The Wild Life

The Wild Life
  • 4.8 (48)
  • NATURE
  • UPDATED MONTHLY
The Wild Life

An optimistic, curiosity-chasing show about the wonder and wildness of life, following the threads that connect us to the natural world. The Wild Life is, always has been, and always will be a show about the diversity of life within the animal kingdom, but it's about more than that. It's about connections. It's about how the natural world inspires our culture, movies, and technologies. It's about the patterns that persist throughout not just life, but the universe itself. It's about us. The Wild Life is a place for the curious, the adventurous, the hopeful, and the hopeless to discover the natural world through unique perspectives. Between the blog and podcasts, The Wild Life seeks to bring the traditional naturalist experience into the 21st century by merging immersive storytelling and foley art with technology and creative experiences. It’s an exploration of truth, common ground, and shared places as we attempt to fill each episode with wonder, connectedness, intrigue, and humor. Thank you for being here. Contact | devonlbowker@gmail.com

  1. SEP 12

    Harvest Mice, 3-Legged Beavers, and Elephant Conflicts with Dylan Beckham

    Joining The Wild Life today is Dylan Beckham! She spent two years as a zookeeper caring for all sorts of exotics, including reptiles, invertebrates, fish, emus, wallabies, genets and Eurasian harvest mice. As a herpetology enthusiast, she was surprised to find it was the mice that stole her heart. This led to the development of her independent research project investigating their nesting behaviors in captivity, before ultimately leaving the zoo to pursue her passion for wildlife research. She managed to fit in an adventure to Canada, where she interned at a wildlife rehab facility, wrestled raccoons, and fell madly in love with a three-legged beaver! Now she's wading through nearly a hundred hours of harvest mouse data, while preparing to return to university for a top-up Bachelor's degree in September, where she'll be doing a research project on human-elephant conflict in Equatorial Guinea. Whether you're fascinated by the world of zookeeping, curious about the nuances of data collection, or passionate about conservation, this episode is for you. Follow Dylan on Instagram Have questions, topic suggestions, or want to be on the show? Email me at devonlbowker@gmail.com or dm me on Instagram or TikTok @devonthenatureguy Support The Wild Life for as little as $1 per month at www.patreon.com/thewildlife

    33 min
  2. Where There's Smoke, There's Fire—with Ross Barreto

    AUG 21

    Where There's Smoke, There's Fire—with Ross Barreto

    Where there's smoke, there's fire. But when that fire tears through a landscape, what happens next? Today, we dive into the world of pyrophytic ecosystems—those that not only survive but thrive on fire. Our guide on today's journey is Ross Barreto, a master's student studying native plant population dynamics and spatial ecology. He's also an Urban Forester and likes to experiment with native plant propagation, seed production, and outplanting for restoration and horticulture purposes. We explore the role of fire in Florida's ecosystems, native plants, and the resilience of nature. Follow Ross on Instagram @barross0505 Have questions, topic suggestions, or want to be on the show? Email me at devonlbowker@gmail.com or dm me on Instagram or TikTok @devonthenatureguy Support The Wild Life for as little as $1 per month at www.patreon.com/thewildlife

    43 min
  3. Wildlife Cinematography with Jake Davis

    AUG 1

    Wildlife Cinematography with Jake Davis

    Welcome to The Wild Life! On today's episode, we have a fascinating guest: wildlife cinematographer Jake Davis. Jake’s career began by focusing on the wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Growing up, he spent his summers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where the Teton Range's jagged peaks and abundant wildlife fostered a deep love for nature and a desire to share and preserve it. Today, while Jake travels the globe to film the stories of vulnerable wildlife, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem remains his home. As a cinematographer, Jake works on natural history productions for renowned platforms like BBC, National Geographic, Disney, Netflix, and Apple. Most recently, he spent five months filming snow leopards in Mongolia for the third installment of BBC's famous series "Planet Earth.” His recent work has been part of a series nominated for a 2023 Emmy and for Best Cinematography at the prestigious Jackson Wild Film Festival. Jake’s work incorporates diverse filming techniques, including long lens, drone, and gimbals, but he is best known for his novel approach to filming wildlife with high-tech camera traps. He also created the world’s first collection of wildlife Ambrotypes, featuring images on glass plates. Among his accolades, Jake was a 2019 finalist in the renowned Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition held by the London Natural History Museum, and his work has been displayed at the Smithsonian in the Exhibition of Nature's Best Photography. His nature greeting card line is sold in stores across the western United States, including REIs and the Yellowstone stores. In this episode, we discuss the importance of understanding animal behavior and ecology to capture the perfect shot and effectively tell their stories. We explore the future and potential of artificial intelligence in wildlife filmmaking, the "chicken or the egg" question of wildlife cinematography, and the challenges of working off-grid. Jake shares his experiences with camera traps, the heart-wrenching decisions of the footage chopping block, and how to craft compelling narratives without words. Join us for an in-depth conversation that highlights the blend of artistry and science required to bring the wild to our screens. Check out his website and order some prints Check out his gallery Follow Jake on Instagram Have questions, topic suggestions, or want to be on the show? Email me at devonlbowker@gmail.com or dm me on Instagram or TikTok @devonthenatureguy Support The Wild Life for as little as $1 per month at www.patreon.com/thewildlife

    39 min
  4. Animal Ethics with Maggie Herskowitz

    JUL 24

    Animal Ethics with Maggie Herskowitz

    In this episode of The Wild Life, animal welfare scientist Maggie Herskowitz helps us navigate the tangled webs society has woven around the treatment of animals, both wild and domestic. Gray areas, moral calculations, trophy hunting, industrial-scale fishing and livestock, and the emerging field of conservation ethics. Our conversation spans a range of topics including sloth bears, baby chicks, wolves, porpoises, The Grind, social media's impact on monkeys, and the infamous case of Cecil the Lion. Please be aware that this episode includes discussions about the death and killing of animals, mistreatment, and animal abuse, among other sensitive topics. Listener discretion is advised. Join us for a thought-provoking and often challenging discussion that sheds light on the complex and sometimes uncomfortable realities of animal welfare. Let's dive in with Maggie Herskowitz and explore the critical issues at the heart of how we treat our fellow creatures. Follow Maggie on X Learn more about Maggie Check out her YouTube! Have questions, topic suggestions, or want to be on the show? Email me at devonlbowker@gmail.com or dm me on Instagram or TikTok @devonthenatureguy Support The Wild Life for as little as $1 per month at www.patreon.com/thewildlife

    1h 17m
  5. SciComm, Squids, and Staying Hopeful with Dr Carly Anne York

    JUN 26

    SciComm, Squids, and Staying Hopeful with Dr Carly Anne York

    The world is full of science and, in turn, scientists, and not enough people who truly have that spark for communicating all of that discovery and wonder to the rest of the world. People like today's guest—Dr Carly Anne York (@BiologyCarly). She's an Associate Professor at Lenoir-Rhyne University, an Animal Physiologist, a Science Communicator, and an Author. Today, science communication, children’s books, squid physiology, mindblowing animal facts, things that are true that are hard to believe, academic and environmental activism, holding onto hope in a world that seems insistent that we shouldn’t, and advice for future scientists Check out her website Carly on X Carly on Instagram Carly on TikTok You can support The Wild Life by becoming a member on Patreon for as little as $1 per month Have questions, guest recommendations, or want to join the email list? Contact me here OR at hello@thewildlife.blog

    35 min

  6. JUN 19

    Carnivore Ecology with Aidan Branney

    Welcome to The Wild Life, the podcast where we explore the wonders of the natural world and the science that helps us understand it. In this episode, we have an extraordinary guest: Aidan Branney. When we first recorded this interview nearly a year ago, Aidan was working as the large carnivore scientific aid for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Today, he’s a Presidential Research Fellow at the University of Georgia, where he studies large carnivores including lions, leopards, cheetahs, and spotted hyenas in Etosha National Park in Namibia. In this episode, we delve into Aidan's fascinating educational and professional journey, his work on ocelots in Texas, and his research on coyotes, black bears, and bobcats. We'll explore what defines carnivores and the complex challenge of balancing ecological needs with stakeholder interests. Aidan shares insights into estimating populations and monitoring changes in these majestic animals, and we'll discuss how to maintain hope and persevere in a world where conservation efforts often feel like trying to slow a leaking dam with duct tape. Join us as we venture into the wild world of carnivore ecology with Aidan Branney, uncovering the science, the struggles, and the triumphs of studying and protecting some of the planet's most charismatic creatures. Aidan on Instagram Aidan on X Support The Wild Life

    1h 23m
  7. Feathers, Fossils, and Old Friends with Dr Tiffany Slater

    APR 4

    Feathers, Fossils, and Old Friends with Dr Tiffany Slater

    17 years ago, I was a 14 year old attending Connor Middle School in Hebron, Kentucky. Small little town, just across the Ohio River. In 2018, I moved away, back down to Houston, TX. But in the few years I was there, I met and became friends with some of the most amazing people, most of which I lost contact with over the years Then one day, sometime last year or so, a familiar name popped up on my feed—an old friend, and today’s guest. On today's episode, Dr Tiffany Slater tells us all about her amazing discoveries and career as a taphonomist! Searching for molecular ghosts in the fossil record, ginger frogs, ancient proteins, learning there’s a difference between aging fossils and dating fossils, feathered connections, archaeopteryx, perspectives, particle accelerators, and of course, catching up… Dinosaur feathers reveal traces of ancient proteins Dr Tiffany Slater's University of College Cork Profile Support the Show Contact | hello@thewildlife.blog Follow Devon on TikTok and Instagram Follow Tiffany on Twitter

    1h 14m

  8. MAR 30

    Secrets of the Octopus with Sy Montgomery and Warren Carlyle

    From their three hearts to their ability to transform and communicate, discover the extraordinary world of octopuses with host Devon Bowker and special guest Sy Montgomery, the "octopus whisperer" herself, and octopus expert Warren Carlyle, founder of OctoNation®. In a new adventure, Secrets of the Octopus, they dive deep into the secrets of the ocean's most enigmatic creatures, exploring the latest revelations in octopus research and conservation efforts. With captivating storytelling and stunning visuals, the pair uncover why these creatures are worthy of our admiration and protection. Secrets of the Octopus | Book TRAILER| Secrets of the Octopus on National Geographic and Disney+ OctoNation Support the Show Contact | hello@thewildlife.blog Follow Devon on TikTok and Instagram Follow Sy Montgomery Follow Warren Carlyle

    45 min
See All (188)

4.8
out of 5
48 Ratings

About

An optimistic, curiosity-chasing show about the wonder and wildness of life, following the threads that connect us to the natural world. The Wild Life is, always has been, and always will be a show about the diversity of life within the animal kingdom, but it's about more than that. It's about connections. It's about how the natural world inspires our culture, movies, and technologies. It's about the patterns that persist throughout not just life, but the universe itself. It's about us. The Wild Life is a place for the curious, the adventurous, the hopeful, and the hopeless to discover the natural world through unique perspectives. Between the blog and podcasts, The Wild Life seeks to bring the traditional naturalist experience into the 21st century by merging immersive storytelling and foley art with technology and creative experiences. It’s an exploration of truth, common ground, and shared places as we attempt to fill each episode with wonder, connectedness, intrigue, and humor. Thank you for being here. Contact | devonlbowker@gmail.com

Information

  • Channel
    The Wild Life
  • Creator
    The Wild Life
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2024
  • Episodes
    188
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    The Wild Life

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