The Wolf Connection

Wolf Tales explores the journeys of Wolf Connection's staff and volunteers explaining how they made their way to Wolf Connection and the impact that the wolves and the organization has had on their lives.

Kris Espiritu is a volunteer at Wolf Connection who is also an environmental & outdoor educator where he provides experiential nature-based learning  for grades K-12. He teaches about the interdependence between ecosystems, humans role as stewards of the environment and team building skills.

@thenatureinquisitive

@wolfconnection

Sportscaster and the first and only female NBA scout for the Los Angeles Lakers Bonnie-Jill Laflin discusses her career, her journey to Wolf Connection and the special bond she formed with one of our pack ancestors Beau.

Bonnie-Jill Laflin has cheered in both the NBA and NFL and earned 5 championships rings as an executive for Lakers. She is currently a co-host of KNBR’s “Murph and Mac” Show, ranked #2 in the country, reporter for NBC Sports Bay Area and host of the Westwood One podcast “The Weekly Pass”. Beyond her professional ventures, Laflin is committed to and passionate about animal welfare and the nation’s veterans, founding the non-profit Hounds and Heroes.

@bonniejill

Hounds and Heroes

@wolfconnection

Wolf Tales explores the journeys of Wolf Connection's staff and volunteers explaining how they made their way to Wolf Connection and the impact that the wolves and the organization has had on their lives.

Micha Thomas is a Wolf Connection Program Lead and an Associate Marriage & Family therapist and group facilitator. She is also the founder of weREWILD, which is a research-based psychological, anthropological and story-centered organization, emphasizing therapeutic engagement in the natural world. Micha has a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate University.

weREWILD

@michaleethomas

@wolfconnection

Rick McIntyre, who has been observing and studying wolves in Yellowstone National Park for over 20 years, discusses two of his books, 'The Rise of Wolf 8' and 'The Reign of Wolf 21'. He talks in detail about the life stories of two of Yellowstone's most famous alpha male wolves and other personal stories from his time in the park.

In his over 40 years of work, Rick has worn many hats - as a naturalist, Wolf Interpreter and Biological Technician (wolf research). He has amassed over 100,000 wolf sightings. For 15 years, he went out for 6,175 straight days and in one stretch saw wolves on 892 consecutive days. Though retired, he still studies and observes wolves at Yellowstone National Park.
He is currently working on two more books for his Alpha Wolves of Yellowstone Series.
Rise of Wolf 8 & Reign of Wolf 21 are available on Amazon and other book retailers and are published by Greystone Books.

Rise of Wolf 8 - Amazon

Reign of Wolf 21 - Amazon

@wolfconnection

Amaroq Weiss, the Senior West Coast Wolf Advocate, discusses federal and state protections for wolves in California, Oregon and Washington. She talks about how each state is managing wolves in their area and what the future holds for wolf populations in the United States.

A biologist and former attorney, Amaroq has worked on wolf issues in the northern Rockies, Alaska, the Southwest, Pacific West and at the Federal level, for 23 years. She was a stakeholder/advisor for the drafting of Oregon and California’s state wolf plans, and currently focuses on wolf management by state wildlife agencies, commissions and legislatures in Washington, Oregon, and California. Amaroq has previously worked for the Mexican Wolf Conservation Fund, Defenders of Wildlife, and the California Wolf Center.

@centerforbiodiv

Center for Biological Diversity - Facebook

Center for Biological Diversity - Homepage

Wolves on the West Coast

Amanda Beer and Micha Thomas are back to continue our conversation about the 'Women & Wolves' program and discuss the wolves that have influenced and impacted the program.

Amanda is a licensed psychologist and educator, and at Wolf Connection® she collaborates with the wolf pack and human program team to facilitate powerful opportunities for awareness, connection, healing, and growth. Amanda earned her PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and her clinical training and experience has focused on multicultural competence, group interventions, and mindfulness-based approaches to wellness.

Micha is an Associate Marriage & Family therapist, group facilitator, and founder of weREWILD, a research-based psychological, anthropological and story-centered organization, emphasizing therapeutic engagement in the natural world. Micha has a masters degree in counseling psychology with an emphasis on depth psychology from Pacifica Graduate University.


@amandawolfconnection

@michaleethomas

@wolfconnection

Wolf Connection's Director of Programs Amanda Beer and Wolf Connection Program Lead Micha Thomas sit down to discuss the origins of the 'Women and Wolves' program and why it's become a staple program offered through Wolf Connection.

Amanda is a licensed psychologist and educator, and at Wolf Connection® she collaborates with the wolf pack and human program team to facilitate powerful opportunities for awareness, connection, healing, and growth. Amanda earned her PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and her clinical training and experience has focused on multicultural competence, group interventions, and mindfulness-based approaches to wellness.

Micha is an Associate Marriage & Family therapist, group facilitator, and founder of weREWILD, a research-based psychological, anthropological and story-centered organization, emphasizing therapeutic engagement in the natural world. Micha has a masters degree in counseling psychology with an emphasis on depth psychology from Pacifica Graduate University.


@amandawolfconnection

@michaleethomas

@wolfconnection

Founder and Executive Director of Street Poets Inc. & Wolf Connection Board Member Chris Henrikson talks about his 23+ years of supporting youth and young adults around the Los Angeles area.

He has served as a consultant and retreat facilitator for a wide range of companies and organizations including Snap Inc. and the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC).

Streetpoetsinc.com

@christopherhenrikson

@wolfconnection

wolfconnection.org

Vice Principal and On-site Administrator of Phoenix H.S. in Lancaster, CA, JR Chatman joins us to discuss the impact that Wolf Connection's youth programs continues to have on the students who participate in the program and how the partnership began between Wolf Connection and the Antelope Valley School District.

JR Chatman has been in education over 20 years and has been a pivotal individual in building and fostering the relationship with Wolf Connection that's helped countless students over the years. JR empowers students to move beyond the challenges of their life circumstances to realize academic achievement and personal potential, and enter adulthood with resilience and self-efficacy.

Wolf Connection Youth Programs

@wolfconnection

wolfconnection.org

    

Scientist, ecologist, naturalist and educator Dr. Jim Halfpenny shares his experiences from the wolf re-introduction project in Yellowstone 25 years ago. He discusses his views and ideas on how humans, wolves and other species can coexist in North America in today's landscape.

Jim Halfpenny has over 50 years of experience researching carnivores in North America and across the globe. He has written over 25 books, including co-authoring Charting Yellowstone Wolves: 25th Anniversary Edition with Leo Leckie and Shauna Baron. It's available to purchase on Amazon or tracknature.com. Check out your app stores for Yellowstone Wolves 2020.

tracknature.com

tracksceneinvestigation.com

halfpenny.me

@wolfconnection