Episode 53: The power of nature stories

With Jesse Hildebrand (and friends) of Exploring By the Seat of Your Pants and Nature For All

Why do personal nature stories move us so much? In what ways does meaningful nature storytelling connect to conservation of wildlife and wild places? Is it enough to focus on the wonder of nature or do we have to communicate its benefits to humans explicit? In the midst of Nature For All’s Storytelling Festival Love Fest, we share nature stories and get to the heart of engaging people’s hearts and minds during a time where inspiring actions to preserve nature are giving us very real reasons for hope. There’s also some talk of rewilding, biophilia, public wolf howls, and the majesty of Gros Morne National Park.

Guests:

Jesse Hildebrand is the VP of Education at non-profit Exploring By The Seat of Your Pants, where he coordinates 40+ monthly broadcasts featuring scientists and explorers worldwide. He's the founder of Canada's Science Literacy Week, the former producer of Toronto's Story Collider show, and he coordinates the global BackyardBio nature campaign!

Storytellers:

Alysa McCall is a staff scientist and director of conservation outreach at Polar Bears International. She supports educational initiatives and scientific research across the Arctic, with a focus on Canadian projects. Alysa is working to further wild Polar Bear coexistence and conservation from her home in (Polar Bear–free) Whitehorse, Yukon.

Jai Sharma is a National Geographic-certified Nature and wildlife educator and member of IUCN, CEC, and Nature For All. He is a passionate Naturalist cum trainer guiding students and community to develop passion for nature conservation and a better and healthy planet for our future.

More people have walked on the moon than visited many of the places Jill Heinerth has explored on Earth. From the most dangerous technical dives deep inside underwater caves to swimming through giant Antarctic icebergs, Heinerth’s curiosity and passion for our watery planet is the driving force in her life. 

Learn more about Nature’s For All’s Storytelling Festival Love Fest here!