Into The Bush Podcast

Into the Bush Episode 206: Dr Johanna Varner

In this episode of Into the Bush, we’re joined by Dr. Johanna Varner—adorably known as “Dr. Pika Jo”—a pika biologist based in Colorado whose path to conservation was anything but linear. From biomedical engineering at MIT to studying one of the cutest alpine mammals on Earth, Jo shares how a wealth of curiosity, a willingness to send cold emails, and incredible women mentors have helped to shape her career. We dive into the wild and sometimes silly realities of fieldwork: elusive pikas, failed traps, bears, wildfires, and the art of adapting when nothing goes according to plan. Jo also gives us a masterclass in pika biology—tiny potato-shaped mammals that don’t hibernate, collect massive “hay piles” to survive winter, and communicate with squeaky calls that echo through mountain boulder fields. Along the way, we talk science communication, the power of female mentorship, and Jo’s surreal experience being immortalized as a life-size orange statue at the National Mall as part of the IF/THEN initiative. It’s an episode full of laughter, resilience, and deep love for the small, scrappy creatures and the women who move mountains for the planet. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit intothebushpod.substack.com [https://intothebushpod.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Into the Bush Episode 205: Chantira Saifimar

What happens when curiosity leads you underground? In this episode of Into the Bush, we meet Chantira Saifimar, a conservation practitioner from Batam, Indonesia, focused on community-powered island conservation. Chantira reflects on her early roots as a girl who loved her local sea turtles and how that passion now powers conversations, education, and outreach that build a broader, deeper community centered on caring for nature. Sometimes these conversations can be easy, fun, and immediately rewarding, but others take courage and true conviction—like when Chantira has to approach poachers in the wild! This conversation centers on how bringing people together is key for conservation success—and the reminder that no one is an island. This episode was made possible by the https://denverzoo.org/zootales/elevating-women-in-conservation/Denver Zoo’s Women Conservation Fund [https://denverzoo.org/zootales/elevating-women-in-conservation/], which supports women like Chantira who are redefining what conservation leadership looks like. Learn more about Serindit Philosophy Centre [https://serindit.org/] on their website. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit intothebushpod.substack.com [https://intothebushpod.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Into the Bush Episode 205: Catia Canteiro

What happens when curiosity leads you underground? In this episode of Into the Bush, we sit down with conservation scientist Catia Canteiro to trace her unexpected path from psychology to biology—and into the hidden world of plants and fungi that quietly hold ecosystems together. From mycorrhizal networks that underpin life on Earth to the often-overlooked role of fungi in conservation, Catia invites us to see nature as deeply interconnected, complex, and alive. We also talk candidly about navigating science as a woman, holding fast to core values, and the power of mentorship along the way. This is a conversation about listening—to the land, to each other, and to the hidden forces shaping our world. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit intothebushpod.substack.com [https://intothebushpod.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Into the Bush Episode 204: Dr. Tiara Moore

In this episode of Into the Bush, we dive in (pun absolutely intended) with the incomparable Dr. Tiara Moore — a marine ecologist, founder and CEO of Black in Marine Science (BIMS), and newly minted Belize resident after a month-long wedding celebration that deserves its own rom-com. In this episode, Tiara takes us from Philly to South Carolina to UCLA, then all the way to the second-largest barrier reef in the world, where a coral-restoration project — and a well-timed writing retreat — changed her life forever. We talk about what it means to build community from scratch, how #BlackInMarineScienceWeek exploded into a global nonprofit spanning 31 countries, and why joy, equity, and ocean literacy are inseparable in her work. Learn more about Black in Marine Science [https://www.blackinmarinescience.org/] on their website and by following them on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bimscience/]. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit intothebushpod.substack.com [https://intothebushpod.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Into the Bush Episode 203: Alifi Nisya

In this episode of Into the Bush, we head to Indonesia to meet Alifi Nisya, the only woman Program Manager at Forum Konservasi Leuser. With eight years of experience protecting her country’s biodiversity, Alifi has built her career on collaboration, bringing together communities, scientists, and policymakers to protect elephants and their rapidly shrinking habitat. Her work is both scientific and deeply human: addressing human-wildlife conflict, empowering local women, and fighting for the forests that sustain all life. Together, we talk about what it means to lead as a woman in conservation, how courage and compassion coexist in fieldwork, and what keeps her grounded in a world that’s constantly changing. This episode was made possible by the https://denverzoo.org/zootales/elevating-women-in-conservation/Denver Zoo’s Women Conservation Fund [https://denverzoo.org/zootales/elevating-women-in-conservation/], which supports women like Alifi who are redefining what conservation leadership looks like. Learn more about Forum Konservasi Leuser [https://leuserconservancy.or.id/] on their website and by following them on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/leuserconservationforum/]. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit intothebushpod.substack.com [https://intothebushpod.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]