Surface Exposure

Sonoran Rosie has a lifelong passion for the Sonoran Desert and its native plants. After discovering a lack of natural desert-inspired aromatherapy, Rosie studied local herbalism and began creating herbal skincare, self-care, and haircare using sustainably hand-foraged desert botanicals like creosote to capture the scent and wellness benefits of the desert. Committed to giving back, Sonoran Rosie supports local conservation organizations and businesses while promoting a deeper connection to the desert. In 2022, Rosie expanded this mission by opening Arizona Poppy, a vibrant downtown Tucson shop featuring the work of more than 75 local artisans and celebrating the creativity, beauty, and community of the Southwest. In 2025, Rosie wrote Seasons of the Desert, a guide that teaches readers how to identify, sustainably forage, and build a deeper connection with the Sonoran Desert through herbal remedies, recipes, and the wisdom of its native plants.

Now, Rosie is on to a new adventure through land stewardship. She is purchasing acres of untouched Sonoran Desert in Three Points, AZ with fellow herbalist Wren, founder of The Nohm Collective. Together they will conserve the natural ecosystem & native plants already on the land while growing even more medicinal and edible desert plants. Their aim is to create a community desert garden where we can all go to learn and teach about the wonders of the Sonoran Desert & its unique plant life.

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Interested in the sensation of Desert Rain a Bottle? Sonoran Rosie offers a suite of aromatherapy and self care products ethically sourced from the Sonoran Desert. Check it out at:

http://www.sonoranrosie.store

Rosie recently published a book called 'Seasons of the Desert' Its a great resource for folks interested in desert foraging.

Rosie produces a bunch of informative content on instagram... if you're open to learning more about the Sonoran Desert, make sure to follow.

https://www.instagram.com/sonoranrosieherbal/

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Book recommendations:

Southwest Foraging by John Slattery 
Southwest Desert Herbal Plants by Michael Moore
Desert Alchemist

What potential does agroforestry have for improving access to food, our relation to natural resources, and our communities?

Nick Wren creator and operator of the Living Soil Tree Farm joins for this episode. We cover agroforestry and food forests. Nick shares the day to day life in creating and operating a tree nursery. Nick believes in a future where there is more resources and opportunities for people to connect with food through agroforestry. He is planting the seeds for the future he wants to live in.

Living Soil Tree Farm is a human scale plant nursery focused on food producing perennials and collaborative plant breeding. They focus on growing bare root trees/shrubs and diverse seed populations. They provide extremely healthy plants and seeds while using land management techniques which improve the health of our ecosystem.

Want a baby tree? Living Soil Tree Farm ships 1 year old bare root trees. They are easy to plant, and with care, will one day provide food! They service locally North Carolina and Virginia.

*Connect and support the podcast at*

https://linktr.ee/surfaceexposure
---Where to find Nick and The Living Soil Tree Farm---

https://livingsoiltreefarm.com/

Instagram: @livingsoiltreefarm https://www.instagram.com/livingsoiltreefarm/

---Shout Out by Nick to other folks doing cool related things.---

Appalachian Sustainable Development
https://asdevelop.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asdevelop/

Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
https://carolinafarmstewards.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinafarms/

Savannah Institute
https://www.savannainstitute.org/
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/savannainstitute/

Tree Range Chicken Farm
https://treerangefarms.com/shop/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGn119n68UfHgo1GxMzoqLGoy6JRQgpprHhHiMNTgRYhAvPcUvvA2b_Tg8OJ2c_aem_-SuPzkp5wrMQhYEYFroJKw
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/treerangefarms/

Deepti Kannapan joins me for this episode. She’s known for her TED Talk entitled ‘ The Climate Movement Needs Your Creativity, Not Your Guilt’. The Ted Talk presents powerful insights on dealing with feelings of responsibility and guilt over climate change, the mechanics of change, and how to turn negative feelings associated with the issue into positive meaningful action. I recommend you give it a listen.
 
During this episode, we expand on Deepti’s message. Climate Change can promote a sense of hopelessness and a feeling of responsibility for the damage that has been done to the natural world. Deepti argues we are not individually responsible for damage, yet, do have a responsibility to act. Deepti lays out an action plan for those who want to make a positive change, and feel good about doing so.  

Deepti Kannapan is an artist, engineer, and climate activist in the Los Angeles area. She's the author a Fire's Ally, a fantasy novel with climate themes. She’s active with organizations such as 350.org and the league of women voters.

Connect, support, and provide feedback for Surface Exposure

https://linktr.ee/Surfaceexposure

Deepti Kannapans TED Talk: Climate Movement Needs Your Creativity, Not Your Guilt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLn76Go47MY

Fire’s Ally, a Fantasy Novel with Climate Themes by Deepti Kannapan

https://buy.bookfunnel.com/p5vo2ghzps

Deepti’s Newsletter

http://deepti-kannapan.kit.com

Deepti’s Website

Deeptikannapan.com

-Organization Shoutouts from Deepti-

 350.org

350southbaylosangeles.com 

Instagram:@350southbaylosangeles

Sunrise Movement

Instagram: @sunrisemvmt , @sunrisemvmtla  (Los Angeles)

citizensclimatelobby.org

Sierra club

League of Women Voters

www.lwv.org
@lwvtorrancearea

laclimateweek.com

Instagram: @laclimateweek

Horticulturalist Niccole C Radhe joins for this episode. She breaks down the importance of reconnecting with our food through gardening and sourcing locally grown products. Niccole makes the case that, in addition to being healthy and tasty, consciously grown food promotes positive impacts to the environment, ecology, community, and society. 

Niccole describes methods to overcome barriers to growing and sourcing local organic food. She shares ideas on how to become involved in your community gardens and farmers markets, and the benefits to be had in doing so.

During the episode, Niccole gives a shout out to handful of active organizations in Southern Arizona. If you’re local or traveling through, and want to participate in a great cause, check out:

Native Seeds/SEARCH -https://www.nativeseeds.org/

Awareness Ranch - https://www.awarenessranch.com/

Borderlands Restoration Network - https://www.borderlandsrestoration.org/

Sky Island Alliance - https://skyislandalliance.org/

Watershed Management Group - https://watershedmg.org/

Tucson Botanical Garden - https://tucsonbotanical.org/

Tucson Organic Gardeners - https://www.tucsonorganicgardeners.org/
Santa Cruz Farmers Market
Rillito Farmers Market

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Connect, support, and follow along at:
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I am joined by Rodrigo Sierra Corona, the executive Director of Borderlands Restoration Network; an organization that strives to grow a restorative economy by rebuilding healthy ecosystems, restoring habitat for plants and wildlife, and reconnecting border communities to the land through shared learning. 

The organization envisions connected borderlands where rivers flow, plants, wildlife and cultures thrive, and communities develop an inclusive restorative economy where a sense of places inspires a sense of purpose.
 
The organization performs vital natural resource conservation work in the Sky Island’s of Southern Arizona and Northern Sonora via land acquisitions for conservation and wildlife, watershed restoration, native plant propagation, education, and community connection. 

The Madrean Archipelago, or commonly known as the Sky Island region, is a hotspot for biodiversity - hosting unique ecosystems and wildlife found no where else. 

During the conversation Rodrigo examines land and water use in Southern Arizona - illustrating how natural resource conservation contributes positively to the economy. He showcases the efforts, work and opportunities the organization produces. 

Rodrigo shares significant wisdom for folks of all walks of life concerning our relationship with natural resources and why we should probably care. He also offers advice, insight, and resources for those who want to be more involved in conservation.
 
Reach out directly to the organization at borderlandsrestoration.org
Instagram: @borderlandsrestoration

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Connect, support, and follow along at:
https://linktr.ee/surfaceexposure 

What’s the best kept secret in Arizona?

What’s it take to build and maintain an 800 mile long National Scenic Trail from Mexico to Utah?

Looking for an adventure of a lifetime?

On this episode I chat with Executive Director of the Arizona Trail Association, Matthew Nelson.

The Arizona Trail Association’s Mission is to build, maintain, protect, promote the Trail, engage with the public in working together to care for the Arizona National Scenic Trail. In this conversation, Matthew describes the efforts in progress set out to accomplish this mission.

Matthew takes us on a guided tour of the Arizona Trail highlighting spectacular landscapes, values, and experiences along the way. He shares origins of the trail, describing the process of establishing an 800 mile long passage from Mexico to Utah.

During the conversation Matthew explains the value the Trail brings to the individual, local communities, the State of Arizona, the economy, wildlife, and environment. He makes a case stating the importance of caring for this cultural resource and major artery of Arizona’s $15 billion outdoor recreation industry.

Want to become involved? Listen to learn more about opportunities to participate in caring for the AZT. 

Reach out at:

[email protected]

Visit Aztrail.org for upcoming events, programs, trail resources, newsletters, and opportunities to become involved.
 
Matthew gave a shout out to some other notable organizations worth checking out:

Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclists

sdmb.org

@sdmb_org

Torca 

www.torca.org

@torqcamtb

County line riders of Catalina

www.countylineriders.org

Tucson saddle club 

www.Tucsonsaddleclub.org

Huachuca Hiking Club 

@ www.Groups.io

Flagstaff biking organization 

www.flagstaffbiking.org

@flagstaffbikingorg

Legends of Superior Trail

Ala Kahakai Trail Association (Hawaii) 

@alakahakaitrailassociation

www.Alakahakai.com

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Connect, support, and follow along at:
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What does a day in the life look like protecting our public lands?

Join conservationist, trail builder, and wildland firefighter Simon McKay for a deep dive into the work that protects America’s public lands. Simon shares honest insights from years of building and maintaining trails, serving in conservation programs, and fighting wildfire across the West. We explore the meaning of public lands, the evolution of outdoor recreation, daily life on a trail crew, and what it takes to step onto the fireline.

The conversation moves onto the fireline, where Simon explains the Incident Command System (ICS), strategies used in wildland fire, life on assignment, and the values firefighters work to protect. He offers stories from the field — from holding the line to broccoli-bomb pranks — and gives guidance for listeners who want to get involved in conservation corps programs, trail work, or wildland fire.

—Links—
Find a job with the conservation corps near you: https://corpsnetwork.org/jobs-at-corps/

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Connect with, support the program, and more content at:
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What does it take to make resource conservation projects happen?

In this Episode, Dexter Kopas illustrates issues involving public lands and resources in Arizona. Then describes the Campaigns set in place by Wild Arizona in response. Dexter shares his experiences from his years doing conservation work, reveals bigger picture insights and the knitty gritty details of making resource protection happen.

Wild Arizona’s mission is to protect, unite, and restore wild lands and waters across Arizona and beyond for the enrichment and health for humans, and to ensure native plants and animals a lasting home in nature. Wild Arizona organizes and amplifies multi-community voices of support for legislation; advocate for conservation policy; and cultivate stewardship, awareness, and well being through outdoor volunteerism, science, and education.
Thank you for listening ❤️

More show notes, links, resources:

Episode Links

wildarizona.org⁠ - stay up to date on current conservation efforts, opportunities to participate, educational material, and further resources.  

Wild Arizona Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wild_arizona_
Thesauer.weebly.com- Sonoran Ultra Endurance Ride. A 315 Mile self supported ultra endurance bicycle ride through iconic regions of the Sonoran Desert in Southern Arizona.

Sonoran Ultra Endurance Ride Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sauer.tucson
Social Links

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For over 50 years, Jay has built and maintained hiking trail access in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and surrounding Wilderness areas in the Salmon-Challis and Boise National Forests. To this day, Jay continues to serve on a Wilderness Trail maintenance assignments with organizations such as The Pulaski User’s Group, Idaho Trails Association, and the Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Association.

In this episode Jay tells stories from his many years in the Sawtooth mountains and shares his ancestral history originating from the late 19th century Wood River Valley.

During our conversation, Jay offers advice and resources to listeners who aspire to take part in the stewardship of our public lands. 

------LINKS------

Participate in the Stewardship of your public lands by following a link below to one of the organizations mentioned in the show.

-Pulaski User's Group -insta: @pulaskiusers - ⁠pulaskiusers.org⁠

-Sawtooth Society -insta:@sawtoothsociety - ⁠Sawtoothsociety.org⁠ 

-Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation -insta: @selwaybitterroot - ⁠www.selwaybitterroot.org⁠ 

-Wood River Trails Association -insta: @wrtrailscoaltion - ⁠woodrivertrailscoalition.org⁠

-Idaho Trails Association -insta: @idahotrailsassociation ⁠idahotrailsassociation.org⁠ 

-American hiking society -insta: @americanhiking - americanhiking.org

-Utah Conservation Corps - ⁠www.usu.edu/ucc⁠

-Idaho Conservation Corps - ⁠idahocc.org⁠

-national smokejumpers association - ⁠www.smokejumpers.com⁠

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In this episode I sit down with Leo Mercado, The Peyote Lorax. Leo, a career botanist, serves as the cultivation director and liaison for a non profit called the Morning Star Conservancy.
 Their mission is simply to ‘protect and preserve our sacrament.’ 

In this episode Leo illustrates the threats that are facing the peyote cactus on a grand scale. Then describes efforts in developing solutions to this issue. Throughout the conversation, Leo shares stories and experiences from his journey on what many call the peyote road. 

———links———

Www.morningstarconservancy.org

-Morning Star Conservancy 

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Connect with, support the podcast, and more content at:
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