The Wandering Naturalist
Three Rivers Park District
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Recent Episodes
S8E281 Episode 281: Fishy Business - Let's Go Fishing
For many people, their connection to fish isn't through research, it's through fishing! For our final episode of the month we talk to Trey Fails from Dreaded Outdoors on creating a welcoming culture…
S8E280 Episode 280: Fishy Business - Thousands of Jars
How many fish is too many fish? Or- wait- how many fishes is too many fishes? Find out in this episode with Dr. Kassandra Ford, the Bell Museum's Curator of Fishes and Assistant Professor at the…
S8E279 Episode 279: Fishy Business - Survey Says...
We are halfway through the Big Year of Rivers and what species is more closely connected to our rivers than the many native species of fishes in Minnesota! In this episode Ellen and Brandon sit down…
S8E278 Episode 278: Floods and Floodplains - Helping Minnesota's Water
What is Minnesota doing for its rivers and floodplains? Andrea Fish, from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources talks to us about how soil and water quality are connected, the work they do…
S8E277 Episode 277: Floods and Floodplains - Why Should We Care?
Join us as we float down the Mississippi and talk to American Rivers. American Rivers is an organization dedicated to protecting waterways. One of their scientists, Eileen Shader, talks with us about…
S8E278 Episode 276: Floods and Floodplains - Surviving the Flood
What does it take to survive a flood? Brandon and Ellen explore the living things that thrive in a floodplain habitat. From climbing snakes to the fastest growing tree in the United States,…
S8E275 Episode 275: The Vernal Pool Parade - Who's With the Band?
Our final episode this month goes fully into the vernal pool weeds! Brandon and Ellen bring out their favorite stars of this ecosystem. We talk fairy shrimp, fishing spiders, caddisflies, water…
S8E274 Episode 274:The Vernal Pool Parade - A Deeper Dive
In our second episode we sit down with Dr. Mark Hanson to hear about his research on vernal pools during his career with the Minnesota DNR. We zoom out a bit from vernal pools themselves and learn…
S8E273 Episode 273: The Vernal Pool Parade - A Dip into the Pool
Time to get your feet wet in the world of vernal pools! This month's topic zooms in on these often overlooked, but crucially important ecosystems. In our first episode we meet with Dr. Darold Batzer,…
S8E272 Episode 272: Women and Waterways - Journeys through Time
Jade Ryerson, historian with the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, wanders with us through time and she shares stories of women who have connected to the Mississippi River in the past…
S8E271 Episode 271: Women and Waterways - Kayaking the Mississippi
Wander with us down the Mississippi River as Devin Brown joins us to discuss how her connection to the Mississippi River changed her life. Her first meeting with the Mississippi River happened in…
S8E270 Episode 270: Say What? Plants and Fungi
Dr. Peter Kennedy from the University of Minnesota joins us to discuss the latest research on the relationships between plants and fungi. From tree socks to research exchange markets, the interaction…
S8E269 Episode 269: Say What? Talking Plants
Do plants really talk? Not like we do, but Dr. Simon Gilroy, Professor of Botany at the University of Wisconsin Madison, shares the research he and others have done that has shed light on how plants…
S8E268 Episode 268: Say What? Animal Communication
Wander with Brandon and Ellen as they explore how animals communicate. From communication that is obvious to us like sound, to communication we may not have considered such as electricity, animals…
S8E267 Episode 267: Big Year of Rivers - The Once and Future Mississippi
Dr. John Anfinson, one of the leading experts on the Mississippi River in our area joins us to talk about the past, present, and future of the Mississippi. He tells us stories of the Mississippi as…
S8E266 Episode 266: Big Year of Rivers - A Three Hour Tour
In July, 2025 we had a special Wandering Naturalist rafting trip on the Mississippi River with Brandon. Several participants wore microphones and we recorded the whole experience. Raft with us as we…
S8E265 Episode 265: Big Year of Rivers - Three Rivers
We start a new season with a new co-host, Ellen, and a new Big Year to celebrate- Big Year of Rivers! Ashley Levoir, joins us to discuss how a big anniversary for the Mississippi River inspired this…
S7E264 Episode 264: The Next Generation
Every season must come to an end so a new season may begin. A warm and engaging nature expert whose voice we've enjoyed for seven seasons is signing off, ushering in a new era of The Wandering…
S7E263 Episode 263: Stories in the Snow - Deer Guts
Grace Milanowski, Coordinator, Offal Wildlife Watching Project (with UMN Extension) and Dr. Ellen Candler from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, talk to us about the project they are doing in…
S7E262 Episode 262: Stories in the Snow - Connecting to Lakota Knowledge
Michael Kurtz, enrolled member from the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, shares how he taught himself to read animal signs and photograph them. He talks about the experiences with animals he…
Frequently Asked Questions
The Wandering Naturalist has published 281 episodes since December 2018, covering topics in Earth Sciences, Nature.
The Wandering Naturalist is currently highly active with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 27m.
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