Forces for Nature

Bonnie Monteleone is the Founder & Director of Science, Research, and Academic Partnerships of the Plastic Ocean Project (POP) whose mission is finding science-based solutions to the global plastic pollution crisis. In 2019, she was working on a documentary about the North Atlantic Ocean. However, its plot quickly went from one about a complex, impacted ecosystem into a "who done it," following the death of a newborn critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whale that washed ashore. Was it manmade noise that caused the mother to lose her newborn, a ship strike, chemical or plastic pollution, was it discarded fishing gear, or overfishing? Bonnie discusses her work with plastics pollution and how it relates to this new documentary project she is undertaking. The threats the ocean and its creatures are facing are vast, but Bonnie dives deep into viable solutions that everyone can support to preserve the sounds of the sea and the marine life in it. This film, which asks what the oceans would say if they could talk, promises to inspire hope, not doom, but only if we listen. ​​Bonnie's work has led her around the world collecting plastic marine samples including four of the five main ocean gyres and the Caribbean. She also works in the Environmental Studies Department at UNC Wilmington as an Adjunct Instructor teaching a Plastic Marine Debris Field Studies course and manages a lab working with student Directed Independent Studies (DIS) research. Highlights What YOU Can Do Bonnie talks a lot about solutions her organization is implementing as well as what different industries can do. But, here are some ideas on what YOU can do: Resources Information Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility. Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that! What difference for the world are you going to make today?

In a time where our planet's health is at the forefront of global discussions, understanding the intricacies of climate change is not just beneficial; it's imperative. Bryce Coon is the Director of Education Initiatives at Earthday.org and a passionate advocate for embedding climate literacy within our educational systems. He plays a central role in crafting the organization's overarching goals and roadmap to increasing climate literacy worldwide. Moreover, Bryce is instrumental in driving the efforts dedicated to the climate and environmental literacy campaign, working year-round to cultivate a nationwide movement aimed at bolstering climate literacy across various educational institutions, ranging from K-12 schools to universities, trade schools, and graduate schools. EARTHDAY.ORG’s mission is to diversify, educate, and activate the environmental movement worldwide. Growing out of the first Earth Day (1970), EARTHDAY.ORG is the world’s largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 150,000 partners in nearly 192 countries to build environmental democracy. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day actions each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world. Learn more at earthday.org. Highlights What YOU Can Do Resources Environmental Resources Climate Literate Lesson Guide Earth Month Calendar resources Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility. Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that! What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Our disconnection from nature has never been greater and this is resulting in not only a crisis for our planet but for our own well-being too. Ciara Byrne, the founder of Green Our Planet, has been using school gardens to help bridge this disconnect. Through her organization, these green spaces are more than just a cool project—they're a way to teach kids about taking care of our planet and each other. And it's working! She's helping to plant seeds of change and watching hope, connection, and environmental stewardship bloom right before our eyes. Highlights What YOU Can Do Resources Website Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility. Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that! What difference for the world are you going to make today?

There's magic in nature and all of us. T. A. Barron integrates this belief into his life as a bestselling author, conservationist, and host of the Magic & Mountains podcast. But, it's his work honoring young changemakers with the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, that really proves this notion to be true. These individuals are making significant contributions to environmental conservation and community improvement, despite the odds that may be stacked against them. And T. A. shines a light on their heroism and the power we all have deep inside. If you need some inspiration to keep going with the great work you're doing (along with some practical guidance), you'll find it in this episode. Since its inception, the Barron Prize has awarded more than half a million dollars to hundreds of young leaders and has won the support of the National Geographic Education Foundation, Girl Scouts of the USA, and the National Youth Leadership Council, among other organizations. When not writing or speaking, T. A. Barron serves on many boards including Princeton University, where he helped to create the Princeton Environmental Institute, and The Wilderness Society, which recently honored him with its highest award for conservation work. Highlights How YOU Can Help Resources T. A. Barron website Magic & Mountains: The T. A. Barron podcast Gloria Barron Prize for Young HeroesInspiring Young HeroesWant a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility. Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that! What difference for the world are you going to make today?

We all know that plastics have become a problem, but there's even more to it than the litter you see thrown on the ground. Dr. Roopa Krithivasan is the Director of Research for Defend Our Health, an environmental health and justice organization. They recently released a report titled Hidden Hazards: The Chemical Footprint of a Plastic Bottle which tracks the impact of plastic bottles on human health and climate change. Turns out, we can experience the hazards of our plastic use well before the items even end up in our homes- and afterward. Highlights What YOU Can Do Resources petitionwebsitethis episode of The Healthy Seas Podcast*Since the taping of this episode, Dr. Roopa Krithivasan is no longer the Director of Research for Defend Our Health. Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility. Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that! What difference for the world are you going to make today?

First, the tadpoles and frogs disappeared; then the bats and the songbirds left. Dr. Elizabeth Hilborn, a honey bee veterinarian and environmental health scientist, soon realized the bees—the vital pollinators of fruits, plants, and vegetables—were dying. Everything went still and silent. In 2017, after a large flood, most of the teeming life on her beloved family farm in North Carolina had vanished in a matter of weeks. As a scientist and a naturalist, Hilborn set about to get answers and shares her story in her riveting book, Restoring Eden, and in this episode. No matter where you live- even if it's a city far from farmland- if you drink water and eat food, you are going to want to listen to this episode. Highlights What YOU Can Do Restoring EdenLeave a commentResources websiteDirty Dozen List Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility. Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that! What difference for the world are you going to make today?

The recent COP28 climate change conference concluded with mixed feelings from many stakeholders. Despite this, a noteworthy optimistic takeaway was the emphasis by top scientists on the urgent need to prioritize the protection and restoration of wild ecosystems within global climate strategies, highlighting the necessity of biodiversity conservation. Alison Zak from the Human-Beaver Coexistence Fund champions the crucial role of beavers in mitigating the effects of climate change. Her advocacy aims to enhance the acceptance and appreciation of beavers, recognizing the enormous benefits they bring to an area- for people and other species. Highlights What YOU Can Do Donate Resources Human-Beaver Coexistence Fund websiteWild Asana book Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility. Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that! What difference for the world are you going to make today?

What happens when you have a constitutional right that's being violated but you're too young to vote for the constituents who might fix it? These kids asked the courts to step in. Today's guest, author Elizabeth Rusch, has captured this gripping story in her latest book, The Twenty-One. We dive into how, in 2015, twenty-one young Americans, ages 8-19, filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. government. In this ongoing landmark case, Juliana VS. United States, the plaintiffs claim that the government’s support of the fossil-fuel industry is actively contributing to climate change and, therefore, violating the young generation’s Fifth Amendment rights. They insist that having life, liberty, and property are intrinsically linked to a stable climate. Many legal experts initially thought the case wouldn't go anywhere, however, over the past eight years it has become a potential legal game-changer for our environmental future. If you're a fan of the underdog giving "the big guys" a run for their money, you won't want to miss this episode. Elizabeth Rusch is also the author of You Call This Democracy?, a finalist for the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults, and more than a dozen acclaimed children’s books, including picture books, middle-grade, fiction, nonfiction, and a graphic novel. In a starred review, Kirkus calls her book, THE TWENTY-ONE, “a nail-biting account of a still unresolved landmark case”. Highlights and yoursWhat YOU Can Do Call, Email, or Tweet the Department of JusticeOur Children's Trust websiteResources Buy the bookwebsite Twitter/XInstagramFacebookWant a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility. Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that! What difference for the world are you going to make today?

As the world makes strides toward a green economy, the U.S. State of New Jersey is determined to be a leader in the movement. And, the First Lady of New Jersey, Tammy Murphy, is ensuring that citizens are prepared. She has spearheaded the initiative of integrating climate change into school curriculum. New Jersey is now the first State to require the topic be taught across all disciplines in the K-12 grade levels. With the consequences of global warming affecting us all, there's no better time to ensure that students understand the complexities of this issue. By providing them with the knowledge of how and why things are happening, students will be better equipped to tackle the challenges they will face and succeed in the opportunities being created to address them. Highlights What YOU Can Do Resources New Jersey Department of Education Climate Change Education ResourcesNew Jersey Climate Change Education Hub To learn more about the Action for Climate School Program that I mentioned at the end of the episode, send me a message at crystal@forcesfornature.com, and let's chat! Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility. Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that! What difference for the world are you going to make today?

**This episode first aired in October 2021. Listen to an update from Nina at 26: 27 about the next round of EWCL open to applicants now. The field of wildlife conservation has some of the most passionate and determined people in the world. Building a career protecting animals requires professionals in this field to have a diverse and complex toolbox of skills and knowledge. However, as happens in many other professions, academic training is only the beginning of the learning journey and often does not fully cover the wide range of challenges and opportunities that individuals will face in the real world. Recognizing this gap, Nina Fascione (Exec. Director, International Rhino Foundation) and Jeffrey Flocken (President, Humane Society International), created the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders (EWCL) program in 2005 to afford early-career wildlife conservationists an opportunity to become better-rounded professionals. Through EWCL, participants in the program are equipped with a gamut of skills, techniques, and approaches to wildlife conservation, and are connected to an extensive network of peers worldwide. We talk about the program, its evolution, and the future, diving into some very amusing stories of how EWCL came to be and continues to change people's lives straight from the start. Highlights What YOU Can Do If you're an early career conservationist, apply to join the next EWCL class! Tell them Forces for Nature sent you! Applications will be accepted from October 1st-31st of 2023. Resources ApplicationWebsite Instagram Facebook Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility. Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that! What difference for the world are you going to make today?

**This episode originally aired in May 2021. You can find an update from Julio at 24:19. Today's guest is Julio Prieto. He's an Ecuadorian lawyer working with the Union of People Affected by Texaco, the organization otherwise known as UDAPT. He has been a key player in one of the most well-known battles for environmental justice- the case of Ecuador vs. Chevron-Texaco. After 20 years of litigation, Julio's team won the case that found Chevron to be guilty of egregious pollution and irresponsibility in the Ecuadorian rainforest. However, 10 years later, he is still fighting for the settlement that would benefit the tens of thousands impacted. We talk about his lessons learned, his most recent victory, and why, despite the impossible odds, he will never give up. Highlights What YOU Can Do on their websiteResources websiteFacebookTwitter If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate and review! This helps to boost its visibility. Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that! What difference for the world are you going to make today? Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility. Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that! What difference for the world are you going to make today?

*This episode first aired in April 2021 and Chris's title mentioned in the show has changed since. Climate change and environmental protection haven't always been as politicized as they are today. And, unfortunately, in being so, progress on these fronts gets hindered. Chris Barnard is helping to change that. He's the VP of External Affairs of The American Conservation Coalition, a group founded by political conservatives working to transform the narrative of denialism in order to get more voices to the table. We talk about how these issues shouldn't be political, how you can find allies across the political spectrum, and which solutions may satisfy all. Highlights What YOU Can Do Market Environmentalism AcademyResources websiteInstagramTwitterFacebookWant a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility. Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that! What difference for the world are you going to make today?

**This episode first aired in April 2020. ** When Pablo Borboroglu released his first rehabilitated penguin back into the wild 30 years ago, he saw the ability that one person has to make a difference. Holding steadfast to this belief, he has since become one of the greatest voices for these animals. And, facing threats both on land and in water, they need it. Through the Global Penguin Society, Pablo uses scientific research to help guide conservation actions that have not only protected penguins but have also benefitted many other species that they live among as well as local communities. His enthusiasm for this work is palatable and he uses it to inspire thousands of people to become stewards for these animals too. Pablo is a National Geographic Explorer and recipient of the Whitley Gold Award, Rolex Award for Enterprise, and various other accolades. Though, what’s even more impressive, is all that penguins have gained because of him. Highlights from our talk: 1:51) Some surprising penguin facts 4:28) Threats on land and in the water 11:14) Illegal trafficking of penguins 12:41) Why does Pablo feel like he has the power to make change 19:34) How has he dealt with pushback from local communities against his conservation actions 25:52) How he has overcome feeling discouraged at times 31:12) What's his biggest challenge now What YOU can do to help penguins: Penguin WatchGuppy FrienddonationMentioned in the Episode: El Pedral Wildlife Refuge Punta Tombo Patagonia Azul Oceans on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility. Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that! What difference for the world are you going to make today?

**This episode first aired in June 2021. You can find the updated clip from Timothy and Nicole at 30:35** Did you know that most of the food crops we eat are reliant on pollinators to reproduce? Fruits, vegetables, nuts, even the food fed to cattle, sheep, and pigs, need pollinators such as bees. Unfortunately, there have been staggering declines in bee population numbers over the past couple of decades that have the potential for disastrous consequences. Timothy Paule and Nicole Lindsey saw an opportunity in this crisis to make a two-fold impact. They created Detroit Hives which not only works to protect these vital animals but also to revitalize the city they call home. Highlights What YOU Can Do support Detroit HivesResources WebsiteInstagramFacebookBee City USAXerces SocietyWant a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility. Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that! What difference for the world are you going to make today?

**This episode first aired in June 2020. You can find the updated clip from Ryan at 21:00** Did you know that only 10% of all plastic that's ever been produced has been recycled?!* And that just 60% of communities in the U.S. have access to curbside recycling pick-up?** Our waste is a huge problem but, today's guest, Ryan Hickman, is determined to be part of the solution. At just 12 years old (yes, you read that right!), he's CEO of his own company, Ryan's Recycling. He joins us today with his dad, Damion, and helps to demystify the confusion that recycling can sometimes cause. Highlights from our talk: How YOU can do recycling right: ** You can find more suggestions in the show notes on the episode's webpage! As per Ryan, "When in doubt, throw it out." Each municipality is different and some take more items and, some, less. A quick online search will find their number for you to call and get clarification from them. *https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2017/07/plastic-produced-recycling-waste-ocean-trash-debris-environment/ ** https://recyclingpartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2020/02/2020-State-of-Curbside-Recycling.pdf Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility. Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that! What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Whoohoo! Sixty episodes in! This seems like a good time to take a step back and introduce to new listeners some of Forces for Nature's older episodes. So, the season break to follow won't be a break, per se, because you'll keep seeing episodes be published. But, they will be some favorites from Seasons 1 and 2, many with bonus updates from the guests! If you have a favorite that you loved and would like to hear their "where are they now" update, let me know! I had two asks in this episode. Here they are again: 1) Check out my other show, The Healthy Seas Podcast, right here on this podcasting app that you're using. And, if it's of interest to you, please subscribe and rate it! 2) Let me know what subjects or who you would like to hear from for Season 4. You can send me a DM on social media or an email to crystal@forcesfornature.com. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/becoming.forces.for.nature/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/becomingforcesfornature/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystal-dimiceli-4705218/ Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility. Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that! What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Have you had wild animal photo opportunities while on vacation? Have you "liked" cute exotic animal videos on social? Are you dying for an opportunity to hold a baby monkey? If so, you may unintentionally be fueling a dark industry and promoting animal abuse. Devan Schowe is the campaigns director for Born Free USA, an organization that works to ensure that all wild animals, whether living in captivity or in the wild, are treated with compassion and respect and are able to live their lives according to their needs. Devon works to increase public awareness of pertinent wildlife conservation issues and works to change legislation regarding practices that harm wild animals kept in captivity for exploitative purposes. If you want to know how to avoid supporting these dangerous practices unknowingly, this episode is for you! Highlights What YOU Can Do Resources Born Free USA websiteAdopt a Monkey programTheir Lives for Your Likes ReportInstagram Tik Tok Facebook Twitter YouTubeLinkedIn Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility. Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that! What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Driven to near extinction in the eastern United States, the Florida panther was able to escape complete persecution by disappearing into the untamed wilderness of the Everglades. However, for its long-term survival, they need more than just a small pocket of land at the bottom of the State. Carlton Ward Jr., a National Geographic Explorer, and photographer, has spent almost two decades advocating for the conservation of the vital acres of land and water that this, and so many other species, need to survive- including humans. With over 1000 people moving to the State per day, development is quickly closing in on the remaining natural lands, threatening the animals, and even the ranchers, who have called the area home for generations. Highlights What YOU Can Do through the websiteWatchbookPantherCrossing.orgResources Instagram Facebook Twitter https://carltonward.com/Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility. Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that! What difference for the world are you going to make today?

If you're tired of only hearing about environmental destruction and that we're around the corner from doomsday, you're going to want to listen to this episode! Grant Brown is the founder of the website and newsletter, Happy Eco News. He's not naïve to the pressures that the world is facing - we talk about what he has seen with his own two eyes - but he has also seen, and gotten to know, people who are doing something about them. He's created this platform to share their stories and inspire others to also be the change that they wish to see in the world. And it seems to be working. Highlights What YOU Can Do Resources Happy Eco News Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility. Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that! What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Nothing could be cuter than baby animals. But, their adorableness can easily distract you from the lifelong responsibility that their care requires. Unfortunately, this reality check can result in animals- especially those that we associate with their wild cousins like ducks and bunnies- being dumped out into the wild after they are grown and their care becomes too much. Except, these animals don't have the instincts to survive outdoors. This "wild" is often your local neighborhood park and Mary Beth Purdy Artz knows this all too well. She's an animal rescuer and rehabilitator in Brooklyn, NY, and has saved hundreds of abandoned and injured animals through the years. If you've ever wondered about getting an unusual pet or how you could help an animal you've seen outside, this episode is for you. Highlights What YOU Can Do Resources Link to all places to see the movie, Honk They All Want to LiveWant a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility. Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that! What difference for the world are you going to make today?