NaturallyScott

Scott
  • 4.4 (9)
  • NATURE

At least once a week, I’ll bring you the very best of America’s spectacular world of nature — from birds to mammals, to reptiles and amphibians. From soaring mountains to endless plains, from rugged coastlines to rivers and streams.  Each episode will feature an expert guest — a ranger, a researcher, a birder, or an adventurer — someone who has seen what we want to see and been where we want to go. 

  1. 2D AGO

    E45 — John Goodell: Falconry isn’t about control — it’s about partnership.

    Send us a text In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott sits down with John Goodell, Executive Director and Chief Curator of the Archives of Falconry, to explore one of humanity’s oldest and most misunderstood relationships with wildlife. Falconry is often imagined as domination or display. In reality, it is a hunting tradition built on trust, restraint, and a deep respect for wild raptors. John explains what falconry actually is, how it has been practiced for more than two thousand years across cultures, and why the birds at the center of it remain fully wild — free to leave at any moment. The conversation moves through the history of falconry, the demanding licensing process, the ethics of flying wild birds, and the intimate knowledge falconers develop of predator and prey alike. Along the way, John shares what it means to care for a raptor day after day, why many falconers eventually release their birds back into the wild, and how falconry has shaped modern raptor conservation. This is a conversation about humility, discipline, and what it looks like to work with nature instead of trying to master it. Learn more about the Archives of Falconry at https://www.falconry.org For updates, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes notes from Naturally Scott, subscribe here:  https://naturallyscott.kit.com/5fd12c6752

    1h 3m

  2. JAN 22

    E44 — Scott Black: Honey bees aren’t the story — native pollinators are.

    Send us a text In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott sits down with Scott Black, Executive Director of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, to explore the small creatures doing the biggest work in nature: insects and other invertebrates. Scott Black breaks down what “invertebrates” really are, why pollinators matter far beyond gardens, and how conservation shifts when you start paying attention to the species without backbones. Along the way, he explains a surprising truth about honey bees — that they’re not native wildlife, but closer to livestock — and why native pollinators deserve far more of the spotlight. This is a conversation about habitat, pesticides, endangered species, and the practical steps that can help reverse declines — from what we plant to how we manage land. Learn more about the Xerces Society at https://www.xerces.org For updates, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes notes from Naturally Scott, subscribe here:  https://naturallyscott.kit.com/5fd12c6752

    55 min

  3. JAN 15

    E43 — Pete Malinowski | Rebuilding New York Harbor, One Oyster at a Time

    Send us a text New York Harbor is one of the most storied waterways in the world, but for generations it was also one of the most damaged. Long before skyscrapers defined the skyline, oysters shaped the ecology, economy, and culture of the region—until they were pushed to the brink of disappearance. Today, something remarkable is happening beneath the surface. In this episode, Scott Harris sits down with Pete Malinowski, co-founder of the Billion Oyster Project, to explore one of the most ambitious urban restoration efforts in the world. Pete explains why oysters matter so much—to water quality, marine life, and shoreline resilience—and how restoring them means rebuilding entire ecosystems, not just a single species. The conversation traces the history of New York Harbor’s decline, the science behind oyster reef restoration, and the hands-on work happening right now with students, volunteers, and community partners. From recycling millions of pounds of oyster shells to engaging thousands of young people in marine science, the project shows how conservation, education, and civic pride can move together. It’s a reminder that environmental recovery doesn’t always start in remote wilderness—it can begin in the heart of a city. Naturally Scott updates, bonus content, and field notes:  https://naturallyscott.kit.com/5fd12c6752

    59 min

  4. JAN 8

    E42 — Dr. Jodi Hilty: Rewilding at Scale from Yellowstone to Yukon

    Send us a text Rewilding isn’t about nostalgia — it’s about scale. In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott sits down with Dr. Jodi Hilty, President and Chief Scientist of the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y), to explore one of the most ambitious conservation visions on Earth: reconnecting 2,000 miles of wild landscape from Yellowstone National Park to the Yukon. Dr. Hilty explains why isolated parks are no longer enough, how wildlife corridors, overpasses, and private lands keep ecosystems functioning, and why large carnivores like wolves, wolverines, and grizzly bears are essential to biodiversity, climate resilience, and even carbon storage. Along the way, she shares stories of wolves crossing international borders, pronghorn migrations shaped by predators, and the real, practical work of helping ranchers coexist with carnivores. This is a conversation about conservation that works with people instead of against them — grounded in science, cooperation, and long-term thinking. Learn more about Yellowstone to Yukon at https://www.y2y.net For updates, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes notes from Naturally Scott, subscribe here: https://naturallyscott.kit.com/5fd12c6752

    56 min

  5. 12/29/2025

    E41 — John Calambokidis: Whales, Science, and the Cost of Knowing

    Send us a text In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott sits down with John Calambokidis, one of the world’s leading cetacean researchers and the co-founder of Cascadia Research Collective. For more than four decades, John has studied whales across the Pacific, combining long-term fieldwork, cutting-edge technology, and an unwavering commitment to scientific integrity. The conversation opens with a candid look at whale rescue efforts, including the heartbreak of failed rescues and what those moments reveal about both human limits and motivation. From there, Scott and John explore the story behind The Loneliest Whale: The Search for 52, unpacking how a mysterious 52-hertz call captured the public imagination — and what science can and cannot say about “loneliness” in whales. John walks listeners through Cascadia’s work on ship strikes, underwater noise, entanglements, and the hidden dangers whales face at night in busy shipping corridors like the Santa Barbara Channel. He explains how tagging data, photo-identification, and citizen science platforms like Happy Whale are reshaping how we understand whale movements and risk. The episode also dives into Cascadia’s research on false killer whales in Hawaiʻi, the growing challenges facing marine science funding, and how political pressures increasingly collide with objective research. John reflects on what it means to stay scientifically honest when results don’t align with expectations — and why credibility matters more than advocacy alone. John closes by recommending Abundance by Ezra Klein, a book he believes speaks directly to the gap between knowledge, intention, and action. As always, Scott ends with a simple invitation: get outside, stay curious, and keep paying attention to the natural world we’re still trying to understand. Guest Recommendation Abundance — Ezra Klein Links & Resources Cascadia Research Collective: https://www.cascadiaresearch.org Support Naturally Scott & get updates: https://naturallyscott.kit.com/5fd12c6752

    58 min

  6. 12/22/2025

    E40 — Lisa T. Ballance: Dolphins, Tuna, and the Whales We’ve Never Seen

    Send us a text In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott Harris is joined by Lisa T. Ballance, Director of the Marine Mammal Institute, for a wide-ranging conversation that moves from personal history to some of the most consequential marine science of the past half-century. Ballance explains how her career in ecology and conservation biology led her into the heart of the tuna–dolphin controversy in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, where massive purse-seine fisheries once killed millions of dolphins and reshaped global seafood policy. Scott and Lisa discover that their lives briefly intersected during the late 1980s, when public pressure, undercover documentation, and consumer action helped force the creation of the dolphin-safe tuna label. From there, the conversation turns toward the edge of scientific knowledge. Ballance describes her work searching for cryptic cetaceans — species so elusive they were known only from stranded remains — including the first confirmed sightings of ginkgo-toothed beaked whales alive in the wild. She also shares the extraordinary effort to locate and genetically sample the rare Type D killer whale in the Southern Ocean, a population so distinct it may represent an entirely new species. Along the way, Ballance reflects on how science advances at the limits of uncertainty, the unintended consequences of well-intentioned conservation, and why humility and persistence matter when studying animals that live far beyond human reach. Lisa’s book recommendation: Merchants of Doubt. For updates and bonus content from Naturally Scott, visit  https://naturallyscott.kit.com/5fd12c6752

    56 min

  7. 12/18/2025

    E39 — Jack Humphrey: Rewilding America, Wolves, Jaguars & the Case for Half the Earth

    Send us a text What would it take to truly rewild North America? In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott Harris sits down with Jack Humphrey of the Rewilding Institute to explore one of the most ambitious and consequential ideas in modern conservation: reconnecting large landscapes so nature can function the way it once did. Jack shares decades of firsthand experience working on wilderness cores, wildlife corridors, and large carnivore conservation—from restoring illegal roads in the Southwest, to building wolf acclimation pens on Ted Turner’s Ladder Ranch, to helping shape the continental rewilding movement itself. Together, Scott and Jack unpack: What rewilding really means (and what it doesn’t)Why wolves, jaguars, and other apex predators matter far beyond their own survivalThe concept of cores, corridors, carnivores, and coexistenceHow wolf reintroduction reshapes entire ecosystemsWhy conservation may depend on protecting half the planetThe tension between scientific urgency and public messagingWhether nature can recover if humans simply get out of the wayThis is a wide-ranging, thoughtful conversation about biodiversity, land use, human responsibility, and the future of wild places—grounded in science, history, and lived experience. Jack also recommends the book Borderland Jaguars, a powerful primer on the return of jaguars to the U.S.–Mexico borderlands. If you care about wolves, wilderness, national parks, or what a livable planet actually requires, this episode is for you. Updates and bonus content:  https://naturallyscott.kit.com/5fd12c6752

    57 min

  8. 12/15/2025

    E38 Peter Pyle — Molt, Feathers & the Hidden Science of Birds

    Send us a text From growing up in Hawai‘i and Washington, D.C. to spending decades on the Farallon Islands, Peter Pyle has lived at the intersection of birds, science, and curiosity. A founding figure in modern bird banding and the author of the definitive guides to bird molt and plumage, Peter joins Scott Harris for a wide-ranging conversation about how feathers shape everything we think we know about birds. Together, they explore what molt really is, why it matters, how birds replace their feathers without losing the ability to fly, and how studying “scruffy” birds has unlocked entirely new ways of aging and understanding species. Along the way, Peter shares stories from a lifetime in ornithology—from white shark research and seabird colonies to Christmas Bird Counts, citizen science, and the quiet beauty of careful observation. This episode is a deep dive into the unseen mechanics of birds—and a reminder that the most important details are often the ones we overlook. Guest: Peter Pyle — Ornithologist, bander, and author of the Identification Guide to North American Birds Host: Scott Harris | Naturally Scott Bonus content, updates, and behind-the-scenes notes:  https://naturallyscott.kit.com/5fd12c6752

    52 min
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4.4
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

At least once a week, I’ll bring you the very best of America’s spectacular world of nature — from birds to mammals, to reptiles and amphibians. From soaring mountains to endless plains, from rugged coastlines to rivers and streams.  Each episode will feature an expert guest — a ranger, a researcher, a birder, or an adventurer — someone who has seen what we want to see and been where we want to go. 

Information

  • Creator
    Scott
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    45
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 NaturallyScott
  • Show Website
    NaturallyScott