This Green Earth

Cowgirl and conservationist, Heidi Redd, discusses her new book titled, "A Cowgirl’s Conservation Journey: Stories from the Dugout Ranch," which highlights the largest private holding in Bears Ears National Monument. And former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, who wrote the forward to Redd's book, joins the discussion.Then, Claire and Chris speak with David McGuire from Shark Stewards about the importance of seagrasses and what their decay could mean for our oceans.

Aidan Charron, Director of End Plastic Initiatives with Earthday.org comes on the show to talk about the history of Earth Day and the theme for this year: Planet vs Plastics.Then, author Jade Sasser speaks about her recently released book "Climate Anxiety and the Kid Question: Deciding Whether to Have Children in an Uncertain Future."

Citizens' Climate Lobby Wasatch Back Chapter Co-Leader Lauren Barros shares more on a special event at the Jim Santy Auditorium April 10. The Wasatch Back chapter is set to host an evening of film screenings and a panel discussion. The panel discussion will follow the screening of "Going Greenland" and "Downstream: a Backcountry Ski Film about the Shrinking Great Salt Lake." Each film delves into skiing and the effects of climate change. The event begins at 6pm. (01:33)Then, a rebroadcast from January revisits a discussion with award-winning author, Tony Hiss, on his latest book, "Rescuing the Planet, Protecting Half the Land to Heal the Earth." (8:26)Finishing the show is author and CBS News national correspondent Jonathan Vigliotti who discusses his newly released book, "Before It's Gone: Stories from the Front Lines of Climate Change in Small-Town America." (29:33)

Utah Snow Survey Supervisor Jordan Clayton provides an in-depth report on the 2023/24 snow season and what it means for the months ahead. Then, explore the Endangered Species Act of 1973 from its inception to the key figures who shaped its history with author, attorney and environmental historian Lowell Baier. He discusses his book "Earth’s Emergency Room: Saving Species as the Planet and Politics Get Hotter."

On the next This Green Earth, Claire & Chris speak with author Abrahm Lustgarten who writes about climate change and writes for New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic and PBS Frontline.In his forthcoming book, “On The Move,” Lustgarten explores how climate change is uprooting American lives and where people will go. Lustgarten’s recent reporting focuses on global migration, demographic change and conflict in response to a warming climate. Then, they speak with Alexa Friedman, an environmental epidemiologist interested in reducing exposure to harmful chemicals. Friedman will walk us through a recent study that talks about pesticides and produce.To end the show, Deeda Seed with the Center for Biological Diversity discusses the Endangered Species Act listing petition for Wilson’s phalaropes, and what it means for the Great Salt Lake's ecosystem.

Author and voice for the natural world, Carl Safina explores how humans are changing the living world and what the changes mean for the planet. His work has won a MacArthur “genius” grant as well as Pew and Guggenheim Fellowships.Then, Heal Utah’s Meisei [May-Say] Gonzalez details the 2024 legislative decisions the organization says will impact our state’s environmental health.

Professor of forest ecology at the University of British Columbia, Suzanne Simard, is at the forefront of plant communication and intelligence research. She explains why trees are vital to each other and to humans. (01:32)And, Utah Geologist Jeremiah Bernau discusses how the Bonneville Salt Flats have shifted over the years, with some of its most dramatic changes in recent decades. (25:50)

Professor Emeritus of Wildlife Science at the University of Washington, John Marzluff, discusses his highly acclaimed book “Gifts of the Crow: How Perception, Emotion, and Thought Allow Smart Birds to Behave Like Humans.”Then, Zach Frankel, Executive Director at the Utah Rivers Council shares his concerns about proposed laws on Utah’s Capitol Hill that he says will lead to development without public oversight or transparency. And Summit County Lands and Natural Resources Director Jess Kirby has updates on the 910 and Ure ranches.

Chris and Claire speak with John Vucetich, a professor of wildlife ecology at Michigan Tech. He is the author of a new book about wolves titled, "Restoring the Balance: What Wolves Tell Us About Our Relationship With Nature." Then, Colette Adkins, Carnivore Conservation Program Director and Senior Attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, joins the show to talk about the fate of gray wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains after they were denied Endangered Species Act protection.

Chris and Claire speak with Recycle Utah’s Mary Closser about the recent Green Business Awards and welcome local award winners Kimberly Flores with Fulfilled and Julie Finnegan from Abode Luxury Rentals. Then, journalist David Owen of the New Yorker discusses his book "Where the Water Goes: Life and Death Along the Colorado River."

Author Peter Alagona, Environmental History Professor at UC Santa Barbara discusses his book "The Accidental Ecosystem." It tells the story of how cities across the United States went from having little wildlife to filling, dramatically, and unexpectedly, with wild creatures.Then, Dr. Paddy Sullivan, Director of the Environment and Natural Resource Institute, talks about why Alaska’s rivers are quite literally rusting.

Though many of us may not consider ourselves fans of spiders – jumping spiders are some of the worlds most fascinating and aerobatic arachnids. They are even crooners, singing and dancing to woo mates. Learn more about the wonderful world of jumping spiders with Harvard University’s Paul Shamble on This Green Earth. (01:32)Then award-winning Author Tony Hiss joins the show to discuss his latest book, "Rescuing the Planet, Protecting Half the Land to Heal the Earth" (28:51)

Park City Community Foundation’s Climate Fund's Eyee Hsu and Andy Hecht discuss their goal to fully divert food waste from Summit County's landfill by 2030.Then Danielle Nierenberg, President of Food Tank joins the show. Food Tank is a research and advocacy organization that highlights how food and agriculture could be a solution to some of our most pressing environmental problems.

Chris and Claire talk with author and speaker Rob Verchick, one of the nation’s leading scholars in disaster and climate change law and a former EPA official in the Obama administration. He shares more on his latest book, "The Octopus in the Parking Garage." In it, Verchick examines how we can manage the risks that we can no longer avoid, laying out our options as we face the climate crisis.Then, the Department of Agriculture is proposing a nationwide plan focused on protecting federal old-growth forests. The proposal would amend all land management plans governing the National Forest System. Garett Rose from the National Resources Defense Council joins the show to discuss this plan.

In the first part of the show, Chris and Claire revisit a discussion with evolutionary biologist and author Noah Whiteman, as he talks about his book, "Most Delicious Poison, The Story of Nature’s Toxins from Spices to Vices."Then author and speaker on climate change politics, Michael Gunter joins the show to talk about his latest book, "Climate Travels."

Tis the season for holiday gatherings and imbibing in various specialty holiday cocktails. In this spirit, we welcome Sara Sargent of Alpine Distilling to This Green Earth. We’ll talk about Alpine Distilling’s sustainability practices across the company, and we’ll hear more about the art of botanical spirits from soil to bottle.Then, Chris and Claire revisit a interview from November with Conservation Science Director Steve Slater for HawkWatch International, who comes on the show to discuss the conservation of bird's of prey.

Research scientist and Utah native Joshua Fisher talks about his new book "Managing Environmental Conflict," in which he provides collaborative approaches to managing environmental disputes. Then, Dr. Erle Ellis, Director of the Anthroecology Lab and Professor of Geography & Environmental Systems at the University of Maryland, discusses the challenges facing our ever warming world and his New York Times Op Ed titled "1.5 Degrees Is Not the Problem."

Chris and Claire talk about the return of the blue whale and its great significance with Dr. Jeremy Kiska, a biology professor at Florida International University and a research associate at the Island Biodiversity and Conservation Centre at the University of Seychelles. Then, on the heels of World Soil Day, they speak with Daniel Rath, a scientist from the NRDC, who explains the effects of neonic pesticides and the impact they're having on soil health and biodiversity.

Author Juli Berwald takes us on a journey through underwater ecosystems that reveal incredible complexities, as well as an uncertain future, in her book "Life on the Rocks." She contemplates the inevitable grief of climate change as well as the beauty of small victories.Then, author David Sedlak outlines informed and hopeful approaches for rethinking our assumptions about the way that water is managed in his book "Water For All: Global Solutions for a Changing Climate."

A rebroadcast of our interview with Dr. Michael Mann who is the director of the Center for Science, Sustainability & the Media at the University of Pennsylvania. Mann is a renowned climate scientist and author of "Our Fragile Moment: How Lessons from Earth's Past Can Help Us Survive the Climate Crisis." In his book, Mann shares modern lessons that can be found in the history of our climate. (1:08) Then, Chris Cherniak and guest host Carolyn Wawra talk with Summit County Lands & Natural Resources Director Jessica Kirby about the 910 Cattle Ranch land project. (27:59)