Harvesting Wisdom Podcast with Mike McMahon

Mike McMahon

Discover insights that grow a greener world with Harvesting Wisdom Podcast hosted by Mike McMahon. 🌱🎙️ Leading experts share wisdom on agriculture, sustainability, and education in Arizona and beyond. Policy makers, industry experts, and international outreach champions – we cover it all! Tune in for a harvest of knowledge. 🌍🌾

  1. 6H AGO

    Dr. Zamba on Mongolia’s Climate Future: Parks, Policy & Supercomputers

    Send a text In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, we speak with Dr. Zamba — former Minister of Environment, climate envoy, and scientist — about Mongolia’s unique climate realities and the policy choices shaping its future. Dr. Zamba reflects on Mongolia’s transition years, his diplomatic work as ambassador to Japan, and why Mongolia experiences climate impacts intensely despite contributing very little to global emissions. We explore Mongolia’s heavy dependence on coal, the promise (and barriers) of renewables, and how climate change is accelerating drought, glacier melt, and water scarcity — especially in the western regions. He also shares three major environmental achievements from his time in government: building a stronger environmental legal framework, expanding and formalizing national parks (with a long-term goal of protecting 30% of the country), and creating science-based decision systems through environmental databases and advanced computing. The result is a powerful conversation about how nations adapt when the climate is harsh, the population is sparse, and the stakes are high. Why Listen? Learn why Mongolia’s climate is so extreme (deep continental, high elevation, low moisture). Understand the tension between coal dependence and renewable potential (wind + solar). Hear an inside view of Mongolia’s policy evolution: laws, national parks, and environmental governance. Explore how glacier melt and water scarcity shape agriculture and livelihoods. Get a rare look at how data, modeling, and supercomputers support climate adaptation and forecasting. Walk away with a practical lesson: sustainability moves faster when policy is science-based and built for continuity. 00:00 – Intro to Harvesting Wisdom 01:00 – From politics to public service: Director General & reforms 03:10 – Ambassador to Japan: why Japan mattered for Mongolia 06:10 – Adding environmental priorities into Mongolia–Japan cooperation 08:20 – Mongolia’s climate: deep continental extremes & low precipitation 12:30 – Why livelihoods and the economy depend tightly on weather 14:40 – Western Mongolia: Great Lake Depression, drought, and glacier-fed water 18:10 – Mongolia’s emissions: small share globally, high per-capita pressures 20:30 – Coal dependence, subsidies, and why renewables are hard to scale 24:00 – Wind/solar potential vs. investment risk + grid economics 28:00 – Transition lessons: Russia-style shock vs. China-style gradualism 33:30 – Environmental conflicts: mining vs. protected areas & public protest 37:10 – Success story: stopping extraction to protect a major lake ecosystem 40:20 – Mongolia’s next 5 years: where policy should focus 42:30 – Achievement #1: building an environmental legal framework 45:10 – Achievement #2: expanding and formalizing national parks 49:00 – 30% protected by 2030: Mongolia’s early commitment 51:30 – Achievement #3: science-based decisions via national databases + IT 55:00 – Supercomputers, forecasting, and climate scenario planning 58:20 – Economic incentives: the “half achievement” and what’s still hard 1:01:00 – Closing reflections + future collaboration

    40 min

  2. 3D AGO

    Mobility, Memory & Survival: Nomadic Wisdom from Mongolia pt 1

    Send a text In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, we journey into the vast Mongolian steppe to explore how nomadic herders are navigating climate change, economic transformation, and shifting cultural traditions. Geographer and researcher Batbunyan Batchal of the Center for Nomadic Pastoralism Studies shares decades of insight into Mongolia’s pastoral systems — from collective farming to market economy transitions, from traditional mobility strategies to the growing challenges of desertification and overgrazing. We explore the devastating impact of dzud — extreme winter disasters reaching -40°C — and how reduced mobility, changing livestock practices, and land tenure complexities are reshaping herders’ resilience. This conversation reveals a powerful truth: movement is not just migration — it is strategy, stewardship, and survival. Why Listen? Learn how nomadic herders predict and adapt to extreme climate events. Understand the impact of market economies on traditional land management. Explore the link between mobility and ecological resilience. Discover how education, community-based resource management, and traditional knowledge intersect. Gain perspective on land commons, desertification, and global sustainability lessons. This episode offers powerful parallels for regenerative agriculture, urban farming, and sustainable land governance worldwide. 00:00 – Introduction to Harvesting Wisdom & Mongolia’s vast steppe 02:15 – Growing up in rural Mongolia & academic beginnings 05:40 – Mongolia’s transition from socialism to market economy 08:10 – Participatory land mapping & community-based management 12:30 – Creating the Center for Nomadic Pastoralism Studies 16:00 – Educating herder children after school dropouts 20:15 – What is Dzud? Understanding Mongolia’s extreme winters 24:50 – Climate frequency shifts & resilience strategies 29:10 – Mobility as survival: moving 20+ times per year 34:40 – Reduced movement & overgrazing challenges 39:00 – Five livestock species & increasing labor pressures 44:15 – Collective herding systems vs. independent households 50:30 – Desertification & mixed livestock impacts 56:20 – Hybrid breeds vs. traditional adaptation 1:02:10 – Land tenure, commons, and reciprocity culture 1:07:00 – The future of Mongolian pastoralism

    33 min

  3. FEB 18

    Guardians of the Gobi: Tradition, Climate & Conservation in Mongolia part 2

    Send a text In Part 2 of this two-part series, we continue our powerful conversation with Dr. Tungalag Ulambayar of the Zoological Society of Mongolia. This episode explores how Mongolia transitioned from being a representative office of the Zoological Society of London into a fully independent national NGO — and what that means for wildlife conservation on the ground. We dive deep into: -Illegal wildlife trafficking across Mongolia’s borders -Community-based conservation and rangeland management -The threat of climate change and water scarcity in the Gobi -Wild camel conservation and hybridization risks -Overgrazing, livestock pressure, and economic policy impacts -How local herders are becoming biodiversity stewards Dr. Ulambayar shares how conservation must move beyond top-down funding models and instead empower local communities with the tools, training, and ownership needed to protect their ecosystems. From snow leopards to wild camels, this episode reveals how fragile desert ecosystems truly are — and why global support for grassroots conservation is more urgent than ever. Why You Should Listen -This episode is for you if you care about: -Wildlife conservation beyond the headlines -Climate change impacts on fragile ecosystems -Community-driven environmental solutions -The complexity of desert biodiversity -Illegal wildlife trade and global supply chains -Real-world conservation funding challenges You’ll walk away understanding that conservation isn’t just about protecting animals — it’s about policy, economics, culture, and collaboration. And most importantly: local wisdom matters. Key Time Stamps 00:00 – Introduction Welcome back to Part 2 of our Mongolia conservation series. 00:01 – Origins of the Zoological Society of Mongolia From the Zoological Society of London (est. 1826) to national independence after COVID restructuring. 05:21 – Illegal Wildlife Trade in Mongolia Snow leopards, argali sheep, marmots, and falcons — trafficking routes and border pressures. 08:11 – Working with Herders Turning hunters into stewards through education and biodiversity monitoring. 11:07 – Community-Based Conservation Model Why local action creates faster, more lasting change than political policy alone. 13:36 – Climate vs. Human Pressures Overgrazing, disease transfer, hybridization, and water scarcity. 16:23 – Only 700 Wild Camels Left Genetic purity, hybrid threats, and umbrella species protection. 18:52 – Overgrazing & Economic Policy How export bans and lack of domestic industry increase livestock pressure. 21:30 – Water Scarcity in the Gobi Solar-powered pumps, boreholes, and wildlife adaptation strategies. 24:14 – Funding Gaps for Local NGOs Why small conservation organizations struggle to access global funds. 28:59 – The Four Signature Focus Areas Illegal wildlife trade Community-based conservation Canine enforcement programs Local protected areas 31:11 – Does Community Rangeland Management Work? Social success vs. ecological complexity. 32:36 – Closing Reflections #HarvestingWisdomPodcast #WildlifeConservation #CommunityConservation #Mongolia #SnowLeopard #WildCamel #IllegalWildlifeTrade #ClimateImpact #DesertEcosystems #Biodiversity #SustainableRangelands #GrassrootsConservation #EnvironmentalLeadership #GlobalConservation #ProtectTheGobi

    34 min

  4. FEB 18

    Finding Light in Altyn-Kazyk: A Youth Climate Documentary

    Send a text In this powerful Youth Spotlight episode, filmmaker Jina Song joins Harvesting Wisdom to discuss her six-minute documentary Altyn-Kazyk: The Golden State — officially selected in the Youth (18 & Under) Category for the Skyfire Environmental Film Festival, happening March 27–29 in Phoenix, Arizona. Home to over 16,000 people, the community of Altyn-Kazyk in Kyrgyzstan lives beside the region’s largest landfill. Many families — especially women — rely on waste sorting for survival, working in dangerous conditions surrounded by toxic smoke and pollution. Jina shares how her background in sustainability activism in Seoul, combined with her family ties to Kyrgyzstan, inspired her to tell this story. What she discovered was not just climate injustice — but dignity, resilience, and hope. Through powerful storytelling, her film reveals a community guided by the symbolism of the North Star — a reminder that even in the harshest conditions, light and direction remain possible. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation and the opportunity to see her film at Skyfire in Phoenix. Why You Should Listen -A global youth perspective on climate justice -Behind-the-scenes insight into a powerful six-minute documentary -A reminder that resilience and dignity exist even in the most overlooked communities -A conversation about sustainability, waste systems, and policy change -An inspiring story from a student filmmaker making global impact This episode isn’t just about environmental injustice — it’s about hope. 00:00 – Harvesting Wisdom intro 00:00:25 – Meet Jina Song 00:02:20 – What inspired the film 00:03:43 – Inside Altyn-Kazyk: Life near the landfill 00:05:47 – Filming process & production timeline 00:07:16 – Community size & impact on children 00:09:06 – Health risks & lack of government support 00:10:51 – Pollution parallels in Seoul 00:12:53 – Why this film matters 00:14:05 – The meaning of “The Golden State” & the North Star 00:17:04 – Jina’s future in sustainability & policy 00:19:06 – Skyfire Environmental Film Festival mention 00:20:29 – Closing remarks #HarvestingWisdomPodcast #JinaSong #SkyfireFilmFestival #YouthFilmmaker #ClimateJustice #EnvironmentalDocumentary #Sustainability #WasteManagement #GlobalStories #ClimateActivism #StudentSelected #EnvironmentalFilm #Kyrgyzstan #Seoul #HopeAndResilience

    24 min

  5. FEB 18

    Restoring Tree & Soil Health in the Desert with Adaptive Plant Health

    Send a text In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, host Mike McMahon sits down with the founders of Adaptive Plant Health to explore what it truly takes to keep trees, landscapes, and communities thriving in the Arizona desert. With backgrounds spanning economics, finance, religion, landscaping, and plant science, the Adaptive team shares how their shared values and decades-long friendships led them to build a soil-first, science-driven approach to plant health. The conversation dives into the real challenges facing desert landscapes—from rising temperatures and drought stress to poor soil biology and outdated landscaping practices. Together, they unpack why preventative plant care matters, how healthy soil directly impacts water use and urban heat, and why collaboration and education are essential for building sustainable, long-lasting landscapes across the Southwest. Why Listen Learn why soil health is the foundation of thriving trees and landscapes Understand how preventative care saves money compared to reactive fixes Hear how economics, ecology, and ethics intersect in sustainable land management Discover why Arizona’s landscapes need smarter, not harsher, solutions Gain insight into real-world applications for homeowners, HOAs, landscapers, and municipalities If you care about sustainability, water conservation, urban heat reduction, or smarter landscaping in the desert—this episode is for you. Important Timestamps 00:00 – 01:25 | Introduction & Adaptive Plant Health overview 01:25 – 04:07 | Founders’ backgrounds and how Adaptive was formed 04:07 – 06:21 | Why plant health matters in Phoenix’s changing climate 06:21 – 08:42 | Landscaping myths, soil neglect, and long-term value 08:42 – 10:08 | Preventative care vs. reactive landscape fixes 10:08 – 12:21 | Soil testing, diagnostics, and client education 12:21 – 14:26 | Before-and-after transformations and real results 14:26 – 15:57 | Working with landscapers, HOAs, and large properties 15:57 – 18:28 | Weed control, microbes, and minimizing environmental impact 18:28 – 20:33 | Sustainability through an economic and systems lens 20:33 – 22:45 | Native plants, disease pressure, and future challenges 22:45 – 26:03 | Aesthetic desires vs. ecological reality in desert landscapes 26:03 – 27:51 | Golf courses, urban trees, and shifting industry mindsets 27:51 – 29:39 | Scaling Adaptive’s mission across the Southwest 29:39 – 31:33 | Who Adaptive is for and how they partner with others 31:33 – 32:47 | How to contact Adaptive Plant Health & closing thoughts #HarvestingWisdom #SoilHealth #PlantHealth #UrbanForestry #SustainableLandscaping #DesertLiving #WaterConservation #ArizonaSustainability #ClimateResilience #HealthySoilHealthyLife

    34 min

  6. FEB 17

    What Sustainability Really Means | Soil, Waste & Community Solutions with Lauren Kuby

    Send a text In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, host Mike McMahon sits down with Lauren Kuby, Arizona State Senator and longtime environmental advocate, to explore what sustainability really means beyond buzzwords. Lauren Kuby shares her background in environmental activism, city leadership, and academia, offering insight into how sustainability connects soil health, waste reduction, equity, and community resilience. The conversation breaks down complex topics like circular economies, regenerative practices, and environmental systems into practical, real-world examples already working in communities today. Rather than focusing on ideology, this episode centers on education, collaboration, and long-term thinking—highlighting how decisions made now shape opportunities for future generations. Why Listen Understand sustainability in practical, real-world terms Learn how soil health, waste systems, and circular economies are connected Hear firsthand insights from Lauren Kuby’s experience in city and state leadership Discover how community-driven solutions reduce waste and create resilience Explore how education, art, and local action help drive environmental awareness This episode is ideal for listeners interested in sustainability, environmental education, soil health, food systems, and community-based solutions. Important Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction to Harvesting Wisdom Setting the stage for sustainability and lived experience 00:26 – Lauren Kuby’s background & path to leadership From activism and academia to city council and state senate 02:24 – Defining sustainability beyond buzzwords Efficiency, longevity, and reducing harm 03:40 – Sustainability, equity, and future generations How today’s choices shape tomorrow’s opportunities 05:59 – Environmental protections explained Clean air, clean water, and healthy environments 07:14 – Waste systems & circular economy basics Why reducing and separating waste matters 09:20 – Soil health & regenerative practices Biology, carbon storage, and resilience 12:16 – Community collaboration in action Why grassroots partnerships matter 14:10 – Behavior change & everyday sustainability Small habits that lead to systemic impact 17:53 – Art, storytelling & environmental awareness How culture helps people understand sustainability 19:33 – Environmental film, civic pride & engagement Connecting communities through shared experiences 25:35 – Closing reflections Building sustainable systems together

    26 min

  7. FEB 16

    Guardians of the Gobi: Tradition, Climate & Conservation in Mongolia

    Send a text n this powerful installment of our Mongolia series, host Mike McMahon and co-host Diana Kruzman sit down with Dr. Tungalag Ulambayar (Tunga), Director of ZSL Mongolia and one of the country’s leading conservation voices. Raised by her grandparents in the Gobi Desert, Tunga’s childhood as a herder shaped her lifelong commitment to protecting Mongolia’s fragile ecosystems. From drawing clocks in the snow while tending livestock to leading national conservation initiatives, her story bridges tradition, resilience, and modern environmental science. The conversation explores Mongolia’s dramatic transition from socialism to a market economy, the privatization of livestock, devastating dzud climate disasters, biodiversity policy reform, and the evolving role of community-based conservation. Tunga offers deep insight into how traditional Mongolian environmental customs—rooted in the Yasa laws of Chinggis Khan—intersect with modern global conservation frameworks. This episode is a rare and inspiring look at how culture, climate, and policy collide on the frontlines of environmental change. Why You Should Listen -Learn how Mongolia transitioned from state-managed cooperatives to privatized herding — and the ecological consequences. -Understand the devastating impact of dzud (extreme winter climate events) on herders and wildlife. -Discover conservation efforts protecting snow leopards, wild camels, and steppe ecosystems. -Explore how traditional Mongolian customs inform modern sustainability. -Hear insider insights on environmental law reform and biodiversity policy gaps. -Gain perspective on how systemic transformation happens after political and economic upheaval. This episode blends lived experience, climate science, policy, and cultural wisdom into one deeply human story.

    50 min

  8. FEB 16

    Inside the Arizona Science Center: Sustainability, STEM Education & Environmental Storytelling

    Send a text In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, host Mike McMahon sits down with Brenna Follett, Director of Professional Development at the Arizona Science Center, inside their iconic giant-screen theater to explore how science education, sustainability, and storytelling come together. Brenna shares her journey from classroom teaching to leading professional learning initiatives that support educators across Arizona. Together, they discuss how the Arizona Science Center transforms complex scientific concepts into hands-on, engaging experiences for students, teachers, and the broader community. The conversation also highlights the Science Center’s partnership with the Skyfire Environmental Film Festival, the importance of sustainability education in the Sonoran Desert, and how youth-driven STEM innovation is shaping real-world environmental solutions. This episode emphasizes curiosity, accessibility, and community-powered learning as key drivers of long-term impact. Why Listen -Hear from Brenna Follett, Director of Professional Development at the Arizona Science Center -Learn how teachers earn professional development hours through science-based sustainability programs -Discover how environmental storytelling enhances science communication -Explore how youth innovation and STEM education drive real solutions -Get an inside look at how science centers partner with community initiatives like Skyfire Highlight Timestamps 00:00 – 01:20 | Welcome + recording at Arizona Science Center’s giant screen theater 01:20 – 02:40 | Brenna Follett’s background in education and professional development 02:40 – 04:40 | Arizona Science Center history and community impact 04:40 – 06:30 | Partnering with Skyfire Environmental Film Festival 06:30 – 08:45 | Environmental storytelling and hands-on science communication 08:45 – 10:30 | How the Science Center defines sustainability 10:30 – 12:20 | Field trips, Science on Wheels, and statewide outreach 12:20 – 13:40 | Sustainability Festival, composting, recycling & green initiatives 13:40 – 15:15 | Addressing misconceptions about sustainability 15:15 – 18:00 | Living and innovating sustainably in the Sonoran Desert 18:00 – 21:00 | Youth leadership, STEM growth, and innovation in Arizona 21:00 – 24:45 | Student science fairs and solution-based research 24:45 – 27:10 | Why youth engagement gives hope for the future 27:10 – 30:00 | Community pride, global perspectives & closing thoughts

    33 min
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About

Discover insights that grow a greener world with Harvesting Wisdom Podcast hosted by Mike McMahon. 🌱🎙️ Leading experts share wisdom on agriculture, sustainability, and education in Arizona and beyond. Policy makers, industry experts, and international outreach champions – we cover it all! Tune in for a harvest of knowledge. 🌍🌾

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