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In E33, Scott sits down with Chris Parish, President & CEO of The Peregrine Fund, for one of the most wide-ranging and compelling conversations we've ever featured. From California Condors to global vulture crises, from the San Joaquin Valley to India and the African savannas, Chris brings decades of experience, candor, humor, and unmatched field knowledge.

Born and raised in California’s San Joaquin Valley as a hunter, angler, and football player, Chris’s life took turns he never expected — from NFL Europe to prairie dog trapping, to running Arizona’s California Condor Recovery Program, and now leading one of the most respected raptor organizations in the world.

This episode dives deep into:

🦅 The fight to save California Condors from extinction — including how lead poisoning became the #1 threat, and how science + hunters created the most successful voluntary non-lead program in America.

🎯 Why hunters resist changing ammunition — and what truly changes minds (hint: tradition, trust, and generational hand-offs).

🌾 How grasslands collapsed — and how Opalmatto Falcons reveal the whole ecological story of brush encroachment, drought, predators, and rancher partnerships.

💊 The diclofenac tragedy in India, which wiped out entire vulture colonies and unleashed a massive public-health crisis.

🌍 Retaliatory poisoning in East Africa, electrified bomas, and how Maasai communities are protecting both wildlife and their cattle.

🔥 Why science alone is NOT conservation — and why change must be earned, not imposed.

🦉 Are vultures really “raptors”? Chris and Scott dive into classification, history, culture, and why humans have always been obsessed with birds of prey.

Chris’s approach is simple but rare:
 “We’re not here to tell you what to think — just to give you more to think about.”

📚 Chris’s Book Recommendation:
My Side of the Mountain — Jean Craighead George

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In this episode, Scott sits down with Steve Mietz, President & CEO of Save the Redwoods League, for an extraordinary conversation about Redwoods, Sequoias, wildfire, tribal stewardship, and the future of America’s greatest forests.

Steve traces his journey from Eagle Scout in New Jersey to environmental economist at Cornell, to a lifelong career across the National Park Service — including Grand Canyon, Great Basin, Point Reyes, Pearl Harbor, and Redwood National & State Parks. His path ultimately led him to one of the most ambitious restoration efforts in the United States: saving and rebuilding the Redwoods and Sequoias.

Together, Scott and Steve explore:

🌲 Why only 5% of old-growth Redwoods remain — and how we can create the next 5%
🔥 How fire suppression created a crisis, and how tribes & scientists are fixing it
🌊 Restoring buried creeks and watching salmon return within months
🤝 Partnerships with tribes to restore land, culture, and ecological balance
🏞️ Why Redwoods are Earth’s greatest carbon sink — even more than the Amazon
💡 Why hope, not despair, is the key to conservation
🌍 How protecting forests in California benefits people everywhere

Steve also shares inspiring stories about working with the Yurok Tribe to restore ancestral lands, the emotional return of elders to sites they hadn’t seen in 150 years, and how Redwoods “save us” as much as we save them.
 

This is one of the most powerful conversations we’ve ever had on Naturally Scott — a deep, hopeful look at what’s possible when science, tribes, communities, and passion all work together.

📚 Steve’s Book Recommendation:
A Sand County Almanac — Aldo Leopold

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Few people have done more to protect the birds of the Americas than Mike Parr, President of the American Bird Conservancy.

In this conversation, Mike joins Scott Harris to explore the breathtaking landscapes of the Tropical Andes, the vital link between birding and conservation, and how ecotourism can transform local economies while protecting critical habitats. From ground-cuckoo quests to stories of Fair Isle adventures, Mike’s journey is equal parts inspiration and education — showing how passion can lead to global impact.

They also discuss:
 🌎 Birds of the Tropical Andes — a stunning new book with photographer Owen Deutsch
🦜 How bird tourism drives conservation success stories in Ecuador, Peru & Bolivia
💚 The surprising connections between carbon offsets and birding travel
📘 Book recommendations from Jonathan Franzen, Carl Safina, and Amy Tan
🐦 Why protecting birds protects everything else — from frogs to forests

Join the mission and learn how every birder, traveler, and artist can make a difference.

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Few artists see the world like Matt Patterson. A lifelong wildlife illustrator and painter, Matt brings to life the hidden world of turtles, reptiles, and amphibians—creatures too often overlooked but central to the ecosystems around us.

In this episode, Scott Harris talks with Matt about his lifelong love of nature, his creative process, and his collaboration with New York Times bestselling author Sy Montgomery on their beloved Book of Turtles and The True and Lucky Life of a Turtle.

From the story of “Fire Chief,” a rescued snapping turtle now living safely in Matt’s backyard pond, to fieldwork in Madagascar, Belize, and beyond, their conversation celebrates the intersection of art, science, and deep compassion for the natural world.

They also explore:

• The difference between painting and photographing wildlife
• How art can drive conservation
• Why every turtle matters
• Adventures with rare species, from radiated tortoises to cold-stunned sea turtles

Matt’s work has earned international acclaim—including the Roger Tory Peterson Wildlife Art Award and the Artists for Conservation Medal of Excellence—but his true success lies in inspiring others to see the beauty and worth of every living thing.

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Few people have shaped modern ornithology like Dr. John Fitzpatrick, the longtime Director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and one of the visionaries behind eBird and Merlin. In this conversation, Scott Harris sits down with Fitz to explore the global transformation of birding—from field notebooks and film cameras to the data-driven citizen-science revolution that connects millions of observers worldwide.

From his early research on tropical flycatchers to decades of conservation work with the Florida Scrub-Jay, Fitzpatrick’s career has been defined by curiosity, mentorship, and an unshakable belief that birds can unite people across cultures and continents.

Tune in as they discuss:

• How eBird became the world’s largest wildlife database
• The origin and future of the Merlin Bird ID app
• Lessons from a lifetime studying endangered species
• Why curiosity remains the beating heart of conservation science

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Peter Kaestner has lived one of the most extraordinary birding lives on Earth. From his early adventures as a teenager in India to his years in the Peace Corps, Peter went on to serve as a U.S. diplomat across the globe—while quietly becoming the first person in history to see 10,000 bird species. In this conversation, he joins Scott Harris to share stories from jungles and mountaintops, the discovery of the bird that bears his name, and the lifelong wonder that keeps him chasing feathers across continents.

🕊️ Guest: Peter Kaestner — Diplomat, explorer, and the first human ever to record 10,000 bird species
🎧 Host: Scott Harris | Naturally Scott
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In this continuation of Scott Harris’ conversation with bestselling author and naturalist Scott Weidensaul, we dive deeper into the breathtaking world of bird migration — the science, the mystery, and the fragile magic that connects continents through flight.

From radar tracking and satellite tags to the sheer endurance of warblers, godwits, and Arctic terns, this discussion explores how birds navigate an ever-changing world and what that means for the future of conservation.

If you haven’t already, go back and listen to Episode 18 — “Migration, Marvels & The Secret Life of Birds” to hear the start of this incredible conversation.

Stay curious, stay kind, and keep watching the skies. 🌍🕊️

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Scott Weidensaul joins Naturally Scott to dive deep into the astonishing world of bird migration — from tiny warblers crossing oceans to owls riding the jet stream and the science that’s still unfolding. Scott is a Pulitzer Prize finalist, field researcher, and author of A World on the Wing and Living on the Wind, two of the most influential books ever written on migration and the global web that connects us all.

In this conversation, Scott Harris and Scott Weidensaul explore the mysteries of navigation, the marvels of endurance, and how conservation is evolving to protect these travelers on their journeys across hemispheres.

📺 This conversation ran long — this is Part 1. Part 2 will drop later today!

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In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott Harris sits down with Hob Osterlund — writer, nurse, and founder of the Kauaʻi Albatross Network. Hob shares her lifelong connection with the Laysan albatross, the extraordinary birds who nest on Kauaʻi, and what these seabirds can teach us about resilience, community, and hope.

We explore:

• The beauty and mystery of the albatross and their lifelong bonds
• Hob’s personal journey from nursing to conservation
• The challenges of protecting seabirds on Hawaiʻi’s shores
• Why albatross inspire awe, joy, and healing in human lives

This is a moving conversation about nature, grief, and the power of connection.

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In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott Harris is joined by acclaimed writer, artist, and naturalist Julie Zickefoose. Julie has spent a lifetime capturing the beauty of birds and wildlife through both her art and her stories, and she brings that same passion and curiosity to this conversation.

Together, Scott and Julie explore:

• The intersection of art and conservation
• Memorable encounters with birds that shaped her work and worldview
• The power of storytelling in nature writing
• What it means to live a life fully immersed in the natural world

Julie’s illustrations and words have inspired countless people to see wildlife with new eyes, and this episode is no exception. Whether you’re a birder, an artist, or simply someone who loves a good story from the outdoors, you’ll find plenty here to spark your curiosity.

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🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode to help us bring more voices from the natural world to more listeners.

Stay curious, and enjoy the conversation!

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Bracken Cave Preserve outside San Antonio is home to 15–20 million Mexican free-tailed bats, the largest bat colony on Earth and the densest concentration of mammals in the world. Fran Hutchins of Bat Conservation International joins Scott Harris to share the astonishing story of Bracken Cave — from batnados spiraling into the sky, to flesh-eating beetles deep inside the guano-filled cavern, to how these bats save farmers millions of dollars each year in natural pest control.

We dive into the magic of watching millions of bats emerge at sunset, the cave’s 10,000-year history, and why bats are critical pollinators and seed dispersers across the globe. This episode is a rare look at one of nature’s greatest spectacles and why protecting these animals means protecting ecosystems everywhere.

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In this episode of Naturally Scott, host Scott Harris welcomes Christian Cooper—birder, writer, Emmy Award–winning TV host, and New York Times bestselling author.

Chris shares the thrill of finally spotting his long-sought great gray owl in Wyoming, the joy of spring migration in Central Park, and the myth he wrote to explain the fiery beauty of the Blackburnian warbler. He recalls the red-winged blackbird that first sparked his love of birding, childhood road trips across America, and the role comics and mythmaking have played in his storytelling.

The conversation also explores the Central Park incident of May 2020, how it unexpectedly thrust him into the global spotlight, and how he used that platform to champion equality, conservation, and “birds for all people.” From Extraordinary Birder on Nat Geo to his bestselling memoir and the launch of Black Birders Week, Chris reflects on turning challenge into opportunity and joy.

This is a story of resilience, passion, and the power of nature to inspire wonder.

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From the Inside Passage of Alaska to the gray-whale nurseries of Baja and the volcanic shores of the Galápagos, expedition leader Taylor Butz has lived a life most nature lovers only dream about. In this episode of Naturally Scott, Taylor joins Scott from Neah Bay after a morning surf session—Starlink on the beach and gray whales cruising just offshore.

Together they dive into:
 • Growing up on Washington’s Vashon Island 🌲
 • His early years as a cabin steward & deckhand aboard Lindblad/Nat Geo ships
 • How bubble-net feeding humpbacks actually coordinate their hunt 🐋
 • Why gray-whale behavior is rapidly changing—and what it means
 • Secret dolphin super-pods of the Gulf of California
 • The magic of Galápagos wildlife that doesn’t fear humans
• The challenge of protecting Antarctica as tourism expands
• And how surfing culture has become an unexpected conservation force 🌊

If you love whales, wild places, or just great storytelling, this one will pull you straight into the water.

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Subscribe, rate, and share if you enjoy these conversations — it truly helps us bring more incredible guests to the show.

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In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott Harris talks with birder, cyclist, and author Dorian Anderson about his extraordinary journey from addiction to recovery, and from molecular biology to a life centered on birding.

Dorian shares how he rediscovered his passion for birds after getting sober, culminating in a self-powered “Big Year” where he biked across America without using gas or diesel. His story—chronicled in his book Birding Under the Influence—highlights how birding became a healthier “addiction” and a source of renewal.

The conversation explores his evolving perspective on birding, from chasing ABA list rarities to embracing global birding experiences. Dorian also opens up about guiding birding tours, the importance of client compatibility, and the blend of patience and artistry behind bird photography. Finally, he reflects on his deep connection to albatrosses and shorebirds, offering a glimpse into the soul of a birder who found freedom in nature.

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In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott Harris sits down with legendary birder Bruce Barrett. Since 1973, Bruce has logged nearly 900 bird species in the ABA area—more than anyone else in history. But his story is about more than birds: he’s a mathematician, a world traveler, and a husband who’s shared 57 years of marriage with his non-birder wife. Together they’ve explored the globe, sung in chorus, and developed their own rules for a happy partnership.

Join us as we talk about birding milestones, the joy of lifelong curiosity, and the wisdom that comes from a life well lived.

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This week on NaturallyScott, Scott Harris is joined by Lynn Scarlett—former Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, lifelong conservationist, and a woman with stories as wild as the places she’s worked.

In this episode, Lynn shares:

• What it’s like to lie in the sand at night collecting eggs from a leatherback turtle
• The awe of standing on Midway Island, surrounded by hundreds of thousands of albatross
• A surreal moment sitting on an alligator’s head
• Reflections on being eighth in line to the U.S. presidency
• Her leadership role in shaping America’s nearly 600 National Wildlife Refuges

From sea turtles to national parks, Lynn’s journey blends field science, public service, and unforgettable wildlife encounters.

👉 Stay tuned at the end for Field Notes, featuring America’s National Wildlife Refuges.
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This week on NaturallyScott, Scott Harris sits down with Ted Cheeseman—naturalist, explorer, and co-founder of HappyWhale. From his childhood growing up in the Santa Cruz Mountains to decades of guiding Antarctic expeditions, Ted has lived a life surrounded by wildlife. In 2015, he and Ken Sutherland launched HappyWhale, a citizen science project that uses photographs to identify and track individual whales around the globe.

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In this conversation, Ted shares:

• The family safari company that shaped his passion for nature
• His formative years exploring East Africa and Antarctica
• First-hand accounts of witnessing whale populations rebound after whaling
• How HappyWhale connects everyday whale watchers to groundbreaking research
• The future of oceans, tourism, and the role of citizen science in conservation

Whether you’re a birder, diver, or just ocean-curious, this episode reveals how one snapshot of a whale’s tail can contribute to global science and inspire deeper stewardship of our seas.

👉 Learn more or submit your own whale photo: HappyWhale.com

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Wayne Klockner has been birding for more than 60 years — from his spark bird, a humble Dark-eyed Junco in New Jersey, to chasing the holy grail of raptors, the Harpy Eagle, deep in Panama’s Darién jungle. In this episode, Wayne joins Scott to share stories from a lifetime in conservation:

• Growing up birding alone in the farm fields of New Jersey
• A 38-year career with The Nature Conservancy, from Maryland to Indonesia
• Up-close encounters with Komodo dragons, leopards in Kenya, and seabirds in New Zealand
• His ongoing quest for nemesis birds like the Yellow Rail and Boreal Owl
• Why the American Birding Association still matters — and where it’s heading next

From backyard feeders to global adventures, Wayne’s journey is a testament to the power of curiosity, conservation, and community.

Whether you’re chasing lifers or just love a good bird story, this one will keep you soaring.

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In this episode of NaturallyScott, Scott Harris sits down with Dr. J. Drew Lanham — poet, author, wildlife biologist, and Distinguished Professor at Clemson University. Drew shares his unique perspective on birding, conservation, and culture, weaving together history, identity, and the natural world. From conversations with Audubon and Thoreau, to teaching “conservation and cultural ornithology,” to reflections on Black Birders Week and his “Nine Rules for the Black Bird Watcher,” Drew challenges us to connect the conservation dots in new ways. Along the way, he talks about poetry, history, and what it means to truly “identify with birds.”

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Jeff Gordon has lived a life in three acts: leading bird tours around the globe, serving over a decade as President of the American Birding Association, and now shaping what comes next. In this wide-ranging conversation, Jeff and Scott talk about the roots of his passion for nature, from the Delaware Nature Society and an Appalachian Trail revelation to miraculous moments like spotting a White-tailed Tropicbird in the Dry Tortugas and a last-minute polar bear encounter in Nunavut.

They dig into the joys and challenges of building community around birding, the evolution of the ABA, and the deeper meaning of being in nature—whether you’re scanning the horizon for seabirds, planting native gardens at home, or simply sitting quietly and letting the wild world come back to life around you.

It’s a conversation about memory, connection, and why there’s always more to birding than birds.

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This week on NaturallyScott, I’m joined by Scott V. Edwards, Alexander Agassiz Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University.

Professor Edwards shares the incredible story of biking across the United States, reflecting on how the journey connected him more deeply to the landscapes and wildlife he has studied throughout his career. Along the way, we dive into the legacy of President Theodore Roosevelt—his outsized impact on natural history, conservation, and the way we think about America’s wild spaces today.

It’s a conversation about science, endurance, history, and the open road—told by one of the most distinguished evolutionary biologists in the country.

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In this episode of NaturallyScott, Scott sits down with Kean Almryde — birder, storyteller, and Disney insider — to talk about how a backyard hummingbird feeder changed his life and led him into the world of birds. From Anna’s and Allen’s hummingbirds in Southern California to peregrine falcons on the bluffs, Kean shares how birding became his spark. Then the conversation takes flight into Disney magic: why The Little Mermaid swapped Scuttle the seagull for a northern gannet, hidden bird sculptures in Disney hotels, flocks of wild parrots in LA, and even José Carioca, the green parrot of Walt’s South American tour. With humor, curiosity, and a touch of Disney storytelling, Kean shows how birds aren’t just in our backyards — they’re in our culture, art, and imagination too.

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In this episode of NaturallyScott, host Scott Harris sits down with Sy Montgomery—five-time New York Times bestselling author, naturalist, and storyteller extraordinaire. Together, they wander through the wild corners of nature: from the brilliance of birds to Sy’s latest work on turtles, and into her trove of unbelievable field adventures. Expect wisdom, wonder, and a few jaw-dropping tales—like the time she was undressed by an orangutan. If you love animals, untamed places, and the art of storytelling, this is a conversation you won’t forget.

You can Find Sy's amazing books on Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sy-Montgomery/author/B001IXRUQK?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1755620062&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=7ec179c8-bbbf-486b-8ecb-7286d1b03e83

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For more than three decades, Dr. Jerry Lorenz has been a voice for the Everglades — a scientist, teacher, and lifelong birder who helped lead Florida Audubon’s fight to restore one of the world’s most endangered ecosystems.

In this conversation with Scott Harris, Jerry takes us deep into the story of the Everglades, its estuaries, and the pink-winged residents that symbolize both fragility and resilience — the flamingos. From his front yard in Islamorada to the farthest reaches of Florida Bay, Jerry shares what it means to dedicate a lifetime to restoration, research, and reverence for the wild.

🦩 In this episode:
🌊 The hidden life of estuaries — where fresh and salt water meet
🌴 How the Everglades are being brought back to life
🐦 The mystery and return of flamingos to Florida
📖 The true story behind Guy Bradley and the deadly plume trade
💧 Why South Florida’s future depends on saving its wetlands

A remarkable journey through the science, struggle, and soul of Florida’s wild heart — and the people fighting to keep it alive.

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Step aboard for an unforgettable journey with Captain Chriss Thoma, a man whose life at sea is equal parts adventure, grit, and awe. Chris shares how a love of the ocean and a hunger for exploration carried him north to Alaska’s wild, untamed coastlines. From threading narrow island passages in the early morning fog to scanning the horizon for the spout of a humpback whale, every day brings a new story.

We’ll hear about the powerful pull of Alaska’s seasons, the challenges of navigating icy waters, and the quiet, humbling moments when nature steals the show — a pod of orcas on the hunt, a bald eagle swooping inches from the bow, sea otters floating like little rafts in the sun. For Chris, being captain isn’t just a job; it’s a front-row seat to one of the richest wildlife theaters on Earth.

Whether you’re drawn to the romance of maritime life, the raw beauty of Alaska, or the thrill of close encounters with wild creatures, Chris’s story will leave you inspired — and maybe plotting your own voyage north.

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Laura Erickson is my guest. She is an author, scientist, podcaster and radio host. She has been birding for decades and has amazing stories. She is also an expert on what plants to have in your yard to benefit the birds.

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Greg Miller joins me, Scott Harris, for the first ever NaturallyScott podcast. Greg is best known for the book and movie The Big Year, but he brings so much more to the world of birding. Join me as we listen to a great birder and his fantastic stories.

Greg shares his personal journey, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of his famous "Big Year" in 1998, a time when technology was sparse. Discover the unique blend of nostalgia and innovation that shapes today's birding community, and how these changes continue to impact birders worldwide. Tune in for an engaging conversation that bridges the past and present of birding adventures.

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Sophie Osborn never expected to spend her life saving birds. With degrees in French literature and international relations, she seemed destined for diplomacy — not a tent in grizzly country, hand-raising peregrine falcons on the edge of extinction.

In this powerful and moving conversation with Scott Harris, Sophie shares her extraordinary path from the University of Pennsylvania to the wilds of Wyoming, Kenya, Hawaii, and the Grand Canyon — all chronicled in her acclaimed book Feather Trails: A Journey of Discovery Among Endangered Birds.

🦅 In this episode:
🌍 How peregrine falcons came back from the brink after DDT
🐦 The heartbreak and hope of working with Hawaiian crows and California condors
📚 Why individuality — not just populations — matters in conservation
💫 What it means to fall in love with the wild and dedicate your life to its defense
✍️ Behind the scenes of her next book, Wild Work: Adventures of Women Field Biologists

From condors and crows to childhood spark birds, Sophie’s story is one of resilience — a testament to how much one person’s wonder and persistence can change the world for the wild things that still remain.

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Susie Spikol is an author, naturalist, and lifelong believer in wonder — a woman who bridges the world of science and story with grace and joy.

In this charming and heartfelt conversation with Scott Harris, Susie explores how imagination and curiosity can reconnect us — and our children — to the natural world. From her beloved books The Book of Fairies and Forest Magic for Kids to her decades of work at the Harris Center for Conservation Education, Susie reminds us that nature’s greatest lessons often begin with play.

🧚‍♀️ In this episode:
📖 The childhood magic behind The Book of Fairies
🌲 Blending storytelling with science
🦉 Life at the Harris Center in Hancock, New Hampshire
🧪 The joy of “potion-making” and unstructured outdoor play
💫 Why wonder is a form of wisdom — and why we must protect it

Susie’s world is one where fairies meet field guides, where curiosity leads to conservation, and where every child (and adult) is invited to rediscover the wild imagination that still lives within us.

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Cherryl Connally is a lifelong naturalist, birder, and educator who has spent decades helping people slow down, look closer, and rediscover wonder in the ordinary.

In this thoughtful and heartfelt conversation with Scott Harris, Cherryl shares stories from her life in nature — from childhood birding adventures to her work connecting communities with the outdoors.

🕊️ Highlights include:
🌿 Finding stillness and balance through birdwatching
📚 How curiosity can transform the way we see the world
💬 The subtle art of teaching wonder — and why it matters
🎨 The creative side of fieldwork and nature journaling
💡 What birds can teach us about presence, patience, and play

This episode is a quiet celebration of awareness, gratitude, and the magic in everyday encounters with nature.

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Doug Peacock has lived a life few could imagine — from serving as a Green Beret medic in Vietnam, to spending decades alone among grizzlies in the wilds of Yellowstone, Glacier, and beyond.

A lifelong author, filmmaker, and conservationist, Doug’s story is one of survival, humility, and fierce love for the wilderness. In this intimate and powerful conversation with Scott Harris, he shares how encounters with grizzly bears helped him heal from the trauma of war and shaped a life of purpose and advocacy.

🐻 Highlights include:
🌲 Coming home from Vietnam and finding healing in the wild
📚 The making of Grizzly Years — now one of National Geographic’s “Top 100 Adventure Books of All Time”
🎥 Filming the PBS documentary Peacock’s War and The Beast of Our Time
🔥 Why he never carried a gun in grizzly country — and what those encounters taught him about courage
🌎 How climate change and habitat loss threaten North America’s great bears
💪 The fight to keep grizzlies protected and wild — and why it’s worth it

It’s a conversation about wilderness, redemption, and the quiet heroism of those who refuse to give up on wild things.

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Some people see the natural world. Others listen to it. Al Batt — writer, speaker, humorist, and lifelong Minnesotan — has spent decades doing both.

In this heartfelt and hilarious conversation with Scott Harris, Al shares the gentle wisdom and wild humor that have made his newspaper columns and radio shows beloved across the Midwest.

🪶 Highlights include:
🐿️ Outsmarted by squirrels — and proud of it
📚 From farm life to storytelling and 4,000 columns later
💚 The gift of laughter and the love that made him a writer
🦉 What birds and people really teach each other
🎙️ His 35+ years on public radio and Birding with Batt
🎵 Why Janis Joplin, John Prine & Johnny Cash still shape how he hears the world

It’s a conversation about growing up surrounded by nature, finding joy in simple things, and realizing that humor may be the purest form of reverence.

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What happens when a philosopher and musician listens to the world — and then plays back?

David Rothenberg is a clarinetist, composer, and philosopher at the New Jersey Institute of Technology whose groundbreaking work explores the deep connections between music, sound, and the natural world. He’s performed live with birds, whales, and insects, written classic books like Why Birds Sing and Thousand Mile Song, and appeared in the film The Loneliest Whale.

In this fascinating conversation with Scott Harris, David shares stories of:
🌊 Playing clarinet alongside humpback whales and laughing thrushes
🎶 The strange beauty of whale songs — and why some scientists call it “evolution’s music”
🐋 The 1960s discovery that changed how the world sees whales
🧠 Animal consciousness, emotion, and the mystery of beauty in evolution
💡 How AI, art, and philosophy all intersect in the music of the natural world

It’s an episode that moves between art and science — reminding us that to listen deeply is to rediscover wonder itself.

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In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott Harris sits down with primatologist and author Dr. Christine Webb to explore the ideas behind her powerful new book, The Arrogant Ape. Christine’s work blends primatology, psychology, philosophy, Indigenous knowledge, and lived experience to challenge one of the most deeply ingrained beliefs in Western culture: that humans sit above the rest of nature.

Christine shares the roots of her fascination with animal minds, her academic path from Emory to Harvard to NYU, and the pivotal field encounters — including a surprising moment with a young baboon named Bear — that reshaped her understanding of what other species know, feel, and perceive.

Together, Scott and Christine dig into:

• Why Western science has long insisted on human superiority
• How captivity creates “bizarre” models of animal behavior
• What Indigenous worldviews understood long before modern research
• How animals communicate, think, and even empathize
• What shifting away from human exceptionalism might mean for our future
• Why moments of connection with wild animals matter more than we realize

Scott also shares his extraordinary encounter with a Northern Hawk Owl — a moment that brushed against the boundary of species and self — and Christine responds with insight into how animals may be perceiving us in ways we’re only beginning to understand.

This conversation is thought-provoking, personal, and full of wonder. If you’ve ever questioned where humans truly fit into the living world, this episode will stay with you.

Christine’s Book: The Arrogant Ape
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In E34, Scott sits down with Michael Goergen, President & CEO of the American Chestnut Foundation, for a powerful and deeply hopeful conversation about restoring one of America’s most important lost trees — the American Chestnut.

The American Chestnut once made up 25% of the Appalachian forest, feeding wildlife, sustaining communities, and anchoring entire ecosystems. Then a blight brought from overseas wiped out nearly every adult tree within a single human lifetime. Today, only root sprouts remain — alive, but unable to reach the canopy.

Michael walks us through:

🌰 The rise and fall of the American Chestnut — from canopy monarch to functional extinction
🌱 Why the roots never died — and how this miracle of endurance makes restoration possible

🧬 Cutting-edge genetics & breeding programs:
• Recombinant genomic selection
• Cross-breeding resistant trees
• Exploring CRISPR and biotech tools
• Why restoring a long-lived tree requires decades of patience

🔥 Battling multiple threats:
• Chestnut blight
• Phytophthora root rot
• Site conditions that determine survival or failure

🏔 Chestnut groves that still exist today — and where to find wild sprouts and active restoration orchards along the East Coast

🤝 Why this work is powered mostly by volunteers and private donors, not the government — and why that makes it one of America’s great conservation stories

🌲 Forests, ecosystems, water, wildlife, and people — how restoring a single keystone species strengthens entire landscapes and communities

🐻 Unexpected connections:
• Chestnuts and black bears
• Chestnuts and passenger pigeons
• Chestnuts and early Indigenous cultures

💡 Why hope — not fear — drives conservation, and why Michael believes a restored, self-sustaining American Chestnut forest is achievable within our lifetimes.

📚 Michael’s Book Recommendation:
Nature’s Metropolis: Chicago and the Great West — William Cronon

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In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott sits down with John Calambokidis, one of the world’s leading cetacean researchers and the co-founder of Cascadia Research Collective. For more than four decades, John has studied whales across the Pacific, combining long-term fieldwork, cutting-edge technology, and an unwavering commitment to scientific integrity.

The conversation opens with a candid look at whale rescue efforts, including the heartbreak of failed rescues and what those moments reveal about both human limits and motivation. From there, Scott and John explore the story behind The Loneliest Whale: The Search for 52, unpacking how a mysterious 52-hertz call captured the public imagination — and what science can and cannot say about “loneliness” in whales.

John walks listeners through Cascadia’s work on ship strikes, underwater noise, entanglements, and the hidden dangers whales face at night in busy shipping corridors like the Santa Barbara Channel. He explains how tagging data, photo-identification, and citizen science platforms like Happy Whale are reshaping how we understand whale movements and risk.

The episode also dives into Cascadia’s research on false killer whales in Hawaiʻi, the growing challenges facing marine science funding, and how political pressures increasingly collide with objective research. John reflects on what it means to stay scientifically honest when results don’t align with expectations — and why credibility matters more than advocacy alone.

John closes by recommending Abundance by Ezra Klein, a book he believes speaks directly to the gap between knowledge, intention, and action.

As always, Scott ends with a simple invitation: get outside, stay curious, and keep paying attention to the natural world we’re still trying to understand.

Guest Recommendation
Abundance — Ezra Klein

Links & Resources
Cascadia Research Collective: https://www.cascadiaresearch.org

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In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott Harris is joined by Lisa T. Ballance, Director of the Marine Mammal Institute, for a wide-ranging conversation that moves from personal history to some of the most consequential marine science of the past half-century.

Ballance explains how her career in ecology and conservation biology led her into the heart of the tuna–dolphin controversy in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, where massive purse-seine fisheries once killed millions of dolphins and reshaped global seafood policy. Scott and Lisa discover that their lives briefly intersected during the late 1980s, when public pressure, undercover documentation, and consumer action helped force the creation of the dolphin-safe tuna label.

From there, the conversation turns toward the edge of scientific knowledge. Ballance describes her work searching for cryptic cetaceans — species so elusive they were known only from stranded remains — including the first confirmed sightings of ginkgo-toothed beaked whales alive in the wild. She also shares the extraordinary effort to locate and genetically sample the rare Type D killer whale in the Southern Ocean, a population so distinct it may represent an entirely new species.

Along the way, Ballance reflects on how science advances at the limits of uncertainty, the unintended consequences of well-intentioned conservation, and why humility and persistence matter when studying animals that live far beyond human reach.

Lisa’s book recommendation: Merchants of Doubt.

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What would it take to truly rewild North America?

In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott Harris sits down with Jack Humphrey of the Rewilding Institute to explore one of the most ambitious and consequential ideas in modern conservation: reconnecting large landscapes so nature can function the way it once did.

Jack shares decades of firsthand experience working on wilderness cores, wildlife corridors, and large carnivore conservation—from restoring illegal roads in the Southwest, to building wolf acclimation pens on Ted Turner’s Ladder Ranch, to helping shape the continental rewilding movement itself.

Together, Scott and Jack unpack:

• What rewilding really means (and what it doesn’t)
• Why wolves, jaguars, and other apex predators matter far beyond their own survival
• The concept of cores, corridors, carnivores, and coexistence
• How wolf reintroduction reshapes entire ecosystems
• Why conservation may depend on protecting half the planet
• The tension between scientific urgency and public messaging
• Whether nature can recover if humans simply get out of the way

This is a wide-ranging, thoughtful conversation about biodiversity, land use, human responsibility, and the future of wild places—grounded in science, history, and lived experience.

Jack also recommends the book Borderland Jaguars, a powerful primer on the return of jaguars to the U.S.–Mexico borderlands.

If you care about wolves, wilderness, national parks, or what a livable planet actually requires, this episode is for you.

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From growing up in Hawai‘i and Washington, D.C. to spending decades on the Farallon Islands, Peter Pyle has lived at the intersection of birds, science, and curiosity. A founding figure in modern bird banding and the author of the definitive guides to bird molt and plumage, Peter joins Scott Harris for a wide-ranging conversation about how feathers shape everything we think we know about birds.

Together, they explore what molt really is, why it matters, how birds replace their feathers without losing the ability to fly, and how studying “scruffy” birds has unlocked entirely new ways of aging and understanding species. Along the way, Peter shares stories from a lifetime in ornithology—from white shark research and seabird colonies to Christmas Bird Counts, citizen science, and the quiet beauty of careful observation.

This episode is a deep dive into the unseen mechanics of birds—and a reminder that the most important details are often the ones we overlook.

Guest: Peter Pyle — Ornithologist, bander, and author of the Identification Guide to North American Birds
Host: Scott Harris | Naturally Scott

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In this episode, Scott sits down with one of the most influential naturalists of our time: Kenn Kaufman. From hitchhiking across North America as a teenager to becoming a celebrated author, artist, field guide creator, and voice for nature, Kenn’s life is a masterclass in what can happen when curiosity is allowed to lead.

We talk about his early years chasing rare birds with nothing but a backpack and a thumb on the highway, the origins of Kingbird Highway, and the moment he realized he wanted to spend his life helping others see the natural world more clearly. Kenn shares how painting reshaped the way he sees birds, why migration along Lake Erie still gives him chills, and how a single moth outside his window can derail his entire train of thought in the best possible way.

We also explore his field guide work, from advanced identification to making nature accessible for beginners, the joy and humility of contributing to Birds in Art, and his belief that the everyday—house sparrows, garter snakes, skunks, late-season vireos—is every bit as worthy of wonder as the rare and extraordinary.

This is an episode about birds, yes—but more than that, it's about attention, gratitude, and a lifetime of choosing to stay fascinated.

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Today, I’m joined by Dr. John van Wyhe, historian of science at the National University of Singapore and one of the world’s leading experts on Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace. We break open the myths, misunderstandings, and surprising truths behind Darwin’s life, the Voyage of the Beagle, the long road to the theory of evolution, and why the Galápagos were not the eureka moment you've always heard about.

John walks us through how scientists in the 1830s actually understood geology, extinction, and the age of the Earth — and why nearly everything we think about that era is wrong. We explore Darwin’s five evolving theories, Wallace’s unexpected role, the tension between science and religion (or lack of it), and the moment the modern idea of natural selection finally clicked.

He also highlights his upcoming book with Oxford University Press, Darwin’s Geological Diary and Field Notes from the Voyage of the Beagle, and recommends a surprising Darwin book about earthworms that became a Victorian bestseller.

This conversation was extraordinary — and just the beginning. We’ll be bringing John back to dive into the global impact Darwin’s theory had after publication.

Book mentioned: The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms
Darwin Online: https://darwin-online.org.uk

John’s recommended reading: Dispelling the Darkness

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Rewilding isn’t about nostalgia — it’s about scale.

In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott sits down with Dr. Jodi Hilty, President and Chief Scientist of the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y), to explore one of the most ambitious conservation visions on Earth: reconnecting 2,000 miles of wild landscape from Yellowstone National Park to the Yukon.

Dr. Hilty explains why isolated parks are no longer enough, how wildlife corridors, overpasses, and private lands keep ecosystems functioning, and why large carnivores like wolves, wolverines, and grizzly bears are essential to biodiversity, climate resilience, and even carbon storage. Along the way, she shares stories of wolves crossing international borders, pronghorn migrations shaped by predators, and the real, practical work of helping ranchers coexist with carnivores.

This is a conversation about conservation that works with people instead of against them — grounded in science, cooperation, and long-term thinking.

Learn more about Yellowstone to Yukon at https://www.y2y.net

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In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott sits down with ecohydrologist Emily Fairfax of the University of Minnesota to talk about an animal that quietly reshapes entire landscapes: the beaver.

What begins as a conversation about hydrology and water quickly becomes a deep look at how beavers function as true ecosystem engineers. Emily explains how their dams slow water, restore wetlands, create wildlife habitat, and even build natural resilience to wildfire.

Scott and Emily also explore common misconceptions about beavers, why they are often misunderstood, and how their impact can be seen everywhere from deserts to places like Yellowstone National Park. The discussion reveals how a single species can influence forests, rivers, wildlife, and entire communities in ways most of us never notice.

This is an episode about water, wilderness, and why one of North America’s largest rodents may be one of its most important conservation partners.

Learn more about Emily’s work at the University of Minnesota.

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In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott sits down with Peter Stangel of the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities to talk about forests in a way most people never hear them discussed.

Not as scenery.
 Not as hiking destinations.
 And not even primarily as ecosystems.

But as working systems that support both people and wildlife at the same time.

Following recent conversations about saving the American chestnut and protecting the redwoods, this episode steps back to look at the forest as a whole. Peter explains what “forest health” really means, why preservation alone is not enough, and how active forest management can be essential to keeping forests healthy, productive, and resilient.

Scott and Peter also explore how large nonprofits, foundations, and private philanthropy become involved in forest work, and why investing in forests often means investing in rural communities, clean water, wildlife habitat, and long-term economic stability all at once.

This conversation reframes the way we think about forests — not as places we visit, but as systems we depend on every single day.

Learn more about the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities at https://www.usendowment.org

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In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott sits down with author David Gessner, a writer who never wanted to be called a nature writer — and yet became one of the most important voices helping us understand why wild places and birds matter.

David is the author of Return of the Osprey, Soaring with Fidel, Leave It As It Is, and The Book of Flaco, among many others. His work explores raptors, wilderness, obsession, humor, grief, and the deep human pull toward the natural world. Scott first encountered David’s writing early in his own birding journey and found in it a model for how storytelling can make wildlife feel personal, immediate, and essential.

The conversation moves through David’s career, his resistance to labels, his love of Theodore Roosevelt’s wilderness, the strange and powerful story of Flaco the Eurasian Eagle Owl in New York City, and a phrase Scott openly admits to borrowing from David: “vacation with a purpose.”

This is a conversation about how paying attention to birds, landscapes, and wild stories changes the way we move through the world.

Learn more about David and his work at https://davidgessner.com

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In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott sits down with John Goodell, Executive Director and Chief Curator of the Archives of Falconry, to explore one of humanity’s oldest and most misunderstood relationships with wildlife.

Falconry is often imagined as domination or display. In reality, it is a hunting tradition built on trust, restraint, and a deep respect for wild raptors. John explains what falconry actually is, how it has been practiced for more than two thousand years across cultures, and why the birds at the center of it remain fully wild — free to leave at any moment.

The conversation moves through the history of falconry, the demanding licensing process, the ethics of flying wild birds, and the intimate knowledge falconers develop of predator and prey alike. Along the way, John shares what it means to care for a raptor day after day, why many falconers eventually release their birds back into the wild, and how falconry has shaped modern raptor conservation.

This is a conversation about humility, discipline, and what it looks like to work with nature instead of trying to master it.

Learn more about the Archives of Falconry at https://www.falconry.org

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In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott sits down with Scott Black, Executive Director of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, to explore the small creatures doing the biggest work in nature: insects and other invertebrates.

Scott Black breaks down what “invertebrates” really are, why pollinators matter far beyond gardens, and how conservation shifts when you start paying attention to the species without backbones. Along the way, he explains a surprising truth about honey bees — that they’re not native wildlife, but closer to livestock — and why native pollinators deserve far more of the spotlight.

This is a conversation about habitat, pesticides, endangered species, and the practical steps that can help reverse declines — from what we plant to how we manage land.

Learn more about the Xerces Society at https://www.xerces.org

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New York Harbor is one of the most storied waterways in the world, but for generations it was also one of the most damaged. Long before skyscrapers defined the skyline, oysters shaped the ecology, economy, and culture of the region—until they were pushed to the brink of disappearance. Today, something remarkable is happening beneath the surface.

In this episode, Scott Harris sits down with Pete Malinowski, co-founder of the Billion Oyster Project, to explore one of the most ambitious urban restoration efforts in the world. Pete explains why oysters matter so much—to water quality, marine life, and shoreline resilience—and how restoring them means rebuilding entire ecosystems, not just a single species.

The conversation traces the history of New York Harbor’s decline, the science behind oyster reef restoration, and the hands-on work happening right now with students, volunteers, and community partners. From recycling millions of pounds of oyster shells to engaging thousands of young people in marine science, the project shows how conservation, education, and civic pride can move together. It’s a reminder that environmental recovery doesn’t always start in remote wilderness—it can begin in the heart of a city.

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In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott sits down with Elizabeth Gray, CEO of the National Audubon Society, for a wide-ranging conversation about birds, climate, hope, and what it really takes to turn conservation losses around.

Elizabeth shares the personal experiences that shaped her life in conservation — from childhood curiosity sparked by books, to studying endangered Hawaiian honeycreepers, to witnessing firsthand how climate change affects species that live nowhere else on Earth. The conversation moves through stories of loss, resilience, and recovery, including the return of bald eagles to the Potomac River and what those birds reveal about the health of entire ecosystems.

Scott and Elizabeth explore Audubon’s ambitious vision to “bend the bird curve” after the loss of three billion birds in North America, what that goal means across the Americas, and how habitat conservation, climate action, policy, and community science all fit together. They also discuss why birds act as sentinels for the planet, how everyday people can play a role, and why optimism — grounded in real success stories — matters more than ever.

This is a conversation about birds, yes, but also about clean water, healthy landscapes, and the belief that restoration is possible when people choose to act.

Learn more about Audubon’s work, programs, and how to get involved at audubon.org

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In this 50th episode of Naturally Scott, Scott Harris sits down with Chad Nelson, CEO of the Surfrider Foundation, to talk about a coastal conservation organization that doesn’t just educate and inspire — it organizes, advocates, and fights for practical outcomes.

Surfrider’s work spans five core fronts: plastic reduction, ocean protection, beach access, coasts and climate, and clean water. Chad explains how a movement that began with surfers trying to protect beloved breaks has grown into a national network of volunteers running hundreds of campaigns — from cutting single-use plastics and improving water quality testing, to defending public access along shorelines, to building real solutions for coastal erosion and sea level rise.

A major focus of the conversation is offshore drilling. Scott and Chad walk through why Surfrider opposes new offshore drilling across U.S. waters, how the federal leasing process works, what’s being proposed, and what’s at stake for wildlife, fisheries, tourism economies, and coastal communities.

This is an episode about the places we love — and what it takes to protect them.

Learn more about Surfrider and their campaigns at surfrider.org

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