https://simplecast.com Sounds Wild is a Center for Biological Diversity podcast focusing on endangered wildlife, the extinction crisis, and saving life on Earth. Hosted by Mike Stark and Vanessa Barchfield, Sounds Wild features interviews with experts at the Center and beyond about some of the most important issues of our time. 2025 Center for Biological Diversity en Thu, 4 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000 Thu, 4 Dec 2025 08:00:18 +0000 https://soundswild.org https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/48db32eb-b8ab-4bab-8614-cfbb7944123c/1596e34e-d638-402f-89f6-60aa25b337b2/3000x3000/sounds-wild-cover-finalx600.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://soundswild.org episodic Sounds Wild is a Center for Biological Diversity podcast focusing on endangered wildlife, the extinction crisis, and saving life on Earth. Hosted by Mike Stark and Vanessa Barchfield, Sounds Wild features interviews with experts at the Center and beyond about some of the most important issues of our time. Mike Stark, Vanessa Barchfield false https://feeds.simplecast.com/CDqAleKG nature Center for Biological Diversity podcasts@biologicaldiversity.org ee149fae-f6f6-44e6-b597-e5f376872357 Thu, 4 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000 podcasts@biologicaldiversity.org (Amaroq Weiss, Mike Stark, Vanessa Barchfield) https://soundswild.org Wolves’ Long Journey Home Amaroq Weiss, Mike Stark, Vanessa Barchfield 00:24:46 A century ago, gray wolves roamed much of California, Oregon and Washington, playing a vital role in these wild landscapes. Urbanization, ranching and government extermination programs wiped them out. But wolves have been making an epic return on the West Coast. In the last 2025 episode of our Sounds Wild podcast, host Vanessa Barchfield talks with the Center’s Amaroq Weiss about how wolves made their comeback and what the future looks like for this iconic species. A century ago, gray wolves roamed much of California, Oregon and Washington, playing a vital role in these wild landscapes. Urbanization, ranching and government extermination programs wiped them out. But wolves have been making an epic return on the West Coast. In the last 2025 episode of our Sounds Wild podcast, host Vanessa Barchfield talks with the Center’s Amaroq Weiss about how wolves made their comeback and what the future looks like for this iconic species. extinction, extinction crisis, wildlife, gray wolves, endangered species, endangered species act, west coast wolves false full 10 bd10dc7f-4e10-4bc2-9b09-017151dca0d8 Thu, 27 Nov 2025 08:00:00 +0000 podcasts@biologicaldiversity.org (sarah Uhlemann, Vanessa Barchfield, Mike Stark, Up Rabbit Mountain) https://soundswild.org Fresh Hope for Pangolins sarah Uhlemann, Vanessa Barchfield, Mike Stark, Up Rabbit Mountain 00:18:33 When it comes to wildlife trade, pangolins hold a dubious distinction: They’re the most trafficked mammal in the world, often sold for their meat or for medicinal purposes. But for these exceedingly cute animals — the only mammals with scales — the tide may finally be turning. In the newest episode of our Sounds Wild podcast, host Mike Stark talks with Sarah Uhlemann, director of the Center’s International program, about what makes pangolins so unique and how their fate became so entangled with wildlife trade around the world, including in the United States. When it comes to wildlife trade, pangolins hold a dubious distinction: They’re the most trafficked mammal in the world, often sold for their meat or for medicinal purposes. But for these exceedingly cute animals — the only mammals with scales — the tide may finally be turning. In the newest episode of our Sounds Wild podcast, host Mike Stark talks with Sarah Uhlemann, director of the Center’s International program, about what makes pangolins so unique and how their fate became so entangled with wildlife trade around the world, including in the United States. international wildlife trade, cites, pangolins, wildlife trafficking, wildlife trade, endangered species, endangered species act, pangolin false full 9 3589b889-42ad-4b91-8672-d70dac015e9b Thu, 20 Nov 2025 08:00:00 +0000 podcasts@biologicaldiversity.org (Chris Bugbee, Vanessa Barchfield, Mike Stark) https://soundswild.org Cows in Our Midst Chris Bugbee, Vanessa Barchfield, Mike Stark 00:25:13 Cows don’t belong in rivers and streams, especially in the Southwest’s riparian areas that are home to endangered species like the Southwestern willow flycatcher and the northern Mexico garter snake. In the newest episode of our Sounds Wild podcast, host Vanessa Barchfield goes into the field with Chris Bugbee, one of the Center’s conservation advocates, to explore what happens when cows wander into places where they shouldn’t, and how hooves can change an ecosystem. Cows don’t belong in rivers and streams, especially in the Southwest’s riparian areas that are home to endangered species like the Southwestern willow flycatcher and the northern Mexico garter snake. In the newest episode of our Sounds Wild podcast, host Vanessa Barchfield goes into the field with Chris Bugbee, one of the Center’s conservation advocates, to explore what happens when cows wander into places where they shouldn’t, and how hooves can change an ecosystem. extinction, extinction crisis, southwestern yellow-billed cuckoo, cows, livestock, grazing, endangered species, endangered species act, jaguars false full 8 ef5f914f-6dd2-4ef2-b551-3a91c6b4b5a0 Thu, 13 Nov 2025 08:00:00 +0000 podcasts@biologicaldiversity.org (Jeff Walters, Izzi Stein, Up Rabbit Mountain, Mike Stark, Vanessa Barchfield) https://soundswild.org The State of Our Birds Jeff Walters, Izzi Stein, Up Rabbit Mountain, Mike Stark, Vanessa Barchfield 00:27:44 There are 3 billion fewer birds in North American than there were in 1970 – and now a new report says one in three bird species needs our help. In the newest episode of our Sounds Wild podcast, host Mike Stark talks with Jeff Walters of the American Ornithological Society about why things have gotten more difficult for our feathered friends, how we can help, and the deep, long-running connection between people and birds. This episode features bird song recordings by the National Park Service, Sue Riffe and There are 3 billion fewer birds in North American than there were in 1970 – and now a new report says one in three bird species needs our help. In the newest episode of our Sounds Wild podcast, host Mike Stark talks with Jeff Walters of the American Ornithological Society about why things have gotten more difficult for our feathered friends, how we can help, and the deep, long-running connection between people and birds. This episode features bird song recordings by the National Park Service, Sue Riffe and birds, state of the birds, extinction, extinction crisis, bird nerds, endangered species, endangered species act false full 7 c0512dcd-f647-4aed-b97d-f9fdc08b8a30 Thu, 6 Nov 2025 16:38:00 +0000 podcasts@biologicaldiversity.org (Kristen Monsell, Mike Stark, Vanessa Barchfield) https://soundswild.org Can We Co-exist with Whales? Kristen Monsell, Mike Stark, Vanessa Barchfield 00:31:58 Whales may be the biggest animals on the planet but they’re also some of the most vulnerable. Although whaling is no longer the threat it once was, these giants of the sea are forced to contend with offshore drilling, industrial noise and fast-moving ships traveling through their home waters. In the newest episode of our Sounds Wild podcast, host Vanessa Barchfield talks with Kristen Monsell, litigation director of our Oceans program, about threats to whales and what it’ll take to secure them a future that’s truly safe. Whales may be the biggest animals on the planet but they’re also some of the most vulnerable. Although whaling is no longer the threat it once was, these giants of the sea are forced to contend with offshore drilling, industrial noise and fast-moving ships traveling through their home waters. In the newest episode of our Sounds Wild podcast, host Vanessa Barchfield talks with Kristen Monsell, litigation director of our Oceans program, about threats to whales and what it’ll take to secure them a future that’s truly safe. extinction, extinction crisis, endangered species, endangered species act, whales false full 6 5f671872-1ee6-4714-8892-be1ec5d6b70e Thu, 30 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000 podcasts@biologicaldiversity.org (Noah Greenwald, Up Rabbit Mountain, Vanessa Barchfield, Mike Stark) https://soundswild.org Species in the Waiting Room Noah Greenwald, Up Rabbit Mountain, Vanessa Barchfield, Mike Stark 00:28:47 The Endangered Species Act is one of the most powerful laws on Earth when it comes to saving species from extinction. But what happens when animals and plants who need help don’t get it in time? In the newest episode of our Sounds Wild podcast, host Mike Stark talks with Noah Greenwald, co-director of our Endangered Species program, about how the Act works, why it’s so hard for some species to get the protection they need, and what can be done. The Endangered Species Act is one of the most powerful laws on Earth when it comes to saving species from extinction. But what happens when animals and plants who need help don’t get it in time? In the newest episode of our Sounds Wild podcast, host Mike Stark talks with Noah Greenwald, co-director of our Endangered Species program, about how the Act works, why it’s so hard for some species to get the protection they need, and what can be done. center for biological diversity, extinction, endangered species, endangered species act false full 5 b8bce4f3-c6c9-4c3b-b758-55858f7f1613 Thu, 23 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000 podcasts@biologicaldiversity.org (XIXA, Sebastian DiMartino, Vanessa Barchfield, Mike Stark) https://soundswild.org The Return of Jaguars XIXA, Sebastian DiMartino, Vanessa Barchfield, Mike Stark 00:33:01 Jaguars once roamed the Americas from Argentina to Arizona. Hunting, government killing programs and conflicts with the livestock industry forced them out of much of their home territory a century ago. But in northern Argentina, they’re back — and the same could happen in the southwestern U.S. In the newest episode of our Sounds Wild podcast, host Vanessa Barchfield talks with Sebastián Di Martino, conservation director of Rewilding Argentina, about the return of jaguars in his country and what it would take to bring them back in the U.S. This episode features the song La Danza de los Jaguares from the band XIXA. Jaguars once roamed the Americas from Argentina to Arizona. Hunting, government killing programs and conflicts with the livestock industry forced them out of much of their home territory a century ago. But in northern Argentina, they’re back — and the same could happen in the southwestern U.S. In the newest episode of our Sounds Wild podcast, host Vanessa Barchfield talks with Sebastián Di Martino, conservation director of Rewilding Argentina, about the return of jaguars in his country and what it would take to bring them back in the U.S. This episode features the song La Danza de los Jaguares from the band XIXA. extinction, climate change, livestock, rewilding, jaguars, breeding populations false full 4 26fa6b87-16cc-46e0-bd79-dd92e0d69318 Thu, 16 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000 podcasts@biologicaldiversity.org (Will Harlan, Mike Stark, Vanessa Barchfield) https://soundswild.org The Fate of Red Wolves Will Harlan, Mike Stark, Vanessa Barchfield 00:33:35 Red wolves are the rarest canids on the planet – and at one point it looked like they might disappear forever. But their story is still being written and they’re now clawing their way back from the brink thanks to a renewed effort from conservationists, local tribes and government officials. In the newest episode of our Sounds Wild podcast, host Mike Stark talks with Will Harlan, our Southeast director, about the magic of red wolves, their future in North Carolina and the legacy of individual wolves like Airplane Ears and Blaze. Red wolves are the rarest canids on the planet – and at one point it looked like they might disappear forever. But their story is still being written and they’re now clawing their way back from the brink thanks to a renewed effort from conservationists, local tribes and government officials. In the newest episode of our Sounds Wild podcast, host Mike Stark talks with Will Harlan, our Southeast director, about the magic of red wolves, their future in North Carolina and the legacy of individual wolves like Airplane Ears and Blaze. north carolina, extinction, red wolves, extinction crisis, climate change, rewilding false full 3 611a8d24-3c1d-4e3e-94d0-e78c39dc330e Thu, 9 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000 podcasts@biologicaldiversity.org (Maxx Phillips, Mike Stark, Vanessa Barchfield) https://soundswild.org Aloha from the epicenter of the extinction crisis Maxx Phillips, Mike Stark, Vanessa Barchfield 00:23:46 Few places on Earth tell the story of the extinction crisis like Hawaii. Dozens of birds, plants, insects and mollusks are already gone, and every day is a battle to save species that are barely holding on. On this episode of Sounds Wild, we talk with Maxx Phillips, the Center’s Hawaii director, about what’s been lost, the daring work to protect what remains and the deep cultural ties between endangered species and the Indigenous peoples who have lived on these islands for eons. Few places on Earth tell the story of the extinction crisis like Hawaii. Dozens of birds, plants, insects and mollusks are already gone, and every day is a battle to save species that are barely holding on. On this episode of Sounds Wild, we talk with Maxx Phillips, the Center’s Hawaii director, about what’s been lost, the daring work to protect what remains and the deep cultural ties between endangered species and the Indigenous peoples who have lived on these islands for eons. false full 2 9f27e985-4ccb-49d7-805c-6524cc0ea8db Sat, 27 Sep 2025 17:07:58 +0000 podcasts@biologicaldiversity.org (Tierra Curry, Vanessa Barchfield, Mike Stark) https://soundswild.org How is extinction changing the world around us? Tierra Curry, Vanessa Barchfield, Mike Stark 00:35:24 No one knows exactly how many plants and animals are vanishing from the world around us, but a rough estimate is that we lose one species every hour. Humans have never witnessed an extinction event like the one we’re living through right now – one that's wiping out wildlife all around us, from birds to bears, plants and insects. Tierra Curry lays out the extinction crisis, what’s been lost, how wildlife declines affect us in ways we don’t notice and what can be done. No one knows exactly how many plants and animals are vanishing from the world around us, but a rough estimate is that we lose one species every hour. Humans have never witnessed an extinction event like the one we’re living through right now – one that's wiping out wildlife all around us, from birds to bears, plants and insects. Tierra Curry lays out the extinction crisis, what’s been lost, how wildlife declines affect us in ways we don’t notice and what can be done. center for biological diversity, extinction, climate change, endangered species, life on earth, endangered species act false full 1