Backyard Giants

In the second episode of Season 5, host Monica Carcamo-Binetti heads out into the field to kick-off California State Parks Week beneath the soaring redwoods of Samuel P. Taylor State Park. This is the 4th year of celebration and the first time in a redwood park! Guided by this year’s tagline “This Is Where You Live”, Monica captures stories from District Superintendent Maria Mowrey, Interpreter Kourtney Boone, community champion Kirstie Dutton, and a band of wide-eyed kids fresh off a hike. Plus we also had a surprise visit from a key player that helps shape California State Parks in a big way! Each guest revealed how a single park visit can have a long lasting impact and even reshape a life. By the episode’s end, you’ll feel the quiet of ancient trunks, the laughter echoing through the redwoods, and know that these giants are really in our own backyards. Your own neighborhood trailhead is just a pair of sneakers away, no fancy gear required. Read more about our guests here.

In the first episode of season 5, we celebrate transitions, transformations, and the quiet power of standing among ancient trees. Former host Emily Harwitz returns to pass the mic to new host Monica Carcamo-Binetti, a longtime advocate for nature connection and co-Founder of Bay Area GalVentures. Together they explore how the redwoods shape us, and how being outdoors can clear our minds, rest our intentions, and remind us of what truly matters. Emily and Monica find beauty, resilience, and a shared commitment to protecting the places that change us. This season, Monica will explore how redwoods act as the ultimate “nature influencer” — and how these ancient giants guide us towards a deeper connection with ourselves, each other, and the natural world. ------------Monica Carcamo-BinettiMonica is a storyteller, hiker, and Save the Redwoods League council member. She is also the co-founder of Bay Area GalVentures, an Instagram community she started with her lifelong friend to share their hiking adventures, especially among the redwoods. Monica discovered her love for the outdoors later in life and now champions access to nature for women. She extends this passion into her role as our new podcast host, where she shares stories that connect people to redwoods, nature, and each other—with heart, curiosity, and a deep love for the forest.Emily HarwitzEmily Harwitz is an award-winning science writer and nature photographer working at the intersection of science, environment, and culture. Through written, visual, and audio forms, she tells stories that deepen our capacity for wonder and bring us closer to the natural world—including each other. She was the IGIYG host for seasons 2-4 and is now excited to listen along as she starts a new role as Communications Manager at Sonoma Land Trust. You can find more of her work at emilyharwitz.com and connect with her on Instagram @em_witz.

In this twelfth episode, host Emily Harwitz takes a closer look at the fuel that drives conservation. Funding, of course, is essential, and two of the main sources of conservation funding are government agencies and philanthropy. Today’s guests—Ben Friedman and Geenah Leslie—are experts in those areas, from the state and federal levels to the local level. They’re also experts at cultivating relationships, because that’s the real foundation of this work: building relationships based on shared values and a commitment to making the world a better place, for all of us. From what’s in the upcoming Proposition 4 Climate Bond to the many benefits our urban trees provide, we hope this final episode of Season 4 gives you lots to be hopeful for. Ben Friedman is the government affairs and public grants officer of Save the Redwoods League. Prior to the League, Ben led grantmaking in California for Western Conservation Foundation.  He also has worked at the Wilderness Society and on Capitol Hill on the House Committee for Natural Resources. Ben’s education background is in geology and environmental management. In his spare time, Ben likes going to the beach with his wife Lauren and his dog Lobo, and baking seasonal pies. Geenah-Marie Leslie (she/her) was born and raised in the ancestral lands of the Tongva People, presently known as Los Angeles. As the proud child of Jamaican immigrants, she was brought up to believe that she should never allow her gender or the color of her skin deter her from pursuing her wildest dreams. Her passion for the healing benefits of nature and connecting People of Color to the outdoors led to her working in the environmental justice field. In her professional tenure, she has played a crucial role in donor relations, fund development, and piloting successful community engagement initiatives. Her free time is typically spent by large bodies of water, listening to an Afrofuturistic audiobook, or psp-psp-psping a cat on the street. Find her on Instagram @geenah_leslie or on ⁠LinkedIn

In this eleventh episode, host Emily Harwitz takes a closer look at career development programs specifically designed to give young people work experience in park and public land jobs. Many guests this season found their jobs in conservation by following wending paths toward their love for nature—and through a little bit of serendipity. That’s true for Alfonso Orozco who, guided by his own experiences navigating a career in parks and the outdoors, now leads the Career Pathways Grants Program at Parks California where he helps make job training programs possible and accessible. One of the organizations that received a Career Pathways grant this year is the Santa Monica Mountains (SAMO) Fund, an official partner of the National Park Service. They help manage the award-winning SAMO Youth mentorship program for youth interested in exploring environmental careers. To share how this career development program works and how it changed their lives, today’s second featured guests are Adriana Barrera, Cecilia Lopez, and Javier Sandoval-Garcia, all former participants, and current staff of SAMO Youth.

In this tenth episode, host Emily Harwitz talks outreach and engagement—for nature and adventure—in a double-feature with Xiomara Batin, Outreach and Marketing Manager at GirlVentures, and Erika Granadino, Community Engagement Coordinator for the North Coast Redwoods District. How do you get people to come outside if they’ve never done it before? Hint: it starts with meeting people where they’re at. If you like talking to people, making connections, and telling stories, then today’s episode is for you!  Xiomara Batin: Xiomara Batin is the Outreach and Marketing Manager at GirlVentures, an outdoor educational non profit based in Oakland, California. Xiomara has worked in a variety of educational institutions and non profit organizations with authentic engagement and genuine allyship at the center. Supporting communities that have had limited access to outdoor spaces due to historical barriers, is an integral area of importance to Xiomara and she feels passionate about being involved in advocacy in a variety of capacities. Find GirlVentures on Instagram @girlventures Erika Granadino: Erika was born in El Salvador and raised in the vibrant San Francisco Bay Area with her mother and sister. She graduated from Humboldt State University with a degree in Environmental Management and Protection, with a focus on Natural Resource Planning. For the past 4 years she has worked as an interpreter for California State Parks and the last year as the Community Engagement Coordinator for the North Coast Redwoods District, which has allowed her to exercise her passion and commitment to conservation and community engagement. Her favorite part about the work is getting to facilitate interpretive programs that connect people to parks, providing access, information, and inclusivity to their public lands. Promoting these places through interpretive programs gives hope that visitors will want to become stewards of these natural places, too. She feels lucky to be able to provide opportunities for people to connect with nature, helping them find meaning in what they are experiencing. In her downtime she enjoys cooking, going out to eat at a good restaurant, or getting some exercise. However, nothing compares to a good scenic hike on a sunny day. Find her on Instagram @erkbea

In this ninth episode, host Emily Harwitz ventures to Butano State Park to ask artist, educator, and naturalist Elexis Padrón: What is art? How can art help us connect with nature? And what role can artists play in conservation? As Elexis puts it, art is a way of seeing that can help us foster our relationships with nature. Art can be a way to help people not just see and value, but love this world. From personal philosophies on why art is a powerful tool for connection, to the ins and outs of nature journaling, to the new statewide Arts in California Parks program, Emily and Elexis have a blast chatting about the deep—and playful—intersection of art and nature. Elexis Padrón is an artist, naturalist, and educator who is passionate about helping people deepen their connection with nature through practical, fun artistic practices. She was born and raised in California and has lived in many different human and natural ecosystems. Her practice is informed by the deeply rooted belief that humans are not separate from nature, and that recentering that bond that was never lost is crucial to moving forward in our current climate. Find her on Instagram @vanillakeys.

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