Nature Guys

Nature Guys podcast connects you to the exciting natural world right in your own neighborhood. You can listen to any episode on this website. If you are looking for a particular episode use the search box. Please follow our podcast on your favorite service:

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Greg Torres, our plant guru, talks all about trees. Tune in to find out why trees have a special place in Greg’s heart.

Related episodes: Sit Spot, Mistletoe

Prayer of the Woods (Portuguese folk tradition)

“I am the heat of your hearth on the cold winter nights.
The friendly shade screening you from the summer sun,
and my fruits are refreshing draughts quenching
your thirst as you journey on.”

“I am the beam that holds your house.
The board of your table, the bed on which you lie
and the timber that builds your boat.”

“I am the handle of your hoe, the door of your homestead,
the wood of your cradle and the shell of your coffin.”

“I am the bread of kindness and the flower of beauty.
Ye who pass by listen to my prayer: “Harm me not.”

Carol Mundy, the host of the radio show Outdoor Life, collaborates on this second episode about cats. This episode focuses on feral cats and was inspired by an email from listener Steve Inglish.

Related episode: Cats

Our sources for this episode include:

• Cat Wars The Devastating Consequences of a Cuddly Killer by Peter P. Mora and Chris Santella
• The Lion in the Living Room How House Cats Tamed Us and Took Over The World by Abigail Tucker

Bob runs into a pet opossum with his grandson Drew and his friend Graeme in a city park. Poppy is very cute and inspired us to listen to a podcast Bob and Bill recorded back in 2017.

Related episodes: Bat in the House and Sick of Ticks

Our sources for this episode include:

• 10 things you didn’t know about opossums
• Wildlife Rescue: Opossums
• Opossums – killers of ticks
• The ‘Possum Pages: FAQs
• Opossum Defense Mechanisms

Bob joins Carol Mundy on her radio show Outdoor Life to discuss one of the most successful invasive species on the planet, the house cat.

Our sources for this episode include:

• Cat Wars: The Devastating Consequences of a Cuddly Killer by Peter P. Mora and Chris Santella
• The Lion in the Living Room: How House Cats Tamed Us and Took Over The World by Abigail Tucker

Bob and Tina record in front of a live audience to share stories about crows. This bird is easy to identify but its behavior is very complex. Find our why Tina is a crow lover and listen to some amazing stories about crows. If you have your own crow story share it on our website via speak pipe or in the comment section for this episode.

Related episodes: Peregrine Falcon, Coyote Love

Our sources for this episode include:

• Gifts of the Crow by John Marzluff and Tony Angela
• Birdology by Sy Montgomery

Sam and Greg join Bob at the Civic Garden Center’s Fall Native Plant Festival.  They have an engaging presentation about the benefits and history of this under appreciated plant. 

Related episode: Johnny Appleseed

Our sources for this episode include:

• In Defense of the Lowly Grape
• The Drunken Botanist by Amy Stewart

Caroline joins Bob to talk about her true passion Native Grasses. Learn how these grasses can add to the diversity of life in the landscapes of our neighborhoods.

Related episodes: Lawns, Boxwood Bash

Our sources for this episode include:

• Understanding Roots by Robert Kourik
• Benefits of Native Grasses in Urban Landscaping
• Beyond Flowers: Enhancing Wildlife Gardens with Native Grasses
• Establishing Early Successional Habitat for Wildlife

Bob and Greg delve into one of their favorite plants, the Prickly Pear Cactus. It has a range far beyond the dessert so you should be able to find it in your area.

Our sources for this episode include:

• US Forest Service Prickly Pear
• What Animals Eat Cactus
• 5 Facts About Prickly Pear Cactus
• Nine Interesting Facts about Prickly Pear

Turkey Tail mushrooms are everywhere! Gia admits that mushrooms may be her favorite things in nature. Learn all about one of the most common and easy to find mushrooms.

Special thanks to Michael Kuo for use of his Turkey Tail photo.

Our sources for this episode include:

• Michael Kuo’s take on turkey tail / Trametes versicolor: The Turkey Tail (MushroomExpert.Com)
• Good explanation of medicinal properties / How to Make Turkey Tail Mushroom Powder
• Tom Volk’s take on turkey tail / Fungus of the Month for August 1997 (wisc.edu)
• Nicholas Money’s paper “Are Mushrooms Medicinal?” (2016 PubMed (nih.gov)
• Coriolus versicolor | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (mskcc.org)

Bob and Beth led family hikes at the Arc of Appalachia Highlands Nature Sanctuary in April of 2024. After the hikes they recorded a podcast with some of the hikers. Tune in to hear about wildflowers and more from the perspective of the children on the hike.