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Artwork for Defender Radio and The Switch

Defender Radio and The Switch

Michael Howie / The Fur-Bearers
Animal Welfare
Wildlife Conservation
Climate Change
Science Denial
Rain Barrels
Beavers
Trust
Fur Farming
Food Waste
Sustainable Living
Animal Law
Biodiversity
Meal Planning
Environmental Impact
Flat Earth
Wildlife Advocacy
Green Travel
Exposed Wildlife Conservancy
Water Conservation
Wildlife Extinction

Defender Radio and The Switch bring experts and solutions to wildlife advocates and animal lovers around the world. Hosted by award-winning journalist Michael Howie, Defender Radio and The Switch are produced by The Fur-Bearers (TheFurBearers.com) and released weekly. Learn more at DefenderRadio.com

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes411Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceNature

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Artwork for Defender Radio and The Switch

Latest Episodes

When we talk about wildlife, we often talk about it as though it belongs somewhere else.

A forest. A park. A protected area. Somewhere north of us, away from the roads, neighbourhoods, shopping centres, and backyards where we spend most of our live... more

YouTube

Defender Radio host Michael Howie is joined by colleagues Dr. Valli Fraser-Celin and Tijana (Wildlife Campaigns and Advocacy Manager at The Fur-Bearers) to talk about studies covering drones and British Columbia's endangered species, plus a chat abou... more

YouTube

It feels like yesterday – and a lifetime ago – that the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the world. I don't know about you, but I'm still dealing with that experience, and I see the impact of it around me regularly. What's most upsetting, perhaps, is t... more

YouTube

This time of year is glorious for all of us – and for the wild neighbours with whom we share our communities. From black bears and coyotes to skunks and squirrels, wildlife is out and about, finding new den sites, food sources, and introducing their ... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Lenore Fahrig
Landscape ecologist
Carleton University
Episode: Urban Habitats and Connectivity featuring Dr. Lenore Fahrig
Dr. Valli Fraser-Celin
Wildlife scientist featured on the episode
The Fur-Bearers / Defender Radio
Episode: The Space Wildlife Needs feat. Dr. Valli Fraser-Celin & Tijana
Tijana Celik
Wildlife campaigns and advocacy manager
The Fur-Bearers
Episode: The Space Wildlife Needs feat. Dr. Valli Fraser-Celin & Tijana
Neil Vora
MD, former CDC epidemiologist; executive director of the Preventing Pandemics at the Source Coalition
Preventing Pandemics at the Source Coalition; Integral
Episode: Fur Farming and the Next Pandemic featuring Dr. Neil Vora
Nathalie Karvonen
Executive Director and Founder of the Toronto Wildlife Centre
Toronto Wildlife Centre
Episode: Spring in the Wild City featuring Nathalie Karvonen
Angela Fernandez
Director of the Animal Law Program at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
Episode: Animal Law at University of Toronto featuring Dr. Angela Fernandez
PJ Smith
Director of Fashion Policy for Humane World for Animals
Humane World for Animals
Episode: Fashion's Future is Fur-Free featuring PJ Smith
John Marriott
Award-winning wildlife photographer and co-founder of Exposed Wildlife Conservancy
Exposed Wildlife Conservancy
Episode: Canmore Cougar Tragedy Update feat. John Marriott and Maggie Spizziri
Maggie Spizziri
New executive director of Exposed Wildlife Conservancy, previously executive director of Revelstoke Bear Aware Society
Exposed Wildlife Conservancy
Episode: Canmore Cougar Tragedy Update feat. John Marriott and Maggie Spizziri

Host

Michael Howie
Host of Defender Radio and The Switch, an award-winning journalist focused on wildlife advocacy and related policy.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 60 ratings
  • A Commute Favourite

    A great inclusion of experts in their field that is informative and easy to listen to. Consideration and sensitivity for people is woven into stories and discussions about animals that are imperative and appreciated. A favourite to listen to on my way to work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nadia X.
    Canada5 years ago
  • The review below is garbage

    None of the claims are based any scientific research, just some dude is trying to make himself feel better by ignoring all the facts...

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SageMert
    Canada6 years ago
  • Spreads misinformation

    As someone living in Newfoundland, I found this podcast to be a disgusting misrepresentation of what is really going on. I partake in the recreational seal hunt and what was said on this podcast about the seal hunt are pure lies.

    For starters you cannot hunt pups. That is completely false, despite how many times the host and his guest talk about it. Hunting for whitecoats (pups) has been illegal for many years. Secondly the hunt on the east coast is not just for pelts as was said. Go to any hom... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    eastcoastreview
    Canada6 years ago
  • Good for the mind and heart

    Covering a wide range of topics, all sorts of wildlife advocates and animal lovers will find episodes for their interests. Michael Howie is a compassionate and respectful host, keen to learn from his guest speakers while being honest about his own views. Your mind and heart are both provided for by the podcast’s mix of well-researched information and emotional well-being considerations.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Meowy Marnel
    Canada7 years ago
  • My favourite podcast!

    This is my favaourite podcast because Michael Howie is a true advocate for all animals - wild, domestic and farmed - without risking anyone feeling like they're having anything shoved down their throat. It's educational and informative enough for listeners to gain the facts, so they can make their own decisions to make changes in their every day lives. Michael Howie is funny and knowledgeable and a great host, and all the guest speakers bring their own greatness to the show. This podcast helps ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Phantastical
    Canada7 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Fresh perspectives on wildlife issues resonate with listeners.
Some reviews note disagreements about specific topics but still praise the show's integrity.
Experts are well-curated and the host asks thoughtful questions.
Listeners appreciate the balance of science, policy, and humane advocacy.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#104
Italy/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#65
Mexico/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#121
Norway/Science/Nature

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Urban Habitats and Connectivity featuring Dr. Lenore Fahrig
Q: Are there practical misconceptions about urban wildlife that you'd like to correct for our audience?
Many people think nature only belongs in parks or protected areas, but wildlife already lives in cities and benefits from even small green spaces. Connectivity matters, but it is complex and depends on how you measure it, so it's crucial to test ideas and tailor solutions to local contexts. The key is to provide habitat broadly and incrementally, because large ecological gains come from many people doing manageable, local actions.
Urban Habitats and Connectivity featuring Dr. Lenore Fahrig
Q: What is the most important takeaway for listeners who want to help wildlife in their own neighborhoods?
Start with action at a collective scale: encourage neighbors to create and connect habitats, such as pollinator gardens and hedgerows, and advocate for infrastructure that reduces mortality (fencing, underpasses, or properly designed overpasses). Small, widespread changes add up to substantial ecological benefits when pursued by many households, not just a few. Practical steps like leaving 30% of property undisturbed and planting native species can have outsized effects over time.
Urban Habitats and Connectivity featuring Dr. Lenore Fahrig
Q: Can you explain in simple terms the difference between habitat loss and habitat fragmentation and why they matter separately in cities?
Habitat loss reduces the overall amount of natural area available for species, which lowers population sizes and can lead to local extinctions. Fragmentation, even with the same total habitat, breaks habitats into smaller patches, which changes movement, interactions, and species richness differently; in urban settings, fragmentation can sometimes support higher local diversity if the patches are arranged in ways that promote movement, but it also introduces more mortality factors like roadkill. In short, you need to consider both together and separately to understand impacts and to design better urban landscapes.
Fur Farming and the Next Pandemic featuring Dr. Neil Vora
Q: To start, can we talk a little bit about you and how you ended up at this intersection of public health and conservation?
Dr. Vora describes a lifelong interest in public health sparked by personal experiences, a background in international relations and biology, and a pivot from the CDC to a broader, holistic health view that includes the health of ecosystems and animals.
Spring in the Wild City featuring Nathalie Karvonen
Q: What practical steps can city residents take to help wildlife without causing harm?
Keep cats indoors or in outdoor enclosures, avoid feeding wildlife in ways that alter behavior, use native plants to support ecosystems, and engage with local wildlife rehabilitation groups to learn proper, trained methods.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Defender Radio and The Switch

What is Defender Radio and The Switch about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful program focused on wildlife advocacy, animal welfare, and environmental ethics, featuring expert guests from law, conservation, fashion policy, and climate science. Episodes frequently center on policy developments, conservation challenges, and practical solutions for advocates, with occasional updates on current events affecting wildlife governance and habitat protection. Noteworthy is the blend of rigorous expert discussion with accessible storytelling, and a recurrent emphasis on transparency, practical action, and audience engagement.

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Which podcasts are similar to Defender Radio and The Switch?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Defender Radio and The Switch:

1. Our Hen House: Vegan & Animal Rights Movement | Stories from the Frontlines of Animal Liberation
2. The Wild with Chris Morgan
3. Threshold
4. Ideas
5. Ologies with Alie Ward

How many episodes of Defender Radio and The Switch are there?

Defender Radio and The Switch launched 13 years ago and published 411 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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Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Defender Radio and The Switch?

Recent guests on Defender Radio and The Switch include:

1. Lenore Fahrig
2. Dr. Valli Fraser-Celin
3. Tijana Celik
4. Neil Vora
5. Nathalie Karvonen
6. Angela Fernandez
7. PJ Smith
8. John Marriott

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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