The Dirty Dozen & Clean 15 — What’s Really on Your Produce?
Release Date: 12/20/2025
The Dirty Dozen & Clean 15 — What’s Really on Your Produce?
The Backyard Naturalists
In this quick but eye-opening episode of The Backyard Naturalists, Debbie and Laurie take a closer look at the Environmental Working Group’s annual Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 lists—two rankings that help consumers understand which fruits and vegetables carry the highest (and lowest) pesticide residues. Whether you shop for your family, your backyard wildlife, or even your parrots (as both Debbie and Laurie do!), this is essential information for keeping everyone safe and healthy. Debbie and Laurie walk through both lists, covering the worst offenders like potatoes, blueberries,...
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Quiet Invasives — Why Invasive Plants Spread, and What You Can Do About It
The Backyard Naturalists
In this eye-opening episode of The Backyard Naturalists, Debbie and Laurie sit down with Benjy Strope, Private Lands Management Biologist for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, to explore the sneaky, persistent, and surprisingly complex world of invasive plants. Inspired by Benjy’s article “Quiet Invasives,” this conversation gets right to the root of how invasive species spread, why they’re so hard to control, and what homeowners, land managers, and nature lovers can realistically do to fight back. Benjy explains why invasive plants don’t follow the “rules” we...
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Real vs. Artificial Christmas Trees — Which Is Better for You and the Environment?
The Backyard Naturalists
In this festive episode of The Backyard Naturalists, Debbie and Laurie dig into a holiday-season debate that comes up year after year: Should you buy a real Christmas tree or an artificial one? The answer may surprise you and it definitely has more to do with nature, sustainability, and even family traditions than you might expect. Debbie and Laurie compare the environmental impacts, benefits, drawbacks, and unexpected trivia behind both types of trees (including the very unusual product that inspired the original artificial Christmas tree, yes, it’s true!). You’ll learn why artificial...
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Encore Episode: Animal Adaptations with Wildlife Expert Stan Tekiela
The Backyard Naturalists
This week on The Backyard Naturalists, we’re revisiting a fan-favorite conversation with wildlife expert, naturalist, and author Stan Tekiela, a flock-level guest whose knowledge always leaves us wide-eyed and amazed. In this encore episode, Stan takes us on a deep dive into the remarkable world of animal adaptations, exploring how species survive, evolve, and thrive through millions of years of change. From the hollow white hair of the polar bear, to the extraordinary echolocation of bats, to the nomadic lifestyle of American Goldfinches, Stan explains how nature’s most surprising traits...
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What Do I Do If I Find…? Wildlife Rehab Q&A with Ruby Davis
The Backyard Naturalists
In this episode of The Backyard Naturalists, Debbie and Laurie welcome back “Flocker” and trusted friend of the show, Ruby Davis of NC Wildlife Rehab, for a rapid-fire myth-busting session about what to do when you encounter wildlife in your own backyard. From possums playing dead to raccoons out in the daytime, baby bunnies hidden in plain sight, fallen squirrel nests, mysterious fawns, mangy foxes, and even the occasional bat on the ground—Ruby walks us through what’s normal, what’s concerning, and when to step in (or absolutely not step in). Her calm, science-based guidance cuts...
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Encore: The Spotted Lanternfly with Dr. Kelly Oten
The Backyard Naturalists
In this encore presentation of The Backyard Naturalists, hosts Debbie Foster and Laurie Horne revisit one of the most important conversations of Season 2 — their discussion with Dr. Kelly Oten, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist at NC State University, about the invasive and destructive Spotted Lanternfly. This brightly colored but harmful insect has become a serious concern for North Carolina’s forests, vineyards, and backyards. Dr. Oten explains how the Spotted Lanternfly arrived from Asia, what it looks like in each stage of its life cycle, and why early detection is crucial...
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Troubleshooting Bird Feeding — Solving Common Backyard Challenges
The Backyard Naturalists
Even the most dedicated backyard bird lovers sometimes run into trouble, empty feeders, spoiled seed, or disappearing birds. In this episode of The Backyard Naturalists, Debbie, Laurie, and producer Chris roll up their sleeves to help listeners troubleshoot their bird-feeding setups. From moldy seed and filler-heavy mixes to misplaced feeders and seasonal slowdowns, they cover the small details that make a big difference in attracting and keeping healthy flocks. The trio revisits the basics of building a thriving wildlife habitat; food, water, shelter, and sustainable gardening practices,...
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🎃 Encore Episode: We’re Talkin’ About Pumpkins
The Backyard Naturalists
This week on The Backyard Naturalists, we’re revisiting one of our most popular and seasonally fitting episodes, “We’re Talkin’ About Pumpkins!” Originally aired in October 2021, this encore favorite is the perfect listen for fall. Join Debbie and Laurie as they explore the fascinating world of pumpkins, from surprising agricultural facts and record-breaking gourds to their valuable role in supporting backyard wildlife. Did you know pumpkins are technically a fruit? Or that they can be repurposed after Halloween to help feed everything from squirrels and deer to backyard birds and...
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🐺🦌🐞🕷️ Updates on Various: Revisiting Red Wolves, Chronic Wasting Disease, Spotted Lanternflies, and Joro Spiders
The Backyard Naturalists
In this week’s episode of The Backyard Naturalists, Debbie and Laurie take listeners on a fascinating update tour of several topics previously featured on the show, all of which continue to evolve in the natural world. From hopeful signs of recovery to growing ecological concerns, this episode is packed with new developments and ways for citizen scientists to get involved. You’ll hear encouraging news about the Red Wolf Recovery Project, where careful management and breeding efforts in North Carolina are giving this critically endangered species a better shot at survival. Then, the hosts...
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Fall in Your Habitat: Simple Seasonal Swaps That Make a Big Difference
The Backyard Naturalists
As the seasons turn and the air gets crisp, Debbie, Laurie, and Chris are diving into everything fall for your wildlife habitat! In this episode of The Backyard Naturalists, the team explores how to make the most of autumn’s natural bounty, especially those fallen leaves. Should you rake them up, blow them away, or just “leave the leaves”? The answers might surprise you. Drawing from new data from the National Wildlife Federation, the hosts share why letting your leaves lie can make a big difference for native wildlife and the planet. You’ll learn how something as simple as skipping...
info_outlineIn this quick but eye-opening episode of The Backyard Naturalists, Debbie and Laurie take a closer look at the Environmental Working Group’s annual Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 lists—two rankings that help consumers understand which fruits and vegetables carry the highest (and lowest) pesticide residues. Whether you shop for your family, your backyard wildlife, or even your parrots (as both Debbie and Laurie do!), this is essential information for keeping everyone safe and healthy.
Debbie and Laurie walk through both lists, covering the worst offenders like potatoes, blueberries, blackberries, apples, and leafy greens, as well as the produce that consistently ranks safest, including pineapple, sweet corn, avocados, onions, mushrooms, and kiwi. They explain how the USDA tests produce, why washing and peeling matter, and how thin skins versus thick rinds influence pesticide absorption. The hosts also explore how choosing local, organic, and responsibly grown food can benefit not just our bodies, but also our soil, water, wildlife, and overall ecosystem health. Plus, they highlight ways the Matthews Community Farmers Market helps shoppers make informed, sustainable choices.
This helpful, practical episode empowers listeners to shop smarter, understand the environmental impact of pesticide use, and make everyday decisions that support healthier people—and a healthier planet.