Golden State Naturalist
Golden State Naturalist
This is a podcast about asking questions and experiencing wonder. It’s a place to bring your curiosity about the natural world in California.
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Growing Native Plants from Seed with Julia Michaels
March 23, 2023
Have you ever wanted to grow your own native plants? Where can you get California native seeds? Should you sow them directly in the ground or start them in pots? Is there anything you should do to the seeds before planting t…
Amphibians with Gary Bucciarelli
March 9, 2023
What is an amphibian, anyway? Are they leading double lives? What's the difference between a newt and a salamander? A frog and a toad? What kinds of amphibians live in California? Why are California newts so toxic? How do th…
Central Valley Water and Wetlands with Ellen Wehr
Feb. 23, 2023
Did you know that California's Central Valley once contained a vast inland sea and was home to camels, 400 lb. saber-toothed salmon, and tiny four-tusked mastodons? Or that, just a couple of hundred years ago, it was a netw…
Ecological Restoration with Billy Sale
Feb. 9, 2023
What's the problem with yellow hills? How do you trick a seed? What are the neighbors angry about? Where do restorationists get all those seeds? What's the difference between ecological restoration and restoration ecology? W…
Dark Skies with Kayla Browne and Dan Duriscoe
Jan. 26, 2023
Most of us live in places where we can only see a few of the brightest stars in the sky at night, but what if that didn't have to be the case? Come with me and guests Kayla Browne and Dan Duriscoe to Death Valley, where we s…
Growth Mindset with John Muir Laws (BONUS Minisode!)
Jan. 19, 2023
How useful is IQ? What exactly is a growth mindset, and how is it different from a fixed mindset? What shifts can we make in our thinking that will allow us to learn and grow in new ways? Should you take Swahili lessons? How…
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For Hazel (age 3)
All morning, you tugged on my nerves and ran around the corner to hide, giggling to yourself at my red face and lumbering gait. You sca…
About the Host
Michelle Fullner
Host
Michelle is an English teacher, California Naturalist, mom to two kids, nature podcaster, pursuer of too many hobbies, and generally curious, adventurous type. Childhood dream jobs included: tiger trainer, marine biologist, and being on SNL. Hobbies include: having more plants than she can take proper care of, intermittently practicing Spanish, following drawing tutorials on Youtube, hiking short distances with regular stops to flip over logs, travel, iPhone photography, and creative writing.