Advertise on podcast: Nature Breaking

WWF's 2026 Living Planet Report finds that monitored wildlife populations have declined by an average of 73% since 1970. In this episode of Nature Breaking, host Seth Larson sits down with Dr. Rebecca Shaw, WWF's Chief Scientist and editor-in-chief of this year's report, to unpack what that number really means — and why, despite the sobering data, this year's report is subtitled "The Science of Hope." Rebecca explains how the Living Planet Index works, why a global average can hide real bright spots (nearly half of all monitored populations are actually stable or increasing), and how species like tigers, bluefin tuna, Southern African elephants, and green sea turtles have rebounded thanks to decades of coordinated, global effort. She also introduces the report's concept of "positive tipping points" — using the global renewable energy transition as a real-world example of a system that has already tipped toward self-sustaining change — and explains why food systems and finance are still in an earlier "enabling phase," with tipping points potentially just years away. Links for More Info: Dr. Rebecca Shaw bio 2026 Living Planet Report  Chapters: 0:00 Teaser 0:42 Intro 2:19 What is the Living Planet Report? 3:57 This year's topline number: a 73% decline 6:12 Why "The Science of Hope"? 8:37 The green sea turtle recovery story 15:21 What are positive tipping points? 19:20 Renewable energy: a tipping point already underway 22:50 Food and finance: the next systems to tip 25:32 The $1.3 trillion nature finance gap 28:31 Why 2030 matters 31:23 Closing thoughts

Last week, WWF hosted its first-ever Panda House, a full day of panel sessions during Climate Week NYC — the annual gathering timed to coincide with the UN General Assembly, where leaders from across the climate and conservation world come together to debate ideas and push for action. In this special recap episode, host Seth Larson and WWF's Sarah Wilson bring you inside Panda House, with a series of short conversations recorded live between panel sessions. The day's discussions spanned carbon markets, tropical forest protection, and ocean conservation, but one theme ran through the day: finance. In other words, how do we raise the funds required to conserve nature at scale? In this episode you'll hear from: Andrew Deutz, WWF's Managing Director of Global Policy and Partnerships, about the newly released Financing Nature 2026 report that WWF co-released with The Nature Conservancy and the Paulson Institute; Stephanie Cappa, WWF's Director of Policy and Government Affairs, about the Tropical Forest Forever Facility; and John Morton, WWF's Executive Managing Director for Nature Finance & Investment, about carbon markets, how Climate Week has changed over the years, and what gives him hope for the future. Together, these conversations offer a snapshot of where the nature finance conversation stands today, and what it will take to close the gap between what's being spent and what's actually needed. Links for More Info: REPORT: Financing Nature 2026 Andrew Deutz bio Stephanie Cappa bio John Morton bio Chapters: 0:00 Intro 1:04 Andrew Deutz on the Financing Nature 2026 report 4:23 Stephanie Cappa on the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) 8:06 John Morton on carbon markets and more 11:52 Outro

What do black-footed ferrets, cockatoos, and geckos have in common? They've all starred in True Facts, the wildly popular YouTube series from Ze Frank that's taught millions of people about the weird and wonderful side of wildlife. In this episode of Nature Breaking, host Seth Larson sits down with Ze to talk about his nearly two-decade journey as a creator. Together, they explore: How True Facts evolved from comedy sketches into rigorous science storytelling Why creative limitations often lead to better work The origin of Ze's iconic narrator voice and his invented character, "Jerry" How Ze builds trust with the scientific community Why doing something matters more than just watching, especially for conservation Finally, Seth and Ze trade some of their favorite "true facts" from the animal kingdom. Links for More Info: Ze Frank's YouTube channel True Facts: The Ferret and the Plague True Facts: Mussels That Catch Fish Subscribe to WWF's YouTube Channel Chapters: 0:00 Preview 0:59 Intro 2:35 Meet Ze Frank 9:21 How Ze chooses animals for True Facts 14:42 "You Named a Species" and Audience Engagement 17:51 The voice and "Jerry" 21:07 True Facts Educational 23:40 Ze's research process 27:54 Lightning round: Seth & Ze's favorite true facts 32:05 Outro

Earlier this week Matthew Rhys made history as the first actor to ever win two lead-acting Emmys in one night. That was especially exciting for us at WWF because, amid all the scientists and conservation experts we've interviewed on this show over the years, the only actor to ever appear on Nature Breaking was none other than Matthew Rhys. He joined our podcast back in 2023 to talk about the Apple TV show Extrapolations, an anthology show about climate change that he appeared in. Host Seth Larson interviewed Matthew alongside that show's creator, Scott Z. Burns, and its executive producer, Dorothy Fortenberry. The link to the full episode is below, but in honor of Matthew's big night at the Emmys, here's an excerpt from that interview featuring Matthew's thoughts on how storytelling can influence action on climate change. Links for More Info: 2023 Full Episode: Extrapolations

The plastic crisis isn't too big to solve — but solving it will take all of us. In the third and final episode of Unwrapped: The Plastic Crisis, our three-part miniseries from Nature Breaking, host Seth Larson and WWF plastics expert Erin Simon turn from the past and present to the future — exploring what it will actually take to build a world where plastic doesn't end up polluting our oceans, our communities, and even our own bodies. Joining the conversation is Carissa Cabrera, a marine biologist, climate activist, and CEO of FutureSwell, who has built a massive platform helping everyday people see themselves as part of the solution to ocean and climate issues. Carissa shares what she's learned building community around plastic pollution in Hawaii, why authentic messengers matter more than viral moments, and what gives her hope even when progress feels slow. This episode is about closing the gap between knowing there's a problem and believing you can be part of the solution. Links for More Info: Carissa Cabrera bio FutureSwell WWF Plastics page Chapters: 0:00 Can I recycle this? (cold open) 1:15 Seth and Erin explain the episode 4:26 Meet Carissa Cabrera of Future Swell 7:24 What stories resonate to drive action? 12:55 How to convey urgency and hope at once 17:02 Local versus global advocacy 22:43 Reaching people outside the environmental bubble 27:35 Envisioning a future without plastic pollution 41:49 Series wrap-up and closing thoughts

The world's plastic problem won't be solved by good intentions alone. In part two of Unwrapped: The Plastic Crisis, our special three-part miniseries from Nature Breaking, host Seth Larson and WWF plastics expert Erin Simon shift from the past to the present—digging into what's actually being done right now to tackle plastic pollution, and where those efforts are falling short. Joining the conversation is Jeff Bezzo of SC Johnson, one of the world's largest household product companies, who works at the intersection of sustainability and business strategy. Jeff pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes for a 130-year-old company to rethink packaging at scale, and why voluntary corporate action can only go so far without policy to back it up. Together, they explore: The hidden reasons some plastic gets recycled and some doesn't How Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) works, and why it's gaining momentum across the US What SC Johnson has learned from real-world experiments with refill and reuse systems Why global companies are increasingly asking for consistent policy, not just goodwill The honest tensions between sustainability goals and business realities This episode is about the messy middle of solving a global crisis—where companies, policymakers, and consumers all have a role to play, and where progress depends on getting the incentives right. Links for More Info: Jeff Bezzo bio WWF Plastics page ACT: Tell Global Leaders You Want a Future With Less Plastic Chapters: 0:00 Can I recycle this? (cold open) 0:51 Intro 1:23 Episode overview 4:10 Jeff Bezzo on SC Johnson's sustainability journey 8:28 How SC Johnson is rethinking plastic packaging 13:28 What makes a product "worth" recycling? 17:10 What is EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility)? 19:56 Recycling alternatives: reuse/refill, concentrates, etc. 27:05 Balancing sustainability goals with cost pressures 35:02 Jeff's reasons for hope 37:07 Closing thoughts from Seth and Erin

Plastic pollution didn't happen overnight. In the first episode of Unwrapped: The Plastic Crisis, a special three-part miniseries from Nature Breaking, host Seth Larson and WWF plastics expert Erin Simon take a step back to examine how we got here—and why solving this crisis requires understanding the decisions that shaped it. Joining the conversation is Dr. Jenna Jambeck, the University of Georgia researcher whose landmark 2015 study was the first to quantify how much plastic enters the ocean each year. Her work transformed our understanding of plastic pollution and helped shift the conversation from cleanup to prevention.  Together, they explore: Where plastic comes from and why it became so ubiquitous The surprising history of recycling—and why it can't keep up How plastic pollution became a global environmental challenge What Jenna's groundbreaking research revealed about plastic entering the ocean Why scientists, policymakers, businesses, and communities are increasingly focused on the root causes of the problem This episode is about more than plastic—it's about how societies make decisions, how systems evolve, and what we can learn from the past as we work toward a future with less waste and healthier ecosystems. Links for More Info: Dr. Jenna Jambeck bio WWF Plastics page ACT: Tell Global Leaders You Want a Future With Less Plastic Chapters: 0:00 Can I recycle… a plastic grocery bag? 0:42 Intro 1:52 What is plastic? 3:52 Why are so many products made from plastic? 5:11 How big is the plastic crisis today? 6:32 Miniseries overview 9:00 Dr. Jenna Jambeck explains her landmark 2015 report 14:03 What prompted Dr. Jambeck's research? 17:00 Why is plastic so hard to recycle? 24:56 What mistakes led to our current crisis? 28:44 The Marine Debris Tracker app 34:26 Dr. Jambeck's key lessons 38:08 Closing thoughts from Seth and Erin

Why do we call an elephant an elephant? Why did the narwhal become known as the "unicorn of the sea"? How did the praying mantis help to inspire kung fu in ancient China? And what can the names we give to animals tell us about ourselves as people? In this episode of Nature Breaking, host Seth Larson sits down with bestselling author, conservationist, and WWF board member T.A. Barron to discuss his new book, Naming Nature. Drawing on languages, folklore, mythology, and cultural traditions from around the world, the book explores the fascinating stories behind the names of plants, animals, and landscapes—and what those names reveal about humanity's relationship with the natural world. Tune in to hear how an oak tree near Oxford, England helped inspire T.A.'s passion for writing, how he developed the concept for Naming Nature, and how a run-in with a former NFL quarterback prompted him to reflect on what really matters in life. Links for More Info: T.A. Barron bio Naming Nature Chapters: 0:00 Preview 0:22 Intro 1:29 T.A. Barron on the power of storytelling 4:05 How an Oak Tree near Oxford inspired his writing career 8:27 How T.A.'s mother influenced his career 9:53 What inspired T.A. to write Naming Nature 15:03 How elephants got their name 22:06 How narwhals got their name 26:37 How hummingbirds got their name 29:11 How naming an animal can lead to its conservation 33:04 Meeting NFL quarterback Andrew Luck 36:40 Life advice from T.A. 41:22 Outro

As the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, there's no shortage of reflection about the landscapes, history, and ideals that have shaped this country. For many people, iconic American landscapes might include mountains, forests, or coastlines. But there's another ecosystem—vast, vital, and often overlooked—that's quietly disappearing: grasslands. You might know grasslands by other names: prairies, plains, or savannas. Regardless of the name, grasslands matter more than you might think. They filter and supply clean water, store carbon, sustain rural communities and economies, and support iconic wildlife like bison, black-footed ferrets, and birds. But roughly 70% of America's grasslands have already been lost. And even worse, not enough people seem to notice: A recent WWF survey found that nearly half of Americans are unfamiliar with grasslands. So why are grasslands disappearing—and what can be done to protect what's left? In this episode of Nature Breaking, host Seth Larson sits down with Martha Kauffman, WWF's Vice President for the Great Plains, to break down the science, history, and future of one of America's most important ecosystems. Links for More Info: Martha Kauffman bio WWF Grasslands Survey Grasslanders Campaign TAKE ACTION: The Indian Buffalo Management Act Chapters: 00:00 Teaser 00:35 Intro 02:22 Martha's passion for grasslands 05:41 Why should grasslands matter to all of us? 10:33 Current status of US grasslands 13:47 How to keep grasslands intact 24:23 Role of Indigenous Communities 26:26 Martha reflects on 20 years at WWF 28:44 Conserving US grasslands for the next 250 years 30:31 Outro

*Bonus Episode Today's episode is a feed swap courtesy of Reframing Rural, an award-winning documentary show that explores the people, history, and culture of rural America. The episode, "From Sand to Soil," was included in Season 4 of Reframing Rural, which focused on the challenges that farm and ranch families face as they pass their operations from one generation to the next. Today you'll hear about the Bruski family, a ranching family in Montana that made a bold decision to rethink how their land is managed as part of their succession process. They did so with support from WWF's Ranch Systems and Viability Planning (RSVP) program, which helps support ranchers in meeting their sustainable management goals while strengthening the long-term viability of their operations. You don't need to be a farmer or rancher to connect with this story. It's about family, change, and building something better for the future. Our thanks to Reframing Rural for sharing it with us.  Links for More Info: Reframing Rural WWF's RSVP Program

Last winter you probably heard about the lack of snow in the western US, and how that might impact everything from ski resorts to farmlands and freshwater supplies. News coverage of this drought most-often invokes impacts on the Colorado River. But there's another system—the Rio Grande—that's facing just as much pressure. Stretching from Colorado to the Gulf of Mexico, the Rio Grande – or the Rio Bravo as it's known in Mexico – supports millions of people, vast acres of farmland, and diverse ecosystems that support an array of wildlife. But the river has lost roughly 85% of its historic flows due to overuse and a years-long megadrought. And this summer could bring the worst conditions yet thanks to the lack of snowpack in the mountains that feed the river. In this episode of Nature Breaking, we explore why the Rio Grande is running dry—and what that means for communities, wildlife, and the future of water in the region. Host Seth Larson is joined by Enrique Prunes, WWF's Rio Grande Manager and Freshwater Lead Specialist, to break down the crisis and explain what needs to change to secure a brighter future for the river. Links for More Info: Enrique Prunes bio WWF's Rio Grande page WWF's Water Scarcity page Take Action: Pledge to be a Steward for Water Chapters: 0:00 Preview 0:24 Intro 1:35 Rio Grande/Rio Bravo 101 4:32 Why the Colorado River gets more attention 6:12 Current state of the Rio Grande 9:25 What's causing the river to dry out? 14:24 How to balance agriculture w/ river health 18:05 US & Mexico sharing water resources 21:22 Solutions to restore the Rio Grande 26:47 What gives Enrique hope for the river? 31:25 Outro

Seafood is one of the most important food systems on the planet—supporting livelihoods, feeding communities, and fueling a global industry. But it's also under growing pressure. Overfishing, climate change, and illegal fishing are putting many marine ecosystems at risk. So how can we meet global demand for seafood without pushing our oceans past their limits? And what role should companies play in building healthier, more resilient oceans? In this episode of Nature Breaking, host Seth Larson speaks with Dr. Sarah Glaser, head of the Blue Foods program and Oceans Futures platform at WWF, and Andrew Russell, Global Marine Sustainability Lead at Mars. They discuss the challenges—and opportunities—of making seafood more sustainable. And they explore how a long‑standing partnership between WWF and Mars is working to improve sourcing practices, increase transparency across complex supply chains, and support healthier fisheries over the long term. Links for More Info: Dr. Sarah Glaser bio Andrew Russell bio Mars & WWF – Protecting Ocean Ecosystems Chile Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP) Chapters: 0:00 Preview 0:32 Intro 2:09 Defining "sustainable seafood" 6:02 Are we too late to save certain fish stocks? 8:37 How Mars got involved with sustainable seafood 12:14 How WWF and Mars are working together 16:14 Driving change for the whole seafood industry 20:04 What do best practices actually look like on a fishing vessel? 24:24 Blue finance – funding change at scale 31:58 What single change would have the biggest impact on ocean health? 35:51 Outro

NOTE: This episode was originally released in July 2025. Once nearly wiped out, the plains bison, or buffalo, as they are often called by Native Americans, are returning to the Great Plains — and with them, a powerful story of cultural renewal, ecological restoration, and Indigenous leadership. In this episode of Nature Breaking, WWF's Heather Dawn Thompson (a citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe) shares how Native Nations are leading efforts to restore buffalo populations, reclaim food sovereignty, and heal the land. From spiritual connections to practical conservation, this interview explores how buffalo are more than just wildlife — they are relatives, providers, and symbols of resilience. Links for More Info: Heather Dawn Thompson bio Tribal Buffalo Lifeways Collaboration WWF's Plains Bison page Chapters: 0:00 Preview 1:13 Intro 2:57 Heather Dawn's background and role at WWF 8:45 History of buffalo and connection with Native Nations 11:19 Role of Heather Dawn's family in conserving buffalo 13:44 What's it like to see a buffalo in real life? 15:18 Buffalo harvest story 16:47 Connection between buffalo and healthy grasslands 21:05 Buffalo and food sovereignty for Native Nations 24:07 Tribal Buffalo Lifeways Collaboration 29:20 Biggest challenges to buffalo restoration

Are you feeling stressed, scattered, or mentally drained? Science suggests a surprisingly simple way to feel better: spending time in nature. In this episode of Nature Breaking, we explore the growing body of psychological research showing how time spent outdoors improves focus, mood, and overall mental health. Host Seth Larson is joined by Dr. Dennis Stolle, Executive Lead Psychologist for Applied Psychology at the American Psychological Association (APA), to break down what's actually happening in our brains when we step into outside—and why even small doses of nature can make a real difference. It's an important reminder that when we take care of nature, nature takes care of us. This episode was produced as part of a collaboration between WWF and APA in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month. Links for More Info: Dr. Dennis Stolle bio American Psychological Association WWF – Mental Health & Nature page Chapters: 0:00 Preview 0:33 Intro 2:07 History of research into nature and mental health 5:09 What happens in our brains when we're outside? 9:21 How time in nature improves happiness 13:19 How too much time indoors or on screens hurts our mental health 16:43 Tips for boosting mental health through nature 20:41 We need nature, and nature needs us 23:08 Outro

When you think of endangered species, chances are the giant panda comes to mind. With their black‑and‑white coats, bamboo obsession, and internet‑famous antics, pandas are among the most beloved animals on Earth—and they're also one of conservation's most hopeful success stories. In this episode of Nature Breaking, we're diving into the surprisingly weird and wonderful world of giant pandas with Colby Loucks, Vice President and Deputy Lead of WWF's Wildlife Program. Together, we unpack what makes pandas so unique—from their "fake thumb" and bamboo‑only diet to their solitary lifestyles and playful personalities. But this isn't just about adorable panda videos. We also talk about how decades of conservation work helped giant pandas rebound from the brink of extinction, why they were reclassified from endangered to vulnerable, and what their recovery teaches us about protecting other species. Along the way, Colby shares firsthand stories from the field—including what it's really like trying (and failing) to spot a panda in the wild. Links for More Info: Colby Loucks bio WWF Giant Panda page Chapters: 0:00 Preview 0:24 Intro 2:00 Giant Pandas 101 4:56 Why do pandas play? 7:56 How giant pandas became a conservation success story 12:28 Colby's story about tracking a panda in the wild 15:37 Outro