Libsyn Directory

28. Zombie Wasps, Tarantulas Hawks, Army Ants, Oh My! An Eerie Look Into the World of Desert Insects w/ Scott Heacox

Release Date: 10/22/2025

Yuck: A Meditation on Joshua Trees & the Mojave Desert w/ Barret Baumgart

Planet People Podcast

Join us for the second episode of our Planet People Book Club series as we explore Yuck: The Birth & Death of the Weird & Wondrous Joshua Tree, Yucca Brevifolia by author Barret Baumgart. This contemplative work uses the iconic Joshua tree as a lens to examine our relationship with the Mojave Desert and the American West. Barret shares the personal and creative journey behind this distinctive meditation on desert landscapes, pilgrimage, and the search for meaning in places often dismissed as barren. In an era when the Mojave faces unprecedented threats from climate change and when...

The Journey of Water: 112 Mile Hike Through the Desert Basin of Las Vegas Valley w/ Alex Harper

Planet People Podcast

Join us as we journey along the Colorado River with Alex Harper, a naturalist, wildlife conservationist, bird photographer, and guide with Red Rocks Audubon, whose recent survey expedition documents one of the American West’s most urgent environmental crises. Alex shares what it means to witness the dramatic transformation of a river system that sustains millions of people and countless species—from disappearing wetlands and struggling bird populations to the stark reality of a watershed pushed to its limits by climate change, overuse, and outdated water policy. In an era when the Colorado...

42. Mojave Desert Land Trust: Protecting Rare Plants, Lands & Animals in the Mojave Desert w/ Kelly Herbinson & Patrick Emblidge

Planet People Podcast

Join us as we venture into the Mojave Desert with Kelly Herbinson, Executive Director of Mojave Desert Land Trust, and Patrick Emblidge, Plant Conservation Program Manager, whose groundbreaking conservation work reveals the urgent need to protect one of North America’s most iconic and misunderstood ecosystems. Kelly and Patrick share what it means to safeguard the desert’s irreplaceable biodiversity from the iconic Joshua tree facing climate-driven extinction to the thousands of acres permanently protected through conservation easements that preserve rare plants and vulnerable desert...

41. Jaguars vs. The Wall: The Fight for Wildlife Borderlands, Connectivity, and Conservation w/ Jack Humphrey

Planet People Podcast

In this urgent discussion, we interview Jack Humphrey from The Rewilding Institute to explore what rewilding truly means—and why it's under unprecedented threat right now. As the Trump administration dynamites through Arizona's most critical jaguar habitat to construct border walls, we examine what happens when we sever the very corridors that wildlife has traveled for millennia. The Rewilding Institute was founded on a radical idea: that nature needs more than just protection. It needs restoration, connection, and room to breathe. Their vision is bold—gray wolves and grizzly bears with...

40. The Enduring Wild, and Forgotten Lands Project w/ Josh Jackson

Planet People Podcast

In this discussion, we interview Josh Jackson, author of The Enduring Wild and creator of the Forgotten Lands project, which documents and advocates for Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public lands across the American West. Through his writing and photography, Josh has become a leading voice in drawing attention to these vast, often-overlooked landscapes, which represent our largest—and most vulnerable—public land holdings. BLM lands differ significantly from national parks and monuments, lacking the same level of protection and public awareness despite comprising millions of acres of...

39. New Year's Special: Mini Wrap-Up and Milestones of 2025

Planet People Podcast

Happy New Year's from Planet People hosts, Natalie & Coral! PLANET PEOPLE SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow Planet People on Instagram: Subscribe to us on YouTube:

38. Christmas Special: The Season of Sustainable Giving

Planet People Podcast

In this special holiday episode, hosts Natalie and Coral reflect on the season of giving and what it means to give sustainably. As we approach the end of the year, they discuss the importance of shopping small, supporting local businesses, and giving back to the incredible organizations and guests who have shared their knowledge and passion throughout the season. This Christmas episode is a joyous reminder that sustainable giving goes beyond material gifts; it’s about supporting the communities, creators, and changemakers who are working to build a better world. Natalie and Coral emphasize...

37. Twelve Days of Thriftmas w/ Jenli Kaylor

Planet People Podcast

In this festive discussion, hosts Coral and Natalie sit down with guest Jenli Kaylor to explore the art of sustainable holiday living through thrifting and upcycling. Together, they dive deep into creative ways to make the holiday season more environmentally conscious while still maintaining the magic and joy of the season. From transforming secondhand finds into meaningful gifts to reimagining holiday decorations with thrifted treasures, this conversation is packed with practical tips for anyone looking to reduce their environmental footprint during the most wonderful—and often most...

36. College of the Desert: A Class on Desert Birds, Energy Solutions, and Living a Sustainable Life w/ Kurt Leuschner

Planet People Podcast

In this discussion, we interview Kurt Leuschner, a Professor of Natural Resources at the College of the Desert, a public community college serving the diverse Coachella Valley of Riverside County, California. College of the Desert enrolls approximately 12,500 students and is federally recognized as a Hispanic-serving institution, reflecting its commitment to educational accessibility in the region. Through his role at College of the Desert, Professor Leuschner is helping to educate the next generation of environmental stewards while contributing to our understanding of the remarkable...

35. Desert Tortoise Council: Training the Next Generation of Desert Tortoise Biologists w/ Mary Lane Poe

Planet People Podcast

Join us for an in-depth conversation about Mojave desert tortoise conservation efforts, from the original endangered species designation to current threats and protection strategies. In this interview with Mary Lane Poe of the Desert Tortoise Council, we review the many threats facing the desert tortoise, as well as meaningful ways for people to take action and even start a career in desert tortoise conservation. RAY OF HOPE: Here's something incredible: Desert tortoises are ancient ecosystem engineers that have survived ice ages, volcanic eruptions, and dramatic climate shifts over 15...

More Episodes

Join us in continuing this Spooky Season as we sit down with Scott Heacox to explore the truly exciting world of parasitic insects in the Coachella Valley. From wasps that turn their hosts into living nurseries to fungi that create zombie ants, Scott reveals the fascinating and sometimes horrifying survival strategies of desert insects. This spine-tingling conversation uncovers the complex relationships between parasites and their hosts, demonstrating that the scariest stories aren’t found in horror movies—they’re happening right now in the desert ecosystem around us.

RAY OF HOPE:

In a time when insects are often misunderstood and feared, Scott Heacox’s work stands as a powerful ray of hope, demonstrating that understanding these complex creatures—even the parasitic ones—reveals the intricate balance and resilience of desert ecosystems.

This educational approach represents hope because it shows us a pathway forward: scientific curiosity replacing fear, local communities appreciating the ecological roles of all insects (even the creepy ones), and a deeper understanding of how parasitic relationships maintain healthy populations and biodiversity in the Coachella Valley for generations to come.

ANXIETY TO ACTION:

In an era where insect populations face unprecedented threats, understanding the fascinating world of parasitic wasps, ants, and crickets reminds us that every creature—no matter how unsettling—plays a vital role in maintaining the health of desert ecosystems.

Take Action:

Learn about the insects in your local desert ecosystem and their ecological roles
Support desert conservation organizations protecting insect habitats
Share your newfound knowledge about parasitic insects to help others overcome fear with understanding
Participate in citizen science projects documenting desert insect populations

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