I’ll Go If You Go

In the first episode of season 5, we celebrate transitions, transformations, and the quiet power of standing among ancient trees. Former host Emily Harwitz returns to pass the mic to new host Monica Carcamo-Binetti, a longtime advocate for nature connection and co-Founder of Bay Area GalVentures. Together they explore how the redwoods shape us, and how being outdoors can clear our minds, rest our intentions, and remind us of what truly matters. Emily and Monica find beauty, resilience, and a shared commitment to protecting the places that change us. This season, Monica will explore how redwoods act as the ultimate “nature influencer” — and how these ancient giants guide us towards a deeper connection with ourselves, each other, and the natural world. ------------Monica Carcamo-BinettiMonica is a storyteller, hiker, and Save the Redwoods League council member. She is also the co-founder of Bay Area GalVentures, an Instagram community she started with her lifelong friend to share their hiking adventures, especially among the redwoods. Monica discovered her love for the outdoors later in life and now champions access to nature for women. She extends this passion into her role as our new podcast host, where she shares stories that connect people to redwoods, nature, and each other—with heart, curiosity, and a deep love for the forest.Emily HarwitzEmily Harwitz is an award-winning science writer and nature photographer working at the intersection of science, environment, and culture. Through written, visual, and audio forms, she tells stories that deepen our capacity for wonder and bring us closer to the natural world—including each other. She was the IGIYG host for seasons 2-4 and is now excited to listen along as she starts a new role as Communications Manager at Sonoma Land Trust. You can find more of her work at emilyharwitz.com and connect with her on Instagram @em_witz.

In this twelfth episode, host Emily Harwitz takes a closer look at the fuel that drives conservation. Funding, of course, is essential, and two of the main sources of conservation funding are government agencies and philanthropy. Today's guests—Ben Friedman and Geenah Leslie—are experts in those areas, from the state and federal levels to the local level. They're also experts at cultivating relationships, because that's the real foundation of this work: building relationships based on shared values and a commitment to making the world a better place, for all of us. From what's in the upcoming Proposition 4 Climate Bond to the many benefits our urban trees provide, we hope this final episode of Season 4 gives you lots to be hopeful for. Ben Friedman is the government affairs and public grants officer of Save the Redwoods League. Prior to the League, Ben led grantmaking in California for Western Conservation Foundation.  He also has worked at the Wilderness Society and on Capitol Hill on the House Committee for Natural Resources. Ben's education background is in geology and environmental management. In his spare time, Ben likes going to the beach with his wife Lauren and his dog Lobo, and baking seasonal pies. Geenah-Marie Leslie (she/her) was born and raised in the ancestral lands of the Tongva People, presently known as Los Angeles. As the proud child of Jamaican immigrants, she was brought up to believe that she should never allow her gender or the color of her skin deter her from pursuing her wildest dreams. Her passion for the healing benefits of nature and connecting People of Color to the outdoors led to her working in the environmental justice field. In her professional tenure, she has played a crucial role in donor relations, fund development, and piloting successful community engagement initiatives. Her free time is typically spent by large bodies of water, listening to an Afrofuturistic audiobook, or psp-psp-psping a cat on the street. Find her on Instagram @geenah_leslie or on ⁠LinkedIn

In this eleventh episode, host Emily Harwitz takes a closer look at career development programs specifically designed to give young people work experience in park and public land jobs. Many guests this season found their jobs in conservation by following wending paths toward their love for nature—and through a little bit of serendipity. That's true for Alfonso Orozco who, guided by his own experiences navigating a career in parks and the outdoors, now leads the Career Pathways Grants Program at Parks California where he helps make job training programs possible and accessible. One of the organizations that received a Career Pathways grant this year is SAMO Youth, today's second featured guest. To share how this career development program works, and how it changed their lives, are Adriana Barrera, Cecilia Lopez, and Javier Sandoval-Garcia, all former participants and current staff of SAMO Youth.

In this tenth episode, host Emily Harwitz talks outreach and engagement—for nature and adventure—in a double-feature with Xiomara Batin, Outreach and Marketing Manager at GirlVentures, and Erika Granadino, Community Engagement Coordinator for the North Coast Redwoods District. How do you get people to come outside if they’ve never done it before? Hint: it starts with meeting people where they’re at. If you like talking to people, making connections, and telling stories, then today’s episode is for you! Xiomara Batin: Xiomara Batin is the Outreach and Marketing Manager at GirlVentures, an outdoor educational non profit based in Oakland, California. Xiomara has worked in a variety of educational institutions and non profit organizations with authentic engagement and genuine allyship at the center. Supporting communities that have had limited access to outdoor spaces due to historical barriers, is an integral area of importance to Xiomara and she feels passionate about being involved in advocacy in a variety of capacities. Find GirlVentures on Instagram @girlventures Erika Granadino: Erika was born in El Salvador and raised in the vibrant San Francisco Bay Area with her mother and sister. She graduated from Humboldt State University with a degree in Environmental Management and Protection, with a focus on Natural Resource Planning. For the past 4 years she has worked as an interpreter for California State Parks and the last year as the Community Engagement Coordinator for the North Coast Redwoods District, which has allowed her to exercise her passion and commitment to conservation and community engagement. Her favorite part about the work is getting to facilitate interpretive programs that connect people to parks, providing access, information, and inclusivity to their public lands. Promoting these places through interpretive programs gives hope that visitors will want to become stewards of these natural places, too. She feels lucky to be able to provide opportunities for people to connect with nature, helping them find meaning in what they are experiencing. In her downtime she enjoys cooking, going out to eat at a good restaurant, or getting some exercise. However, nothing compares to a good scenic hike on a sunny day. Find her on Instagram @erkbea

In this ninth episode, host Emily Harwitz ventures to Butano State Park to ask artist, educator, and naturalist Elexis Padrón: What is art? How can art help us connect with nature? And what role can artists play in conservation? As Elexis puts it, art is a way of seeing that can help us foster our relationships with nature. Art can be a way to help people not just see and value, but love this world. From personal philosophies on why art is a powerful tool for connection, to the ins and outs of nature journaling, to the new statewide Arts in California Parks program, Emily and Elexis have a blast chatting about the deep—and playful—intersection of art and nature. Elexis Padrón is an artist, naturalist, and educator who is passionate about helping people deepen their connection with nature through practical, fun artistic practices. She was born and raised in California and has lived in many different human and natural ecosystems. Her practice is informed by the deeply rooted belief that humans are not separate from nature, and that recentering that bond that was never lost is crucial to moving forward in our current climate. Find her on Instagram @vanillakeys.

In this eighth episode, host Emily Harwitz heads to a redwoods preserve in Napa County to explore the work of stewardship—or, the next stage of conservation after a piece of land is protected. Conservation doesn't end with a legal transaction! Just as nature is constantly changing, so, too, are the needs of the land, and it's the work of stewardship to keep the land healthy. It's a dynamic field of environmental work that involves working outside, building relationships, and planning for the future. Today's guests, JoeJoe Clark and Clarisa Rosas, share with us their love for nature and what it's like to work in stewardship as a Field Technician and Monitoring Program Assistant for The Land Trust of Napa County.  ABOUT OUR GUESTS Clarisa Rosas was born and raised in Napa, CA where she developed a love for the outdoors. She pursued her passion by studying Environmental Science Technology and Policy at California State University Monterey Bay, gaining valuable experience through service learning opportunities. She now works to steward the land in The Land Trust of Napa County's portfolio. At the time of recording, she was a Monitoring Program Assistant. She is now the Assistant Stewardship Coordinator. Find her on Instagram @cosmic_clarisa.  Joseph ‘JoeJoe' Clark was born in Vallejo, CA hiking in the oak woodlands and exploring the mud flats and creeks of Solano County. His deep passion for plants and outdoor space led him to explore biology and foreign language at Sonoma State University. He is a naturalist at heart and currently works in stewardship as a Field Technician for The Land Trust of Napa County. Find him on Instagram @lilyboyjoy

In this seventh episode, host Emily Harwitz delves into the world of fire adaptation and resilience across California with a double feature: Katie Low, fire ecologist and Statewide Coordinator for UC Agriculture and Natural Resources Fire Network, and Saul Tejeda, an Assistant Captain on the Yosemite Wildland Fire Module with over a decade of experience on the fireline. This episode goes broad and deep, so if you're hankering to learn about California's state of fire preparedness, how a prescribed burn happens, how technology is advancing wildland firefighting, or the technical nitty-gritty of what it's like to work with fire, you're in luck.  ABOUT OUR GUESTS Katie Low is the Statewide Coordinator for UC ANR's Fire Network. She works with the Network to help California's residents, natural resource professionals, and communities accelerate the implementation of fire resilience projects. Locally, Katie delivers science-based training about home hardening, defensible space, wildfire preparedness, and vegetation management for communities in the western Sierra. She also works with organizations and universities to provide professional development opportunities for early career fire and forestry professionals in an effort to develop a diverse and robust workforce. Katie earned a Master of Forestry with an emphasis in fire ecology and a B.S. in Ecosystems Management and Forestry and B.A. in Geography, all from UC Berkeley. Her research interests include assessing the short- and long-term ecological impacts and efficacy of fuel reduction and forest restoration treatments on California's mixed-conifer forests.  Saul Tejeda is an Assistant Captain on the Yosemite Wildland Fire Module. With over 10 years of experience as a wildland firefighter on wildfires and prescribed burns, Saul has dedicated his career to working with fire to restore ecosystem balance and protect communities within the wildland-urban interface. He's also a wildland firefighter educator and advocate for firefighter mental health.

In this sixth episode, host Emily Harwitz travels to the Sierra Nevada mountain range (figuratively) with guest Neida Rodriguez, a rising forestry student at Cal Poly Humboldt and this year's Giant Sequoia Forest Fellow. There's only one species of the biggest tree on Earth—giant sequoias—and it's a special treat to hear from Neida herself about what it's like to work among giants and what stewarding sequoias looks like today. From preparing the land for healthy fire to learning from the Tribes who know this land best, to monitoring for bears and finding gray wolf tracks (!), Neida regales us with tales from the field and gives us the latest on what's happening in the world of giant sequoias. ABOUT OUR GUEST Neida Rodriguez is a forestry student at Cal Poly Humboldt and this year's Giant Sequoia Forest Fellow. As a forester and naturalist, she hopes to restore and steward the places she loves while giving back to her community by creating opportunities for people to get out into the field. When she's not walking amongst giant sequoias, you might find Neida in the desert admiring the beauty of all things great and small. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/savetheredwoods/message

In this fifth episode, host Emily Harwitz chats with Kyle Buchanan and Karla Jovel about Interpretation—the kind that blends science, art, and storytelling in the outdoors to help park visitors appreciate the natural and cultural histories of the places they love. We also get an inside look at the new and exciting project called Forests for All that's bringing local communities out into Redwood National and State Parks to go on fun and meaningful excursions, from day hiking to days-long backpacking trips. Karla launched Forests for All in 2023 and soon brought Kyle in to support. Together, they're shaping the way we interpret, understand, and love the redwoods. ABOUT OUR GUESTS: Kyle Buchanan Kyle Buchanan is a California State Parks Interpreter located in the North Coast Redwoods District. Graduating with a BA in Sociology from California State University, Long Beach, Kyle focuses on bringing social equity into parks. Whether it's a guided walk, virtual field-trip, campfire program, or kayaking trip, Kyle believes everyone should have the opportunity of experiencing it. Lastly, when he is not working then he's probably out exploring another one of California's 280 State Parks. Karla Jovel City girl moves to the coastal redwoods. Karla Jovel is an artist, naturalist, and educator based in Northern California. Karla received a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Management from Cal Poly Humboldt and is the Interpretation Supervisor for the North Coast Redwoods District. Karla is interested in participating in outdoor and environmental engagement projects that promote access to the outdoors for diverse communities. To learn more, visit @NorthCoastRedwoods --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/savetheredwoods/message

In this fourth episode, host Emily Harwitz chats with Daniela Peña Corvillon about her work as a water architect, a term she coined while studying landscape architecture and realizing that water is the foundation for life in any landscape. Where water flows, life grows, and water always finds a way. Redwood ecosystems are a great example of that, like at one of Daniela's favorite projects, the ‘O Rew Redwoods Gateway. Through Daniela's stories about her artistic perspective, design philosophy, and ecological thinking, this episode will change the way you experience landscapes and open your eyes to the way water shapes us all. Daniela Peña Corvillon is a Chilean Architect who holds an MLA in Environmental Planning from UC Berkeley (2013). She focuses on the design and restoration of natural ecological functions at the interface of human and wild spaces. As owner of the architecture firm Wild LandArch, Daniela plans, designs, and manages multi-scale projects that integrate humans into natural areas and restore natural functions in the urban environment in California, Chile, and abroad. Daniela defines herself as a Water Architect due to her profound connection with water and her deep understanding of water systems. Find her work on Instagram @WildLandArch --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/savetheredwoods/message

In this third episode, host Emily Harwitz chats with José Juan Rodriguez and Verenice Sanchez about doing aquatic restoration in old growth redwood forests. Growing up in big cities, neither of them thought they'd one day be snorkeling beneath the redwoods or trekking along creeks to collect eDNA samples. But since then, they've followed their passions for nature and, after some surprising turns, have found their niches—their homes—in conservation. ABOUT OUR GUESTS: Verenice "Nice" Sanchez  Verenice Sanchez is an aspiring restoration ecologist. She graduated from Cal Poly Humboldt with a BS degree in environmental science and management. A 2023 Redwood Rising Watershed Apprentice, she is currently working with the Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office to monitor snowy plovers this nesting season. She enjoys gardening, Danza Mexica-Azteca, and soaking in hot springs. Find her on Instagram: @Parangaricutirimicuaraaa José Juan RodriguezGrowing up in a big city far away from the serene beauty of nature, José Juan felt a longing for a deeper connection with the world around him. This led him to pursue a career in Wildlife Biology Management & Conservation at Cal Poly Humboldt. Immersed in the ancient redwood forests, he was captivated by their unique flora and fauna. As he developed his own relationship with nature, he realized how many people back home were missing out on that, which inspired him to focus on helping others rebuild their connection with the natural world. Today, his goal is to ignite curiosity and foster a deeper appreciation for the great outdoors, whether it is through leading interpretive hikes, engaging with classrooms, or documenting his research. Find him on Linkedin. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/savetheredwoods/message

In Season 4, we're exploring the different kinds of jobs you can do in the redwood and redwoods parks. In this second episode, host Emily Harwitz chats with Francisco Saavedra about forestry, how his Yurok heritage informs his forestry practice, who the redwoods are to him, and what he hopes to accomplish as a Guardian of the Redwoods.  Francisco Antonio Saavedra Jr. is a proud, federally enrolled member of the Pit River tribe Madesi Band, with Yurok and El Salvadoran ancestry. He was born and raised in Northern California.  Francisco is currently studying tribal forestry at College of the Redwoods and aspires to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Tribal Forestry and Natural Resources from Cal Poly Humboldt. He was a 2023 Redwoods Rising Forestry Apprentice and is returning to apprentice for the 2024 season. Find him on Instagram @francisco_sav Note: Marbled murrelet calls in this episode are taken from a recording by Andrew Spencer in Redwood National and State Parks and used under the Creative Commons license. The full recording can be found here: ⁠Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus)⁠ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/savetheredwoods/message

Welcome to Season 4! This season, we're exploring the different kinds of jobs you can do in the redwood and redwoods parks. In this first episode, producer and host of season 1, Leslie Parra,  interviews the current host Emily Harwitz. They talk about Emily's love for nature, what she does for work when she's not hosting I'll Go If You Go, and how she's approached her career in science and environmental storytelling. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/savetheredwoods/message

In Episode 6, the final episode of Season 3, host Emily Harwitz talks to Agnes Vianzon (she/they), the founder and Executive Director of Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps (ESCC) and a first-generation, queer filipinx. They founded ESCC in 2017, starting with an initial all-women crew, and the organization has served over 100 alumni and counting. ESCC is changing the demographics of outdoor stewardship and parks employment and visitation while providing jobs for young people who want to experience working in the outdoors.  Emily talks to Agnes about the importance of building community and capacity for outdoor spaces, plus the magic of trail building: not only does it bring together the crews who work on them, but the trails remain a lasting connection between those crew members and anyone who experiences the trail forevermore.  Links: Eastern Sierra Conservation CorpsESCC on Instagram --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/savetheredwoods/message

In episode 5, host Emily Harwitz chats with Michelle Warren, the Vice President and Co-founder of Black Girls Trekkin Inc. (BGT). BGT is a Los Angeles based 501c3 nonprofit for Black women who choose to opt outside. BGT seeks to inspire and empower Black women to spend time outdoors, appreciate nature, and protect it. BGT is building a community that will show the world that Black women are a strong and present force in the outdoors. Emily and Michelle talk about BGT's origin story, how to build and nurture community, and the importance of affinity spaces in the outdoors. Michelle has a bachelor's in marine biology and a master's in biology with an emphasis on community-based conservation. She also has professional experience creating and facilitating nature-based programs for kids and adults. Tiffany Tharpe, CEO and Co-Founder of BGT, was unable to make it for this podcast conversation, but we felt her presence nonetheless. Tiffany holds a BA in English and works as a Veterinary Assistant. She is passionate about this planet and the animals and plants that call it home, as well as building community and inspiring others to care for the planet. Her favorite outdoor activity is challenging herself to face her fears in the outdoors and trying anything at least once. Visit Black Girls Trekkin' website Follow Black Girls Trekkin on Instagram Follow I'll Go If You Go Podcast on Instagram --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/savetheredwoods/message

Episode 4's guest is Max Sovine (they/them). Max works at Queer LifeSpace, a San Francisco-based non-profit providing mental health services for the queer community, where they just launched the new project Outlandish! which will bring queer youth out into awesome parks and recreational areas in the Bay Area. Max has a master's degree in Ecology, Spirituality, and Religion from the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). Drawing from their experiences as an outdoor educator, death doula, hospice volunteer, firefighter, and EMT, they focused on ways to confront and change the Western capitalist aversion to nature and death. Max also coordinates retreats at the Buddhist Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Host Emily Harwitz chats with Max about coming into oneself outdoors, what it means to be liminal, what the new Outlandish! program is doing, and more. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/savetheredwoods/message

Episode 3's guest is Kathryn Luna who builds community and partnerships at the outdoors retailer Mountain Hardwear. She's also on the Board of Directors at GirlVentures, a non-profit that inspires girls to lead through outdoor adventure, inner discovery, and collective action. Host Emily Harwitz talks to Kathryn about her relationship to the outdoors, including: starting young, the safety of exploring in community, and passing that on to others through the work she's doing now. They also chat about coming from mixed cultural backgrounds and what we can learn from nature's ecotones—where two ecosystems meet to mix and blend. Links: GirlVentures: https://www.girlventures.org/  Kathryn Luna's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kllunaa Kathryn Luna's website: https://www.kathrynluna.com/ IGIYG's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/illgoifyougopod/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/savetheredwoods/message

In episode 2, Host Emily Harwitz chats with Monica Binetti and Erin Closmore about how they started the hiking community Bay Area Galventures, beginning with Monica overcoming her fear of the outdoors and her dear friend Erin moving back to the Bay Area. Amongst the redwood trees, Monica has discovered that she is more than her corporate job, 2 kids, and busy city life—she is connected to herself and Mother Nature, and believes that everyone deserves to find their own personal connection with the outdoors just like she did. Erin is a nature enthusiast who adores dogs and is always looking to try the next best vegetarian food spot. Together, Monica & Erin are the co-creators of @bayarea.galventures, an Instagram page dedicated to inspiring others to explore the natural beauty of California and beyond. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/savetheredwoods/message

In the season 3 premiere, host Emily Harwitz (she/her) chats with Alanna Smith (she/her) about Alanna's evolution as a conservationist and finding her niche within the conservation movement. Alanna is the Parks Program Associate at Save the Redwoods League, where she focuses on facilitating equitable public access to redwood parks. Passionate about building community in the outdoors, she co-leads the newly formed Northern California chapter of Conservationists of Color. Find Alanna on Instagram at @lannafsmith. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/savetheredwoods/message

We've explored many ways to play in the redwoods this season. What resonates most, beyond any single activity, is the relationships formed and fortified—with one another, with the outdoors, and with one another in the outdoors. In this season's finale, beneath the redwoods in Oakland, Grace Anderson (she/her) and Mo Asebiomo (they/she) embody Black joy (spontaneous laughter alert!), the expansive meaning of playing outside (cloud watching or an adrenaline-pumping bike ride, choose your own adventure), and the powerful affirmation that comes from affinity and resilient friendships. Let's play! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/savetheredwoods/message

In the northern reaches of the California coast, Yurok Country is home to the state's largest federally recognized tribal nation. On a brisk morning here in Redwood National Park, Yurok Tribe member Josh Norris invited us to paddle down the Klamath River in ‘ohl-we'-yoch, a traditional Yurok canoe carved from a fallen redwood trunk. He shares about the anatomy of “the boat of the people,” how the river has transformed over generations, and reimagining education and community development while revitalizing and preserving Yurok culture. Book a canoe ride at visityurokcountry.com/canoes. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/savetheredwoods/message

Skateboarding in the redwoods might seem unconventional, but it's a thing. The nonprofit Skate Like a Girl (SLAG) hosts a sleepaway skate camp for women, trans, and nonbinary skaters—in the middle of Sequoia National Forest. We skated with SLAG in Santa Cruz and from the skate park ventured into the Forest of Nisene Marks with squad members Sam Mercado, Jai Ledesma, and Kim Woozy to talk skateboarding, nature, and building inclusive community. Turns out skate culture has some things in common with the redwood forest. Both inspire joy, resilience, and a sense of belonging. Visit skatelikeagirl.com to register for programs, including Women + Trans Skate Camp from August 8-12 or 15-19, 2022 (two sessions, registration opens May 7, 2022). Music by Wavebreaker. Follow Save the Redwoods League on Instagram @savetheredwoods --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/savetheredwoods/message

Oakland's Lake Merritt may be a few miles from the nearest redwood forest, but this tidal slough is not only a bustling community space for locals, unhoused neighbors, artists, musicians, and roller skaters — it's also a whole wildlife refuge abundant with native and migratory birds. For would-be birders, it's a gateway. We went birding (aka birdwatching) right here with naturalist and artist Clay Anderson. Turns out he practiced both passions working many seasons at Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Listen and learn about what it takes to be a birder, nature journaling, and birds of the redwoods. --- Guest Bio: Clayton Anderson is a Naturalist working in the field of Environmental Education for the past 15 years. Enchanted by the natural world and its history since he was a boy, becoming a Naturalist was a dream come true. After graduating from San Jose State University, he landed his first job as a Naturalist with LoveLife Environmental Education Program. Since then, Clay has worked for several environmental concerns including California State Parks, East Bay Regional Parks and Alameda Resource Conservation District. He is currently works for Golden Gate Audubon Society as the Youth Program Manager. When he is not introducing the youth to the magic of nature, he enjoys birding and creating art. Whether speaking through a microphone or painting with a brush, Clay loves the work he does and is always looking to promote and educate others about the wonders of the natural world and its cycles. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/savetheredwoods/message

What is forest bathing, really? Originating as a mindfulness practice in Japan called shinrin-yoku, it involves activities that help heighten your senses to experience nature on another level and improve overall well being. It's a vibe. Certified forest bathing guide Juan Lazo Bautista takes us into the redwoods and explains this immersive nature experience, including a meditation, tools, and practices to help guide you on your journey. Hope you emerge from this episode like a happy little tree (shoutout to Bob Ross). Visit savetheredwoods.org/forest-bathing for a list of activities. About Juan Lazo Bautista Juan (he/him) currently resides with his family on Kizh/Tonga lands in what is today known as Tustin, CA. He is a graduate of UC Berkeley and has experience in labor organizing, youth empowerment, facilitation and immigrant rights work. He is proud to sit on the board of Defensores de la Cuenca (Watershed Defenders), a non-profit dedicated to helping the Latinx community connect with the natural world. Among his favorite things to do is catching last minute flights with friends, watching saturday soccer, bike riding, writing poetry and visiting his extended family in Oaxaca, Mexico. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/savetheredwoods/message

In the season 2 premiere, Leslie Parra passes the mic to new host Emily Harwitz as they venture into Wilder Ranch State Park to go mushroom foraging with Arthur Lee of Mazu Mushrooms. In the middle of a redwood fairy ring, they explore the fantastic world of fungi — from mushrooms' animal-like qualities to the way they can restore lands and waterways through a process called myco-remediation to which ones can literally kill you. Listen and learn all about what makes mushrooms so magical. Follow Save the Redwoods League on Instagram @savetheredwoods --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/savetheredwoods/message

I'll Go If You Go is back for its second season. Listen to this quick trailer for a preview of the outdoor adventures we'll take you on in 2022. Episode 1 drops Thursday, 1/27. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/savetheredwoods/message

In the final episode of season 1, the podcast team tells stories from the redwood forest and about what the phrase “I'll go if you go” really means—from psychedelic banana slugs to a ladybug bonanza to heartfelt tales about immigration and queerness. Featuring Dana Poblete, Marcos Castineiras, and Caleb Castle in conversation with Leslie Parra, the episode closes with a big reveal in time for Pride Month, followed by a riveting lightning round filled with karaoke songs and fun facts that speak to the many layers and intersecting identities of nature lovers and conservationists. Enjoy! Follow Save the Redwoods League on Instagram @savetheredwoods --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/savetheredwoods/message

In the face of violence against Asian and Pacific Islander people over the last year, Rebecca Au was galvanized to work with her colleagues at the National Park Service to develop upstander training. Also known as bystander intervention, it teaches people how to practice allyship and intervene when others are being harassed, whether in parks and public lands or in everyday life. In this episode, Rebecca was courageous to share her own lived experience, as well as tips for how to be an upstander. She also geeks out on friendship bracelets and the mythical forests of Endor. Follow Rebecca on Instagram @rebecca.ow. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/savetheredwoods/message

While going through a divorce, Karla Amador discovered a new passion: hiking for mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. She was inspired to start a movement called the 52-Hike Challenge to encourage others to reclaim their sense of self through connecting with nature. Join Karla and her community on a journey for love and healing, from the giant sequoia groves of the John Muir Trail in the Sierra Nevada to the coast redwoods of Carbon Canyon Regional Park in Southern California—and maybe one day, a road trip with Oprah to the Bay Area. Follow Karla on Instagram @lovekarlaamador and @52hikechallenge. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/savetheredwoods/message

Toni Maggi-Brown (he/him) is a wildlife biology student at Humboldt State University and a photographer who combines creativity with conservation. Step into Toni's world in the ancient redwood forests of the north coast, where he worked last summer as a wildlife apprentice for Redwoods Rising. He discusses what it's like to experience full immersion in nature, connecting and communicating with wildlife, and how Tik Tok can be an expansive tool for outdoor education. He also imitates a barn owl and shouts out Childish Gambino. Follow Toni on Instagram and TikTok @sounds_wild --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/savetheredwoods/message

Farrahn Hawkins (she/her) is a self-described “community and economic development enthusiast” who loves helping people achieve their life goals through education and the lens of nature. A former park ranger at Yosemite National Park and now based in Baltimore, Maryland, she volunteers to help youth and young adults root themselves in community and place. Leslie Parra caught up with Farrahn to discuss what it means to develop a sense of place, and what it feels like to come face to face with giant sequoia for the first time. Follow Farrahn on Instagram @never_typical_37. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/savetheredwoods/message

For our first episode, Save the Redwoods League Outreach Program Manager Leslie Parra rings in the new year with Miguel Marquez (he/him)—Oakland born, and raised by the local redwoods. He talks about the role that his Mexican-American heritage and family time in redwood parks played in developing his love for nature and ultimately his career path as a ranger who has worked for the National Park Service and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. He shares why representation matters, and what aspiring nature protectors of color can do to represent. Follow Miguel on Instagram @mggy1. Enjoy! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/savetheredwoods/message