For The Wild

"The more I learn, the less I know. Sometimes learning more means accepting that we don’t really know." – Rachel MeadeIn the third episode of In The Company of Humpbacks, Rachel Meade joins Ayana to rethink what we mean by study, communication, and the goals of biology and conservation. What might change if we were more honest about our uncertainties and willing to admit what we don’t know? Could that openness lead to stronger relationships and better science?Rachel guides us into the vast, largely unseen world of whale sound, beyond what we usually define as “song,” and into forms of communication that may lie outside human understanding. How do we show respect for something that resists being fully known?About this series: With delightful insight from Dr. Fred Sharpe, Rachel Meade, and Joseph Olson, In the Company of Humpbacks contains a wealth of knowledge and beauty. We’re so excited to bring you along with us on this magical journey through the more than human world. Sounds and images collected under NOAA/NMFS Research Permit 26663.Learn more and support this work at thrums.org. We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of our partners: Five Fingers Lighthouse, and the American Cetacean Society.Behind-the-Scenes ExtrasBy joining us on Patreon, you can get early access to episodes, reflection prompts, a bonus episode, and behind the scenes content. Patreon membership also gives you access to our zines, archives of extended episodes, and more. Join us at patreon.com/forthewild.BiographiesRachel Meade has long held a passion for marine mammal research. She has extensive hands-on experience in rehabilitation, response, and field-based research. She has worked across a range of species, including harbor and ice seals, sea otters, bottlenose dolphins, California sea lions, and humpback whales. Since joining Dr. Fred Sharpe’s research team in 2023, Rachel has developed a specific interest in cetacean bioacoustics, completing multiple remote field seasons in Southeast Alaska and presenting her work at the Society for Marine Mammalogy’s 2024 conference in Perth, Australia. Her background includes marine vessel operations, scientific diving, veterinary assistance, and acoustic and data analysis using Python, R, and Raven Pro. Rachel holds a BS in Marine and Coastal Science from Western Washington University and is seeking opportunities to continue her research and academic studies through a master’s program in marine mammal science.Support the show

Dr. Fred Sharpe, a marine biologist who has studied humpback foraging and acoustics in Southeast Alaska for decades, joins a walk-and-talk. He reflects on listening for mysterious low-frequency thrums and how acoustics aid conservation. Conversation wanders through lighthouse history, whale social lives like bubble-net teams, science’s benefits and harms, and the relational roots of stewardship.

Joe Olson, an underwater acoustics and hydrophone expert, and Dr. Fred Sharpe, a veteran marine biologist studying humpback foraging and aerial sounds, explore whale sound analysis. They discuss bassy thrums, matching air and underwater recordings, whether thrums are communication or maintenance sounds, playback ethics and outcomes, and how sound study informs conservation.

A journey into the wild rhythms of Southeast Alaska with walks on Chichagof Island, blueberry-picking conversations about whales, politics and AI. A spontaneous trip to a remote lighthouse leads to recordings of whale thrums, wind and collaborative storytelling. Gratitude for partner organizations that made deeper listening and field recording possible.

Aya Gazawi Faour, co-founder of Olive Odyssey and expert in Palestinian foodways, dives into the significance of indigenous plants like watermelon and prickly pear. She reveals how watermelon became a symbol of resistance post-1967 and discusses the prickly pear's journey from Mexico, serving vital roles in protection and cultural heritage. Aya emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with local plants as a form of resistance and community building, encouraging listeners to support Palestinian growers and their enduring traditions.

Join Aya Gazawi Faour, co-founder of Olive Odyssey and steward of Palestinian foodways, as she delves into the rich cultural significance of za'atar in Palestinian life. She explores the political implications of the 1970 foraging ban, revealing how it has affected the natural growth and cultural practices surrounding this treasured herb. Aya also highlights the ecological challenges and personal stories tied to harvesting, emphasizing the resilience of Palestinian communities despite ongoing occupation. Discover the profound connections between food, land, and heritage.

“The moment people are disconnected from their land and from the plants around them, it's easier to control them because they don't feel the spiritual connection to the land.”  —Aya Gazawi Faour, Olive Odyssey Co-FounderIn For The Wild’s new series in collaboration with Olive Odyssey, we hear from their co-founder, Aya Gazawi Faour, who shares about plants indigenous to the Palestinian landscape and their deep ties to culture, resistance, and enduring lifeways. In this opening episode, Aya shares how olive trees shape Palestinian life through everyday routines and long-held traditions. Families structure their seasons around trips to the groves and the olive press, gathering to harvest, share meals, and pass down knowledge. Even in dense urban areas, many keep a single olive tree on a crowded balcony as a living reminder of home. Olives are rooted in memory, community, and resilience and remain deeply defining across the region. This powerful aspect of culture goes far beyond the material. It is a sacred connection to the land and its abundance, a means of making community both with neighbors and with the world, and a crucial reminder of resistance and resilience.       Let this conversation be an invitation to look more closely at the lands and living beings of Palestine. If Aya’s stories moved you, take the next step: learn from the farmers and stewards keeping these lifeways alive. Explore the work of Palestinian growers, deepen your understanding of their traditions, and support their harvests through Olive Odyssey. Every gesture of connection helps nourish a culture, a landscape, and a people rooted in resilience.Olive Odyssey brings together farmers from across Palestine with a shared purpose: to tell the story of the Palestinian people through olive oil. Their mission is simple yet powerful — each bottle reflects a deep connection to the land and a commitment to sustainable, community-centered practices. To learn more about the farmers, their methods, and to source olive oil and recipes, visit https://oliveodyssey.com.Plants Are Political is based on Olive Odyssey’s series by the same name.Learn more at https://www.forthewild.worldCreditsMusic for this episode was composed by Doe Paoro from her album “Living Through Collapse.” For The Wild is created by Ayana Young, Erica, Ekrem, Julia Jackson, and Victoria Pham. Support the show

ILLUMINATING WORLDVIEWS on The Art That Reclaims Us S1:4In this resounding end to our Illuminating Worldviews series, Ayana speaks with artists Dr. Aubyn O’Grady and Jackie Olson about collective art and creative processes. Aubyn and Jackie share about their work on The Willow Basket Project at the Yukon School of Visual Arts and explore the ways that art can root us in place, support mining reclamation work, and even build bridges with unlikely allies.Through this project, they invite dialogue between artists, miners, and community members, reimagining mined landscapes as spaces of regeneration and cultural reconnection. This episode serves as a homage to how creative work can support healing for the land and open new pathways of relationship and understanding. As we conclude this series, we sit in deep gratitude for the land that made this series possible and for all of the guests, community members, and team members with Illuminating Worldviews who brought it to life. This episode, and the series as whole, stand as a testament to the importance of this vital collective work.  Learn more at https://forthewild.world.CreditsThis series was produced thanks to the generous support of the team at Illuminating Worldviews, held by the RIVER collective and Northern Council for Global Cooperation.♫  The music from this episode is “After the Rain” by Cole Pulice courtesy of Leaving Records, “So Long Favorite” by Chaz Prymek, and “Spinning Sphere” by Lior Holzman.This episode was created by Ayana Young, Erica Ekrem, Julia Jackson, and Victoria Pham.Support the show

Vanessa Andreotti, a renowned academic and Canada Research Chair, engages in a deep conversation about the unraveling of modernity. She introduces the concept of 'hospicing modernity,' urging us to bear witness to this transformative period. The discussion spans the importance of relationality over simple fixes, the 'soft collapse' of institutions like universities, and the potential of AI as a supportive ally in compassionate engagement. They contemplate how we might reconnect with our belonging to Earth and each other amidst these collective challenges.

Continuing our Illuminating Worldviews series, we hear from X̱ʼunei Lance Twitchell in conversation with Guná Jensen exploring the vital work of Tlingít language revitalization. Together, they reflect on the deep emotional resonance of speaking in one’s ancestral language, and how this practice opens an anti-colonial lens in which to see and feel the world. Set within the lands of the Yukon, this episode is a moving tribute to the power and significance of Indigenous language learning that honors the autonomy, expression, and sense of belonging it nurtures within the community. This episode includes an excerpt from the premiere of the powerful short film The River That Untangles One’s Mind by Skaydu.û Jules, Guná Jensen, and X̱’unei Lance Twitchell, produced by Douglas Joe/Creative Crow Media. Learn more at https://forthewild.world.CreditsThis series was produced thanks to the generous support of the team at Illuminating Worldviews, held by the RIVER collective and Northern Council for Global Cooperation.The music from this episode is “After the Rain” by Cole Pulice courtesy of Leaving Records, “Apple with Honey” by Cory Feder, and “Oro” and “ Voces que Ven” by Palo-Mah.This episode was created by Ayana Young, Erica Ekrem, Julia Jackson, and Victoria Pham.Support the show