Libsyn Directory

15. The Wild World of Birds: A Naturalist Walk at San Elijo Lagoon w/ Alex Wild (Part 2)

Release Date: 05/07/2025

Planet People Podcast

Episode Summary Hey Planet People, Natalie and Coral popping in with a mid-season 2 update! We are excited to be halfway through filming season 2 of our desert conservation series with a release date in mind for the near future. Right now, we are on a pause for the month of June as we dive deep into post-production processes. What does that look like? In the meantime, please listen to our Season 1 about Southern California Ocean Conservation & our Bonus Episodes with Alex Wild and Brooke Mitchell, and follow our social media on Instagram and TikTok. We also encourage you to stay informed...

16. Protecting Patagonia with Rewildology

Planet People Podcast

Listen to Brooke Mitchell’s podcast Rewildology here: "Where the Wild Calls" is produced in partnership with Conservación Patagónica and the Route of Parks initiative. A portion of proceeds supports on-the-ground conservation efforts throughout Chilean Patagonia. Episode Summary Join host Brooke Mitchell on an epic 1,700-mile journey through Chile's spectacular a groundbreaking conservation corridor stretching from the puma territories of Torres del Paine to the ancient Alerce forests of Pumalín Douglas Tompkins National Park. From tracking elusive pumas in Torres del Paine to...

15. The Wild World of Birds: A Naturalist Walk at San Elijo Lagoon w/ Alex Wild (Part 2)

Planet People Podcast

Listen to this episode on your favorite podcast platform or watch the video version on our YouTube channel to see the birds we identify during our walk! Episode Overview This episode continues our conversation with park ranger Alex Wild, featuring a guided nature walk around . Alex identifies various birds and plants while discussing his role as a park ranger and sharing stories about inspiring environmental elders. This episode follows our previous discussion with Alex about recent attacks on National Parks and federal worker cuts that affected him personally. We had a special guest join us,...

14. Protecting National Parks and Keeping Nature Wild w/ Alex Wild

Planet People Podcast

Episode Summary Happy Earth Day! 🌎💚 In this special bonus episode, we sit down with Alex Wild, a park ranger and naturalist who recently made headlines after being caught in the crossfire of controversial executive orders affecting National Parks. We filmed this episode live from the San Elijo Lagoon with Alex’s pet tortoise and now education ambassador, Franklin. Alex shares his journey as a steward of public lands, about the recent DOGE job cuts, his opinion on the recent executive orders, and his natural, spiritual connection to the landscape. Learn about how Alex embodies what it...

13. Bonus Episode: LA Wildfires

Planet People Podcast

In this bonus episode of Planet People, Natalie and Coral discuss the devastation around the LA Wildfires for both people, wildlife and the planet. As a scientist Natalie offers insight into the climate crisis while Coral sheds light on the LA community and the people that have been displaced and affected by this tragedy. They discuss how extreme weather patterns like intense rainfall, followed by a significant drought year, and hurricane like winds, created ripe conditions for wildfire to spread. With California experiencing two wet years in 2023-2024, it also allowed for invasive tree and...

12. Magical Moments from Season 1 w/ Natalie Cibel and Coral Carson

Planet People Podcast

Welcome to the first bonus episode on Planet People! I’m your host, Natalie Jane, a conservation biologist and eco-communicator. I am joined by my creative director and now co-host, Coral Carson. We have a really fun episode as we recap Season 1 of Planet People for the Coastal Conservation series and share all the amazing stories and happenings that made this year so special. We record this episode in an urban, green space setting in Los Angeles, so please welcome in bird songs and other ambient nature sounds you may hear throughout the show. We want to give a massive shoutout...

11. WILDCOAST Wonderland: Naturing Our Way Out of the Climate Crisis w/ Serge Dedina

Planet People Podcast

We are excited to have Serge Dedina on the show to share his stories as a southern Californian ocean conservation hero and founder of the organization WILDCOAST / COASTASALVAJE. In this episode, we cover many exciting stories about coastal conservation and the journey that inspired Serge to co-found WILDCOAST. Along the way, we share ocean knowledge and the benefit of blue carbon in acting as the world's largest carbon sink in fighting climate change. We learn about the vital work being done by WILDCOAST to support these natural solutions by restoring marine ecosystems to reduce the impacts of...

10. Great White Sharks: Understanding Their Behavior & Genome with Dr. Chris Lowe

Planet People Podcast

In this episode, we interview Dr. Chris Lowe, a Professor of Marine Biology at California State University Long Beach. Dr. Lowe’s goal is to help expand our knowledge of marine organisms so that we can better manage and protect their ecosystems. He enjoys developing and using new technology and techniques to answer questions about shark and game fish behavior. He applies his knowledge to help train the next generation of biologists on how to use these tools to move the field forward. The California State University Long Beach Shark Lab has a long and rich history in elasmobranch (a...

9. A Wonderful Whale Tale: Drone's Eye View of Blue, Gray, & Humpback Giants w/ Daina Buchner

Planet People Podcast

Hey everyone, and welcome back! In this episode of Planet People, we dive into the world of whales with conservation photographer and videographer Daina Buchner. Join us on this exciting and ocean-filled episode as Daina shares her inspiring journey from childhood memories by the ocean, to becoming a leading figure in the field of marine conservation photography and videography. In our effort to bring nature to you in this episode, we encourage you to welcome in all the sounds of the natural recording studio we’re in by the beach in La Jolla, California! Daina’s Story: In this...

8. Orca Odyssey: Secrets of the Sea from SoCal to Alaska w/ Nicole Schriber

Planet People Podcast

Welcome to Episode #8 of Planet People! In this episode, we interview killer whale expert Nicole Schriber, who studies these amazing whales as a marine biology student at UC San Diego. She also works as a naturalist specializing in orca research and educating wildlife enthusiasts who join the “Gone Whale Watching” boat tours in San Diego. The recent sightings of orcas off of Southern California prompted a personal investigation for Nicole. As she observed this specific pod of whales, known as the Eastern Tropical Pacific Killer Whales (ETP), she was able to collect data for her photo...

More Episodes

Listen to this episode on your favorite podcast platform or watch the video version on our YouTube channel to see the birds we identify during our walk!

Episode Overview

This episode continues our conversation with park ranger Alex Wild, featuring a guided nature walk around San Elijo Lagoon. Alex identifies various birds and plants while discussing his role as a park ranger and sharing stories about inspiring environmental elders. This episode follows our previous discussion with Alex about recent attacks on National Parks and federal worker cuts that affected him personally. We had a special guest join us, Franklin the desert tortoise, Alex's former pet now serving as an animal ambassador at San Elijo. Keep reading to learn more about the birds we saw in this episode!

Key Topics Discussed

Major talking points included bird identification and birding tips, including creating a "life list" for birding. We also defined "Spark Birds" - the species that ignite someone's passion for birding and how ornithology lends itself to Alex's responsibilities as a park ranger. Spiritual connection to the land and the importance of role models as environmental elders who inspire. Most importantly, we discuss what it means to use our voice to protect natural spaces we love.

Poetry Feature:

"The Peace of Wild Things" By Wendell Berry

When despair for the world grows in me

and I wake in the night at the least sound

in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,

I go and lie down where the wood drake

rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.

I come into the peace of wild things

who do not tax their lives with forethought

of grief. I come into the presence of still water.

And I feel above me the day-blind stars

waiting with their light. For a time

I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

Featured Segments

Endangered Bird Segment: Endangered bird species are under threat! This recently published report from the 2025 US State of the Birds Report by the American Bird Conservancy outlines the threats that birds face across America and defines proactive solutions to protect bird populations for future generations.

Key findings from the new report show that more than one-third of U.S. bird species are of high or moderate conservation concern, including 112 Tipping Point species that have lost more than 50 percent of their populations in the last 50 years.

Betty Reid Soskin Park Ranger segment: Betty Reid Soskin (born Betty Charbonnet; 1921), now retired, was a park ranger with the National Park Service, assigned to the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, California. In 2015, Betty was selected to participate in the national tree-lighting ceremony in President’s Park at the White House, introducing President Barack Obama during the PBS telecast. At 100 years of age in 2022, Betty retired as the oldest park ranger in the National Park Service. Thank you for your hard-earned work, Betty!

Episode Overview

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