A conservation based podcast emphasising the incredible work done by biologists and conservationists but also highlighting the real world stories that make this work dangerous, overwhelming but most importantly worth while.
40. Chris & Michela: tree climbing conservationists and the current political impact on wildlife 🌳
In this episode of Field Stories we catch up with co-host Chris Ketola who has just returned from a very successful research expedition in Uganda.
Chris shares his experience and stories about the trip, including one story in particular that involves volunteers up a tree and charging buffalo!
Chris and Michela also discuss how the current political climate in the USA is impacting conservation across North America and the entire world, with examples from our backyard all the way the way to Uganda.
This episode covers a lot of ground, so sit back and enjoy!
Follow Field Stories -
Instagram - @field_stories_podcast
Hosted by Chris (@chrisketola), Michela (@michiganbiologist) and Nick (@nick_smith_wildlife_photos)
Theme Music:
"Honey Bee" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons:
By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/
licenses/by/4.0/
39. ‘Hear Them’ - Cheyenne Beach: Amplifying federal conservation workers voices 🗣️🙋♀️🦆
This episode is dedicated to all the federal conservation and outdoor recreation workers across the U.S. facing challenges today.
Welcome to the first in a mini-series of Field Stories called "Hear Them," where we spotlight the wrongful terminations and hiring freezes plaguing the federal workforce. Through this series, we aim to shed light on the injustices our colleagues are enduring and offer a platform for their voices to be heard.
As of February 14, 2025, Cheyenne Beach became one of the many federal conservation and outdoor employees who were unjustly laid off. Today, we’ve given Cheyenne a platform to share her personal journey and the devastation she’s felt since that day. Her story is one that resonates deeply with thousands of federal workers who are living through the same struggles right now.
Cheyenne’s story is heartbreaking, but it’s also a call to action. Her loss mirrors the pain many others in our field are experiencing. We ask you to listen, empathize, and get angry with us. This is an injustice we cannot ignore. Stories like Cheyenne's show the very real human impact of these decisions, and they’re a reminder of why we must stand up and fight.
Cheyenne is a remarkable individual—kind, intelligent, and hardworking—who deserves so much more than this. Despite the hardships, she remains determined to push for justice in these difficult times.
Her courage to continue the fight is a message we all need to hear: We will not quit.
Follow Field Stories -
Instagram - @field_stories_podcast
Hosted by Chris (@chrisketola), Michela (@michiganbiologist) and Nick (@nick_smith_wildlife_photos)
Theme Music:
"Honey Bee" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons:
By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/
licenses/by/4.0/
5 Feb 2025
38. Jasmine Mancuso: Aquatic Ecology Research Analyst, Cyanobacteria and cute fluffy baby gulls 🐥 🔬
And we’re back from another hiatus and are excited to introduce our guest, Jasmine Mancuso for episode 38 of Field Stories!
Have you ever wondered who monitors our freshwater ecosystems? What happens when a body of water becomes unsuitable and hazardous with Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) ??
Jasmine, an Aquatic Ecology Research Analyst, dives into her world of aquatic ecology. Her work focuses on understanding the cause and effects of harmful algal blooms in the Great Lakes, some of the largest bodies of freshwater in the world! 🌎
Jasmine shares her journey as an Aquatic Ecologist, from rivers to lakes, where she met our cohost Michela in grad school! Today, we really highlight on the need for outreach, education, and connection between scientists and our local communities. When it comes to saving our freshwater ecosystems, not just for our animals but for our own health too, it’s important to have aquatic ecologists like Jasmine to listen and learn from! 🐟
Jasmine also shares her field story of running into problems with birds out on Lake Erie!
Don’t miss this new episode, and we are all excited to be back and rolling!
Follow Field Stories -
Instagram - @field_stories_podcast
Hosted by Chris (@chrisketola), Michela (@michiganbiologist) and Nick (@nick_smith_wildlife_photos)
Theme Music:
"Honey Bee" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons:
By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/
licenses/by/4.0/
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
10,092
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 57 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
83
Social presence
0
YouTube
76
Engagement
0
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