Libsyn Directory

18. From Sea to Shining Desert: A Field Biologist’s Fight Against Desert Tortoise Extinction w/ Natalie Cibel

Release Date: 08/13/2025

18. From Sea to Shining Desert: A Field Biologist’s Fight Against Desert Tortoise Extinction w/ Natalie Cibel

Planet People Podcast

Join us for a casual and fun discussion with Natalie Jane Cibel, a conservation biologist and founder of Planet People, who has dedicated her career to studying and protecting one of the Mojave Desert’s most iconic species: the desert tortoise. In this episode, Natalie takes us behind the scenes to see what it’s really like to be a wildlife biologist working in the harsh but beautiful California desert, and shares incredible insights about the remarkable adaptations of these ancient reptiles. Natalie Jane is also the founder of Cibel Consulting and Communication Services. Her work focuses...

Season 2 Teaser: Desert Conservation In Southern California & Beyond To The Greater Southwest

Planet People Podcast

The desert is alive, and Season 2 of Planet People is here to prove it. Join founder and conservation biologist Natalie Jane Cibel, alongside newly joined co-host Coral Beth Carson, as we venture deeper into the Mojave Desert of Southern California and beyond, uncovering the hidden stories of life that thrive in one of Earth's most challenging environments. Our mission remains clear: to protect and celebrate the overlooked creatures that call these ancient landscapes home. From the elusive desert tortoise navigating climate change to the remarkable adaptations of sidewinder rattlesnakes and...

17. Season 2: Sneak Peeks & Update

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

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 means to be a...

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...

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Natalie Jane is also the founder of Cibel Consulting and Communication Services. Her work focuses on understanding and protecting desert tortoise populations in the Mojave Desert of California, where she conducts field research and conservation efforts to ensure the survival of this threatened species. Through her field research, she also shares her journey as a conservationist and provides science communication through stories through Planet People.

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