Nerdy About Nature

Dr. Rachel Holt is a renown forest ecologist who has been working for the past 30 years on protecting old growth forests in BC. After witnessing the first Old Growth Strategic Review in the 90s fall short on its promises, and then watching the recent one she contributed to follow a similar path, Rachel shares her frustrations and learnings from these experiences, along with thoughts on what more is needed to create change for a better future.
In this episode, we'll learn about what makes the old growth forests of BC so unique, their current state, how much is left and what is still threatened under the guidance of our current government. We'll also learn of ongoing industry-funded propaganda, and how it contributes to policy failures that allow these incredibly rare and important forests to still be logged today.

Learn more about Rachel and give her a follow.

Last Stand for Biodiversity Report
Old Growth Strategic Review

Each episode of Nerdy About Nature makes a donation to a non-profit of the guests choosing using funds from Patreon supporters, and in this episode Rachel chose to support Neighbours United.

Nerdy About Nature is an independent passion project that relies on support from folks like you.  If you’re enjoying this podcast and videos, help me keep making them by becoming a paid subscriber on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Substack.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also make a one-time donation, get NAN merch, resources and more information at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.NerdyAboutNature.com

Rande Cook is an Indigenous wood carver and artist, a hereditary chief of the Ma'amtagila Nation, a progressive / rebellious visionary, and one heck of an inspiring human. I sat down with him at his studio in Victoria BC to chat all about his art, his role as a chief, land back, and the work he does connecting folks to each other and the lands we all share to create a better future.

Learn more about Rande's art at the Rande Cook gallery

Learn more about Awi'nakola

Each episode of Nerdy About Nature makes a donation to a non-profit of the guests choosing using funds from Patreon supporters, and in this episode Rande chose to support the Akala Society.

Nerdy About Nature is an independent passion project that relies on support from folks like you.  If you’re enjoying this podcast and videos, help me keep making them by becoming a paid subscriber on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠or⁠⁠⁠⁠ Substack.⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also make a one-time donation, get NAN merch, resources and more information at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.NerdyAboutNature.com

Undercurrents is a podcast series from Nerdy About Nature where we discuss recent studies, reports and news from the world of environment, ecology and climate which all impact our understanding of the world and the way we relate to it.  In other words, it’s all the unseen things that happen without much notice that impact the direction or flow of our society and the world we all share.

This episodes topics:
Life on Mars:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09413-0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FAYABW-c_Q
Podchat 21 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFwdac42Qng
Fungi land evolution:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-025-02851-z
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251001092208.htm
http://science.psu.edu/news-and-events/2001-news/Hedges8-2001.htm

Produced by Ross Reid
Hosted by Ross Reid & Julia Huggins

Nerdy About Nature is a passion project whose primary goal is to provide free access for all to education about this world so that people can enjoy it more, build connection and fall in love with it, and ultimately work in ways to steward it for future generations to enjoy.  We do this through short and long form videos all over social media @NerdyAboutNature, as well as this podcast you’re listening to now, and it’s all made possible thanks to support from folks like yourself.  If you’re enjoying the content we’re creating, you can help keep it going by supporting us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/nerdyaboutnature⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nerdyaboutnature.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Natures pretty neat, ya know - let’s keep it that way!

Out on the west coast of Vancouver Island exists an awesome little non-profit that siphons sea water from the harbour into tanks on land, which briefly house some of the areas most gorgeous residents from under the waves. I'm talking about the Ucluelet Aquarium, a catch-and-release aquarium who gathers all of its exhibits seasonally from the surrounding waters, giving visitors a glimpse into a world that surrounds us yet we seldom see.

I sat down with Laura Griffith-Cochrane from the Ucluelet Aquarium to chat all about this awesome project, and her unique approach to education that emphasizes hands-on interactions to build connection and care to place. We also delve into various issues relating to these near-shore marine ecosystems, with ethical information on fishing and tide-pooling that we all could use to become better stewards of these places for generations to come.

For more information on the Ucluelet Aquarium, visit www.uclueletaquarium.org

Each episode of Nerdy About Nature makes a donation to a non-profit of the guests choosing using funds from Patreon supporters, and in this episode Laura chose to give hers to ⁠Surfrider Foundation

Nerdy About Nature is an independent passion project that relies on support from folks like you.  If you’re enjoying this podcast and videos, help me keep making them by becoming a paid subscriber on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠or⁠⁠⁠ Substack.⁠⁠⁠

You can also make a one-time donation, get NAN merch, resources and more information at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.NerdyAboutNature.com

Forests are incredibly important ecosystems on our planet for many different reasons from carbon storage to biodiversity, and yet they face constant pressure to meet human demands in many forms. With a significant portion of deforestation and forest degradation attributed to demand for pulp, paper, packaging and even textile products, how can we work to meet these demands while also taking better care of our forests?

I sat down with Valerie Langer of Canopy Planet who works to source and grow emerging markets of alternative sources to forests for pulp and textile demands, and it's budding potential. Join us as we chat all about this inspiring new perspective on managing forest uses and demands, as well as Val's colourful history in advocacy and action for forests, and how she's been able to gain greater leverage for protecting forests by stepping away from the front lines and into the corporate world.

Today's episode was brought to you by Canopy Planet, who works to protect forests all over the world in a variety of different ways.
Learn more about all the good they do at www.canopyplanet.org

Each episode of Nerdy About Nature makes a donation to a non-profit of the guests choosing using funds from Patreon supporters, and in this episode Val chose to give hers to Friends of Clayoquot Sound

Nerdy About Nature is an independent passion project that relies on support from folks like you.  If you’re enjoying this podcast and videos, help me keep making them by becoming a paid subscriber on ⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠or⁠⁠ Substack.⁠⁠

You can also make a one-time donation, get NAN merch, resources and more information at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.NerdyAboutNature.com