S3E36: Laughing Coyotes and Saguaro Dreams: An Unlikely Desert Awakening

The desert is more than a landscape; it is home. Chris Clarke's personal narrative exemplifies this connection, merging personal reflection with broader ecological advocacy. For those invested in its fate, the desert isn't just a geographic location—it's an integral part of their identity, a family…

S3E35: Reimagine, Rebuild, Resist: Creating the World We Want Together

Episode Summary: In this episode of "90 Miles from Needles, the Desert Protection Podcast," host Chris Clarke delivers an impassioned reflection on the results of the recent election. He traces the roots of today's situation to the Reagan administration and beyond, while discussing the challenges …

S3E34: Hope the Mexican Wolf: A Tale of Survival and Loss in Northern Arizona

Join host Chris Clarke as he delves into the poignant tale of Hope, a Mexican wolf, with Greta Anderson from Western Watersheds Project. Discover the politics behind wolf recovery north of Interstate 40, and the broader implications for conservation policy. Anderson highlights the need for policy c…

S3E33: Dr. Naomi Fraga on the Frontlines of Botanical Conservation

Join host Chris Clarke and guest Dr. Naomi Fraga, Director of Conservation Programs at the California Botanic Garden, as they explore the challenges and successes in desert plant conservation in Nevada. Discover the plight of Tiehm's buckwheat threatened by a lithium-boron mining project and the pr…

S3E32: Vote, Engage, and Protect Our Desert

In this special Election Day 2024 episode of "90 Miles from Needles," Chris sheds light on the crucial role of civic engagement in the ongoing struggle to protect North America’s deserts. Released strategically on a day when decisions hold power over environmental policies, this episode emphasizes …

S3E31: Return of the Lobo: Restoring Texas' Mexican Wolves

About the Guest(s): Chris Clarke is the host of the "90 Miles from Needles: The Desert Protection Podcast." He brings a wealth of knowledge about wildlife and conservation topics, particularly relating to the American Southwest's deserts. Rick LoBello is the Education and Conservation Curator at…

S3E30: Exploring the Art and Science of Joshua Trees

Juniper Harrower Juniper Harrower is an artist and ecologist currently serving as an art professor at Reed College in Portland, Oregon. Born in Palm Springs and raised in the high desert, Harrower has a profound connection with desert ecology. Her work is deeply intertwined with Joshua tree ecosyst…

S3E29: Barbed Wire and Border Walls: The Unseen Cost of Fragmented Habitats

About the Guest: Ben Goldfarb is an award-winning environmental journalist and prolific author known for his focus on the intersection of human activity and wildlife. His works, including Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet, explore groundbreaking ecological concepts a…

S3E28: There Ain't No Big Faucet: Water Politics with the Great Basin Water Network

About the Guest: Kyle Roerink is the Executive Director of the Great Basin Water Network. Roerink has been a pivotal figure in advocating for sustainable water management across the Great Basin and the Colorado Plateau. His organization has played a significant role in addressing critical issues …

S3E27: Los Alamos's Dark Legacy: Plutonium Pollution in Plain Sight

About the Guest: Dr. Michael E. Ketterer is a Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at Northern Arizona University. With extensive expertise in analytical chemistry and environmental analysis of radionuclides such as uranium and plutonium, Dr. Ketterer has dedicated his recent research to studying haza…