Our Wild Familiars - DR. DAN WERB on Animals that Live Among Us & Urban Wildlife Conservation - Highlights

Our Wild Familiars - DR. DAN WERB on Animals that Live Among Us & Urban Wildlife Conservation - Highlights

Author: Creative Process Original Series July 3, 2026 Duration: 24:14
We’ve been taught to think of cities as places where nature goes to die, but the reality is much wilder. In this fascinating conversation on One Planet Podcast, award-winning epidemiologist and author Dan Werb challenges our assumptions about urban life by introducing us to "synanthropes"—the wild animals that have adapted to thrive in human-modified environments. From raccoons picking complex locks in Toronto to giant Pacific octopuses building homes in discarded refrigerators off the coast of Seattle, Dan Werb reveals the hidden biodiversity surrounding us every day. Drawing from his latest book, Our Wild Familiars, Dan Werb explains how urban sprawl, climate change, and even our garbage are pulling species into cities, transforming our concrete jungles into unexpected sites of conservation. He also delves into the deep spiritual connections humans have shared with animals like ravens for millennia, the epidemiological risks of habitat destruction explored in The Invisible Siege, and why engaging with the mystery of an animal’s mind is more profoundly mind-expanding than seeking comfort in digital echo chambers.

At the heart of One Planet Podcast is a simple, urgent idea: the intertwined fate of humanity and the natural world is the defining narrative of our time. This series moves beyond headlines to explore the complex, often surprising connections between climate change, global politics, and tangible environmental solutions. In each episode, you’ll hear from the people on the front lines-policy makers from bodies like the European Commission, scientists from the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and activists from organizations including EARTHDAY.ORG and UNESCO. Their conversations dig into the real-world mechanics of a circular economy, the practical challenges of achieving net-zero emissions, and the quiet crisis of biodiversity loss affecting wildlife and ecosystems globally. The dialogue consistently returns to actionable hope, examining how regenerative agriculture can restore land, how renewable energy transitions are unfolding, and how individual carbon footprints fit into systemic change. Produced by Creative Process Original Series, this podcast is for anyone who seeks a deeper, more nuanced understanding of our ecological moment. It’s a space where the grand concepts of sustainability are broken down into human stories and strategic discussions, offering listeners not just analysis, but a sense of direction and possibility for the future we are all shaping together.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

One Planet Podcast · Climate Change, Politics, Sustainability, Environmental Solutions, Renewable Energy, Activism, Biodiversity, Carbon Footprint, Wildlife, Regenerative Agriculture, Circular Economy, Extinction, Net-Zero
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