TALATERRA

Erin Majeske is a mother, wife, dreamer, kitchen experimenter, wannabe gardener, nature explorer, and founder of Barefeet Farm School. When she's not in the outdoor classroom with preschoolers, she loves to enjoy the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her family and make as much music as possible.

In this episode, Erin shares how the need for a summer job led to her opening Barefeet Farm School. She shares her successes, challenges, and what she has learned to improve.

Topics discussed include licensing, consulting, working with parents, and building community partnerships.

LINKS

Barefeet Farm School

Explore starting your own preschool

Instagram (@barefeetfarmschool)

Loving Space School

Washington State is First to License Outdoor Preschools

Natural Start

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UPDATE:

On September 2, 2026, the TALATERRA website merged with Transferable Solutions. Conversations can be accessed through the interactive map. You can also explore the podcast's catalog of episodes on Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

CREDITS:

• Producer: Tania Marien
• Music: So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License;
• SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.
• Subscribe to Transferable Solutions, a newsletter about reimagining environmental skills
• Contact Us
• Talaterra is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. Learn More
• © 2019 - 2026 Talaterra Inc

ABOUT:

TALATERRA combines "tala" (Icelandic for "to speak" and "to talk") with "terra" (Earth)—because speaking for our planet and telling its stories is what environmental educators do.

TALATERRA: to speak Earth.

Today we get to learn again from Dr. Brad McLain.

You might remember my conversation with Dr. McLain about identity theory and the professional identities of informal science educators.

In this episode, we pick up the conversation where we left it and talk about Dr. McLain’s new book called Designing Transformative Experiences.

In his book, Dr. McLain leads experience designers through the  methodology he developed through years of working with employees, students, corporations, museums, and nonprofit organizations like Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots.

While you may recognize a transformative experience when you have one, do you know how to create one for the people you serve?

LINKS

Designing Transformative Experiences: A Toolkit for Leaders, Trainers, Teachers, and Other Experience Designers (book)

Designing Transformative Experiences (website)

Ep98: Brad McLain, Identity of Informal Science Educators

____________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE:

On September 2, 2026, the TALATERRA website merged with Transferable Solutions. Conversations can be accessed through the interactive map. You can also explore the podcast's catalog of episodes on Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

CREDITS:

• Producer: Tania Marien
• Music: So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License;
• SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.
• Subscribe to Transferable Solutions, a newsletter about reimagining environmental skills
• Contact Us
• Talaterra is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. Learn More
• © 2019 - 2026 Talaterra Inc

ABOUT:

TALATERRA combines "tala" (Icelandic for "to speak" and "to talk") with "terra" (Earth)—because speaking for our planet and telling its stories is what environmental educators do.

TALATERRA: to speak Earth.

Saurabh Mithal is a teacher, independent professional, and the founder of Passionately Curious, a community for solopreneurs. I invited Saurabh to talk about his experience working with freelancers. In this episode, Saurabh shares how he helps independent professionals establish their businesses, and how he helps them manage self-doubt, procrastination, and distractions. 

LINKS

PassionatelyCurious.in

The Passionately Curious podcast

Saurabh on LinkedIn

Designing Your Life

Creativity Inc. 

Creative Confidence 

The Practice 

War of Art 

This is Marketing

The Art of Possibility

____________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE:

On September 2, 2026, the TALATERRA website merged with Transferable Solutions. Conversations can be accessed through the interactive map. You can also explore the podcast's catalog of episodes on Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

CREDITS:

• Producer: Tania Marien
• Music: So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License;
• SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.
• Subscribe to Transferable Solutions, a newsletter about reimagining environmental skills
• Contact Us
• Talaterra is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. Learn More
• © 2019 - 2026 Talaterra Inc

ABOUT:

TALATERRA combines "tala" (Icelandic for "to speak" and "to talk") with "terra" (Earth)—because speaking for our planet and telling its stories is what environmental educators do.

TALATERRA: to speak Earth.

My guest today is Jeffrey H. Ryan. Jeffrey is the author of Appalachian Odyssey and Blazing Ahead in his latest book, This Land Was Saved for You and Me.

Jeffrey introduces us to seven people who were key to forming and preserving America's public lands. Jeffrey tells how these individuals influenced and worked with each other and who they met during their careers.

He writes about the contributions made by Frederick Law Olmsted, Gifford Pinchot, Benton Mackaye, Theodore Roosevelt, Bob Marshall, Aldo Leopold, and Howard Zahniser.

Let's join the conversation.

LINKS

Jeffrey H. Ryan

Books by Jeffrey Ryan

Voices of the Wilderness

Wilderness Society

National Association for Interpretation

____________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE:

On September 2, 2026, the TALATERRA website merged with Transferable Solutions. Conversations can be accessed through the interactive map. You can also explore the podcast's catalog of episodes on Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

CREDITS:

• Producer: Tania Marien
• Music: So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License;
• SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.
• Subscribe to Transferable Solutions, a newsletter about reimagining environmental skills
• Contact Us
• Talaterra is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. Learn More
• © 2019 - 2026 Talaterra Inc

ABOUT:

TALATERRA combines "tala" (Icelandic for "to speak" and "to talk") with "terra" (Earth)—because speaking for our planet and telling its stories is what environmental educators do.

TALATERRA: to speak Earth.

Today my guests are Dan Kriesberg and Camille Simone Edwards, founders of Diversity Education in Nature.

Dan and Camille’s unique approach to diversity education occur through the lens of ecological concepts and pairs outdoor experiences with conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion.

They reach beyond the field of environmental education and lead workshops for students, educators, parents, and caregivers. They have also developed a program for corporate settings and look forward to working with decision-makers at organizations large and small.

In this episode, we discuss the structure of their programs, radical empathy, consuming DEI as a “product,” and healing in communities.

Let’s join the conversation.

LINKS

Diversity Education in Nature (DEIN)

Contact Dan or Camille at [email protected]

Earth Wisdom, Dan Kriesberg’s website

Camille Simone Consulting

An Invitation to a Brave Space

Terri Givens, Radical Empathy

Subscribe to The Trail newsletter

View past issue of The Trail

____________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE:

On September 2, 2026, the TALATERRA website merged with Transferable Solutions. Conversations can be accessed through the interactive map. You can also explore the podcast's catalog of episodes on Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

CREDITS:

• Producer: Tania Marien
• Music: So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License;
• SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.
• Subscribe to Transferable Solutions, a newsletter about reimagining environmental skills
• Contact Us
• Talaterra is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. Learn More
• © 2019 - 2026 Talaterra Inc

ABOUT:

TALATERRA combines "tala" (Icelandic for "to speak" and "to talk") with "terra" (Earth)—because speaking for our planet and telling its stories is what environmental educators do.

TALATERRA: to speak Earth.

Today our guest is Michael Hawk.

Michael is the founder of Jumpstart Nature and the host of the Nature’s Archive podcast.

Jumpstart Nature is a new organization taking a tech-centric approach to how they connect people with nature. In this episode, we learn what inspired Michael to create the Nature's Archive podcast and what has informed his views about technology in nature education. Michael also shares how the AGILE approach to project management is key to how he and his collaborators built Jumpstart Nature.

Let’s join the conversation.

LINKS

Jumpstart Nature

Nature's Archive podcast

National Association for Interpretation

California Naturalist 

Presentations by Michael:

• Incredible Insects
• The Surprising Biodiversity of a Suburban Yard
• The Wonders of Plant Galls: Biology, Identification, and Discovery

____________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE:

On September 2, 2026, the TALATERRA website merged with Transferable Solutions. Conversations can be accessed through the interactive map. You can also explore the podcast's catalog of episodes on Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

CREDITS:

• Producer: Tania Marien
• Music: So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License;
• SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.
• Subscribe to Transferable Solutions, a newsletter about reimagining environmental skills
• Contact Us
• Talaterra is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. Learn More
• © 2019 - 2026 Talaterra Inc

ABOUT:

TALATERRA combines "tala" (Icelandic for "to speak" and "to talk") with "terra" (Earth)—because speaking for our planet and telling its stories is what environmental educators do.

TALATERRA: to speak Earth.

Today my guest is Jo Petroni.

Jo is an architect, illustrator, writer and teacher. She's the author of Listen To Your Land, a Guide to Regenerative Land Design that blends biophilic design and permaculture philosophy. Jo is also a contributor to the Carbon Almanac and co-founder of Damn Good Humans, a creative agency about climate communication.

What is permarchitecture?

How can people listen to their land?

What is reversible habitat?

Let’s find out.

LINKS

Permarchitecture - Regenerative Human Habitat Design Strategy

Bill Mollison

Jo's Epistolary

An illustrated time-lapse letter about climate from Jo's Epistolary

EcoVillage Network

The Carbon Almanac

Connect-the-Dots

Roam Research

Damn Good Humans - The Creative Agency for Climate Communication

____________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE:

On September 2, 2026, the TALATERRA website merged with Transferable Solutions. Conversations can be accessed through the interactive map. You can also explore the podcast's catalog of episodes on Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

CREDITS:

• Producer: Tania Marien
• Music: So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License;
• SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.
• Subscribe to Transferable Solutions, a newsletter about reimagining environmental skills
• Contact Us
• Talaterra is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. Learn More
• © 2019 - 2026 Talaterra Inc

ABOUT:

TALATERRA combines "tala" (Icelandic for "to speak" and "to talk") with "terra" (Earth)—because speaking for our planet and telling its stories is what environmental educators do.

TALATERRA: to speak Earth.

Today we learn from Jessica Maccaro, Catherine Nguyen, and Joshua Reger, the team behind the new science communication podcast Across the Cline.

This podcast is the latest outreach vehicle for SciComm @ UCR, the student-led science communication group at the University of California, Riverside.

SciComm @ UCR was established in 2019 to explore creative approaches to science communication and to provide learning opportunities in science communication to Riverside residents.

The Across the Cline podcast has a smart format; we’ll learn more about it in this episode.

We’ll also hear how SciComm @ UCR engages with graduate students across disciplines and learn about what graduate students will share with Riverside residents this spring.

Let’s meet Jess, Catherine, and Joshua!

LINKS

SciComm @ UCR website

Contact SciComm @ UCR

@SciCommUCR (Twitter)

@scicommucr (Instagram)

Jessica Maccaro on Twitter (@JessicaMaccaro)

Catherine (Thiên-Ý) Nguyễn on Twitter (@Catherine_TY_Ng)

ZME Science

@ZMEScience (Twitter)

MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS

Jessica:

• Science Nights at Back to the Grind
• When bees get a taste for dead things

Catherine:

• Sex differences in offspring discrimination in the biparental California mouse (Peromyscus californicus)
• Student research gear closet lowers barriers to field experiences

Joshua:

• Joshua Reger, 2022 Scholarship Recipient | Applied Biological Control Research
• Why flight testing is an important step in sterile insect technique

____________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE:

On September 2, 2026, the TALATERRA website merged with Transferable Solutions. Conversations can be accessed through the interactive map. You can also explore the podcast's catalog of episodes on Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

CREDITS:

• Producer: Tania Marien
• Music: So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License;
• SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.
• Subscribe to Transferable Solutions, a newsletter about reimagining environmental skills
• Contact Us
• Talaterra is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. Learn More
• © 2019 - 2026 Talaterra Inc

ABOUT:

TALATERRA combines "tala" (Icelandic for "to speak" and "to talk") with "terra" (Earth)—because speaking for our planet and telling its stories is what environmental educators do.

TALATERRA: to speak Earth.

Arjit Jere, is a biologist, science communicator, and popular science writer based in India. Arjit has written about the lifecycle of antlions, competitor behavior in hummingbirds, climate change, and the critically endangered Amboli toad that's found only in the mountains of Western India.

I met Arjit during the Science Journalism Forum, a global gathering of science journalists, communicators, and students. The forum is a virtual event, and as you know, virtual events make it possible to learn from people you would never meet otherwise. Like Arjit!  

In this episode, we discuss Arjit's experiences as a science journalist and what he would like to write about next.

Let's join the conversation.

CLICK HERE to engage with the transcript for this episode.

What do you think of this format? 

How does it help you relate to the guest and their work?

Please share your thoughts here (https://talaterra.com/contact).

LINKS

Arjit Jere on LinkedIn

Arjit’s blog, Nature and Football

Saevus Magazine

RoundGlass Sustain

Dr.Pankaj Koparde, Chatur Ullu Evolutionary Ecology Lab, MIT World Peace University, Pune

Maharashtra Institute of Technology (MIT) World Peace University

Centre for Environmental Education, Pune

Articles:

A. Jere, Global warming and climate change - Current scenario. Biotechnology (2013) View Article 

A. Jere, Circle of Life, Saevus. December 2017 - February 2018, p. 66 (2017) View Article

A. Jere, Hummingbirds and their hidden daggers. Manthan, Volume 2.2, 3 (2020) View article

A. Jere, Meet the Tiger Toad. Youth for Nature Magazine (2022). Accessed 11 Jan 2023. https://yfnmagazine.wordpress.com/2022/10/12/meet-the-tiger-toad

____________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE:

On September 2, 2026, the TALATERRA website merged with Transferable Solutions. Conversations can be accessed through the interactive map. You can also explore the podcast's catalog of episodes on Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

CREDITS:

• Producer: Tania Marien
• Music: So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License;
• SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.
• Subscribe to Transferable Solutions, a newsletter about reimagining environmental skills
• Contact Us
• Talaterra is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. Learn More
• © 2019 - 2026 Talaterra Inc

ABOUT:

TALATERRA combines "tala" (Icelandic for "to speak" and "to talk") with "terra" (Earth)—because speaking for our planet and telling its stories is what environmental educators do.

TALATERRA: to speak Earth.

Today we get to learn from Robin Lee Carlson.

Robin is a biologist, science writer, and scientific illustrator. In all aspects of her work, Robin transforms scientific information into stories to help people see the natural world in new ways. Her scientific illustration work and writings can be found on posters,  interpretive panels, and informative species cards used by the California Department of Transportation.

Robin is also the author and illustrator of The Cold Canyon Fire Journals: Green Shoots and Silver Linings in the Ashes.

In The Cold Canyon Fire Journals, Robin takes us to her local nature preserve that has twice experienced the type of fast-moving and expansive wildfires seen more and more often in California.

Through her illustrations and text, Robin takes us on a tour of the canyon before and after the fires and teaches us about fire ecology in an engaging way.

How did Robin’s relationship with Cold Canyon begin?

How did her illustrations and field notes become a book?

When it comes to fire management, who should be part of the conversation?

Let’s find out.

LINKS

Robin Lee Carlson Illustration

Robin on Instagram (@anthropocenesketchbook)

Reading the Ashes | The Common

California Wilderness Coalition Bundle (Book + Bandana)

A couple of great podcasts about fire and controlled and cultural burning:

• Living with Fire
• Life with Fire Podcast

Book resources for cultural fire:

• Tending the Wild: Native American Knowledge and the Management of California’s Natural Resources
• Forgotten Fires: Native Americans and the Transient Wilderness
• Fire Country: How Indigenous Fire Management Could Help Save Australia

MUSIC:

So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License.

LIVE CAPTIONS:

Each episode of the Talaterra podcast can be read while listening using the Live Caption feature in Google Chrome. To activate this free tool, follow these instructions. This tool also works with videos.

____________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE:

On September 2, 2026, the TALATERRA website merged with Transferable Solutions. Conversations can be accessed through the interactive map. You can also explore the podcast's catalog of episodes on Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

CREDITS:

• Producer: Tania Marien
• Music: So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License;
• SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.
• Subscribe to Transferable Solutions, a newsletter about reimagining environmental skills
• Contact Us
• Talaterra is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. Learn More
• © 2019 - 2026 Talaterra Inc

ABOUT:

TALATERRA combines "tala" (Icelandic for "to speak" and "to talk") with "terra" (Earth)—because speaking for our planet and telling its stories is what environmental educators do.

TALATERRA: to speak Earth.