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Artwork for 90 Miles from Needles: the Desert Protection Podcast

90 Miles from Needles: the Desert Protection Podcast

Chris Clarke
Climate Change
Mojave Desert
Public Lands
Desert Ecosystems
Desert Conservation
California
Environmental Justice
Conservation
Joshua Tree
Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
Mexican Wolves
Joshua Trees
Chihuahuan Desert
Lithium Mining
Colorado River
Environmental Activism
Biodiversity
Bureau Of Land Management
Desert Tortoise
Joshua Tree National Park

Join Chris Clarke and a variety of guests as they explore the challenges and opportunities of the American Southwest's fragile ecosystems. Engaging interviews with experts, activists, and advocates on conservation, land management, and environmental justice. Science and sentiment, politics and philosophy, hiking and history, culture and creativity all go into defending the desert. Be forewarned: W... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes145Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Places & TravelNatureScienceSociety & Culture

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Artwork for 90 Miles from Needles: the Desert Protection Podcast

Latest Episodes

Content note: sadness.

Due to the death of a close family member, we will return on June 5. Listen if you want a few details.

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In this episode, Chris talks with longtime border environmental activist Russ McSpadden about the controversial plans to erect a second border wall on the U.S.-Mexico borde. From the devastating effects on the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge a... more

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Episode Summary:

In this episode, host Chris Clarke revisits the spirited discussion surrounding the High Desert Art Fair and its portrayal in media. Cindy Bernard and Bernard Leibov engage in a dialogue to address critiques and misconceptions, par... more

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In this episode of "90 Miles from Needles: The Desert Protection Podcast," Chris dives deep into the pressing issue of the Colorado River water crisis. As the lifeblood of many thriving cities and fertile fields in the southwestern United States, the... more

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Recent Guests

Russ McSpadden
Southwest Conservation Advocate, Center for Biological Diversity
Center for Biological Diversity
Episode: S5E16: The Double Border Wall: A New Environmental Catastrophe
Cindy Bernard
Artist and activist with a conceptually oriented practice
Founder of SASASAS; co-founder/editor-in-chief of the Desert Trumpet
Episode: S5E15: When Commerce Meets Culture: Art Fairs in the Desert
Bernard Leibov
Founder and director of Boxo Projects; Joshua Triennial co-founder
Boxo Projects; Joshua Triennial
Episode: S5E15: When Commerce Meets Culture: Art Fairs in the Desert
Matt McGuire
Farmer active in desert agriculture since the 1980s
Episode: S5E14: River of Cheeseburgers: The Surprising Water Guzzlers of the West
Ruth Nolan
Accomplished poet and educator, desert advocate
College of the Desert; Mojave Desert Literary Laureate (2021)
Episode: S5E12: Whose Desert Is It Anyway? Navigating Change in the Mojave
Laiken Jordahl
Borderlands campaigner at the Center for Biological Diversity
Center for Biological Diversity
Episode: S5E10: ¡No al muro! Big Bend Neighbors Fight Proposed Border Wall
Dr. Jackie Grant
Executive Director
Grand Staircase Escalante Partners
Episode: Brief hiatus due to house fire
Tim Shields
A long-time tortoise biologist focused on desert ecology
Episode: S5E6: Ravens and Splitgrass: A Deep Dive into the Mojave's Ecological Challenges
Zak Podmore
Journalist and author focused on water and conservation issues in the Western US.
Author of 'Life After Deadpool'
Episode: S5E5: From Nuclear Waste to Restoring Glen Canyon

Host

Chris Clarke
Host and desert protection advocate focusing on conservation, public lands, and desert storytelling.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 80 ratings
  • Beautiful and important

    I’m grateful for this podcasts’ breadth of subjects and quality of reporting. The episode I just listened to about borders and those searching for a better life brought me to tears. Thank you for sharing beautiful and tragic stories.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Vegan bmx
    United Statesa year ago
  • Liberal tears

    He cries about the current administration more than anyone I’ve heard. Tired of the whining from the left.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Bronzbakattak
    United Statesa year ago
  • A must-listen for desert lovers

    Informative, engaging, and deeply rooted in love for the desert—this podcast covers issues that matter while celebrating what makes the desert extraordinary.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    EchoZey
    United Statesa year ago
  • A breath of fresh dry air.

    A sane take on the threats to desert ecosystems and the beauty of the deserts themselves.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    manlike.
    United Statesa year ago
  • Without the desert our collective futures are barren

    Good podcast, I like it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jenandalo
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Genuine passion for the desert paired with rigorous analysis and storytelling.
Thoughtful coverage of desert protection and ecology with a compassionate, informed voice.
An accessible, well-researched show that highlights unique desert perspectives.
Bold, wide-ranging discussions that blend science, policy, and local culture.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

S5E16: The Double Border Wall: A New Environmental Catastrophe
Q: If the first wall is working so well, why do we need a second one?
The guest suggests financial and political motivations, including the large funding authorization that could finance multiple walls, and speculation about what the second wall is intended to achieve beyond reinforcing border control, while highlighting uncertainty and concerns about effectiveness and consequences.
S5E7: The Battle for Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument
Q: What can listeners do to help?
Listeners can contact their legislators, support public lands nonprofits, and engage with local allies to advocate for maintaining or improving management plans, as these plans underpin community economies, conservation, and tribal engagement.
S5E7: The Battle for Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument
Q: What does the Congressional Review Act mean for the monument and other public lands?
It creates a formal window in which Congress can disapprove the management plan; if overturned, new rules would be crafted, potentially not substantially similar to existing ones, leading to legal disputes and chaos across public lands that rely on these plans.
S5E7: The Battle for Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument
Q: What are the key features of the management plan that came out last year for Grand Staircase Escalante?
The plan details protections for resources identified in the Presidential Proclamation, including cultural and natural resources, protections for night skies, and safeguards for wildlife habitat, while balancing recreation and local stakeholder input to ensure a careful, multi-use approach.
S5E9: Why Salt Lakes Matter More Than Ever
Q: Could you talk about why you integrated queer theory and queer ecology into Salt Lakes, and how that shaped the book's arc?
The author describes how queer theory emerged as a dominant framework during the writing, helping to reframe landscapes as sites of possibility and challenging conventional binaries of human/nature, ultimately deepening the discussion of how landscapes are valued and protected.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show consistently covers ecological, cultural, and policy issues affecting the American Southwest, with a strong emphasis on desert protection, public lands, water resources, and environmental justice. Episodes blend on-the-ground reporting, scholarly and activist perspectives, and personal storytelling to illuminate how policy, development, and climate intersect with desert ecosystems and local communities. Unique strengths include scene-setting desert history, deep dives into contentious topics (border policy, public lands management, water rights), and a collaborative approach that spotlights local artists, researchers, and advocates alongside scientists. The format often pairs rigorous analysis with accessible storytelling, making ... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Desert Oracle Radio
2. Parkography
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. Radio Atlantic
5. Fresh Air

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 5 years ago and published 145 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Russ McSpadden
2. Cindy Bernard
3. Bernard Leibov
4. Matt McGuire
5. Ruth Nolan
6. Laiken Jordahl
7. Dr. Jackie Grant
8. Tim Shields

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