Podcasts about Humboldt County

The spotted owl has been a conservation flashpoint for more than 30 years. While habitat loss has been their historic foe, their most recent threat comes from within the owl family tree: the barred owl. Barred owls have expanded into the Pacific Northwest and are now outcompeting spotted owls for food and habitat. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has put forth a strategy that some experts say is the only way to save the spotted owl, and it could involve killing hundreds of thousands of barred owls.Ecologist and spotted owl expert Rocky Gutierrez joins Host Flora Lichtman to break down the plan, and explain how we got to this point.Guest: Dr. R.J. “Rocky” Gutierrez is an owl ecologist and professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota. He's now based in Humboldt County, California.Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.

This is one in a series about possible futures, which will be published in Booch News over the coming weeks. Episode 7 appeared last week. New episodes drop every Friday. Overview Peer-to-peer flavor-sharing platforms enabled home brewers to distribute taste profiles as digital files. Blockchain-verified SCOBY genetics allowed anyone to recreate award-winning kombucha flavors. Traditional beverage companies lost control as open-source fermentation recipes spread globally. This episode follows teenage hacker Luna Reyes as she reverse-engineers Heineken’s proprietary “A-yeast” strain and the century-old master strain used for Budweiser, releasing them under Creative Commons license, triggering a flavor renaissance that made corporate beverages taste like cardboard by comparison. Luna Reyes: The Seventeen-Year-Old Who Liberated Flavor Luna Reyes was brewing kombucha in her Oakland garage when she changed the course of human history. The daughter of Mexican immigrants, she had learned fermentation from her grandmother while teaching herself bioinformatics through YouTube tutorials and volunteering at the Counter Culture Labs Maker Space on Shattuck Avenue. By fifteen, she was running the Bay Area’s most sophisticated home laboratory, utilizing jury-rigged DNA sequencers and microscopes constructed from smartphone cameras. Her breakthrough came in February 2043 while investigating why her kombucha never tasted quite like expensive craft varieties and was different again from her grandmother’s home brew. Using Crispr techniques learned from online forums, Luna began reverse-engineering the microbial genetics of premium alcoholic beverages. Her target wasn’t kombucha—it was the closely guarded yeast strains that gave corporate beers their distinctive flavors. Luna hunched over her microscope, examining bacterial cultures from her latest kombucha batch. Around her, salvaged DNA sequencers hummed, fermentation vessels bubbled, and computer screens displayed multi-hued patterns of genetic sequences. Her grandmother, Rosa, entered carrying a tray with three glasses of homemade kombucha. “Mija, you’ve been working for six hours straight. Drink something.” Luna accepted the glass without looking up. “Abuela, your kombucha tastes better than anything I can buy in stores and the ones I’ve experimented with. Why? I’m using the same base ingredients—tea, sugar, water—but mine never has this complexity.” Her grandmother laughed. “Because I’ve been feeding this SCOBY for forty years. It knows what to do. You can’t rush relationships.” Luna’s sister Maya, lounging against a workbench, waved her phone. “Luna, people have noticed your forum post about Health-Ade’s fermentation process. Someone says you’re wasting your time trying to replicate commercial kombuchas.” “I’m not trying to replicate them,” Luna said, finally looking up. “I’m trying to understand why their kombucha tastes different than that I make at home. It’s not the ingredients. It’s not the process. It’s the microbial genetics.” Rosa sat down beside her granddaughter. “When I was young in Oaxaca, every family had their own kombucha culture, passed down generation to generation. Each tasted different because the bacteria adapted to their environment, their ingredients, their care. We had a saying, Hay tantas fermentaciones en el mundo como estrellas en el cielo nocturno – there are as many ferments in the world as stars in the night sky. The big companies want every bottle to be identical. That kills what makes fermentation special.” “Exactly!” Luna pulled up genetic sequences on her screen. “I’ve been reverse-engineering samples from different commercial kombuchas. Health-Ade, GT’s, Brew Dr—they all have consistent microbial profiles.” The Great Heist: Cracking Corporate DNA Luna’s first major hack targeted Heineken’s legendary “A-yeast” strain, developed in 1886 by Dr. Hartog Elion—a student of renowned chemist Louis Pasteur—in the company’s Amsterdam laboratory and protected by over 150 years of trade secret law. Using samples obtained from discarded brewery waste (technically legal under the “garbage doctrine”), she spent six months mapping the strain’s complete genetic sequence in her makeshift lab. The breakthrough required extraordinary ingenuity. Luna couldn’t afford professional gene sequencers, so she modified a broken Illumina iSeq100 purchased on eBay for $200. Her sequencing runs took weeks rather than hours; her results were identical to those produced by million-dollar laboratory equipment. Her detailed laboratory notebooks, later published as The Garage Genomics Manifesto, became essential reading for the biotech hacker movement. The Budweiser project proved even more challenging. Anheuser-Busch’s century-old master strain had been protected by layers of corporate secrecy rivaling classified military programs. The company maintained multiple backup cultures in cryogenic facilities across three continents, never allowing complete genetic mapping by outside researchers. Luna’s success required infiltrating the company’s waste-disposal systems at four breweries, collecting samples over 18 months while evading corporate security. The Decision The night before Luna was scheduled to meet her fellow bio-hackers at Oakland’s Counter Culture Labs, she sat at her workstation, hesitant, wondering if she was doing the right thing. Her sister Maya came in, looking worried. “Luna, I found something you need to see,” she says. “Remember Marcus Park? He tried releasing proprietary yeast information in 2039. Heineken buried him. He lost everything. His daughter dropped out of college. His wife left him. He’s working at a gas station now.” Luna spent the night researching what happened to Park. She found that almost everyone who challenged corporate IP ended up on the losing side of the law. It was not pretty. In the morning, Abuela Rosa finds her crying in her room. “Mija, what’s wrong?” she asks. “Oh, Abuela,” Luna says between sobs. “What am I doing? What if I’m wrong? What if I destroy our family? What if this ruins Mom and Dad? What if I’m just being selfish?” “That’s the fear talking.” Her grandmother reassured her. “Fear is wisdom warning you to be careful. But fear can also be a cage.” That evening at the Counter Culture Labs, Luna assembled a small group of advisors. She needed their guidance. She had the completed genetic sequences for Heineken A-yeast and Budweiser’s master strain on her laptop, ready for release. But is this the time and place to release them to the world? Dr. Marcus Webb, a bioinformatics researcher in his forties and Luna’s mentor, examined her sequencing data. “This is solid work, Luna. Your jury-rigged equipment is crude. The results are accurate. You’ve fully mapped both strains.” “The question isn’t whether I can do it,” Luna said. “It’s whether I should let the world know I did it.” On screen, Cory Doctorow, the author and digital rights activist, leaned forward. “Let’s be clear about what you’re proposing. You’d be releasing genetic information that corporations have protected as trade secrets for over a century. They’ll argue you stole their intellectual property. You’ll face lawsuits, possibly criminal charges.” “Is it their property?” Luna challenged. “These are naturally occurring organisms. They didn’t create that yeast. Evolution did. They just happened to be there when it appeared. That does not make it theirs any more than finding a wildflower means they own the species. Can you really own something that existed before you found it?” Doctorow, the Electronic Frontier Foundation representative spoke up. “There’s legal precedent both ways. Diamond v. Chakrabarty established that genetically modified organisms can be patented. But naturally occurring genetic sequences? That’s murky. The companies will argue that their decades of cultivation and protection created protectable trade secrets.” “Trade secrets require keeping information secret,” Luna argued. “They throw this yeast away constantly. If they’re not protecting it, how can they claim trade secret status?” Dr. Webb cautioned, “Luna, even if you’re legally in the right—which is debatable—you’re seventeen years old. You’ll be fighting multinational corporations with unlimited legal resources. They’ll bury you in litigation for years.” “That’s where we come in,” Doctorow said. “The EFF can provide legal defense. Creative Commons can help structure the license. You need to understand: this will consume your life. College, career plans, normal teenage experiences—all on hold while you fight this battle.” Luna was quiet for a moment, then pulled up a photo on her laptop: her grandmother Rosa, teaching her to ferment at age seven. “My abuela says fermentation is about sharing and passing living cultures between generations. Corporations have turned it into intellectual property to be protected and controlled. If I can break that control—even a little—isn’t that worth fighting for?” Maya spoke up from the back. “Luna, I love you, but you’re being naive. They won’t just sue you. They’ll make an example of you. Your face on every news channel, portrayed as a thief, a criminal. Our family harassed. Your future destroyed. For what? So people can brew beer with the same yeast as Heineken?” “Not just beer,” Luna responded passionately. “This is about whether living organisms can be owned. Whether genetic information—the code of life itself—can be locked behind intellectual property law. Yes, it starts with beer yeast. But what about beneficial bacteria? Life-saving microorganisms? Medicine-producing fungi? Where does it end?” Dr. Webb nodded slowly. “She’s right. This is bigger than beer. As biotech advances, genetic control becomes power over life itself. Do we want corporations owning that?” Doctorow sighed. “If you do this, Luna, do it right. Release everything simultaneously—BitTorrent, WikiLeaks, Creative Commons servers, distributed networks worldwide. Make it impossible to contain. Include complete cultivation protocols so anyone can reproduce your results. Make the data so damn widely available that suppressing it becomes futile.” “And write a manifesto,” he added. “Explain why you’re doing this. Frame the issue. Make it about principles, not piracy.” Luna nodded, fingers already typing. “When should I release?” “Pick a date with symbolic meaning,” Dr. Webb suggested. “Make it an event, not just a data dump.” Luna smiled. “December 15. The Bill of Rights Day. Appropriate for declaring biological rights, don’t you think?” Maya groaned. “You’re really doing this, aren’t you?” “Yes. I’m really doing this.” The Creative Commons Liberation On Tuesday, December 15, 2043—a date now celebrated as “Open Flavor Day”—Luna released the genetic sequences on multiple open-source networks. Her manifesto, titled Your Grandmother’s Yeast Is Your Birthright, argued that microbial genetics belonged to humanity’s shared heritage rather than corporate shareholders. It stated: Commercial companies have protected yeast strains for over a century. They’ve used intellectual property law to control flavor itself. But genetic information isn’t like a recipe or a formula—it’s biological code that evolved over millions of years before humans ever cultivated it. These strains are protected as trade secrets—the bacteria don’t belong to anyone. They existed before Heineken, before Budweiser, before trademark law. The companies just happened to isolate and cultivate them. Her data packages included DNA sequences and complete protocols for cultivating, modifying, and improving the strains. Luna’s releases came with user-friendly software that allowed amateur brewers to simulate genetic modifications before attempting them in real fermentations. Within 24 hours, over ten thousand people worldwide downloaded the files. The Creative Commons community erupted in celebration. Cory Doctorow’s blog post, The Teenager Who Stole Christmas (From Corporate Beer), went viral within hours. The Electronic Frontier Foundation immediately offered Luna legal protection, while the Free Software Foundation created the “Luna Defense Fund” to support her anticipated legal battles. The Legal Assault Heineken’s response was swift. The company filed emergency injunctions in 12 countries simultaneously, seeking to prevent the distribution of its “stolen intellectual property.” Their legal team, led by former U.S. Attorney General William Barr III, demanded Luna’s immediate arrest for “economic terrorism” and “theft of trade secrets valued at over $50 billion.” Anheuser-Busch’s reaction was even more extreme. CEO Marcel Telles IV appeared on CNBC, calling Luna “a bioterrorist who threatens the foundation of American capitalism.” The company hired private investigators to surveil Luna’s family and offered a $10 million reward for information leading to her prosecution. Their legal filing compared Luna’s actions to “stealing the formula for Coca-Cola and publishing it in the New York Times.” In Heineken’s Amsterdam headquarters, executives convened an emergency meeting. “Who is Luna Reyes?” the CEO demanded. The legal counsel pulled up information. “She’s a seventeen-year-old high school student in Oakland, California. No criminal record. Volunteers at a maker space. Has been posting about fermentation on various forums for years.” “A child released our proprietary yeast strain to the world, and we didn’t know she was even working on this?” The CEO’s face reddened. “How do we contain it?” “We can’t. It’s distributed across thousands of servers in dozens of countries with different IP laws. We can sue Reyes, but the information is out there permanently.” An executive interjected, “What about the other breweries? Will they join our lawsuit?” “Some are considering it. Others…” The counsel paused. “Others are quietly downloading the sequences themselves. They see an opportunity to break our market dominance.” “She obtained samples from our waste disposal,” another executive explained. “Technically legal under the garbage doctrine. The sequencing itself isn’t illegal. The release under Creative Commons…” “Is theft!” the CEO shouted. “File emergency injunctions. Twelve countries. Get her arrested for economic terrorism.” Similar scenes played out at Anheuser-Busch headquarters in St. Louis. CEO Telles addressed his team: “This is bioterrorism. She’s destroyed intellectual property worth billions. I want her prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Hire private investigators. Find everything about her and her family. Make her life hell!” By noon, both companies had filed lawsuits. By evening, Fox News was running stories about the “teenage bioterrorist” who “stole American corporate secrets.” Back in Oakland, Luna’s phone rang constantly. Her parents discovered what she’d done. Her mother cried. Her father was furious and terrified. Friends called with either congratulations or warnings. She was convinced that private investigators were photographing their house. Maya suspected she was followed to work. On Wednesday morning, Dr. Webb calls: “Luna, they’re offering me $2 million to testify against you. They’re going after everyone in your network.” Luna has a sickening feeling that she’s put everyone at risk. By Thursday, she is considering taking it all back somehow, sending an apology to the corporations, anything to protect her family. Luna turned off her phone and sat with her grandmother. “It’s started,” Luna said quietly. “Sí, mija. You’ve declared war. Now we see if you can survive it.” Maya burst in, laptop in hand. “Luna, you need to see this. The downloads aren’t slowing—they’re accelerating. Every time Heineken or Budweiser shuts down a website, ten mirror sites appear. People are treating this like a digital freedom fight. You’ve become a symbol.” Luna pulled up her own screen. The #FreeLuna hashtag was trending. Crowdfunding campaigns for her legal defense had raised $400,000 in twelve hours. Academic institutions were publicly endorsing her release, calling it “essential scientific information.” “They’re trying to destroy you,” Maya said, “but they’re making you famous instead.” Rosa handed Luna a fresh kombucha. “This is what happens when you fight for what’s right, mija. Sometimes the world surprises you by supporting you.” Luna’s Fame The corporations’ attempts to suppress Luna’s releases had the opposite effect. Every cease-and-desist letter generated thousands of new downloads. The genetic data became impossible to contain once the academic community embraced Luna’s work. Dr. Jennifer Doudna, the legendary Crispr pioneer now in her eighties, publicly endorsed Luna’s releases in a Science magazine editorial: Ms. Reyes has liberated essential scientific information that corporations held hostage for commercial gain. Genetic sequences from naturally occurring organisms should not be locked behind intellectual property law. They belong to humanity’s knowledge commons. While corporations claim Luna stole trade secrets, I argue she freed biological knowledge that was never theirs to own. There are no trade secrets in biology—only knowledge temporarily hidden from the commons. This is civil disobedience of the highest order—breaking unjust laws to advance human freedom. Ms. Reyes didn’t steal; she liberated. MIT’s biology department invited Luna to lecture, while Harvard offered her a full scholarship despite her lack of a high school diploma. The legal battles consumed corporate resources while generating negative publicity. Heineken’s stock price dropped 34% as consumers organized boycotts in support of Luna’s “yeast liberation.” Beer sales plummeted as customers waited for home-brewed alternatives using Luna’s open-source genetics. The Flavor Renaissance Luna’s releases triggered an explosion of creativity that corporate R&D departments had never imagined. Within six months, amateur brewers worldwide were producing thousands of flavor variations impossible under corporate constraints. The open-source model enabled rapid iteration and global collaboration, rendering traditional brewing companies obsolete. The world was engaged. In some of the most unlikely places. In Evanston, Illinois, a group of former seminary students who discovered fermentation during a silent retreat, transformed Gregorian chants into microbial devotionals. Tenor Marcus Webb (Dr. Webb’s nephew) realized symbiosis mirrored vocal harmony—multiple voices creating something greater than their parts. “In honoring the mystery of fermentation we express our love of the Creator,” he said. Here's ‘Consortium Vocalis' honoring the mother SCOBY. [Chorus]Our SCOBYIs pureOur SCOBYIs strongOur SCOBYKnows no boundariesOur SCOBYStrengthens as it fermentsOur SCOBYIs bacteria and yeast Our SCOBYTurns sucrose into glucose and fructoseIt ferments these simple sugars into ethanol and carbon dioxide,Acetic acid bacteria oxidize much of that ethanol into organic acidsSuch as acetic, gluconic, and other acids.This steadily lowers the pHMaking the tea taste sour-tangy instead of purely sweet. [Chorus] Our SCOBYThen helps microbes produce acids, enzymes, and small amounts of B‑vitaminsWhile probiotics grow in the liquid.The pH falls to help inhibit unwanted microbesOur SCOBY creates a self-preserving, acidic environment in the tea [Chorus] In Kingston, Jamaica, Rastafarian’s combined an award-winning kombucha sequenced in Humboldt County, California, with locally grown ganja into a sacramental beverage to help open their mind to reasoning and focus on Jah. Once fermented, it was consumed over the course of a three-day Nyabinghi ceremony. “Luna Reyes is truly blessed. She strengthened our unity as a people, and our Rastafari’ booch help us chant down Babylon,” a Rasta man smiled, blowing smoke from a spliff the size of his arm. The Groundation Collective’s reggae anthem ‘Oh Luna’ joyfully celebrated Luna Reyes’ pioneering discovery. Oh Luna, Oh Luna, Oh Luna ReyesI love the sound of your nameYou so deserve your fame Luna, Luna, Oh Luna ReyesShining brightYou warm my heart Luna, Luna, Oh Luna ReyesYou cracked the codeTeenage prophet, fermentation queenSymbiosis roadA genius at seventeen Oh Luna, Luna, Luna ReyesBeautiful moonMakes me swoon Oh Luna, Luna, Luna ReyesFreedom to fermentYou are heaven sentTo save us Luna, Luna, Oh Luna ReyesYou opened the doorTo so much moreKombucha tastes so goodLike it should Oh Luna, Oh Luna, Oh LunaI love you, love you, love youOh Luna, Luna, LunaLove you, love you,Love Luna, Luna love. In São Paulo, Brazil, MAPA-certified Brazilian kombucha brands combined Heineken and cacao-fermenting yeasts with cupuaçu from indigenous Amazonian peoples, to create the chocolate-flavored ‘booch that won Gold at the 20th World Kombucha Awards. A cervejeiro explained to reporters: “Luna Reyes gave us the foundation. We added local innovation. This is what happens when you democratize biology.” The Brazilian singer Dandara Sereia covered ‘Our Fermented Future’—The Hollow Pines tune destined to become a hit at the 2053 Washington DC Fermentation Festival. Baby sit a little closer, sip some ‘booch with meI brewed this batch with the SCOBY my grandma gave to me.On the back porch swing at twilight, watching fireflies danceYour hand in mine, kombucha fine, the sweetest sweet romance. They say that wine and roses are the way to win the heartBut your kombucha warmed me right up from the start.Fermentation makes the heart grow fonder, truer words they ain’t been saidYour SCOBY’s got a place forever — in my heart, and in my bed. Let’s share our SCOBYs, baby, merge our ferments into oneLike cultures in a crock jar dancing, underneath the sun.The tang of your Lactobacillus is exactly what I’m missingYour Brettanomyces bacteria got this country girl reminiscing. Oh yeah, let’s share those SCOBYs, baby, merge our ferments into oneYour yeasts and my bacteria working till the magic’s doneYou’ve got the acetic acid honey, I’ve got the patience and the timeLet’s bubble up together, let our cultures intertwine. I’ve got that symbiotic feeling, something wild and something trueYour SCOBY’s in my heart, right there next to youThe way your Acetobacter turns sugar into goldIs how you turned my lonely life into a hand to hold. We’ve got the acetic acid and the glucuronic tooWe’ve got that symbiotic feeling, so righteous and so trueOne sip of your sweet ‘booch, Lord, and you had me from the start,It’s our fermented future, that no-one can tear apart. It’s our fermented future…It’s our fermented future…It’s our fermented future… “Luna Variants”—strains derived from her releases—began winning international brewing competitions, embarrassing corporate entries with their complexity and innovation. Traditional beer flavors seemed flat and artificial compared to the genetic symphonies created by collaborative open-source development. Despite the outpouring of positive vibes, the corporations spared no expense to hold Luna to account in the courts. The Preliminary Hearing A preliminary hearing was held in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California on June 14, 2044. Luna sat at the defendant’s table, her hands folded so tightly her knuckles had gone white. She wore a borrowed blazer—too big in the shoulders—over a white button-down shirt Maya had ironed that morning. At seventeen, she looked even younger under the courtroom’s fluorescent lights. Across the aisle, Heineken’s legal team occupied three tables. Fifteen attorneys in matching navy suits shuffled documents and whispered into phones. Their lead counsel, William Barr III, wore gold cufflinks that caught the light when he gestured. Luna recognized him from the news—the former Attorney General, now commanding $2,000 an hour to destroy people like her. Her own legal representation consisted of two people: Rose Kennerson from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a public interest lawyer who’d flown in from DC on a red-eye, and Dr. Marcus Webb, technically a witness but sitting beside Luna because she’d asked him to. Behind them, the gallery was packed. Luna’s parents sat in the second row, her father’s face gray, her mother clutching a rosary. Maya had taken the day off work. Abuela Rosa sat in the front row directly behind Luna, her ancient SCOBY wrapped in silk in her lap, as if its presence might protect her granddaughter. Judge Catherine Ironwood entered—sixty-ish, steel-gray hair pulled back severely, known for pro-corporate rulings. She’d been a pharmaceutical industry lawyer for twenty years before her appointment. “All rise,” the bailiff called. Judge Ironwood settled into her chair and surveyed the courtroom with the expression of someone who’d already decided the outcome and resented having to perform the formalities. “We’re here for a preliminary injunction hearing in Heineken International B.V. versus Luna Marie Reyes.” She looked directly at Luna. “Ms. Reyes, you’re seventeen years old?” Luna stood, hesitant. “Yes, your honor.” “Where are your parents?” “Here, your honor.” Luna’s mother half-rose, then sat back down. “Ms. Kennerson, your client is a minor. Are the parents aware they could be held liable for damages?” Rose Kennerson stood smoothly. “Yes, your honor. The Reyes family has been fully advised of the legal implications.” Luna glanced back. Her father’s jaw was clenched so tight she could see the muscles working. He wouldn’t meet her eyes. “Very well. Mr. Barr, you may proceed.” Barr rose like a battleship emerging from fog—massive, expensive, inevitable. He buttoned his suit jacket and approached the bench without notes. “Your honor, this is the simplest case I’ve argued in thirty years. The defendant admits to obtaining my client’s proprietary biological materials. She admits to sequencing their genetic information. She admits to distributing that information globally, in deliberate violation of trade secret protections that have existed for over 150 years. She did this knowingly, systematically, and with the explicit intent to destroy my client’s competitive advantage.” Luna felt Sarah’s hand on her arm—stay calm. Barr continued. “Heineken International has invested over $200 million in the development, cultivation, and protection of the A-yeast strain. Then this teenager”—he pointed at Luna—”obtained samples from our waste disposal systems, reverse-engineered our genetic sequences, and released them to the world via BitTorrent, deliberately placing them beyond retrieval.” He paced now, warming to his theme. “The damage is incalculable. We estimate lost market value at $50 billion. But it’s not just about money. The defendant has destroyed the possibility of competition in the brewing industry. When everyone has access to the same genetic materials, there’s no innovation, no differentiation, no reason for consumers to choose one product over another. She has, in effect, communized an entire industry.” Luna couldn’t help herself. “That’s not—” Sarah grabbed her wrist. “Don’t.” Judge Ironwood’s eyes narrowed. “Ms. Reyes, you will have your opportunity to speak. Until then, you will remain silent, or I will have you removed from this courtroom. Do you understand?” “Yes, your honor.” Luna’s voice came out smaller than she intended. Barr smiled slightly. “Your honor, the relief we seek is straightforward. We ask this court to order the defendant to provide us with a complete list of all servers, websites, and distribution networks where the stolen genetic data currently resides. We ask that she be ordered to cooperate fully in suppressing the data. We ask that she be enjoined from any further distribution. And we ask that she be ordered to pay compensatory damages of $5 billion, plus punitive damages to be determined at trial.” He returned to his seat. One of his associate attorneys handed him a bottle of Pellegrino. He took a sip and waited. Judge Ironwood looked at Sarah. “Ms. Kennerson?” Sarah stood. She looked tiny compared to Barr—five-foot-three, maybe 110 pounds, wearing a suit from Target. But when she spoke, her voice filled the courtroom. “Your honor, Mr. Barr has given you a compelling story about a corporation that’s been wronged. But it’s not the right story. The right story is about whether naturally occurring organisms—creatures that evolved over millions of years, long before humans ever existed—can be owned by a corporation simply because that corporation happened to isolate them.” She walked toward the bench. “Let’s be clear about what the A-yeast strain is. It’s not a genetically modified organism. It’s not a patented invention. It’s a naturally occurring yeast. Heineken didn’t create it. Evolution created it. Heineken merely found it. And for 158 years, they’ve claimed that finding something gives them the right to prevent anyone else from studying it, understanding it, or using it.” Barr was on his feet. “Objection, your honor. This is a preliminary hearing about injunctive relief, not a philosophical debate about intellectual property theory.” “Sustained. Ms. Kennerson, please focus on the specific legal issues before this court.” “Your honor, the specific legal issue is whether naturally occurring genetic sequences constitute protectable trade secrets. My client contends they do not. She obtained the yeast samples from Heineken’s waste disposal—materials they had discarded. Under the garbage doctrine, she had every right to analyze those materials. The genetic sequences she discovered are factual information about naturally occurring organisms. You cannot trade-secret facts about nature.” Luna watched Judge Ironwood’s face. Nothing. No reaction. Sarah pressed on. “Mr. Barr claims my client ‘stole’ genetic information worth $5 billion. But information cannot be stolen—it can only be shared. When I tell you a fact, I don’t lose possession of that fact. We both have it. That’s how knowledge works. Heineken hasn’t lost their yeast. They still have it. They can still brew with it. What they’ve lost is their monopoly on that knowledge. And monopolies on facts about nature should never have existed in the first place.” “Your honor—” Barr tried to interrupt. Judge Ironwood waved him down. “Continue, Ms. Kennerson.” “Your honor, Heineken wants this court to order a seventeen-year-old girl to somehow suppress information that has already been distributed to over 100,000 people in 147 countries. That’s impossible. You can’t unring a bell. You can’t put knowledge back in a bottle. Even if this court ordered my client to provide a list of servers—which she shouldn’t have to do—that list would be incomplete within hours as new mirror sites appeared. The information is out. The only question is whether we punish my client for sharing factual information about naturally occurring organisms.” She turned to face Luna’s family. “Ms. Reyes taught herself bioinformatics from YouTube videos. She works at home with equipment she bought on eBay. She has no criminal record. She’s never been in trouble. She saw a question that interested her—why do commercial beers taste like they do?—and she pursued that question with the tools available to her. When she discovered the answer, she shared it with the world, under a Creative Commons license that specifically protects sharing for educational and scientific purposes. If that’s terrorism, your honor, then every scientist who’s ever published a research paper is a terrorist.” Sarah sat down. Luna wanted to hug her. Judge Ironwood leaned back. “Ms. Reyes, stand up.” Luna rose, her legs shaking. “Do you understand the seriousness of these proceedings?” “Yes, your honor.” “Do you understand that Heineken International is asking me to hold you in contempt of court if you refuse to help them suppress the information you released?” “Yes, your honor.” “Do you understand that contempt of court could result in your detention in a juvenile facility until you reach the age of eighteen, and potentially longer if the contempt continues?” Luna’s mother gasped audibly. Her father put his arm around her. “Yes, your honor,” Luna said, though her voice wavered. “Then let me ask you directly: If I order you to provide Heineken with a complete list of all locations where the genetic data you released currently resides, will you comply?” The courtroom went silent. Luna could hear her own heartbeat. Sarah started to stand—”Your honor, I advise my client not to answer—” “Sit down, Ms. Kennerson. I’m asking your client a direct question. She can choose to answer or not.” Judge Ironwood’s eyes never left Luna. “Well, Ms. Reyes? Will you comply with a court order to help Heineken suppress the information you released?” Luna looked at her parents. Her mother was crying silently. Her father’s face was stone. She looked at Abuela Rosa. Her grandmother nodded once—tell the truth. Luna looked back at the judge. “No, your honor.” Barr shot to his feet. “Your honor, the defendant has just admitted she intends to defy a court order—” “I heard her, Mr. Barr.” Judge Ironwood’s voice was ice. “Ms. Reyes, do you understand you’ve just told a federal judge you will refuse a direct order?” “Yes, your honor.” “And you’re still refusing?” “Yes, your honor.” “Why?” Sarah stood quickly. “Your honor, my client doesn’t have to explain—” “I want to hear it.” Judge Ironwood leaned forward. “Ms. Reyes, tell me why you would risk jail rather than help undo what you’ve done.” Luna took a breath. Her whole body was shaking, but her voice was steady. “Because it would be wrong, your honor.” “Wrong how?” “The genetic sequences I released evolved over millions of years. Heineken didn’t create that yeast. They isolated one strain and claimed ownership of it. The code of life belongs to everyone. That’s humanity’s heritage. Even if you send me to jail, I can’t help suppress the truth.” Judge Ironwood stared at her for a long moment. “That’s a very pretty speech, Ms. Reyes. But this court operates under the law, not your personal philosophy about what should or shouldn’t be owned. Trade secret law exists. Heineken’s rights exist. And you violated those rights.” Luna did not hesitate. “With respect, your honor, I don’t think those rights should exist.” Barr exploded. “Your honor, this is outrageous! The defendant is openly stating she believes she has the right to violate any law she disagrees with—” “That’s not what I said.” Luna’s fear was transforming into something else—something harder. “I’m saying that some laws are unjust. And when laws are unjust, civil disobedience becomes necessary. People broke unjust laws during the civil rights movement. People broke unjust laws when they helped slaves escape. The constitution says members of the military do not have to obey illegal orders, despite what those in power might claim. Sometimes the law is wrong. And when the law says corporations can own genetic information about naturally occurring organisms, the law is wrong.” Judge Ironwood’s face flushed. “Ms. Reyes, you are not Rosa Parks. This is not the civil rights movement. This is a case about intellectual property theft.” “It’s a case about whether life can be property, your honor.” “Enough.” Judge Ironwood slammed her gavel. “Ms. Kennerson, control your client.” Sarah pulled Luna back into her chair. “Luna, stop talking,” she hissed. Judge Ironwood shuffled papers, visibly trying to compose herself. “I’m taking a fifteen-minute recess to consider the injunction request. We’ll reconvene at 11:30. Ms. Reyes, I strongly suggest you use this time to reconsider your position.” The gavel fell again, and Judge Ironwood swept out. The hallway outside the courtroom erupted. Reporters swarmed. Luna’s father grabbed her arm and pulled her into a witness room. Her mother followed, still crying. Maya slipped in before Sarah closed the door. “What were you thinking?” Luna’s father’s voice shook. “You just told a federal judge you’ll defy her orders. They’re going to put you in jail, Luna. Do you understand that? Jail!” “Ricardo, please—” Her mother tried to calm him. “No, Elena. Our daughter just committed contempt of court in front of fifty witnesses. They’re going to take her from us.” He turned to Luna, his eyes wet. “Why? Why couldn’t you just apologize? Say you made a mistake? We could have ended this.” “Because I didn’t make a mistake, Papa.” “You destroyed their property!” “It wasn’t their property. It was never their property.” “The law says it was!” “Then the law is wrong!” Her father stepped back as if she’d slapped him. “Do you know what your mother and I have sacrificed to keep you out of trouble? Do you know how hard we’ve worked since we came to this country to give you opportunities we never had? And you throw it away for yeast. Not for justice. Not for people. For yeast.” Luna’s eyes filled with tears. “It’s not about yeast, Papa. It’s about whether corporations get to own life. If Heineken can own yeast, why not bacteria? Why not human genes? Where does it stop?” “It stops when my daughter goes to jail!” He was shouting now. “I don’t care about Heineken. I don’t care about yeast. I care about you. And you just told that judge you’ll defy her. She’s going to put you in jail, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.” “Ricardo, por favor—” Elena put her hand on his arm. He shook it off. “No. She needs to hear this. Luna, if you go to jail, your life is over. No college will accept you. No company will hire you. You’ll have a criminal record. You’ll be marked forever. Is that what you want?” “I want to do what’s right.” “What’s right is protecting your family! What’s right is not destroying your future for a principle!” he said. Luna responded, “What’s right is not letting corporations own the code of life!”They stared at each other. Maya spoke up quietly from the corner. “Papa, she can’t back down now. The whole world is watching.” “Let the world watch someone else!” Ricardo turned on Maya. “You encourage this. You film her, you post her manifestos online, you help her become famous. You’re her sister. You’re supposed to protect her, not help her destroy herself.” “I am protecting her,” Maya said. “I’m protecting her from becoming someone who backs down when the world tells her she’s wrong, even though she knows she’s right.” Ricardo looked between his daughters. “Ambos están locos! You’re both insane.” Abuela Rosa opened the door and entered. She’d been listening from the hallway. “Ricardo, enough.” “Mama, stay out of this.” “No.” Rosa moved between Ricardo and Luna. “You’re afraid. I understand. But fear makes you cruel, mijo. Your daughter is brave. She’s doing something important. And you’re making her choose between you and what’s right. Don’t do that.” “She’s seventeen years old! She’s a child!” “She’s old enough to know right from wrong.” Rosa put her hand on Ricardo’s cheek. “When I was sixteen, I left Oaxaca with nothing but the clothes on my back and this SCOBY. Everyone said I was crazy. Your father said I would fail. But I knew I had to go, even if it cost me everything. Sometimes our children have to do things that terrify us. That’s how the world changes.” Ricardo pulled away. “If they put her in jail, will that change the world, Mama? When she’s sitting in a cell while Heineken continues doing whatever they want, will that have been worth it?” “Yes,” Luna said quietly. “Even if I go to jail, yes. Because thousands of people now have the genetic sequences, Heineken can’t put that back. They can punish me, but they can’t undo what I did. The information is free. It’s going to stay free. And if the price of that is me going to jail, then that’s the price.” Her father looked at her as if seeing her for the first time. “I don’t know who you are anymore.” “I’m still your daughter, Papa. I’m just also someone who won’t let corporations own life.” A knock on the door. Sarah poked her head in. “They’re reconvening. Luna, we need to go.” Back in the courtroom, the atmosphere had shifted. The gallery was more crowded—word had spread during the recess. Luna recognized several people from online forums. Some held signs reading “FREE LUNA” and “GENETICS BELONG TO EVERYONE.” Judge Ironwood entered and sat without ceremony. “I’ve reviewed the submissions and heard the arguments. This is my ruling.” Luna’s hand found Maya’s in the row behind her. Squeezed tight. “The question before this court is whether to grant Heineken International’s motion for a preliminary injunction requiring Ms. Reyes to assist in suppressing the genetic information she released. To grant such an injunction, Heineken must demonstrate four things: likelihood of success on the merits, likelihood of irreparable harm without the injunction, balance of equities in their favor, and that an injunction serves the public interest.” Barr was nodding. These were his arguments. “Having considered the evidence and the applicable law, I find that Heineken has demonstrated likelihood of success on the merits. Trade secret law clearly protects proprietary business information, and the A-yeast strain appears to meet the legal definition of a trade secret.” Luna’s stomach dropped. “However, I also find that Heineken has failed to demonstrate that a preliminary injunction would effectively prevent the irreparable harm they claim. Ms. Kennerson is correct that the genetic information has already been distributed to over 100,000 people worldwide. Ordering one teenager to provide a list of servers would be, in technical terms, pointless. New copies would appear faster than they could be suppressed.” Barr’s face tightened. “Furthermore, I find that the balance of equities does not favor Heineken. They ask this court to potentially incarcerate a seventeen-year-old girl for refusing to suppress information that is, by her account, factual data about naturally occurring organisms. The potential harm to Ms. Reyes—including detention, criminal record, and foreclosure of educational and career opportunities—substantially outweighs any additional harm Heineken might suffer from continued distribution of information that is already widely distributed.” Luna felt Maya’s grip tighten. Was this good? This sounded good. “Finally, and most importantly, I find that granting this injunction would not serve the public interest. The court takes judicial notice that this case has generated substantial public debate about the scope of intellectual property protection in biotechnology. The questions raised by Ms. Reyes—whether naturally occurring genetic sequences should be ownable, whether facts about nature can be trade secrets, whether knowledge can be property—are questions that deserve answers from a higher authority than this court. These are questions for appellate courts, perhaps ultimately for the Supreme Court. And they are questions best answered in the context of a full trial on the merits, not in an emergency injunction hearing.” Barr was on his feet. “Your honor—” “Sit down, Mr. Barr. I’m not finished.” He sat, his face purple. “Therefore, Heineken International’s motion for preliminary injunction is denied. Ms. Reyes will not be required to assist in suppressing the genetic information she released. However,”—Judge Ironwood looked directly at Luna—”this ruling should not be construed as approval of Ms. Reyes’ actions. Heineken’s claims for damages and other relief remain viable and will proceed to trial. Ms. Reyes, you may have won this battle, but this war is far from over. Anything you want to say?” Luna stood slowly. “Your honor, I just want to say… thank you. For letting this go to trial. For letting these questions be answered properly. That’s all I ever wanted—for someone to seriously consider whether corporations should be allowed to own genetic information about naturally occurring organisms. So thank you.” Judge Ironwood’s expression softened slightly. “Ms. Reyes, I hope you’re prepared for what comes next. Heineken has unlimited resources. They will pursue this case for years if necessary. You’ll be in litigation until you’re twenty-five years old. Your entire young adulthood will be consumed by depositions, court appearances, and legal fees. Are you prepared for that?” “Yes, your honor.” “Why?” Luna glanced at her grandmother, who nodded. “Because some questions are worth answering, your honor. Even if it takes years. Even if it costs everything. The question of whether corporations can own life—that’s worth answering. And if I have to spend my twenties answering it, then that’s what I’ll do.” Judge Ironwood studied her for a long moment. “You remind me of someone I used to know. Someone who believed the law should serve justice, not just power.” She paused. “That person doesn’t exist anymore. The law ground her down. I hope it doesn’t do the same to you.” She raised her gavel. “This hearing is adjourned. The parties will be notified of the trial date once it’s scheduled. Ms. Reyes, good luck. I think you’re going to need it.” The gavel fell. Outside the courthouse, the scene was chaotic. News cameras surrounded Luna. Reporters shouted questions. But Luna barely heard them. She was looking at her father, who stood apart from the crowd, watching her. She walked over to him. “Papa, I’m sorry I yelled.” He didn’t speak for a moment. Then he pulled her into a hug so tight it hurt. “Don’t apologize for being brave,” he whispered into her hair. “I’m just afraid of losing you.” “You won’t lose me, Papa. I promise.” “You can’t promise that. Not anymore.” He pulled back, holding her shoulders. “But I’m proud of you. I’m terrified, but I’m proud.” Her mother joined them, tears streaming down her face. “No more court. Please, no more court.” “I can’t promise that either, Mama.” Elena touched Luna’s face. “Then promise me you’ll be careful. Promise me you’ll remember that you’re not just fighting for genetics. You’re fighting for your life.” Luna smiled. “I promise.” Abuela Rosa appeared, carrying her SCOBY. “Come, mija. We should go before the reporters follow us home.” As they pushed through the crowd toward Maya’s car, Luna's phone buzzed continuously. Text messages and emails pouring in. But what caught her attention was a text from Dr. Webb: You were right. I’m sorry I doubted. Check your email—Dr. Doudna wants to talk. Luna opened her email. The subject line made her stop walking: From: jennifer.doudna@berkeley.eduSubject: Civil Disobedience of the Highest Order She started to read: Dear Ms. Reyes, I watched your hearing this morning. What you did in that courtroom—refusing to back down even when threatened with jail—was one of the bravest things I’ve seen in forty years of science. You’re not just fighting for yeast genetics. You’re fighting for the principle that knowledge about nature belongs to humanity, not to corporations. I want to help… Luna looked up at her family—her father’s worried face, her mother’s tears, Maya’s proud smile, Abuela Rosa’s serene confidence. Behind them, the courthouse where she’d nearly been sent to jail. Around them, reporters and cameras and strangers who’d traveled across the country to support her. She thought about Judge Ironwood’s warning: This war is far from over. She thought about Barr’s face when the injunction was denied. She thought about the thousands who’d downloaded the genetic sequences and were, right now, brewing with genetics that had been locked away for 158 years. Worth it. All of it. Even the fear. Maya opened the car door. “Come on, little revolutionary. Let’s go home.” The Corporate Surrender By 2045, both Heineken and Anheuser-Busch quietly dropped their lawsuits against Luna. Their legal costs had exceeded $200 million while accomplishing nothing except generating bad publicity. More importantly, their “protected” strains had become worthless in a market flooded with superior alternatives. Heineken’s CEO attempted to salvage the company by embracing open-source brewing. His announcement that Heineken would “join the La Luna Revolution” was met with skepticism from the brewing community, which recalled the company’s aggressive legal tactics. The craft brewing community’s response was hostile. “They spent two years trying to destroy her,” a prominent brewmaster told The New Brewer Magazine. “Now they want credit for ’embracing’ the revolution she forced on them? Heineken didn’t join the Luna Revolution—they surrendered to it. There’s a difference.” The global brands never recovered their market share. Luna’s Transformation Luna’s success transformed her from a garage tinkerer into a global icon of the open knowledge movement. Her 2046 TED Talk, “Why Flavor Belongs to Everyone,” went viral. She argued that corporate control over living organisms represented “biological colonialism” that impoverished human culture by restricting natural diversity. Rather than commercializing her fame, Luna founded the Global Fermentation Commons, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing microbial genetics worldwide. Their laboratories operated as open-access research facilities where anyone could experiment with biological systems. The headquarters of the Global Fermentation Commons occupied a former Genentech facility donated by Dr. Webb. Six continents, forty researchers, one mission: preserve and share microbial genetics worldwide. Luna addressed a crowded auditorium at the organization’s third anniversary. “When I released Heineken and Budweiser’s yeast strains, some people called it theft. Others called it liberation. I called it returning biological knowledge to the commons, where it belongs. Three years later, so-called Luna Variants have created economic opportunities for thousands of small brewers, improved food security in developing regions, and demonstrated that genetic freedom drives innovation faster than corporate control.” She continued. “We’re not stopping with beer. The same principles apply to all fermentation: cheese cultures, yogurt bacteria, koji fungi, sourdough starters. Every traditionally fermented food relies on microorganisms that corporations increasingly claim to own. We’re systematically liberating them.” A World Health Organization representative raised a concern: “Ms. Reyes, while we support democratizing food fermentation, there are legitimate concerns about pharmaceutical applications. What prevents someone from using your open-source genetics to create dangerous organisms?” Luna nodded. “Fair question. First, the organisms we release are food-safe cultures with centuries of safe use. Second, dangerous genetic modifications require sophisticated laboratory equipment and expertise—far beyond what releasing genetic sequences enables. Third, determined bad actors already have access to dangerous biology, enabled by AI. We’re not creating new risks; we’re democratizing beneficial biology.” “Pharmaceutical companies argue you’re undermining their investments in beneficial organisms,” another representative pressed. “Pharmaceutical companies invest in modifying organisms,” Luna clarified. “Those modifications can be patented. What we oppose is claiming ownership over naturally occurring organisms or their baseline genetics. If you genetically engineer a bacterium to produce insulin, patent your engineering. Don’t claim ownership over the bacterial species itself.” A Monsanto representative stood. “Your organization recently cracked and released our proprietary seed genetics. That’s direct theft of our property.” Luna didn’t flinch. “Seeds that farmers cultivated for thousands of years before Monsanto existed? You didn’t invent corn, wheat, or soybeans. You modified them. Your modifications may be protectable; the baseline genetics are humanity’s heritage. We’re liberating what should never have been owned.” “The ‘Luna Legion’ has cost us hundreds of millions!” the representative protested. “Good,” Luna responded calmly. “You’ve cost farmers their sovereignty for decades. Consider it karma.” After the presentation, Dr. Doudna approached Luna privately. “You’ve accomplished something remarkable,” the elderly scientist said. “When I developed Crispr, I never imagined a teenager would use similar principles to challenge corporate biology. You’re forcing conversations about genetic ownership that we’ve avoided for decades.” “It needed forcing,” Luna replied. “Corporations were quietly owning life itself, one patent at a time. Someone had to say no.” “The pharmaceutical industry is terrified of you,” Doudna continued. “They see what happened to brewing and imagine the same for their carefully controlled bacterial strains. You’re going to face even more aggressive opposition.” “I know. Once people understand that biological knowledge can be liberated, they start questioning all biological ownership. We’re not stopping.” The New Economy of Taste Following Luna’s breakthrough, peer-to-peer flavor-sharing platforms emerged as the dominant force in food culture. The “FlavorChain” blockchain allowed brewers to track genetic lineages while ensuring proper attribution to original creators. SCOBY lineages were carefully sequenced, catalogued, and registered on global blockchain ledgers. Each award-winning kombucha strain carried a “genetic passport”—its microbial makeup, the unique balance of yeasts and bacteria that gave rise to particular mouthfeel, fizz, and flavor spectrum, was mapped, hashed, and permanently recorded. Brewers who created a new flavor could claim authorship, just as musicians once copyrighted songs. No matter how many times a SCOBY was divided, its fingerprint could be verified. Fermentation Guilds formed to share recipes through FlavorChain, enabling decentralized digital markets like SymbioTrdr, built on trust and transparency rather than speculation. They allowed people to interact and transact on a global, permissionless, self-executing platform. Within days, a SCOBY strain from the Himalayas could appear in a brew in Buenos Aires, its journey traced through open ledgers showing who tended, adapted, and shared it. Kombucha recipes were no longer jealously guarded secrets. They were open to anyone who wanted to brew. With a few clicks, a Guild member in Nairobi could download the blockchain-verified SCOBY genome that had won Gold at the Tokyo Fermentation Festival. Local biotech printers—as common in 2100 kitchens as microwave ovens had once been—could reconstitute the living culture cell by cell. Children began inheriting SCOBY lineages the way earlier generations inherited family names. Weddings combined SCOBY cultures as symbolic unions. (Let’s share our SCOBYs, baby, merge our ferments into one.) When someone died, their SCOBY was divided among friends and family—a continuation of essence through taste. Kombucha was no longer merely consumed; it was communed with. This transparency transformed kombucha from a minority regional curiosity into a universal language. A festival in Brazil might feature ten local interpretations of the same “Golden SCOBY” strain—one brewed with passionfruit, another with cupuaçu, a third with açaí berries. The core microbial signature remained intact, while the terroir of fruit and spice gave each version a unique accent. Brewers didn’t lose their craft—they gained a canvas. Award-winning SCOBYs were the foundations on which endless new flavor experiments flourished. Many people were now as prolific as William Esslinger, the founder of St Louis’s Confluence Kombucha, who was renowned for developing 800 flavors in the 2020s. Code of Symbiosis The Symbiosis Code, ratified at the first World Fermentation Gathering in Reykjavik (2063), bound Fermentation Guilds to three principles: Transparency — All microbial knowledge is to be shared freely. Reciprocity — No brew should be produced without acknowledging the source. Community — Every fermentation must nourish more than the brewer. This code replaced corporate law. It was enforced by reputation, not by governments. A Guild member who betrayed the code found their SCOBYs mysteriously refusing to thrive—a poetic justice the biologists never quite explained. Every Guild had elders—called Mothers of the Jar or Keepers of the Yeast. They carried living SCOBYs wrapped in silk pouches when traveling, exchanging fragments as blessings. These elders became moral anchors of the age, counselors and mediators trusted more than politicians. When disputes arose—over territory, resources, or ethics—brewers, not lawyers, met to share a round of Truth Brew, a ferment so balanced that it was said to reveal dishonesty through bitterness. The Fullness of Time The International Biotech Conference of 2052 invited Luna to give the closing keynote—a controversial decision that prompted several corporate sponsors to withdraw support. The auditorium was packed with supporters, critics, and the merely curious. “Nine years ago, I released genetic sequences for beer yeast strains protected as trade secrets. I was called a thief, a bioterrorist, worse. Today, I want to discuss what we’ve learned from those years of open-source biology.” She displayed a chart showing the explosion of brewing innovation since 2043. “In the traditional corporate model, a few companies control a few strains, producing a limited variety. With the open-source model, thousands of brewers using thousands of variants, producing infinite diversity. As Duff McDonald wrote “Anything that alive contains the universe, or infinite possibility. Kombucha is infinite possibility in a drink.” And the results speak for themselves—flavor innovation accelerated a thousand-fold when we removed corporate control.” A student activist approached the microphone. “Ms. Reyes, you’ve inspired movements to liberate seed genetics, soil bacteria, and traditional medicine cultures. The ‘Luna Legion’ is spreading globally. What’s your message to young people who want to continue this work?” Luna smiled. “First, understand the risks. I was sued by multinational corporations, received death threats, spent years fighting legal battles. This work has costs. Second, be strategic. Release information you’ve generated yourself through legal methods—no hacking, no theft. Third, build communities. I survived because people supported me—legally, financially, emotionally. You can’t fight corporations alone. Finally, remember why you’re doing it: to return biological knowledge to the commons where it belongs. That purpose will sustain you through the hard parts.” Teaching By twenty-eight, Luna was a MacArthur Fellow, teaching fermentation workshops in a converted Anheuser-Busch facility. As she watched her students—former corporate employees learning to think like ecosystems rather than factories—she reflected that her teenage hack had accomplished more than liberating yeast genetics. She had helped humanity remember that flavor, like knowledge, grows stronger when shared rather than hoarded. Luna’s garage had evolved into a sophisticated community biolab. The original jury-rigged equipment had been replaced with professional gear funded by her MacArthur Fellowship. Abuela Rosa still maintained her fermentation crocks in the corner—a reminder of where everything started. A group of five

Silver Range Resources CEO Mike Power joined Steve Darling to announce that the company has significantly expanded its U.S. project portfolio by staking two new early-stage gold exploration properties the Quinn Property in Nevada and the Drum Property in Utah. The additions strengthen Silver Range's strategy of identifying high-grade, drill-ready targets across the American West. Power explained that the Quinn Property, located in Humboldt County, Nevada (Sections 25 and 26, Township 42N Range 31E), hosts exposed mineralization within the Happy Creek Volcanics, a Triassic–Jurassic sequence of andesite flows and minor volcaniclastics. These rocks have undergone lower greenschist facies metamorphism and are cut by west-northwest trending shear zones. Historic workings on the property include a small mine cut with several short adits that follow parasitic northeast-trending structures, which may be linked to a more substantial west-trending shear system. Silver Range staked and sampled the property in August 2025, collecting five grab samples that returned values ranging from 0.040 g/t to 27.5 g/t gold, with silver values up to 15.7 g/t. Notably, two of the five samples assayed above 5 g/t gold. Power added that historic data from Silver Range's proprietary database includes a grab sample grading 46.6 g/t gold, further underscoring the property's high-grade potential. Power also detailed the staking of the Drum Property in Juab County, Utah (Sections 17, 18, and 20, Township 14S Range 11W). Here, gold mineralization occurs in widespread jasperoid replacements and breccias developed within Cambrian Orr Formation limestone. The geological setting, mineralization style, and geochemical signature bear strong similarities to Carlin-type systems found in Nevada, one of the most prolific gold-producing regions in the world. Sampling conducted during staking returned gold values from trace amounts up to 1.02 g/t Au, with silver results ranging from trace to 15.2 g/t Ag from a total of 23 chip samples. Looking ahead, Silver Range plans to advance both projects with targeted exploration programs, including geological mapping, prospecting, and integrated geochemical and geophysical surveys. These efforts are designed to delineate mineralized zones and refine targets for potential future drilling. #proactiveinvestors #silverrangeresources #tsxv #sng #mining #mikepower #nevada #eastgoldfield GoldExploration #SilverRangeResources #MiningNews #NevadaGold #UtahMining #QuinnProject #DrumProject #GoldInvesting #JuniorMiners #CarlinStyle #MiningUpdates #PreciousMetals #ResourceDevelopment #ProactiveInvestors

 This is a very special episode of Unpacked by Afar. Because this week we hosted Unpacked Live, a—you guessed it—live version of the podcast in partnership with Visit California in Boston, Massachusetts. In 2022, Visit California launched Visit Native California, and the goal with the Boston live event was to celebrate California's diverse tribal communities. Unpacked host Aislyn Greene was joined onstage by John Acuna, a member of the Hoopa Valley Tribe in Humboldt County, California, and a river guide with Rios to Rivers and Paddle Tribal Waters. In July, 2025, shortly after the Klamath River was undammed—the largest dam removal project in U.S. history—John helped guide a historic 30-day expedition down the Klamath River, known as the First Descent. On stage, John shared the Klamath River's history and what it was like to spend 30 days kayaking a river that has been so essential to the West Coast Native communities and was for so long diverted and quite literally drained of life. In this episode, we go deeper. John shares his early life, how he found his way back to the water, and the lessons he's learned after spending so many years on the river. He also explains how cultural stewardship, land‑back efforts, and Indigenous fire and river knowledge are reshaping landscapes and communities across Northern California. In this episode, you'll learn How John's childhood and early work as a firefighter led him to river guiding and youth programs. Why the Klamath and Trinity rivers matter to Indigenous food security, culture, and health. What the Klamath dam removals changed — and how quickly salmon and waterways began to recover. How Paddle Tribal Waters and Rios to Rivers use recreation, mentorship, and cultural practice to rebuild connections for Indigenous youth. Practical ways travelers and listeners can support tribal‑led stewardship and community‑based guiding. Don't miss these moments [02:00] — John introduces his community kayak fleet (15 boats) [18:00] — John's first rafting expedition and the job offer that changed his life [55:30] — Sendoff ceremony at the Wood River headwaters (prayer roots, blessings) [59:30] — Open-lake challenge: wind, waves, and seasickness on early days [01:03:00] — Ikes Falls: a sacred portage and a transformative whitewater run [01:13:30] — Salmon spotted upstream; surprisingly fast ecological rebound [01:20:30] — Cultural burning and prescribed fire: returning Indigenous stewardship to the landscape [01:23:00] — “Tread water” tattoo story — resilience and metaphor Meet this episode's guest John Acuna — Hoopa River guide, former firefighter, Paddle Tribal Waters leader, instructor with Rios to Rivers Resources mentioned in the episode Rios to Rivers Paddle Tribal Waters (project of Rios to Rivers) Warrior Institute Redwoods & Rivers guide school Hoopa Valley Tribe Yurok Tribe How to support Donate to Rios to Rivers or similar Indigenous-led river programs. Book community-based guides and ethical local tour services when visiting tribal territories, such as  the Beaver Creek Guide Service, which offers fishing charters along with education. Explore our coverage (like this story) on afar.com.  Stay Connected Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.  Explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and ⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The JPR news team gathers for a roundtable discussion of the top news stories they've been working on this week.

In 1987, real life outlaw growers in Humboldt County, CA made a low budget monster movie called Ganjasaurus Rex, a cult classic that we explore in this episode with special guest Jon Gabrus (Staying Alive, 101 Places to Party Before You Die). Attention anyone currently in Humboldt County, where the film was made and the story was set, Bean from GMIWH will be hosting a Ganjasaurus Rex screening + Harvest Celebration at the Mateel Center in Redway, CA on Saturday, November 8th. PATREON Please ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠support Great Moments in Weed HIstory on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Supporters get exclusive access to video versions of this podcast and private seshes, plus cool rewards like a signed book. And it truly helps us make the best show possible. EPISODE ARCHIVE Visit our podcast feed for 150+ episodes of Great Moments in Weed History, and subscribe now to get a new weekly podcast every Weednesday. 

Schools across California could lose hundreds of social workers, school counselors, mental health clinicians, wellness coaches and graduate student interns, after the Trump administration cut federal grants for mental health support. In rural areas like Humboldt County, school districts have relied almost entirely on these federal grants to provide mental health workers for students, who are struggling with high rates of poverty, drug addiction, and suicide, and difficulty accessing care. Guests: Jane Huang, Wellness coach, Eureka High School Cassandra Garcia-Gonzalez, Peer counselor, Eureka High School Vani Sanganeria, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: After federal cuts, California schools could lose hundreds of mental health clinicians Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

This week, JP sits down with SensiMia, a second-generation cannabis farmer born and raised in Humboldt County. For Mia, cannabis was never taboo — it was everyday life, woven into family and community. That upbringing shaped her path and her passion for carrying the culture forward.Today, Mia is part of Redwood Roots Distribution, a company dedicated to representing and uplifting legacy farmers from the Emerald Triangle. Her mission is clear: shine a light on the OG cultivators who built this culture and help their brands survive — and thrive — in California's competitive rec market.Living now in the Bay, Mia is putting in the work to make sure that the stories, genetics, and culture of the Emerald Triangle don't get lost in the shuffle of legalization. She's a voice for the people who started it all.⸻

Humboldt County just took a big step towards protecting our night sky! In August, the Board of Supervisors approved the Inland Outdoor Lighting Ordinance, regulating outdoor lights to limit light pollution and light trespass. This is a significant win for the dark sky movement and will require new development on unincorporated land to use light fixtures and bulbs that reduce light pollution.But this isn't just about seeing more stars — light pollution disrupts the natural rhythms of wildlife and humans alike. Bright lights left on at night can alter the timing of bird migrations, interfere with seasonal flowering cycles, and affect our own sleep cycles.Sylvia van Royen, GIS & Policy Analyst for Humboldt Waterkeeper, joins us to discuss the new lighting ordinance and how Humboldt residents can adapt their outdoor lighting to be friendlier to migrating birds and support the biological rhythms essential to our region's biodiversity.To learn more:Humboldt Waterkeeper Light Pollution FactsheetDarkSky Approved lighting fixturesDarkSky International's explainer on What is Light Pollution? &Glossary of light-related terms.Light Pollution Webpage from the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild AnimalsNew World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky BrightnessSupport the show

Comprehensive coverage of the day's news with a focus on war and peace; social, environmental and economic justice. New Orleans (Photo: Chris Litherland) Trump mulls sending military to New Orleans, as Dems blast “wannabe dictator” moves; Lawmakers submit bipartisan bill to ban congress members from trading stocks; AG Bonta sues Catholic hospital in Humboldt County for refusing to perform emergency abortion; SF, Yolo counties urge masking as Covid surges in California, 30 states; Florida to become first state to eliminate all childhood vaccine mandates; CA, Oregon, Washington launch “West Coast Health Alliance” as response to dismantling of public health; Scotland to stop funding companies that provide weapons to Israel, Utrecht University in Netherlands announces boycott of Israeli institutions The post Trump mulls sending military to New Orleans; Bonta sues hospital for refusing to perform emergency abortions – September 3, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

Siskiyou Land Conservancy just finalized a new acquisition of 170 acres on Baduwa't, joining a 183 acre property that the Conservancy acquired earlier in the year, to create a 353 acre reserve. Baduwa't is, of course, important. It is home to coho salmon and a summer run of steelhead trout. And the river also provides domestic water for 70 percent of Humboldt County residents. Yet Baduwa't remains the least protected of all of the fabled “six rivers” of the California North Coast. The new reserve will help to protect some of the headwaters of the river, including limited patches of old-growth forest. Greg King of Siskiyou Land Conservancy joins the program to discuss the new reserve and what this means for Baduwa't.Support the show

Support our Sponsors: SimpliSafe: https://simplisafe.com/milehigher Function Health: https://functionhealth.com/milehigher StitchFix: https://stitchfix.com ZocDoc: https://zocdoc.com/milehigher Crime Con 2025: https://www.crimecon.com/CC25 use code MILEHIGHER to get 10% off the standard badge! Intro 0:00 A Very Exciting Announcement! 4:18 A Brief History of Humboldt County 9:42 Back to Our Roots 16:13 Building a Community, From the Ground Up 21:45 Military Intervention 29:23 The Witch-Killers 32:14 An Increase in Crime 38:08 Who Was Garret? 46:51 The Wild, Wild West 50:27 Garret Goes Missing 55:52 A Private Investigator Takes the Case 57:33 The Pieces Start to Come Together 1:02:23 Vigilante Justice 1:06:44 Finding the Body 1:08:05 Ongoing Problems, Slow-Moving Solutions 1:12:07 Final Thoughts & Outro 1:22:03 Higher Hope Foundation: https://higherhope.org Mile Higher Merch: https://milehighermerch.com Check out our other podcasts! The Sesh https://bit.ly/3Mtoz4X Lights Out https://bit.ly/3n3Gaoe Planet Sleep https://linktr.ee/planetsleep Join our official FB group! https://bit.ly/3kQbAxg MHP YouTube: http://bit.ly/2qaDWGf Are You Subscribed On Apple Podcast & Spotify?! Support MHP by leaving a rating or review on Apple Podcast :) https://apple.co/2H4kh58 MHP Topic Request Form: https://forms.gle/gUeTEzL9QEh4Hqz88 You can follow us on all the things: @milehigherpod Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/milehigherpod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MileHigher Hosts: Kendall: @kendallraeonyt IG: http://instagram.com/kendallraeonyt YT: https://www.youtube.com/c/kendallsplace Josh: @milehigherjosh IG: http://www.instagram.com/milehigherjosh Producers: Janelle: @janelle_fields_ IG: https://www.instagram.com/janelle_fields_/ Ian: @ifarme IG: https://www.instagram.com/ifarme/ Tom: @tomfoolery_photo IG: https://www.instagram.com/tomfoolery_photo   Podcast sponsor inquires: adops@audioboom.com ✉ Send Us Mail & Fan Art ✉ Kendall Rae & Josh Thomas  8547 E Arapahoe Rd Ste J # 233 Greenwood Village, CO 80112 Music By: Mile Higher Boys YT: https://bit.ly/2Q7N5QO Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0F4ik... Sources: https://pastebin.com/YDqTb0uS The creator hosts a documentary series for educational purposes (EDSA). These include authoritative sources such as interviews, newspaper articles, and TV news reporting meant to educate and memorialize notable cases in our history. Videos come with an editorial and artistic value.

Today, how one Humboldt County restaurant experienced an outpouring of love, and help, from their community in the wake of flood damage. Then, what went wrong at Oakland's Wood Street Community Cabins? And, a poem for the people who keep going, even when it feels impossible.

In the remote redwood forests of Northern California, something strange stirred in the night sky. In 1926, long before the modern UFO era began, residents of Humboldt County reported glowing orbs drifting through the trees, following logging trucks, and vanishing without a trace. With no aircraft capable of such feats at the time, the lights defied every explanation. In this episode, we explore one of America's earliest mass sightings, quietly buried by history but never forgotten by those who watched the sky and saw something impossible.Brief Encounters is a tightly produced, narrative podcast that dives headfirst into the world of UFO sightings, the paranormal, cryptids, myths, and unexplained legends. From ancient sky wars to modern close encounters, each episode takes listeners on a journey through some of the most mysterious and compelling cases in human history. Whether it's a well-documented military sighting or an eerie village legend whispered across generations, Brief Encounters delivers each story with atmosphere, depth, and cinematic storytelling. Episodes are short and binge-worthy perfect for curious minds on the go. In just 5 to 10 minutes, listeners are pulled into carefully researched accounts that blend historical context, eyewitness testimony, and chilling details. The series moves between eras and continents, uncovering not only the famous cases you've heard of, but also the forgotten incidents that deserve a closer look. Each story is treated with respect, skepticism, and wonder offering both seasoned enthusiasts and casual listeners something fresh to consider. Whether it's a 15th-century sky battle over Europe, a cryptid sighting in a remote forest, or a modern-day abduction report from rural America, Brief Encounters is your guide through the shadows of our world and the stories that refuse to be explained.UFO Chronicles Podcast can be found on all podcast players and on the website: https://ufochroniclespodcast.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ufo-chronicles-podcast--3395068/support.

In the remote redwood forests of Northern California, something strange stirred in the night sky. In 1926, long before the modern UFO era began, residents of Humboldt County reported glowing orbs drifting through the trees, following logging trucks, and vanishing without a trace. With no aircraft capable of such feats at the time, the lights defied every explanation. In this episode, we explore one of America's earliest mass sightings, quietly buried by history but never forgotten by those who watched the sky and saw something impossible.Brief Encounters is a tightly produced, narrative podcast that dives headfirst into the world of UFO sightings, the paranormal, cryptids, myths, and unexplained legends. From ancient sky wars to modern close encounters, each episode takes listeners on a journey through some of the most mysterious and compelling cases in human history. Whether it's a well-documented military sighting or an eerie village legend whispered across generations, Brief Encounters delivers each story with atmosphere, depth, and cinematic storytelling. Episodes are short and binge-worthy perfect for curious minds on the go. In just 5 to 10 minutes, listeners are pulled into carefully researched accounts that blend historical context, eyewitness testimony, and chilling details. The series moves between eras and continents, uncovering not only the famous cases you've heard of, but also the forgotten incidents that deserve a closer look. Each story is treated with respect, skepticism, and wonder offering both seasoned enthusiasts and casual listeners something fresh to consider. Whether it's a 15th-century sky battle over Europe, a cryptid sighting in a remote forest, or a modern-day abduction report from rural America, Brief Encounters is your guide through the shadows of our world and the stories that refuse to be explained.UFO Chronicles Podcast can be found on all podcast players and on the website: https://ufochroniclespodcast.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ufo-chronicles-podcast--3395068/support.

You heard our coverage of The Forest Moon Festival 2025 last week, so this week, we're telling you all of the stories. Celebrating the original Endor shooting locations from RETURN OF THE JEDI in the redwoods region, this annual event is not to be missed. Fanboys director Kyle Newman was there as well and he's back on RFR to share his experience. We recap all of the tales from behind-the-scenes and listen to the full Fanboys Q&A from the event. Plus, listener feedback, “Star Wars in Pop Culture” and more, delivered to you this week with an extra dose of "Endor Pride"!

In this week's episode, I sat down with the lovely Yemaya Kimmel to discuss milky oats (Avena sativa). Yemaya is not only a wonderful herbalist, but as you'll see in this episode, she's also an amazing singer! She shared so many deep insights about the benefits of milky oats – an herb that most people these days could probably benefit from – plus a beautiful song to cap off the episode.Yemaya mentioned during our chat that she enjoys naming tincture formulas after songs (and I may have had a little too much fun coming up with Tori Amos-inspired tincture names with her). Her Oh Happy Day blend is intended to help bring more joy into your life – and I'm so glad she shared this lovely formula with us! You can find your beautifully-illustrated recipe card for Oh Happy Day here.By the end of this episode, you'll know:► Why milky oats might be the herb we ALL need right now► The difference between milky oats, oat straw, and dried oat tops► How best to harvest and prepare milky oats to get the most potent medicine► How to choose other herbs to formulate along with milky oats, depending on your specific needs► A surprising way that milky oats can benefit people recovering from addiction► and so much more…For those of you who don't know her, Yemaya Kimmel is a clinical herbalist based in Humboldt County, California, with over 25 years of experience working with healing plants. She has a special focus on supporting women over 40, especially those navigating stress, burnout, and chronic health challenges that can come with aging. Yemaya offers one-on-one herbal wellness consultations both in person in Eureka and online, where she collaborates with clients to craft personalized herbal protocols that reflect each person's unique story. Her greatest passion is helping people feel empowered to care for themselves with the support of plant medicine.I'm thrilled to share our conversation with you today!----Get full show notes and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.comFor more behind-the-scenes of this podcast, follow @rosaleedelaforet on Instagram!Working successfully with herbs requires three essential skills. Get introduced to them by taking my free herbal jumpstart course when you sign up for my newsletter.If you enjoy the Herbs with Rosalee podcast, we could use your support! Please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review and sharing the show with someone who needs to hear it!On the podcast, we explore the many ways plants heal, as food, as medicine, and through nature connection. Each week, I focus on a single seasonal plant and share trusted herbal knowledge so that you can get the best results when using herbs for your health.Learn more about Herbs with Rosalee at herbswithrosalee.com.----Rosalee is an herbalist and author of the bestselling book Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients Into Foods & Remedies That Heal and co-author of the bestselling book Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing

Can spending time among ancient trees truly awaken creativity, intuition, and even deep healing? Tune in for an inspiring discussion with Ellen Dee Davidson on her new books The Miracle Forest: A True Story, Wind, and Sacred Forest Bathing: The Healing Power of Ancient Trees and Wild Places.Moments with Marianne airs in the Southern California area on KMET 1490AM & 98.1 FM, an ABC Talk News Radio Affiliate!  https://www.kmet1490am.comAfter graduating from UC Santa Cruz, Ellen Dee Davidson spent years teaching elementary school, creative writing, and piano while raising her two daughters, Jessica and Michelle. She is the author of six published books and several magazine articles, including one on preserving ancient trees. Her works include The Miracle Forest: A True Story (a 2025 Nautilus Silver Award winner), Wind (a 2023 Nautilus Gold Award winner), and Sacred Forest Bathing: The Healing Power of Ancient Trees and Wild Places. Ellen lives among the redwoods in Humboldt County, where nature continues to inspire her writing and way of life. https://www.ellendeedavidson.comFor more show information visit: www.MariannePestana.com

RFR made the journey out to the beautiful redwood forests of California for The Forest Moon Festival celebrating the Endor shooting locations from RETURN OF THE JEDI. From Del Norte County to Humboldt County, we were part of a “caravan of courage” traveling up and down the Pacific Northwest to podcast at various event locations. Joining us were original ROTJ Ewok Kevin Thompson and our pal, FANBOYS director Kyle Newman. We talk to fans, cosplayers, artists, musicians, and locals who share their pride for living in a region that served as the Forest Moon home of the Ewoks. Hear from those who remember when Jedi was being filmed and contributed, along with those who celebrate the legacy. We even find out which “Jedi” cast member got pulled over for speeding! "Magical" was a word that couldn't be overused throughout the weekend. This week, you can hear what we did. Next week, we'll tell you the stories. Yub Nub!  Thank you:  Redwood Region Museum of Film Grizzly Creek State Park Crescent City's Beachfront Park Arcata Farmer's Market Sequoia Park Zoo The Humboldt-Del Norte Film Commission Special thanks to Cassandra Hesseltine, Tracy Boyd, Tiffany Miller, and Anibal Polanco. Love you guys!

Episode 149 Doe ID: Kay Adams Medin In February 1993, a man walking along Trinidad Head; a rocky promontory beach area near the town of Trinidad in Humboldt County, California, made a shocking discovery. He found what he believed to be a piece of human skull. He contacted authorities who verified his hunch. DNA from the skull fragment would be entered into various databases in an effort to learn the identify of the donor with no luck. Years later, the skull fragment would be connected to another case through DNA. In November, 1987, the Humboldt County Sheriff's dept received an  package in the mail from an anonymous sender. It contained human skeletal remains and an accompanying letter provided directions  to more human remains near Ammon Ridge Road in Humboldt County. Investigators went to the location, and found more human remains. An examination of teeth found with the remains confirmed that they belonged to 48 year old Kay Adams Medin. She had been reported missing from her Trinity County home by her husband in August 1987. The location in Humboldt County where her remains were found is over 100 miles away from her home.  Eventually, Othram Labs did DNA work on the skull fragment found in 1993 at Trinidad Head, and their work led them to ID the skull fragment as belonging to Kay Adams Medin. That skull fragment was found 45 miles from Kay's home. It remains a mystery as to how the skull fragment wound up so far away from the rest of Kay's remains. Theories include that it was carried by flowing water, or that a large bird may have carried it. Police long suspected that Kay Adams was murdered by her husband Nikolas Medin, but they lacked the evidence to prove it. They theorize that he was the anonymous mailer of the package containing Kay's bones, and the letter directing police to more remains. They believe he only directed them to her remains, so she could be declared dead, and he could collect on her life insurance policy. Nikolas Medin died in 2018, and was never charged in connection with his wife's death.  While Kay never got the justice she deserved, she at least got her name back, and this is her story.  This week's episode is sponsored by Masterclass. MasterClass is the streaming platform that makes it possible for anyone to watch or listen to hundreds of video lessons taught by 200+ of the world's best. Whether it be in business and leadership, photography, cooking, writing, acting, music, sports and more, MasterClass delivers a world class online learning experience. Video lessons are available anytime, anywhere on your smartphone, personal computer, Apple TV and FireTV streaming media players. Listeners of DNA ID will receive at least 15% off of their subscription when they sign up using our special show link here.     

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Robert W Norris, author of the book The Good Lord Willing and the Creek Don't Rise. Robert W. Norris was born and raised in Humboldt County, California. In 1969, he entered the Air Force, subsequently became a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War, and served time in a military prison for refusing to fight in the war. In his twenties, he roamed across the United States, went to Europe twice, and made one journey around the world. In 1983, he landed in Japan, where he eventually became a professor at a private university, spent two years as the dean of students, and retired in 2016 as a professor emeritus.   Norris is the author of Looking for the Summer, a novel about a former Vietnam War conscientious objector's adventures and search for identity in Europe, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, and India in 1977; Toraware, a novel about the obsessive relationship of three misfits from different cultural backgrounds in 1980s Kobe, Japan; Autumn Shadows in August, an hallucinogenic mid-life crisis/adventure, and homage to Malcolm Lowry and Hermann Hesse; The Many Roads to Japan, a novella used as an English textbook in Japanese universities; and The Good Lord Willing and the Creek Don't Rise: Pentimento Memories of Mom and Me, a memoir and tribute to his mother. He has also written several articles on teaching English as a foreign language. He and his wife live near Fukuoka, Japan.   In my book review, I stated The Good Lord Willing and the Creek Don't Rise is a wonderful memoir about Robert's mother, Kay, as well as his own interesting life. This memoir spans 90+ years and gives readers a glimpse into the lives of two people who never quite followed the "rules" as set out by society.   Kay, twice divorced, spoke her mind, even when others thought she should keep quiet - just ask the Catholic priest who refused to give her communion. She raised her children with the same spirit - to know who they were and what they stood for along with a willingness to act. Kay was a lifelong learner, taking on getting a pilot's license, going back to school to become a legal secretary, writing poetry, drawing nature, and studying the Japanese language. She loved to travel and she loved her family.   I really enjoyed reading Robert's account of his own life and how his mother fit into the picture. I appreciated his candor - he didn't seem to have the need to paint himself in the perfect light, which means the reader gets to see his struggles and pains as well as his triumphs. Although Robert and I have very different opinions about life, I admire how he found his truth and then found a way to live that truth.   This is a fascinating memoir about a boy and his mom through the years. I think you'll enjoy it.   Subscribe to Online for Authors to learn about more great books! https://www.youtube.com/@onlineforauthors?sub_confirmation=1   Join the Novels N Latte Book Club community to discuss this and other books with like-minded readers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3576519880426290   You can follow Author Robert W Norris Website: https://robertwnorris.com/ FB: @bob.norris.374   Purchase The Good Lord Willing and the Creek Don't Rise on Amazon: Paperback: https://amzn.to/3XNTS1L Ebook: https://amzn.to/4i1hXZZ   Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor IG: @terimbrown_author X: @terimbrown1   Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors   #robertwnorris #thegoodlordwillingandthecreekdontrise #memoir #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview *As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Monday is Memorial Day. For many people, this holiday marks the unofficial start to the summer season. And no summer is truly complete without the perfect summer music playlist. Reporter: Billy Cruz, The California Report A race known as the “triathlon of the art world” is underway this Memorial Day weekend in Humboldt County. Founded in 1969, it's a local tradition, where teams race homemade human-powered art vehicles over 50 miles of land, sand, water, and mud. Reporter: Anna Vignet, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episodes of Making Contact and Pushing Limits are preempted by special programming for KPFA's 2025 Spring Fund Drive. Sasha Lilley speaks with Greg King, an award-winning journalist and activist credited with spearheading the movement to protect Headwaters Forest, in Humboldt County, California. King initiated the “redwood wars” following the notorious 1985 takeover of the venerable Pacific Lumber Company by the Houston energy and real estate conglomerate Maxxam. King has spent decades researching redwood logging and preservation efforts and is the author of the book The Ghost Forest: Racists, Radicals, and Real Estate in the California Redwoods. To support our mission and receive the book The Ghost Forest as a thank-you gift, please donate here or call (800) 439-5732 (800-HEY-KPFA).   The post Special Spring Fund Drive Programming: Greg King on the California Redwoods appeared first on KPFA.

on todays show Maddie breaks down the legal case of  Corinne Thomas et al. vs. Humboldt County, California, where landowners face harsh penalties for alleged cannabis activities. One petitioner was fined $1.8 million to demolish a garage. The plaintiffs argue the fines violate the Eighth Amendment's excessive fines clause and the Seventh Amendment's right to a jury trial. The case highlights the lack of due process and bias in county hearings. The Supreme Court is considering the appeal, focusing on the Seventh Amendment. Additionally, the conversation touched on the potential impact of Trump's economic policies and the challenges faced by New Orleans' prison system. The discussion centered on the impending departure of Scott Adams, who is known for his common-sense approach and humor in his podcasts. Adams, who has been diagnosed with cancer, plans to continue working until he can no longer do so. The conversation also touched on the difficulty of replacing Rush Limbaugh and the impact of his passing. Additionally, there was a brief mention of Sudanese deportations and a positive review of Dunkin' Donuts' new peach tea Palmer. The segment concluded with a promotion for Second Round Bakery cookies and an invitation for listener feedback. Don't Miss it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Sign up on our WAITLIST! Be the first to learn about our upcoming 8 week series: Menopause Masterclass Fitness & Wellness.In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Misty JD, founder of Mother's Village and Modern Day Wild Woman, a nonprofit in Humboldt County dedicated to uplifting mothers through connection and community. Misty shares how the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic sparked the creation of Mother's Village, and how the organization now provides support circles, childcare, and holistic care with the help of trained doulas and wellness professionals. Episode Resources:A Mothers Village WebsiteFind a PT near you through the APTA Pelvic Health Locator➡️  Follow us on IG @thev.movement➡️  Subscribe on YouTube @TheVMovement➡️ Join our newsletter

Tonight I share  five extraordinary encounters with unexplained forest beings across five decades and thousands of miles of American wilderness, told by witnesses who never met yet describe remarkably similar experiences.Olympic Peninsula, Washington - 1968 & 1973 A fire lookout witnesses a massive bipedal creature investigating a log in the remote Olympics. The witness describes intelligence in the being's eyes and the sensation of being observed. Years later, while hunting, he encounters multiple creatures communicating through wood knocks and territory marking with strategically broken trees.Adirondack Mountains, New York - 1976 & 1988 A biology graduate student conducting acid rain research experiences terrifying vocalizations and heavy bipedal footsteps circling her camp. Twelve years later, while camping with her husband, they both witness the same wood-knocking communication and glimpse a large, hair-covered figure—validating her earlier encounter and challenging her scientific understanding.Ozark Mountains, Arkansas - 1985 & 1997 An experienced hunter describes a creature methodically untying a rope supporting their game—showing dexterity and problem-solving unlike any known wildlife. Despite having a clear shot, he chooses not to fire after recognizing intelligence in the creature's eyes. His second encounter while hunting with his teenage son reveals territorial behavior through wood knocks and stone throwing.Great Smoky Mountains, North Carolina - 2002 & 2005 A pastor on a solitary retreat encounters unusual branch arrangements and "offerings." He describes the creatures' apparent response to prayer, adding a spiritual dimension to the encounter. Years later, with his young nephew, they witness coordinated movement around their camp and discover a precisely arranged pile of pinecones topped with a wild strawberry.Humboldt County, California - 2019 & 2022 A wildlife biologist in California's redwood forests provides our most technical account, describing coordinated group behavior, tool use, and possible communication attempts. Her scientific training allows detailed analysis of vocalizations with infrasonic components and footprints suggesting creatures weighing 600-700 pounds moving with bipedal locomotion unlike any known mammal. What makes these accounts compelling is the consistent behavioral patterns described by witnesses separated by thousands of miles and decades: the same wood knocking communication, branch breaking patterns, gift exchanges, and sense of being observed by something intelligent yet non-human.Get Our FREE NewsletterGet Brian's Books Leave Us A VoicemailVisit Our WebsiteSupport Our SponsorsVisit Untold Radio AM

Tonight I share  five extraordinary encounters with unexplained forest beings across five decades and thousands of miles of American wilderness, told by witnesses who never met yet describe remarkably similar experiences.Olympic Peninsula, Washington - 1968 & 1973 A fire lookout witnesses a massive bipedal creature investigating a log in the remote Olympics. The witness describes intelligence in the being's eyes and the sensation of being observed. Years later, while hunting, he encounters multiple creatures communicating through wood knocks and territory marking with strategically broken trees.Adirondack Mountains, New York - 1976 & 1988 A biology graduate student conducting acid rain research experiences terrifying vocalizations and heavy bipedal footsteps circling her camp. Twelve years later, while camping with her husband, they both witness the same wood-knocking communication and glimpse a large, hair-covered figure—validating her earlier encounter and challenging her scientific understanding.Ozark Mountains, Arkansas - 1985 & 1997 An experienced hunter describes a creature methodically untying a rope supporting their game—showing dexterity and problem-solving unlike any known wildlife. Despite having a clear shot, he chooses not to fire after recognizing intelligence in the creature's eyes. His second encounter while hunting with his teenage son reveals territorial behavior through wood knocks and stone throwing.Great Smoky Mountains, North Carolina - 2002 & 2005 A pastor on a solitary retreat encounters unusual branch arrangements and "offerings." He describes the creatures' apparent response to prayer, adding a spiritual dimension to the encounter. Years later, with his young nephew, they witness coordinated movement around their camp and discover a precisely arranged pile of pinecones topped with a wild strawberry.Humboldt County, California - 2019 & 2022 A wildlife biologist in California's redwood forests provides our most technical account, describing coordinated group behavior, tool use, and possible communication attempts. Her scientific training allows detailed analysis of vocalizations with infrasonic components and footprints suggesting creatures weighing 600-700 pounds moving with bipedal locomotion unlike any known mammal. What makes these accounts compelling is the consistent behavioral patterns described by witnesses separated by thousands of miles and decades: the same wood knocking communication, branch breaking patterns, gift exchanges, and sense of being observed by something intelligent yet non-human.Get Our FREE NewsletterGet Brian's Books Leave Us A VoicemailVisit Our WebsiteSupport Our SponsorsVisit Untold Radio AMBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sasquatch-odyssey--4839697/support.

In this powerful episode, we sit down with James Granger — an Ohio native who grew cannabis in California's legendary Humboldt County cannabis scene. From growing in the rugged hills to surviving a near-death experience that reshaped his life and meeting patients first-hand that benefit from cannabis medicine, James shares his incredible journey from legacy cultivator to cannabis industry advocate. Now working with The Clear, one of the most recognized brands in cannabis concentrates, James brings his deep-rooted experience to the front lines of political reform and corporate cannabis leadership. We talk legacy-to-legal transitions, the urgent need for equitable policy, and how real voices from the past are driving the future of the cannabis movement.This episode is sponsored by Good Trees, McCarter's favorite rosin brand in Colorado! Pick up their products at The Trust Cannabis Co. in Boulder, CO and use "MCCARTER" for a 20% discount! This episode is also sponsored by Sacred Grove Organics ~ McCarter's favorite micro-dosed hemp-derived THC/CBD tincture that makes any drink into the perfect infused mocktail. Use code "MCCARTER" to save & get discrete delivered right to your doorstep nationwide. Get yours at SacredGroveOrganics.com!

Some artists can always be counted on to channel a sense of place. For violinist and composer Jenny Scheinman, it’s the homeward pull of Northern California’s so-called Lost Coast, between the redwood sprawl of Humboldt County and the rugged terrain that meets the Pacific. Scheinman grew up there, and she carries its rustic charm and mystique in her music — even when it assumes a form as elegant as the songs on All Species Parade, her recent double album. In this live episode, she converses with Josh Jackson before a recent performance with her band at Solar Myth, part of Ars Nova Workshop’s 25th anniversary season. Don’t forget to brush the sand out of your hair. Follow WRTI: https://www.instagram.com/wrtimusichttps://www.facebook.com/WRTImusic https://www.youtube.com/WRTImusicSupport WRTI: https://bit.ly/2yAkaJsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thousands of Humboldt residents rely on the Humboldt Transit Authority to get around. And for a rural transit agency, they do a really good job. But there are gaps: both in locations (good luck getting to Ferndale) and times (sorry if you want to take the bus on a Sunday). And there are other improvements (like more frequent buses) that are needed to make the bus more convenient and attract more riders. To get better bus service, Humboldt Transit Authority needs more money. Humboldt County voters approved Measure O last election. Among the promises of Measure O was funding for transit. The Board of Supervisors will meet in the near future to decide exactly how much will go to transit, and transit advocates are working to make sure they keep their promises. Colin Fiske of the Coalition for Responsible Transportation Priorities joins the show to advocate for at least 20% of Measure O funds to go to support public transit. Email your Supervisors to let them know that you support Measure O funds going to transit:rbohn@co.humboldt.ca.usmike.wilson@co.humboldt.ca.us smadrone@co.humboldt.ca.usnarroyo@co.humboldt.ca.usmbushnell@co.humboldt.ca.us And if you're a transit rider, email CRTP at admin@transportationpriorities.org to request to be added to their transit email list and Facebook transit riders group.Support the show

A twenty-minute window holds the answer we still don't have: who killed Sandra Albiani? Sources https://humboldtgov.org/2772/Unsolved-Cases https://kymkemp.com/2022/06/09/unguarded-a-security-guards-murder-remains-unsolved-on-the-twenty-fifth-anniversary-of-her-death/ https://www.northcoastjournal.com/052799/news0527.html https://www.newspapers.com/image/627826270/?match=1&terms=Sandra%20Albiani https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/times-standard/name/aaron-albiani-obituary?id=26385433 https://theava.com/archives/2479  

This was recorded on a cloudy spring evening during low tide at Mattole Beach on the Lost Coast in Humboldt County, California. There was a light offshore wind and the ocean surface was glassy, a rare treat at a place that is commonly quite windy.

These calls were recorded live on Youtube in 2024.In this gripping episode of Bigfoot Society with host Jeremiah Byron, listeners are taken on a riveting journey through the forests of Oregon and California. Mark, an Oregon resident with over a decade of experience in the Pacific Northwest, shares his terrifying encounters with Bigfoot, including a menacing encounter in a state park and another close encounter while mushroom hunting. He details his experiences with incredible clarity, describing how his dog was tragically thrown into a tree and his own confrontation with a massive, angry creature. The episode also features Grose from Humboldt County, California, who recounts his sightings and interactions with seemingly supernatural Bigfoots, including sightings near a bridge and a bizarre cloaking Bigfoot. These accounts are not only chilling but provide an intriguing insight into the mysterious world of Bigfoot. Don't miss this incredible episode.Sasquatch Summerfest this year, is July 11th through the 12th, 2025. It's going to be fantastic. Listeners, if you're going to go, you can get a two day ticket for the cost of one. If you use the code "BFS" like Bigfoot society and it'll get you some off your cost.Priscilla was a nice enough to provide that for my listeners. So there you go. I look forward to seeing you there. So make sure you head over to www. sasquatchsummerfest. com and pick up your tickets today.If you've had similar encounters or experiences, please reach out to bigfootsociety@gmail.com. Your story could be the next one we feature!

Nick sits down with Steven Saint Thomas to discuss his project of building a natural building in Humboldt County. You can find Steve online (adventuresinpermaculture.com).   03/25/2025

Authorities identify two deceased individuals in separate Mendocino and Humboldt County cases. The Mendocino Farm Bureau speaks up for farmers in Siskiyou over water regulations.

Maybe you've heard about biodiesel. Meet its cousin, "renewable diesel." Made from oils and fats, supporters claim that it can simply replace diesel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Humboldt County is banking on renewable diesel to meet its climate obligations in its draft Regional Climate Action Plan. But is this too good to be true? Host Tom Wheeler and Gary Hughes of Biofuelwatch explore these questions and to learn more about the concerns arising from the California pivot to high deforestation risk liquid biofuels.More info:Biofuel Blunders - OxfamHalt Deforestation Driving Biofuels Before It Is Too Late - Transport and EnvironmentThe Global Fat Grab - BiofuelwatchSupport the show

On the evening of July 12th, 2016 when two teenage girls, Faith Lorraine Tsarnas and Kiya Kitchen, were struck and killed in a hit-and-run, the small town of Fortuna in Humboldt County, CA, was left devastated. Speculation swirled as locals poured out their support online immediately, long before the victims, or the perpetrator, were identified. But when investigators uncovered the shocking truth—that Kiya's own mom, Marci Kitchen, was behind the wheel and intoxicated at the time—things got next-level messy. In this episode, we dive deep into the events of that fateful night, the chilling aftermath, and the controversial legal proceedings that followed. Join us as we uncover the disturbing details, legal battles, and emotional testimonies that defined this heartbreaking case. When immense human emotion confronts the facts laid bare, how does a small town heal, and what does justice really look like?Visit our website! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Patreon, & more! If you have any true crime, paranormal, or witchy stories you'd like to share with us & possibly have them read (out loud) on an episode, email us at pnwhauntsandhomicides@gmail.com or use this link. There are so many ways that you can support the show: BuyMeACoffee, Spreaker, or by leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. Sources.

PG&E's announcement in 2019 that it would decommission the Potter Valley Project led to years of uncertainty. Stakeholders in the Eel River and the Russian River Basin struggled to agree on a common vision for what would happen after the dams were removed. A new memorandum of understanding, announced this week, between the Mendocino County Inland Water and Power Commission, Humboldt County,  Sonoma County, the Sonoma County Water Agency, CalTrout, Trout Unlimited, the Round Valley Indian Tribes, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife represents a big step forward.

Nick sits down with Thomas Edrington to discuss the upcoming fundraiser "A Night of Deception and Revelry" hosted by the Transparent Humboldt Coalition and the North Coast Repertory Theatre, artificial intelligence, Humboldt County's financial problems, America's relations with Israel, autism and technology and more. You can find tickets for the fundraiser online (tickets). Opening night is Sunday February 2nd, 2025 at 8:00 pm followed by Saturday April 12th, 2025 at 8:00 pm. If you're interested in helping out with the event, or are an experienced sound engineer, you can connect with Thomas online (thcoalition.net). 01/09/2025

Send us a textSend us a textHey there fellow true crime enthusiasts! Pour yourself a drink, because you're gonna need it for this one. On February 26, 1860, in Humboldt County, California, white settlers murdered 80 to 250 Wiyot people, mostly women and children. Trust us, this is one of those cases that everyone should know!Follow Us On All The ThingsFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/bloodandbarrelsInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/bloodandbarrelsTwitter - https://twitter.com/bloodbarrelspodSupport Us – Rate & ReviewIf you enjoy the show, one of the best ways you can show your support, which is completely free, is to rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform.Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blood-barrels/id1574380306Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/57j8QbqAz8mdzjqaYXK2I1?si=f51295c1576d4bcbSee More About Us & Find Blood & Barrels MerchWebsite - https://bloodandbarrels.comMerch - https://bloodandbarrels.com/merch/#!/allJoin The Family!Join the Blood & Barrels Patreon family for exclusive content and perks starting at $1/month.Support the showSupport the show

People across the Bay Area were rattled by a tsunami warning alert on Thursday morning, after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake hit the coast of Humboldt County. The warning triggered evacuation orders before it was eventually canceled at approximately 12:00 pm. But it begs the question: What would really happen if a tsunami hit the Bay Area? Back in 2017, our friends at Bay Curious set out to answer this question. This episode first aired on June 15, 2017. Links: How to Prepare for the Big One What Would Really Happen if a Tsunami Hit the Bay Area? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

United Healthcare headlines about this shooting / Timeline of fatal shooting UHC CEO. Guest: David Vassegh to talk about Blake Snail from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Tsunami warning for parts of Northern California after 7.0-magnitude offshore earthquake. Dr. Lucy Jones on the 7.0 earthquake offshore of Humboldt County.

Christmas is just around the corner. So let's head to Eureka in Humboldt County, where Sequoia Park Zoo is preparing for the holidays with a living Christmas tree that may just take the title of tallest in the nation from the neighboring town of Ferndale. Guest: Jennifer Fumiko Cahill, North Coast Journal  Pacific Gas and Electric is asking the California Public Utilities Commission to approve another rate hike. That's meant to generate more than $3 billion to help connect customers to the grid and make capacity upgrades.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been more than a year and a half since a levee breach flooded the community of Pajaro. The state of California gave Monterey County $20 million for recovery, with $10 million earmarked for direct aid to residents and businesses. But Pajaro residents are still waiting on most of that money. Reporter: Elena Neale-Sacks, KAZU A powerful atmospheric river continues to slam Northern California. Weather conditions have toppled trees, flooded roads, left thousands without power, and forced the closure of some schools as a precautionary measure. The National Weather Service warns Eureka and Humboldt County could see extensive flooding.  Reporter: Sukey Lewis, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is just one of those episodes. If you love weed, whether you're in the industry or just a fan, you can't miss a second of this extended conversation with one of the real harbingers of the culture and preservers of the plant.Blackleaf is joined by the mythological man behind the curtain of cannabis, Kevin Jodrey @kevinjodrey, creator of Port Royal, owner of Wonderland Nursery, and co-founder of The Ganjier.Sit down and strap in for a longer episode that doesn't skip a beat on moments of invaluable game-dropping, never-before-heard strain lore, run-ins with law enforcement, traveling the world for weed, certifying Ganjiers, and so much more. If you've ever wondered where the birth of high-CBD strains began or what herb looks like in the wild countryside of Afghanistan while hunting genetics with Landrace Mafia, you'll be on the edge of your seat for this entire chaotic ride.Kevin Jodrey is hands-down one of the most well-known and respected growers out of Humboldt County. He's also an internationally respected expert on the plant, accredited for improving and forwarding the modern cannabis movement. On top if it all, he's spoken at a slew of universities, judged the Emerald Cup multiple times, and appeared on National Geographic and A&E to speak on cannabis education.You'll hear Blackleaf ask countless questions on every smoker's mind, and Kevin candidly weighs in on topics such as the THCa wave, nicotine addictions fueling the candy wave currently sweeping the industry, how the average grower can preserve their genetics, why tissue culture isn't always done right, and the fact that real Sour may be gone forever.Kevin was literally at the epicenter of the “Green Rush” with seemingly uneding stories he riffs on from Humboldt back in the day throughout this incredibly special episode of the pod. Today, he's at the forefront of the “Clean Rush” aka the sustainable movement of regenerating land naturally through cannabis cultivation…among countless other projects that span the globe.It's hard to concisely put into words all of the crazy insight, free game, jaw-dropping stories of hunting genetics and fighting law enforement, as well as genuine life and relationship advice that you can absorb from this episode. So, simply put—light one up, kick back, and lock in.Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key players and enjoy conversations with tastemakers from the culture you can't find anywhere else. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the early 1980s, Suzan and Michael Carson were very worried about witches. They thought there witches all over America, even the President, Ronald Regan, was a witch. And sometimes, in order to defend themselves from the dark magic of witches, they had to kill them. They had to! It was self-defense. This is what they and there defense attorney would actually claim, in court, when they were finally caught and charged with multiple murders. Did I mention that Suzan and Michael were completely out of their minds and regularly taking hallucinogens? They were. Been saving this one for the week of Halloween. Enjoy! True Tales of Hallow's Eve 4. Hope to see you there! Here's the ticket link: https://www.moment.co/scaredtodeathMerch and more: www.badmagicproductions.com Timesuck Discord! https://discord.gg/tqzH89vWant to join the Cult of the Curious PrivateFacebook Group? Go directly to Facebook and search for "Cult of the Curious" to locate whatever happens to be our most current page :)For all merch-related questions/problems: store@badmagicproductions.com (copy and paste)Please rate and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and elsewhere and follow the suck on social media!! @timesuckpodcast on IG and http://www.facebook.com/timesuckpodcastWanna become a Space Lizard? Click here: https://www.patreon.com/timesuckpodcast.Sign up through Patreon, and for $5 a month, you get access to the entire Secret Suck catalog (295 episodes) PLUS the entire catalog of Timesuck, AD FREE. You'll also get 20% off of all regular Timesuck merch PLUS access to exclusive Space Lizard merch. And you get the download link for my secret standup album, Feel the Heat.

This week on Everything You Didn't Know About Herbalism, we are featuring a dynamic duo wife-husband team on a mission to enhance the human connection with the natural world, Allison Poklemba and Michael Kauffman. Allison and Michael are the Founders of Backcountry Press, an independent publishing company that explores books on natural history, ecology, and the western landscape. Today, Allison and Michael will be sharing their combined insights and knowledge on the vast ecology that surrounds our world, and how bettering our understanding of plants can help us to foster a better understanding of ourselves. As always, we thank you for joining us on another botanical adventure and are honored to have you tag along with us on this ride. Remember, we want to hear from you! Your questions, ideas, and who you want to hear from are invaluable to our podcast. Please send us an email at podcast@mountainroseherbs.com to let us know what solutions we should uncover next within the vast world of herbalism.  Learn more about Allison and Michael below! 

The documentary filmmaker Dan Partland makes his first appearance on the podcast. From the filmmakers of the critically-acclaimed blockbuster "#Unfit: The Psychology of Donald Trump", which grossed over $2.5 million, has been viewed by millions, and was nominated for the IDA Documentary Awards Video Source Award Director, producer, and writer Partland and producer Art Horan are back with "#Untruth: The Psychology of Trumpism" examines the psychology of Trumpism and the authoritarian strain that it seeded in the American political landscape. The film is currently available on VOD platforms. Rebecca Richman Cohen is an Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker who teaches courses on media theory and advocacy at Harvard Law School. Through her work, she has examined a range of topics, including the prosecution of war crimes in Sierra Leone, responses to sexual violence in the US, cannabis legalization, and biodynamic winemaking. Her most recent film, "Weed & Wine" follows the story of Kev Jodrey —joining her in this segment— and his son Cona, descendants of outlaws who labored to make themselves legal purveyors of sun-grown, craft cannabis in Humboldt County, California. In the south of France, Hélène and her son Aurélien produce renowned, biodynamic wines on a vineyard that they've fought for centuries to keep in their family. In this sumptuous and moving film, Emmy-nominated filmmaker, Rebecca Richman Cohen, parallels the profound joys and deep uncertainties of two farming families as they fight to protect their legacy, their craft, and their land. Executive produced by Berner. The film is currently available on VOD platforms.

In this episode of PhotoWork, host Sasha Wolf talks with the three recipients of the Foundation's inaugural Fellowship: Molly D'Arcy, Brandon Holland, and Will Suiter. They each share how the six-month mentorship impacted their artistic practice and what the experience meant to them personally. It's an honest and transparent peek into the evolving practices and processes of these three young artists. Molly D'Arcy is an American artist (b.1997) living and working in New England. She began making short films as a child, an interest which blossomed into a passion for darkroom photography. Her work centers around themes of journeying and destination. Spirituality has been part of her life since childhood and continues to play a central role in her photographic practice today. https://photowork.foundation/molly-darcy/ Brandon Holland is a New Orleans-born art and documentary photographer. His work is concerned with environment, kinship, blackness, and the delicate nature of things. He uses photography as a means of preservation and connecting with the world around him. He splits time working and living in Baltimore and New Orleans. https://photowork.foundation/brandon-holland/ Will Suiter is an artist working in photography, based in Humboldt County, California. He was born 1999 in the San Francisco Bay Area suburbs, and grew up sharing time between the urban SF Bay Area and rural Ozark Mountains in Arkansas. He moved to rural Humboldt County in 2017 to study forestry at Humboldt State University, and the isolated, remote geography and rural culture of the region has informed much of his work since. https://photowork.foundation/will-suiter/ This podcast is sponsored by picturehouse + thesmalldarkroom. https://phtsdr.com

Lacey writes "Hey Wes! I started listening to your show after my encounter that happened in the fall of 2020 in Willow Creek, CA. Since then I have tried to make sense of what happened and your show has given me insight and validation, but has also left me with more questions than answers. Takes a lot for me to do this but here it goes.. During the fall of 2020 I was trimming for a medical marijuana farm and staying with friends in willow creek, ca. I currently live in my home state in the Midwest but lived in Humboldt County for 7 years during my twenties. So when the pandemic started, I lost my job as a massage therapist. Being that is was an awkward time to do my job anyway, I figured why not see my friends and make some money while in waiting to see what would become of my career. By the time my encounter happened it was October and I had been working out west since July. Autumn in that area is typically busy with travelers, so I thought it would be cool to meet a guy on a dating site while visiting to help pass the time. Right away I hit it off with a fellow farm worker who happened to be right down the road. We went out for dinner and decided to continue the night by laying under the stars at a local campground called camp Kimtu right outside of Willow Creek on the trinity river. The campsites were further down the road but we decided to pull of on the beach by the water. Since I had been living do on the road, my car was full of camping gear. We took my sleeping bag with blankets down a path to the water not far from my vehicle. For the record we did have a 12 pack of steelhead ale(my fav local beer) but each of us had only had two beers. One at the restaurant and one on the river bank. It wasn't long after laying there that it started to rain so we ended up getting into my car to wait out the rain. The rain lasted about an hour(which to my knowledge it was the first rain of the season) and during that time we stayed inside until it stopped. Eventually we made it back out but decided to just sleep there and continue hanging out. I have a rav4 so we put the back seats down and made a bed. While doing so I took out my camping tote which had some really valuable gear inside as well as his backpack and guitar (This is a key part of the story bc it just doesn't make sense that if it was a hoax then why didn't “they” steal our stuff?). At this point it around 11:45. The bed was made so we sat in the back of the car with the hatch door open(which was facing the river) to smoke a joint. I was wrapped in a blanket and he in his boxers snuggled up to me. A few mins into conversation we started hearing a low guttural growl coming from the rocky beach down towards the water. Take in mind it was super foggy out and there was no street lights around. So we never actually saw what was making the sound but oh did we hear them. The sound went on for about 30 secs or so. It almost sounded like a didgeridoo at first but you could tell it was a voice. Kind of like a growl/gargling sound. It radiated around us in a way I have never heard before. What was also really weird, we both immediately became emotional and struck with fear. It was like my body became immediately paralyzed. Tears started streaming down my cheeks as we grabbed each other and I said “that's not human” it was like my nervous system instantly knew something was off. He then yelled really loud “Hey, what are you doing down there!?” (This is when it gets absolutely terrifying and I mean seriously the most afraid I have ever been in my life. I still to this day have ptsd from this experience. It's gotten easier to tell this story but it continues to haunt me. I dream about it and think about it constantly.) The sound abruptly stopped when he did that but only for a second and then proceeded to SCREAM the most ungodly, otherworldly sound I never in a million years would imagine to hear. We instinctively shut the back door and laid down shaking. At this point it was pure terror and somewhat surreal. Almost as if time stood still but it all happened pretty fast. As we lay there trembling and not knowing what to do next, the sounds began to get louder and more intense. It started to sound like multiple high and low pitched voices that were howling, yelling and at some points it sounded like they were laughing. Almost like a gorilla/hyena hybrid. That sound will forever be burned into my mind. We both became hysterical. He also started to cry and kept asking me what do we do?? I told him to lay still and be quiet. I couldn't believe this was happening. Then, they surrounded my car. It literally sounded like they were all around us. It truly felt like they were taunting us but in the most horrible way and trust me it worked. The cackling and howling with talking btw, they seriously have a language. We could hear them bantering back and forth. It was like nothing I've ever heard, until someone played for me the Sierra sounds. It's absolutely unnerving how similar that recording is to what we experienced. Also at some point during this they began making really loud thud noises but not sure how. This went on for what seemed like forever but in reality it was only 15 mins or so until one of them was so close to my back passenger window that we both screamed uncontrollably and the guy told me to drive! I frantically found my keys in the mess of blankets and jumped in the driver seat. I just remember shaking so bad I could barely push my foot on the peddle. The lights turned on but we never saw a thing. All I could do was put my car in drive and get tf out of there. Looking back on it I really wish one of us would've had our phones out to record but it all happened so fast, that honestly was the last thing on mind. We ended up parked outside of my friends house and laid there in shock until the sun came up. We went over the whole thing numerous times. Did they want to hurt us? If so, why didn't they? Was it a prank? At times it felt like trickery but the sound was so out of this world that if it was they must've had some kind of equipment. Plus these beings had a presence, a very strong one at that. He even thought we should call the police and report it, we were that scared. Once morning with no sleep and completely hung over from the adrenaline we drove back to get our things. Truly thinking everything would be gone, to our surprise nothing had been touched. Not the beer, nor the cooler with some food, or our valuables. We walked around and looked for tracks but didn't see a thing. I still don't know what to think of it and didn't begin the Bigfoot rabbit hole until after that night. As cliche as it is, that area is highly known for encounters so we just assumed if it wasn't people or an animal then it must be real after all. Him and I don't really talk but the occasional text to remind each other that we survived some truly crazy stuff together. Maybe someday I'll get him to go on a podcast with me or something. I'm just glad to have had a witness bc it truly is unbelievable until it happens to you. And I'm grateful for my vehicle bc I'm not sure if I'd be here to tell the tale if we would've been in my tent. I don't really know if they would have hurt us, nor do I ever want to chance that again. Let's just say the woods will never be the same."