Wild Connection

Shelter and Storm: Finding Belonging in a Changing Landscape with Tamara Dean

In this episode of Wild Connection, Dr. Jennifer Verdolin speaks with author and essayist Tamara Dean [https://tamaradean.media], whose book Shelter and Storm: At Home in the Driftless explores what it means to live in relationship with a place. From the beauty and hardship of rural Wisconsin to the floods, fires, and tornadoes that test both landscape and spirit, Dean shares how community, storytelling, and attentive living can transform adversity into belonging. In this episode we reflect on the practice of slowing down, listening to the land, and learning from the species who share it with us. Our conversation also reveals how small acts like writing a neighbor’s story after a flood or watching fireflies are opportunities for connection and renewal. Keep up with Tamara Dean on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/TamaraDeanAuthor/]  If Tamara’s reflections inspire you to deepen your own sense of place, explore my Reconnect with Nature [https://www.audible.com/pd/Reconnect-with-Nature-Lessons-from-the-Natural-World-Audiobook/B0DYW69VLS?qid=1760208874&sr=1-1&ref_pageloadid=not_applicable&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=59N3XYP5A2SFBAA0PSEJ&plink=g2EBI5qxF0Im6CXN&pageLoadId=ZgytBCEkKLGBzavR&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1] course on Audible and companion workbook Rooted in Nature [https://a.co/d/6VgjbmD], designed to help you rediscover your connection to the natural world. Next week, the journey continues with astrophysicist Ersilia Vaudo, taking us from the ground to the stars. You can keep up with me on Instagram (@RealDrJen) and check out Wild Connection TV [https://www.youtube.com/@wildconnectiontv4022] on YouTube where I bring science to life.

War, Wildlife, and the UN: Accountability and Peacekeeping with Dr. András Hárs

Conflict doesn’t stop at people. It also impacts forests, rivers, and species that share our world. In this conversation, Dr. Jen and Dr. András Hárs explore the UN’s complicated role in peacekeeping and environmental protection, weaving together personal stories, global politics, and the overlooked casualties of war: ecosystems and wildlife. From the Central African Republic’s endangered gorillas to the sustainability dilemmas of COP climate conferences, we talk about the tough issues: Who holds peacekeepers accountable when misconduct occurs? Can international law evolve to treat the environment as a victim of war? And what lessons should we carry forward to ensure peace is sustainable for humans and nature alike? Keep up with Dr. Hárs on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/andras-hars-43219079/] To learn more about the United Nations and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), visit: @RealDrJen [https://www.instagram.com/jenniferverdolin] YouTube: Wild Connection TV [https://www.youtube.com/@wildconnectiontv4022] Want to support the show and our work at Wild Connection? Visit www.wildconnection.org to learn more and get involved.

Fungi, Pathogens, and the Coming Pandemic with Emily Monosson

Fungi are everywhere , in the soil, in the air, in our food. Quietly they sustain life but also may unleash devastation. In this episode of Wild Connection, I chat with environmental toxicologist and author Emily Monosson about her latest book Blight: Fungi and the Coming Pandemic. From the Irish potato famine and the rise of Candida auris in hospitals, to bats felled by white-nose syndrome and amphibians lost to the chytrid fungus, fungi are reshaping ecosystems, agriculture, and human health. Guest Bio: Emily Monosson, Ph.D., is an environmental toxicologist and writer. Her books include Blight: Fungi and the Coming Pandemic, Natural Defense: Enlisting Bugs and Germs to Protect Our Food and Health, and Motherhood, the Elephant in the Laboratory. She is known for her ability to synthesize science into compelling, accessible narratives. * Blight: Fungi and the Coming Pandemic (W.W. Norton) – available at your local independent bookstore, directly from the Publisher or on Amazon [https://a.co/d/gkLGOpb]. * Connect with Emily Monosson on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-monosson-9217416/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]. You can keep up with Dr. Jen on Instagram (@RealDrJen) and check out Wild Connection TV [https://www.youtube.com/@wildconnectiontv4022] on YouTube where she brings science to life.

Listening to Rivers with Robert Macfarlane

What if a river is alive? What would it say about our world today? About the way we treat water, land, and each other? This question is at the heart of Robert Macfarlane’s latest book, Is a River Alive? On this episode Robert invites us to reimagine rivers not as background scenery or mere water channels, but as living entities, storytellers, and deserving of rights. To keep up with Robert check out his website: https://www.robertmacfarlane.com [https://www.robertmacfarlane.com] or connect with him on X: @RobGMacfarlane [https://x.com/RobGMacfarlane] or Instagram: @RobGMacfarlane [https://x.com/RobGMacfarlane] If you want to purchase a copy of Is a River Alive you can do so by getting it direct from the publisher Norton  [http://Macfarlane/dp/0393242137?tag=wwnorton%E2%80%94alternative]or on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/River-Alive-Robert-Macfarlane/dp/0393242137] If you enjoyed this conversation and want to cultivate your own wild connection, check out my new Audible course Reconnect with Nature [https://www.audible.com/pd/Reconnect-with-Nature-Lessons-from-the-Natural-World-Audiobook/B0DYW69VLS]packed with simple, science-backed ways to bring nature back into your daily life, plus a companion workbook, Rooted in Nature [https://a.co/d/4F3Zx9g], to guide your journey And of course connect with me  Website: http://www.jenniferverdolin.com [http://www.jenniferverdolin.com] Instagram:@realdrjen X: @realdrjen and @wildconnectpod Wild Connection TV: @wildconnectiontv4022

Sy Montgomery on Wonder, Animals and What the Chicken Knows

What can animals teach us about empathy, intelligence, and connection? In this episode of Wild Connection, bestselling author Sy Montgomery shares her journey and explores what chickens (and other animals) really know. With over 30 books to her name, from The Soul of an Octopus to How to Be a Good Creature, Sy invites us to see the world through the eyes of others You can keep up with Sy and check out all of her books by heading to her website: https://symontgomery.com/ [https://symontgomery.com/] or on Instagram @Sytheauthor If you want to host a book club using one of Sy's books and have this podcast episode as a companion or connect deeper with the content, I've created a downloadable Listener's Guide to accompany the dispose. You can find it on my website at www.jenniferverdolin.com/blog [http://www.jenniferverdolin.com/blog] If you want to watch the video on prairie dogs that came up in this episode you can see that here [https://youtu.be/AAiQgl4gCww] on my YouTube channel.  If you enjoyed this conversation and want to cultivate your own wild connection, check out my new Audible course Reconnect with Nature [https://www.audible.com/pd/Reconnect-with-Nature-Lessons-from-the-Natural-World-Audiobook/B0DYW69VLS]packed with simple, science-backed ways to bring nature back into your daily life, plus a companion workbook, Rooted in Nature [https://a.co/d/4F3Zx9g], to guide your journey And of course connect with me  Website: http://www.jenniferverdolin.com [http://www.jenniferverdolin.com] Instagram:@realdrjen