Best Tommy Serafinski Podcasts (2024)

1
183: Nature Restoration Law - an Irish Farmer’s Perspective with Bill O’Keeffe 1:20:51

10h ago1:20:51

1:20:51

Why was the farming community so opposed to the EU’s Nature Restoration Law? Doesn’t a healthy ecosystem benefit agriculture? Isn’t the availability of additional payments for alternative use of unproductive land a good thing? Aren’t the measures built into the law sufficient to protect the actively used agricultural land? To find answers to those …

1
182: Lead Ammunition and Health with Fredrik Widemo 1:04:36

14d ago1:04:36

1:04:36

Should we worry about consuming venison from an animal harvested with lead ammunition? Will cutting out and discarding meat around the impact area solve the problem? And what are the best practices to keep us safe? Most of us have heard about the negative effects of lead on health. Not only on our health but also on the health of the ecosystems. In…

1
181: Farming and Soil Biodiversity with Stuart Meikle 1:10:07

28d ago1:10:07

1:10:07

What is sustainable agriculture? Does regenerative farming mean focusing primarily on the soil biome? Is farming a leading cause of biodiversity loss? …and do we really have only 60 harvests left? To get the answers to those and other questions about farming and biodiversity, join me for a conversation with an agricultural management and policy spe…

1
180: Hunters Just Are 34:05

1M ago34:05

34:05

Not long ago I posted a tweet: “Hunters are not good or bad, they just are. Therefore, they must be managed just like, and as a part of, the wildlife they hunt.” It was an attempt to condense my thoughts about our relationship with wildlife and nature. I purposefully used the word “our” because I believe that we are all hunters; it's just that this…

1
179: Sika Deer: Pest or Precious? 1:28:35

2M ago1:28:35

1:28:35

Sika (cervus nippon) is a mid-sized deer that was introduced to Ireland in the 1860s to the Powerscourt Estate. Soon after that, it started spreading across Ireland. Today, the main concentrations of sika are in Kerry, Wicklow, Tyrone and Fermanagh. More recently, it has also been found in Waterford, Galway, Limerick, and Wexford. The National Biod…

1
178: Why Biodiversity Matters with Nigel Dudley 58:26

2M ago58:26

58:26

“Why Biodiversity Matters” is fundamentally a philosophy book. However, the author and our guest, Nigel Dudley, is not a philosopher but an accomplished conservation biologist who has accumulated an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience working on conservation projects across the world. He has worked as a consultant ecologist with internati…

1
177: Nature, Farming and Politics with Saoirse McHugh 1:02:17

3M ago1:02:17

1:02:17

Join me for a conversation with Saoirse McHugh who is running as an independent candidate for the European Parliament to represent the Midlands-North-West constituency. During our discussion, we delve into a wide array of topics such as the connection between agriculture and environmentalism, sustainable land management practices and agricultural s…

1
176: Invasive Ants Impact Lion Predation on Zebras, with Adam T. Ford 51:59

4M ago51:59

51:59

The paper that we discuss in this episode describes how an invasive species of ants disrupts lion hunting behaviour. There are also acacia trees, elephants, zebras and buffalos involved in the whole chain of interactions between species. To talk about this incredibly interesting research I invited an Associate Professor, Adam Ford, Canada Research …

1
175: SOTKA Wetlands with Veli-Matti Pekkarinen and Heikki Helle 58:54

4M ago58:54

58:54

Finnish SOTKA is a large-scale habitat restoration project and a part of a larger Helmi Habitats Programme aimed at restoring Finland’s biodiversity. It is run by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of the Environment. SOTKA’s objective is large-scale habitat restoration through wetlands rehabilitation, restoration of mires an…

1
174: Not A Conservationist 11:01

5M ago11:01

11:01

Many people claim they are conservationists. But are they really? Inspired by your comments and some discussions that I had in the past, I decided to talk about this subject. This episode was recorded outdoors, on the beautiful Irish coast of county Kerry. So, don’t be surprised to hear chough calling in the background or some occasional gusts of w…

1
173: The Last Keeper with Tom Opre 1:23:06

5M ago1:23:06

1:23:06

I have been waiting for Tom Opre’s new film “The Last Keeper” since I learned in July 2022 that he and his team are working on it. Well, the wait was over for me at the beginning of February 2024, as I was the only person in Ireland to screen the film. The wait will soon be over for you as well since the film premieres in mid-April in Edinburgh. Wh…

1
172: Antidote to Screen Addiction with Emanuel Rose 46:35

5M ago46:35

46:35

This episode is slightly different than usual when it comes to its subject. However, working with technology by day and creating digital content by night, I spend substantial time thinking about and grappling with this subject. So when I learned that a long-term supporter and a friend of the podcast, Emanuel Rose, wrote a book about it, I decided t…

1
171: Rewilding with Steve Carver 51:51

6M ago51:51

51:51

It has been a considerable time since the last time we spoke about rewilding on the podcast. I feel that the discussion around the practice as well as understanding of the term has moved on in the last three to four years. So, I decided to get an update on the state of rewilding. To do so, I invited the Director of the Wildland Research Institute a…

1
170: EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 with Frank Vassen 55:14

6M ago55:14

55:14

Currently, a lot is going on in the European Union concerning regulations that can impact nature and nature restoration. To get a better understanding of the current state of nature in the European Union and the future of nature conservation and restoration I talk with Frank Vassen. Frank works in the Nature Unit in the General Directorate for the …

1
169: Species Reintroductions 30:20

6M ago30:20

30:20

Species reintroductions, often in the context of rewilding, is a topic that we frequently discuss on this podcast. It is also fiercely debated on social media. I have been asked more than once about my views and opinions on this topic. Do I support species reintroductions? Well, it depends. In this episode, I’m going to break down my take on specie…

1
168: Coexistence with Wolves in Estonia with Helen Arusoo 57:29

7M ago57:29

57:29

On my podcast, we talk a lot about coexistence with large carnivores and the challenges it poses. Some of those challenges might seem insurmountable to some. To shed some light on overcoming these hurdles, I contacted Helen Arusoo, an Estonian nature journalist and the leader of the National Animal Working Group. In this conversation, we talk about…

1
167: Conservation Detection Dogs with Caroline Finlay 49:49

7M ago49:49

49:49

When we talk about dogs and conservation, it is usually in the context of wildlife disturbances caused by pet dogs and their inconsiderate owners. However, a specially trained dog can be an invaluable asset in conservation projects that require searches or detection. The subjects can vary from searching and finding carcasses to detecting nests and …

1
166: Conservation and Science in 2024 - Housekeeping 53:37

8M ago53:37

53:37

The new year has just started and I’m quick to treat you to yet another episode of the Conservation and Science podcast. Since it is this early in the year, it’s a good opportunity to give you an update about my plans for 2024 and what you can expect from the podcast. Listen to find out about changes to the episode release schedule, my writing and …

1
165: Flicker in the Water with Bob Gonzalez 49:37

8M ago49:37

49:37

A Flicker in the Water is a book about fishing I wish someone had written a long time ago. I gotta admit that due to its small size, I initially underestimated it. However, as I started reading it, I was immediately drawn to the series of fishing stories and captivated by original, real-life photos. In fact, reading this book was so pleasurable tha…

1
164: Shotgun Conservationist with Brant MacDuff 1:15:55

8M ago1:15:55

1:15:55

The story of Brant MacDuff, the author of the book under the title “The Shotgun Conservationist: Why Environmentalists Should Love Hunting” is in many ways similar to mine. We were both born and raised in the city without any contact or access to hunting. We overcame not insignificant obstacles to get into hunting later in life and both of us decid…

1
163: The EU Review of Wolf Protection Status 1:23:05

9M ago1:23:05

1:23:05

The European Commission is deliberating on lowering the protection status of wolves in the EU. It seems like this decision has been taken after the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen’s pony was killed by wolves. Is this really the reason for what many have dubbed “a new European wolf hunt”? To unpack this issue I talked to environm…

1
162: Sheep, Soil and Biodiversity with Suzanna Crampton 1:30:24

9M ago1:30:24

1:30:24

The impact of farming on nature is one of the most contested subjects. The negative impact on biodiversity and soil health is juxtaposed with food security and benefits to certain species of wildlife. But does it have to be one or the other? Join me for the conversation with Suzanna Crampton who is one of the most recognisable figures in Irish agri…

1
161: Archery Insights with Jim Clark 1:01:30

10M ago1:01:30

1:01:30

This episode is a real treat for all those who are interested in bowhunting, bowhunting culture and the ethics of bowhunting compared to rifle hunting. Everything sprinkled with a healthy dose of hunting stories. — It feels like I’m one of the only very few who talks about bowhunting with European listeners in mind. Indeed, I would like to see hunt…

1
160: Safari Club International with Ben Cassidy 57:34

10M ago57:34

57:34

Today, we continue the exploration of the public perception of hunting, the issue of social license to hunt and some current topics related to hunting. Certain issues such as the use of lead in hunting ammunition or the attempts to ban the import of certain animal parts, aka trophy import ban, often hit the headlines. And there is no better person …

1
159: Polar Bears in a Warming World with Andrew Derocher 1:04:57

11M ago1:04:57

1:04:57

This episode will answer all your questions about polar bears — including those you didn’t know you had. Our guest is Professor Andrew Derocher from the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta who specialises in ecology, conservation, and management of large Arctic mammals with a particular focus on polar bears. The subjects …

1
158: Wildlife In The Balance with Simon Mustoe 1:05:18

11M ago1:05:18

1:05:18

In his book, “Wildlife in The Balance”, expert ecologist Simon Mustoe lays out the case for animals being the most important ingredient of the ecosystem. He outlines the critical importance of keeping the planet’s energy inputs and outputs in balance and the role animals play in ensuring this balance. This connection of ecology with physics is one …

1
157: Is The Red Wolf a Real Species? Conversation with Peter Brewitt 59:13

12M ago59:13

59:13

In our conversation with Peter Brewitt from the University of California, Santa Cruz (currently the University of Cumbria) we dive into the history of the species as we know it, and their current conservation status and distribution. We discuss the genetic diversity of canids on the American continent, and why attempts to recover red wolves might b…

1
156: Save Blackswarth Road Wood with Phil Sturgeon 1:02:07

1y ago1:02:07

1:02:07

Some things are so tiny yet so central that they matter more than giant things elsewhere. This is a paraphrased message I got from Phil Sturgeon, an ex-techie and founder of Protect Earth charity, who dedicated his life to woodland creation and restoration. As it turns out, Phil is running a fundraiser to buy five acres of mature woodland in Crew's…

1
155: Sixgill Sharks and Flapper Skates with Patrick Collins 53:10

1y ago53:10

53:10

The sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus) is the largest of the Hexanchiformes order of sharks, the most primitive living sharks, sometimes called “fossil sharks”. The sixgill, sometimes known as the blunt nose sixgill or cow shark, can grow to over 6 metres (20 feet) in length and weigh over a tonne. What’s interesting is that in Ireland one can catch…

1
154: Hunting Europe: The Present and Future with David Scallan 1:12:53

1y ago1:12:53

1:12:53

It was my great pleasure to once again welcome to my show Dr David Scallan, the Secretary General of the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE). It has been over three years since the last time we spoke on the podcast. So I felt that it was high time to talk with David again as there is a lot going on for hunters and hunting organi…

1
153: Do You Believe in Climate Change? 19:03

1y ago19:03

19:03

This episode is slightly different from the usual format. It is a solo episode, so no guest today. I decided to record it because of a few bothersome messages I have received recently regarding climate change. But don’t worry, I will not repeat all the same information you get bombarded with on social media. And I will not reference any research or…

1
152: From Anti-hunter to Advocate with Philippe Jaeger 1:01:51

1y ago1:01:51

1:01:51

Hunting is a frequent topic on my podcast. It lies in the epicentre of the unnecessary divide in wildlife conservation space. It evokes strong emotions and is often the source of fierce debate and conflict. So today I’m bringing you my conversation with a man who has been on both sides of that argument. Philippe Jaeger is a hunting journalist who i…

1
151: Irish Sturgeon with Declan Quigley 52:37

1y ago52:37

52:37

One of the three pillars of my podcast is to preserve knowledge about how the natural environment was in the past and to record stories and experiences from many decades ago. One such story, that I have a feeling is slipping away, is the story of the Irish sturgeon. Or to be more precise the story of sturgeon in Irish waters, as it wasn’t a separat…

1
150: Predator Control with Barry McMahon 1:02:05

1y ago1:02:05

1:02:05

The topic of lethal predator control has proven to be highly contentious. On one end of the spectrum, there are people who are inherently opposed to killing animals no matter the circumstances. On the other end are people who are eager to get on with reducing numbers, too eager perhaps. However, there are many reasons and scenarios where it might b…

1
149: Changes to Deer Hunting and Firearms Licensing in Ireland with Liam M. Nolan 1:13:06

1+ y ago1:13:06

1:13:06

There is a lot going on for Irish deer hunters at the moment. First, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine launched a Public Consultation on the Management of Deer in Ireland. There are a lot of questions and worries about the potential outcomes of this consultation. The online survey published as a part of it only confirmed these conc…

1
148: Environmental Dialogue with Rob Yorke 44:07

1+ y ago44:07

44:07

Those of you who follow me on social media already know that last week I gave a presentation about the use of podcasting for communicating complex and nuanced ideas to non-experts. The presentation was part of the 7th International Journalism Symposium on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Wildlife Resources. The symposium was moderated by a well-…

1
147: Woodcock Research and Hunting with James O'Neill 1:06:38

1+ y ago1:06:38

1:06:38

The woodcock is one of the most interesting birds. It is a wader that adapted to the woodland habitat. It has a range of unique characteristics like 360-degree vision, a flexible bill and white tail feathers that reflect up to 30% more light than the feathers of any other bird. It is also a valued game bird, meaning it is a sought-after quarry for …

1
146: Multi-Generational Outdoors Teaching with Emanuel Rose 53:55

1+ y ago53:55

53:55

Once again we are coming back to the subject of getting the young generation educated about nature and involved in experiences they might otherwise miss. It’s a theme that has been discussed on my podcast several times. It also comes back time and time again during my conversations about the state of nature and outdoor pursuits. Young people are ju…

1
145: The Future of Hunting with Richard Prideaux 1:17:11

1+ y ago1:17:11

1:17:11

With declining wildlife populations, expanding urbanisation and dwindling social acceptance of hunting I often question whether this activity has a future. Add to the list the ageing population of hunters and the minimal recruitment of new hunters from young generations and the picture doesn’t look pretty. So is hunting fading into the history book…

1
144: How to Cut All Chemical Nitrogen on a Farm with James Foley 1:29:54

1+ y ago1:29:54

1:29:54

Today we discuss a wide range of important farming-related topics like getting rid of nitrogen inputs, multispecies pasture, soil health, organic farming and how to convert a conventional farm to a low input operation. James describes his journey to regenerative farming and how it helped both biodiversity and his pocket. Of course, we don’t shy awa…

1
143: Emergent with Miriam Kate McDonald 1:06:09

1+ y ago1:06:09

1:06:09

We often ask the question of whether farming and rewilding can coexist. Today we are going a step further and asking if farming and rewilding can support each other. To answer this question I talk with Miriam Kate McDonald, an ecologist and farmer, who recently published her book titled “Emergent: Rewilding Nature, Regenerating Food and Healing the…

1
142: Treated Like Animals with Alick Simmons 1:08:51

1+ y ago1:08:51

1:08:51

The subject of the humane treatment of animals is not an easy one. As hunters, anglers, conservationists, farmers and pet owners we like to think that we instinctively know which interactions with animals are humane and okay, and which are not. And when someone questions our actions or intentions we often tend to get irritated and defensive. The ep…

1
141: Atlantic Bluefin Tuna with William Roche 1:10:49

1+ y ago1:10:49

1:10:49

Join me for the conversation with Dr William Roche, a senior research officer at Inland Fisheries Ireland, about angler-driven fish tagging programmes. We put a particular focus on the Tuna CHART programme but we also talk about the Marine Sportfish Tagging Programme which is aimed at elasmobranch species of fish like sharks, skates and rays. And a…

1
140: Salmon Aquaculture and Coastal Communities with John Aitchison 1:02:39

1+ y ago1:02:39

1:02:39

Listen to my conversation with John Aitchison from the Coastal Communities Network Scotland to learn about the devastating effects of salmon farming on the marine environment and coastal communities. Toxic waste, pesticides, diseases and parasites are just the tip of the iceberg. I knew that salmon farming was bad but I didn’t realise quite how bad…

1
139: Tommy’s Outdoors Year End Show 20:07

1+ y ago20:07

20:07

This is the final show of the year 2022. So, instead of examining another complex subject from the realm of conservation or ecology, I decided to record a solo episode and summarise what this year has been like for the podcast. I will also reveal some of the changes that are coming to the show. I look forward to bringing you more wildlife, conserva…

1
138: Marine Mammals and Aquatic Soundscapes with Denise Risch 1:07:02

1+ y ago1:07:02

1:07:02

Marine acoustic ecology is a discipline that is important for our understanding of marine ecosystems. To learn more about it, tune in to my conversation with Denise Risch from the COMPASS project, and discover the acoustic behaviour of marine mammals. There is an entire world hidden under the surface of the ocean and, as the common saying goes, we …

1
137: Salmonid Studies with Richard Kennedy 1:02:23

1+ y ago1:02:23

1:02:23

What are the differences between salmon and sea trout? What are their migration patterns when they get to the ocean? Find out what scientists from the Compass Project have learned about these fascinating fish from my conversation with Dr Richard Kennedy. Salmonids are fascinating fish and that’s not only because of their life history strategy. They…

1
136: The Politics of Nature Restoration with Ariel Brunner 1:22:36

1+ y ago1:22:36

1:22:36

In this episode, our guest is Ariel Brunner, Head of EU Policy at the environmental NGO BirdLife International. During our conversation, we hit on three areas that are most interesting from the perspective of nature restoration: farming, hunting and the marine. Successful nature restoration, species conservation and even access to hunting grounds d…

1
135: Wilder Bison with Paul Whitfield 1:05:50

2y ago1:05:50

1:05:50

Let's talk about bison in the UK, shall we? In this episode, I chat with Paul Whitfield, the Director General of Wildwood Trust, about the Wilder Blean project. We discuss the aims, the criticism, the current status and the future of the project. The Wilder Bleen project is a cooperation between Wildwood Trust and Kent Wildlife Trust. It received a…

1
134: Ocean Science with Adam Mellor 1:11:50

2y ago1:11:50

1:11:50

Oceans have a profound impact on weather patterns and the planetary climate. Therefore it is essential to understand the processes that drive the ocean climate and the behaviour patterns of ocean creatures. To discuss these topics our guest today is Dr Adam Mellor who is the Principal Scientific Officer at Agri Food and Bioscience Institute and the…

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