Jumpstart Nature

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 crops), with a special deep dive into one species that profoundly benefits - the charismatic Acorn Woodpecker. 
Along with our special guests, Dr. Walter Koenig (both a masting and Acorn Woodpecker researcher), and Dr. Doug Tallamy (author of The Nature of Oaks), we guide you through the interesting tale of acorn masting, and oaks in general.
This episode is part of a playful exercise in community podcasting, with 6 different shows each producing their own stories about or inspired by the mystery of masting, and releasing them at (approximately) the same time. 
For other masting stories, check out:
Future Ecologies
Golden State Naturalist
Learning from Nature: The Biomimicry Podcast
Nature's Archive
Outside/In
We’ll populate this Spotify playlist with all our stories as they come out!
Beyond a podcast, Jumpstart Nature is a movement fueled by volunteers, igniting a fresh approach to reconnecting people with the natural world. In the face of our pressing climate and biodiversity challenges, we're on a mission to help you discover newfound purpose and motivation.
Join us in this vital journey towards nature's revival. Explore more and show your support at jumpstartnature.com, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, BlueSky and YouTube. 

FULL SHOW NOTES

Links to Topics Discussed and Supporting Resources 
Calscape - find hyper-local native plants in California 
NWF Native Plant Finder
Homegrown National Park and their Map
The Nature of Oaks
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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 for us all to dig in our heels, even if we're wrong, and shut down new ideas. Today, we're exploring a different path.
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Griff: I was very radical and  had really bad ecological depression because was from the Bay Area and watched all my favorite places get destroyed.

So I was, you know, really felt like the only thing left to do was to fight. And that's where I was at at 18, 19, 20. Pretty much all the way until 23, I was in a very radical mind state. Mostly angry and depressed.
--

That's Griff Griffith, someone many of you know as a passionate environmental communicator and a key collaborator with Jumpstart Nature. Like many, Griff once felt that fighting and lecturing were the only ways to defend the places he loved. But a surprising encounter on a work site with a farmer named Pops changed everything. Griff realized that truly saving biodiversity needed a different approach.

Today, Griff shares his remarkable personal transformation, revealing the power of nuance in communication and how embracing a different approach can yield incredible results for nature. It's a candid and thought-provoking conversation we can all learn from. We also dive into how even dandelions can have a surprising place in conservation—another vivid example of how our perspectives can evolve.

Because this conversation embodies the spirit of both our shows, I'm excited to release it on both the Nature's Archive and Jumpstart Nature feeds! If you're listening on Nature's Archive, know that Jumpstart Nature usually takes you on an immersive journey into thought-provoking topics that help you save biodiversity. 

And if you're on the Jumpstart Nature feed, Nature's Archive brings you deep-dive interviews with top minds in ecology, biodiversity, and nature more broadly. Get ready, because this summer we're gearing up for many new episodes across both feeds! Our new team of volunteers is hard at work, and we already have several amazing interviews recorded that I can't wait to share with you. 

For now, let’s lean in for Griff's truly inspirational story of personal transformation.
FULL SHOW NOTES
Links
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Bringing Nature Home – by Doug Tallamy
Homegrown National Park
Nature’s Best Hope – by Doug Tallamy, Dr. Tallamy’s 2020 release
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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, outdoor cats face harsh, short lives filled with disease, injury, and danger. So how do we balance our love for cats with our responsibility to protect biodiversity?
Join host Griff Griffith as we explore the complex reality of outdoor cats with veterinarian Dr. Mike Armer, TNR (Trap-Neuter-Release) advocate Allison Fluty, and biologist Sophie Osborn. They’ll tackle tough questions, debunk myths, and reveal how cat lovers and wildlife advocates can find common ground. Whether you adore cats, cherish wildlife, or both, this episode will challenge your perspective—and offer real solutions.

FULL SHOW NOTES with extra resources, including impacts of outdoor cats, ways to enrich your indoor cat's life, and studies on TNR efficacy.

Also check out our full interview with Sophie Osborn to hear more about her efforts to reintroduce endangered birds, and how cats are hindering efforts.
Additional Credits
Filmmusic.io Compositions - License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Cinematic Suspense Series Episode 009 by Sascha Ende
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/en/song/8224-cinematic-suspense-series-episode-009
Imagefilm 018 by Sascha Ende
https://filmmusic.io/en/song/315-imagefilm-018 
Lockdown by Sascha Ende
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/en/song/7658-lockdown
Miles Ewell Compositions:
Principal Dean - Clic [C670 Records]
Principal Dean - ANX
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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 habitats, these species reproduce rapidly, disrupting ecosystems, threatening biodiversity, and even endangering our food, health, and recreation.
Invasive species are wreaking havoc in every corner of the world, often with our unwitting help. But with knowledge, care, and action, we can turn the tide.
Griff Griffith guides you on a journey explaining how invasive species pose a threat, how they got here, and what you can do. Griff is joined by Dr. Sara Kuebbing (from the Yale School of the Environment), Emelie Swackhamer (Penn State University Extension), and Carl Klarner (Redwood Invasive Plant Eradicators). 
Thanks to Associate Producer Kat Hill and Sound Designer Miles Ewell for their assistance in production of this episode.
FULL SHOW NOTES

LINKS and Additional Information for Topics Discussed
Foreign Seed Scam - did you know there is a scam where people send foreign seeds? Sounds crazy, but it happens. Learn what to do here.
How to Build a Spotted Lanternfly Circle Trap
iNaturalist - you can use iNaturalist to identify plants, fungi, insects, and more, with the help of machine learning and a dedicated community of experts. iNaturalist also flags many invasive species, so take a backyard safari and see what you can find and remove from your yard!
RIPE - Redwood Invasive Plant Eradicators - is Carl Klarner's organization in Northern California. They remove English Ivy from private properties. They have a new instagram account, too.
USDA Invasive Species Database, and their maps serve as a good starting point

Related Podcast Episodes
Jumpstart Nature The Yard of the Future

Additional Credits
The following music was used for this media project:
Music: The Question Is (Quizpackage) by Sascha Ende
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/en/song/228-the-question-is-quizpackage
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Silent Movie 19 by Sascha Ende
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/en/song/12433-silent-movie-19
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Cinematic Suspense Series Episode 008 by Sascha Ende
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/en/song/7669-cinematic-suspense-series-episode-008
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Bahnstreik by Sascha Ende
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/en/song/404-bahnstreik
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Additional Music: Cleanse by Principal Dean
Sound Effects from Soundly: getsoundly.com 
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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 conservation through unexpected alliances, resilience, and the invaluable ecosystem services it provides. From critical wildlife connectivity to indigenous cultural significance, discover how perseverance and community action can protect cherished landscapes. 
Join host Griff Griffith and our guests, Andrea Mackenzie, Amah Mutsun Chairman Valentin Lopez, Megan Fluke, Nick Perry, and Dr. Stuart Weiss as they provide unique and inspiring perspectives as they explore how to protect and steward unique lands like Coyote Valley, whether near Silicon Valley or your own backyard.

Beyond a podcast, Jumpstart Nature is a movement fueled by volunteers, igniting a fresh approach to reconnecting people with the natural world. In the face of our pressing climate and biodiversity challenges, we're on a mission to help you discover newfound purpose and motivation.
Join us in this vital journey towards nature's revival. Explore more and show your support at jumpstartnature.com, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.
For even deeper nature insights, delve into our companion podcast, Nature's Archive.
Sign up for our short, bi-weekly (and solutionary!) newsletter called It's All Connected! Get recommendations for books, podcasts, articles, and more, as well as analysis and learn what YOU can do to help nature.
FULL SHOW NOTES with Photos

LINKS
Amah Mutsun Land Trust
Amah Mutsun Tribal Band
Cars, Cows, Checkerspot Butterflies - Dr. Stuart Weiss's paper
Creekside Science
Green Foothills
Obi Kaufmann
P-22, The Mountain Lion of Hollywood
Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority
Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing

Podcasts Referenced
The Age of Connectivity - Jumpstart Nature Episode 3
Full Interview with Dr. Stuart Weiss on Cars, Cows, and Checkerspots
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