Send us a text In this episode, Scott sits down with Steve Mietz, President & CEO of Save the Redwoods League, for an extraordinary conversation about Redwoods, Sequoias, wildfire, tribal stewardship, and the future of America’s greatest forests. Steve traces his journey from Eagle Scout in New Jersey to environmental economist at Cornell, to a lifelong career across the National Park Service — including Grand Canyon, Great Basin, Point Reyes, Pearl Harbor, and Redwood National & Stat...

Send us a text From the Inside Passage of Alaska to the gray-whale nurseries of Baja and the volcanic shores of the Galápagos, expedition leader Taylor Butz has lived a life most nature lovers only dream about. In this episode of Naturally Scott, Taylor joins Scott from Neah Bay after a morning surf session—Starlink on the beach and gray whales cruising just offshore. Together they dive into: • Growing up on Washington’s Vashon Island 🌲 • His early years as a cabin steward & d...

Send us a text For more than three decades, Dr. Jerry Lorenz has been a voice for the Everglades — a scientist, teacher, and lifelong birder who helped lead Florida Audubon’s fight to restore one of the world’s most endangered ecosystems. In this conversation with Scott Harris, Jerry takes us deep into the story of the Everglades, its estuaries, and the pink-winged residents that symbolize both fragility and resilience — the flamingos. From his front yard in Islamorada to the farthest reaches...

Send us a text Sophie Osborn never expected to spend her life saving birds. With degrees in French literature and international relations, she seemed destined for diplomacy — not a tent in grizzly country, hand-raising peregrine falcons on the edge of extinction. In this powerful and moving conversation with Scott Harris, Sophie shares her extraordinary path from the University of Pennsylvania to the wilds of Wyoming, Kenya, Hawaii, and the Grand Canyon — all chronicled in her acclaimed ...

Send us a text Susie Spikol is an author, naturalist, and lifelong believer in wonder — a woman who bridges the world of science and story with grace and joy. In this charming and heartfelt conversation with Scott Harris, Susie explores how imagination and curiosity can reconnect us — and our children — to the natural world. From her beloved books The Book of Fairies and Forest Magic for Kids to her decades of work at the Harris Center for Conservation Education, Susie reminds us that nature’...

Send us a text Cherryl Connally is a lifelong naturalist, birder, and educator who has spent decades helping people slow down, look closer, and rediscover wonder in the ordinary. In this thoughtful and heartfelt conversation with Scott Harris, Cherryl shares stories from her life in nature — from childhood birding adventures to her work connecting communities with the outdoors. 🕊️ Highlights include: 🌿 Finding stillness and balance through birdwatching 📚 How curiosity can transform the way ...

Send us a text Doug Peacock has lived a life few could imagine — from serving as a Green Beret medic in Vietnam, to spending decades alone among grizzlies in the wilds of Yellowstone, Glacier, and beyond. A lifelong author, filmmaker, and conservationist, Doug’s story is one of survival, humility, and fierce love for the wilderness. In this intimate and powerful conversation with Scott Harris, he shares how encounters with grizzly bears helped him heal from the trauma of war and shaped a life...

Send us a text Some people see the natural world. Others listen to it. Al Batt — writer, speaker, humorist, and lifelong Minnesotan — has spent decades doing both. In this heartfelt and hilarious conversation with Scott Harris, Al shares the gentle wisdom and wild humor that have made his newspaper columns and radio shows beloved across the Midwest. 🪶 Highlights include: 🐿️ Outsmarted by squirrels — and proud of it 📚 From farm life to storytelling and 4,000 columns later 💚 The gift of laug...

Send us a text What happens when a philosopher and musician listens to the world — and then plays back? David Rothenberg is a clarinetist, composer, and philosopher at the New Jersey Institute of Technology whose groundbreaking work explores the deep connections between music, sound, and the natural world. He’s performed live with birds, whales, and insects, written classic books like Why Birds Sing and Thousand Mile Song, and appeared in the film The Loneliest Whale. In this fascinating conv...

Send us a text Few people have done more to protect the birds of the Americas than Mike Parr, President of the American Bird Conservancy. In this conversation, Mike joins Scott Harris to explore the breathtaking landscapes of the Tropical Andes, the vital link between birding and conservation, and how ecotourism can transform local economies while protecting critical habitats. From ground-cuckoo quests to stories of Fair Isle adventures, Mike’s journey is equal parts inspiration and education...

Send us a text Few artists see the world like Matt Patterson. A lifelong wildlife illustrator and painter, Matt brings to life the hidden world of turtles, reptiles, and amphibians—creatures too often overlooked but central to the ecosystems around us. In this episode, Scott Harris talks with Matt about his lifelong love of nature, his creative process, and his collaboration with New York Times bestselling author Sy Montgomery on their beloved Book of Turtles and The True and Lucky Life of a ...

Send us a text Few people have shaped modern ornithology like Dr. John Fitzpatrick, the longtime Director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and one of the visionaries behind eBird and Merlin. In this conversation, Scott Harris sits down with Fitz to explore the global transformation of birding—from field notebooks and film cameras to the data-driven citizen-science revolution that connects millions of observers worldwide. From his early research on tropical flycatchers to decades of conservat...

Send us a text Peter Kaestner has lived one of the most extraordinary birding lives on Earth. From his early adventures as a teenager in India to his years in the Peace Corps, Peter went on to serve as a U.S. diplomat across the globe—while quietly becoming the first person in history to see 10,000 bird species. In this conversation, he joins Scott Harris to share stories from jungles and mountaintops, the discovery of the bird that bears his name, and the lifelong wonder that keeps him chasi...

Send us a text n this continuation of Scott Harris’ conversation with bestselling author and naturalist Scott Weidensaul, we dive deeper into the breathtaking world of bird migration — the science, the mystery, and the fragile magic that connects continents through flight. From radar tracking and satellite tags to the sheer endurance of warblers, godwits, and Arctic terns, this discussion explores how birds navigate an ever-changing world and what that means for the future of conservation. If...

Send us a text Scott Weidensaul joins Naturally Scott to dive deep into the astonishing world of bird migration — from tiny warblers crossing oceans to owls riding the jet stream and the science that’s still unfolding. Scott is a Pulitzer Prize finalist, field researcher, and author of A World on the Wing and Living on the Wind, two of the most influential books ever written on migration and the global web that connects us all. In this conversation, Scott Harris and Scott Weidensaul explore t...

Send us a text In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott Harris sits down with Hob Osterlund — writer, nurse, and founder of the Kauaʻi Albatross Network. Hob shares her lifelong connection with the Laysan albatross, the extraordinary birds who nest on Kauaʻi, and what these seabirds can teach us about resilience, community, and hope. We explore: The beauty and mystery of the albatross and their lifelong bondsHob’s personal journey from nursing to conservationThe challenges of protecting seab...

Send us a text In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott Harris is joined by acclaimed writer, artist, and naturalist Julie Zickefoose. Julie has spent a lifetime capturing the beauty of birds and wildlife through both her art and her stories, and she brings that same passion and curiosity to this conversation. Together, Scott and Julie explore: The intersection of art and conservationMemorable encounters with birds that shaped her work and worldviewThe power of storytelling in nature writing...

Send us a text Bracken Cave Preserve outside San Antonio is home to 15–20 million Mexican free-tailed bats, the largest bat colony on Earth and the densest concentration of mammals in the world. Fran Hutchins of Bat Conservation International joins Scott Harris to share the astonishing story of Bracken Cave — from batnados spiraling into the sky, to flesh-eating beetles deep inside the guano-filled cavern, to how these bats save farmers millions of dollars each year in natural pest control. W...

Send us a text In this episode of Naturally Scott, host Scott Harris welcomes Christian Cooper—birder, writer, Emmy Award–winning TV host, and New York Times bestselling author. Chris shares the thrill of finally spotting his long-sought great gray owl in Wyoming, the joy of spring migration in Central Park, and the myth he wrote to explain the fiery beauty of the Blackburnian warbler. He recalls the red-winged blackbird that first sparked his love of birding, childhood road trips across Amer...

In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott Harris talks with birder, cyclist, and author Dorian Anderson about his extraordinary journey from addiction to recovery, and from molecular biology to a life centered on birding. Dorian shares how he rediscovered his passion for birds after getting sober, culminating in a self-powered “Big Year” where he biked across America without using gas or diesel. His story—chronicled in his book Birding Under the Influence—highlights how birding became a healt...