HumaNature

Kirk Speckhals spent most of his summers in Wyoming mountain biking. He lives in Jackson Hole and always felt comfortable venturing into bear …

In the early 2000’s Los Angeles became obsessed with a new celebrity – a six foot alligator named Reggie. And when city officials set out to capture him, Reggie went on the lam. 

A HumaNature update.

It's late spring and animals are on the move. Sometimes their paths cross with people. For our last episode of the season, here are two stories…this time from the deep.

Justin Murray and his brother Jason spent their childhoods in Florida. They did everything together: fishing, surfing, making their own surfboards. …

Greg Mills and his best friend Rob adventured together in the Alaska wilderness. Their dream was to run the Iditarod Trail Invitational Trail together. A wild river seemed to present an insurmountable obstacle. Despite …

Introducing Montana Public Radio's new podcast, Fireline. When Lily Clarke arrived at the August Complex Fire, it was a fire of sensational size. The blaze eventually burned more than 1 million acres, becoming the …

Shermin de Silva was an elephant researcher looking for a sign. Then she met a king.

Wyn Wiley thought they had to pass for straight, even in their beloved outdoors. But then a special pair of boots came into their life.

Damen Bell-Holter faced a lot of trauma growing up in his small village in Alaska. He formed a goal to play professional basketball. But reaching for …

How has your relationship with nature changed during the pandemic? The HumaNature community weighs in.

We're on a holiday break until January 20. In the meantime, here's a dramatic story from the archives. In December 2016, Karen Klein got trapped in a …

HumaNature's taking a holiday break. We'll be back with a fresh new episode on January 20. In the meantime, we'd like to introduce you to Life Raft, …

Muyambi loved biking, so when his friends asked him to plan a cycling trip across his home country of Uganda he was thrilled. But challenges arose one late night when they had to get creative for dinner.

Mo Beck was a professional climber who regularly won gold in competitions. But when she joined a team on a long expedition in the remote Cirque of …

Mikah Meyer grew up the son of a pastor and secretly struggled with his sexuality. But on a record-setting road trip to all of America's national parks, he realized its success hinged on being open about who he was.

The leaves are scattering down the sidewalk and fog touches the tips of the trees. It's that time of year again when the shadows lengthen and we bring you stories that aren't quite human or all the way natural. Welcome …

Sharon Ross wanted to be prepared for anything. But when she joined others getting ready for the end of the world, she found herself the odd one out. (more…)

A glimpse of some of the stories coming your way this season, starting October 14. (more…)

Climate change is all over the news, from burning forests to melting ice sheets. But it can seem like a big, abstract problem. Writer Manasseh Franklin wanted to make the melting of glaciers more real to people. So on …

As summer wanes, we’re reaching into the archives for a story about a classic summer activity: a leisurely river float. At least, that’s what it was supposed to be. But when they lost their guide, a group of tourists …

While we work on new stories for this fall, here’s a summer favorite from 2019. Natalie Warren and Ann Raiho paddled thousands of miles in a canoe…

South Africans Chris Diedericks and Anna Calitz wanted to go on a romantic getaway, but their adventure broke down before it even began. (more…)

Juan Martinez grew up in South Central L.A. in the early nineties. He was struggling to find his way until he traded detention for a pack of jalapeño seeds. Those led him all the way to the stars. (more…)

Boyd Varty lives on a game reserve in South Africa near Kruger National Park. After his family began returning the land to its wild state, it awakened something wild in him, too. (more…)

After cycling across America, Taylor Thibodeau had a lifetime of adventures ahead of him…until a mysterious illness cut that short. Then he decided to adventure anyway. (more…)

Morley Nelson delighted in watching raptors in aerial combat as they fought over nesting sites. And he made it his life’s mission to protect the part of Idaho’s Snake River with the highest nesting density of birds of …

It’s springtime and Earth Day! Animals are on the move, and sometimes their paths cross with people. Here are five stories to help you get outside while you’re stuck at home. (more…)

Michael Benanav studies nomadic people as a writer and photographer. So when he was invited to accompany the Van Gujjar of northern India on their annual migration with their water buffalo, he jumped at the chance. …

When Tarik Moore became an Outdoor Afro leader, the first hike he planned wasn’t a traditional one. He took his group down city streets to commemorate Philadelphia’s Osage Avenue bombing. (more…)

Cindy Ross wanted to keep pursuing her long-distance hiking passion after she had kids. But she didn’t know how to make that happen. Then a chance encounter with a llama breeder opened the path to the Continental Divide …

Brandon Kuehn survived the Iraq War. But after he got home, he struggled with nightmares and addiction. Then he found trail running…and the Pacific Crest Trail.

If you like HumaNature, help us tell more stories! …

Christopher McDougall is famous for starting the barefoot running craze with his book ‘Born to Run.’ And now he has an unusual new running partner⁠—a donkey named Sherman.

If you like HumaNature, help us tell …

We have a snazzy new t-shirt design for you. But it isn’t without a little controversy.

Support This Podcast

If you like HumaNature, help us tell more stories! Support us at …

Tarik Moore always enjoyed nature. So when he found an outdoorsy community, it led to new adventures—like becoming a member of the first all-Black American team to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro. (more…)

When Wendy Hellowell’s son Oliver was born, he was diagnosed with Down syndrome. She realized the two of them would face enormous challenges. But …

We’re taking a little break for the holidays, so we have a special treat for you from down under. The Australian podcast Brain on Nature tells the …

As you feast on podcasts during the holidays, here’s a second helping of an old favorite. Aubrey Bertram traveled to East Asia to help animals that …

Fisher Neal was a struggling actor in New York City. So he turned to his old hunting skills for a side job extremely off-Broadway. (more…)

A burned-bare house. A pervy spirit. The ghost of Schafer Meadows. A haunted woman. It’s our annual Halloween episode—keep your friends close and your lights on as we find the place that’s not quite human or all the way …

Jeff Osgood and his friend Anthony just wanted to go on a winter hiking trip in the Adirondack Wilderness in upstate New York. But after a series of mishaps, their adventure took a strange turn with the discovery of a …

Josh Patterson loved taking photographs of rare finds in the Mojave Desert. But on one trip, things didn’t go as planned. (more…)

Caroline Van Hemert and her husband Pat were nearly finished with the most ambitious trip of their lives, a 4000-mile trek across the Yukon and …

HumaNature returns on September 11 with a new season of stories where humans and our habitat meet. (more…)

All across the Arctic, frozen soil is thawing out. A lot of stuff is buried there – plants and animals that lived more than 10,000 years ago. This …

For her final episode as the host of HumaNature, Caroline has chosen an old favorite. Brian Corliss just wanted to quench his thirst. But on a …

Curt Meyer was looking for adventure, so he took a job aboard a Japanese fishing trawler on the Bering Sea. But when a storm hit, the lack of a shared language kept him in the dark as things turned deadly. (more…)

Natalie Warren and Ann Raiho paddled thousands of miles in a canoe from Minneapolis to the shores of the Hudson Bay. The journey tested their …

An encore presentation of our 2019 PMJA Best Station Podcast award-winner. Felicia Friesema and Steve Julian had a “miracle relationship.” They …

Manasseh Franklin wanted to make the melting of glaciers more real to people through her writing. So on an Alaskan rafting trip, she followed water …

Travis Kauffman went for a trail run near his home in Colorado. But an unexpected run-in almost turned him into trail mix. Then the internet got …

It’s spring! Animals are on the move, and sometimes their paths cross with people. Here are four stories. (more…)

When she became a mom, Andrea Sarubbi Fereshteh went from full speed ahead to a full stop. But then she found a place that showed her stillness is …

In 2016, a team of undercover investigators infiltrated an international ivory-smuggling ring. It all began with a sea cucumber trader in Zanzibar. (more…)

For this special two-part story, the Australian podcast Off Track takes us across the globe to the coast of Tasmania and back in time to 1973 for a story of survival and loss. (more…)

For this special two-part story, the Australian podcast Off Track takes us across the globe to the coast of Tasmania and back in time to 1973 for a story of survival and loss. (more…)

Sergio Avila Villegas always loved big cats. But his faith in his scientific research was shaken when he discovered its true cost. (more…)

Emily Pennington was super in love with her boyfriend. But a backpacking trip put that to the test. (more…)

Monty Hudson wanted his daughter, Siena, to have a good time on her first backpacking trip. But things didn’t go according to plan. (more…)

Wang Ping wanted to go to Tibet to bless the world. But to do that, she had to risk her own safety. (more…)

Gayle Woodsum finally found a safe place in the remote Rocky Mountains. But when an oil rig moved in, she wondered how safe it was after all. (more…)

While we’re putting the finishing touches on a great new release, here’s a rescored episode from Season 1.Patrick Dobsonwas stuck in his life, so he decided to take a trip by canoe from Montana to Missouri. Only he had …

Marty Edwards wanted to go on a fun trip with his girlfriend. But Mother Nature had other plans. (more…)

A haunted shop. An interview with spirits. A protective force field. It’s the time of year when the shadows lengthen and we bring you stories that aren’t quite natural and aren’t all the way human. (more…)

Miho Aida wanted to tell unheard stories about the outdoors. So she set out on a bicycle to promote her documentary about the people who live in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. But when she encountered a different …

Here’s a re-scored episode from Season 1. Tonia Hanson had a secret. But when a private river retreat turned out to be very, very public, Tonia found unexpected healing.

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In 2012, 30 wolves and wolf-dogs were living at W.O.L.F. Sanctuary in northern Colorado. But one sunny June morning, a massive wildfire closed in on …

To Alua Arthur, life made no sense. But then she began to make sense of death. (more…)

If creative and destructive forces are linked, what does this say about artists, or mothers, or god? (more…)

This is the first part of a three-part series on creation and destruction. Black holes are the most destructive force in the universe. But what if …

An encore presentation of our 2018 PMJA Best Station Podcast award-winner. Tyler Dunning went into the wild to distract himself from his grief…but …

After almost a decade making art in New York City, Stephanie Housley craved being closer to nature, her source of inspiration. So she moved to …

When Patrick Kilonzo Mwalua saw wild animals suffering from drought, he decided it was his responsibility to bring them water. (more…)

Here’s a re-scored take on one of our all-time favorite episodes. It’s the story of a love that spans continents. Jon Dunham set out on the longest, toughest walk of his life. But along the way, he met someone who …

When Paul Steklenski got his pilot’s license, he didn’t just want to fly to lunch. Instead, he flew to the pound. (more…)

Cheryl and Greg left Portland, Oregon, one hot summer for the cool of the mountains. But that put them out of the frying pan and into the fire. …

Felicia Friesema and Steve Julian had a “miracle relationship.” They carved out an oasis in the middle of Los Angeles. But then they found themselves …

This episode is about what we do that leaves a mark: the visible impact we leave behind on the country we live in and the countries we visit. Another podcast we admire, She Explores, takes us to Torres del Paine …

Marcus Eriksen wanted to draw attention to a problem no one could see. So he sailed into the middle of it.

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Jessi Johnson is a modern-day Artemis. But the perfect shot led her on a heartbreaking odyssey.

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The paleo diet aims to take nutrition back to the basics—to the way Paleolithic people ate. But prehistoric people didn’t eat boneless chicken …

It was 2012. Caroline was in love. But then heartbreak washed over her, like the storm surge from Hurricane Sandy.

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In 2011, Rinker Buck crossed the Oregon Trail — yes, that Oregon Trail — in a covered wagon pulled by a team of mules. He traveled with his brother …

As we discovered in Episode 35, sometimes grain alcohol is the solution, not the problem. For Sandra Jones, it was a bit of both. (more…)

Brian Corliss just wanted to quench his thirst. But on a snowmobile outing, he grabbed the wrong bottle. *Disclaimer: The actions taken in this story do not constitute medical advice. In the case of poisoning, call …

In 2017, the Great American Eclipse drew thousands of spectators to otherwise wild and desolate spots in Wyoming. For writer Liberty Lausterer, this …

Bruce Smith was on a routine helicopter flight in the remote Wind River Mountains. But what goes up must come down…one way or another.

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On December 22, 2016, Karen Klein got trapped in a snowstorm near the Grand Canyon. But she pushed through it to save her family. (more…)

Maggie had it all: a fine house, a loving family, and a big yard. But she threw it all away for adventure. And when things got bad, she had to use …

For your Thanksgiving podcast binge, here’s a second helping of an older episode. Sophie May grew up in Alaska, spending lots of time outside. But …

Aubrey Bertram traveled to East Asia to help animals that had been abused by humans. But a harrowing experience taught her that good intentions might not be enough. (more…)

A possessed basement. A magic mirror. A shop of spirits. Mysterious lights where they don’t belong. Gather around the campfire as we open the portal to a place that isn’t quite human or all the way natural. (more…)

Linda McGurk wanted her children to love the outdoors, just like she did as a little girl in Sweden. But when she moved to the U.S., she found out it wasn’t quite that simple. (more…)

When the Massaro family traded life on dry land for a life at sea, they encountered some unexpected company.  (more…)

Lucy came face-to-face with a family secret that upended her life. So she seized the moment. (more…)

Season 3 of HumaNature takes to the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the middle of an Indiana creek, and into one woman’s DNA. (more…)

In this episode, we’re excited to introduce you to a great storytelling podcast from Montana, Last Best Stories. Two friends were on a hike in Glacier National Park when a pair of fuzzy, cuddly-looking grizzly cubs …

Science journalist Lynda Mapes takes us deep into a New England forest, where one tree is telling the story of climate change. This is the final episode of our summer series, Science Camp, where we’re exploring the …

This is the second episode in our three-part Science Camp series, where we’re exploring the human side of science. Paleobotanist Ellen Currano noticed a lack of other women in her field. So she decided to dress up as a …

This is the first episode in a three-part summer series, called Science Camp, where we’re exploring the human side of science. Ryan Haupt had a lot of questions about his faith. When he started looking for answers, he …

We’re starting a new three-part summer series on June 21: Science Camp, where we explore the human side of science.

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Tyler Dunning went into the wild to distract himself from his grief…but ended up coming face to face with it instead.

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After breaking his back, doctors told Gary Havener he would never walk again. So…he decided to run. (more…)

In 2007, more than 50 pit bulls were discovered at a dogfighting ring in Virginia. Most people thought they couldn’t be saved. But their stories had …

150 years ago, two girls crossed the Missouri River trying to escape a life of slavery. In the summer of 2016, Barry Jurgensen set out on a 500-mile …

Arik was burning to share his faith with the world. But the people he thought needed his message the most weren’t interested in what he had to say. And the camels weren’t, either.

Melbourne, Australia wanted its residents to help keep an eye on its trees. So they gave every tree an email address. But then the trees started to write back. (more…)

It was November 9, 2016. Amy was worried about the new political landscape. But some unusual encounters at work gave her fresh perspective. (more…)

In this episode, we’ll introduce you to another outdoor show we really like…New Hampshire Public Radio’s Outside/In. 12-year-old Tyler Armstrong was …

Sophie May grew up in Alaska, spending lots of time outside. But when it came time to explore the wilderness as an adult, she found out she had more …

For our 13th episode, we venture off the beaten path to hear about Bigfoot and the scientist who’s on a mission to find him.  (more…)

Herb Pownall wanted to see the world. So he boarded a ship bound for Europe…along with 800 cows.

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This is the story of a love that spans continents. Jon Dunham set out on the longest, toughest walk of his life. But along the way, he met someone who helped carry the weight.  (more…)

Caroline and Micah reminisce about how HumaNature’s first season came about. And they play a part of the never-before-heard pilot episode. Fire up …

Where do we come from? And where do we go when we die? Paul Taylor shares one of the oldest answers to those questions.  (more…)

Christina Lee should have been having the time of her life. Instead, she was stressed and lonely. Until she decided to run away from the rat race…all …

It was supposed to be a leisurely float down the Snake River. But when they lost their guide, a group of tourists got more than they bargained for. (more…)

Micah Schweizer was skiing in the back-country when he uttered a curse against snowmobilers. But you know what they say—be careful what you wish for.

Erin Jonesthought the answers were written in stone. But a summer internship at a remote dinosaur quarry eroded her certainty.

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Patrick Dobsonwas stuck in his life, so he decided to take a trip by canoe from Montana to Missouri. Only he had never canoed before.

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Tonia Hanson had a secret. But when a private river retreat turned out to be very, very public, Tonia found unexpected healing.

(more…)

Greg Ley was deep in the Rocky Mountains, training as an outdoor guide, when his group encountered tragedy. What happened next forever changed his beliefs about the importance of humans to the wilderness. Winner of a …

Debbie Salamone was an environmental journalist who was passionate about the ocean—and ballroom dancing. One day at the beach, all that changed. (more…)

Charlie Thomas worked as a whitewater rafting guide in the 80s. His boss became obsessed with selling photos of clients taken while they ran the rapids. The only problem was getting the film back across the river and …