Jumpstart Nature
Prepare to challenge assumptions and uncover the hidden wonders of nature and climate.
Through expert insights, compelling stories, and engaging commentary, Jumpstart Nature takes you on a journey with your host, Griff Griffith, to explore the surprising truths behind the headlines and rethink what you thought you knew about our planet.
With immersive storytelling and thought-provoking discussions, this podcast will leave you inspired to see the world differently—and motivated to make a difference.
Episodes
16 episodes
#11 - Critical Mast: The Hidden Cycle of Oak Abundance
Have you ever noticed that oak trees sometimes have bumper crops of acorns, and sometimes hardly produce a thing? What causes this? And why?Join host Griff Griffith and producer Michael Hawk on an exploration of acorn masting (bumper cro...
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21:46
Angry Activist, Rural Landowner: Finding Common Ground for Nature
Have you ever found it tough to talk about big issues, especially when people already have strong ideas? In the world of nature and climate, we often see communication that feels more like telling people what to do, or how to think. It's easy f...
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48:32
#10 - Can We Save Cats and Wildlife? The Outdoor Cat Dilemma.
Cats are independent, lovable, and endlessly entertaining—but with nearly 100 million outdoor cats in the USA alone, they become one of the most devastating forces against wildlife, killing billions of animals each year. At the same time, outdo...
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33:58
#9: Invaders in Your Yard: The Hidden Dangers of Invasive Species
There’s an invasion happening right under our noses—one that’s likely reached your own backyard. You may have even unknowingly played a part in it.This is the spread of invasive plants, animals, and fungi. Once removed from their native ...
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31:54
#8 - Saving A Valley: How Coyote Valley Inspires Conservation
On a 1983 morning, Steve Jobs scouted Coyote Valley for Apple's new headquarters. Despite his plans, Coyote Valley remains one of the most important undeveloped landscapes near Silicon Valley. This episode tells the story of its con...
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32:08
Jumpstart Bonus: Top 10 Favorite Species with Griff Griffith, Michelle Fullner, and Michael Hawk
What do parasitic plants, 600 year old oak trees, salmon, and hoverflies have in common? Well, they are some of Griff's, Michelle Fullner’s and my favorite wild organisms!Today’s episode is a fun conversation with Michelle Fullner, Grif...
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1:09:31
#7: Don't Be a Birdnapper! (Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Help Wildlife)
Many well meaning people, seeking to help wildlife, mistakenly become a birdnapper. Or a turtlenapper. Or even a bunnynapper.And it's all too easy to mistakenly harm an animal that you might think is distressed or in trouble.
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32:01
#6: Cicadas: Unexpected Ambassadors of Biodiversity
Periodical cicadas are amazing animals - they spend nearly 13 or 17 years underground, and all decide, together, to come out and party in your trees at the same time.They are loud, and perhaps you think they are annoying. But they are o...
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30:12
#5: Every Observation a Discovery: How iNaturalist Changes Lives and Changes Science
Have you ever seen a bird or a tree, and wondered what it is? Why did that bird show up here? How come I've never seen that tree anywhere else?Just a few years ago, you'd need to consult an expert or spend loads of time reviewi...
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20:23
Jumpstart Bonus: Dr. Doug Tallamy - The Nature of Oaks
Jumpstart Nature's next season is making great progress, but it's still a few weeks away. So we decided to share one of our top episodes from our sister podcast, Nature's Archive. It's with Dr. Doug Tallamy, the world renowned author, entomolog...
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1:08:02
The Confluence of Hope and Action (Bonus Episode)
Please Join the Jumpstart Nature Patreon to support creation of future episodes Our pilot season is over, but Griff Griffith
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36:44
#4: We Live in a 10% World: : The Shocking Decline We’ve Normalized
What is "normal" or even "natural" in nature? In a world where everything is constantly changing, the human desire to define things as "normal" has broad implications on how we see the world, and how we choose to conserve it (or not conserve it...
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27:28
#3: The Age of Connectivity: How Wildlife Crossings Help Animals and People
Human society is more connected than ever. Between mobile phones and internet applications, we can connect with each other instantaneously, around the globe. And more traditionally, the United States alone is home to nearly 4 million mi...
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32:24
#2: Plant Your Birdfeeder: The Surprising Downsides of Feeding Birds
Feeding birds is a cherished nature pastime in the United States, the UK, and Canada. It brings the wonders of the wild right to our backyards, allowing us to marvel at the beauty and behaviors of our feathered friends up close. Plus, there's t...
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19:39
#1: The Yard of the Future: How Native Plants Save Biodiversity
Without noticing, homeowners across the country have destroyed habitat covering an area the size of New England or Florida. As bad as that sounds, it actually gets worse. But we can easily fix this problem - and it actually saves you ti...
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28:12