Northern Latitudes

Bill Ault
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Northern Latitudes is a podcast about what happens when we slow down long enough to really pay attention to the landscapes we live in, move through, and depend on. Hosted by Bill Ault, the show explores the intersection of nature, science, culture, and from across Canada and beyond. Conversations range from ecology and conservation to health, history, outdoor adventure, and the quieter human stories that connect us. At its core, Northern Latitudes is curious and grounded. It’s about thoughtful conversations with people who spend their lives asking good questions — scientists, authors, researchers, photographers, filmmakers, and advocates who help us see familiar places in new ways. Episodes often return to a few recurring themes: Our relationship with the natural worldHow science and lived experience inform each otherWhat it means to live well Why place still matters in an increasingly digital worldWhether recorded in a studio or shaped by time spent outdoors, Northern Latitudes aims to leave space for reflection — and to remind listeners that the stories tied to land, climate, and community are never abstract. They’re personal. The podcast also features re-broadcasts of past conversations that remain especially relevant, giving listeners a chance to revisit ideas that hold up over time. Northern Latitudes is for anyone who feels at home outside, values curiosity over certainty, and believes that paying attention is a form of care.

  1. Northern Latitudes - Alison Criscitiello: What the Ice Remembers

    4D AGO

    Northern Latitudes - Alison Criscitiello: What the Ice Remembers

    What the Ice Remembers Preserving Climate History with Alison Criscitiello Ice is one of the planet’s most faithful historians. Layer by layer, it records volcanic eruptions, atmospheric chemistry, temperature shifts, and traces of human activity stretching back tens of thousands of years. In this episode of Northern Latitudes, Bill Ault speaks with Alison Criscitiello, Director of the Canadian Ice Core Lab at the University of Alberta, about what ice cores reveal. Beyond the science, this conversation explores the human side of polar research. Alison reflects on building a career in remote, high-latitude field science as a queer woman in a discipline that has not always been welcoming, and why visibility and inclusion matter for the future of climate science. In This Episode What ice cores are and how scientists extract themHow ice preserves a detailed record of Earth’s atmosphereWhy the Arctic and high latitudes are warming faster than the rest of the planet Key Takeaways Ice cores are not projections; they are direct physical recordsClimate change is already visible in the planet’s deepest archivesWho does science—and who is supported to lead—shapes what we learnAbout the Guest Alison Criscitiello is the Director of the Canadian Ice Core Lab at the University of Alberta. Her work focuses on ice core science, climate reconstruction, and the preservation of irreplaceable polar climate records. Further Reading & Links Canadian Ice Core Lab – University of Albertahttps://www.ualberta.ca/en/science/research-and-teaching/research/ice-core-archive/index.html

    42 min
  2. Northern Latitudes - Florence Williams: The Healing Power of Nature

    JAN 26

    Northern Latitudes - Florence Williams: The Healing Power of Nature

    Episode Re-Broadcast: Florence Williams The Healing Power of Nature In this re-broadcast episode of Northern Latitudes, we revisit a thoughtful and timely conversation with Florence Williams, journalist and author known for exploring the deep connections between human health and the natural world. Florence’s work sits at the intersection of science, psychology, and lived experience. In this conversation, we talk about how time spent outdoors influences our mental health, creativity, and resilience — and what the growing body of research tells us about why nature matters so much, especially in an increasingly indoor and screen-driven world. This episode is both grounding and practical, offering insight into how even small, everyday encounters with nature can have meaningful impacts on our well-being. Whether you’re hearing it for the first time or coming back to it with fresh ears, this is a conversation that rewards a second listen. In this episode, we discuss: How nature affects stress, attention, and mental healthThe science behind “nature therapy” and time outdoorsWhy modern life pulls us away from natural spaces — and what that costs usSimple ways to reconnect with nature in daily lifeWhy these ideas feel even more relevant todayAbout the guest Florence Williams is an award-winning journalist and author whose work explores health, science, and the environment. She is widely known for her writing on how natural spaces shape human well-being, blending research with storytelling to make complex science accessible and relatable. Listen again This episode originally aired as part of the Northern Latitudes podcast and remains one of our most resonant conversations about health, landscape, and the human need for connection to the natural world.

    22 min
  3. Northern Latitudes - Dr. Sylvia Pineda-Munoz

    JAN 13

    Northern Latitudes - Dr. Sylvia Pineda-Munoz

    Northern Latitudes Podcast Dr. Sylvia Pineda-Munoz | What Earth’s Deep Past Teaches Us About Our Climate Future What can the deep past tell us about the moment we’re living in now? In this episode of Northern Latitudes, host Bill Ault sits down with Dr. Sylvia Pineda-Munoz — a paleontologist, ecologist, and founder of Climate Ages — to explore how ancient climates, fossil records, and long-term ecological patterns can help us better understand today’s climate and biodiversity challenges. Sylvia’s work bridges science and storytelling. By looking millions of years into Earth’s history, she helps translate complex research into insights that feel both grounded and relevant. Rather than focusing on prediction or panic, her approach emphasizes perspective — what past moments of rapid change reveal about resilience, limits, and adaptation. Together, Bill and Sylvia discuss how species have responded to environmental upheaval, what the fossil record can tell us about the future, and why storytelling plays such an important role in helping people connect with climate science. It’s a conversation about slowing down, zooming out, and learning to read the long patterns written into the landscape around us. This episode isn’t about easy answers. It’s about context — and what becomes possible when we take the long view. In This Episode Why Earth’s deep history still matters todayWhat fossil records reveal about resilience and collapseHow past climate shifts compare to modern changeTranslating complex science through storytelling🌍 About the Guest Dr. Sylvia Pineda-Munoz is a paleontologist and ecologist whose research focuses on how species respond to environmental change over long timescales. She is the founder of Climate Ages, a platform dedicated to connecting Earth’s deep past with today’s climate and biodiversity conversations through accessible storytelling and science communication. 🔗 Learn More Climate Ages: https://climateages.comSylvia Pineda-Munoz on Google ScholarSylvia’s writing on Medium🎧 Listen & Subscribe You can find this episode — and all episodes of Northern Latitudes — at northernlatitudes.ca, or wherever you get your podcasts. If this conversation resonated with you, consider sharing it with someone who enjoys thoughtful discussions about place, time, and the natural world.

    42 min
  4. Northern Latitudes - Nature as Nuture Just in Time for the Holidays

    2025-12-15

    Northern Latitudes - Nature as Nuture Just in Time for the Holidays

    Northern Latitudes (Archive) Nature as Nurture — Dr. Melissa Lem The holiday season can be a time of connection and celebration—but it can also bring stress, exhaustion, and a sense of overload. In this archival episode of Northern Latitudes, host Bill Ault revisits a thoughtful conversation with Dr. Melissa Lem, family physician and a leading Canadian advocate for nature-based health. Drawing on the concept of Nature as Nurture, Dr. Lem explains how spending time outdoors—especially during the darker, colder months—can support mental well-being, reduce stress, and help regulate our nervous systems. This episode explores why nature isn’t just a backdrop to our lives, but an essential form of care—particularly during the holiday season, when expectations run high and personal time feels scarce. From short walks to mindful moments outside, Dr. Lem offers practical, accessible ways to reconnect with the natural world, even when schedules are full. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or simply in need of a pause, this conversation offers perspective, reassurance, and permission to slow down. Guest: Dr. Melissa Lem Theme: Nature, mental health, holiday stress, well-being Series: Northern Latitudes — Archival Episode

    32 min
  5. Northern Latitudes - Trina Moyles: Black Bear

    2025-12-01

    Northern Latitudes - Trina Moyles: Black Bear

    Trina Moyles: Black Bear In Episode 45 of Northern Latitudes, host Bill Ault sits down with award-winning author and journalist Trina Moyles to explore her deeply moving new book Black Bear — a powerful blend of memoir, ecology, and family history rooted in the rugged landscapes of northern Alberta. Moyles, known for her wildfire memoir Lookout, turns her lens inward in this new work, tracing the story of her brother’s struggle with mental health and addiction, her family’s resilience, and the quiet, watchful presence of black bears that shaped her life. In this intimate conversation, she reflects on grief, survival, and the complicated ways people and landscapes carry one another through crisis. In This Episode The origins of Black Bear and why this was the hardest book Trina has ever writtenHow the rhythms and behaviours of black bears became metaphors for family, healing, and enduranceA sister’s perspective on love, loss, and the long shadows of addictionWhat writing about deeply personal subjects can teach us about empathy, courage, and connectionHow Trina’s journalism, fieldwork, and years as a fire tower lookout continue to influence her storytellingAbout Trina Moyles Trina Moyles is a writer, journalist, photographer, and environmental advocate from Peace River, Alberta. Her previous book, Lookout, was a national bestseller and won acclaim for its clear-eyed portrayal of wildfire seasons and life alone in a remote fire tower. Her essays and reporting have appeared in The Walrus, The Globe and Mail, Passage, Hakai Magazine, and more. Learn more: https://www.trinamoyles.com Selected recent articles: “How We Remember the North” — The Walrus“The Last Lookouts” — Hakai Magazine“On Grief, Wildfire, and Bearing Witness” — Passage MagazineEpisode Link Listen to all Northern Latitudes episodes: https://rss.com/podcasts/northernlatitudes/ Support the Show If you enjoy Northern Latitudes, please consider: Leaving a rating or review on your podcast platformSharing the episode with a friendFollowing us on social media

    38 min
  6. Northern Latitudes - Bob McDonald: Just Say Yes

    2025-11-17

    Northern Latitudes - Bob McDonald: Just Say Yes

    Episode Description What happens when a life is defined by curiosity — and the willingness to just say yes? In this episode of Northern Latitudes, host Bill Ault sits down with one of Canada’s most beloved science voices to talk about his new memoir, Just Say Yes. It’s a story of wonder, risk, and transformation — from humble beginnings to becoming a household name in science communication. Our guest’s journey reminds us that saying yes — even when the outcome is uncertain — can change everything. Guest Bio Bob McDonald is the longtime host of CBC Radio’s award-winning science program Quirks & Quarks and a leading science journalist whose enthusiasm for discovery has inspired generations of Canadians. Across his five-decade career, Bob has interviewed thousands of scientists, astronauts, and innovators, always driven by curiosity and a deep belief in the power of understanding our world. His memoir, Just Say Yes: A Memoir, offers an intimate look at the personal journey behind the public voice — filled with stories of risk, humility, and the adventures that shaped a remarkable career. Key Discussion Points The meaning behind the phrase Just Say Yes and how it shaped Bob’s lifeGrowing up in a blue-collar family and finding a path to science and broadcastingOvercoming self-doubt and the “imposter moments” behind the microphoneThe role of curiosity and courage in science communicationLessons learned from decades of helping Canadians fall in love with scienceHow to embrace opportunity — and what it means to say “yes” todayLinks & Resources Just Say Yes: A Memoir — Douglas & McIntyreListen to Quirks & Quarks — CBC Radio / Podcast linkFollow Bob McDonald — Official CBC profileNorthern Latitudes — northernlatitudes.caProduced and hosted by Bill Ault Recorded in partnership with Northern Latitudes Media Theme music by John Sanfilippo - Soundwise

    26 min
  7. Northern Latitudes - Trixie Pacis / Sasha Galitzki

    2025-11-03

    Northern Latitudes - Trixie Pacis / Sasha Galitzki

    In this powerful episode of Northern Latitudes, host Bill Ault speaks with filmmaker Trixie Pacis and aerial artist Sasha Galitzki about their remarkable new documentary Embers, which makes its global premiere at the 50th Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival on November 4, 2025. Embers follows Sasha through the emotional and physical aftermath of the 2024 Jasper National Park wildfire, one of the most devastating fires in recent Canadian history. The blaze destroyed her home and community, leaving behind a landscape of loss—but also the seeds of renewal. In the year that followed, Sasha turned to her art, using aerial performance as both therapy and protest. Her work became a living expression of resilience and a call to action in a world where climate change is no longer distant—it’s personal. The conversation dives deep into the making of the film and the meaning behind it. Trixie and Sasha discuss how Embers evolved as a sequel to their acclaimed 2024 documentary Wild Aerial, which captured Sasha performing breathtaking aerial routines in the frozen Canadian Rockies. Where Wild Aerial celebrated strength and endurance in the face of nature’s extremes, Embers reveals what happens when that same landscape turns hostile, and the artist must rise again—this time from the ashes. Throughout the episode, listeners will hear the story behind the story: The moment Sasha realized she had lost everything in the Jasper fire.How she channeled grief and fear into art that would inspire others.The creative partnership between Sasha and Trixie and how it deepened under pressure.The emotional and technical challenges of filming in wildfire-ravaged terrain.Why Embers is ultimately a film about hope, renewal, and the enduring connection between people and place.Both Trixie and Sasha reflect on how the project changed their perspectives as artists and citizens. They discuss the importance of storytelling in the climate crisis, not just to raise awareness, but to humanize the experience—to show that behind every wildfire, flood, or storm are people rebuilding their lives in extraordinary ways. As Sasha puts it in the film, “I lost my home and all my things, but I still have my art—and my love for Jasper.” That sentiment captures the essence of Embers: even when everything burns, the creative spark endures. With Embers, Pacis and Galitzki deliver a deeply human portrait of loss and recovery, reminding us that even in a warming world, there is still light to be found among the ashes. 🎬 Embers — Global Premiere: Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival, November 4, 2025 🎥 Director/Producer: Trixie Pacis 🎭 Featuring: Sasha Galitzki 🌍 Themes: Wildfire recovery, art as activism, resilience, climate storytelling 🔗 Related Links: Embers Official TrailerWild Aerial (2024)Banff Centre Mountain Film & Book FestivalNorthern Latitudes PodcastFollow Northern Latitudes for more conversations exploring the intersection of adventure, art, and the environment

    24 min
  8. Northern Latitudes - Keriann McGoogan: Sisters of the Jungle

    2025-10-20

    Northern Latitudes - Keriann McGoogan: Sisters of the Jungle

    “Sisters of the Jungle - The Trailblazing Women Who Shaped the Study of Wild Primates" Keriann McGoogan holds a PhD in Biological Anthropology from the University of Toronto and a Master’s from the University of Calgary. Keriann McGoogan+1 Her field work has taken her deep into the tropical forests of Belize, where she studied howler monkeys, and to the remote dry forests of Madagascar, where she lived for more than a year studying endangered lemurs. Keriann McGoogan+2Orion Magazine+2 Her latest book, Sisters of the Jungle (2025), explores the history of primatology — especially how women have come to dominate this field — by interweaving memoir, biography of pioneer female scientists (including Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, Birutė Galdikas, and Alison Jolly), and her own adventures in the field. Douglas & McIntyre+2theseaboardreview.ca+2 Her earlier memoir Chasing Lemurs: My Journey Into the Heart of Madagascar recounts her personal story from Belize to Madagascar. Keriann McGoogan+1 Key Resources & Links Guest’s Website Keriann McGoogan – https://keriannmcgoogan.com/ Keriann McGoogan On the site you’ll find her bio, books, media appearances, and event info.

    29 min
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About

Northern Latitudes is a podcast about what happens when we slow down long enough to really pay attention to the landscapes we live in, move through, and depend on. Hosted by Bill Ault, the show explores the intersection of nature, science, culture, and from across Canada and beyond. Conversations range from ecology and conservation to health, history, outdoor adventure, and the quieter human stories that connect us. At its core, Northern Latitudes is curious and grounded. It’s about thoughtful conversations with people who spend their lives asking good questions — scientists, authors, researchers, photographers, filmmakers, and advocates who help us see familiar places in new ways. Episodes often return to a few recurring themes: Our relationship with the natural worldHow science and lived experience inform each otherWhat it means to live well Why place still matters in an increasingly digital worldWhether recorded in a studio or shaped by time spent outdoors, Northern Latitudes aims to leave space for reflection — and to remind listeners that the stories tied to land, climate, and community are never abstract. They’re personal. The podcast also features re-broadcasts of past conversations that remain especially relevant, giving listeners a chance to revisit ideas that hold up over time. Northern Latitudes is for anyone who feels at home outside, values curiosity over certainty, and believes that paying attention is a form of care.

Information

  • Creator
    Bill Ault
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    48
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Northern Latitudes 2022/2023/2024
  • Show Website
    Northern Latitudes