Professor of forest ecology at the University of British Columbia, Suzanne Simard, is at the forefront of plant communication and intelligence research. She explains why trees are vital to each other and to humans. (01:32)And, Utah Geologist Jeremiah Bernau discusses how the Bonneville Salt Flats have shifted over the years, with some of its most dramatic changes in recent decades. (25:50)

Professor Emeritus of Wildlife Science at the University of Washington, John Marzluff, discusses his highly acclaimed book “Gifts of the Crow: How Perception, Emotion, and Thought Allow Smart Birds to Behave Like Humans.”Then, Zach Frankel, Executive Director at the Utah Rivers Council shares his concerns about proposed laws on Utah’s Capitol Hill that he says will lead to development without public oversight or transparency. And Summit County Lands and Natural Resources Director Jess Kirby has updates on the 910 and Ure ranches.

Chris and Claire speak with John Vucetich, a professor of wildlife ecology at Michigan Tech. He is the author of a new book about wolves titled, "Restoring the Balance: What Wolves Tell Us About Our Relationship With Nature." Then, Colette Adkins, Carnivore Conservation Program Director and Senior Attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, joins the show to talk about the fate of gray wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains after they were denied Endangered Species Act protection.

Chris and Claire speak with Recycle Utah’s Mary Closser about the recent Green Business Awards and welcome local award winners Kimberly Flores with Fulfilled and Julie Finnegan from Abode Luxury Rentals. Then, journalist David Owen of the New Yorker discusses his book "Where the Water Goes: Life and Death Along the Colorado River."

Author Peter Alagona, Environmental History Professor at UC Santa Barbara discusses his book "The Accidental Ecosystem." It tells the story of how cities across the United States went from having little wildlife to filling, dramatically, and unexpectedly, with wild creatures.Then, Dr. Paddy Sullivan, Director of the Environment and Natural Resource Institute, talks about why Alaska’s rivers are quite literally rusting.

Though many of us may not consider ourselves fans of spiders – jumping spiders are some of the worlds most fascinating and aerobatic arachnids. They are even crooners, singing and dancing to woo mates. Learn more about the wonderful world of jumping spiders with Harvard University’s Paul Shamble on This Green Earth. (01:32)Then award-winning Author Tony Hiss joins the show to discuss his latest book, "Rescuing the Planet, Protecting Half the Land to Heal the Earth" (28:51)

Park City Community Foundation’s Climate Fund's Eyee Hsu and Andy Hecht discuss their goal to fully divert food waste from Summit County's landfill by 2030.Then Danielle Nierenberg, President of Food Tank joins the show. Food Tank is a research and advocacy organization that highlights how food and agriculture could be a solution to some of our most pressing environmental problems.

Chris and Claire talk with author and speaker Rob Verchick, one of the nation’s leading scholars in disaster and climate change law and a former EPA official in the Obama administration. He shares more on his latest book, "The Octopus in the Parking Garage." In it, Verchick examines how we can manage the risks that we can no longer avoid, laying out our options as we face the climate crisis.Then, the Department of Agriculture is proposing a nationwide plan focused on protecting federal old-growth forests. The proposal would amend all land management plans governing the National Forest System. Garett Rose from the National Resources Defense Council joins the show to discuss this plan.

In the first part of the show, Chris and Claire revisit a discussion with evolutionary biologist and author Noah Whiteman, as he talks about his book, "Most Delicious Poison, The Story of Nature’s Toxins from Spices to Vices."Then author and speaker on climate change politics, Michael Gunter joins the show to talk about his latest book, "Climate Travels."

Tis the season for holiday gatherings and imbibing in various specialty holiday cocktails. In this spirit, we welcome Sara Sargent of Alpine Distilling to This Green Earth. We’ll talk about Alpine Distilling’s sustainability practices across the company, and we’ll hear more about the art of botanical spirits from soil to bottle.Then, Chris and Claire revisit a interview from November with Conservation Science Director Steve Slater for HawkWatch International, who comes on the show to discuss the conservation of bird's of prey.