Nature Guys

Bob and his wife Beth are invited to chat with Carol Mundy on her radio show Outdoor Life. Our sources for this episode include: Outdoor Life with Carol Mundy Carol Mundy's Website The Crow Knows

Vincent Stanley, author of The Future of the Responsible Company, talks about Patagonia's storytelling approach, the company's origins, and creating high-quality gear. They discuss the environmental impact on water bodies, the harmful effects of cotton production, the importance of sharing innovations, and transitioning leadership towards environmental causes.

Bob and Caroline discuss the decline of boxwoods and its impact, highlighting issues such as boxwood blight and root rot. They explore the negative effects of boxwoods on biodiversity and discuss methods for removing them without chemicals. They also suggest native plant alternatives like winterberry and red twig dogwood, expressing their excitement for trying out these options.

Bob's ten year old grandson Drew was attacked by yellow jackets at summer camp this year. Drew joins Bob to tell the story and share what he has learned about this often aggressive wasp. Our sources for this episode include: Yellowjackets are not Honey Bees Yellowjacket Fact Sheet Yellowjacket Facts for Kids

Bob and Gia dive into the fascinating world of fungi, sharing their personal experiences and love for mushrooms. They discuss the potential health benefits of Lion's Mane Mushroom, including its anti-cancer and immune-boosting properties. The lack of FDA approval for medicinal mushrooms is also explored, while inviting listeners to share wild mushroom findings and personal stories.

Speakers discuss reducing lawns for a more environmentally friendly yard, stopping the use of pesticides and herbicides, and replacing lawns with native plants. They emphasize the value of collaborating with trusted sources for native plants and advocate for a cultural shift towards native plants. The chapter also addresses concerns about pests and animals in lawns and highlights the benefits of having grass as a buffer near the home.

The podcast explores the fascinating world of whirligig beetles, discussing their behavior, defensive mechanisms, predators, flight, respiration, distribution, eye structures, and incredible abilities. The hosts also mention previous episodes and share personal experiences, promising future episodes on other beetle species.

Tina suggests we do an episode on milkweed beetles. Bob is confused because he thought they were bugs. Tune in to find out what we discovered. You can find out more about Tina and Red Oaks Forest School at redoaksforestschool.org. Related episode: Mighty Milkweed Our sources for this episode include: Milkweed Bugs Common Milkweed Insects Milkweed Bug

Bob reads an email from a listener (Linda) with a question about eBird that inspired us to do a whole episode on eBird. Charles starts out explaining the capabilities and the value of eBird both to the user and the scientific community. He and Bob go on a virtual birding trip to demonstrate how you can use eBird. Related episodes: Merlin Magic and Merlin 2 Our source for this episode: eBird by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Greg explains some amazing traits of apple trees. Bob shares some of the fascinating facts about John Chapman better know as Johnny Appleseed. Related episode: Walnut Woods Our sources for this episode include: The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan Johnny Appleseed Man and Myth by Robert Price