Author Leila Philip discusses her book "Beaverland: How One Weird Rodent Made America" on this week's episode. Learn how this under-appreciated creature played a pivotal role in the creation of the United States and could be the key to its future.

On this episode of HumaNature you’ll have a chance to meet some of the incredible animals that have called Earthfire home over the years. Fairytale the coyote, who formed an unexpected bond with a big burly football player, Huckleberry and Major Bear, two brothers who fought over strawberry ice cream, and Buttercup, a beautiful deer who wanted to be a chicken.

Join us for Season 10 of HumaNature, premiering on June 6th, 2024.

In 2012, 30 wolves and wolf-dogs were living at W.O.L.F. Sanctuary in northern Colorado. But one sunny June morning, a massive wildfire closed in on their mountain home. (more…)

To Alua Arthur, life made no sense. But then she began to make sense of death. (more…)

If creative and destructive forces are linked, what does this say about artists, or mothers, or god? (more…)

This is the first part of a three-part series on creation and destruction. Black holes are the most destructive force in the universe. But what if they’re also creative? (more…)

An encore presentation of our 2018 PMJA Best Station Podcast award-winner. Tyler Dunning went into the wild to distract himself from his grief…but ended up coming face to face with it instead. (more…)

After almost a decade making art in New York City, Stephanie Housley craved being closer to nature, her source of inspiration. So she moved to Bondurant, Wyoming – population 93. (more…)

When Patrick Kilonzo Mwalua saw wild animals suffering from drought, he decided it was his responsibility to bring them water. (more…)

Here’s a re-scored take on one of our all-time favorite episodes. It’s the story of a love that spans continents. Jon Dunham set out on the longest, toughest walk of his life. But along the way, he met someone who helped carry the weight. (more…)

When Paul Steklenski got his pilot’s license, he didn’t just want to fly to lunch. Instead, he flew to the pound. (more…)

Cheryl and Greg left Portland, Oregon, one hot summer for the cool of the mountains. But that put them out of the frying pan and into the fire. (more…)

Felicia Friesema and Steve Julian had a “miracle relationship.” They carved out an oasis in the middle of Los Angeles. But then they found themselves facing one of the most fundamental aspects of nature: death. (more…)

This episode is about what we do that leaves a mark: the visible impact we leave behind on the country we live in and the countries we visit. Another podcast we admire, She Explores, takes us to Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia. (more…)

Marcus Eriksen wanted to draw attention to a problem no one could see. So he sailed into the middle of it.

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Jessi Johnson is a modern-day Artemis. But the perfect shot led her on a heartbreaking odyssey.

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The paleo diet aims to take nutrition back to the basics—to the way Paleolithic people ate. But prehistoric people didn’t eat boneless chicken breasts and pre-washed baby spring mix. Tory Taylor set out to discover what folks really ate thousands of years ago.

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It was 2012. Caroline was in love. But then heartbreak washed over her, like the storm surge from Hurricane Sandy.

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In 2011, Rinker Buck crossed the Oregon Trail — yes, that Oregon Trail — in a covered wagon pulled by a team of mules. He traveled with his brother Nick and a Jack Russell Terrier named Olive Oyl. The journey forced Rinker to confront his greatest fear. (more…)

As we discovered in Episode 35, sometimes grain alcohol is the solution, not the problem. For Sandra Jones, it was a bit of both. (more…)

Brian Corliss just wanted to quench his thirst. But on a snowmobile outing, he grabbed the wrong bottle. *Disclaimer: The actions taken in this story do not constitute medical advice. In the case of poisoning, call Poison Control at (800) 222-1222.

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In 2017, the Great American Eclipse drew thousands of spectators to otherwise wild and desolate spots in Wyoming. For writer Liberty Lausterer, this was a cause for concern.

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Bruce Smith was on a routine helicopter flight in the remote Wind River Mountains. But what goes up must come down…one way or another.

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On December 22, 2016, Karen Klein got trapped in a snowstorm near the Grand Canyon. But she pushed through it to save her family. (more…)

Maggie had it all: a fine house, a loving family, and a big yard. But she threw it all away for adventure. And when things got bad, she had to use her wits.

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For your Thanksgiving podcast binge, here’s a second helping of an older episode. Sophie May grew up in Alaska, spending lots of time outside. But when it came time to explore the wilderness as an adult, she found out she had more to learn. (more…)

Aubrey Bertram traveled to East Asia to help animals that had been abused by humans. But a harrowing experience taught her that good intentions might not be enough. (more…)

A possessed basement. A magic mirror. A shop of spirits. Mysterious lights where they don’t belong. Gather around the campfire as we open the portal to a place that isn’t quite human or all the way natural. (more…)

Linda McGurk wanted her children to love the outdoors, just like she did as a little girl in Sweden. But when she moved to the U.S., she found out it wasn’t quite that simple. (more…)

When the Massaro family traded life on dry land for a life at sea, they encountered some unexpected company.  (more…)

Lucy came face-to-face with a family secret that upended her life. So she seized the moment. (more…)

Season 3 of HumaNature takes to the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the middle of an Indiana creek, and into one woman’s DNA. (more…)

Carolyn Hochlowski never liked the outdoors. But when she turned 36 she realized life was passing her by. So she bought a cheap tent and sleeping bag and set off on a solo road trip across the country with a dog named Thor.

In this episode, we’re excited to introduce you to a great storytelling podcast from Montana, Last Best Stories. Two friends were on a hike in Glacier National Park when a pair of fuzzy, cuddly-looking grizzly cubs crossed their path. But they knew momma bear wouldn’t be far away. (more…)

Science journalist Lynda Mapes takes us deep into a New England forest, where one tree is telling the story of climate change. This is the final episode of our summer series, Science Camp, where we’re exploring the human side of science. (more…)

This is the second episode in our three-part Science Camp series, where we’re exploring the human side of science. Paleobotanist Ellen Currano noticed a lack of other women in her field. So she decided to dress up as a man. (more…)

This is the first episode in a three-part summer series, called Science Camp, where we’re exploring the human side of science. Ryan Haupt had a lot of questions about his faith. When he started looking for answers, he unearthed them in unexpected places.

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We’re starting a new three-part summer series on June 21: Science Camp, where we explore the human side of science.

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Tyler Dunning went into the wild to distract himself from his grief…but ended up coming face to face with it instead.

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After breaking his back, doctors told Gary Havener he would never walk again. So…he decided to run. (more…)

In 2007, more than 50 pit bulls were discovered at a dogfighting ring in Virginia. Most people thought they couldn’t be saved. But their stories had just begun.

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150 years ago, two girls crossed the Missouri River trying to escape a life of slavery. In the summer of 2016, Barry Jurgensen set out on a 500-mile journey to follow in their footsteps. (more…)

Arik was burning to share his faith with the world. But the people he thought needed his message the most weren’t interested in what he had to say. And the camels weren’t, either.

In the frigid month of February, three companions embark on an ice fishing expedition on Lake Huron. Initially, the camaraderie is palpable, but as the story unfolds, a collision of friendship, peer pressure, and the stark reality of facing mortality takes center stage.

Melbourne, Australia wanted its residents to help keep an eye on its trees. So they gave every tree an email address. But then the trees started to write back. (more…)

It was November 9, 2016. Amy was worried about the new political landscape. But some unusual encounters at work gave her fresh perspective. (more…)

In this episode, we’ll introduce you to another outdoor show we really like…New Hampshire Public Radio’s Outside/In. 12-year-old Tyler Armstrong was on a quest to climb Mount Everest, but he had people wondering: how young is too young to climb Mount Everest? (more…)