You’re listening to It’s in Our Nature, the podcast that celebrates the connections between people and nature, with host, Adam McLane, The Nature Conservancy’s Missouri state director. For more information visit nature.org/missouri
Join Adam McLane and U.S. Forest Service (https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/marktwain) wildlife biologist Justan Blair for a conversation about the birds of Missouri's Mark Twain National Forest and the stories they tell about the landscape around us. From the birds that first sparked Justan's passion for wildlife to the species biologists monitor to gauge ecosystem health, this episode explores how birds provide a unique window into the condition of our forests.
Whether you're an experienced birder, a casual nature lover, or someone who's never picked up a pair of binoculars, you'll come away with a deeper appreciation for the birds around you and the role they play in Missouri's forests.
20 Jul 2026
Agroforestry Along the Missouri River
What can the past teach us about the future of farming, conservation, and healthy rivers?
In this episode of It’s in Our Nature, host Adam McLane sits down with Zack Miller of The Nature Conservancy (https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/missouri/) and Hannah Hemmelgarn of the University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry (https://centerforagroforestry.org/) to discuss agroforestry along the Missouri River.
Together, they explore the rich history of the Missouri River floodplain, how human activity transformed this landscape over time, and why agroforestry—a land management approach that integrates trees and shrubs with crops to create sustainable, productive, and ecologically diverse agricultural landscapes—is gaining renewed attention. From improving water quality and reducing flood impacts to creating new opportunities for farmers and landowners, agroforestry offers a powerful example of how working lands and nature can thrive together.
The conversation highlights the partnerships driving this work forward, the role of innovation rooted in tradition, and the hope that a more resilient future is possible for Missouri’s rivers, farms, and communities.
Guests:
Zack Miller, Leveraging Our Lands Strategy Lead, The Nature Conservancy in Missouri
Hannah Hemmelgarn, Associate Director & Assistant Research Professor, University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry
15 Mar 2026
Inside Missouri’s Prescribed Fire Training Exchange
In this episode of It’s in Our Nature, host Adam McLane, State Director for The Nature Conservancy in Missouri, sits down at a Prescribed Fire Training Exchange (TREX) with three guests who are helping shape the future of fire in the state:
Ryan Gauger, Fire & Stewardship Manager, The Nature Conservancy in Missouri
Brad Graevs, Private Lands Conservationist, Missouri Department of Conservation
Michelle Faherty, TREX participant, Wildland Fire Service
Together, they explore:
What TREX really is and why it matters
How partnerships multiply burn capacity in Missouri
The role of mentorship and training in growing the fire workforce
Why southern Missouri’s landscapes depend on good fire
What a “perfect burn day” looks like, and how TREX makes the most of it
The hope and determination behind this work, even when the weather won’t cooperate
If you’re a fire practitioner, conservation partner, or simply curious about how prescribed fire shapes the land, this episode offers an inside look at the people, skills, and collaboration behind Missouri’s growing fire community.
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
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