Nature

Modern Texas Naturalist

Modern Texas Naturalist is a podcast about curiosity, the natural world, and the people who spend their lives exploring, understanding, and caring for it. Hosted by wildlife biologist, conservationist, and lifelong naturalist Romey Swanson, each episode is a conversation with someone whose life has been shaped by paying attention to nature—from scientists, writers, artists, educators, landowners, and conservationists to the wonderfully curious people who simply can’t stop asking questions about the wild world around them. These aren’t lectures. They’re conversations about discovery, field experiences, careers, conservation, books, ideas, mistakes, unexpected encounters, and the places and creatures that leave their mark on us. Pull up a chair. Let’s see what we can discover together. New conversations every other Wednesday.

Latest Episodes:

Scott Moorhead: Finding Common Ground in Texas Water Conservation Nov 11, 2026

Show notes

Scott Moorhead and I have been friends for years, and our careers have followed some interestingly similar paths through the world of Texas conservation. These days, Scott serves as CEO of Texas Water Trade, an organization working to develop practical, innovative solutions to one of our state's greatest conservation challenges: water.

But before we get into water policy, we get to know the naturalist behind the work.

Scott shares memories of growing up in Houston, spending summers along the Frio and Guadalupe rivers, and exploring the remarkable landscapes of Alaska with his family. We talk about the experiences that shaped his relationship with nature, how he's worked to pass that connection along to his children, and the sometimes unexpected professional paths that brought us both into conservation leadership.

From there, we turn our attention to Texas water. How do we provide for growing communities while maintaining the rivers, springs, wetlands, and coastal ecosystems that depend on freshwater? Scott introduces some of the approaches Texas Water Trade is pursuing, including water right transactions in the San Saba River watershed and efforts to secure freshwater for the Texas coast.

We also wander into history, curiosity, and the connections between generations - including an unexpected discussion of Normandy, Amon Carter, and Big Bend National Park.

It's a conversation about water, certainly, but also about friendship, family, creative problem-solving, and the experiences that inspire us to care for the natural world.

In This Episode

Growing up in Houston and discovering nature along Texas rivers
Family adventures in Alaska and passing a love of wild places to the next generation
Scott's journey through conservation, public policy, and organizational leadership
Our shared history and evolving careers in Texas conservation
How Texas Water Trade approaches water conservation
Finding solutions that work for people, wildlife, and healthy rivers
Water-right transactions and conservation opportunities on the San Saba River
Protecting freshwater flows to Texas coastal ecosystems
The unexpected connections between history, curiosity, and conservation
Lessons from family, friendship, and a life spent caring for nature

Episode Chapters

01:46 — Interview Start

10:52 — Raising children between city life and Alaska's wilderness

11:32 — Early outdoor experiences, friendship, and conservation careers

23:41 — Innovative approaches to Texas water conservation

27:06 — Our different paths into water conservation

35:13 — Balancing water needs for people and nature

42:36 — The San Saba River: putting water conservation into practice

49:05 — Securing freshwater for the Texas coast

56:18 — Curiosity, history, and a journey to Normandy

58:14 — Amon Carter, D-Day, and the Creation of Big Bend National Park

1:03:24 — Lessons from Scott's daughter

1:07:47 — Where to learn more and get involved

Learn More

Texas Water Trade — Learn about the organization's work to develop innovative water conservation solutions across Texas. https://texaswatertrade.org/

Texas Land Conservancy — Protecting the land, water, and wildlife of Texas through conservation easements and land stewardship. https://www.texaslandconservancy.org/

Big Bend National Park — Explore the natural and cultural history of one of Texas's most remarkable landscapes. https://www.nps.gov/bibe/

About Modern Texas Naturalist

www.moderntexasnaturalist.com

Modern Texas Naturalist is a podcast about curiosity, the natural world, and the people whose lives have been shaped by exploring, understanding, and caring for it.

The Good Natured Newsletter is a weekly inbox offering of good-natured tidbits.

Hosted by wildlife biologist and conservationist Romey Swanson (@romeyswanson.widlife)

Edited by Dell Little.

New conversations every other Wednesday.

Kristin Parma: Wild Food, Women Who Hunt, and the Case for Javelina Oct 28, 2026

Show notes

Kristin Parma is one of my favorite people. She's a conservationist, hunter, wild-game cook, mentor, and enthusiastic champion of a little Texas animal that doesn't always get the respect it deserves: the javelina.

She's also one of my funnest friends.

We recorded this conversation nearly three years ago, after a long day working together in South Texas. We were both exhausted, maybe a little delirious, and ready to talk about anything.

Kristin shares her journey from growing up in Oregon to finding her place in Texas conservation, and how hunting, cooking, and sharing wild food have become powerful ways for her to connect people with wildlife and one another.

We also talk about our work together through the Women in Conservation – Adult Learn to Hunt Program hosted at Hershey Ranch. I'm tremendously proud of it, not simply because it introduces women to hunting, but because of the friendships, confidence, and opportunities to give back that grow from it.

And then there's the javelina.

Kristin makes a spirited case for these misunderstood Texas natives, from their fascinating natural history to the challenges of managing them as a game animal. We even explore why more people should consider bringing javelina to the dinner table.

Since recording this conversation, Kristin and I have continued collaborating, including co-producing First Hunt, a short film about hunting, access, connection, and conservation.

This episode is full of laughter, friendship, food, and some serious conversations about wildlife and the people who care for it. I hope you enjoy getting to know Kristin as much as I've enjoyed knowing her.

Timestamps:

02:47 - Conversation with Kristen Parma: Friendship, Food, and Conservatio
17:59 - Bridging Birdwatchers and Hunters (Duck Walk)
25:44 - Origins of the Women in Conservation Hunt with ALHP
37:40 - Spotlight: Her Favorite Game — The Javelina
49:54 - Javelina: Biology, Behaviour, and Management
01:06:52 - Recommended reads, javelina recipes, and how to connect

Resources:

Kristin Parma's Instagram accounts: @Mrs_BootsParma and @KristinBrooke_Cooks
Texas Wildlife Association — Adult Learn to Hunt
The Hog Book by Jesse Griffiths
One of Kristin's javelina recipes in Texas Wildlife magazine (pg. 24)
First Hunt (film) - highlighting the Women in Conservation Hunt
Texas Parks and Wildlife — Javelina

About Modern Texas Naturalist | www.moderntexasnaturalist.com

Modern Texas Naturalist is a podcast about curiosity, the natural world, and the people whose lives have been shaped by exploring, understanding, and caring for it.

Hosted by wildlife biologist and conservationist Romey Swanson.

Edited by Dell Little.

New conversations every other Wednesday.

Jennifer Bristol: Finding a Way into Nature — Part Two Oct 14, 2026

Show notes

In Part One of my conversation with Jennifer Bristol, we talked about her journey into nature and the work she's done helping other people, especially children and families, find their own way outdoors.

In Part Two, we turn toward another important part of Jen's life: writing.

Jen has written two books about birding in Texas, and I've had the pleasure of watching that journey unfold firsthand. I even had one of my photographs published in her first book, something I'm still pretty proud of.

We talk about how years of birding, exploring, collecting stories, and discovering interesting places eventually become book ideas... and what it takes to turn those ideas into something others can enjoy.

One thing I've always appreciated about Jen is her ability to find something interesting in places the rest of us might overlook. A parking lot, a roadside stop, a neighborhood park. You don't have to travel to some spectacular wilderness to find birds, discover something new, or have a meaningful experience with nature.

Our conversation also turns toward Wild Women, a project celebrating the contributions of women whose stories deserve to be told, and the importance of storytelling in Texas conservation. We talk about how sharing experiences and perspectives can help people understand the natural world, connect with the places around them, and perhaps even inspire them to get involved.

And we finish with an invitation to do just that, to get outside, follow your curiosity, and begin developing your own relationship with the natural world.

This is Part Two of my conversation with my friend Jennifer Bristol. It's about books, birding, creativity, conservation, and what happens when the things we've discovered become stories worth sharing.

In this conversation

01:39 — From habitat discoveries to writing a book

19:56 — Wild Women: Ordinary people, extraordinary contributions

22:52 — Storytelling, Texas conservation, and inspiring action

39:06 — An invitation to become a naturalist this week

About Modern Texas Naturalist

Modern Texas Naturalist is a podcast about curiosity, the natural world, and the people whose lives have been shaped by exploring, understanding, and caring for it.

Hosted by wildlife biologist and conservationist Romey Swanson

Edited by Dell Little.

New conversations every other Wednesday.

Jennifer Bristol: Finding a Way into Nature — Part One Oct 07, 2026

Show notes

Jennifer Bristol has spent much of her life finding ways to connect people with nature—and helping them discover that getting outside doesn't have to be complicated.

In Part One of their conversation, Romey and Jennifer trace her own path into the natural world and the experiences that eventually shaped a career centered on helping children and families get outdoors. From her early work as a park ranger to her leadership in the children-and-nature movement, Jennifer has repeatedly returned to a simple idea: meaningful connections with nature often begin when someone makes it easier to take that first step.

Birding became one of those pathways. Romey and Jennifer talk about birds as an accessible gateway to curiosity, discovery, community, and a deeper relationship with the places around us—a passion that would eventually lead Jennifer to author two books about birding in Texas.

Along the way, two longtime friends talk conservation, careers, family, friendship, and the experiences that turn an interest in nature into something that can shape a life.

This is Part One of Romey's conversation with birder, conservationist, author, and friend Jennifer Bristol.

Chapters:

01:29 - Origins: Jennifer Bristol’s Path to Birding and Conservation
12:05 - Growing Up Near Glacier: A Childhood Lesson on Access to Nature
24:16 - Investing in Texas-Based Research on Children and Nature
31:08 - Discovering Birding
41:31 - Competitive Birding: The Big Week
45:00 - More Than a Contest: Fundraising and Conservation Impact
52:42 - Part Two: Becoming a Writer

Jennifer's Books:

About Modern Texas Naturalist

Modern Texas Naturalist is a podcast about curiosity, the natural world, and the people whose lives have been shaped by exploring, understanding, and caring for it.

Hosted by wildlife biologist and conservationist Romey Swanson.

Edited by Dell Little.

New conversations every other Wednesday.

Dr. Randy Simpson: A Life Among the Wild Others — Part Two Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

In Part One of my conversation with Dr. Randy Simpson, we talked about the experiences that shaped him as a naturalist and wildlife biologist.

In Part Two, we follow where that life took him and what he learned along the way.

Sitting beside the fire at Randy’s Cottonwood Farm in Gonzales County, our conversation moves through his early professional career, work on a South Texas ranch, and eventual return to Texas State University as a teacher and researcher.

But this part of our conversation increasingly becomes about something larger than a career.

Randy and I talk about the importance of getting students out of classrooms and into the field, learning directly from landowners and the people who work the land, and remaining curious enough to question what we think we already know. We talk about relationships and professional networks, the limits of applying scientific findings too broadly, and why knowing a place requires spending time in it.

We also explore something that has become increasingly important to both of us: the value of simply being outside. Nature contact. Observation. Getting up early. Keeping notes. Writing things down. Developing the habits that allow a naturalist to keep learning over a lifetime. Randy discusses early mornings, journaling, and longhand notes as part of those practices.

And then, almost impossibly, the wild world offers its own contribution.

If you heard me tease the coyotes at the beginning of Part One, this is the episode where they finally show up. Right in the middle of a conversation beside the fire, a nearby group begins calling into the evening.

We stopped talking. And listened.

It's difficult to imagine a more appropriate interruption to the first conversation on Modern Texas Naturalist.

Pull your chair back up to the fire. Here's Part Two of my conversation with my friend and mentor, Dr. Randy Simpson.

In this conversation

00:55 — Early career, opportunity, and life on a South Texas ranch

09:17 — Returning to Texas State and stepping into the classroom

20:15 — Finding a path through wildlife biology

25:12 — Nature contact, curiosity, and why being outside matters

29:07 — The coyotes have something to say

34:23 — Learning beyond the classroom

38:43 — Early mornings, observation, field notes, and writing things down

About Modern Texas Naturalist

Modern Texas Naturalist is a podcast about curiosity, the natural world, and the people whose lives have been shaped by exploring, understanding, and caring for it.

Hosted by wildlife biologist and conservationist Romey Swanson.

Edited by Dell Little.

New conversations every other Wednesday.

Dr. Randy Simpson: A Life Among the Wild Others — Part One Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

There was little question about who I wanted as my first guest on Modern Texas Naturalist.

Dr. Randy Simpson was my graduate advisor at Texas State University, but over the years he became much more than that: a mentor, a friend, and one of the first people who showed me what a life built around curiosity about the natural world could look like.

For this first conversation, Randy and I sat beside a mesquite-and-oak fire at his Cottonwood Farm in Gonzales County, Texas, poured some coffee, and started at the beginning.

In Part One, we trace Randy’s path from a childhood spent outdoors to a career studying and teaching wildlife biology. We wander through early encounters with Texas wildlife, his graduate research on animal behavior, and his work studying nutria and their effects on wetland ecosystems.

Along the way, our conversation turns toward some bigger questions: What happens when the wildlife we remember from childhood begins disappearing? How do shifting baselines change what we think of as “normal”? And, when it comes to conservation, how much easier is it to protect an intact landscape than to try to put one back together after it has been lost?

We also talk about books (because a conversation with Randy was never going to get very far without talking about books) and some of the writers and naturalists who helped shape the way he sees the world.

Mostly, though, this is a conversation between two naturalists who have known each other a long time, sitting beside a fire and following their curiosity wherever it leads.

And we're only getting started.

Part Two continues the conversation, with more stories, more coffee, and, eventually, a perfectly timed chorus of coyotes from somewhere beyond the firelight.

In this conversation

02:09 — Pulling up a chair at Cottonwood Farm

03:36 — Randy’s childhood outdoors and the making of a naturalist

13:07 — Nutria, the fur trade, and an introduced species

18:00 — Studying nutria and thinking about wildlife management

22:45 — Horned lizards, childhood wildlife, and what has changed

30:14 — Preservation, restoration, and protecting intact landscapes

39:39 — Books, natural history, and the writers who shaped Randy

46:35 — Looking ahead to Part Two

About Modern Texas Naturalist

Modern Texas Naturalist is a podcast about curiosity, the natural world, and the people whose lives have been shaped by exploring, understanding, and caring for it.

Hosted by wildlife biologist and conservationist Romey Swanson.

Edited by Dell Little.

New conversations every other Wednesday.

Introducing Modern Texas Naturalist Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to Modern Texas Naturalist.

Join wildlife biologist, conservationist, and lifelong naturalist Romey Swanson for conversations with people whose lives have been shaped by exploring, understanding, and caring for the natural world.

Scientists. Writers. Educators. Landowners. Artists. Conservationists. And wonderfully curious people who simply can't stop asking questions about the wild world around them.

These are conversations about nature, discovery, field experiences, conservation, books, ideas, unexpected encounters - and the people and places that leave their mark on us.

Our first conversation arrives September 30 with Dr. Randy Simpson, Romey's graduate advisor, longtime mentor, friend, and one of the people who helped shape the naturalist he would become.

Follow Modern Texas Naturalist now so you'll be there when our first conversation drops.

New conversations every other Wednesday.

Modern Texas Naturalist