Podcast
Kindred
Hosted by Kate Coffin · EN
The Kindred Podcast explores the intricate and interdependent relationship that humans have with animals and nature.
Every episode presents compelling interviews and thought-provoking discussions with leading experts from diverse fields of study including scientists, conservationists, authors, and educators.
From the world of science to cultural traditions and beyond, Kindred examines how humans can inspire a new awareness in order to reconnect us to the natural world.
Hosted by Kate Coffin and Jenn Asplundh. www.kindredpodcast.co
28episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Boreal Forests | With Dr. Jennifer Baltzer, Forest Ecologist
1w ago00:57:36Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we are talking about one of the most important biomes, boreal forests! And to lead us in this conversation, we are speaking with forest ecologist, Dr. Jennifer Baltzer to introduce us to this amazing terrestrial biome! Jennifer is a professor of biology at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Canada. She is also the Canada Research Chair in Forests and Global Change at Wilfrid Laurier, which is a research program focusing on the impacts of climate change resulting in wildfire intensification and permafrost thaw on boreal forest ecosystems. This was a fascinating conversation, and Jennifer covers some of the most interesting aspects of boreal forests and all the challenges they are coming up against in the face of rapidly changing climates. This ecosystem is so diverse and is one of the biggest carbon storehouses on the planet. Go to a Boreal Forest or Hemi-Boreal if you can! They are magical. And you’ll be entering into one of the most important terrestrial biomes that exists on the planet. And when you walk on parts of this magical forest floor, you’ll bounce. And you may even see Hansel & Gretel. Lots of Love. Episode Time Stamps: Introduction: 00:17Interview: 7:05Show Notes:https://www.wlu.ca/academics/faculties/faculty-of-science/faculty-profiles/jennifer-baltzer/index.html 🔎 Please find out more info and message us at: Website: www.kindredpodcast.coBlueSky: @thekindredpod.bsky.socialYouTube: @TheKindredPodcastInstagram: @thekindredpod Facebook: @Kindred ☕️ Please support us at Buy Me A Coffee or Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.✏️ Please follow, rate, and review - wherever you listen to your podcasts.💚 Thanks.
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Plants As Portals | Inside Botany of Nations Exhibit
2w ago00:41:02Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Jenn and I have the distinct pleasure of covering the exhibit Botany of Nations, at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, running from March 28th, 2026 through February 14th of 2027! The exhibit offers a culturally layered view of specific North American plants once collected during the famous expedition led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. More importantly, it beautifully centers the voices and perspectives of the Native Nations they came in contact with and explores how plants are portals- portals to lineage, stories, and traditional ecological knowledge. This is a major exhibit, one that is reframing the expedition of Lewis and Clark and seeing it through Indigenous perspectives, with a focus on the inter-relationships between plants and people. In the second half of this episode, we are joined by Dr. Enrique Salmon, where we talk about his perspective on why he agreed to co-curate this exhibit, what ‘plants as portals’ means to him, and how he came to coin the term ‘Kincentricity.’Thanks so much for joining us, and enjoy Botany of Nations!Lots of Love. Episode Timestamps:Introduction: 00:15Interview: 12:10Show Notes:https://ansp.org/🔎 Please find out more info and message us at: Website: www.philadelphiazoo.orgYouTube: @TheKindredPodcastInstagram: @thekindredpod Facebook: @Kindred ☕️ Please support us at Buy Me A Coffee or Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.✏️ Please follow, rate, and review - wherever you listen to your podcasts.💚 Thanks.
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The Philadelphia Zoo | With Dr. Jo-Elle Mogerman, President & CEO of the Philadelphia Zoo
3w ago01:05:44Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we are speaking with Dr. Jo-Elle Mogerman, 15th President and CEO of the Philadelphia Zoo in its 164th year.Dr. Mogerman is deeply committed to conservation, Philadelphia at large, and connecting our communities to animals in a meaningful and inspiring way. She may be a Chicago gal at heart, but we welcome her here to the City of Brotherly Love and are so excited to learn about what she has been initiating and leading for the past 3 years right here in our very own backyard.And you all know that we talk about zoos over here, but we have yet to speak to an actual zoo and the oldest in the country at that! It’s such an interesting, unexpectedly heartfelt conversation, but you know we are always going to bring it all back to the heart, and Dr. Mogerman brought it right to that heartspace for us.And you get to meet a 94-year-old Galapagos tortoise named “Mommy” who had 16 babies, and a little orangutan with the best comb-over ever named “Jambi.” My heart.The zoo has exciting plans for 2026 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence. Be sure to plan several upcoming visits to see their exciting experiences, learn more about helping to conserve wildlife, and view the new Flamingo and Bear Country habitats.Thanks for listening, and lots of love.Episode Timestamps:Introduction: 00:16Interview: 7:29Show Notes:https://www.philadelphiazoo.org/🔎 Please find out more info and message us at: Website: www.philadelphiazoo.orgYouTube: @TheKindredPodcastInstagram: @thekindredpod Facebook: @Kindred ☕️ Please support us at Buy Me A Coffee or Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.✏️ Please follow, rate, and review - wherever you listen to your podcasts.💚 Thanks.
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The Story of the Buffalo | With Zintkala Rivera, Range Ecologist
May 501:02:06Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we are speaking with range ecologist and Buffalo conservationist, Zintkala Rivera from the organisation, Tanka Fund. Zintkala is a member of the Oglala Lakota Nation and through Tanka Fund, is working to reintroduce buffalo back to native lands, lives, and economies with Native ranchers.Zintkala has a unique combination of skills bringing policy, law, and ecology to buffalo conservation and ranching working with Tanka Fund. And as you’ll hear her explain, bringing back buffalo to the Native lives and land is a complex and multifaceted process. Listening to her perspective of respect and responsibility to buffalo and for buffalo was really beautiful. Zintkala speaks with such reverence for them and it was a real pleasure to hear speak about this amazing animal. The story of the buffalo on this continent is one that will echo through the ages and one that needs to be heard and remembered. Thanks for listening, and lots of love. Episode Timestamps:Introduction: 00:16Interview: 8:05Show Notes:https://www.tankafund.org/🔎 Please find out more info and message us at: Website: www.kindredpodcast.coYouTube: @TheKindredPodcastInstagram: @thekindredpod Facebook: @Kindred ☕️ Please support us at Buy Me A Coffee or Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.✏️ Please follow, rate, and review - wherever you listen to your podcasts.💚 Thanks.
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The Donkey Sanctuary | With Dr. Cara Clancy, Senior Researcher
Apr 2101:00:40Tap to summarizeIn this week’s episode, we are speaking with Dr. Cara Clancy, senior researcher and social scientist for the Donkey Sanctuary located in Sidmouth, England. In 1973, Dr. Elisabeth Svendsen, after buying a donkey named ‘Naughty Face’, and going on to take in many donkeys after seeing the state of them at a local market, officially started The Donkey Sanctuary. Fast forward to today, and you’ll see the Sanctuary present around the world, fulfilling Dr. Svendsen's dream of helping donkeys across the globe live healthy and happy lives. And today, Cara’s role at the Donkey Sanctuary is senior researcher and social scientist with expertise in human-animal relations and wildlife governance. She has published on a range of topics, including public perceptions and attitudes towards donkeys, the role of working equids in humanitarian crises, and the status and distribution of free-roaming donkeys globally.We have asked Cara here today because we wanted to understand how an animal that through the ages has worked with us, carried us, toiled with us, and been a constant companion since the dawn of civilization ends up so disrespected and neglected. After listening to this episode, you also will be ready to become a champion for these big-eared, long-toothed sweethearts, smart as you like babies with arguably the cutest little hooves around. Thanks for being here and lots of love!Episode Timestamps:Introduction: 00:17Interview: 8:26Show Notes:https://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/🔎 Please find out more info and message us at: Website: www.kindredpodcast.coYouTube: @TheKindredPodcastInstagram: @thekindredpod Facebook: @Kindred ☕️ Please support us at Buy Me A Coffee or Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.✏️ Please follow, rate, and review - wherever you listen to your podcasts.💚 Thanks.
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Saving Sequoias | With Ben Blom and Save The Redwoods League
Apr 701:08:42Tap to summarizeIn this week’s episode, we are speaking with Ben Blom of the organization Save The Redwoods League to speak with us all about these wise and wonderful trees.Ben Blom serves as the League’s director of stewardship and restoration and has more than 15 years of restoration and forest management experience. One of Ben’s priorities, and an initiative I was really excited to hear about, is the work he is doing with the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition, which is a multi-partner collaboration dedicated to the conservation and stewardship of giant sequoia ecosystems. It was really special to hear Ben’s perspective and experience dedicating his life to being a steward to these trees. You can feel his deep respect and reverence for this ancient species when he speaks about them and it was such a joy for us to be in the presence of that energy. Time Stamps:Introduction: 00:17Interview: 9:14Show Notes:https://www.savetheredwoods.org/🔎 Please find out more info and message us at: Website: www.kindredpodcast.coYouTube: @TheKindredPodcastInstagram: @thekindredpod Facebook: @Kindred ☕️ Please support us at Buy Me A Coffee or Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.✏️ Please follow, rate, and review - wherever you listen to your podcasts.💚 Thanks.
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Encore: 23. A Second Chance: Saving Chimpanzees in DR Congo | A Conversation with Itsaso Velez del Burgo, Primatologist and Technical Director for Lwiro Primate Rehabilitation Center
Mar 2400:42:44Tap to summarizeOriginally released November 22, 2022. New Kindred episodes will drop starting in April 2026.In this week's episode from our archives, we speak with Itsaso Velez del Burgo about her work at the Lwiro Primate Rehabilitation Center in the Democratic Republic of Congo rescuing and rehabilitating chimps and other vulnerable species. She talks to us about how the devastating effects of extreme poverty and hunger lead to poaching and the trauma that echoes through the chimpanzees and their families. We hear her intimate account of what little baby chimps go through when they are taken from their killed mothers and what a life resulting from the illegal selling of our closest relatives looks like. Show Notes:Lwiro Primates Rehabilitation CenterLwiro’s InstagramNational Geographic - Central African Sanctuary Gives Hope to Chimps and Their Rescuers 🔎 Please find out more info and message us at: Website: www.kindredpodcast.coYouTube: @TheKindredPodcastInstagram: @thekindredpod Facebook: @Kindred☕️ Please support us at Buy Me A Coffee or Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts✏️ Please follow, rate, and review - wherever you listen to your podcasts.💚 Thanks.
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Encore: 41. The Power of Nature | A Conversation with Psychologist Jill Suttie
Mar 1000:59:53Tap to summarizeOriginally released January 9, 2024. New Kindred episodes will drop starting in April 2026.In this week’s episode from our archives, we speak with psychologist Jill Suttie, staff writer and contributing editor for the Greater Good Science Center, at University of California, Berkeley. Jill connects us to how being in nature helps us on a deep psychological, neurological, and overall physical level. We wanted to know what was actually happening in our brains and bodies when we spend time in nature and how those experiences translate to our mental and physical health. We all know we love being around the beauty and calm of nature but how does it support our health? Jill leads us down a path and into the space of nature where she answers these questions. Enjoy this episode full of those “A-Ha” moments!Please share this conversation with all your fellow humans. Lots of Love.Show Notes:https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/profile/jill_suttie🔎 Please find out more info and message us at: Website: www.kindredpodcast.coYouTube: @TheKindredPodcastInstagram: @thekindredpod Facebook: @Kindred☕️ Please support us at Buy Me A Coffee or Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts✏️ Please follow, rate, and review - wherever you listen to your podcasts.💚 Thanks.
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Encore: 51. Rewilding Our Children | A Conversation with Jen Davis, Education & Learning Manager for The Wildlife Trusts
Feb 2400:59:18Tap to summarizeOriginally released June 25, 2024. New Kindred episodes will drop starting in April 2026.In this week’s episode from our archives, we are speaking with Jen Davis, the education and learning manager for The Wildlife Trusts based around the UK.Jen focuses specifically on the role nature plays in childhood and how through educational programs implemented by The Wildlife Trusts, children can access empathy to nature, and a deeper connection to themselves and others.And, we dig deep into the critical role time spent in nature plays in the development of children and young people.Jen was such a joy and inspiration to speak with. You can tell how much she loves her work and how passionate she is about implementing time spent in nature for children into the educational systems in the UK.This conversation resonated deeply with us and is so very Kindred.Thanks so much to Jen Davis and The Wildlife Trusts for speaking with us and for the work you are doing in getting our children reconnected to the natural world!Lots of Love.Episode Timestamps:Introduction: 00:51Interview: 5:09TA: 52:32Show Notes:https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/default/files/2019-11/Children%20and%20Nature%20-%20UCL%20and%20The%20Wildlife%20Trusts%20Full%20Report.pdf🔎 Please find out more info and message us at: Website: www.kindredpodcast.coYouTube: @TheKindredPodcastInstagram: @thekindredpod Facebook: @Kindred☕️ Please support us at Buy Me A Coffee or Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts✏️ Please follow, rate, and review - wherever you listen to your podcasts.💚 Thanks.
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Listening To The Land | With Eriel Tchekwie Deranger, Leader in Indigenous Climate Action
Feb 301:22:14Tap to summarizeIn this week’s episode, we are speaking with Eriel Dernager, president of the organization Indigenous Climate Action, the only Indigenous led climate justice organisation in Canada. Eriel is from the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation located in Treaty 8 Territory, otherwise known as the Northern Alberta area, and currently resides in Treaty 6 territory also known as Edmonton, Canada. Deranger’s work focuses on Indigenous rights and building an intersectional dialogue between Indigenous rights, climate justice, and other social justice movements. Eriel is also building a global project adjacent to ICA called the Woven project. We wanted to speak with Eriel because we believe that climate justice and climate recovery can’t be achieved without the leadership of Native and Indigenous science, solutions, and experience. This was a powerful and beautiful conversation, one that will percolate for a very long time. Thanks so much for listening and please share this episode!And we’ll see you all back for Season 10 in the Spring! Take of yourselves and lots of love!Ep Time StampsIntroduction: 00:16Interview: 7:27TA: 1:14:16Linkshttps://www.thewovenproject.org/https://www.indigenousclimateaction.com/https://native-land.ca/🔎 Please find out more info and message us at: Website: www.kindredpodcast.coYouTube: @TheKindredPodcastInstagram: @thekindredpod Facebook: @Kindred ☕️ Please support us at Buy Me A Coffee or Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.✏️ Please follow, rate, and review - wherever you listen to your podcasts.💚 Thanks.
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