Wildlight with Grae Wilder

Ever wonder who paved the way for today’s conservationists? 🌿 In this episode of Wildlight, we dive into the lives and legacies of the world’s most iconic naturalists! From Jane Goodall’s groundbreaking work with chimpanzees, to Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring sparking the modern environmental movement, and more trailblazers who changed the way we see the natural world.

We’ll explore what made their work so revolutionary, how they overcame challenges, and what lessons we can take from them as we face today’s environmental crises. In the process, we will identify patterns of traits that influential conservationists had and how we can see those traits within ourselves!

This one’s a little personal. As someone who’s been chasing success since I was 9 - writing books, hustling for scholarships, building a career as a wildlife researcher - I’ve spent most of my life trapped in that “productivity grindset” voice. The one that tells you you’re never doing enough. In this episode, I open up about what that looks like for me as a low-income kid trying to build a future, where that mindset comes from, and why it’s so hard to shake, especially in creative fields and career paths with uncertain outcomes. I also share some small, real strategies I’m trying to use to loosen that grip and move toward a healthier mindset without abandoning my goals. If you’ve ever felt like rest is guilt-inducing, or like your worth is tied to what you produce - you’re not alone.

Follow me: @graewilder on all platforms 💌 Check out more at graewilder.com

In this episode, I’ll share some of my most vivid field experiences, unexpected wildlife encounters and deep cultural connections I witnessed between people and nature. Nepal taught me a lot about the delicate balance between human needs and preserving wild spaces - what coexistence really means on the ground, beyond the ideal. I’ll also share some funny mishaps and moments of cultural misunderstanding that kept me humble and laughing along the way. Reflecting on my time there, I realize how much resilience and interconnectedness define both the people and the wildlife I met. I hope this episode feels like a relaxed conversation around a campfire, inviting you to slow down, listen, and maybe share your own travel or nature stories with me. You can see more of my work at graewilder.com!

In this episode of Wildlight, we dive into the nostalgic world of childhood nature media! Stories like FernGully, The Lorax, and My Neighbor Totoro, and how they planted seeds of environmental care and activism in so many of us. I share my own “aha” moment with a nature story that shaped the path I’m on now. Together, we unpack how art inspires action and why it still matters. Plus, a little challenge: revisit a nature story from your childhood, or share one with a kid in your life. The next generation of changemakers might just be watching.

Welcome to the first episode of Wildlight! Today, I'm diving into the wild world of queer ecology - a field that challenges the outdated, heteronormative narratives in science and conservation. I break down how queerness shows up across species, from same-sex pairings to animals that change sex or defy binary categories altogether. We’ll talk about why this matters in conservation, how homophobic assumptions were falsely baked into ecological science, and what the research actually says about the genetics, evolution, and function of queer behavior in the wild. This is our invitation to rethink what’s “natural.” 🌿🏳️‍🌈

Follow for weekly conversations about wildlife conservation!

Some of the most interesting animals live in the desert. In this episode, Grace will talk about the different adaptations of desert animals!

Check out daretodreamgreen.com to see what Grace has been doing to help wildlife and the environment. Or, check out @gracegonegreen on Instagram. 

Some of the most interesting animals live in the Arctic. In this episode, Grace will talk about the different adaptations of arctic animals!

Check out daretodreamgreen.com to see what Grace has been doing to help wildlife and the environment. Or, check out @gracegonegreen on Instagram. 

In this episode, Grace will go over different ideas for outdoor activities, funny stories of them, and tipsntricks that she has learned!

Check out daretodreamgreen.com to see what Grace has been doing to help wildlife and the environment. Or, check out @gracegonegreen on Instagram. 

As kids, we often think the fastest animal in the world is a cheetah, and the slowest is a tortoise. Well, they actually aren't! In this episode, Grace will list the actual top 5 fastest and slowest animals on earth.  

Check out daretodreamgreen.com to see what Grace has been doing to help wildlife and the environment. Or, check out @gracegonegreen on Instagram.