KPCW This Green Earth

Atmospheric scientist at the University of Utah, Derek Malia, discusses the new Great Salt Lake Basin Dust Exposure Modeling Tool. This new data-based tool allows users to visualize how different lake water levels impact dust exposure across Utah.

Executive Director of The Redford Center, Jill Tidman, provides a closer look into the origins of the organization and the many ways in which it supports environmental impact filmmaking.

Climate scientist at the University of California, Dr. Daniel Swain, joins the show to speak about what's happening with this winter's early-season snowpack. We discuss trends in weather and how the Mountain West is reacting to a warming world and our current weather conditions.

HawkWatch International's Conservation Science Director Steve Slater discusses bald and golden eagles. Learn about eagle biology, nesting habits and conversation efforts for these large raptors.

Award-winning author Sophie Pavelle takes readers on a thrilling exploration of nature's symbiotic relationships in her latest book, "To Have or To Hold."

Acclaimed naturalist, filmmaker and essayist Priyanka Kumar shares insights from her latest book, "The Light Between Apple Trees: Rediscovering the Wild Through a Beloved American Fruit."

A new book by author and professor Beth Tobin sheds light on American artist, naturalist and specimen hunter, John Abbott. The book is titled, "Loving Insects" and it serves as a reminder of how Abbott's contributions shaped modern science.

Local birder Nate Brown walks us through this year's local Christmas bird count.

From world-renowned wildlife biologist to award-winning writer, Diane Boyd has poured her four decade long work of studying wolves into a new book titled, "A Woman Among Wolves." The book recently received the National Outdoor Book Award and the High Plains International Book Award.

Environmental journalist, Tara Lohan has just released a new book titled, “Undammed: Freeing Rivers and Bringing Communities to Life,” The book details the benefits of dam removal from river restoration to water quality improvement, which in turn has a multitude of affects, including the increase of fish populations that can feed people and restore rights for Native American Tribes.

Award-winning cartoonist Peter Kuper talks about his newest page turner "Wish We Weren't Here, Postcards from the Apocalypse." In it, Kuper deploys bold figures, clever metaphors and some of the best drawings of his career to get his message across.

Kimberley Flores from FulFILLed Lifestyle Co. stops by to bring us her best shopping tips and tricks for a more sustainable holiday season.

Tom Bishop, Founder and CEO of Paleblue Batteries shares the reason behind his new brand of rechargeable batteries and the impact each of us can make when we rely less on single use batteries.

People tend to do better when they know better. That is why sustainability expert, Lizzie Horvitz created Finch, an online platform that shares a wealth of knowledge on how to have a more sustainable life.

Once indigenous to North America, the jaguar is one of the wildest creatures left on the planet. Learn more about these extraordinary big cats and their challenges with Discovery Channel Executive Producer James Campbell author of the new book, "Heart of the Jaguar: The Extraordinary Conservation Effort to Save the Americas' Legendary Cat."

Anna Robertson and Luke Curtain provide a comprehensive recap of Mountain Towns 2030.

Roger Thurow a former Wall Street Journal reporter who wrote a series of stories on famine in Africa that was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in International Reporting. His reporting on humanitarian and development issues was also honored by the United Nations. He also recently penned the book, "Against the Grain." This week Thurow is speaking at Canvas 2025 in Salt Lake City. A conference covering innovation and emerging leaders in agronomy, crops, and soil sciences. Then, renowned anthropologist Dr. Shirley Strum joins the show to share more on her life's work with baboons. Dr. Strum is a professor of anthropology at the University of California, San Diego and the Director of the Uaso Ngiro Baboon Project in Kenya. She has just written a new book titled, "Echos of Our Origins: Baboons, Humans, and Nature."

Abby Ellis the director of a new film about the plight of the Great Salt Lake called “Terminal,” explains more about the fight currently being waged to save the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere. Then, conservationist and author Thor Hanson discusses his book, “Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid: The Fraught and Fascinating Biology of Climate Change.”

Walt Meier, senior research scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Center explains how and why Arctic sea ice has been receding for years and the global ramifications of this loss. Then Ronda Carnegie, executive director and co-founder of Project Dandelion an organization calling on the women of the world to unite for a climate safe world, talks about their campaign for women with smallholder farms.

National Geographic Explorer Dr. Lisa Briggs, an underwater archaeologist, archaeological scientist and documentary filmmaker is best known for her work excavating shipwrecks. Dr. Briggs discusses her scientific analysis on artifacts recovered from some of the world's most important underwater archaeological sites including Blackbeard's flagship, the Queen Anne's Revenge. Then biologist and author Karen Lloyd breaks down her firsthand account of the hunt for life beneath Earth's surface.

Peter Kuper is an award-winning cartoonist who shares a visually immersive work of graphic nonfiction with his new book "INSECTOPOLIS: A Natural History." In the book, Kuper layers history and science with color and design, to tell the remarkable tales of dung beetles navigating by the stars, hawk-size prehistoric dragonflies hunting prey and mosquitoes changing the course of human history. Then, Bridget Lyons, a traveler, explorer, and former wilderness guide talks about her new book, "Entwined: Dispatches from the Intersection of Species." Lyons takes readers everywhere from Alaska to California and Honduras to Mexico, braiding stories of animals and plants with careful observation, scientific research and wonder.

Science journalist Cara Giaimo dives into the ocean's abyss to learn new approaches to life from some of the oceans most interesting creatures. In her latest book, "Leaving the Ocean Was a Mistake: Life Lessons from Sixty Sea Creatures," Giaimo uses the bizarre and fascinating adaptations of sixty marine creatures to offer humorous and insightful advice for living on land. Award-winning author Gary Ferguson has written for a variety of national publications and and has penned twenty-seven books on nature and science, including his latest book: "The Twilight Forest: An Elegy for Ponderosa in a Changing West."

Journalist Kevin Fedarko chronicles an ambitious and transformative journey with National Geographic photographer Pete McBride as they attempted a full traverse of the Grand Canyon on foot — a grueling 750-mile trek. Then, award-winning photojournalist Pete McBride tells the story of the Colorado River through photography, essays and a book titled, "The Colorado River: Chasing Water."

Author, conservationist and Utah resident, Brooke Williams, talks about his life of adventure and wilderness exploration and his new book, "Encountering Dragonfly." Then, Dr. Tom Smith from Brigham Young University's Wildlife and Wildlands Conservation Program shares more on Utah's Rocky Mountain big horn sheep and efforts to keep their population thriving.

This Green Earth takes you on a journey to discover the fascinating world of Orcas with Naomi Rose, marine mammal scientist for the Animal Welfare Institute in Washington, DC. Dr. Rose talks about everything from how orcas create their pods to the reason some teenage whales have become a challenge for boaters. Then, traveling from the Amazon to Hawaii, Kenya to Georgia, journalist Kelsey Zimmerman talks to our world's farmers, indigenous leaders, and activists who are working with nature rather than against it to build a better tomorrow for us all.

Geoscientist and author Marcia Bjornerud talks about her new book "Turning to Stone," which reveals how rocks shape our lives and sustain the planet. From aquifers that purify drinking water to basalt that regulates climate, she shows how rocks are the hidden infrastructure of Earth. Then, biologist and author Karen Lloyd shares a firsthand account of the hunt for life beneath Earth's surface in her newest book, "Intraterrestrials: Discovering the Strangest Life on Earth."

Chris and Claire begin the show with Award-winning science journalist Judith Schwartz who walks us through her latest book, "The Reindeer Chronicles." Then, investigative journalist Nadia Hadman joins the program to discuss the uncertain future of researchers who study wildlife, air, land and water across our national parks system.

Faculty lecturer for the University of Utah and award-winning photojournalist, Jonathan Duncan joins the show to discuss the Great Salt Lake.

Tom Mills of Alpenglow Energy discusses the recent bill passed by Congress regarding the expiration of the solar tax credit. Then, Matthew Boyer, researcher at the University of Helsinki, shares a recent study of the foul-smelling fumes of penguin waste, which could help mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Marine biologist and author Helen Scales shares more about how shells are shaped with her new book, "What the Wild Sea Can Be." Then, Sam Bloch comes on to shed light on his book, "Shade: The Promise of a Forgotten Natural Resource."

Chris and Claire revisit a conversation with award-winning, best-selling author John Vaillant who penned a highly lauded account of a colossal fire in his book "Fire Weather, A True Story from a Hotter World." Then, Sara Jo Dickens from Ecology Bridge and local mountain bike enthusiast Mike Sczcesny come on to talk about an opportunity to properly help clear out noxious weeds overtaking some of our more popular mountain biking trails on Park City Mountain.

Chris Perkins, Vice President of Programs at Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, shares more about the recently released Trail Map for Rural Development in America, a resource designed to guide federal, state, local, tribal, and philanthropic leaders in harnessing the power of outdoor recreation. (01:54)Then, climate justice and clean air advocate Meisei Gonzalez of GreenLatinos talks about the work being done by that organization. (48:01)

Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance Stewardship Director Jeremy Lynch and Stewardship Coordinator Talitha McGuire highlight the successes of their 2025 Stewardship Programs to date, what is still to come this year and how you can get involved. Then, the Nature Conservancy's Director of Youth Engagement, Kate Ireland and Extern Marie Taylor who talk about about their externship programs on protecting the California sea otter.

Recycle Utah's Jim Bedell and Troy Holding, along with senior manager at AMP Robotics, Sarah Daschbach, talk about the future of recycling. Then, author Katherine Palmer Gordon talks about her new book, "This Place Is Who We Are: Stories of Indigenous Leadership, Resilience, and Connection to Homelands."

Naturalist and author Jeremy Mynott discusses his new book, "The Story of Nature," which explores humanity's evolving relationship with the natural world and asks whether we are its observers, managers or caretakers. Then, local Parkite and longtime arborist, Keith Clapier comes on the show to discuss what factors to consider when choosing a tree species to plant.

Kahea Pacheco of the Women's Earth Alliance discusses how the organization empowers women leaders on the frontlines of the climate crisis through people-first, regionally-led programs that promote environmental, social and economic justice. Then, Trish Kenlon, founder of Sustainable Career Pathways and president of the Utah Sustainable Business Network, helps professionals transition into climate and sustainability careers while supporting hundreds of Utah organizations in advancing sustainable business practices.

The Nature Conservancy's Director of Youth Engagement, Kate Ireland and Marie Taylor, a young extern leader, talk about the National Geographic Society externship program. Then, Ryan Elman Langendorf, a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, speaks about the importance of sea otters and the health of kelp forests.

Kyle and Trevor Ritland share how they turned their father's bedtime stories into an extensive investigation into Costa Rica's golden toad after it was presumed extinct. They dive into a deeper story about ecological grief, overlooked local wisdom, and the possibility that hope still lingers in the cloud forest. Then, renowned writer and journalist John Vailliant talks about his most recent book, "Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World," in which he describes the science of fire and forest heath, the fascinating relationships between humans and fire, and the future of fire-related disasters.

Naturalist and writer Eric Eaton talks about one of the most misunderstood insects — the wasp. Wasps are incredibly diverse and can thrive in nearly every habitat on Earth, and their influence on our lives is overwhelmingly beneficial. Then, award-winning environmental journalist Erica Gies shares her book, "Water Always Wins: Thriving in an Age of Drought and Deluge," which centers around the question of what does water actually want?

Biologist and author Karen Lloyd shares a firsthand account of the hunt for life beneath Earth's surface in her newest book, "Intraterrestrials: Discovering the Strangest Life on Earth." Then, wildlife photographer Will Burrard-Lucas discusses his experiences photographing some of the planet's most elusive and endangered species from Ethiopia to the Congo.

Celebrate World Bee Day with Daniel Raichel, the acting director of the Pollinator Initiative at the Natural Resources Defense Council, who talks about the current state of bees and what these pollinators mean to biodiversity and human livelihoods. Then, journalist Chris Berdik shares his new book, "Clamor: How Noise Took Over the World and How We Can Take it Back." In it, he brings attention to a pollutant that may not be getting the attention it deserves.

Scientists Fay Wei Li and Jacob Suissa discuss their new book, "Ferns: Lessons in Survival From Earth's Most Adaptable Plants." It explores the incredible world of these fascinating creatures which have survived for nearly 400 million years and continue to find ways to adapt to an ever changing planet. Then, Cara Giaimo takes readers on epic journeys around the globe from Antarctic deserts to lush jungles into the deepest fathoms of the oceans in her book, "Atlas Obscura: Wildlife."

Renowned climate scientist Dr. Jagadish Shukla discusses his new book, "A Billion Butterflies: A Life in Climate and Chaos Theory." Widely praised as an inspiring and informative memoir, the book shares Dr. Shukla's groundbreaking work, which revolutionized weather forecasting. Then naturalist and photographer Charles Hood captures his nocturnal adventures all over the world in his new book, "Nature at Night." While most tales may warn us about the dangers that lie waiting in the dark, there is actually an abundance of thriving, colorful and even adorable creatures that live their best lives at night.

Nick Mucha, the environmental capacity building director at Patagonia and the editor of the recently published book, "Tools to Save Our Home Planet," talks about the contributions from 56 environmental leaders and the inspiration it provides to environmental justice movements. Then, Sara Jo Dickens discusses best practices for gardening and lawn maintenance as we head into the spring season.

National Campaign Manager Evan Raskin of earthday.org talks about the past, present and projected future of Earth Day — and how you can get involved. Then, Park City Community Foundation's Andy Hecht talks about the progress of their Zero Food Waste Initiative and shares a freshly launched partnership that will provide even more efficient food waste composting.