Episode 226: Join the revolution

Simone Diamond is a Coast Salish artist who creates art pieces in the Coast Salish style. You may have seen Simone’s designs featured on products from companies like Native Northwest, on her popular Instagram account, or in The Fur-Bearers’ kids activity book.

Simone joins Defender Radio to talk about how spirituality is infused with her art, the impact of colonization on the traditions in her family and culture, and how aspiring artists can find joy and inspiration around them.

SHOW NOTES

Episode art by Simone Diamond

Find Simone on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/simonediamonddesigns/

Find Francis Horne Sr. (Simone's master carver father) on Instagram at  https://www.instagram.com/francishornesr/?hl=en

Simone's Designs at Native Northwest: https://nativenorthwest.ca/simone-diamond-coast-salish/

Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio? Reach out to us at DefenderRadio@Gmail.com, by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host Michael Howie on social media via Instagram (www.instagram.com/howiemichael) or Facebook (www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio). 

Defender Radio is produced by The Fur-Bearers (www.TheFurBearers.com), a charitable non-partisan organization whose mandate is to advocate on behalf of fur-bearing animals in the wild and in confinement, promote coexistence solutions in communities and protect the habitats of fur-bearing animals across Canada. You can follow The Fur-Bearers on Instagram (www.instagram.com/furbearers), Twitter (www.twitter.com/furbearers) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FurFree). 

Improving the lives of dogs across Canada and around the world is a hefty goal – but by talking about the lives of wild dogs, Dr. Valli Fraser-Celin is getting closer to reaching that goal every day.

Dr. Fraser-Celin, who has worked with African wild dogs, dogs in Indigenous communities in Canada, and identifying how a one-health approach makes an impact, is breaking down misconceptions, providing resourecs, and creating community programs – all from an Instagram account, @TheLivesofWildDogs.

Head over to @TheLivesofWildDogs while listening to Dr. Fraser-Celin on Defender Radio discuss her journey to supporting people and dogs, how pet pantries can make an impact, what she hopes to achieve, and how a single television trainer introduced – and perpetuated – one of the biggest dog myths there is.

SHOW NOTES:

Find Dr. Valli Fraser-Celin on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/TheLivesofWildDogs

Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio? Reach out to us at DefenderRadio@Gmail.com, by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host Michael Howie on social media via Instagram (www.instagram.com/howiemichael) or Facebook (www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio). 

Defender Radio is produced by The Fur-Bearers (www.TheFurBearers.com), a charitable non-partisan organization whose mandate is to advocate on behalf of fur-bearing animals in the wild and in confinement, promote coexistence solutions in communities and protect the habitats of fur-bearing animals across Canada. You can follow The Fur-Bearers on Instagram (www.instagram.com/furbearers), Twitter (www.twitter.com/furbearers) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FurFree). 

It’s grey, generally cold, damp, and rather unpleasant in early February across Canada. Fortunately, it’s a great time of year to get outside and start planting! Now, I know I’m out on a bit of a limb here, but late winter and early spring are actually ideal for sowing many vital, native plant species across Canada. To tie this into how it helps wildlife and the environment briefly, many of the species we’ll be talking about are essential to pollinators.

SHOW NOTES:

Cold Stratification: https://www.bhg.com/seed-stratification-6944477

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/

Environment Canada Hardiness Zone Map: http://planthardiness.gc.ca/?m=1

Episode photo by Claude Laprise / Getty Images

Want to suggest topics for The Switch? Reach out to us at DefenderRadio@Gmail.com, by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host Michael Howie on social media via Instagram (www.instagram.com/howiemichael) or Facebook (www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio). 

The Switch is produced by The Fur-Bearers (www.TheFurBearers.com), a charitable non-partisan organization whose mandate is to advocate on behalf of fur-bearing animals in the wild and in confinement, promote coexistence solutions in communities and protect the habitats of fur-bearing animals across Canada. You can follow The Fur-Bearers on Instagram (www.instagram.com/furbearers), Twitter (www.twitter.com/furbearers) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FurFree). 

Killing neck snares are cruel devices that experts and scientists have shown to be ineffective and inhumane. Yet they remain common across Canada. A new documentary series, Trapped In The Past, is challenging why killing neck snares remain legal to use, what impact they have on wildlife, and how a lack of updated regulations puts wildlife, people, and pets at risk.

The series, the result of a partnership between The Fur-Bearers and Exposed Wildlife Conservancy, features John E. Marriott and Kim Odland, cofounders of Exposed Wildlife Conservancy, as they explore the issues of trapping and interview experts – including trappers. To share more about the experiences that led to the development of the documentary series, what viewers can expect, and how everyone can make a difference to protect wildlife, John Marriott joins Defender Radio.

SHOW NOTES

Visit TrappedInThePast.com to watch all available episodes and take action now!

View Trapped In The Past on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8zRjvAnLUg

Learn more about trapping with The Fur-Bearers: https://thefurbearers.com/our-work/make-fur-history/trapping/

Connect with Exposed Wildlife Conservancy: https://www.exposedwildlifeconservancy.org/

Follow EWC on Facebook (click here), Twitter (click here), YouTube (click here), and Instagram (click here). 

Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio? Reach out to us at DefenderRadio@Gmail.com, by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host Michael Howie on social media via Instagram (www.instagram.com/howiemichael) or Facebook (www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio). 

Defender Radio is produced by The Fur-Bearers (www.TheFurBearers.com), a charitable non-partisan organization whose mandate is to advocate on behalf of fur-bearing animals in the wild and in confinement, promote coexistence solutions in communities and protect the habitats of fur-bearing animals across Canada. You can follow The Fur-Bearers on Instagram (www.instagram.com/furbearers), Twitter (www.twitter.com/furbearers) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FurFree). 

Eating a plant-based diet is a great way to be healthy and reduce your impact on the environment and climate crisis. Making the change can be intimidating, especially if, like me, you grew up on meat and potatoes.

Fortunately, folks like Candice Hutchings are making it easier than ever to eat plant-based. Known by her millions of online followers as The Edgy Veg, Candice is a recipe designer and cookbook author who brings wit and levity to her channels. Beyond accessible, delicious recipes that are a weekly hit in my home, Candice also offers insights on animal advocacy, mental health, and the environment – and how plant-based eating impacts them all.

Candice “The Edgy Veg” Hutchings joins Defender Radio to share her journey to becoming a cookbook author, influencer, and why the future will be plant-based.

SHOW NOTES

Episode photo provided by The Edgy Veg

The Edgy Veg website: www.theedgyveg.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/edgyveg

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/theedgyveg

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@edgyveg

Book - Easy Eats: https://amzn.to/47EpatT

Book - 138 Carnivore Approved Vegan Recipes - https://amzn.to/3tSyFb6

Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio? Reach out to us at DefenderRadio@Gmail.com, by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host Michael Howie on social media via Instagram (www.instagram.com/howiemichael) or Facebook (www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio). 

Defender Radio is produced by The Fur-Bearers (www.TheFurBearers.com), a charitable non-partisan organization whose mandate is to advocate on behalf of fur-bearing animals in the wild and in confinement, promote coexistence solutions in communities and protect the habitats of fur-bearing animals across Canada. You can follow The Fur-Bearers on Instagram (www.instagram.com/furbearers), Twitter (www.twitter.com/furbearers) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FurFree). 

Are you an active gardener looking for ways to reduce your impact on the local environment? Rain barrels are a great, accessible place to start! Join me for a quick conversation about the known - and perhaps less known - benefits of using rain barrels around your home. 

Have you had success with rain barrels, or created an innovative solution? Let me know at @HowieMichael on Instagram or by emailing Michael@TheFurBearers.com! 

SHOW NOTES

Want to suggest topics for The Switch? Reach out to us at DefenderRadio@Gmail.com, by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host Michael Howie on social media via Instagram (www.instagram.com/howiemichael) or Facebook (www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio). 

The Switch is produced by The Fur-Bearers (www.TheFurBearers.com), a charitable non-partisan organization whose mandate is to advocate on behalf of fur-bearing animals in the wild and in confinement, promote coexistence solutions in communities and protect the habitats of fur-bearing animals across Canada. You can follow The Fur-Bearers on Instagram (www.instagram.com/furbearers), Twitter (www.twitter.com/furbearers) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FurFree). 

Mike's shed rain barrel solution (lean-to of leftover project wood, one piece of corrugated roofing, one piece of eaves, and a downspout extendor; the rain barrel itself is a garbage can with a faucet caulked near the base and the lid turned upside down with a hole to create the screened intake). Total project cost ~$100

Beavers are incredible animals who have complex social lives, engineer essential ecosystems, and can help us develop climate resilience. In Canada, beavers were nearly wiped out by fur trappers, but their populations slowly returned, though not to their pre-colonization levels. But in Britain, European beavers haven’t had the opportunity to return to the landscape. That’s what the Beaver Trust wants to change.

A registered charity in England and Wales, Beaver Trust is seeking to restore beavers to their former range, in hopes of building climate resilient landscapes and restoring freshwater habitats. Their multi-tiered strategy includes translocation of beavers into landscapes and implementation of coexistence measures, communicating and educating on the success of the programs, and influence government policy to support ecological goals.

Dr. Roisin Campbell-Palmer, Head of Restoration for Beaver Trust, joins Defender Radio to share why returning beavers to Britain matters, what tools and strategies are used to prevent or mitigate negative encounters, and how communication ends up playing a significant role in this scientific journey.

SHOW NOTES

Episode photo of a Scottish beaver (Castor fiber) by AlasdairSargent / Getty Images

Beaver Trust website: https://beavertrust.org/

Beaver Trust on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beavertrust/
Beaver Trust on Twitter: https://twitter.com/beavertrust?lang=en
Beaver Trust on LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/beaver-trust
Beaver Trust on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beavertrust/?hl=en

Article: Always Champion the Underbug: Career insights with beaver specialist Dr. Roisin Campbell-Palmer - Beaver Trust

The Fur-Bearers' Beaver Coexistence Booklet: https://thefurbearers.com/blog/the-fur-bearers-release-free-beaver-coexistence-book/

Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio? Reach out to us at DefenderRadio@Gmail.com, by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host Michael Howie on social media via Instagram (www.instagram.com/howiemichael) or Facebook (www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio). 

Defender Radio is produced by The Fur-Bearers (www.TheFurBearers.com), a charitable non-partisan organization whose mandate is to advocate on behalf of fur-bearing animals in the wild and in confinement, promote coexistence solutions in communities and protect the habitats of fur-bearing animals across Canada. You can follow The Fur-Bearers on Instagram (www.instagram.com/furbearers), Twitter (www.twitter.com/furbearers) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FurFree). 

Gift giving is wonderful and generous, but around the holidays can generate a lot of waste. Dr. Elisabeth Ormandy (TEDx speaker, UBC Professor and zero waste enthusiast) is making The Switch to zero waste gift giving! 

These tips can make a big impact on local waste during the holiday season, and we’d love to hear from you! Tag @howiemichael on Instagram or email defenderradio@gmail.com with your zero waste gift giving tips and get included in a future episode!

This episode was originally published December 13, 2021.

SHOW NOTES:

Episode photo by Julia Klueva / Getty Images

Want to suggest topics for The Switch? Reach out to us at DefenderRadio@Gmail.com, by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host Michael Howie on social media via Instagram (www.instagram.com/howiemichael) or Facebook (www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio). 

The Switch is produced by The Fur-Bearers (www.TheFurBearers.com), a charitable non-partisan organization whose mandate is to advocate on behalf of fur-bearing animals in the wild and in confinement, promote coexistence solutions in communities and protect the habitats of fur-bearing animals across Canada. You can follow The Fur-Bearers on Instagram (www.instagram.com/furbearers), Twitter (www.twitter.com/furbearers) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FurFree). 

Tigers are at risk of extinction around the globe. But in India, hard fought conservation has seen the population double since 2006. While this is fantastic news, it does create new challenges to face: such as how to manage poachers, and negative encounters between tigers and animals kept as livestock, and the people who live in the tigers’ range.

Artificial intelligence, matched with innovative trail camera technology may be the answer to not only protecting tigers in India, but other large carnivores around the world.

Published in the October 2023 edition of BioScience, 'Mitigating human-wildlife conflict and monitoring endangered tigers using a real-time camera-based alert system' outlines how the new tech (TrailGuard AI by Nightjar) works, and what implications it may have beyond tigers in India. Lead author of this paper Dr. Jeremy S. Dertien joins Defender Radio to share more about his experience working with AI and tigers, how we can see the solution be used in larger context, and what ethical issues need to be considered.

SHOW NOTES:

Photo of tigress in India by Dr. Jeremy S. Dertien

Dr. Jeremy S. Dertien's website: https://www.conservationdertien.com/

BioScience study: https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/73/10/748/7261057

OneEarth coverage: https://www.oneearth.org/breakthrough-monitoring-technology-to-save-the-worlds-tigers/

TIME magazine calls TrailGuard AI one of the best inventions of 2023: https://time.com/collection/best-inventions-2023/6327141/trailguard-ai/

NGO Resolve and TrailGuard AI: https://www.resolve.ngo/trailguard.htm

Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio? Reach out to us at DefenderRadio@Gmail.com, by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host Michael Howie on social media via Instagram (www.instagram.com/howiemichael) or Facebook (www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio). 

Defender Radio is produced by The Fur-Bearers (www.TheFurBearers.com), a charitable non-partisan organization whose mandate is to advocate on behalf of fur-bearing animals in the wild and in confinement, promote coexistence solutions in communities and protect the habitats of fur-bearing animals across Canada. You can follow The Fur-Bearers on Instagram (www.instagram.com/furbearers), Twitter (www.twitter.com/furbearers) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FurFree). 

Some days are hard. The world feels like it’s falling apart, forests are burning, ecosystems are breaking down, and hope can be a long, long way away. But you’re not alone in this feeling – and there are ways to manage and cope that not only support you but can make for a healthier community and planet.

Climate Grief, From Coping to Resilience and Action is a new book from Dr. Shawna Weaver that dives into the realities of climate change, the grief so many of us are experiencing, and how that impacts our day-to-day lives. Importantly, Dr. Weaver shows how facing our grief is the first step toward making change for ourselves and for the planet. An experienced eco-therapist with advanced degrees, Dr. Weaver joins Defender Radio to share what led to this book, how grief is unique to everyone, and what tools we have to ensure we not only cope but become resilient and lead fulfilling lives.

SHOW NOTES:

Cover photo by Peter Kolejak / Getty Images

Dr. Shawna Weaver's website: https://www.shawnajweaver.com/

Climate Grief on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Climate-Grief-Coping-Resilience-Action/dp/1590567161/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3DCSKZH51R3K8&keywords=climate%20grief%20weaver&qid=1687959054&s=books&sprefix=climate%20grief%20weaver%2Cstripbooks%2C78&sr=1-1), Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/p/books/climate-grief-from-coping-to-resilience-and-action-shawna-weaver/19810317?ean=9781590567166), Indigo (https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/climate-grief-from-coping-to-resilience-and-action/9781590567166.html)

Follow Dr. Shawna Weaver on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/drshawnajweaver/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/shawnajweaver?lang=en).

Mental Health Resources

Talk Suicide Canada:
https://talksuicide.ca/
1-833-456-4566 (toll free, 24/7)
Text 45645 (4 pm to midnight ET)

Government of Canada resource list:
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/mental-health-services/mental-health-get-help.html

Wellness Together Canada:
https://www.wellnesstogether.ca/en-ca/

Canadian Mental Health Association:
https://cmha.ca/find-help/

In case of emergency, call 9-1-1. 

For American listeners:

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
https://afsp.org/
Crisis interventions https://afsp.org/im-having-thoughts-of-suicide/