In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher, host Richard Wiese meets with Dr. Laurie Marker, world-renowned cheetah conservationist and founder of the Cheetah Conservation Fund.

Dr. Marker shares her remarkable journey—from her early work in Oregon to establishing a pioneering conservation program in Namibia, where she has spent decades building trust with farmers and saving the world’s fastest land animal. She discusses the innovative use of livestock guardian dogs, her efforts to rewild orphaned cheetahs, and international projects like India’s ambitious plan to reintroduce cheetahs after decades of extinction.

Listeners will hear about the resilience of nature, the importance of human collaboration, and the optimism required to face global wildlife challenges. With fewer than 7,500 cheetahs left, Marker emphasizes why conservation must extend beyond one species to entire landscapes.

“If we don’t take care of it, it’s going to go away.” Join us as Dr. Marker explains how saving cheetahs means changing the world.

Learn more and support: cheetah.org

This is Life's Tough, Explorers Are Tougher, with your host, Richard Weiss. Scratch the surface of an explorer and you'll find an adventure and a great story. This show is about their tales.

This podcast is a proud supporter of the Explorers Club and the EC50 Initiative. 50 people changing the world that the world needs to know about. For more information, go to explorers.org.