Rephonic
Artwork for The Wandering Naturalist

The Wandering Naturalist

Three Rivers Park District
Three Rivers Park District
Minnesota
Slime Molds
Neonicotinoids
Mississippi River
Biodiversity
Climate Change
Fishers
Wild Rice
University Of Minnesota
Environmental Justice
Dragonflies
Aquatic Plants
Community Engagement
Muskrats
Wetland Restoration
Bats
Women In Wilderness
Ecology
Environmental Education

Explore the history and present of over 27,000 acres of park land inside Minnesota's Hennepin County and surrounding areas. Hosts Ellen (interpretive naturalist) and Brandon (interpretive naturalist) guide you through this suburban wilderness managed by the Three Rivers Park District.

PublishesDailyEpisodes293Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NatureEarth SciencesScience

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Wandering Naturalist

Latest Episodes

In this episode, artist Missy Dunaway discusses her work on The Birds of Shakespeare, a series of paintings and essays that will cover every bird mentioned in Shakespeare's works! This episode looks at how birds are used symbolically by Shakespeare, ... more

We are thrilled to have Dr. John Marzluff, author and professor of wildlife biology at the University of Washington join us on the podcast. Dr. Marzluff shares stories of grudge holding crows, people's strange stories of interacting with corvids, and... more

Everyone has been wondering: "What's the best corvid in Minnesota?" Well, we are going to try and answer that question in this episode! Ellen has assigned teams and we are going to bring out the best facts we have about blue jays, Canada (gray) jays,... more

For the final episode on the Mississippi Flyway, it's time to zoom in with John Lindstrom from Ducks Unlimited. The flyway is thousands of miles of habitat, but here in the park district, Ducks Unlimited has partnered with Three Rivers to improve Lak... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Wild with Chris Morgan
The Wild with Chris MorganKUOW News and Information
Curious Minnesota
Curious MinnesotaMinnesota Star Tribune
Radiolab
RadiolabWNYC Studios
Nature Guys
Nature GuysNature Guys

Recent Guests

Missy Dunaway
Interdisciplinary artist out of Portland, Maine and creator of The Birds of Shakespeare
Independent artist; The Birds of Shakespeare
Episode: Episode 293: Assorted Corvids - Crows and... Swans?
John Marzluff
Author and professor of wildlife biology, University of Washington
University of Washington
Episode: Episode 292: Assorted Corvids - Generational Grudges
John Lindstrom
Manager of conservation programs with Ducks Unlimited in Minnesota
Ducks Unlimited
Episode: Episode 290: Life is a Flyway - Local Impacts
Wayne Thogmartin
Research ecologist with the USGS
United States Geological Survey (USGS)
Episode: Episode 289: Life is a Flyway - The Economics of Birds
Adrian Iacovino
Local wildlife enthusiast, tracking expert, education coordinator at Mississippi Gateway Regional Park
Mississippi Gateway Regional Park
Episode: Episode 288: Life is a Flyway - The Mississippi Flyway
Michelle Bierma
Interpretive Naturalist at Mississippi Gateway Regional Park
Mississippi Gateway Regional Park
Episode: Episode 288: Life is a Flyway - The Mississippi Flyway
Carrol Henderson
Retired Non-Game Wildlife Program Supervisor, Minnesota DNR
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Episode: Episode 287: River Otters - Bringing Otters Back
Dr. Caroline DeLong
Psychology professor studying animal minds (comparative cognition)
Rochester Institute of Technology (New York)
Episode: Episode 286: River Otters - Are they Intelligent?
Sarah Nassig
Co-founder, AH Network (Art, Water, and Ecology Network)
AH Network
Episode: Episode 284: Rivers Inspiring Art - Art and AWE

Hosts

Brandon
Co-host and interpretive naturalist, affiliated with Three Rivers Park District
Ellen
Host and interpretive naturalist, affiliated with Three Rivers Park District

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 122 ratings
  • Fascinating and fun

    Intelligent and accessible stories from our environment that help us appreciate nature even more. Level of conversation is perfect for intelligent adults and mature children alike. Cultivate your sense of wonder learning fascinating details about our natural world.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Green Janine
    United States2 years ago
  • Must listen.

    This podcast covers all aspects of nature. It also helps you want to know more about nature and helps you get outside and learn some more about nature.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Beet,farm,shruchte
    United States5 years ago
  • Explore 27,000 acres of Beautiful reserves & restored wetlands In the heart of the Twin Cities

    Podcast Addict
    5
    c.shaunnyrun
    6 years ago
  • Love!

    Fantastic podcast with so many interesting topics- just the right length!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jess4984
    United States6 years ago
  • Love!!!!

    I have been bingeing this podcast while taking my Minnesota Master Naturalist classes, and I love how relevant every topic has been, and I’m learning so much more! I think I’m on the second to last episode available at this time, and I’m so sad it’s almost over.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    paint_me_your_song
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Audience values local environmental topics and practical ways to get involved in parks and conservation.
Listeners praise accessible, engaging science storytelling tied to Minnesota landscapes.
The show is viewed as a strong resource for nature education and community connection in MN.
Guests are consistently described as knowledgeable and well-versed in regional ecology and history.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 292: Assorted Corvids - Generational Grudges
Q: how can I befriend my local crows or ravens?
Be consistent with food and routine, place regular feeders at the same time and spot, but avoid overdoing it—only a small amount like peanuts or similar protein sources to begin a relationship and let territorial individuals lead the interaction.
Episode 293: Assorted Corvids - Crows and... Swans?
Q: Would you like to give our listeners a little bit of background on yourself and how you started the project?
I started the Shakespeare birds project after realizing Shakespeare mentions many birds in his works, so I expanded from a single painting to a painting for every bird, turning it into a long-term, ambitious art project.
Episode 290: Life is a Flyway - Local Impacts
Q: Would you explain how your partnership with Three Rivers works and what Three Rivers provides?
Three Rivers owns the land and serves as the on-the-ground partner, while Ducks Unlimited contributes its biology expertise and engineering capacity to design and implement habitat improvements, creating a true collaborative model.
Episode 287: River Otters - Bringing Otters Back
Q: How can listeners support wildlife work like this beyond donations?
Listeners can donate via the non-game wildlife checkoff on the state tax form, which is matched by state funds, and there are broader opportunities to get involved with wildlife conservation careers and programs.
Episode 287: River Otters - Bringing Otters Back
Q: Can you introduce yourself and your role in the otter restoration work?
Carrol Henderson explains his long career with the Minnesota DNR, his leadership of the non-game wildlife program, and how he spearheaded the otter restoration project using donations and partnerships.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Wandering Naturalist

What is The Wandering Naturalist about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on natural history, ecology, and river-informed culture in Minnesota, often weaving scientific insights with local storytelling. Episodes frequently feature researchers, park staff, conservationists, and community partners who discuss wildlife, wetlands, floodplains, and river ecosystems, sometimes connecting these topics to art, history, and Indigenous perspectives. A standout pattern is the collaboration between host naturalists and external experts to translate complex ecological concepts into accessible, community-focused conversations. The format often blends field anecdotes with practical conservation ideas, citizen science opportunities, and ways listeners can engage locally. This mix—rigorous science, regional focus... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Wandering Naturalist?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Wandering Naturalist. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Wandering Naturalist and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Wandering Naturalist get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Wandering Naturalist, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Wandering Naturalist?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Wandering Naturalist, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Wandering Naturalist have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Wandering Naturalist has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Wandering Naturalist?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Wandering Naturalist:

1. The Wild with Chris Morgan
2. Curious Minnesota
3. Radiolab
4. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
5. Nature Guys

How many episodes of The Wandering Naturalist are there?

The Wandering Naturalist launched 8 years ago and published 293 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Wandering Naturalist?

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.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Wandering Naturalist?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Wandering Naturalist from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Wandering Naturalist?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Wandering Naturalist. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Wandering Naturalist?

Recent guests on The Wandering Naturalist include:

1. Missy Dunaway
2. John Marzluff
3. John Lindstrom
4. Wayne Thogmartin
5. Adrian Iacovino
6. Michelle Bierma
7. Carrol Henderson
8. Dr. Caroline DeLong

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days