46 episodes

Collaborative product of the USDA Southwest Climate Hub and the DOI Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center. We highlight stories to share the most recent advances in climate science, weather and climate adaptation, and innovative practices to support resilient landscapes and communities. We believe that sharing forward thinking and creative climate science and adaptation will strengthen our collective ability to respond to even the most challenging impacts of climate change in one of the hottest and driest regions of the world. New episodes on the first Wednesday of each month. Sign up for email alerts and never miss an episode: https://forms.gle/7zkjrjghEBLrGf8Z9. Funding for the podcast comes from the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture funded Sustainable Southwest Beef Project.

Come Rain or Shine USDA Southwest Climate Hub & DOI Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center

    • Science
    • 4.7 • 6 Ratings

Collaborative product of the USDA Southwest Climate Hub and the DOI Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center. We highlight stories to share the most recent advances in climate science, weather and climate adaptation, and innovative practices to support resilient landscapes and communities. We believe that sharing forward thinking and creative climate science and adaptation will strengthen our collective ability to respond to even the most challenging impacts of climate change in one of the hottest and driest regions of the world. New episodes on the first Wednesday of each month. Sign up for email alerts and never miss an episode: https://forms.gle/7zkjrjghEBLrGf8Z9. Funding for the podcast comes from the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture funded Sustainable Southwest Beef Project.

    Indigenous Agriculture and Climate Resilience

    Indigenous Agriculture and Climate Resilience

    Continuing with our agriculture theme, this month we are joined by Dr. Michael Kotutwa Johnson (Hopi Tribe of Arizona) who discusses Indigenous agricultural knowledge, traditional farming, Indigenous participation in conservation programs, climate change, and more. USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.



    Relevant links:
    Johnson, M.K., Rowe, M. , Lien, A.M.& Hoffman-Lopez, L. 2021. Enhancing Integration of Indigenous Agricultural Knowledge into National Resource Conservation Service Cost-Share Initiatives. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. Online. https://www.jswconline.org/content/76/6/487 



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    Never miss an episode! Sign up to get an email alert whenever a new episode publishes!
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    Come Rain or Shine affiliate links:
    DOI Southwest CASC: https://www.swcasc.arizona.edu/ 
    USDA Southwest Climate Hub: https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/southwest 
    Sustainable Southwest Beef Project (NIFA Grant #2019-69012-29853): https://southwestbeef.org/  

    • 33 min
    The Scoop on Kernza®, a Multi-functional Perennial Grain Crop

    The Scoop on Kernza®, a Multi-functional Perennial Grain Crop

    Kernza® is a small perennial grain with multiple environmental benefits, including carbon sequestration. We are joined by Nicole Tautges (Michael Fields Agricultural Institute) and Hana Fancher (The Land Institute) to learn more about the benefits and uses of Kernza®, as well as some of the challenges associated with growing this grain, and possible future directions. Photo credit: USDA


    Relevant links:
    Kernza® Coordinated Agriculture Project (CAP)
    Kernza® Grower Guide
    Kernza® Community Bake



    If you’re enjoying this podcast, please consider rating us and/or leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Podcast Addict, or Podchaser Thanks!
    Follow us on Twitter @RainShinePod
    Never miss an episode! Sign up to get an email alert whenever a new episode publishes!
    Have a suggestion for a future episode? Please tell us!


    Come Rain or Shine affiliate links:
    DOI Southwest CASC: https://www.swcasc.arizona.edu/ 
    USDA Southwest Climate Hub: https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/southwest 
    Sustainable Southwest Beef Project (NIFA Grant #2019-69012-29853):  https://southwestbeef.org/ 

    • 39 min
    Old Growth Grasslands

    Old Growth Grasslands

    “Old growth” is a term often associated with forests, however scientists are beginning to realize that this concept also applies to other types of ecosystems, including grasslands, which provide a host of important ecosystem services. We interviewed Dr. Katharine Suding, a researcher at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado Boulder, to learn more about old growth grasslands. Image credit: USDA Photo by Lance Cheung

    Relevant links:

    Buisson, E., Archibald, S., Fidelis, A. and Suding, K.N., 2022. Ancient grasslands guide ambitious goals in grassland restoration. Science, 377(6606), pp.594-598. (also accessible here)
    Veldman, J.W., Buisson, E., Durigan, G., Fernandes, G.W., Le Stradic, S., Mahy, G., Negreiros, D., Overbeck, G.E., Veldman, R.G., Zaloumis, N.P. and Putz, F.E., 2015. Toward an old‐growth concept for grasslands, savannas, and woodlands. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 13(3), pp.154-162.



    Follow us on Twitter @RainShinePod
    Never miss an episode! Sign up to get an email alert whenever a new episode publishes!
    Have a suggestion for a future episode? Please tell us!


    Come Rain or Shine affiliate links:
    DOI Southwest CASC: https://www.swcasc.arizona.edu/   
    USDA Southwest Climate Hub: https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/southwest
    Sustainable Southwest Beef Project  (NIFA Grant #2019-69012-29853): https://southwestbeef.org/  

    • 39 min
    A Closer Look at California Wildfires

    A Closer Look at California Wildfires

    What’s behind the increasing size and severity of California’s wildfires? And if the trajectory continues, what does that mean for people living there? How has this trend already impacted residents? Three co-authors of a recent synthesis on drivers of wildfire in the Golden State share their main findings with us, as well as speculating on some possibilities for future solutions to living alongside increasing fire hazard. Photo credit: USDA

    Related Links:
    Climate Change Is Escalating California’s Wildfires

    Drivers of California’s changing wildfires: a state-of-the-knowledge synthesis

    Drivers of California's Changing Wildfires: State Has Potential To Be A Model For Change - International Association of Wildland Fire
    If you’re enjoying this podcast, please consider rating us and/or leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Podcast Addict, or Podchaser Thanks!
    Follow us on Twitter @RainShinePod
    Never miss an episode! Sign up to get an email alert whenever a new episode publishes!
    Have a suggestion for a future episode? Please tell us!


    Come Rain or Shine affiliate links:
    DOI Southwest CASC: https://www.swcasc.arizona.edu/   
    USDA Southwest Climate Hub: https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/southwest
    Sustainable Southwest Beef Project (NIFA Grant #2019-69012-29853): https://southwestbeef.org/ 

    • 35 min
    After-Fire Reforestation: The John T. Harrington Forestry Research Center

    After-Fire Reforestation: The John T. Harrington Forestry Research Center

    The John T. Harrington Forestry Research Center in Mora, New Mexico, aims to advance the understanding of restoration activities on forested areas in New Mexico through multidisciplinary research, education, and partner collaborations. The Center also provides science-based solutions for private, tribal, state, and federal forest managers, who face the threat of catastrophic fires due to overgrown forests and the inability of post-fire forest communities and ecosystems to naturally regenerate after fires. Photo credit: Reanna Burnett

    Related Links:
    John T. Harrington Forestry Research Center at Mora



    If you’re enjoying this podcast, please consider rating us and/or leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Podcast Addict, or Podchaser Thanks!


    Follow us on Twitter @RainShinePod
    Never miss an episode! Sign up to get an email alert whenever a new episode publishes!
    Have a suggestion for a future episode? Please tell us!


    Come Rain or Shine affiliate links:
    DOI Southwest CASC: https://www.swcasc.arizona.edu/   
    USDA Southwest Climate Hub: https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/southwest
    Sustainable Southwest Beef Project (NIFA Grant #2019-69012-29853): https://southwestbeef.org/ 

    • 42 min
    Cultural Burning in Northern California

    Cultural Burning in Northern California

    Traditional burning, also known as cultural burning, is a form of under burning that has been used by Indigenous peoples for thousands of years to increase water runoff into streams, create habitats for plants and animals, recycle nutrients, and promote other ecosystem benefits. We interviewed  Diana Almendariz (Maidu/Wintún/Hupa/Yurok), cultural fire practitioner, and Nina Fontana (Ukrainian and Italian), post-doctoral researcher at the University of California, Davis, to learn more about "good fire".

    Related Links:
    Cache Creek Conservancy Tending and Gathering Garden



    If you’re enjoying this podcast, please consider rating us and/or leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Podcast Addict, or Podchaser Thanks!


    Follow us on Twitter @RainShinePod
    Never miss an episode! Sign up to get an email alert whenever a new episode publishes!
    Have a suggestion for a future episode? Please tell us!


    Come Rain or Shine affiliate links:
    DOI Southwest CASC: https://www.swcasc.arizona.edu/   
    USDA Southwest Climate Hub: https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/southwest 
    Sustainable Southwest Beef Project (NIFA Grant #2019-69012-29853): https://southwestbeef.org/  

    • 49 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
6 Ratings

6 Ratings

rrjaunty ,

Fun and informative!

I’m already learning a lot from this podcast. Keep
up the good work!

EnerSanctum ,

Great, but…I have a beef

I really love this show and usually find it fantastic and informative. I love the energy of the hosts and feel like they each bring strengths to the show and interviews. I’d give this a solid five stars except for one major concern — I can’t help but cringe every time they go on and on about “sustainable” beef practices in the Southwest. That’s like talking about “clean coal.” It just doesn’t make sense from an environmental perspective. There’s just no way to make cows in the desert sustainable because the desert can’t sustain whole herds of energy-intensive animals. That’s just a fact. Otherwise the desert would have already had large herbivores walking around before we brought them here. The last episode they interviewed someone from the beef project who actually downplayed the science, while at the same time advocating for having cows start here and then get shipped to another state where grass grows. As if there’s anything even remotely “sustainable” in that equation! And the host just acted like that was a viable solution, even though the guest was clearly stretching the idea thinly. It just felt like the show was pandering to some corporate sponsor or something, and I had to take a break for a while. I think it harms the credibility of the show and their other guests when they don’t address these incongruencias or ask any tough questions when someone literally says the data don’t match their projections. BUT if you disregard those episodes (and there are quite a few of them), this is a great show. The Katharine Hayhoe episode was especially amazing. So, I do love the show, but I have a beef with all the beef.

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