Conservation Connection

This week we sit down with legendary singer Carole King and influential forest ecologist Chad Hanson about the surprising role of the US Forestry Service in commercial logging on public lands. Listen in to learn about how public trees are being sold to private logging companies under the guise of so-called "forest restoration". If you'd like to learn more about the John Muir Project, click here: www.JohnMuirProject.org If you'd like to read Smokescreen, check out this link: https://www.amazon.com/Smokescreen-Debunking-Wildfire-Forests-Climate/dp/0813181070/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1A4PT4E4YP1PE&keywords=smokescreen+book&qid=1678144810&sprefix=smokescreen%2Caps%2C306&sr=8-3 If you'd like to learn more about our nonprofit, click here: www.LastChanceEndeavors.com

We sit down with Tim Shields, one of the OG's of desert tortoise field work, to learn about the outside-of-the-box tactics that Hardshell Labs is using to discourage ravens from predating upon endangered desert tortoises. Who knew that green lasers, 3D printed tortoise shells, and artificial grape flavoring could be such effective tools for conserving this incredible species?  If you'd like to learn more about Hardshell Labs, check out their website: HardshellLabs.com If you'd like to learn more about our nonprofit, click here: LastChanceEndeavors.com

We just got home from recording a series of episodes out at the Wild and Scenic film festival in Nevada City, California! Wild and Scenic is a whirlwind of a festival that brings together some of the top scientific stories and film makers to share their work with the public. We were able to grab some absolutely incredible episodes this weekend, and we just can't wait to share them with you. This episode is an interview with Melinda Booth, Executive Director of the South Yuba River Citizen's League which created the film festival after successfully protecting their river for future generations. SYRCL has since grown into a watershed-wide conservation organization that not only conducts boots-on-the-ground conservation projects but also collaborates with organizations across the country to host an on-tour version of their flagship film festival.  If you'd like to learn more about SYRCL, click here: YubaRiver.org If you'd like to learn more about the film festival, click here: WildAndScenicFilmFestival.org

At EarthX 2022 we sat down with Patricio Robles Gil, world-renowned artist, to learn the impact that art can have when it comes to changing people's behavior in the face of the climate crisis. He shares snapshots of how his sculptural and visual art came to be and how it reaches across borders to touch the lives of everyone who views it, himself included.  To view some of Patricio's work, including the image of the elephant skull with the ivory crucifix, check out this link: https://www.theextinctionrituals.com/_files/ugd/8edf3b_713dcb71fe13417d83f196f6b184978d.pdf If you'd like to learn more about our nonprofit, click here: www.LastChanceEndeavors.com

This week we sit down with Katie Bilodeau, Staff Attorney (and wearer of many hats!) at Friends of the Clearwater. Her organization advocates for the protection of public lands in North central Idaho, a state with nearly 9 million acres of roadless land! In our interview we discuss the impact that logging and roads have on wilderness areas, including the degradation of the aquatic system and the disruption of apex predator's home ranges. We also get a sneak peak at what a day in the life of a staff attorney at a small nonprofit looks like!  If you'd like to learn more about Katie's organization, click here: www.FriendsOfTheClearwater.org If you'd like to learn more about our nonprofit, click here: www.LastChanceEndeavors.com

Our guest this week is a consummate outdoorsman and bird dog hunter with all the amazing stories to match. Durrell has a huge passion for learning about the outdoors, and an even bigger passion for sharing his knowledge with others! He is an excellent story teller and all-around fun guy, so listen in to hear his incredible journey! If you'd like to check out the Sporting Life Notebook, click here: www.TheSportingLifeNotebook.com If you'd like to check out the Minority Outdoor Alliance,  click here: www.MinorityOutdoorAlliance.org If you'd like to learn more about our nonprofit, click here: www.LastChanceEndeavors.com

In this episode, we sit with a true Titan of direct environmental defense, Paul Watson! Best known for founding the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Paul has spent the last several decades facilitating direct action against companies that engage in illegal and destructive operations in the ocean. We talk through Paul's journey of starting his own organization and building it into an international organization with nearly two dozen chapters across the globe! Have you ever wondered what it's like to have an Interpol Red Notice out for you? Well Paul gives us some insight into that particular experience as well! If you'd like to learn more about Sea Shepherd, click here: www.SeaShepherd.org If you'd like to learn  more about our organization, click here: www.LastChanceEndeavors.com

As the world population crosses 8 billion people, scientists and innovators around the globe are investigating the future of food. Lee Recht is the Vice President of Sustainability at Aleph Farms, an Israeli company that is developing cultured meat which does not require the slaughter of animals to produce their product! Join us for this fascinating interview that discusses the technical process behind their product, as well as the sustainability implications of cultivated meat! To learn more about Aleph Farms, click here: www.Aleph-Farms.com To learn more about our nonprofit, click here: LastChanceEndeavors.com

In this episode from EarthX 2022 we sit down with Julie Davitz, the brains behind Plus Media Solutions! Her company works to be the bridge between inspiration and impact, making it easy to transition from learning about a problem to taking action!  Click here to learn more about Plus Media Solutions: PlusMedia.Solutions Click here to learn more about our nonprofit: www.LastChanceEndeavors.com

If last week's discussion of the Turn It Around cards piqued your interest, you're going to love this week's episode! We sit down with Lizzie and Saiarchana, two students from ASU who were involved in developing the Turn It Around initiative and bringing it to the COP26 conference! If you missed it, the Turn It Around flashcards are a series of cards that feature visual works from youth artists and written essays about climate change that are intended to help policymakers and politicians experience the climate crisis from new perspectives. Listen in to hear about the process of developing and implementing these incredible tools!  To learn more about the Turn It Around Project, click here: https://turnitaroundcards.org To learn more about our nonprofit, click here: www.LastChanceEndeavors.com

This week to kick off our fifth season we sit down with Iveta Silova, Professor and Associate Dean of Global Engagement at Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University! We met with her at the Sun Valley Forum in Sun Valley, Idaho to learn about the ways in which she is fighting to change the ways in which we teach the public about the climate crisis.  If you'd like to read some of Dr. Silova's work, click here: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000374923 If you'd like to check out the Turn It Around cards, click here: www.TurnItAroundCards.org If you'd like to learn more about our nonprofit, click here: www.LastChanceEndeavors.com

Soil is an incredibly complex system of delicately balanced components, both living and non-living. Modern agricultural techniques are capable of producing large quantities of food but to do so they destroy soil structure, leading to decreasing yields over time and eventual agricultural collapse. Tim LeSalle, the father of regenerative agriculture, is working to radically change the ways in which we produce food by studying agricultural techniques that put more carbon into the soil than they remove! Listen in to hear more! If you'd like to learn about the Soil Carbon Accrual Project, click here: www.SoilCarbonAccrualProject.org If you'd like to learn more about our nonprofit, click here: www.LastChanceEndeavors.com

The state of Alabama has more than 132,000 miles of rivers and streams to protect, and the state-wide organization that oversees their conservation is the Alabama Rivers Alliance! They coordinate the efforts of smaller local groups to turn small-scale action into large-scale conservation! In this episode, we're lucky enough to sit down with Cindy Lawery, the Executive Director of the organization, to learn about the work they're doing and the ways in which they're using documentary film making to change hearts and minds to protect their rivers!  If you'd like to learn more about the Southern Exposure Film Festival, click here: www.SouthernExposureFilms.org If you'd like to learn more about the Alabama Rivers Alliance, click here: www.AlabamaRivers.org If you'd like to learn more about our nonprofit, click here: www.LastChanceEndeavors.com

This week we hear from Chad Brown, the Founder and President of Soul River Inc! A disabled veteran, Chad struggled with his mental health until his doctor gave him a prescription to "fish more" as a way of grounding himself in nature. Amazed at how much fishing helped him, Chad made it his mission to bring time in the outdoors to inner city youth and to other disabled veterans! His organization, Soul River Inc, does just that and so much more!  If you'd like to learn more about Soul River Inc. click here: www.SoulRiverInc.org If you'd like to learn about our nonprofit, click here: www.LastChanceEndeavors.com

In this exciting episode we hear the story of Dineo Dowd, an outdoor advocate and a board member for Hike It Baby! Active nationwide, Hike It Baby is a nonprofit organization that provides support and community to parents who are interested in getting their young children into the outdoors. On top of being on the board of a nationwide nonprofit Dineo is also a published children's book author, writing books that model youth and diversity in nature! Listen in to hear Dineo's journey from novice hiker to Outdoor Enthusiast! If you'd like to learn more about Hike It Baby, click here: www.HikeItBaby.com If you'd like to check out Dineo's books, click here: https://dowddineo.com If you'd like to learn more about our nonprofit, click here: www.LastChanceEndeavors.com

For this episode we're here in our hometown of Columbus Georgia to interview Paige Swift, the mastermind behind this weekend's Nature Now Film Festival! Listen in to hear a preview of the amazing selection of films being shown and to hear the kinds of impact that an environmental film festival can make in a community! To learn more about Nature Now click here: www.WatchNatureNow.org To learn more about our nonprofit click here: www.lastchanceendeavors.com

In this episode we sit down with Mark Brand, a Vancouver-based chef and entrepreneur who is using his businesses to have a daily impact on food scarcity in vulnerable communities. His passion for feeding the hungry and for promoting institutional change has made him a rising star in Vancouver and across the continent!  If you'd like to learn more about Mark Brand, click here: https://www.instagram.com/mark.brand/ If you'd like to learn more about our nonprofit, click here: www.LastChanceEndeavors.com

In this episode the Last Chance Endeavors team sits down with Shonagh Smith, host of the EarthxTV Original Series Road to Glasgow! In the lead up to COP26 last year she traveled with a film crew and interviewed dozens of people, from politicians and decision makers to other stakeholders in the outcome of the UN's annual Climate Change Meeting. She shares with us the highs and lows of filming her own tv show, as well as some of the fun behind-the-scenes movie magic you'd never know about until someone points it out!  You can watch The Road To Glasgow here: www.EarthxTV.com  Click here to learn about our nonprofit: www.LastChanceEndeavors.com

In this exciting episode the Last Chance Endeavors team sits down with Henk Rogers, the founder of the Blue Planet Alliance, to discuss his work promoting renewable energy and his journey from video game designer to environmental activist! A near death experience following his success in bringing Tetris to the global stage made him re-evaluate his impact on the world and spurred him to found the Blue Planet Alliance! His organization works with countries and islands across the world to secure commitments to 100% renewable energy by 2045!  If you'd like to learn more about the Blue Planet Alliance, click here: www.BluePlanetAlliance.org If you'd like to learn more about our nonprofit, click here: www.LastChanceEndeavors.com

Possibly the most interesting man in the world, Rob Swan was the first person ever to walk to both the North and South Poles! He's an intrepid explorer and avid activist for our environment. Listen in to this interview as he recounts the massive successes (and failures!) in his career, as well as teaches us about the precarious legal future of the antarctic continent!  If you'd like to learn more about the 2041 Foundation, click here: https://2041foundation.org If you'd like to visit Rob's website, click here: www.RobertSwan.com If you'd like to visit Barney's website, click here: www.TheClimateForce.org If you'd like to learn more about our nonprofit, click here: www.LastChanceEndeavors.com