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It's in Our Nature

It's in Our Nature

By The Nature Conservancy in Missouri

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
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Moving a Levee on the Missouri River

It's in Our NatureJun 24, 2021

00:00
46:06
Keith Bennett: The Seed Whisperer

Keith Bennett: The Seed Whisperer

Keith Bennett, our candidate for the World’s Most Interesting Man, chats with Missouri State Director Adam McLane about the origins of his nickname, mushroom hunting and how he learned all those Latin plant names. Oh, and that time he was offered a spot opening for Willie Nelson.

Keith and Adam cover some ground in this episode. Whether it’s tips for finding native seeds or why anyone who hunts should be a conservationist, there are no lulls in the conversation.


Feb 13, 202429:05
2023 Year in Review

2023 Year in Review

Wow, what a year! Missouri State Director Adam McLane recaps seven highlights from a packed twelve months.

If you want to catch up on what TNC is doing in Missouri, from new Habitat Strike Teams to hosting tarantula research, have a listen.

This was a year that will guide much of what we do in the future to reach some big goals by 2030.

So, if you want to see where TNC is going, this is the place to start.

Dec 28, 202328:28
Are There Penguins in Tanzania?

Are There Penguins in Tanzania?

In 2019, Missouri State Director Adam McLane and a group of Nature Conservancy supporters visited our TNC staff in Tanzania. This year, three Tanzania staffers returned the favor and visited Dunn Ranch Prairie in northwest Missouri.

Adam sat down with Tanzania’s Country Director Lucy Magembe, Alphonce Mallya and Lucy Mlagala at our Little Creek Farmhouse to talk about the budding connection between the Missouri and Tanzania programs, the power of nature and why everyone should visit Tanzania.

Dec 13, 202353:27
Shifting Generations: The Bison Whisperer's Son

Shifting Generations: The Bison Whisperer's Son

Episode 14: Brett Perkins is part of a younger generation of The Nature Conservancy’s staffers in Missouri, but his history runs deep. His father, Dennis Perkins, helped introduce bison at TNC’s Dunn Ranch Prairie more than a decade ago, when Brett was still in high school.

The elder Perkins is still considered TNC’s “bison whisperer” in Missouri, but he sees the time coming when his son and others will take over. TNC’s Missouri State Director Adam McLane sat down with Dennis and Brett to talk about the history of bison at Dunn Ranch Prairie, what it’s like working together now and how technology, such as drones and artificial intelligence, is shaping the future.

It’s an insider’s look at TNC’s flagship preserve in Missouri, told by a father and son who know it as well as anyone.

Oct 31, 202331:13
Ask McLane Anything - Episode 1
May 30, 202321:21
2022 Year in Review

2022 Year in Review

In this episode, Missouri state director, Adam McLane recaps seven highlights of 2022. It is far from everything that happened, but it is a great reminder of the ways your support helps people and nature thrive.

All year, we here at The Nature Conservancy in Missouri carefully track our progress, writing down the acres of land revived by prescribed fire, miles of streambank restored, partnerships built and dozens of other metrics that guide us toward our conservation goals. And yet, the end of the year is a time to reflect on the past twelve months, which always feels like a marvel. It is our annual reminder of how much a group of dedicated people can accomplish in a short amount of time.

We hope you take pride and ownership in those accomplishments, especially after a year like 2022. It was one for the books, with new staff hired, exciting new properties saved for conservation and the close of a campaign whose success will fuel work far into the future. 

Dec 29, 202236:37
Growing Power: Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture

Growing Power: Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture

It’s in Our Nature goes on location to visit our friends at the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture.

CCUA cofounder Adam Saunders and board member Robbie Price join the podcast to talk about the power of gardening. The conversation takes place in the Columbia Agriculture Park, a 10-acre campus that is home to a sprawling urban garden, Columbia’s famed farmers market and the nerve center for CCUA’s array of food-focused programs. 

Learn how a composting program started by University of Missouri students grew into a multimillion-dollar force that teaches people to grow vegetables in public housing, connects veterans with the land and supplies tens of thousands of pounds of produce to Columbia’s food pantry each year.

Oct 31, 202253:08
A Journey to Well-Being

A Journey to Well-Being

We all know that nature has a unique ability to improve our health, both mentally and physically. In this episode, we’re talking with Jeanne Carbone—the supervisor of therapeutic horticulture at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Jeanne has helped create a special program in the Japanese Garden at the Missouri Botanical Garden that was designed to aid participants in experiencing the calming, restorative powers of nature. 

Hear from Jeanne how this program came to life and how it’s helped everyone from cancer patients to nurses on the frontline during COVID.

Oct 20, 202242:07
A Paddler’s Paradise in Our Own Backyard

A Paddler’s Paradise in Our Own Backyard

Roo Yawitz, owner of Big Muddy Adventures, talks Missouri rivers, paddling and … sandwiches.

In this episode, hear the story of the canoe trip that opened Roo’s eyes to the wonders of the Mississippi River and ultimately helped the owner of a live-music club find his way into the river-outfitting industry. Plus, can St. Louis become an outdoors city? Roo argues it already is—it just doesn’t know it yet.

Aug 19, 202250:16
Understanding Mitigation

Understanding Mitigation

Meet Wes Hauser, The Nature Conservancy’s new mitigation specialist. The Missouri native joins Missouri State Director Adam McLane on It’s in Our Nature to explain how TNC uses the tools of mitigation to offset the impact on the environment from development. 

*Bonus: Wes reveals the scariest thing he’s ever seen.

May 19, 202229:18
The Legend of Ted and Pat Jones
Apr 21, 202252:42
Lighting the Way

Lighting the Way

Two female trailblazers in the fire world recently crossed paths at a diversity, equity and inclusion prescribed fire workshop that The Nature Conservancy recently hosted in the Ozarks. 

In this episode, Kelly Martin, a burn boss with TNC's North America Fire program and retired Yosemite National Park fire chief, and Kylie Paul, a fearless wildland firefighter from South Africa, paused to join Missouri State Director Adam McLane for a new episode of It’s in Our Nature.

Mar 31, 202242:46
Meet Joel Pugh

Meet Joel Pugh

Joel Pugh is a self-described continuous learner with an obsession for Wikipedia. He recently joined the board of The Nature Conservancy in Missouri and has already made lasting impacts and lots of new friends. 

In this episode, Adam McLane catches up with Joel to learn about his life growing up in rural Pennsylvania and what drew him to The Nature Conservancy. 

Sep 30, 202151:30
Cave Talk with Mike Slay

Cave Talk with Mike Slay

Episode 5: Caves are some of the last great places on the globe left to explore. That, coupled with the desire to ensure these rare places are protected for future generations, motivates Mike Slay to continue squeezing his way into amazing Ozark caves.

In this episode, we'll explore the subterranean world with our colleague Mike from the Conservancy's Arkansas Chapter. Mike is the Ozark Karst Manager and has recently helped with cave assessment work in Missouri.

Mike will talk about his favorite cave experiences, his least favorite cave experiences, why he chose this as a career and all the little critters he's found along the way. Spoiler alert...he even has a cave fly named after him!

Aug 27, 202135:58
Collaboration for Water Quality
Jun 24, 202150:13
Moving a Levee on the Missouri River
Jun 24, 202146:06
Fight for Survival: Saving Missouri's Endangered Species
Apr 15, 202139:24
Growing an Oasis in North St. Louis
Apr 15, 202127:11