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Why Conservation Needs a Human Touch: Lessons from Elephant Welfare
Read more…: Why Conservation Needs a Human Touch: Lessons from Elephant WelfareIn this episode, host Kevin Matteson talks with Dr. Michelle Szydlowski to explore the complex, often misunderstood world of elephant conservation in Nepal. They discuss “anthrozoology” and why saving animals isn’t just about biology—it’s about understanding the multiple species we share this world with. 3 Key Takeaways The Hidden Gem Near the end, Michelle discusses…
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Bridging Art and Conservation: From Digital Design to Diverse Disclosures
Read more…: Bridging Art and Conservation: From Digital Design to Diverse DisclosuresHow can a background in fashion and computer science lead to a career as a leading conservation illustrator? In this episode, Kevin Matteson sits down with Katy Tanis, an alumna of the Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP) and the creative force behind the Love in the Wild children’s book series. Katy shares her journey of “sneaking”…
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Breaking the Spiral of Silence: How to Talk Climate Without the Doom and Gloom
Read more…: Breaking the Spiral of Silence: How to Talk Climate Without the Doom and GloomWe’ve all been there: you want to talk about the environment, but the conversation feels like a one-way ticket to a “Sarah McLachlan commercial” level of sadness. You worry about being too political, too nerdy, or just plain depressing. In this episode, Kevin Matteson sits down with Kait Birghenthal, President and Project Coordinator for NNOCCI…
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Keeping the Five Alive: “Pragmatic Hope” for Rhinos
Read more…: Keeping the Five Alive: “Pragmatic Hope” for RhinosWhen you think of a rhino, do you see a prehistoric tank or a secretive, singing forest dweller? According to Martha Parker, Director of Grants & Partnership Development with the International Rhino Foundation (IRF), the answer is both—and they need our help now more than ever. In this episode, host Kevin Matteson catches up with…
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Beyond “Doom and Gloom”: Why Hope is the New Conservation Currency
Read more…: Beyond “Doom and Gloom”: Why Hope is the New Conservation CurrencyWe’ve all been there: reading a statistic so bleak—like the fact that fewer than 100 Sumatran rhinos remain on Earth—that our first instinct is to look away. For decades, the “knowledge deficit” model assumed that if we just gave people enough cold, hard facts, they would be shocked into action. But as Dr. Kathayoon Khalil,…
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How to Build a Neuro-Affirming Ecosystem: Beyond “Sensory Friendly”
Read more…: How to Build a Neuro-Affirming Ecosystem: Beyond “Sensory Friendly”When we talk about inclusion in public spaces like zoos, aquariums, or classrooms, we often look for a checklist. We want the “formula”—the specific certification or the designated “quiet hour” that solves the problem. But according to Grayson Ponti, founder of ZANE (Zoos and Aquariums for a Neurodiverse Ecosystem), true inclusion isn’t about a stamp…
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How to Turn Your Science Class into a “Choose Your Own Adventure”
Read more…: How to Turn Your Science Class into a “Choose Your Own Adventure”Imagine a high school science classroom where the teacher refuses to hand out a rubric. Where students roll a 20-sided die (D20) to see if they can get five extra minutes on a quiz. Where the curriculum isn’t a rigid checklist, but a quest driven by the students’ own curiosity. In this episode of Dragonfly…
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How to Redefine “Wilderness”: From the Bronx to Mongolia with Dave Johnston
Read more…: How to Redefine “Wilderness”: From the Bronx to Mongolia with Dave JohnstonImagine driving a van across a landscape so vast it’s called the “Land of the Big Sky.” You have no GPS coordinates and no specific destination. You simply drive until you spot a white felt tent—a ger—on the horizon. You pull up, knock on the door, and ask a complete stranger, “Can we come in?”…
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Life Outside the Comfort Zone: Lessons from the Vermilion Sea
Read more…: Life Outside the Comfort Zone: Lessons from the Vermilion SeaMeghann McDonald is more than just the Executive Director of the Vermilion Sea Institute (VSI) in Baja California; for those who have seen her in her element in Baja, California, she is a mermaid who seems more comfortable underwater than on land. As a long-time partner for Project Dragonfly’s Earth Expeditions, Meghann has mastered the…