The 'Godfather of Rewilding' with Alan Watson Featherstone

A few months ago I saw a story in The Guardian which answered a question I had wondered about for a while - when did we start using technology to identify wildlife through their calls? I’m an avid user of the Merlin Bird ID App, which records bird songs and attempts to identify them. Before this, I relied on the ears of others - usually experienced naturalists who had spent years honing their hearing before passing on their knowledge to others. But, what came before this?The Guardian story that caught my eye discussed a short film that had recently been released - Alarm Notes - which was about a guy called Ludwig Koch, who is believed to have made the very first recordings of birds back in the late 1800s. This accolade is only part of Ludwig’s life story, and the further I read into it, the more astounding it got. As a jewish family living in Germany at the dawn of the second world war, Ludwig and his wife had to leave their home and escape to the UK. They also unknowingly hosted a Bulgarian communist who may or may not have burned down the Reichstag building in their home, putting them at even more risk from the incoming Nazi regime. The Bulgarian man managed to get away with the crime however, then later went onto become the first prime minister of Bulgaria, so things turned out ok for him!The technology used in the early 1900s to record birds in zoos and in the wild would make modern day sound techs run for the hills - think miles of wires held up on stilts over bodies of water, tracing between microphones and a huge recording van. The technological advances that happened over the course of Ludwig’s life were truly remarkable.Ludwig continued his bird recording work in the UK, becoming one of the very first natural history celebrities. He recorded song books - vinyl that came with a book about the birds that were featured - but also recorded the soundscapes of places, including parts of London and Paris, transporting the listener from their home to places they may have never visited before. He also featured on BBC radio, becoming a familiar voice and even the subject of comedy routines.I wanted to speak to the makers of the film, Anthea Kennedy and Ian Wiblin about the story and the filmmaking process. I was also interested to hear about Andrea’s personal connection with the subject of the film, as she is Ludwig’s great granddaughter.To find out more about the film, or any of the other films that Anthea and Ian have made about her family’s remarkable stories, head to their website.The sound recordings used in this episode were digitalised by the British Library from Ludwig Koch’s archive. The music used in today’s episode is from Blue Dot Sessions.Support the making of Earth to Humans by becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Earth to Humans Podcast's Substack at earthtohumanspodcast.substack.com/subscribe

After spending six months backpacking on the Appalachian Trail (AT), reaching the end felt like a joyous celebration. But there was a sadness lurking just around the corner. Reaching the end meant saying goodbye to the truly unique community of people on the trail, and it also meant the end of a routine focused on extreme exercise and exploring new places.Post-trail depression is a common topic of conversation amongst thru-hikers on the AT - most hikers understand that the transition back into the real world can be challenging. But depression probably isn’t the right word for what most thru-hikers experience when their journey comes to an end - it’s more akin to grief or sadness. But for some, trail’s end can lead to real, clinical depression. That was the case for one of the members of my trail family, Chop Chop.Chop Chop’s reason for embarking upon a thru-hike of the AT was drastically different from my own. I had been dreaming of hiking the Appalachian Trail since I was a kid - I spend years planning the trip. For Chop Chop, the AT was a lifeline. It was his last resort - the only thing that he thought might help when he found himself lost in a deep depression.Despite our differences, Chop Chop and I connected immediately when we met on the trail. We first met in Virginia, and our paths criss-crossed regularly until Vermont, when we connected with a few additional hikers and formed an impromptu trail family. The time that we spend on the trail together was largely joyous and celebratory. But as I got to know Chop Chop a bit more, he started to open up about his struggles with anxiety and depression.These conversations continued after we completed our hike. Chop Chop was one of the most vocal fans of my Common Land podcast series, and we began talking about sharing his story in an episode of the show.It’s been a slow and intentional process - we recorded our first interview over a year ago - but we’re both extremely proud of what we’ve put together. Chop Chop’s primary goal in sharing his story is to inspire others who may be struggling to get outside, go for a hike, and find their own safe space in nature.-Matt Podolsky Get full access to Earth to Humans Podcast's Substack at earthtohumanspodcast.substack.com/subscribe

In 2022, I set out to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. In addition to all of my necessary backpacking gear, I also carried small audio recorders and a suite of microphones that I could use to capture the sounds of the trail and document my journey.I spend six months hiking the entire length of this iconic trail, something that I had been dreaming about for almost 20 years. For most of the hike, I was joined by my mom, who was 65 years old at the time. The two of us had the adventure of a lifetime, and I captured some amazing moments with my audio recorder.It took me three full years to piece together the story of our long hike. The podcast series that resulted did more than just document my journey - I also captured expert interviews exploring the history of the trail and the conservation issues that it faces. What resulted was a 12-part radio documentary series, produced in partnership with New Hampshire Public Radio, which first aired in the summer of 2025. All 12 of the half-hour episodes are now available via the Common Land podcast feed.But for the past year or so I’ve been working on a 13th episode - an epilogue to the series. This final episode will drop next week, and it explores a particularly important topic - how mental health is intertwined with long distance hiking. I explore this idea through the perspective of one of my close friends who I met on the trail, Kevin Remillard, AKA Chop Chop.Chop Chop’s story is both fascinating and inspiring. But my hope is that it will also be instructive. I believe that long distance hiking can teach us about ourselves, illuminating the path towards a happier life. For Chop Chop, this idea serves as a guiding light, and both of us are eager to share this story with the wider world.But for now, enjoy episode one of Common Land’s second season. If you want to know what comes next, just head over to our podcast feed for the series, or click here to check out the show’s website and see pics from the trail.-Matt Podolsky Get full access to Earth to Humans Podcast's Substack at earthtohumanspodcast.substack.com/subscribe

In Scotland, Alan Watson Featherstone is often referred to as the 'Godfather of Rewilding' - he has dedicated his life to saving Scotland's forests, after making a very public declaration to do so. Prepare to be inspired! Get full access to Earth to Humans Podcast's Substack at earthtohumanspodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Josh didn’t know anything about the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) until he was looking for an escape during the pandemic. After visiting a few BLM managed areas in California, he decided to make it his mission to visit every area managed by this federal agency in the state. This marked the start of The Forgotten Lands Project, Josh’s effort to raise awareness about these largely unknown patches of public land.I was drawn to Josh’s work because of my connection to a BLM managed protected area near my home in Boise, Idaho - the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. This National Conservation Area is a part of BLM’s National Conservation Lands system, and it is a truly special place. In less than an hour’s drive, I can be siting along the rim of a dramatic canyon with prairie falcons whizzing by and golden eagles circling overhead. This Conservation Area is home to one of the highest density nesting areas for birds of prey in the world. Because of its proximity to this unique area for raptors, Boise has become known as a global hub for raptor research. In the 1980s the Peregrine Fund established the World Center for Birds of Prey here, and Boise State University launched the Raptor Research Center, home to the only graduate degree program in Raptor Biology in the US. There’s also a famous raptor migration survey effort run by the Intermountain Bird Observatory just outside of town, and our minor league baseball team is called the Hawks!Despite all of this, the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area, which was designed to protect raptor populations, is woefully underfunded and understaffed. In my role as a board member of the Birds of Prey NCA Partnership, a “friends” group associated with this National Conservation Area, I’m trying to elevate the profile of these BLM managed public lands. Josh Jackson shares this mission, and the two of us had an engaged conversation about the role of public land in our society and the challenges facing the Bureau of Land Management.A version of this interview was originally published as an episode of the Dedication Point podcast - a series focused on issues relevant to the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. Check out our latest season of Dedication Point for more discussions about the BLM’s current funding and staffing crisis.-Matt Podolsky Get full access to Earth to Humans Podcast's Substack at earthtohumanspodcast.substack.com/subscribe

For this episode, I’m bringing our global audience to the place I call home - the Scottish Highlands. In this historical landscape, where midgies reign and deer stand majestically atop purple-washed hillsides, simple shelters stand that welcome weary travellers to rest, dry off and, most importantly, connect with each other. Known as ‘bothies’, these shelters may lack modern conveniences, but they offer a chance to escape, breathe and be at one with nature. Today’s guest Kat Hill is a researcher and author who explores landscape, people, and heritage. After reading her book, Bothy: in Search of Simple Shelter, I wanted to explore what these shelters mean to the subculture of people who are dedicated to their preservation and exploration, their history, benefits and current surge in popularity. Get full access to Earth to Humans Podcast's Substack at earthtohumanspodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Heidi Schreiber-Pan is a leading expert on nature-based therapy, a psychotherapist and a public speaker. She’s the author of “Taming the Anxious Mind: A Guide Book to Relieve Stress and Anxiety", and the founder of the Center for Nature Informed Therapy. Get full access to Earth to Humans Podcast's Substack at earthtohumanspodcast.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode I speak to Mo Wilde  - author, forager, ethnobotanist and research herbalist.Throughout my life, I’d never ventured further into foraging than picking blackberries when they were in season. But reading Mo’s book opened my eyes to the incredible diversity of wild food that fills our forests, grasslands, hedgerows and coasts. On returning to the UK, I began to discover the abundant plants that could not only feed me, but heal me too. And thus began my foraging journey. So, I was intrigued to hear about what started hers, and delve deeper into her work… Get full access to Earth to Humans Podcast's Substack at earthtohumanspodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Hi friends,Welcome back to the Earth to Humans podcast. It’s been a minute, but we’re back! I’m senior producer Sarinah Simons, and today, on Earth Day, I’m here with a little season update and some reflection.Yes, we are finally back from our break. Stepping away gave us time to rest, reflect, and sort through the noise—both out in the world and in our own heads. However, none of us quite anticipated the world we would be returning to.While we typically start each season on Earth Day with a renewed sense of purpose, motivation, and curiosity, I’ll be honest: this year hardly feels like a celebration.There’s this weight on everything right now, right? Climate and humanitarian grief, ecosystem collapse, a hostile administration…So, truly, if you’re feeling degrees of that heaviness, you’re not alone. I promise, we’re right there with you.I remember a time, though, when Earth Day felt a little more hopeful. At least, I remember when we were talking about projections and tipping points, and it at least felt a little farther off. A time when we were hopeful because there were good people out there working towards solutions, and while projections looked alarming, there was a sense that we could and would figure this out. But today doesn’t feel like that at all to me, and maybe that’s just me! But I can’t help but feel in certain ways that the climate crisis is now, and we are running out of time. I could recite a laundry list of all the current emergencies we’re all facing and reading about, but that often feels like preaching to an already overwhelmed and exhausted choir…so I’ll spare you all the details of what’s currently keeping me up at night.So, that begs the question: why are we still doing this podcast?Honestly? Because we need each other. And we need stories. Not just data. Not just dire warnings (though yes, it’s important to highlight those too), but stories that remind us we’re not alone. That other people care. That fighting for a livable future is still possible. Still worth it.So this season, we’re doing things a little differently. Yes, we’ll still have the scientists, the authors, the activists—the people doing powerful work on the frontlines of climate and conservation. But we’re also bringing ourselves to the mic a little more.We want to talk more openly about what it feels like to live in this moment. Not just what we’re doing, but how we’re doing. The hope, the burnout, the weird little coping rituals. The late-night spirals and the tiny, absurd joys that keep us going.We’re pulling the curtain back a bit. More check-ins between hosts. More behind-the-scenes messiness. Because if we’ve learned anything in the last few years, it’s that pretending to have it all figured out is exhausting—and pretty unhelpful in my opinion.So, if you’ve been feeling the weight of it all…welcome. If you’re still searching for ways to make a difference, or just survive the news cycle without disappearing into the void, you’re in good company. And we’re so glad you’re here.New episodes will be dropping soon, and we’ve got some incredible guests lined up this season. Stay tuned. Stay weird. Stay mad. And stay connected.And hey—Happy Earth Day 🌎Let’s make this one count.-Sarinah Get full access to Earth to Humans Podcast's Substack at earthtohumanspodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Happy (almost) New Year! We wanted to take a look back on all of our favorite Earth to Humans episodes that we produced in 2024. From redefining wilderness to the deepest parts of the ocean, the stories we got to tell this year continue to inspire and motivate us, especially as we prepare to navigate a murky future filled with uncertainty and inevitable environmental hurdles. Hannah, Matt and Sarinah shares their thoughts on the episodes that make this challenging work worthwhile, and a few of them might surprise you!We know it can be hard, but its more vital than ever that we stay engaged, tuned-in and laser focused on our environmental goals into 2025. Here on the pod, we’ll be with you every step of the way and we can’t wait to share new stories that we’ll be cooking up ahead of our return in the Spring. Cheers! Get full access to Earth to Humans Podcast's Substack at earthtohumanspodcast.substack.com/subscribe