HumaNature

Carolyn Hochlowski never liked the outdoors. But when she turned 36 she realized life was passing her by. So she bought a cheap tent and sleeping bag and set off on a solo road trip across the country with a dog named Thor.

In the frigid month of February, three companions embark on an ice fishing expedition on Lake Huron. Initially, the camaraderie is palpable, but as the story unfolds, a collision of friendship, peer pressure, and the stark reality of facing mortality takes center stage.

Doreen Cunningham always loved whales. So when she got the chance to live with an Iñupiaq tribe, whose survival depends on whales, she jumped at it. Years later, back in her home in the UK, Doreen would once again turn to whales, this time to help her heal.

It’s back! This week we are doing another installment of our fan favorite series “Close Encounters of the Wild Kind.” This week we will bring you two stories from listeners who have gotten a little too close for comfort with some of nature’s critters while spending time outdoors.

In September, 2014 writer Ben McGrath had a chance encounter with Dick Conant; a 63 year old man on a solo paddling trip from Canada to Florida. Months later, Ben received a phone call from an unknown number which set him off on a journey of his own.

Mike Sarvey was an experienced hunter who felt confident in his outdoors skills. But one day he ventured in the Wyoming wilderness and lost his bearings. As the sun began to set, he realized he had made a huge mistake and that you can never be too prepared.

When Brady Brandwood decided to see what would happen when he bought a lobster to keep as a pet, he never expected it to change his life. This is the story of Leon the Lobster and his unlikely journey from grocery store tank to social media sensation.

In 2022, Bob Salem broke a very unusual record. He now holds the fastest time for pushing a peanut up Pikes Peak Mountain with his nose. Hear Bob's story and the history of this unusual feat on this week's episode.

David Lindo always loved nature, but he grew up in the middle of the city and didn't feel like he had access to it. Until one day he realized that nature is everywhere. He started looking up, looking around, and inadvertently found a career in the process.

As we ring in our 100th episode, current and former HumaNature producers and hosts share their favorite episodes.

As we ring in our 100th episode, current and former HumaNature producers and hosts share their favorite episodes.

As we ring in our 100th episode, current and former HumaNature producers and hosts share their favorite episodes.

As we ring in our 100th episode, current and former HumaNature producers and hosts share their favorite episodes.

As we ring in our 100th episode, current and former HumaNature producers and hosts share their favorite episodes.

Emma Harper lives in Cornwall, England. She's a wife, a mother, and...a real-life mermaid! Emma spends hours each week in the Cornish seas frolicking in the waves. But she also uses her platform to speak up for our oceans and why they need protecting.

For the 100th episode of HumaNature, we’re bringing you two stories! In the first, a man plays the ultimate prank on his brother. In the second, a man out doing trail maintenance finds something odd at his campsite.

This time, almost 4000 Beagles are rescued and given a second chance at life.

After months of isolation during the pandemic one Vermont family, and their dog Moshi, decides to thru-hike a 272-mile trail for the very first time.

Kirk Speckhals spent most of his summers in Wyoming mountain biking. He lives in Jackson Hole and always felt comfortable venturing into bear country. But that all changed on a beautiful August day when Kirk found himself face-to-face with a grizzly bear.

In the early 2000’s Los Angeles became obsessed with a new celebrity – a six foot alligator named Reggie. And when city officials set out to capture him, Reggie went on the lam.

A HumaNature update.

It's late spring and animals are on the move. Sometimes their paths cross with people. For our last episode of the season, here are two stories…this time from the deep.

Justin Murray and his brother Jason spent their childhoods in Florida. They did everything together: fishing, surfing, making their own surfboards. But when they grew up, they forgot about their old dreams and got corporate jobs--until something happened that reminded Justin what life was all about.

Greg Mills and his best friend Rob adventured together in the Alaska wilderness. Their dream was to run the Iditarod Trail Invitational Trail together. A wild river seemed to present an insurmountable obstacle. Despite everything, Greg kept going.

Introducing Montana Public Radio's new podcast, Fireline. When Lily Clarke arrived at the August Complex Fire, it was a fire of sensational size. The blaze eventually burned more than 1 million acres, becoming the largest recorded wildfire in California history. Across the country in 2020, flames charred an area nearly 5 times the size of Yellowstone National Park — the largest swath of land burned since reliable records began. Wildfires across the country are getting bigger, hotter and more devastating. But what's all this fire really mean — for the west, for firefighters and for everyday folks? And what's it really like to fight fire on the ground?

Shermin de Silva was an elephant researcher looking for a sign. Then she met a king.

Wyn Wiley thought they had to pass for straight, even in their beloved outdoors. But then a special pair of boots came into their life.

Damen Bell-Holter faced a lot of trauma growing up in his small village in Alaska. He formed a goal to play professional basketball. But reaching for his dreams revealed an even larger purpose.

How has your relationship with nature changed during the pandemic? The HumaNature community weighs in.

We're on a holiday break until January 20. In the meantime, here's a dramatic story from the archives. In December 2016, Karen Klein got trapped in a snowstorm near the Grand Canyon. But she pushed through it to save her family.

HumaNature's taking a holiday break. We'll be back with a fresh new episode on January 20. In the meantime, we'd like to introduce you to Life Raft, an upbeat podcast about living with climate change. In this episode, they take us on a journey from a famous oyster bar in New Orleans to a lab that’s trying to prepare oysters for a more turbulent future.

Muyambi loved biking, so when his friends asked him to plan a cycling trip across his home country of Uganda he was thrilled. But challenges arose one late night when they had to get creative for dinner.

The leaves are scattering down the sidewalk and fog touches the tips of the trees. It's that time of year again when the shadows lengthen and we bring you stories that aren't quite human or all the way natural. Welcome to a most haunted theatre.

Sharon Ross wanted to be prepared for anything. But when she joined others getting ready for the end of the world, she found herself the odd one out.         Header photo by Sera Lindsey Additional links https://blackpdx.com/destination/portland/afrovivalist/  Music Blue Dot Sessions

A glimpse of some of the stories coming your way this season, starting October 14.

Climate change is all over the news, from burning forests to melting ice sheets. But it can seem like a big, abstract problem. Writer Manasseh Franklin wanted to make the melting of glaciers more real to people. So on an Alaskan rafting trip, she followed water to its source. It’s a story from our archives that’s […]

As summer wanes, we’re reaching into the archives for a story about a classic summer activity: a leisurely river float. At least, that’s what it was supposed to be. But when they lost their guide, a group of tourists got more than they bargained for.      Bambi Meets Godzilla   Music Rollin at 5 […]

Debbie Salamone was an environmental journalist who was passionate about the ocean—and ballroom dancing. One day at the beach, all that changed.

Charlie Thomas worked as a whitewater rafting guide in the 80's. His boss became obsessed with selling photos of clients taken while they ran the rapids. The only problem was getting the film back across the river and into town to be developed before the clients returned.

While we work on new stories for this fall, here’s a summer favorite from 2019. Natalie Warren and Ann Raiho paddled thousands of miles in a canoe from Minneapolis to the shores of the Hudson Bay. The journey tested their physical strength – and the strength of their friendship.         align=”aligncenter”     […]

South Africans Chris Diedericks and Anna Calitz wanted to go on a romantic getaway, but their adventure broke down before it even began.             Music Blue Dot Sessions

Juan Martinez grew up in South Central L.A. in the early nineties. He was struggling to find his way until he traded detention for a pack of jalapeño seeds. Those led him all the way to the stars.       Juan at Yosemite National Park with Fresh Tracks with the Aspen Institute   Juan […]

Boyd Varty lives on a game reserve in South Africa near Kruger National Park. After his family began returning the land to its wild state, it awakened something wild in him, too.       Photography by Amanda Ritchie     Connect with Boyd Varty: Website | https://boydvarty.com/ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/boyd_varty/ Find out more about Londolozi Website […]

After cycling across America, Taylor Thibodeau had a lifetime of adventures ahead of him…until a mysterious illness cut that short. Then he decided to adventure anyway.         Photos from their trip across America     Music Blue Dot Sessions

Morley Nelson delighted in watching raptors in aerial combat as they fought over nesting sites. And he made it his life’s mission to protect the part of Idaho’s Snake River with the highest nesting density of birds of prey in North America. This time, we’re bringing you a story from the new podcast Common Land […]

It’s springtime and Earth Day! Animals are on the move, and sometimes their paths cross with people. Here are five stories to help you get outside while you’re stuck at home.       Learn more about Nate Summers’ book, Primal: Why We Long to Be Wild and Free. Find out more about Ellen Prager’s […]

Michael Benanav studies nomadic people as a writer and photographer. So when he was invited to accompany the Van Gujjar of northern India on their annual migration with their water buffalo, he jumped at the chance. Turned out, they wanted a journalist along that year for reasons he hadn’t expected.           […]

When Tarik Moore became an Outdoor Afro leader, the first hike he planned wasn’t a traditional one. He took his group down city streets to commemorate Philadelphia’s Osage Avenue bombing.     Listen to Tarik’s episode The Summit.   Header image: The Philadelphia Inquirer and Temple University Urban Archives   Music Ketsa

Cindy Ross wanted to keep pursuing her long-distance hiking passion after she had kids. But she didn’t know how to make that happen. Then a chance encounter with a llama breeder opened the path to the Continental Divide Trail.           Music Blue Dot Sessions

Brandon Kuehn survived the Iraq War. But after he got home, he struggled with nightmares and addiction. Then he found trail running…and the Pacific Crest Trail.     If you like HumaNature, help us tell more stories! Support us at https://donate.nprstations.org/wpr/humanature. You can also follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/HumaNaturePod, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/humanaturepodcast, and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HumaNaturePodcast.     […]

Christopher McDougall is famous for starting the barefoot running craze with his book ‘Born to Run.’ And now he has an unusual new running partner⁠—a donkey named Sherman.     If you like HumaNature, help us tell more stories! Support us at https://donate.nprstations.org/wpr/humanature. You can also follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/HumaNaturePod, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/humanaturepodcast, and Facebook […]

We have a snazzy new t-shirt design for you. But it isn’t without a little controversy.   Support This Podcast If you like HumaNature, help us tell more stories! Support us at https://donate.nprstations.org/wpr/humanature. You can also follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/HumaNaturePod, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/humanaturepodcast, and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HumaNaturePodcast. Music Blue Dot Sessions

Tarik Moore always enjoyed nature. So when he found an outdoorsy community, it led to new adventures—like becoming a member of the first all-Black American team to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro.         Go here to learn more about Outdoor Afro   Music Blue Dot Sessions

When Wendy Hellowell’s son Oliver was born, he was diagnosed with Down syndrome. She realized the two of them would face enormous challenges. But they got help from a little faith and a camera.       Oliver Hellowell’s website     Music Blue Dot Sessions

We’re taking a little break for the holidays, so we have a special treat for you from down under. The Australian podcast Brain on Nature tells the story of how going into nature helped a woman recover from a traumatic brain injury. We hope you love the show as much as we do!     […]

As you feast on podcasts during the holidays, here’s a second helping of an old favorite. Aubrey Bertram traveled to East Asia to help animals that had been abused by humans. But a harrowing experience taught her that good intentions might not be enough.           Music Namaste by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons […]

Fisher Neal was a struggling actor in New York City. So he turned to his old hunting skills for a side job extremely off-Broadway.         Fisher’s Instagram   Header image by Nicholas A. Tonelli via https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/  Music Blue Dot Sessions Ketsa

A burned-bare house. A pervy spirit. The ghost of Schafer Meadows. A haunted woman. It’s our annual Halloween episode—keep your friends close and your lights on as we find the place that’s not quite human or all the way natural.       The house where Eric Krszjzaniek and Lisa Lucas lived with the ghost […]

Jeff Osgood and his friend Anthony just wanted to go on a winter hiking trip in the Adirondack Wilderness in upstate New York. But after a series of mishaps, their adventure took a strange turn with the discovery of a mysterious VHS cassette tape.     Photos courtsey Jeff Osgood   Music Blue Dot Sessions […]

Josh Patterson loved taking photographs of rare finds in the Mojave Desert. But on one trip, things didn’t go as planned.     Photos by Josh Patterson   Music Blue Dot Sessions

Caroline Van Hemert and her husband Pat were nearly finished with the most ambitious trip of their lives, a 4000-mile trek across the Yukon and Alaska following animal migrations. But bad weather and a missed food drop put their lives in jeopardy.         Music Blue Dot Sessions

HumaNature returns on September 11 with a new season of stories where humans and our habitat meet.     Music Blue Dot Sessions

All across the Arctic, frozen soil is thawing out. A lot of stuff is buried there – plants and animals that lived more than 10,000 years ago. This episode from Threshold asks what happens when a Paleolithic bison bone starts to decompose for the first time? And what does that have to do with climate […]

For her final episode as the host of HumaNature, Caroline has chosen an old favorite. Brian Corliss just wanted to quench his thirst. But on a snowmobile outing, he grabbed the wrong bottle.     *Disclaimer: The actions taken in this story do not constitute medical advice. In the case of poisoning, call Poison Control […]

Curt Meyer was looking for adventure, so he took a job aboard a Japanese fishing trawler on the Bering Sea. But when a storm hit, the lack of a shared language kept him in the dark as things turned deadly.           Music Blue Dot Sessions   Header Image: Crew and Officers […]

Natalie Warren and Ann Raiho paddled thousands of miles in a canoe from Minneapolis to the shores of the Hudson Bay. The journey tested their physical strength – and the strength of their friendship.       align=”aligncenter”       Music Blue Dot Sessions

An encore presentation of our 2019 PMJA Best Station Podcast award-winner. Felicia Friesema and Steve Julian had a “miracle relationship.” They carved out an oasis in the middle of Los Angeles. But then they found themselves facing one of the most fundamental aspects of nature: death.       Music Credits Pony by Gillicuddy is […]

Manasseh Franklin wanted to make the melting of glaciers more real to people through her writing. So on an Alaskan rafting trip, she followed water to its source.         Music Blue Dot Sessions

Travis Kauffman went for a trail run near his home in Colorado. But an unexpected run-in almost turned him into trail mix. Then the internet got involved.           Music Blue Dot Sessions

It’s spring! Animals are on the move, and sometimes their paths cross with people. Here are four stories.     This episode’s storytellers: Matthew Manguso, Dale Dunn, Tara Pappas, Faye Fulton   Music Blue Dot Sessions

When she became a mom, Andrea Sarubbi Fereshteh went from full speed ahead to a full stop. But then she found a place that showed her stillness is okay.           Music Blue Dot Sessions

In 2016, a team of undercover investigators infiltrated an international ivory-smuggling ring. It all began with a sea cucumber trader in Zanzibar.   To read the Environmental Investigation Agency report on the Shuidong Connection, click here.         Music Blue Dot Sessions

For this special two-part story, the Australian podcast Off Track takes us across the globe to the coast of Tasmania and back in time to 1973 for a story of survival and loss.      Listen to Part 2       Cover image by Alan Levine via https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

For this special two-part story, the Australian podcast Off Track takes us across the globe to the coast of Tasmania and back in time to 1973 for a story of survival and loss.     Listen to Part 1       Cover image by Alan Levine via https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Sergio Avila Villegas always loved big cats. But his faith in his scientific research was shaken when he discovered its true cost.       Music Sleepwalker III by Sergey Cheremisinov is licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial License

Emily Pennington was super in love with her boyfriend. But a backpacking trip put that to the test.         The hike to Mount Whitney   Music Beautiful Rain by Ketsa Wilson’s Snipe by Chad Crouch is licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License One Last Sunset by Alan Singley is licensed under […]

Monty Hudson wanted his daughter, Siena, to have a good time on her first backpacking trip. But things didn’t go according to plan.             Music The Frequency Shift by Ars Sonor is licensed under a Attribution-Share Alike License Scenery by Kai Engel is licensed under a Attribution License The Envelope […]

Wang Ping wanted to go to Tibet to bless the world. But to do that, she had to risk her own safety.       The first trip with the Yangtze and Mississippi River flags in 2013   The second trip to Mount Everest on the Nepal side of the Himalayas in 2016   Music Departures by […]

Gayle Woodsum finally found a safe place in the remote Rocky Mountains. But when an oil rig moved in, she wondered how safe it was after all.         Music What True Self, Feels Bogus, Let’s Watch Jason X by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license Warm Feeling by Borrtex is licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial License Evolving Plans […]

While we’re putting the finishing touches on a great new release, here’s a rescored episode from Season 1. Patrick Dobson was stuck in his life, so he decided to take a trip by canoe from Montana to Missouri. Only he had never canoed before.   Patrick’s Trip Down the Missouri River   Music Ketsa

Marty Edwards wanted to go on a fun trip with his girlfriend. But Mother Nature had other plans.         Music Credits A Vital Piece of Music for All Your Soundtrack Needs by Steve Combs is licensed under an Attribution License March of the Spoons by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons: By […]

A haunted shop. An interview with spirits. A protective force field. It’s the time of year when the shadows lengthen and we bring you stories that aren’t quite natural and aren’t all the way human.   Erin and Caroline interviewing spirits with copper dowsing rods.    Music Credits Deep Space by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons […]

Miho Aida wanted to tell unheard stories about the outdoors. So she set out on a bicycle to promote her documentary about the people who live in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. But when she encountered a different point of view, she found she had to listen, too.          Music Credits Boop […]

Here’s a re-scored episode from Season 1. Tonia Hanson had a secret. But when a private river retreat turned out to be very, very public, Tonia found unexpected healing.     Music Credits Avec Soin – Romance by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license

In 2012, 30 wolves and wolf-dogs were living at W.O.L.F. Sanctuary in northern Colorado. But one sunny June morning, a massive wildfire closed in on their mountain home. The HumaNature team at W.O.L.F Sanctuary   The wolves in our episode   The High Park Fire     Music Credits The Ascent by A. A. Aalto is […]

To Alua Arthur, life made no sense. But then she began to make sense of death. This is Part 3 of The Event Horizon, a three-part series where we’re considering creation and destruction. If you haven’t heard Part 1 or Part 2, go back and listen.   Further Discovery Myth: Demeter and Persephone La Llorona […]

If creative and destructive forces are linked, what does this say about artists, or mothers, or god? This is Part 2 of The Event Horizon, a three-part series where we’re considering creation and destruction. If you haven’t heard Part 1, go back and listen. In that part, we learned that black holes create galaxies. And […]

This is the first part of a three-part series on creation and destruction. Black holes are the most destructive force in the universe. But what if they’re also creative? An event horizon is the point of no return at the border of a black hole. In this series, I’m exploring that edge. Over the next […]

An encore presentation of our 2018 PMJA Best Station Podcast award-winner. Tyler Dunning went into the wild to distract himself from his grief…but ended up coming face to face with it instead.           Music by Kai Engel is licensed under an Attribution License. December Harbor April Scenery Remedy for Melancholy Snowfall Intro […]

After almost a decade making art in New York City, Stephanie Housley craved being closer to nature, her source of inspiration. So she moved to Bondurant, Wyoming – population 93.       The Western-inspired designs of Coral & Tusk. The Coral & Tusk staff retreat to Wyoming.   Music Credits Which That Is This? […]

When Patrick Kilonzo Mwalua saw wild animals suffering from drought, he decided it was his responsibility to bring them water.

Here’s a re-scored take on one of our all-time favorite episodes. It’s the story of a love that spans continents. Jon Dunham set out on the longest, toughest walk of his life. But along the way, he met someone who helped carry the weight. Music Credits Seattle Denver Arms (Instrumental) by Loch Lomond is licensed […]