Golden State Naturalist

I run trails in the California foothills and sierras. This show always helps me understand what I am looking at!

This show is a delightful treat I give myself every weekend. Each show is a deep dive into a particular topic or region. Michelle finds interesting and articulate experts all over the state and goes out into the field with them. She asks them great questions for a fascinating interview. I especially love the asides she inserts here and there. I'm a graduate of the UCANR California Naturalist program and this show is my continuing education program, only with better production values. And don't miss the merch - I get so many compliments on my shirt with the grizzly bear with the California poppy in its mouth!

I found Golden State Naturalist about 2 months ago and have been methodically ticking through the episodes ever since then. Michelle’s enthusiasm, research, breath of interviews and humor, are all delightful and compelling. This is the “news” that one needs to hear!

Just listened to the epic oak episode and so enjoyed it, as I do every episode I listen to. Michelle is excellent, as are the guests. I need more of this in my life!

This podcast is the best resource I’ve found for connecting with nature in California, while also being well edited, well paced, and easy to listen to. Michelle selects incredible experts to interview and does a great job balancing depth on a particular topic with accessibility. She also covers a huge diversity of topics: different regions and ecosystems, specific animals and plants, restoration and community topics, and even things like nature drawing. After listening to half the episodes, I still feel like I’m learning something new on each one and I’ve ended up with a ton of great books to read, places to visit, and a real sense of how to get involved in caring for the nature in my area.