Best USDA Southwest Climate Hub Podcasts (2024)

1
Reforestation: The Trees Are Planted, Now What? 25:54

8d ago25:54

25:54

This is the last episode in our reforestation pipeline series. The success of a reforestation effort largely depends on proper post-planting care and monitoring. We spoke with Dr. Camille Stevens-Rumann, who studies wildfire and post-fire recovery, to learn more about what needs to happen after a tree is planted in a reforestation effort. Relevant …

1
Reforestation: Plant Here, Not There 50:11

1M ago50:11

50:11

In this episode we continue our discussion of the reforestation pipeline. Last month, we discussed how reforestation efforts are critical after high severity wildfires, like the ones we have been witnessing across the Southwest. Now we sit down with two researchers who specialize in modeling to learn more about the science of choosing the right spo…

1
Reforestation: The John T. Harrington Forestry Research Center 43:31

2M ago43:31

43:31

This bonus episode is a re-release of our July 2023 episode highlighting the John T. Harrington Forestry Research Center in Mora, New Mexico, which aims to advance the understanding of restoration activities on forested areas in New Mexico. The Center also provides science-based solutions for private, tribal, state, and federal forest managers, who…

1
Reforestation: It All Starts With A Seed 53:11

2M ago53:11

53:11

Dr. Joshua Sloan and Rachael Foe discuss the process of conifer seed selection and harvest for reforestation efforts in the Southwest, from selecting the parent trees and scouting for good cone crops to climbing the trees and collecting cones. Did you know some forest stands only produce a viable seed crop once every decade? Learn how you could hel…

1
Exploring Nature-Based Solutions 28:41

3M ago28:41

28:41

Nature-based solutions - what are they exactly? Is there a standard definition? And even though the term is new to us, are the practices themselves actually something new? In this episode we speak with Dr. Laura Norman, a Research Physical Scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey, to answer these questions and more. Relevant links: IUCN Global Sta…

1
Burping Cows! Measuring Methane Emissions from Cattle 23:59

4M ago23:59

23:59

According to 2022 statistics published by the US EPA, enteric fermentation (a digestive pathway that produces gasses in the gut) by cattle accounted for around 3% of total US greenhouse gas emissions when converted to carbon dioxide equivalents. We spoke with Dr. Glenn Duff, from New Mexico State University to learn more about the research he and h…

1
Advancing Climate Services Across The Federal Family 24:50

5M ago24:50

24:50

Dr. Julian Reyes joins us to talk about climate services at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Julian shares how his work involves uplifting climate services across the entire federal family and finding synergies across federal agencies to maximize benefits to society. Note: at the time of this recording, Dr. Julian Reyes held…

1
Agrivoltaics: Producing Food and Energy in the Same Place 37:21

7M ago37:21

37:21

Agrivoltaics is the combination of agriculture and photovoltaics to create co-benefits across food, energy, and water systems. There is a lot of research being conducted around the benefits and best practices for implementation of agrivoltaics. We spoke with two experts, Dr. Greg Barron-Gafford from the University of Arizona, and Dr. Brandon Bestel…

1
Solutions for Sustaining Environmental Flows 26:08

8M ago26:08

26:08

Flows in the Rio Chama, a tributary of the Rio Grande in northern New Mexico, have dwindled from drought and rising temperatures as well as diversion for agricultural irrigation. These diminished flows threaten groundwater resources and habitat for endangered plants and animals. Paul Tashjian, Director of Freshwater Conservation with Audubon Southw…

1
Climate Change, Coastlines, and Aquaculture 36:12

8M ago36:12

36:12

How is climate change affecting our coasts and ocean? What about aquaculture? Halley Froehlich, an expert in climate change impacts to coasts and oceans, with a strong focus on aquaculture, joins us to discuss this important topic as we wrap up our series highlighting Key Messages in the Southwest Chapter of the 5th National Climate Assessment. Rel…

1
Fifth National Climate Assessment, Southwest Chapter: Health, Water, Agriculture, and Wildfire 33:29

9M ago33:29

33:29

We continue our discussion of the Southwest Chapter of the 5th National Climate Assessment (NCA5). Each Chapter of NCA5 is organized around Key Messages. This month we interviewed the lead authors of four Key Messages in the Southwest Chapter, covering human health, water, agriculture, and wildfire. Each author shares what they would like people to…

1
Inside the Fifth National Climate Assessment, Southwest Chapter 51:16

11M ago51:16

51:16

Drs. Emile Elias and Dave White discuss the Southwest chapter of the 5th National Climate Assessment (NCA5). They share what it was like to be lead authors of the Southwest chapter, what’s new in this assessment, how it’s being shared, some major findings, and other highlights. We wrap up this episode with what each of them found encouraging or hop…

1
Harvesting Hope: Tackling Food Waste, Hunger, and Climate Change 46:53

11M ago46:53

46:53

We speak with the directors of two non-profit organizations who are turning problems into solutions by getting nutritious food that would normally go to waste back into our food system and into the hands of those who can use it - reducing waste, methane emissions, and fighting food insecurity all at the same time. Cover Image credit: USDA Photo by …

1
Indigenous Agriculture and Climate Resilience 33:52

1y ago33:52

33:52

Continuing with our agriculture theme, this month we are joined by Dr. Michael Kotutwa Johnson (Hopi Tribe of Arizona) who discusses Indigenous agricultural knowledge, traditional farming, Indigenous participation in conservation programs, climate change, and more. USDA Photo by Lance Cheung. Relevant links: Johnson, M.K., Rowe, M. , Lien, A.M.& Ho…

1
The Scoop on Kernza®, a Multi-functional Perennial Grain Crop 39:41

1y ago39:41

39:41

Kernza® is a small perennial grain with multiple environmental benefits, including carbon sequestration. We are joined by Nicole Tautges (Michael Fields Agricultural Institute) and Hana Fancher (The Land Institute) to learn more about the benefits and uses of Kernza®, as well as some of the challenges associated with growing this grain, and possibl…

1
Old Growth Grasslands 39:00

1y ago39:00

39:00

“Old growth” is a term often associated with forests, however scientists are beginning to realize that this concept also applies to other types of ecosystems, including grasslands, which provide a host of important ecosystem services. We interviewed Dr. Katharine Suding, a researcher at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Col…

1
A Closer Look at California Wildfires 35:38

1+ y ago35:38

35:38

What’s behind the increasing size and severity of California’s wildfires? And if the trajectory continues, what does that mean for people living there? How has this trend already impacted residents? Three co-authors of a recent synthesis on drivers of wildfire in the Golden State share their main findings with us, as well as speculating on some pos…

1
After-Fire Reforestation: The John T. Harrington Forestry Research Center 42:57

1+ y ago42:57

42:57

The John T. Harrington Forestry Research Center in Mora, New Mexico, aims to advance the understanding of restoration activities on forested areas in New Mexico through multidisciplinary research, education, and partner collaborations. The Center also provides science-based solutions for private, tribal, state, and federal forest managers, who face…

1
Cultural Burning in Northern California 49:09

1+ y ago49:09

49:09

Traditional burning, also known as cultural burning, is a form of under burning that has been used by Indigenous peoples for thousands of years to increase water runoff into streams, create habitats for plants and animals, recycle nutrients, and promote other ecosystem benefits. We interviewed Diana Almendariz (Maidu/Wintún/Hupa/Yurok), cultural fi…

1
Sarah Ray on Navigating Climate Anxiety 41:41

1+ y ago41:41

41:41

We often talk about Climate Hope on this show, but what about Climate Anxiety? Perhaps even Climate Despair? These are very real emotions that many of us feel when thinking about this planet we call home. We sat down with Dr. Sarah Ray, author of the book A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety: How to Keep Your Cool on a Warming Planet. Dr. Ray shared wi…

1
Microgravity Drip Irrigation: Innovative Way to Get “More Crop Per Drop” 39:54

1+ y ago39:54

39:54

Water scarcity solutions, especially those solutions that allow for continued food production while reducing water use, are a critical component of coping with reduced water availability now and into the future. We interviewed Dr. Manoj Shukla about a current research project of his using microgravity drip irrigation technologies from Israel on an …

1
Biochar: Uses and Potential Benefits 33:26

1+ y ago33:26

33:26

We have been hearing a lot about biochar recently. Biochar is the charred material leftover after partially burning organic material, which is then used to improve soil health, remediate polluted soils, sequester carbon, and even improve soil water holding capacity and soil moisture. This month we spoke with Dr. Debbie Page-Dumerose and Dr. Nate An…

1
Managing Cultural Resources in a Changing Climate 54:21

2y ago54:21

54:21

The impacts of climate change are threatening the resources in our national parks, including many of the cultural resources within them. This month we interviewed Lauren Meyer, Program Manager for the National Park Service Intermountain Historic Preservation Services Office, and Dr. Gregg Garfin, former director of the Southwest Climate Adaptation …

1
Climate Hope, the Compilation 30:34

2y ago30:34

30:34

We always like to ask our guests on this show what gives them hope as they think about the future and our changing climate, particularly with regard to the systems they work in. For our first episode of 2023, we made a collage of some highlights from our guests’ responses to this question. As this new year begins, we hope you’re finding things to f…

1
Rangelands and Climate change 25:08

2y ago25:08

25:08

Ecological sites are the basic component of a land-type classification system that describes ecological potential and ecosystem dynamics of land areas. We interviewed Dr. Joel Brown, current leader of the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s National Ecological Site Team, to learn more about ecological site descriptions, transitions and transfo…

1
Teaching Science Through Agriculture and Place Based Learning 36:45

2y ago36:45

36:45

Science education is critical in responding to future challenges, both in building awareness in our community and also building the skills to respond to some of our most pressing climate-related challenges, such as drought and water scarcity, wildfire, and food production under climate extremes. In this episode we speak with Dr. Stephanie Bestelmey…

1
Precipitation Intensity: Research, Challenges, and Opportunities 51:01

2y ago51:01

51:01

Last month we heard from two experts on drought and aridity; this month we’re covering the other end of the spectrum and focusing on precipitation intensity and heavy downpours in the Southwestern US. Two hydrologic modelers, Dr. Dave Goodrich and Dr. Eleonora Demaria, discuss their research on intense precipitation events, as well as some of the i…

1
Megadrought and Aridity 47:29

2y ago47:29

47:29

Megadrought is a term we’ve been hearing a lot of lately, with, as we find out from one of our guests, somewhat varying definitions. The term megadrought is generally used to describe the length of a drought, and not its acute intensity. A related term, aridity, is the degree to which climate lacks effective, life-promoting moisture. Simply put, ar…

1
Mike Hoffmann on Our Changing Menu: How Climate Change Affects the Foods We Grow 31:34

2+ y ago31:34

31:34

We interview Dr. Mike Hoffmann about climate change and the foods we love and need. Dr. Hoffmann is one of the authors of Our Changing Menu, a book published in 2021 about a complicated and nuanced topic – how climate change is impacting our food supply. Relevant Links & Promo Codes: Our Changing Menu website: https://www.ourchangingmenu.com/ Promo…

1
Assessing Climate Change Vulnerability of Navajo Nation Forests 48:12

2+ y ago48:12

48:12

Warming temperatures can exacerbate forest drought stress, reducing defenses to bark beetle outbreaks, wildfire, and tree diseases. Concern about losses within the forests of the Navajo Nation due to these stressors led to a partnership between the Navajo Forestry Department and a diverse group of scientists to assess the vulnerability of Navajo fo…

1
Behind the Scenes of the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report 43:40

2+ y ago43:40

43:40

Dr. Carolyn Enquist and Dr. Dave Gutzler discuss the making of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report, particularly the Working Group II section that presents an assessment of the impacts of, and vulnerabilities and adaptations to, climate change, of which both were authors. They share with us the scope and pur…

1
Assessing Risk When Relocating Species 42:28

2+ y ago42:28

42:28

Continuing our series on managing for ecosystem transformation, we sit down with Dr. Mark Schwartz, a plant ecologist at UC Davis, and Aviv Karasov-Olson, a PhD candidate at UC Davis, to discuss a new tool for assessing the biotic risks associated with a managed relocation project (also referred to as assisted migration). Managed relocation is the …

1
Managing for Change: California’s Giant Sequoias 35:10

2+ y ago35:10

35:10

How are extreme events transforming sequoia forests in the western US.? And what are land managers doing about it? Dr. Christy Brigham, Chief of Resources Management and Science at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, and Dr. Joanna Nelson, Director of science and conservation planning with Save the Redwoods League, visited with us to share the…

1
Forest Transformation in the Southwest 58:35

2+ y ago58:35

58:35

Impacts from rapid climate change are challenging traditional land & wildlife management strategies that were based on a stable baseline condition. In some locations we are already observing early-stage ecosystem reorganization in response to historic land management practices combined with recent novel climate stresses. Dr. Craig Allen and Dr. Nat…

1
Sustainability In Beef Supply Chains 28:32

3y ago28:32

28:32

A discussion around sustainability challenges and opportunities within the U.S. beef supply chain. Our guest for this episode is Dr. Sheri Spiegal, a rangeland scientist with the Jornada Experimental Range and Co-PI of the Sustainable Southwest Beef Project. Dr. Spiegal shares insights with us from her ongoing research on beef supply chains, trade …

1
Katharine Hayhoe On Hope & Healing In A Divided World 44:48

3y ago44:48

44:48

An interview with world-renowned climate scientist and Chief Scientist for The Nature Conservancy, Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, on her most recent book titled Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World. All opinions expressed by our guests are their own. Relevant links and resources: Katharine Hayhoe’s website: http://ww…

1
Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change 42:46

3y ago42:46

42:46

The Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change (ASCC) project is a collaborative effort to establish experimental trials of climate change adaptation strategies across different forest ecosystems throughout the United States and Canada. According to the society of American Foresters, silviculture is “the art and science of controlling the establishme…

1
Wire Up Those Cows! New Gadgets For An Old Profession 45:53

3y ago45:53

45:53

In this episode, Drs. Sheri Spiegal, Shelemia Nyamuryekung'e, and Matt McIntosh roll up their sleeves and dig into answering some of the questions that producers have asked the team about the precision ranching technologies currently under research as part of the Sustainable Southwest Beef Project. If you’re just tuning in for the first time and wo…

1
Drought & the 2021 Monsoon Season 31:48

3y ago31:48

31:48

2020 and the first half of 2021 were brutal drought years for the Southwest U.S. continuing a much longer term regional drought. But this monsoon season brought welcome rain to many places in the region, with flowing washes and bright green vegetation. Many are asking, is the drought over? Surely if there is water in our usually dry washes, we must…

1
Water Desalination: Barriers and Opportunities 34:09

3y ago34:09

34:09

This month we take a closer look at desalination of brackish groundwater and/or seawater as a potential solution to augment water supply in the arid southwest. We are joined by Dr. Sam Fernald, Director of the New Mexico State University Water Resources Research Institute, and Dr. Pei Xu researcher and professor in the Department of Civil Engineeri…

1
Extreme Heat & Urban Planning 38:44

3y ago38:44

38:44

In this episode we continue our conversation around the topic of extreme heat. We visit with three experts in urban planning to discuss how we can mitigate public health impacts of extreme heat through improved urban planning and green infrastructure. Dr. Ladd Keith, a researcher at the University of Arizona, Dr. Dave Hondula, a researcher at Arizo…

1
Extreme Heat & Public Health 37:06

3+ y ago37:06

37:06

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Extreme heat kills on average more than 600 people in the U.S. each year. Over the course of just a few weeks this summer (2021), three different heat waves baked the western U.S., breaking numerous heat records and killing hundreds. In this episode, as part of our educational outreach to …

1
Drought Adaptation & Social Learning 24:24

3+ y ago24:24

24:24

Taking action to manage drought and adapt to changing conditions can sometimes have unintended impacts on the adaptive capacity of others in the same social and ecological system. Jen Henderson, an assistant professor of geography at Texas Tech University, shares two instances where social learning took place after actors experienced unanticipated …

1
CoCoRaHS: Citizen Science in Weather Reporting 47:40

3+ y ago47:40

47:40

CoCoRaHS is an acronym for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network. CoCoRaHS is a unique, non-profit, community-based network of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds working together to measure and map precipitation (rain, hail and snow), with the unique ability to capture fine-scale variability in local precipitation. CoCoRaHs is…

1
Drought, Snowpack, and Streamflow 51:23

3+ y ago51:23

51:23

In this continuation of our special series on drought, we interview two water and climate scientists to learn what streamflow forecasts are predicting for the upcoming summer, and to learn more about an emerging area of research, termed snow drought. Dr. Adrian Harpold is a hydrologist with the University of Nevada, Reno, and is also a SW CASC fund…

1
Grass-Cast: A Grassland Productivity Forecasting Tool 40:30

3+ y ago40:30

40:30

In this mid-month bonus episode we interview Dr. Dannele Peck, Director of the USDA Northern Plains Climate Hub, about a rangeland/grassland forage productivity forecasting tool called Grass-Cast. Grass-Cast uses well-known relationships between historical weather and grassland production to provide estimates of annual forage production, beginning …

1
Drought Impacts on Mental Health 45:33

3+ y ago45:33

45:33

Drought impacts more than our physical world - the psychological impacts of drought are also very real. Crop damage or failure, running out of forage for livestock, the loss of culturally important natural resources, and many other drought-related effects can lead to stress, anxiety, and a deep sense of loss. Sometimes it’s hard to know who to talk…

1
Drought & Natural Resources Management 44:03

3+ y ago44:03

44:03

As of March 1st 2020, 85% of Arizona and 82% of New Mexico were in extreme to exceptional drought--the most severe drought categories used by the U.S. Drought Monitor--and other states in the Southwest were fairing similarly. Rangelands and other arid ecosystems that are able to withstand exceptionally high temperatures may not seem as vulnerable t…

1
Talking Wine, Weather, and Science: Part 1 23:57

4y ago23:57

23:57

Do you drink wine? Do you know how many varieties of wine there are in the world? What’s enology? What makes a vintage unique? Join us as we sit down with three scientists who specialize in viticulture and the cultivation of wine-grapes to hear about all of this and more. Dr. Kerri Steenwerth, with USDA-ARS in California, Dr. Andy Walker, from UC D…

1
Talking Wine, Weather, and Science: Part 2 29:13

4y ago29:13

29:13

Is climate change already impacting viticulture (the cultivation of grapevines)? How might a changing climate affect wine production? Is today a better time to drink red wine in Germany? Does weather affect alcohol content? You might be surprised by the answers to some of these! In this second half of our two-episode feature on viticulture, we delv…

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USDA Southwest Climate Hub Podcasts

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