Conservation

This week, we’re getting into the wild world of conservation — the science of saving stuff before it disappears forever. But it’s not all noble rangers and panda logos. Conservation is complicated. It’s where ecology crashes headfirst into politics, economics, and some big ethical questions about what we value and why.

We break down what conservation really means today, why it’s not just about protecting animals but entire ecosystems, and why humans are now part of the systems we’re trying to save. Then we dive into the IUCN Red List — the global scoreboard of extinction — and unpack how scientists actually figure out whether a species is vulnerable, endangered, or officially gone. It’s got spreadsheets, thresholds, and way more urchins than you’d expect.

From the origins of the conservation movement to the hard science behind who lives and who dies, this episode asks: can we really protect nature while still being part of the problem?

Music: HOME – AWAY