Explore every episode of the podcast Our Wild Lives
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our Wild Lives Trailer | 03 Oct 2025 | 00:01:55 | |
Share your thoughts on the Our Wild Lives Podcast by sending us a text here! Become a member of The Wildlife Society: https://wildlife.org/join/ Support Wildlife, Invest in Wildlife Professionals: https://wildlife.org/donate/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildlifesociety/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildlifesociety LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wildlife-society/ | |||
| Fieldwork 101 with Erik, Olivia and Clare | 03 Oct 2025 | 00:28:46 | |
Ever wondered what it really takes to do wildlife fieldwork? In this episode, head into the sagebrush with three graduate students studying shrikes, pygmy rabbits, and sagebrush songbirds. Hear about the honest, useful details: how to prep for a season that vanishes in a blur, what gear actually matters (sunshirts, yes; sandals areâŚcontroversial), and how to recover when things go sideways. This conversation shows why being there changes what we can know. We talk about finding the right lab and advisor, applying to technician roles with volume and intention, and writing cover letters that are specific, early, and honest about gaps. Youâll hear how non-traditional students can be standout techs, why transferable skills matter, and how rolling reviews reward applicants who donât wait for deadlines. The stories are unfiltered: a black bear on hind legs eyeing a âblood smoothie,â a near nap on a rattlesnake, a UTV dropping into a hidden creek at night. The takeaway is bigger than any mishap: fieldwork is a rite of passage that teaches judgment, resilience, and the kind of naturalist attention that turns data into understanding. If youâre plotting your first seasonâor your fifteenthâyouâll get practical advice you can use tomorrow: organize goals before the rush, expect to forget something, make peace with Plan B, and invest in the people beside you at 4 a.m. Because the field isnât just where we collect numbers; itâs where we find the questions worth asking next. Subscribe, share this with a future field tech, and tell us: whatâs your must-have gearâand are you team boots or team sandals? Links to more information: Wyoming Cooperative Research Unit Share your thoughts on the Our Wild Lives Podcast by sending us a text here! Become a member of The Wildlife Society: https://wildlife.org/join/ Support Wildlife, Invest in Wildlife Professionals: https://wildlife.org/donate/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildlifesociety/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildlifesociety LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wildlife-society/ | |||
| The Secret Lives of Sagebrush Songbirds with Emily Shertzer | 03 Oct 2025 | 00:27:22 | |
In this episode, we delve into the life of sagebrush songbirds with Emily Schertzer, a PhD candidate at the University of Wyoming. Emily shares her journey into ornithology, her methods for tracking these tiny birds, and the impact of human development and climate change on their habitats. We explore the intricacies of these songbirds' lives, their nesting habits, migration patterns, and the importance of clear scientific communication. Emily also describes the different species she studies, including Brewer's sparrows, sagebrush sparrows, and sage thrashers, and their interactions with each other and their environment. Lastly, we discuss the future of songbird conservation and the collaborative efforts needed to protect these migratory species. 00:00 Introduction to Sagebrush Songbirds 00:08 Meet Emily Schertzer: A Journey into Ornithology 01:04 Understanding Songbirds and Their Habitats 01:44 Emily's Path to Bird Research 02:34 Field Research in Sagebrush Habitats 04:42 Tracking Tiny Birds Across Continents 07:12 Challenges and Discoveries in Bird Tracking 07:56 The Importance of Sagebrush Habitat 11:07 Human Impact and Climate Change 12:24 Post-Fledging Period: A Critical Time 15:16 The Role of Communication in Science 18:02 The Significance of Bird Conservation 20:00 Migration Patterns and Connectivity 25:33 Predators and Threats to Songbirds 26:19 Conclusion Learn more Brewer's Sparrow Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology Sage Thrasher Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology Sagebrush Sparrow Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology Wyoming Cooperative Research Unit Share your thoughts on the Our Wild Lives Podcast by sending us a text here! Become a member of The Wildlife Society: https://wildlife.org/join/ Support Wildlife, Invest in Wildlife Professionals: https://wildlife.org/donate/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildlifesociety/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildlifesociety LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wildlife-society/ | |||
| The Wildlife Society Legacy with Wini Kessler, Carol Chambers and John Organ | 02 Oct 2025 | 00:47:31 | |
This conversation brings together three Aldo Leopold Award winners and past presidents of The Wildlife Society to explore how a profession found its purpose and how we keep it honest, relevant, and resilient. Share your thoughts on the Our Wild Lives Podcast by sending us a text here! Become a member of The Wildlife Society: https://wildlife.org/join/ Support Wildlife, Invest in Wildlife Professionals: https://wildlife.org/donate/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildlifesociety/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildlifesociety LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wildlife-society/ | |||
| About Us | 30 Sep 2025 | 00:16:52 | |
Come join us for our first episode of the Our Wild Lives podcast, where we dive into the roots of The Wildlife Society. Ed takes you back to the 1920s and Aldo Leopoldâs influence on the early days of the organization, and we follow its journey to becoming a leading professional society with over 10,000 members. Youâll hear about the creation of the Journal of Wildlife Management, the growth of sections, chapters, and working groups, and our own stories of finding our way into wildlife conservation. We talk about how TWS has shaped our careers, why communication is so important in science, and the power of professional networks. Share your thoughts on the Our Wild Lives Podcast by sending us a text here! Become a member of The Wildlife Society: https://wildlife.org/join/ Support Wildlife, Invest in Wildlife Professionals: https://wildlife.org/donate/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildlifesociety/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildlifesociety LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wildlife-society/ | |||
| Discovering Urban Wildlife with Sam Kieschnick | 17 Oct 2025 | 00:38:08 | |
What if the wildest place you visit this week is the tiny park down your street? Urban wildlife biologist Sam Kieschnick of Texas Parks and Wildlife joins us to show how DallasâFort Worthâs âmosaic of green and grayâ holds more life than most people imagineâover 12,000 documented species and counting. Subscribe, share this story with a friend, and tell us the most surprising species youâve seen in your backyard! More information The Wildlife Society - https://wildlife.org/ TPWD Urban Wildlife Program - https://tpwd.texas.gov/wildlife/wildlife-diversity/urban-wildlife-program/ iNaturalist (@sambiology) - https://www.inaturalist.org/ The Future of Life by E. O. Wilson - https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Future_of_Life.html?id=5rbG839DFw0C Urban Heat Island - https://www.epa.gov/heatislands Texas Master Naturalists - https://txmn.tamu.edu/ Share your thoughts on the Our Wild Lives Podcast by sending us a text here! Become a member of The Wildlife Society: https://wildlife.org/join/ Support Wildlife, Invest in Wildlife Professionals: https://wildlife.org/donate/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildlifesociety/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildlifesociety LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wildlife-society/ | |||
| Navigating the Human Side of a Science Career with Anna Chalfoun | 24 Oct 2025 | 00:31:26 | |
You signed up for wildlife science to work with animalsâthen discovered most of the job is working with people... In this episode, Katie sits down with Dr. Anna Chalfoun in Pinedale, Wyoming, to unpack the soft skills that drive great science: building a healthy lab culture, mentoring with intention, and navigating conflict without burning bridges. Share your thoughts on the Our Wild Lives Podcast by sending us a text here! Become a member of The Wildlife Society: https://wildlife.org/join/ Support Wildlife, Invest in Wildlife Professionals: https://wildlife.org/donate/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildlifesociety/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildlifesociety LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wildlife-society/ | |||
| How Colorado Brought Wolves Back | 31 Oct 2025 | 00:49:50 | |
How does a voter mandate become a wolf reintroduction program? In this episode, Katie and Ed sat down with Brenna Cassidy and Eric Odell of Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) to unpack the Colorado gray wolf (Canis lupus) reintroduction program. The conversation explores ecological and behavioral questions surrounding gray wolf reintroduction. Can wolves trigger trophic cascades and change rivers? How are ungulate populations, such as elk (Cervus canadensis) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), altering their behavior? Are predator dynamics shifting as wolves reestablish their range? Odell and Cassidy share their tips for navigating contentious topics with stakeholders, and they reveal what CPW is doing to mitigate wolf conflict. The conversation also gives wisdom for aspiring biologists: say yes to varied work, build longâterm relationships, and listen first. Learn more: Colorado Parks and Wildlife: https://cpw.state.co.us/ Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan: https://cpw.widencollective.com/assets/share/asset/wixcpz0wez Share your thoughts on the Our Wild Lives Podcast by sending us a text here! Become a member of The Wildlife Society: https://wildlife.org/join/ Support Wildlife, Invest in Wildlife Professionals: https://wildlife.org/donate/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildlifesociety/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildlifesociety LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wildlife-society/ | |||