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For this special live conversation, Crystal sat down on stage with Rhett Ayers Butler, founder and CEO of Mongabay, one of the most trusted sources of environmental journalism in the world.

Together, they explored the current state of conservation- from resilience and adaptation to the role of journalism, storytelling, technology, and informed optimism. The conversation also opened up to the audience, inviting questions from conservation practitioners working across ecosystems, regions, and disciplines.

This episode was recorded live at the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders (EWCL) 20th Anniversary Summit, a gathering that brought together conservation leaders and practitioners from around the world to celebrate two decades of community, collaboration, and impact.

What emerged was an honest, nuanced dialogue about where conservation stands today, what is changing, what is working, and how we continue moving forward- together.

Highlights

•  What are the characteristics of conservation initiatives that are scalable or replicable across the geographies? 
• How is Mongabay adapting to the challenges of distrust in science and disinformation campaigns?
• How is Mongabay using optimism as a strategy?

WhatYou Can Do

• Pay attention to the stories you share. Seek out and amplify conservation stories that highlight solutions, learning, and community leadership, not just problems.
• Build constituencies, not just projects. Think about who needs to be at the table for conservation efforts to succeed, especially local and Indigenous communities.
• Practice informed optimism. Look for evidence of what is working, acknowledge setbacks honestly, and use both to guide action.
• Support independent environmental journalism. Reliable, transparent reporting plays a critical role in accountability, awareness, and change.
• Stay connected to nature and to one another. As Rhett reminds us, getting outside and nurturing community are essential for sustaining long-term conservation work.

Resources

• Mongabay 
• Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders (EWCL)
• How to Find Optimism article
• Rethinking How We Talk about Conservation and Why It Matters article
• Health and Harmony (Project ASRI)

If you'd like to sponsor next season (or even just an episode) reach out to me and let's chat! My email is [email protected].

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

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This is another episode of the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders program series! 

Affectionately known as the Manatee Man, Jamal Galves discovered his calling earlier than most. Growing up in the coastal village of Gales Point Manatee, he saw these gentle animals almost every day, never realizing they were endangered until a team of researchers arrived and opened his eyes to their struggle. At just eleven years old, he stepped onto a manatee research boat for the first time and that moment reshaped the entire trajectory of his life.

Today, Jamal leads the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute’s Belize Program, home to the longest-running manatee conservation effort in the Greater Caribbean. His work blends rigorous science with the wisdom and partnership of local communities, creating a model of conservation that is as people-centered as it is wildlife-focused.

This episode explores the heart and science behind his work from marine mammal rescue, to the shifting health of manatee populations, how he gets buy-in of his conservation efforts, and more. 

Highlights

• How did an 11-year-old kid with no shoes talked his way onto a manatee research boat?
• How a two-day old manatee rescued after a hurricane inspired a whole nation.
• A first look at Belize’s new Marine Rescue & Education Center, built to heal manatees and inspire people toward action.

What YOU Can Do

• Be mindful on the water. When boating or visiting coastal areas, follow no-wake zones, avoid seagrass beds, and stay alert for wildlife.
• Start young - or start now. There is no age or skill requirement to make a difference. All you need is your desire to help.
• Volunteer for cleanups, youth programs, or community events.
• Share stories that inspire action. Spreading positive conservation messages helps reach people who may never encounter them otherwise.
• Practice sustainable habits at home. Small changes in waste, water use, or energy matter when many people do them.

Resources

• Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute – Belize Program
• Manatee Conservation Information (Greater Caribbean / Antillean Manatee)
• Jamal’s Instagram
• Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders (EWCL)
• Clearwater Marine Aquarium – Belize Marine Rescue & Education Center Announcement

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

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Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

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When you imagine lions, you probably picture big prides sprawled across open savannas.

But in northern Kenya’s Samburu landscape, lions live a very different life, often alone, slipping quietly through a patchwork of people, livestock, and shrinking wild spaces. It is a hard place to be a lion… and an even harder place to protect them.

For nearly two decades, Shivani Bhalla, founder of Ewaso Lions, has been working alongside Samburu communities to understand and safeguard this uniquely challenging population of lions. What started as her desire to learn why lions were disappearing has grown into a powerful example of coexistence - one where warriors, women, and even young herders play a central role.

In this episode, we talk about the realities of living with lions, the deep cultural knowledge that makes conservation possible, the heartbreaks and wins that shape Shivani’s days, and the unexpected visitor who reminded us - mid-conversation - what coexistence looks like in real time.

Highlights

• Why do Samburu’s lions live so differently from the ones we see in documentaries?
• What made young warriors shift from hunting lions to protecting them?
• How did a group of local women convince Shivani that they could restore habitat better than anyone else?
• Who was Nana, the lioness whose story continues to shape an entire landscape?

What YOU Can Do

• Spend time in nature. Reconnecting with the natural world, even in small, everyday ways, builds empathy and a desire to protect it.
• Help others access nature. Support programs that give children and communities the chance to experience wildlife positively.
• Speak up for local green spaces and wildlife. Your voice can influence how your community values and protects nature.
• Support community-led conservation. Funding essentials like salaries, fuel, medical care, emergency response, and habitat work helps organizations like Ewaso Lions stay effective.
• Champion efforts grounded in local leadership. Programs created by the community, like Warrior Watch and Mama Simbas, are the ones with real staying power.

Resources

• Ewaso Lions 
• Instagram 
• YouTube 
• Facebook  

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

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Most people have heard about elephants and rhinos being in trouble. But few realize that giraffes are quietly disappearing too. And also the hirola, a graceful antelope found only along the Kenya–Somalia border, is down to fewer than 500 left on Earth.

In this episode, Dr. Abdullahi Ali shares how his journey from a nomadic childhood to a Ph.D. in ecology led him to found the Hirola Conservation Program and the Somali Giraffe Project - two community-led efforts rewriting what coexistence looks like.

Ali’s story is as much about people as it is about wildlife. From restoring grasslands once maintained by elephants before they were poached to helping farmers swap mango trees for lime trees to prevent conflict with giraffes, his work shows that when conservation is rooted in local knowledge, everyone thrives.

Highlights

• How Dr. Ali’s childhood herding goats (and occasionally getting lost doing it!) shaped his lifelong connection to nature.
• How climate change is creating “climate refugees” - not just people, but also animals.
• The power of community-led solutions: from adult literacy classes to wildlife-friendly livelihoods.

What You Can Do

• Partner with the Hirola Conservation Program and the Somali Giraffe Project.
• Share what’s going on with giraffes and hirolas. It might be a surprise to most.
• Look for ways to design coexistence where you live - in your garden, your community, or your workplace.
• Remember that conservation works best when it’s collaborative between species, between people, and across borders.

Resources

• Facebook    
• X  
• YouTube

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What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

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Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

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Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

Federal policy might seem distant from the forests, rivers, and wildlife we care about but, as Bentley Johnson of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters explains, its impact reaches straight into our daily lives.

From an executive order that resulted in higher(!) energy prices to bipartisan efforts that ensure the water coming from your tap is clean, Bentley reveals how political decisions ripple through ecosystems, economies, and communities alike.

He also reminds us that our power doesn’t end at the ballot box. Between elections, we can still shape the laws that protect clean air, renewable energy, and wild spaces- by showing up, speaking out, and holding leaders accountable.

If you’ve ever wondered how what happens in Washington affects us directly, this episode will connect those dots and help you see what you can be doing in between elections that can make a difference.

This is another episode of the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders program Series! 

Highlights

• The real-world consequences of rolling back clean-energy and conservation laws.
• Bipartisan success stories- from PFAS cleanup to Great Lakes restoration- that prove cooperation is still possible.
• Why framing issues around health, cost, and community helps bridge divides.

What YOU Can Do

• Vote in every election, especially local ones. City and state leaders decide on wildlife corridors, pollution standards, and habitat funding. **CHECK TO SEE IF YOUR AREA IS HOLDING ELECTIONS THIS NOVEMBER 4TH.
• Check your representatives’ environmental records. Visit your state’s League of Conservation Voters or lcv.org/scorecard.
• Speak up between elections. Attend town halls, share your story, and comment on proposed environmental rule changes.
• Join or support local conservation and restoration projects. The federal picture changes, but local action keeps progress alive.
• Share success stories. Remind others that clean-energy projects, restored wetlands, and wildlife protections are working. Hope is contagious.

Resources

• Michigan LCV's Take Action page.
• MLCV's Action Hub
• Michigan LCV's Scorecard 
• Because Michigan LCV's scorecard is focused on Michigan, you may be interested in the national LCV's congressional scorecard where anyone in the country can look up their Members of Congress.
• We also talked about the greenhouse gas emissions reporting rollback. Here is a link to take action on that (it's a national effort but this link is unique for Michigan LCV so that if people use it to make a comment, they can get credit).
• Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders (EWCL) pro

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

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Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

Wildlife filmmakers Justin Grubb and Alex Goetz have traveled from Costa Rica to Alaska capturing stories that connect people and wildlife in powerful ways. As co-founders of Running Wild Media, their work has appeared on National Geographic, PBS, Discovery+, and Disney+, and has been recognized with multiple awards and Emmy nominations.

In this conversation, Justin and Alex share the behind-the-scenes realities of wildlife filmmaking- the challenges, the ethics, and the unexpected humor that happens along the way. From hellbenders in Appalachia to red wolves in North Carolina, they reveal how the most effective conservation stories aren’t about animals alone, they’re about people.

You’ll also hear how they build campaigns that lead to tangible impact, why hopeful storytelling is their most powerful tool, and how each of us can use our own voice to spark change, no matter what our day job is.

Highlights

• From prairie dog turf wars to crocodile close calls, what it’s really like in the field.
• The ethics of getting the perfect shot while respecting the wildlife.
• Why the most powerful wildlife stories focus on the humans connected to the animals.

What YOU Can Do

Justin and Alex shared several simple yet meaningful ways listeners can help support wildlife and conservation storytelling:

1. Tell your own story.
   Use your phone, words, art, or photos to share the nature you love. A story told with authenticity and hope can inspire others to care. 
2. Be a hopeful voice.
    Social media can get dark. Choose to amplify the good instead. Share solutions, success stories, or even small wins happening in your community. 
3. Engage locally.
   Attend or support environmental or wildlife film festivals. Ask questions, start conversations, and connect with filmmakers and advocates in your area. 
4. Support authentic conservation media.
   Donate to or share films that are fact-based and community-centered. Look for productions that give voice to both people and wildlife. 
5. Stay curious and informed.
   Fact-check what you share, know your sources, and help counter misinformation about wildlife and conservation issues. 
6. Look closer to home.
   You don’t need to go to the rainforest to find wonder. Start by noticing and appreciating the wildlife in your own backyard.

Resources

• Running Wild Media website
• Hellbent (Film) – about hellbenders and the Rights of Nature movement  
• Running Wild Instagram  
• Running Wild YouTube 
• Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders (EWCL) program 

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

This is another episode of the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders program series!

In a place where moose wander through neighborhoods and grizzlies sometimes cross backyard fences, living alongside wildlife takes creativity, cooperation, and care. The Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation is proving that when communities come together, including volunteers, landowners, agencies, and visitors alike, they can create lasting solutions that benefit both people and wildlife.

In this episode, Associate Director Kate Gersh shares how this small but mighty organization helps the Greater Yellowstone community coexist with the wild neighbors that make Jackson Hole so special. From pulling down old barbed-wire fences to hand-removing invasive weeds and collecting valuable wildlife data, Kate’s volunteers are showing that conservation success depends on everyone’s participation- not just scientists or professionals.

Kate and I first met through the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders program, where we worked together on a global bat conservation project. It’s been incredible to see how she continues to carry that same collaborative spirit into her work today.

Highlights

• How community volunteers have become the lifeblood of wildlife conservation in Jackson Hole.
• Why collaboration among ranchers, agencies, nonprofits, and residents leads to solutions that last.
• Why conservation needs communicators, fundraisers, and advocates just as much as biologists.

What YOU Can Do

Inspired by Kate’s work? Here are some simple ways to help make your own community more wildlife-friendly:

• Volunteer your time with local conservation projects or citizen science programs.
• Use bear-resistant trash cans and secure garbage to keep wildlife safe and wild.
• Plant native species to support pollinators and local ecosystems.
• Support local conservation groups- your voice, time, or donation matters.
• Advocate for smart land-use policies that protect wildlife movement and habitat.
• Talk about coexistence and help spread understanding of how people and wildlife can thrive together.

Resources

• Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation website
• Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders program, that brought Kate and me together, is accepting applications for its next class of young wildlife professionals. Apply here and tell them I sent you!
• Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation Facebook 
• Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation Instagram
• Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation  YouTube

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

This is another episode of the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders program series! 

In 2011, Honduras declared all its waters a shark sanctuary. On paper, it looked like a major conservation win. But for the Indigenous Miskito fishers who had relied on sharks for generations, the law came without consultation- turning long-standing practices into crimes overnight.

My guest, Gabriela “Gaby” Ochoa, is a Honduran marine biologist and founder of Ilili, an organization named after the Miskito word for “shark.” Ilili is working to flip the script on top-down conservation by putting local communities at the center of decision-making. From training fishers in scientific methods, to blending traditional knowledge with modern science, to navigating the complexities of shark sanctuaries, Gaby’s work offers a powerful example of what conservation looks like when it’s truly locally driven.

Highlights

• What was the paradox of Honduras’ shark sanctuary and why did top-down conservation backfire here.
• How to build trust with fishers and transform them into collaborators and co-researchers.
• The emotional challenges of shark conservation and the small wins that keep Gaby going.

What YOU Can Do

• Listen first. Conservation that lasts begins by hearing all perspectives, especially those most impacted.
• Find citizen science opportunities by you. And, if you are in Honduras, report shark and ray sightings through Ilili’s website.
• Remember that conservation isn’t about telling people what to do. It’s about empowering local communities to lead.
• Shop to support Ilili  

Resources

• Ilili website  
• Facebook 
• Youtube 
• Instagram  

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

This is another episode of the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders program series!

Whether you’re trying to protect a local park, rally donations for your nonprofit, or simply get your friends to recycle, one of the hardest parts of making change is inspiring others to care. How do you move people from awareness to action? That’s the art of fundraising- and it’s about far more than asking for money.

In this episode, David Tucker of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation pulls back the curtain on what he’s learned after years of connecting people’s passions with one of the most ambitious ecosystem restoration efforts in the world. Through stories of the Bay, David shares practical strategies that anyone can use to promote their own cause.

Highlights

• Why fundraising is really about relationships, not just money.
• How do you get people to feel a connection to a cause?
• What is more powerful, storytelling or stats?

What YOU Can Do

• Even small, reoccurring gifts are helpful to an organization. Especially if it is unrestricted.
• You can hold personal fundraisers, like a dinner, to raise money for a cause you believe in.
• If you are a business owner, you can donate a certain percentage of the profit of a particular product to an organization.
• Find out if your employer has a donor match program.

Resources

• Chesapeake Bay Foundation website
• CBF Facebook
• CBF Instagram
• CBF LinkedIn
• CBF YouTube

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

This is another episode of the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders program series!

Across Africa, thousands of primates are finding themselves the victims of the illegal wildlife trade, bushmeat hunting, and habitat loss. For many, survival depends on the work of sanctuaries. These safe havens provide food, medical care, and, in some cases, even a path back to the wild.

Today’s guest, Kaitlyn Bock, has spent the past decade with the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA) helping to support these vital places. PASA is a network of 23 sanctuaries in 13 countries working together to rescue primates, fight trafficking, and engage local communities in conservation.

Kaitlyn’s stories- from orphaned chimps taking their first steps into forested enclosures to the tireless staff who keep sanctuaries running day after day- shine a light on why sanctuaries matter and how they give wildlife a second chance.

Highlights

• What makes a sanctuary “good” and how to spot red flags.
• Why reintroduction to the wild is both rare and extraordinary.
• The hidden role sanctuaries play in enforcing wildlife laws across Africa.

Key Signs of a Good Sanctuary

• No direct contact: Visitors should not be feeding, bathing, or taking selfies with the animals.
• Educational focus: You leave more informed about the animals’ plight and why the sanctuary exists.
• High-welfare enclosures: Spacious, naturalistic habitats that mimic the species’ environment.
• Enrichment provided: Animals are given activities and materials (like branches or puzzles) to encourage natural behaviors.
• Transparency: Staff openly explain each animal’s story and why they are there.
• No intentional breeding: Ethical sanctuaries don’t breed animals in captivity for display or tourism.
• Responsible social media: No images of animals in clothes, behaving like pets, or posing with tourists. Captions should educate, not entertain at the animals’ expense.

What YOU Can Do

• Donate to sanctuaries. Even small, monthly gifts- especially unrestricted- help to cover food, care, and staff.
• Volunteer either on-site or remotely with skills like grant writing or communications.
• Speak up on social media when you see red flags in wildlife content.
• Only visit sanctuaries that avoid direct contact and focus on education.

Resources

• Pan-African Sanctuary Alliance website 
• X 
• Facebook 
• Instagram 

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

This season of Forces for Nature is extra special- all of the guests are participants in the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders (EWCL) program, a global network of conservationists who are pushing the boundaries of how people and wildlife can thrive together. As EWCL celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, I’m spotlighting some of the inspiring individuals whose work is shaping the future of conservation.

To kick things off, I sat down with Dr. Hugo Pereira, a field veterinarian with the Mozambique Wildlife Alliance. Hugo’s job might sound like it’s all about the animals- from darting elephants, to rescuing orphaned rhinos, and rehabilitating pangolins- but as he makes clear, conservation is just as much about people. In Mozambique, communities and wildlife share the same land, which means Hugo’s work often starts with listening to frustrations, building trust, and co-creating solutions that reduce conflict and create opportunity. And while you may never lift a rhino calf into a helicopter or pull an elephant out of the mud, you probably do encounter your own version of human–wildlife conflict whether it’s deer eating your garden, coyotes prowling your neighborhood, or simply the daily choices of how your community shares space with nature. Hugo’s “people-first” approach shows us that coexistence starts with compassion, creativity, and persistence and the principles he lives by in the savannas of Mozambique are the same ones that can guide us in our own backyards.

Highlights

• The adrenaline and precision behind rescuing a rhino calf orphaned by poachers.
• How Hugo and the Mozambique Wildlife Alliance adapt with creativity in the field to save animals in crisis.
• Why a “people-first” approach is essential for reducing human-wildlife conflict and creating space for coexistence.

What YOU Can Do

• Volunteer your skills to support local zoos or conservation institutions.
• Share conservation stories on social media. Spreading the right information helps raise awareness and attract wider support. 
• Donate to conservation organizations.
• Educate yourself about organizations in your own area: Who they are, why they do what they do, and what would happen if they didn’t exist. This awareness builds empathy and informed support.
• Get informed about local wildlife and why they’re present. Understanding why deer, coyotes, or other species show up in neighborhoods helps people move from frustration to tolerance.
• Modify your environment to prevent conflict:
  • Build or adjust fences to keep animals out of gardens or crops.
  • Use deterrents like flashlights, noises, or scarecrows, depending on the species.
• Recognize “tolerance” as an important step: we don’t have to love the wildlife around us, but learning to tolerate them is the bridge toward coexistence.

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?