Golden State Naturalist

Latest Episodes:

Saving California: How 30x30 Is Growing the Conservation Movement in the Golden State Sep 11, 2025

Show notes

California is one of only 36 Global Biodiversity Hotspots. This means that we have incredible species richness with at least 1,500 endemic vascular plant species. But here's the bummer. In order to be considered a Global Biodiversity hotspot, a place must also be threatened. So threatened, in fact, that it must have only 30% or less of its original natural vegetation remaining. Oof. Thankfully, Californians are not sitting idly by waiting for the rest of our biodiversity to disappear. Across the state, conservation leaders, on both small and large scales, are pulling together and protecting the places that matter to us most. In this special episode, come with me behind the scenes of this year's 30x30 Partnership Summit to talk with those leaders, hear about some of today's most inspiring conservation success stories, and discover how you can be part of the movement to protect California for generations to come. Helpful Links: 30x30 Official Website Valérie Courtois's TED Talk Carr Lake in Salinas Support Golden State Naturalist on ⁠Patreon⁠ and get perks starting at $4/month. Follow me on ⁠Instagram⁠. My website is ⁠goldenstatenaturalist.com⁠. Get podcast Merch. The theme song is called “i dunno” by grapes and can be found ⁠here⁠. Otter photo by Kedar Gadge on Unsplash.

The LA River with Kat Superfisky Sep 03, 2025

Show notes

Descend with me and LA's first ever urban ecologist into the concrete channel of the Los Angeles River as we discuss novel ecosystems, eminent domain, Greased Lightnin', flood prevention, Ice Cube, soft bottoms, emerald necklaces, and why the LA River is the perfect microcosm of everything LA was, is, and one day could be.

Helpful Links:

Kat’s website

Jason Wise's website

Juan Crespi’s journal

CalMatters LAPD Helicopters article

Grease Filming Locations

Support Golden State Naturalist on ⁠Patreon⁠ and get perks starting at $4/month.

Follow me on ⁠Instagram⁠.

My website is ⁠goldenstatenaturalist.com⁠.

Get podcast Merch.
The theme song is called “i dunno” by grapes and can be found ⁠here⁠.

California Red-Legged Frogs with Brad Hollingsworth May 06, 2025

Show notes

Chances are, you’ve never seen our state amphibian in the wild.

In this episode, find out how the California red-legged frog became so rare while also delving into international border crossings with endangered frog eggs, urban drool, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, things that can fit into a bullfrog’s mouth, and the essential mindset shift that might just change the world.

Join me and Brad Hollingsworth from the San Diego Natural History Museum as we discuss all of this and so much more.

Links:

Trivia Night! Join me in-person on May 12th or online on May 27th for Quiz for a Cause, a fundraiser to help rebuild the Eaton Canyon Nature Center. And check out the silent auction here!

Saving the California red-legged frog from extinction

FAUNO: Fanua del Noroeste. Learn more about the work in Mexico or sign up for a workshop.

ECOS information on red-legged frog federal listing

Support Golden State Naturalist on ⁠Patreon⁠ and get perks starting at $4/month.

Follow me on ⁠Instagram⁠.

My website is ⁠goldenstatenaturalist.com⁠.

Get podcast Merch.

The theme song is called “i dunno” by grapes and can be found ⁠here⁠.

Episode cover photo courtesy of the San Diego Natural History Museum.

Listening in Nature with Fil Corbitt Mar 13, 2025

Show notes

How can listening deepen our relationship with place? What do birds think about highway noise? Is that ice bridge safe to cross at this time of year? How can I learn to listen more closely?

Join me and Fil Corbitt as we snowshoe down the Eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in search of a handmade desk and a place to listen to flowing water, to birdsong, to each other, and to the ever-changing landscape itself.

Links:

Fil's podcast is called The Wind.

Check out their Coyote episode.

"Birdsongs alleviate anxiety and paranoia in healthy participants"

Support Golden State Naturalist on ⁠Patreon⁠ and get perks starting at $4/month.

Follow me on ⁠Instagram⁠.

My website is ⁠goldenstatenaturalist.com⁠.

Get podcast Merch.

The theme song is called “i dunno” by grapes and can be found ⁠here⁠.

Torrey Pines with Jon Rebman Feb 27, 2025

Show notes

What do cacti and rare pines have in common? What’s a paleoendemic? Do pinecones have teeth? Why do so many different plant species live in Mediterranean climates?

Join me and Jon Rebman as we go behind the scenes of the San Diego Natural History Museum, explore the herbarium, and discuss the rarest pine species in North America.

Links:

San Diego Natural History Museum

University of California Museum of Paleontology

Cool study about redwood leaves

Info about Torrey pines and bark beetles

Support Golden State Naturalist on ⁠Patreon⁠ and get perks starting at $4/month.

Follow me on ⁠Instagram⁠.

My website is ⁠goldenstatenaturalist.com⁠.

Get podcast Merch.

The theme song is called “i dunno” by grapes and can be found ⁠here⁠.

Ringtails with Dave Wyatt and Kristyn Schulte Jan 30, 2025

Show notes

Have you ever wondered what little-known and mysterious beings are living among us, just out of sight? This episode is about one such creature that most Californians have no idea even exists.

Join me, Dave Wyatt, and Kristyn Schulte as we discuss clever little foxes, oak mistletoe, the floor is lava, dissolved poop, the smallest mountain range in the world, tasty taxidermy, classroom design, convergent evolution, weasel lemurs, and a whole lot more.

Links:

The California Ringtail Project

Mistletoe toxicity

Support Golden State Naturalist on ⁠Patreon⁠ and get perks starting at $4/month.

Follow me on ⁠Instagram⁠.

My website is ⁠goldenstatenaturalist.com⁠.

Get podcast Merch.

Subscribe to the GSN email newsletter.

Episode cover photo by Dave Wyatt.

The theme song is called “i dunno” by grapes and can be found ⁠here⁠.

Fire in Built Environments (Special Episode: LA Fires) with Alexandra Syphard Jan 16, 2025

Show notes

Join me and Dr. Alexandra Syphard as we discuss what makes some neighborhoods more fire prone than others, the Santa Ana Winds, defensible space, the massive differences between fires in forested Northern California and shrubby Southern California, the pendulum swing of public opinion, ways that climate change does and doesn’t contribute to wildfires, the WUI, positive uses of abandoned Fry's electronics buildings, waxy leaves, invasive plants, and so much more.

This episode is an attempt to add context for everyone struggling to comprehend the scale of the fires in Los Angeles, especially those impacted. I hope it helps. Sending love.

Links:

California Fire Hazard Severity Zones

Support Golden State Naturalist on ⁠Patreon⁠ and get perks starting at $4/month.

Follow me on ⁠Instagram⁠.

My website is ⁠goldenstatenaturalist.com⁠.

Get podcast Merch.

The theme song is called “i dunno” by grapes and can be found ⁠here⁠.

Cover art by Raquel Raclette.

Urban Canyons with Michelle Thompson Dec 19, 2024

Show notes

Flying over San Diego, you can see them: Fingers of green extending through neighborhoods all across the city.

San Diego’s urban canyon’s serve as refuges for people and wildlife alike, but they’re also often isolated islands of habitat. This can keep animals from accessing the resources they need to survive. And human neighbors aren’t always able to access these spaces, either.

In this episode, join me and Michelle Thompson as we search for reptiles in one of San Diego’s urban canyons, discuss what makes canyons special, and explore how the San Diego Natural History Museum is setting the foundation for the long-term health of these spaces.

Links:

Healthy Canyons Initiative

Go on a FREE hike with the Canyoneers

Want to help SD canyons? Email Michelle Thompson at: conbio@sdnhm.org

1988 Michael Soulé Study

Support Golden State Naturalist on ⁠Patreon⁠ and get perks starting at $4/month.

Follow me on ⁠Instagram⁠.

My website is ⁠goldenstatenaturalist.com⁠.

Get podcast Merch.

The theme song is called “i dunno” by grapes and can be found ⁠here⁠.

Episode cover photo provided by The San Diego Natural History Museum.

Keystone Plants with Doug Tallamy Dec 05, 2024

Show notes

What do oak trees, goldenrod, willows, and ceanothus all have in common? They all belong to the group of roughly 14% of plants supporting 90% of caterpillar species.

In other words, they’re all keystone plants.

Join me and Doug Tallamy as we discuss the vital role these plants play in their native ecosystems and how we can bring them home to welcome hundreds of species into our own yards.

Helpful Links:

Doug’s books

Calscape by The California Native Plant Society

Keystone Plants in Mediterranean California (National Wildlife Federation Resource)

Homegrown National Park Map

Article: “The Illusion of a Trillion Trees”

Support Golden State Naturalist on ⁠Patreon⁠ and get perks starting at $4/month.

Follow me on ⁠Instagram⁠.

My website is ⁠goldenstatenaturalist.com⁠.

Get podcast Merch.

The theme song is called “i dunno” by grapes and can be found ⁠here⁠.
Episode cover photo by Parker Sturdivant.

Burrowing Owls with Phil Unitt Nov 22, 2024

Show notes

What do fake rattlesnakes, California ground squirrels, odd eye bones, bubonic plague, bizarre choices in home decor, and regurgitated mouse bones have to do with burrowing owls?

Join me and Phil Unitt as we venture into an urban canyon in San Diego to find out.

Helpful links:

Phil Unitt’s page

Rattlesnake owl noise

Urban Burrowing Owls piece by Clinton Abbott

Fish and Wildlife page on burrowing owls

Secretary Bird video

Support Golden State Naturalist on ⁠Patreon⁠ and get perks starting at $4/month.

Follow me on ⁠Instagram⁠.

My website is ⁠goldenstatenaturalist.com⁠.

Get podcast Merch.

The theme song is called “i dunno” by grapes and can be found ⁠here⁠.