Wild For Change

Nicole Rojas

Welcome to the Wild For Change Podcast! This podcast celebrates people and organizations that are making a difference for animals and nature around the globe. We’ll discuss their inspiration, work, and why our connection with the natural world is important for all of us.

  1. MAY 18

    Episode 62: Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature with Natalia Greene

    Life on Earth unfolds through complex, living relationships.  Forests, oceans, animals and microorganisms sustain the cycles that make life possible, circulating oxygen, regenerating soils, and shaping climates.   Humans are part of these systems, not separate from them.  Our lives depend on the integrity of these relationships, even as they exist far beyond us.   Yet the natural world is often treated as a resource, something to extract from, convert, and monetize rather than as a community of living beings with their own inherent rights.  We have yet to learn how to live in true reciprocity within the Earth’s systems.   On this Wild For Change podcast, Natalia Greene, Director of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature (GARN) joins us.  GARN is an organization helping to reawaken a deeper truth: that nature is not something we own, but a living world we belong to, with rights of its own. The Rights of Nature challenges us to rethink one of our most fundamental assumptions—that nature exists for us. Instead, it asks: what if we are part of a larger living system with its own rights? And what responsibility comes with that understanding? This is not just a legal shift—it’s a shift in perspective, in values, and in how we choose to live in reciprocity with nature. Website: http://www.wildforchange.com Twitter: @WildForChange Facebook: /wildforchange Instagram: wildforchange

    56 min
  2. 11/17/2025

    Episode 58: Save the Redwoods with Deborah Zierten

    This past summer, I finally marked off a destination from my bucket list: the California Redwoods State and National Parks.  Entering the parks was one of the most magical experiences I have ever had.  I felt like I was going back to prehistoric times.  Some of the Redwoods have been on Earth for thousands of years and knowing this while hiking among these giants felt inconceivable, yet at the same time, I felt so honored to be in their presence.   While visiting Jedidiah Redwood State and National Park, I met a volunteer at the Grove of the Titans who stands outside rain or shine to greet visitors.  Once a month, he will undertake a 4-5 hour commute to volunteer for an entire week in Redwoods State and National Park.  There is something to be said about this level of commitment to a forest.  The Redwoods have a rich ecological history and have stood witness to man’s evolution.  This is a very special place, which is why my guest today is Deborah Zierten, Senior Manager of Education and Interpretation of Save the Redwoods League. In this podcast, we will learn how Save the Redwoods League supports the Redwood forest and explore the unique history of the Redwoods, their complex ecosystem, and how they help protect us from climate change. We will also discuss the current threats the Redwoods face and how we can help ensure their future.   Website: http://www.wildforchange.com Twitter: @WildForChange Facebook: /wildforchange Instagram: wildforchange

    52 min
  3. 10/20/2025

    Episode 57: Teresa Weed, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator from Illinois Early Childhood Outdoors

    On a new Wild For Change podcast, we will learn about the importance of outdoor nature-based learning with our guest, Teresa Weed, who is the Policy and Advocacy Coordinator from Illinois Early Childhood Outdoors. We can learn so much from spending time in nature. Being in nature encourages exploration and inspiration, sparks a sense of wonder and connection, and provides a space for reflection and a broader perspective on life.  As we grow into adults, however, it seems that sense of wonder and exploration slips away from our lives. But, imagine being a child. Exploration, wonder and curiosity are already part of a child’s makeup.  Letting a child be themselves in nature and learning outdoors can provide endless lessons and tools they can use throughout their lifetime.    Links to learn more: Join the movement! To access the national movement for outdoor preschool licensing, or to find collaborators in your region, check out Natural Start Alliance. To get connected in Illinois, reach out to Illinois Early Childhood Outdoors IECO, or the Northern Illinois Nature Play Association NINPA. Professional Development, etc.  For consultation to support outdoor early learning programs in Illinois contact Teresa Weed directly at forestplayschool@gmail.com.  Research Libraries: Green Schoolyards America is a free online resource library and virtual community of practice designed to help schools and districts move their classes and programs outside across the country and around the world Children and Nature Network curates the world’s largest collection of peer-reviewed literature about nature’s benefits for children.   Website: http://www.wildforchange.com Twitter: @WildForChange Facebook: /wildforchange Instagram: wildforchange

    57 min
5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Wild For Change Podcast! This podcast celebrates people and organizations that are making a difference for animals and nature around the globe. We’ll discuss their inspiration, work, and why our connection with the natural world is important for all of us.