Nature Talks Podcast
Episodes
Bilal Mustafa
Bilal Mustafa is a conservationist, researcher, and the first Pakistani to join Oxford’s prestigious WildCRU on a full scholarship. A Fellow of the Linnean Society of London and the Royal Geographical Society, Bilal bridges science, history, and community engagement to champion wildlife conservation across Pakistan and beyond. His upcoming DPhil research at the University of Oxford focuses on the impact of tourism on snow leopards in Gilgit-Baltistan—a groundbreaking project rooted in coexistence and local stewardship.
Oliver Dauert
The founder of Wildya, a LinkedIn Top Green Voice, and a bold force in the world of biodiversity restoration. After a successful career in e-commerce and tourism, Oliver experienced a quarter-life crisis fueled by eco-anxiety—sparking a complete transformation in purpose and path.
Today, he’s on a mission to create 1 million mindset shifts, remove 1 million kg of plastic, restore 1 million corals, and rewild 1 million bison—no greenwashing, just real-world ecological impact. Through Wildya, Oliver empowers ecopreneurs—nature-first founders and NGOs—with the visibility, funding, and digital strategy needed to scale their planet-healing missions.
He has advised over 21 ecopreneurs, generated 16.7M+ impressions for nature-positive content, and grown a global community of 37,000+ biodiversity builders.
Prakash Matada
An award-winning wildlife filmmaker and an American Society of Cinematographers Fellow. He divides his time between creating wildlife conservation films and doing camerawork for natural history documentaries. Throughout his career, Prakash has won many reputed awards, including acolades from the 2 most prestigious wildlife film festivals in the world: Jackson Wild and Wildscreen.
As a cameraperson, Prakash predominantly focuses on natural history and specializes in capturing animal behaviors in cinematic, narrative styles. His filmography includes sequences from many documentaries—such as Apple TV’s Big Beast, the BBC’s The Hunt and Planet Earth III—as well as his award-winning independent film Flying Elephants and an upcoming docuseries for National Geographic.
Cash Daniels
Cash Daniels, known as The Conservation Kid, is a passionate freshwater conservationist and youth environmental leader. Starting his mission at just 7 years old, Cash has led countless river cleanups and campaigns to fight plastic pollution, inspiring thousands to take action for our planet’s waterways.
With a deep commitment to protecting freshwater ecosystems, Cash is proof that age is no barrier to impact. His work shows how small, consistent actions can create powerful ripples of global change.
Maria Hashmi
Maria Hashmi is a National Geographic Explorer, wildlife conservationist, and founder of Little Rebels Nature Camp and Second Chance Wildlife. With a passion for protecting Pakistan’s unique biodiversity, Maria leads youth-driven conservation programs, rescues and rehabilitates injured wildlife, and advocates for peaceful coexistence between people and animals.
Through grassroots education and bold action, Maria is transforming how young people connect with nature and empowering the next generation of environmental stewards.
Zach Schmitt
Zach Schmitt is a storyteller, systems thinker, and climate communicator working at the intersection of narrative and justice. With a deep belief in the power of stories to spark systemic change, Zach weaves together climate science, social movements, and personal truth to reimagine a more livable, equitable future.
From grassroots organizing to national campaigns, Zach’s work centers young voices, community resilience, and the urgent need for collective action. He’s passionate about building movements that are not only grounded in facts, but also fueled by empathy, creativity, and hope.
Dhruv Patel
A wildlife enthusiast and reptile specialist who walked away from a traditional career in commerce to follow his passion for the wild. With hands-on experience in snake handling, behavioral research, and venom extraction, Dhruv has spent years deep in the field—working alongside legendary herpetologists and learning the language of the wild.
After immersing himself in the wilderness, Dhruv emerged as a skilled conservationist and educator.
Sunny Shah
A leading wildlife conservationist and naturalist with over two decades of hands-on experience in habitat restoration, tiger corridor research, and community-based conservation in India. Formerly with WWF-India and State Forest Departments, he has played a key role in landscape-scale projects protecting tigers, Asiatic lions, and marine turtles.
Sunny has trained over 300 wildlife managers, authored influential publications, and continues to consult on conservation initiatives across India. His work blends science, local knowledge, and storytelling to preserve what’s wild and irreplaceable.
Dr Ally Zlatar
a renowned artist, academic, and activist whose work powerfully bridges the worlds of creative expression, mental health, and environmental justice. Through her bold exploration of body politics, ecological grief, and human rights, Ally uses art as a transformative tool for advocacy and healing. She is the founder of The Starving Artist and This Body of Mine—global initiatives that challenge dominant narratives around illness, identity, and marginalization through inclusive artistic dialogue.
With a background in medical humanities and fine art, Dr. Zlatar’s work has been exhibited and recognized internationally, engaging communities across continents in critical conversations about the intersections of climate change, trauma, and vulnerability. Her unique approach champions the role of storytelling and visual culture in driving systemic change and collective healing.
Dr. Jane Goodall
A world-renowned British primatologist, ethologist, and anthropologist best known for her groundbreaking research on chimpanzee behavior. In 1960, she began studying wild chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania, where she made several pivotal discoveries, including the fact that chimpanzees use tools, challenging the prevailing notion that only humans had the ability to make and use tools. Throughout her career, Dr. Goodall has become a global ambassador for wildlife conservation, especially for primates, and has dedicated her life to advocating for environmental sustainability, animal welfare, and the empowerment of young people through her Roots & Shoots program. She is also a UN Messenger of Peace and has received numerous awards for her contributions to science, conservation, and humanitarian efforts.
Dr. Andrej A. Gajić
An internationally acclaimed scientist whose groundbreaking research focuses on the post-survival rates and diseases of elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays), exploring the impact of pollution on their health and long-term conservation. With over 70 scientific publications and two influential books. Head scientist at National Geographic’s Shark Tales team and a member of the Explorers Advisory Board. His contributions extend to media and public engagement, with approximately 300 media outlets covering his research, including National Geographic, the Discovery Channel, and more. Dr. Gajić’s passion for marine life led him to found Sharklab International while still in high school.
Kelsey Prediger
A dedicated conservationist whose journey from a nature-immersed childhood to pangolin protection is both inspiring and impactful. Today, Kelsey’s mission centers on pangolin research, protection, and raising awareness. Her work focuses on combating the dire threat of wildlife trafficking by developing effective guidelines and policies. As the founder and executive director of the Pangolin Conservation and Research Foundation (PCRF), Kelsey’s efforts are instrumental in combining outreach, collaboration, scientific research, and policy to advance pangolin conservation.
Danielle Carnahan
A dedicated conservationist whose journey has been shaped by a deep passion for wildlife and environmental protection. It was during her time as a pre-veterinary student that she traveled to Thailand, where she worked in various veterinary and conservation settings, including an elephant sanctuary. Her graduate research took her back to Thailand, where she spent three months at Boon Lott’s Elephant Sanctuary (BLES). Daniele’s journey continued with research in Nepal, focusing on improving the lives of captive elephants.
Sian Williams
A dedicated environmental advocate based in Gili Trawangan, Indonesia. For the past nine years, Sian has been at the forefront of ocean and island conservation, passionately working to protect the unique marine and terrestrial environments of this beautiful region. As an avid diver and scuba instructor, Sian combines her love for the ocean with her commitment to environmental education. She takes immense joy in teaching coral reef restoration and coral propagation, sharing her knowledge and skills to help preserve and restore vital marine ecosystems. Sian’s dedication to making a tangible impact extends to her initiative, Debris Free Friday.
Amy Meek - Kids Against Plastic
A dynamic environmentalist, & TEDx Speaker whose journey began at the tender age of 12. As the co-founder of the nonprofit charity organization Kids Against Plastic alongside her sister Ella. Since its inception, it has mobilized over 280 young people worldwide. Their efforts have led to the collection of over 100,000 pieces of plastic litter and the development of a dedicated app to track and log plastic waste.
Joshua Powell
A dedicated conservation biologist with a deep-seated passion for large carnivore conservation, human-wildlife conflict, and conservation geopolitics. His extensive research experience is complemented by his role as the Expedition Leader for Rangers Without Borders – Eurasia. Supported by National Geographic. Joshua has led fieldwork in Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Lithuania, and Poland, collaborating with local scientists and researchers from the University of Oxford, UK, and the University of Central Florida, USA. A prominent face in wildlife conservation, Joshua represents #WWFVoices for WWF International, presenting content on wildlife conservation and sustainability from around the globe.
Jack Dalton
Known as the Kid Conservationist. At just 13 years old, made remarkable strides in wildlife conservation and education. Jack’s journey began at eight years old when he learned about palm oil and deforestation and the devastating impact on his favorite animal, the critically endangered orangutan. Determined to make a difference, Jack combined his passions for YouTube, video editing, reading, and education, and in 2019, he became the Kid Conservationist. Jack also emcees fundraisers, delivers keynote speeches, and has authored a children’s book.
Katie O'Brien
A 3rd-year PhD student, Katie’s research focuses on understanding ecosystem interactions and adaptations in changing environments using genomics. She is currently working on parasite and pathogen detection using shotgun and amplicon sequencing in wildlife surveillance of Antarctic penguin populations, employing a range of skills gathered from her field, laboratory, and computational experience. Katie completed research projects on signal evolution and speciation in suboscine birds and incorporating gene flow into estimates of recent effective population size.
Dr Marisa Tellez
The Executive Director of the Crocodile Research Coalition. Inspired by an ancient Egyptian proverb, “If a woman loves a crocodile, she takes on its character,” Marisa has dedicated her life to the conservation of the world’s apex predators, particularly crocodiles. Her groundbreaking work led to her induction into the IUCN & Species Survival Commission-Crocodile Specialist Group (CSG) and an appointment as Vice Regional Chair of Latin America for the CSG.
Dr Benito Wainwright
An evolutionary biologist and presenter known for his engaging work in wildlife and conservation. He has collaborated with Butterfly Conservation to create films on butterfly and moth research. His research focuses on the sensory realms of butterflies in the Amazon rainforests of Ecuador and the camouflage properties of moth wings and the butterfly brains. A passionate science communicator, Benito has authored several publications in high-impact biology journals and his work has been featured in Forbes, BBC Wildlife Magazine, and Science Times.
Dillon Jones
An evolutionary biologist and social media sensation known as DillonTheBiologist. Dillon is the founder of Learn Adventurously, an organization dedicated to helping people understand the natural world through education and hands-on experiences. His research has spanned from tracking snakes in Panama to studying endangered toads in Texas, with recent projects focusing on the evolutionary history of reptiles and amphibians. Dillon’s passion for education shines through his dynamic social media presence, where he shares fascinating facts and stories about wildlife, making learning fun and accessible for all.
Ellie Baldon
An evolutionary biologist and PhD candidate at Cambridge University. Ellie’s research focuses on the fascinating world of burying beetles, large and brightly patterned insects known for their unique reproductive behaviors. Join us as Ellie shares her journey into the depths of evolutionary biology, detailing her studies on these remarkable beetles and their role in decomposition and nutrient cycling. Through her work, Ellie provides a deeper understanding of the complex interactions within ecosystems and the importance of preserving biodiversity.
Adam Cook
A passionate wildlife enthusiast and a graduate with a degree in International Wildlife Biology. From a young age, Adam’s fascination with animals was evident, impressively correcting misidentified species at just three years old. Adam shares his thrilling adventures, from tracking elephants to diving with sea turtles, and discusses his innovative research on animal behavior and conservation.