90 Miles from Needles: the Desert Protection Podcast

Oct 22 2024 73 ep. 41 mins 17

90 Miles from Needles: the Desert Protection Podcast artwork

Join Chris Clarke and a variety of guests as they explore the challenges and opportunities of the American Southwest's fragile ecosystems. Engaging interviews with experts, activists, and advocates on conservation, land management, and environmental justice. Science and sentiment, politics and philosophy, hiking and history, culture and creativity all go into defending the desert. Be forewarned: We are out to recruit you to the cause.

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S3E31: Return of the Lobo: Restoring Texas' Mexican Wolves

Oct 22 2024 52 mins

Rick LoBello, Erin Hunt, and Philip Sozanski of the Texas Lobo Coalition discuss strategies to reintroduce wolves to Texas and the ecological benefits they may bring.

S3E30: Exploring the Art and Science of Joshua Trees

Oct 15 2024 70 mins

Juniper HarrowerJuniper Harrower is an artist and ecologist currently serving as an art professor at Reed College in Portland, Oregon. Born in Palm Springs and raised in the high desert, Harrower has a profound connection with desert ecology. Her work is deeply intertwined with Joshua tree ecosystems, blending art with scientific inquiry to explore the impact of climate change on d

S3E29: Barbed Wire and Border Walls: The Unseen Cost of Fragmented Habitats

Oct 08 2024 55 mins

Chris Clarke engages in a thought-provoking dialogue with environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb. The focus is on the nuanced field of road ecology and its implications on desert ecosystems.

S3E28: There Ain't No Big Faucet: Water Politics with the Great Basin Water Network

Sep 24 2024 52 mins

Chris Clarke hosts Kyle Roerink, Executive Director of the Great Basin Water Network, to discuss critical water issues in the arid Southwest. They delve into the complexities of proposed lithium mines near the Colorado River, the future of Lake Powell and Lake Mead, and long-standing water management challenges.

S3E27: Los Alamos's Dark Legacy: Plutonium Pollution in Plain Sight

Sep 17 2024 49 mins

Chris Clarke interviews Dr. Michael Ketterer, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at Northern Arizona University, about his research on plutonium contamination in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

S3E26: The New Western Solar Plan: A Disaster for Desert Ecosystems?

Sep 03 2024 36 mins

Get ready for a deep dive into the Western Solar Plan and its impact on our desert ecosystems. Here’s why we need to rethink solar deployment in our deserts and how we can do better.

S3E25: Utah's Public Lands Lawsuit Sparks Controversy

Aug 27 2024 34 mins

Jonathan Thompson provides context on Utah's effort, linking it to the 1970s Sagebrush Rebellion against federal land management policies.

S3E24: The Fight to Protect the Pahrump Valley

Aug 20 2024 45 mins

Basin and Range Watch, along with other groups, is working to preserve the southern Pahrump Valley

S3E23: Moonlit Deserts and Lost Love

Aug 06 2024 25 mins

In this heartfelt episode of "90 Miles from Needles," host Chris Clarke shares an evocative reading from his book, "Walking with Zeke," reflecting on meaningful experiences with his previous dog Zeke. This story reveals the depth of his connection to his pets and nature, illustrating the profound impact these relationships have on his life and work. The touching narrative about cam

S3E22: Debunking Snake Misconceptions

Jul 23 2024 43 mins

Chris talks to Luke Basulto about our no-legged cousins in the desert.