Coffee And Conservation

In this episode of Coffee and Conservation, Mike Veale and Elias Blaset start with a topic close to home for Global Conservation Force: World Rhino Day.Mike and Elias break down some of the latest rhino population numbers, where conservation efforts are making progress, and where serious challenges remain. With roughly 26,700 rhinos left globally across five surviving species, there’s plenty to celebrate, plenty to be concerned about, and a lot of work still happening behind the scenes.But, as usual, the conversation doesn’t stay on one trail for very long.From rhinos, we take a sharp turn into Pokémon and GCF’s Pokémon IRL education series, using Pokémon as a fun gateway to introduce the real animals, adaptations, behaviors, and conservation stories that may have inspired some familiar creatures.And then things get weird.With spooky season approaching, Mike and Elias wander from real wildlife into the world of cryptids, folklore, unexplained creatures, and the stories people have carried across cultures for generations. What starts with rhinos somehow ends up heading toward creatures that may, or may not,exist.It’s conservation, wildlife, Pokémon, cryptids, field stories, and a little Halloween weirdness over coffee.And this episode is only a teaser. Spooky season is coming to Coffee and Conservation, and we have a lot more planned.

In Episode 2 of Coffee and Conservation, Mike Veale sits down with Lauren Lee, GCF Education Programs Coordinator and Apprentice Instructor, to talk about the newest addition to Global Conservation Force’s education programs: Rhino Rescue™.Mike and Lauren dive into the development of the new GCF Rhino Rescue™ board game, why it was created, and the bigger plans for using it as a hands-on conservation education tool with students, educators, communities, and conservation partners around the world.Lauren also shares more about GCF’s in-situ conservation education programs, World Pangolin Day outreach, and her experiences teaching during past GCF bootcamps and ranger trainings—as well as what she’ll be teaching during upcoming programs.They also look ahead to GCF’s September 26 World Rhino Day event in Vista, California, where guests will have the opportunity to play Rhino Rescue™ while enjoying a family-friendly event blending Pokémon trading cards and collectibles, mini golf, conservation activities, and updates from GCF’s work in the field.Beyond education, Mike and Lauren explore the many different ways people can get involved with wildlife conservation. From K9 programs and ranger training to education, events, volunteering, media, fundraising, and hands-on field work, there isn’t just one pathway into conservation.Grab a coffee and join Mike and Lauren for a conversation about Rhino Rescue™, conservation education, ranger training, upcoming events, stories from the field, and how you can turn an interest in wildlife into meaningful action.

In this episode of Coffee and Conservation, Mike Veale sits down with Global Conservation Force Conservation Officer and core team member Elias Blaset, founder of The Symbiosis Project, to talk about the many different paths that can lead to a career, and a life, in wildlife conservation.Originally from Chile, Elias shares his journey of moving to the United States, pursuing his passion for wildlife as a student at Moorpark College’s Teaching Zoo, and eventually working at the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Mike and Elias look back at how they first connected during Elias’ student years, stayed in touch over the years, and how that relationship eventually grew into Elias becoming part of GCF’s core team.Along the way, they share a few stories from the field, including Elias joining GCF for its annual Anti-Poaching Bootcamp in South Africa, volunteering his time alongside GCF’s conservation K9 programs, and how his role has continued to evolve. Today, Elias is helping GCF expand its conservation education outreach and media, using his wildlife experience and communication skills to help connect more people with conservation.They also dive into a less obvious connection: Pokémon and wildlife conservation. From exploring different environments and discovering new species to learning about animal behavior, habitats, rarity, and biodiversity, Pokémon has introduced generations of people to concepts that have some surprisingly real parallels in the natural world.Mike and Elias also tease some upcoming Pokémon-themed GCF social media content leading into GCF’s World Rhino Day x Trading Card Game fundraiser on September 26. The family-friendly event brings conservation and trading card culture together, with guests able to hunt for Pokémon cards, play the new GCF Rhino Rescue™ board game, take on mini golf, and enjoy other activities, all while helping raise funds for wildlife conservation.Most importantly, Mike and Elias discuss how people can actually get involved in wildlife conservation. You don’t have to start as a ranger, scientist, veterinarian, or lifelong conservation professional. There are countless skills, careers, hobbies, and interests that can become valuable tools for conservation when paired with experience, consistency, and a willingness to get involved.Grab a coffee and join Mike and Elias for a conversation about wildlife, careers, Pokémon, stories from the field, and finding your own path to making a difference for wildlife.

Episode Description – Coffee & Conservation with Rita SantasIn this episode of Coffee & Conservation, Mike sits down with Rita Santas, conservation K9 handler and founder-owner of Dogs for Nature in Portugal.Rita shares her journey into the world of working dogs for conservation—how she got started, what inspired her to build Dogs for Nature, and what it really takes to train and deploy K9s for wildlife protection, research, and environmental monitoring.They dive into what conservation K9 work looks like on the ground, from field deployments to training methodologies, and the realities of building capacity in a growing but still under-resourced field. Mike and Rita also unpack the challenges facing conservation K9 programs globally—funding gaps, operational hurdles, misconceptions about working dogs, and the broader challenges facing conservation practitioners today.Expect honest insights, practical lessons, and plenty of banter between two people passionate about dogs, conservation, and building more effective tools to protect wildlife and wild places.Grab a coffee and join the conversation.

In this episode of Coffee & Conservation, host Mike Veale sits down with Global Conservation Force instructor Amanda Smith — whose decades-long career in UK law enforcement took an unexpected turn after hearing the powerful story of Thandi the rhino and the lifesaving work of Dr. William Fowlds. Inspired, Amanda made the bold decision to leave everything familiar behind and work her way into wildlife conservation.Mike and Amanda talk about how her law enforcement background shaped her approach to ranger training, integrity in the field, and leadership under pressure — and how everyday people can chart their own path into meaningful conservation work. It’s an inspiring look at courage, purpose, and the ripple effect one story can have.