Jumpstart Nature

Feb 03 2025 14 ep. 32 mins 47
Jumpstart Nature Podcast artwork

Prepare to challenge assumptions and uncover the hidden wonders of nature and climate.

Through expert insights, compelling stories, and engaging commentary, Jumpstart Nature takes you on a journey with your host, Griff Griffith, to explore the surprising truths behind the headlines and rethink what you thought you knew about our planet.

With immersive storytelling and thought-provoking discussions, this podcast will leave you inspired to see the world differently—and motivated to make a difference.

  Science
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#10 - Can We Save Cats and Wildlife? The Outdoor Cat Dilemma.

Feb 03 2025 33 mins  
Send us a text Cats are independent, lovable, and endlessly entertaining—but with nearly 100 million outdoor cats in the USA alone, they become one of the most devastating forces against wildlife, killing billions of animals each year. At the same time, outdoor cats face harsh, short lives filled with disease, injury, and danger. So how do we balance our love for cats with our re

#9: Invaders in Your Yard: The Hidden Dangers of Invasive Species

Jan 13 2025 31 mins  
Send us a text There’s an invasion happening right under our noses—one that’s likely reached your own backyard. You may have even unknowingly played a part in it. This is the spread of invasive plants, animals, and fungi. Once removed from their native habitats, these species reproduce rapidly, disrupting ecosystems, threatening biodiversity, and even endangering our food, he

#8 - Saving A Valley: How Coyote Valley Inspires Conservation

Sep 24 2024 31 mins  
Send us a text On a 1983 morning, Steve Jobs scouted Coyote Valley for Apple's new headquarters. Despite his plans, Coyote Valley remains one of the most important undeveloped landscapes near Silicon Valley. This episode tells the story of its conservation through unexpected alliances, resilience, and the invaluable ecosystem services it provides. From critical wildlife connectivit

Jumpstart Bonus: Top 10 Favorite Species with Griff Griffith, Michelle Fullner, and Michael Hawk

Sep 10 2024 68 mins  
Send us a text What do parasitic plants, 600 year old oak trees, salmon, and hoverflies have in common? Well, they are some of Griff's, Michelle Fullner’s and my favorite wild organisms! Today’s episode is a fun conversation with Michelle Fullner, Griff Griffith, and myself, Michael Hawk, where we advocate for our 10 favorite animals and plants. We each bring three species to t

#7: Don't Be a Birdnapper! (Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Help Wildlife)

May 20 2024 31 mins  
Send us a text Many well meaning people, seeking to help wildlife, mistakenly become a birdnapper. Or a turtlenapper. Or even a bunnynapper. And it's all too easy to mistakenly harm an animal that you might think is distressed or in trouble. Do you know what to do if you see a bird on the ground? Or a turtle in the road? Or newborn bunnies in your yard? Spurred by a personal story

#6: Cicadas: Unexpected Ambassadors of Biodiversity

Apr 29 2024 29 mins  
Send us a text Periodical cicadas are amazing animals - they spend nearly 13 or 17 years underground, and all decide, together, to come out and party in your trees at the same time. They are loud, and perhaps you think they are annoying. But they are one of the most accessible demonstrations of nature's abundance that still occurs. But cicadas are super important to our ecosystems

#5: Every Observation a Discovery: How iNaturalist Changes Lives and Changes Science

Apr 22 2024 20 mins  
Send us a text Have you ever seen a bird or a tree, and wondered what it is? Why did that bird show up here? How come I've never seen that tree anywhere else? Just a few years ago, you'd need to consult an expert or spend loads of time reviewing field guides and natural history books to get those answers. Today, the answers are at your fingertips. And with curiosity comes the satis

Jumpstart Bonus: Dr. Doug Tallamy - The Nature of Oaks

Feb 14 2024 67 mins  
Send us a text Jumpstart Nature's next season is making great progress, but it's still a few weeks away. So we decided to share one of our top episodes from our sister podcast, Nature's Archive. It's with Dr. Doug Tallamy, the world renowned author, entomologist, native plant advocate, and co-founder of Homegrown National Park (instagram). In this episode of Nature's Archive, Dr. T

The Confluence of Hope and Action (Bonus Episode)

Nov 07 2023 36 mins  
Send us a text Please Join the Jumpstart Nature Patreon to support creation of future episodes Our pilot season is over, but Griff Griffith and Michael Hawk have more great nature knowledge to share! Today's episode answers your questions about the Jumpstart Nature episodes we've already published and gives you an exciting peak into what comes next. In fact, maybe YOU can be part o

#4: We Live in a 10% World

Oct 23 2023 26 mins  
Send us a text What is "normal" or even "natural" in nature? In a world where everything is constantly changing, the human desire to define things as "normal" has broad implications on how we see the world, and how we choose to conserve it (or not conserve it!). This desire to establish a personal "normal" leads to a quirk of psychology called Shifting Baseline Syndrome. Learn abou