Into The Bush Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of Into the Bush, we’re joined by Dr. Johanna Varner—adorably known as “Dr. Pika Jo”—a pika biologist based in Colorado whose path to conservation was anything but linear. From biomedical engineering at MIT to studying one of the cutest alpine mammals on Earth, Jo shares how a wealth of curiosity, a willingness to send cold emails, and incredible women mentors have helped to shape her career.

We dive into the wild and sometimes silly realities of fieldwork: elusive pikas, failed traps, bears, wildfires, and the art of adapting when nothing goes according to plan. Jo also gives us a masterclass in pika biology—tiny potato-shaped mammals that don’t hibernate, collect massive “hay piles” to survive winter, and communicate with squeaky calls that echo through mountain boulder fields.

Along the way, we talk science communication, the power of female mentorship, and Jo’s surreal experience being immortalized as a life-size orange statue at the National Mall as part of the IF/THEN initiative. It’s an episode full of laughter, resilience, and deep love for the small, scrappy creatures and the women who move mountains for the planet.

What happens when curiosity leads you underground? In this episode of Into the Bush, we meet Chantira Saifimar, a conservation practitioner from Batam, Indonesia, focused on community-powered island conservation. Chantira reflects on her early roots as a girl who loved her local sea turtles and how that passion now powers conversations, education, and outreach that build a broader, deeper community centered on caring for nature.

Sometimes these conversations can be easy, fun, and immediately rewarding, but others take courage and true conviction—like when Chantira has to approach poachers in the wild! This conversation centers on how bringing people together is key for conservation success—and the reminder that no one is an island.

This episode was made possible by the Denver Zoo’s Women Conservation Fund, which supports women like Chantira who are redefining what conservation leadership looks like.

Learn more about Serindit Philosophy Centre on their website.

Join us for part two with our co-hosts Nikki Roach, PhD, and Cat Kutz as they share experiences from their own journeys in conservation. This episode dives into mental health topics, including anxiety and depression.

More about the co-hosts!

Nikki (she/her) is a conservation scientist who has worked at the interface of science, policy, and communication. Nikki’s work has brought her across the America’s - from wetlands in South Carolina to tropical forests in Colombia - where she has worked with local communities, government agencies, and International organizations. She earned her PhD from Texas A&M University in 2020 and is a member of three IUCN Species Survival Commission specialist groups (Climate Change, Amphibians, and Small Mammals), a member of the Center for Nature & Leadership, Women in Nature Network, and an Associate Scientist at Re:wild. She is based in Berkeley, California (Ohlone lands), where she works at the science-policy interface to protect ecosystems, wildlife, and communities by promoting equitable nature-based solutions to mitigate climate change.

Cat (she/her) is a science communicator who has spent a decade working with NGOs, governments, field researchers, academics, and activists to tell stories about conservation and the people working to protect biodiversity around the world. Cat studied science communication and media production at George Mason University, where she also continued her graduate education in biodiversity conservation with a focus on conservation technology. She had the opportunity to support George Mason's future conservation communicators by mentoring students at the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation during her recent tenure as the Director of Communications and Marketing for the Smithsonian’s Conservation Commons. At the Smithsonian, she led the popular Earth Optimism campaign – a movement focused on conservation and climate solutions and the inspiration of people leading change for our planet. Cat lives in Northern Virginia and currently works as the biodiversity communications and marketing lead for an NGO driving solutions for global challenges.

Connect with Nikki and Cat on IG: @nikkixnature and @catlikely

Join us for a two-part episode with our co-hosts Nikki Roach, PhD, and Cat Kutz as they share experiences from their own journeys in conservation. PSA diva cups and she-wees will be mentioned!

More about the co-hosts!

Nikki (she/her) is a conservation scientist who has worked at the interface of science, policy, and communication. Nikki’s work has brought her across the America’s - from wetlands in South Carolina to tropical forests in Colombia - where she has worked with local communities, government agencies, and International organizations. She earned her PhD from Texas A&M University in 2020 and is a member of three IUCN Species Survival Commission specialist groups (Climate Change, Amphibians, and Small Mammals), a member of the Center for Nature & Leadership, Women in Nature Network, and an Associate Scientist at Re:wild. She is based in Berkeley, California (Ohlone lands), where she works at the science-policy interface to protect ecosystems, wildlife, and communities by promoting equitable nature-based solutions to mitigate climate change.

Cat (she/her) is a science communicator who has spent a decade working with NGOs, governments, field researchers, academics, and activists to tell stories about conservation and the people working to protect biodiversity around the world. Cat studied science communication and media production at George Mason University, where she also continued her graduate education in biodiversity conservation with a focus on conservation technology. She had the opportunity to support George Mason's future conservation communicators by mentoring students at the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation during her recent tenure as the Director of Communications and Marketing for the Smithsonian’s Conservation Commons. At the Smithsonian, she led the popular Earth Optimism campaign – a movement focused on conservation and climate solutions and the inspiration of people leading change for our planet. Cat lives in Northern Virginia and currently works as the biodiversity communications and marketing lead for an NGO driving solutions for global challenges.

Connect with Nikki and Cat on IG: @nikkixnature and @catlikely

Angela Yang is a dedicated conservationist who has worked in wildlife conservation for more decades than she cares to admit. Her career has spanned the zoo and international field conservation worlds, with over a decade spent living and working abroad. As her career evolved, Angela discovered that her passion stems from working with local organizations, communities, and strengthening capacity, particularly creating opportunities for women.

Before returning to the US in 2018, Angela lived in Cambodia, Kenya and the United Kingdom, working with international organizations such as the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).

Angela holds a BSc. from the University of British Columbia and a MSc. from the University of Edinburgh. She is a member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission and the World Commission on Protected Areas. Angela sits on the Advisory Council of William & Mary’s Institute for Integrative Conservation and the Advisory Board for the International Rhino Foundation, as well as advising for other smaller conservation organizations. She has authored or co-authored a number of publications, including a book chapter entitled, “Bridging the Gap between Conservation and Health”. More recently, she co-authored an editorial for the IUCN WCPA publication that examines the impacts of COVID-19 on protected and conserved areas.

Connect with Angela on LinkedIn

Dr. Meredith S. Palmer is a behavioral ecologist and conservation technologist, who has worked for universities, governments, NGOs, and the private sector. She is currently a conservation scientist at Yale University. She has spearheaded wildlife monitoring projects across the African continent and the Americas. By leveraging emerging technologies, she works to collect “big data” that enables us to better understand biodiversity at scale. She currently operates at the interface of conservation and technology, integrating AI, citizen science, and statistics to drive innovation in conservation practice.

Follow Meredith: meredithspalmer.weebly.com | Instagram

Other resources mentioned in this episode:

Field Inclusive; Field Futures; Cultivate Project; WildLabs

About KM

KM Reyes is a conservation lobbyist, community organizer, and National Geographic Explorer, based on Palawan island, the Philippines. Born and raised in Australia to Filipino parents, she has lived and worked extensively in Europe, Latin America, and North Africa. She is the Co-Founder & Advisor of the environmental non-government organization, Centre for Sustainability PH Inc. Since establishing Centre for Sustainability, KM led the organization in spearheading the declaration in 2017 of the Cleopatra’s Needle Critical Habitat, now the country's biggest critical habitat.

KM is passionate about professionalizing conservation, improving gender equality, and the recognition of indigenous land rights. Her work at CS is driven by the belief that only by connecting communities with their immediate and surrounding environments will we be able to understand and find sustainable solutions to our planet’s greatest environmental challenges.

Keep up with KM’s adventures & advocacy here; and learn more about Centre for Sustainability PH here.

What happens when curiosity leads you underground? In this episode of Into the Bush, we sit down with conservation scientist Catia Canteiro to trace her unexpected path from psychology to biology—and into the hidden world of plants and fungi that quietly hold ecosystems together. From mycorrhizal networks that underpin life on Earth to the often-overlooked role of fungi in conservation, Catia invites us to see nature as deeply interconnected, complex, and alive.

We also talk candidly about navigating science as a woman, holding fast to core values, and the power of mentorship along the way. This is a conversation about listening—to the land, to each other, and to the hidden forces shaping our world.

In this episode of Into the Bush, we dive in (pun absolutely intended) with the incomparable Dr. Tiara Moore — a marine ecologist, founder and CEO of Black in Marine Science (BIMS), and newly minted Belize resident after a month-long wedding celebration that deserves its own rom-com.

In this episode, Tiara takes us from Philly to South Carolina to UCLA, then all the way to the second-largest barrier reef in the world, where a coral-restoration project — and a well-timed writing retreat — changed her life forever. We talk about what it means to build community from scratch, how #BlackInMarineScienceWeek exploded into a global nonprofit spanning 31 countries, and why joy, equity, and ocean literacy are inseparable in her work.

Learn more about Black in Marine Science on their website and by following them on Instagram.

In this episode of Into the Bush, we head to Indonesia to meet Alifi Nisya, the only woman Program Manager at Forum Konservasi Leuser. With eight years of experience protecting her country’s biodiversity, Alifi has built her career on collaboration, bringing together communities, scientists, and policymakers to protect elephants and their rapidly shrinking habitat. Her work is both scientific and deeply human: addressing human-wildlife conflict, empowering local women, and fighting for the forests that sustain all life. Together, we talk about what it means to lead as a woman in conservation, how courage and compassion coexist in fieldwork, and what keeps her grounded in a world that’s constantly changing.

This episode was made possible by the Denver Zoo’s Women Conservation Fund, which supports women like Alifi who are redefining what conservation leadership looks like.

Learn more about Forum Konservasi Leuser on their website and by following them on Instagram.