Forces for Nature

Manatee Rescue and Conservation with Jamal Galves, Ep.106

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!This is another episode of the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders program series! Affectionately known as the Manatee Man, Jamal Galves discovered his calling earlier than most. Growing up in the coastal village of Gales Point Manatee, he saw these gentle animals almost every day, never realizing they were endangered until a team of researchers arrived and opened his eyes to their struggle. At just eleven years old, he stepped onto a manatee research boat for the first time and that moment reshaped the entire trajectory of his life.Today, Jamal leads the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute’s Belize Program, home to the longest-running manatee conservation effort in the Greater Caribbean. His work blends rigorous science with the wisdom and partnership of local communities, creating a model of conservation that is as people-centered as it is wildlife-focused.This episode explores the heart and science behind his work from marine mammal rescue, to the shifting health of manatee populations, how he gets buy-in of his conservation efforts, and more. HighlightsHow did an 11-year-old kid with no shoes talked his way onto a manatee research boat?How a two-day old manatee rescued after a hurricane inspired a whole nation.A first look at Belize’s new Marine Rescue & Education Center, built to heal manatees and inspire people toward action.What YOU Can DoBe mindful on the water. When boating or visiting coastal areas, follow no-wake zones, avoid seagrass beds, and stay alert for wildlife.Start young - or start now. There is no age or skill requirement to make a difference. All you need is your desire to help.Volunteer for cleanups, youth programs, or community events.Share stories that inspire action. Spreading positive conservation messages helps reach people who may never encounter them otherwise.Practice sustainable habits at home. Small changes in waste, water use, or energy matter when many people do them.ResourcesClearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute – Belize ProgramManatee Conservation Information (Greater Caribbean / Antillean Manatee)Jamal’s InstagramEmerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders (EWCL)Clearwater Marine Aquarium – Belize Marine Rescue & Education Center AnnouncementWant a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility. Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that! What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Living With Lions in Samburu with Shivani Bhalla, Ep.105

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!When you imagine lions, you probably picture big prides sprawled across open savannas.But in northern Kenya’s Samburu landscape, lions live a very different life, often alone, slipping quietly through a patchwork of people, livestock, and shrinking wild spaces. It is a hard place to be a lion… and an even harder place to protect them.For nearly two decades, Shivani Bhalla, founder of Ewaso Lions, has been working alongside Samburu communities to understand and safeguard this uniquely challenging population of lions. What started as her desire to learn why lions were disappearing has grown into a powerful example of coexistence - one where warriors, women, and even young herders play a central role.In this episode, we talk about the realities of living with lions, the deep cultural knowledge that makes conservation possible, the heartbreaks and wins that shape Shivani’s days, and the unexpected visitor who reminded us - mid-conversation - what coexistence looks like in real time.HighlightsWhy do Samburu’s lions live so differently from the ones we see in documentaries?What made young warriors shift from hunting lions to protecting them?How did a group of local women convince Shivani that they could restore habitat better than anyone else?Who was Nana, the lioness whose story continues to shape an entire landscape?What YOU Can DoSpend time in nature. Reconnecting with the natural world, even in small, everyday ways, builds empathy and a desire to protect it.Help others access nature. Support programs that give children and communities the chance to experience wildlife positively.Speak up for local green spaces and wildlife. Your voice can influence how your community values and protects nature.Support community-led conservation. Funding essentials like salaries, fuel, medical care, emergency response, and habitat work helps organizations like Ewaso Lions stay effective.Champion efforts grounded in local leadership. Programs created by the community, like Warrior Watch and Mama Simbas, are the ones with real staying power.ResourcesEwaso Lions Instagram YouTube Facebook  Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility. Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that! What difference for the world are you going to make today?

How Local Leadership is Reviving Vanishing Species with Dr. Abdullahi Ali, Ep.104

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!Most people have heard about elephants and rhinos being in trouble. But few realize that giraffes are quietly disappearing too. And also the hirola, a graceful antelope found only along the Kenya–Somalia border, is down to fewer than 500 left on Earth.In this episode, Dr. Abdullahi Ali shares how his journey from a nomadic childhood to a Ph.D. in ecology led him to found the Hirola Conservation Program and the Somali Giraffe Project - two community-led efforts rewriting what coexistence looks like.Ali’s story is as much about people as it is about wildlife. From restoring grasslands once maintained by elephants before they were poached to helping farmers swap mango trees for lime trees to prevent conflict with giraffes, his work shows that when conservation is rooted in local knowledge, everyone thrives.HighlightsHow Dr. Ali’s childhood herding goats (and occasionally getting lost doing it!) shaped his lifelong connection to nature.How climate change is creating “climate refugees” - not just people, but also animals.The power of community-led solutions: from adult literacy classes to wildlife-friendly livelihoods.What You Can DoPartner with the Hirola Conservation Program and the Somali Giraffe Project.Share what’s going on with giraffes and hirolas. It might be a surprise to most.Look for ways to design coexistence where you live - in your garden, your community, or your workplace.Remember that conservation works best when it’s collaborative between species, between people, and across borders.ResourcesFacebook    X  YouTube If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate and review it on your favorite podcasting app! This helps to boost its visibility.Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!Never miss another episode! Sign up to receive email updates!What difference for the world are you going to make today?Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility. Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that! What difference for the world are you going to make today?

How Citizens Keep Environmental Progress Alive in Between Elections with Bentley Johnson, Ep. 103

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!Federal policy might seem distant from the forests, rivers, and wildlife we care about but, as Bentley Johnson of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters explains, its impact reaches straight into our daily lives.From an executive order that resulted in higher(!) energy prices to bipartisan efforts that ensure the water coming from your tap is clean, Bentley reveals how political decisions ripple through ecosystems, economies, and communities alike.He also reminds us that our power doesn’t end at the ballot box. Between elections, we can still shape the laws that protect clean air, renewable energy, and wild spaces- by showing up, speaking out, and holding leaders accountable.If you’ve ever wondered how what happens in Washington affects us directly, this episode will connect those dots and help you see what you can be doing in between elections that can make a difference.This is another episode of the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders program Series! HighlightsThe real-world consequences of rolling back clean-energy and conservation laws.Bipartisan success stories- from PFAS cleanup to Great Lakes restoration- that prove cooperation is still possible.Why framing issues around health, cost, and community helps bridge divides.What YOU Can DoVote in every election, especially local ones. City and state leaders decide on wildlife corridors, pollution standards, and habitat funding. **CHECK TO SEE IF YOUR AREA IS HOLDING ELECTIONS THIS NOVEMBER 4TH.Check your representatives’ environmental records. Visit your state’s League of Conservation Voters or lcv.org/scorecard.Speak up between elections. Attend town halls, share your story, and comment on proposed environmental rule changes.Join or support local conservation and restoration projects. The federal picture changes, but local action keeps progress alive.Share success stories. Remind others that clean-energy projects, restored wetlands, and wildlife protections are working. Hope is contagious.ResourcesMichigan LCV's Take Action page.MLCV's Action HubMichigan LCV's Scorecard Because Michigan LCV's scorecard is focused on Michigan, you may be interested in the national LCV's congressional scorecard where anyone in the country can look up their Members of Congress.We also talked about the greenhouse gas emissions reporting rollback. Here is a link to take action on that (it's a national effort but this link is unique for Michigan LCV so that if people use it to make a comment, they can get credit).Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders (EWCL) proWant a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility. Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that! What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Behind the Lens: How Storytelling Shapes Conservation with Alex Goetz & Justin Grubb, Ep.102

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!Wildlife filmmakers Justin Grubb and Alex Goetz have traveled from Costa Rica to Alaska capturing stories that connect people and wildlife in powerful ways. As co-founders of Running Wild Media, their work has appeared on National Geographic, PBS, Discovery+, and Disney+, and has been recognized with multiple awards and Emmy nominations.In this conversation, Justin and Alex share the behind-the-scenes realities of wildlife filmmaking- the challenges, the ethics, and the unexpected humor that happens along the way. From hellbenders in Appalachia to red wolves in North Carolina, they reveal how the most effective conservation stories aren’t about animals alone, they’re about people.You’ll also hear how they build campaigns that lead to tangible impact, why hopeful storytelling is their most powerful tool, and how each of us can use our own voice to spark change, no matter what our day job is.HighlightsFrom prairie dog turf wars to crocodile close calls, what it’s really like in the field.The ethics of getting the perfect shot while respecting the wildlife.Why the most powerful wildlife stories focus on the humans connected to the animals.What YOU Can DoJustin and Alex shared several simple yet meaningful ways listeners can help support wildlife and conservation storytelling:Tell your own story.Use your phone, words, art, or photos to share the nature you love. A story told with authenticity and hope can inspire others to care. Be a hopeful voice. Social media can get dark. Choose to amplify the good instead. Share solutions, success stories, or even small wins happening in your community. Engage locally.Attend or support environmental or wildlife film festivals. Ask questions, start conversations, and connect with filmmakers and advocates in your area. Support authentic conservation media.Donate to or share films that are fact-based and community-centered. Look for productions that give voice to both people and wildlife. Stay curious and informed.Fact-check what you share, know your sources, and help counter misinformation about wildlife and conservation issues. Look closer to home.You don’t need to go to the rainforest to find wonder. Start by noticing and appreciating the wildlife in your own backyard.ResourcesRunning Wild Media websiteHellbent (Film) – about hellbenders and the Rights of Nature movement  Running Wild Instagram  Running Wild YouTube Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders (EWCL) program Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility. Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that! What difference for the world are you going to make today?