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: Mia Funk July 20, 2026 Duration: 24:14

If you live in a city, you’ve probably had that moment in the middle of the night. You hear a scratching in the walls, or you catch the glowing eyes of a raccoon peering out from a dumpster, and for a second, the concrete world feels a lot less 'controlled' than we like to pretend. We’ve been taught to think of cities as 'biological deserts'—places where nature goes to die. But my guest today, Dan Werb, says that’s a myth we tell ourselves to feel safe. Dan is an award-winning epidemiologist and a musician, and in his new book, Our Wild Familiars, he explores the 'synanthropes'—the wild creatures that aren't our pets, but aren't quite strangers either. They are the coyotes, the bats, and even the octopuses that are learning to use our cities as laboratories for their own rapid evolution. He’s also the author of The Invisible Siege and City of Omens.

(0:02) The unexpected biodiversity of urban areas and wild familiars

(1:18) What is a Synanthrope?

(4:15) The Myth of the Biological Desert

(8:04) The Ancestral Bond between early humans, ravens, and foxes

(9:15) Crows and Grudges

(12:42) Stepping Stones in the Concrete

(14:20) The Epidemiological Triangle

(17:58) The Illusion of AI Connection

(19:56) The Museum of Memory

Episode Website

www.creativeprocess.info/pod

Instagram:@creativeprocesspodcast


Hosted by Mia Funk, One Planet Podcast engages with the defining ecological challenges of our time. This isn't about abstract science; it's about the interconnected systems of politics, energy, and economics that shape our relationship with the natural world. Conversations move from the granular details of regenerative agriculture and the circular economy to the global stakes of biodiversity loss and the race to net-zero. You'll hear from a vital range of voices, from organizers with groups like Greenpeace and 350.org to philosophers like Peter Singer, and representatives from institutions like the European Environment Agency and UNESCO. Each episode unpacks a different facet of the crisis-whether it's carbon footprints, wildlife extinction, or renewable energy transitions-focusing on actionable ideas and the human stories behind the headlines. The goal is to illuminate the tangible pathways forward, offering listeners a deeper, more nuanced understanding of how to engage with the planet's most pressing issues. Tune in for thoughtful, in-depth dialogues that go beyond the soundbites, exploring how we can collectively forge a more sustainable and just future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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