAN POSE A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF INJURY OR  DEATH. The Global Guardians hosts and crew are professionally trained and routinely  receive assistance from wildlife experts, guides, and safety personnel when filming to  ensure the safety of our crew and all wildlife. No animals were harmed or removed from  their natural habitat while making this video. Global Guardians has obtained permission  to film in each location featured in this video.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1 hr 27 min
  • World's Most Dangerous Apex Predators - Casey Anderson - Ep. 11

    Predatory mammal expert and renowned wildlife filmmaker Casey Anderson joins Mario for a powerful conversation about animal intelligence, respect, and the deep bonds that can form between humans and wildlife.

    Known for raising a grizzly bear named Brutus, Casey shares how that experience shaped his understanding of bear behavior and taught him that every animal is an individual. He shares the hilarious story of a moment when Brutus found himself in an awkward predicament and how their special bond allowed him to step in and help.

    The two dive into what it means to safely coexist with wild animals, why education is crucial to preventing dangerous encounters, and how our interactions with wildlife are, in fact, a form of negotiation. From recounting their time camping among the massive brown bears of Katmai, Alaska, to answering the ultimate showdown question, grizzly vs. polar bear—this episode offers insight, adventure, and heartfelt respect for the wild.

    Follow Casey on Instagram:
    https://www.instagram.com/grizzlyguy/?hl=en

    Subscribe to Casey's YouTube channel, Endless Ventures:
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu92-KmMbO6w5f9QqPG8_Dw

    Chapters:
    00:00:00 - Casey’s Background; Brutus the Bear

    00:20:00 - Bear Behavior & Intelligence

    00:50:49 - Bear Species & Biology: An Overview

    01:00:58 - Polar Bears vs. Brown Bears (& Hybrid Bears)

    01:20:00 - Bear Safety, Attack Statistics, & Staying Safe in Katmai

    01:34:30 - Casey’s Scariest Bear Encounter

    01:48:45 - BTS: Our Time in Katmai National Park

    02:13:35 - Other Dangers in Katmai: The Risky River Crossing


    CREDITS:
    HOST - Mario Aldecoa
    HOST - Trent Underwood
    DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY - Trent Underwood
    CAMERA OPERATOR & WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST - Mario Aldecoa
    EDITOR - Trent Underwood
    MARKETING - Matt Fujita
    GRAPHIC DESIGN - Chance Ross
    PRODUCER - Suzanne Zonner
    PRODUCER - Beau Sedivy
    EP - Coyote Peterson

    PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REENACT OR RECREATE ANY EVENTS OR SCENES  FROM OUR VIDEOS. THE ANIMALS, INSECTS, PLANT LIFE, AND TERRAIN FEATURED IN  OUR VIDEOS CAN BE DANGEROUS AND CAN POSE A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF INJURY OR  DEATH. The Global Guardians hosts and crew are professionally trained and routinely  receive assistance from wildlife experts, guides, and safety personnel when filming to  ensure the safety of our crew and all wildlife. No animals were harmed or removed from  their natural habitat while making this video. Global Guardians has obtained permission  to film in each location featured in this video.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    2 hr 41 min
  • When The River Dries: Conservation with Crocodile Biologist Dr. Chris Murray - Ep. 10

    Crocodile biologist Dr. Chris Murray, one of Mario’s longtime best friends, joins the show for a special episode filmed on location at the Palo Verde Biological Station in Costa Rica.


    As the two spend a week catching American crocodiles for Chris’s long-term research project, they reflect on their shared journey into science, the mentors who guided them, and how their parallel paths led to studying the same remarkable species.


    Chris shares insights from his research, the future of croc conservation, and how even the most fundamental parts of science, like forming a hypothesis, can be a deeply creative and rewarding process.

    Learn more about Dr. Chris Murray's work here: https://sites.google.com/site/murracm/home?authuser=0

    Follow Dr. Chris Murray on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crocchris11/?hl=en


    00:00:00 Intro and history

    00:10:28 The art of the hypothesis

    00:17:41 Costa Rica croc work

    00:32:50 Listing all the crocodilian species

    00:45:51 History of alligator conservation

    00:54:33 Croc Research findings in Costa Rica

    01:15:39 Future research goals and conclusion

    CREDITS:
    HOST - Mario Aldecoa
    HOST - Trent Underwood
    DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY - Trent Underwood
    CAMERA OPERATOR & WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST - Mario Aldecoa
    EDITOR - Trent Underwood
    MARKETING - Matt Fujita
    GRAPHIC DESIGN - Chance Ross
    PRODUCER - Suzanne Zonner
    PRODUCER - Beau Sedivy
    EP - Coyote Peterson

    PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REENACT OR RECREATE ANY EVENTS OR SCENES  FROM OUR VIDEOS. THE ANIMALS, INSECTS, PLANT LIFE, AND TERRAIN FEATURED IN  OUR VIDEOS CAN BE DANGEROUS AND CAN POSE A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF INJURY OR  DEATH. The Global Guardians hosts and crew are professionally trained and routinely  receive assistance from wildlife experts, guides, and safety personnel when filming to  ensure the safety of our crew and all wildlife. No animals were harmed or removed from  their natural habitat while making this video. Global Guardians has obtained permission  to film in each location featured in this video.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1 hr 25 min
  • Science of Survival: Sea Turtles, Habitat Loss, and Human Impact - Marine Conservationist Laura Exley - Ep. 9

    In this Global Guardians episode, Sea turtle specialist Laura Exley joins Mario to share the story of how a research trip studying monkeys in South America unexpectedly led her to the shores of Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula. There, she launched COPROT—a grassroots conservation initiative focused on protecting critical sea turtle nesting beaches.


    Laura dives into the daily realities of monitoring turtles, building community involvement, and navigating the growing threats these animals face, including habitat loss and climate change. Together, she and Mario explore what it takes to safeguard one of nature’s most ancient mariners in one of the world’s most biodiverse regions.



    Learn how you can get involved by visiting: www.tortugasdeosa.org



    FOLLOW Tortugas de Osa on Instagram - / https://www.instagram.com/tortugasdeosa/



    FOLLOW Lauran on Instagram - / https://www.instagram.com/laurita_pacita/



    FOLLOW Global Guardians on Instagram - / https://www.instagram.com/global_guardians_pod/


    FOLLOW Global Guardians on TikTok - / https://www.tiktok.com/@global.guardians



    CREDITS:

    HOST - Mario Aldecoa
    HOST - Trent Underwood
    DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY - Trent Underwood
    CAMERA OPERATOR & WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST - Mario Aldecoa
    EDITOR - Trent Underwood
    MARKETING - Matt Fujita
    GRAPHIC DESIGN - Chance Ross
    PRODUCER - Suzanne Zonner
    PRODUCER - Beau Sedivy
    EP - Coyote Peterson

    PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REENACT OR RECREATE ANY EVENTS OR SCENES  FROM OUR VIDEOS. THE ANIMALS, INSECTS, PLANT LIFE, AND TERRAIN FEATURED IN  OUR VIDEOS CAN BE DANGEROUS AND CAN POSE A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF INJURY OR  DEATH. The Global Guardians hosts and crew are professionally trained and routinely  receive assistance from wildlife experts, guides, and safety personnel when filming to  ensure the safety of our crew and all wildlife. No animals were harmed or removed from  their natural habitat while making this video. Global Guardians has obtained permission  to film in each location featured in this video.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    44 min
  • Hidden Dangers in South Africa: Ticks, Rhinos, Snakes & More - Ep. 8

    In this Global Guardians studio session, Mario and Trent take a look back at their unforgettable adventures filming in South Africa, where wildlife, conservation, and chaos often went hand in hand.


    From unexpected encounters with venomous snakes to heartwarming moments with orphaned rhinos in rehabilitation, they share behind-the-scenes stories that reveal what it truly takes to produce meaningful wildlife content in the field.


    The highlight of the trip was a powerful rhino conservation collaboration with Kariega Game Reserve and the anti-poaching organization Global Conservation Force. Along the way, Mario recalls relocating a forest cobra found in a hotel bathroom—and returning home with an unexpected souvenir: a bacterial infection from a tick bite.


    Visit Kaiega Game Reserve !

    Interested in helping protect rhinos and other threatened species?

    Support Global Conservation Force

    Chapters:
    00:00:00 - Intro to S. Africa, Covid delay
    00:05:25 - Production partners!
    00:14:20 - Filming locations in S. Africa
    00:18:21 - Small car, lots of gear
    00:24:40 - Venomous Snake Encounter
    00:29:27 - Rhino Veterinary Procedures
    00:43:01 - Mambas & Chameleons & Cobras, oh my!
    00:59:07 - St. Lucia Cobra Rescue
    01:07:45 - Tick bite fever; conclusion

    PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REENACT OR RECREATE ANY EVENTS OR SCENES  FROM OUR VIDEOS. THE ANIMALS, INSECTS, PLANT LIFE, AND TERRAIN FEATURED IN  OUR VIDEOS CAN BE DANGEROUS AND CAN POSE A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF INJURY OR  DEATH. The Global Guardians hosts and crew are professionally trained and routinely  receive assistance from wildlife experts, guides, and safety personnel when filming to  ensure the safety of our crew and all wildlife. No animals were harmed or removed from  their natural habitat while making this video. Global Guardians has obtained permission  to film in each location featured in this video.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1 hr 23 min
  • The Price of Paradise with Florida Keys Biologist Christina Wilson - Ep. 7

    This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/globalguardians and get on your way to being your best self.

    Florida Keys biologist, Christina Wilson, joins Mario Aldecoa for a conversation about the growing challenges of conservation in one of the most visited island chains in the US. As tourism surges, Christina shares how she works to protect fragile habitats and wildlife while also using her platform to inspire young girls to pursue careers in science.
    With years of collaboration alongside the Brave Wilderness team, Christina offers a unique perspective on the power of fieldwork, education, and how social media is reshaping the way science and conservation reach the public.
    FOLLOW Christina on Instagram - /
    https://www.instagram.com/christinawildwilson/?hl=en
    FOLLOW Global Guardians on Instagram - / https://www.instagram.com/global_guardians_pod/

    FOLLOW Global Guardians on TikTok - / https://www.tiktok.com/@global.guardians
    Chapters:
    00:00:00 - Intro to how we met Christina
    00:08:50 - Mermaids
    00:13:40 - Christina's first time in Costa Rica
    00:19:09 - Christina's origin story, California to Florida
    00:26:37 - Christina's role in the Keys
    00:39:58 - Facts about the Florida Keys
    00:52:50 - Threats to the Florida Keys
    01:13:16 - Role of social media in conservation
    CREDITS:
    HOST - Mario Aldecoa
    HOST - Trent Underwood
    DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY - Trent Underwood
    CAMERA OPERATOR & WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST - Mario Aldecoa
    EDITOR - Trent Underwood
    MARKETING - Matt Fujita
    GRAPHIC DESIGN - Chance Ross
    PRODUCER - Suzanne Zonner
    PRODUCER - Beau Sedivy
    EP - Coyote Peterson
    PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REENACT OR RECREATE ANY EVENTS OR SCENES  FROM OUR VIDEOS. THE ANIMALS, INSECTS, PLANT LIFE, AND TERRAIN FEATURED IN  OUR VIDEOS CAN BE DANGEROUS AND CAN POSE A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF INJURY OR  DEATH. The Global Guardians hosts and crew are professionally trained and routinely  receive assistance from wildlife experts, guides, and safety personnel when filming to  ensure the safety of our crew and all wildlife. No animals were harmed or removed from  their natural habitat while making this video. Global Guardians has obtained permission  to film in each location featured in this video.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1 hr 35 min
  • Ultimate Predator Battle: Filming Wildlife in Brazil – Ep. 6

    In this episode , Mario and Trent reflect on one of their most ambitious productions—filming jaguars hunting caiman in Brazil’s Pantanal, the best place on Earth to witness these elusive big cats in action.


    From months of pre-production and engineering a custom camera gimbal for boat-based filming, to navigating the highs and lows of fieldwork, they share the BTS stories of what it takes to capture nature at its wildest. Along the way, Mario dives into fascinating facts about jaguars, and the unforgettable people who helped make the expedition possible.


    To learn more and support Jaguar Conservation:

    https://www.jaguaridproject.com/
    To book your own Jaguar Safari:
    https://biodiversebraziltours.com/


    CREDITS:

    HOST - Mario Aldecoa
    HOST - Trent Underwood
    DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY - Trent Underwood
    CAMERA OPERATOR & WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST - Mario Aldecoa
    EDITOR - Trent Underwood
    MARKETING - Matt Fujita
    GRAPHIC DESIGN - Chance Ross
    PRODUCER - Suzanne Zonner
    PRODUCER - Beau Sedivy
    EP - Coyote Peterson
    PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REENACT OR RECREATE ANY EVENTS OR SCENES  FROM OUR VIDEOS. THE ANIMALS, INSECTS, PLANT LIFE, AND TERRAIN FEATURED IN  OUR VIDEOS CAN BE DANGEROUS AND CAN POSE A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF INJURY OR  DEATH. The Global Guardians hosts and crew are professionally trained and routinely  receive assistance from wildlife experts, guides, and safety personnel when filming to  ensure the safety of our crew and all wildlife. No animals were harmed or removed from  their natural habitat while making this video. Global Guardians has obtained permission  to film in each location featured in this video.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1 hr 26 min
  • Roars, Howls, Noise, & Silence with Production Sound Mixer Ryan LaVergne - Ep. 5

    In this episode Trent sits down with sound engineer Ryan LaVergne to explore the often overlooked but critical role of audio in filmmaking.


    From the dense jungles of Costa Rica to the bear-filled wilderness of Katmai, Alaska, Ryan shares what it takes to capture the natural world through sound. Trent and Ryan reflect on Ryan’s first Brave Wilderness production and the unforgettable adventures—and audio challenges—they faced along the way. Good sound can make or break a story, making it essential to every wild production.


    This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/globalguardians and get on your way to being your best self.


    Follow Ryan Lavergne on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ryan_lavergne/

    Check out Ryan's website: https://www.ryanlavergne.com

    FOLLOW Global Guardians on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/global_guardians_pod/
    FOLLOW Mario Aldecoa on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mario_aldecoa/
    FOLLOW Trent Underwood on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thetrentunderwood/
    FOLLOW Global Guardians on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@global.guardians/




    CREDITS:

    HOST - Trent Underwood
    DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY - Trent Underwood
    CAMERA OPERATOR & WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST - Mario Aldecoa
    EDITOR - Trent Underwood
    MARKETING - Matt Fujita
    GRAPHIC DESIGN - Chance Ross
    PRODUCER - Suzanne Zonner
    PRODUCER - Beau Sedivy
    EP - Coyote Peterson

    PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REENACT OR RECREATE ANY EVENTS OR SCENES  FROM OUR VIDEOS. THE ANIMALS, INSECTS, PLANT LIFE, AND TERRAIN FEATURED IN  OUR VIDEOS CAN BE DANGEROUS AND CAN POSE A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF INJURY OR  DEATH. The Global Guardians hosts and crew are professionally trained and routinely  receive assistance from wildlife experts, guides, and safety personnel when filming to  ensure the safety of our crew and all wildlife. No animals were harmed or removed from  their natural habitat while making this video. Global Guardians has obtained permission  to film in each location featured in this video.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    46 min
  • Bigfoot, Aliens & Mystery Creatures – Monster Hunter Pat Spain – Ep. 4

    In this episode, Mario sits down with cryptozoologist and marine biologist Pat Spain for a fascinating dive into the world of legendary creatures like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster.


    Pat brings a grounded yet open-minded approach to cryptozoology—balancing scientific inquiry with cultural respect. Together, they explore how stories of mysterious creatures hold deep meaning for indigenous communities and why the field, often dismissed as pseudoscience, deserves both serious attention and a sense of wonder.



    FOLLOW Pat Spain on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/patspain/?hl=en

    To learn more about Pat's work check out https://www.patspain.com/

    To purchase Pat's book series:
    https://www.patspain.com/books
    https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BP66JN6Q

    FOLLOW Global Guardians on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/global_guardians_pod/
    FOLLOW Mario Aldecoa on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mario_aldecoa/
    FOLLOW Trent Underwood on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thetrentunderwood/
    FOLLOW Global Guardians on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@global.guardians/


    Chapters:

    00:00:00 Intro to Location, Hagfish & Tide-Pooling
    00:04:35 Intro to Cryptozoology & Pat's Approach to the Controversial Topic
    00:26:04 Bigfoot and other Hominids
    00:47:59 Extraterrestrial Life
    00:57:25 Which Cryptid does Pat believe in?
    01:08:21 Pat’s Book Series and Conclusion

    CREDITS:
    HOST - Mario Aldecoa
    HOST - Trent Underwood
    DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY - Trent Underwood
    CAMERA OPERATOR & WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST - Mario Aldecoa
    EDITOR - Trent Underwood
    MARKETING - Matt Fujita
    GRAPHIC DESIGN - Chance Ross
    PRODUCER - Suzanne Zonner
    PRODUCER - Beau Sedivy
    EP - Coyote Peterson

    PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REENACT OR RECREATE ANY EVENTS OR SCENES  FROM OUR VIDEOS. THE ANIMALS, INSECTS, PLANT LIFE, AND TERRAIN FEATURED IN  OUR VIDEOS CAN BE DANGEROUS AND CAN POSE A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF INJURY OR  DEATH. The Global Guardians hosts and crew are professionally trained and routinely  receive assistance from wildlife experts, guides, and safety personnel when filming to  ensure the safety of our crew and all wildlife. No animals were harmed or removed from  their natural habitat while making this video. Global Guardians has obtained permission  to film in each location featured in this video.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1 hr 14 min

About Global Guardians

From the publisher's feed

Global Guardians is a new podcast hosted by Wildlife Biologist Mario Aldecoa and Nature Cinematographer Trent Underwood. Produced by Brave Wilderness, this series explores the people and ideas shaping the future of wildlife through conservation and innovation.