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Up From Dust

KCUR Studios
Kansas
Climate Change
Invasive Species
Light Pollution
Native Plants
Ogallala Aquifer
Agriculture
Bradford Pear Trees
Water Conservation
Haskell County
Biodiversity
Environmental Sustainability
Johnson County Parks and Recreation
Drought
High Plains
Kansas River
Sustainability
Microplastics
Environmental Impact
Clean Water Act

Humans broke the environment — but we can heal it, too. Up From Dust is a podcast about the price of trying to shape the world around our needs, as seen from the Great Plains and the Midwest. Host Celia Llopis-Jepsen wanders across prairies, farm fields and suburbia to find the folks who are fixing our generational mistakes. From Harvest Public Media, KCUR Studios, and the NPR Network.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes23Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceEarth SciencesNature

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Artwork for Up From Dust

Latest Episodes

(Jessica Cornelison / KCUR 89.3)Box turtles are cute and an absolute delight to spot while walking in the Midwest or Great Plains. But scientist Benjamin Reed wants us to know that these creatures are complex and widely misunderstood. Reed is a box ... more

YouTube

(Jessica Cornelison / KCUR 89.3)Climate change is altering the land, and Indigenous communities are on the frontline. This episode takes you to Alaska, where rapid permafrost thaw is threatening the Native village of Nunapitchuk. Then, we head to Lo... more

YouTube

(Jessica Cornelison / KCUR 89.3)A Texas pecan farmer spent years rethinking whether he needed so many chemicals to grow food. He cut back on things like weedkillers, but when it came to ditching insecticides, crop pests posed a challenge. That’s wha... more

YouTube

(Jessica Cornelison / KCUR 89.3)Astronomers need your help! And you don’t have to be an expert, because it’s as easy as stepping outside your home and taking a good look at a constellation like Orion. For 20 years, the citizen science project Globe ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Benjamin Reed
Biologist, behavioral ecologist, professor at Washburn University
Washburn University
Episode: Spying on box turtles
Morris Alexi
Alaska Native, Yupik tribal administrator and town relocation advocate
Nunapachuk community
Episode: Between land and water: Tribal relocation and resistance
Gertrude Lewis
Kindergarten teacher in Nunapachuk
Nunapachuk
Episode: Between land and water: Tribal relocation and resistance
Brenda Ann Biliot
Community member in Pointe-Au-Chien
Pointe-Au-Chien Tribe
Episode: Between land and water: Tribal relocation and resistance
Earl Billiot
Craft fisherman in Pointe-Au-Chien
Pointe-Au-Chien Tribe
Episode: Between land and water: Tribal relocation and resistance
Ildejaun Charles
Leader/tribal member associated with island community
Ildejaun Charles/Islands
Episode: Between land and water: Tribal relocation and resistance
Troy Swift
Pecan farmer and subject of the episode
Swift River Pecans Farm, Texas
Episode: The bat scientist and the pecan farmer
Merlin Tuttle
Bat conservationist, expert on bat habitat and bat houses
Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation
Episode: The bat scientist and the pecan farmer
Connie Walker
Astronomer at Noir Lab
Noir Lab
Episode: Stargazers, unite for science!

Host

Celia Llopis-Jepsen
Host of Up From Dust; KCUR Studios / Harvest Public Media; KCUR Studios / Kansas News Service; Kansas NPR member stations

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 106 ratings
  • Prairie Vibes

    My favorite podcast. Every show is a gem.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    vranyourcar
    United States6 months ago
  • Awesome

    Love the show. Thanks

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    IlliniGuy1234
    United Statesa year ago
  • Love it!!

    Very informative

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jlass29
    United Statesa year ago
  • how to save birds and the disappearing lake

    i was eager to listen to the podcast about saving migrating birds across midwestern states when i heard it advertised on npr. i also loved the discussion about how to maybe save tuttle creek and rivers in my home state. “Up From Dust” is doing us a great service!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    susanusirenus
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great job

    Just heard the first episode through the DW podcast Living Planet. Great job, looking forward to listening to more.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BK from Ohio
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Fans appreciate coverage of underreported environmental issues with practical solutions.
Praise for bringing scientific topics to a regional Midwest lens.
Audience notes strong production quality and engaging guests.
Listeners praise the show for accessible science storytelling and local impact.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#143
United States/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#125
Norway/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#127
Hong Kong/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#168
Japan/Science/Nature

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The bat scientist and the pecan farmer
Q: Tell me the story of Troy Swift.
Troy Swift shares how he left a canoe-building background to buy a pecan farm along the San Marcos River, initially farmed in the traditional way but later shifted to regenerative practices, allowing weeds to stay and moving away from heavy chemical reliance, while collaborating with researchers to test new bat-friendly approaches.
Why a prairie scientist spent years photographing a single square meter of land
Q: What are you feeling in that moment when these tiny baby spiders are dangling from silk?
Chris describes this as an incredible moment that is both meditative and invigorating, as if he has been allowed into a private space to observe behaviors not normally witnessed.
Kayakers vs. river pollution
Q: Tell me about the battery cases.
Dawn explains how these cases have been in the river for a very long time and are a large part of the challenge facing river cleanup.
Kayakers vs. river pollution
Q: How did you feel those nights?
Dawn describes the nights spent on the river as peaceful, with bright stars and a sense of being away from everything.
Can we save millions of migrating birds?
Q: What was the decision regarding glass treatment for bird safety?
They decided to apply a film with dots on the windows to help birds see them.

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 Up From Dust

What is Up From Dust about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program centers on environmental change, stewardship, and community-led solutions across the Midwest and Great Plains. Episodes explore climate-driven impacts on land and water, Indigenous adaptation strategies, regenerative farming, save-the-sky lighting, river cleanup efforts, and grassroots conservation. Conversations pair scientists, farmers, educators, and local organizers to translate complex issues into practical actions for communities and policymakers. A notable through-line is translating science into accessible storytelling that connects place, culture, and sustainable futures, with a strong emphasis on local voices and tangible outcomes.

Where can I find podcast stats for Up From Dust?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Up From Dust. 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 Up From Dust and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Up From Dust get?

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How many subscribers and views does Up From Dust have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Up From Dust 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 Up From Dust?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Up From Dust:

1. Points North
2. Throughline
3. Ologies with Alie Ward
4. Short Wave
5. Articles of Interest

How many episodes of Up From Dust are there?

Up From Dust launched 2 years ago and published 23 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 Up From Dust?

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 Up From Dust?

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What guests have appeared on Up From Dust?

Recent guests on Up From Dust include:

1. Benjamin Reed
2. Morris Alexi
3. Gertrude Lewis
4. Brenda Ann Biliot
5. Earl Billiot
6. Ildejaun Charles
7. Troy Swift
8. Merlin Tuttle

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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