Ever wondered how California was formed? Or why there's a mountain range on each side of the state with a big, flat valley in the middle? Or what makes the San Andreas fault so unique and so infamous? This episode will answer all of those questions and SO MANY MORE. Join Nate and I on a hike around Folsom Lake, where we checked out some very odd granodiorite and discussed everything from plate tectonics to earthquakes to the best places to see great geology all across the state. 

This page from the National Park Service does an amazing job explaining transform plate boundaries and adding a lot of great visuals to what Nate and I discussed. Check it out! https://www.nps.gov/subjects/geology/plate-tectonics-transform-plate-boundaries.htm#:~:text=The%20San%20Andreas%20Fault%20and,Pacific%20and%20North%20American%20plates.

The theme song is a shortened version of the song "i dunno" by grapes. Here's the link to the song and creative commons license: http://ccmixter.org/files/grapes/16626.

You can find me on Patreon here: 

patreon.com/michellefullner 

Golden State Naturalist is a different kind of nature podcast.

It's one that invites you out onto the landscape for a closer look, that engages your senses, and that helps you connect more deeply with the land.

It's a podcast that challenges you to reconsider the relationship between humans and this planet we call home.

Tune in every other week to learn about geology, California native plants, beavers, giant sequoias, insects, nature journaling, urban ecology, oak trees, and so much more.

Special thanks to all of the guests whose voices are featured in this preview. Here are their names in order of appearance:

Emily Fairfax

Mia Andler

David Rosen

Miguel Ordenaña

Robin Lee Carlson

Naomi Fraga

Ralph Washington Jr.

John Muir Laws