I’ll Go If You Go Podcast

In this eighth episode, host Emily Harwitz heads to a redwoods preserve in Napa County to explore the work of stewardship—or, the next stage of conservation after a piece of land is protected. Conservation doesn’t end with a legal transaction! Just as nature is constantly changing, so, too, are the needs of the land, and it’s the work of stewardship to keep the land healthy. It’s a dynamic field of environmental work that involves working outside, building relationships, and planning for the future. Today’s guests, JoeJoe Clark and Clarisa Rosas, share with us their love for nature and what it’s like to work in stewardship as a Field Technician and Monitoring Program Assistant for The Land Trust of Napa County.  ABOUT OUR GUESTS Clarisa Rosas was born and raised in Napa, CA where she developed a love for the outdoors. She pursued her passion by studying Environmental Science Technology and Policy at California State University Monterey Bay, gaining valuable experience through service learning opportunities. She now works to steward the land in The Land Trust of Napa County's portfolio. At the time of recording, she was a Monitoring Program Assistant. She is now the Assistant Stewardship Coordinator. Find her on Instagram @cosmic_clarisa.  Joseph ‘JoeJoe’ Clark was born in Vallejo, CA hiking in the oak woodlands and exploring the mud flats and creeks of Solano County. His deep passion for plants and outdoor space led him to explore biology and foreign language at Sonoma State University. He is a naturalist at heart and currently works in stewardship as a Field Technician for The Land Trust of Napa County. Find him on Instagram @lilyboyjoy

In this seventh episode, host Emily Harwitz delves into the world of fire adaptation and resilience across California with a double feature: Katie Low, fire ecologist and Statewide Coordinator for UC Agriculture and Natural Resources Fire Network, and Saul Tejeda, an Assistant Captain on the Yosemite Wildland Fire Module with over a decade of experience on the fireline. This episode goes broad and deep, so if you’re hankering to learn about California’s state of fire preparedness, how a prescribed burn happens, how technology is advancing wildland firefighting, or the technical nitty-gritty of what it’s like to work with fire, you’re in luck.  ABOUT OUR GUESTS Katie Low is the Statewide Coordinator for UC ANR’s Fire Network. She works with the Network to help California's residents, natural resource professionals, and communities accelerate the implementation of fire resilience projects. Locally, Katie delivers science-based training about home hardening, defensible space, wildfire preparedness, and vegetation management for communities in the western Sierra. She also works with organizations and universities to provide professional development opportunities for early career fire and forestry professionals in an effort to develop a diverse and robust workforce. Katie earned a Master of Forestry with an emphasis in fire ecology and a B.S. in Ecosystems Management and Forestry and B.A. in Geography, all from UC Berkeley. Her research interests include assessing the short- and long-term ecological impacts and efficacy of fuel reduction and forest restoration treatments on California's mixed-conifer forests.  Saul Tejeda is an Assistant Captain on the Yosemite Wildland Fire Module. With over 10 years of experience as a wildland firefighter on wildfires and prescribed burns, Saul has dedicated his career to working with fire to restore ecosystem balance and protect communities within the wildland-urban interface. He’s also a wildland firefighter educator and advocate for firefighter mental health.

In this sixth episode, host Emily Harwitz travels to the Sierra Nevada mountain range (figuratively) with guest Neida Rodriguez, a rising forestry student at Cal Poly Humboldt and this year’s Giant Sequoia Forest Fellow. There’s only one species of the biggest tree on Earth—giant sequoias—and it’s a special treat to hear from Neida herself about what it’s like to work among giants and what stewarding sequoias looks like today. From preparing the land for healthy fire to learning from the Tribes who know this land best, to monitoring for bears and finding gray wolf tracks (!), Neida regales us with tales from the field and gives us the latest on what’s happening in the world of giant sequoias. ABOUT OUR GUEST Neida Rodriguez is a forestry student at Cal Poly Humboldt and this year’s Giant Sequoia Forest Fellow. As a forester and naturalist, she hopes to restore and steward the places she loves while giving back to her community by creating opportunities for people to get out into the field. When she’s not walking amongst giant sequoias, you might find Neida in the desert admiring the beauty of all things great and small.

In this fifth episode, host Emily Harwitz chats with Kyle Buchanan and Karla Jovel about Interpretation—the kind that blends science, art, and storytelling in the outdoors to help park visitors appreciate the natural and cultural histories of the places they love. We also get an inside look at the new and exciting project called Forests for All that’s bringing local communities out into Redwood National and State Parks to go on fun and meaningful excursions, from day hiking to days-long backpacking trips. Karla launched Forests for All in 2023 and soon brought Kyle in to support. Together, they’re shaping the way we interpret, understand, and love the redwoods. ABOUT OUR GUESTS: Kyle Buchanan Kyle Buchanan is a California State Parks Interpreter located in the North Coast Redwoods District. Graduating with a BA in Sociology from California State University, Long Beach, Kyle focuses on bringing social equity into parks. Whether it’s a guided walk, virtual field-trip, campfire program, or kayaking trip, Kyle believes everyone should have the opportunity of experiencing it. Lastly, when he is not working then he’s probably out exploring another one of California's 280 State Parks. Karla Jovel City girl moves to the coastal redwoods. Karla Jovel is an artist, naturalist, and educator based in Northern California. Karla received a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Management from Cal Poly Humboldt and is the Interpretation Supervisor for the North Coast Redwoods District. Karla is interested in participating in outdoor and environmental engagement projects that promote access to the outdoors for diverse communities. To learn more, visit @NorthCoastRedwoods

In this fourth episode, host Emily Harwitz chats with Daniela Peña Corvillon about her work as a water architect, a term she coined while studying landscape architecture and realizing that water is the foundation for life in any landscape. Where water flows, life grows, and water always finds a way. Redwood ecosystems are a great example of that, like at one of Daniela’s favorite projects, the ‘O Rew Redwoods Gateway. Through Daniela’s stories about her artistic perspective, design philosophy, and ecological thinking, this episode will change the way you experience landscapes and open your eyes to the way water shapes us all. Daniela Peña Corvillon is a Chilean Architect who holds an MLA in Environmental Planning from UC Berkeley (2013). She focuses on the design and restoration of natural ecological functions at the interface of human and wild spaces. As owner of the architecture firm Wild LandArch, Daniela plans, designs, and manages multi-scale projects that integrate humans into natural areas and restore natural functions in the urban environment in California, Chile, and abroad. Daniela defines herself as a Water Architect due to her profound connection with water and her deep understanding of water systems. Find her work on Instagram @WildLandArch

In this third episode, host Emily Harwitz chats with José Juan Rodriguez and Verenice Sanchez about doing aquatic restoration in old growth redwood forests. Growing up in big cities, neither of them thought they’d one day be snorkeling beneath the redwoods or trekking along creeks to collect eDNA samples. But since then, they’ve followed their passions for nature and, after some surprising turns, have found their niches—their homes—in conservation. ABOUT OUR GUESTS: Verenice "Nice" Sanchez  Verenice Sanchez is an aspiring restoration ecologist. She graduated from Cal Poly Humboldt with a BS degree in environmental science and management. A 2023 Redwood Rising Watershed Apprentice, she is currently working with the Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office to monitor snowy plovers this nesting season. She enjoys gardening, Danza Mexica-Azteca, and soaking in hot springs. Find her on Instagram: @Parangaricutirimicuaraaa José Juan RodriguezGrowing up in a big city far away from the serene beauty of nature, José Juan felt a longing for a deeper connection with the world around him. This led him to pursue a career in Wildlife Biology Management & Conservation at Cal Poly Humboldt. Immersed in the ancient redwood forests, he was captivated by their unique flora and fauna. As he developed his own relationship with nature, he realized how many people back home were missing out on that, which inspired him to focus on helping others rebuild their connection with the natural world. Today, his goal is to ignite curiosity and foster a deeper appreciation for the great outdoors, whether it is through leading interpretive hikes, engaging with classrooms, or documenting his research. Find him on Linkedin.

In Season 4, we’re exploring the different kinds of jobs you can do in the redwood and redwoods parks. In this second episode, host Emily Harwitz chats with Francisco Saavedra about forestry, how his Yurok heritage informs his forestry practice, who the redwoods are to him, and what he hopes to accomplish as a Guardian of the Redwoods.  Francisco Antonio Saavedra Jr. is a proud, federally enrolled member of the Pit River tribe Madesi Band, with Yurok and El Salvadoran ancestry. He was born and raised in Northern California.  Francisco is currently studying tribal forestry at College of the Redwoods and aspires to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Tribal Forestry and Natural Resources from Cal Poly Humboldt. He was a 2023 Redwoods Rising Forestry Apprentice and is returning to apprentice for the 2024 season. Find him on Instagram @francisco_sav Note: Marbled murrelet calls in this episode are taken from a recording by Andrew Spencer in Redwood National and State Parks and used under the Creative Commons license. The full recording can be found here: ⁠Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus)⁠

Welcome to Season 4! This season, we’re exploring the different kinds of jobs you can do in the redwood and redwoods parks. In this first episode, producer and host of season 1, Leslie Parra,  interviews the current host Emily Harwitz. They talk about Emily’s love for nature, what she does for work when she’s not hosting I’ll Go If You Go, and how she’s approached her career in science and environmental storytelling.

In Episode 6, the final episode of Season 3, host Emily Harwitz talks to Agnes Vianzon (she/they), the founder and Executive Director of Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps (ESCC) and a first-generation, queer filipinx. They founded ESCC in 2017, starting with an initial all-women crew, and the organization has served over 100 alumni and counting. ESCC is changing the demographics of outdoor stewardship and parks employment and visitation while providing jobs for young people who want to experience working in the outdoors.  Emily talks to Agnes about the importance of building community and capacity for outdoor spaces, plus the magic of trail building: not only does it bring together the crews who work on them, but the trails remain a lasting connection between those crew members and anyone who experiences the trail forevermore.  Links: Eastern Sierra Conservation CorpsESCC on Instagram

In episode 5, host Emily Harwitz chats with Michelle Warren, the Vice President and Co-founder of Black Girls Trekkin Inc. (BGT). BGT is a Los Angeles based 501c3 nonprofit for Black women who choose to opt outside. BGT seeks to inspire and empower Black women to spend time outdoors, appreciate nature, and protect it. BGT is building a community that will show the world that Black women are a strong and present force in the outdoors. Emily and Michelle talk about BGT’s origin story, how to build and nurture community, and the importance of affinity spaces in the outdoors. Michelle has a bachelor’s in marine biology and a master’s in biology with an emphasis on community-based conservation. She also has professional experience creating and facilitating nature-based programs for kids and adults. Tiffany Tharpe, CEO and Co-Founder of BGT, was unable to make it for this podcast conversation, but we felt her presence nonetheless. Tiffany holds a BA in English and works as a Veterinary Assistant. She is passionate about this planet and the animals and plants that call it home, as well as building community and inspiring others to care for the planet. Her favorite outdoor activity is challenging herself to face her fears in the outdoors and trying anything at least once. Visit Black Girls Trekkin’ website Follow Black Girls Trekkin on Instagram Follow I'll Go If You Go Podcast on Instagram