Going Wild with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant
Going Wild with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant
A Blk Pod News Q&A with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant
We are excited to bring you this exclusive Q&A with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant, the host of the podcast, "Going Wild with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant." This isn't your run-of-the-mill wildlife show; it's a deeply immersive journey that takes you into the untouched sanctuaries of our planet — from the dense jungles to arid deserts.
We discuss Dr Rae’s journey and the newly released Season 3, as it takes a kaleidoscopic view of the ecological web, challenging us to redefine our relationship with nature.
In this Q & A, Dr. Wynn-Grant shares insights into her action-packed adventures, the complex tapestry of life she studies, and how we can all find our unique place in the wild.
Who is Dr Rae Wynn-Grant?
Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant is a wildlife ecologist who researches how human activity influences the behavior of wild animals. Her wildlife exploration and media work has taken her to six of seven continents and over 25 countries. Rae is also passionate about science communication and is the creator and host of award-winning podcast Going Wild with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant, and is the co-host of the legendary television show Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild, scheduled to debut on NBC and Peacock this Fall.
A native Californian, Wynn-Grant attributes her interest in wildlife and conservation from the nature shows she watched on television as a child, and today she uses media to increase representation of Black scientists and explorers.
She is a researcher at the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at University of California at Santa Barbara. Rae envisions a near-future where the outdoors is a safe, equitably accessible, and positively transformative space for all people. She is a scientist, conservationist, equity and justice advocate, and storyteller.
You’ve studied wild animals in their natural habitats across the globe. How has this experience shaped your perspective on conservation?
By studying wild animals all over the world it's helped me realize how a conservation success story from one place can really inform conservation success somewhere else. Figuring out how to save tigers in India can actually help in some ways to figure out how to save big cats in the United States. There can be a lot of variables between projects like the local environment and communities, but sometimes there's a lot to be learned by what's happening on the other side of the world and that's been exciting.
You're also the co-host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild, premiering this fall. How does this role complement your work on "Going Wild"?
Co-hosting Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild is definitely a different type of media work. It is more presenting, factual, and educational. Not to say this podcast isn't those things, but the podcast is very creative, it's storytelling, it's true stories of people's experiences in the field, and it has an undercurrent of social justice.
I think the podcast is radical and Wild Kingdom is just different. Wild Kingdom is a revival of a classic show, and I love the way I can nerd out over the species it focuses on. So, it's less about people's emotions and more about the species being presented.
Then of course the format is different. Wild Kingdom is a visual television show and Going Wild is a podcast, so we have the music and the story arc that allows people to really sink into it without needing those visuals.
Both opportunities help strengthen me in my science communication, and I know I would not be as ready for Wild Kingdom had I not had several years of this podcast under my belt because this podcast has been very transformative for me as a science communicator.
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Season Three of Going Wild focuses on the "entire ecological web." Can you elaborate on what listeners can expect in terms of topics and narratives?
Yes, what's fun about Season 3 is we did not come up with the idea of the ecological web until we listed our dream guests to have on the show. We realized that instead of having everyone be large carnivore experts, these new guests were representing so many different parts of the ecological web.
From tiny microbes all the way up to you know big predators. We represent so many different communities: microorganisms, insects, and birds. I mean there are just so many amazing animals, and we even have an episode that is bigger than all which talks about the whole ocean in general.
We really covered a lot and we thought you know let's frame it that way to really allow people to understand that there's this connectivity. You can be species-specific but the species that you might love are also connected to everything else.
One of our episodes really touches on how we (as humans) are part of this ecological web as animals ourselves, and how other animals are, in some belief systems, our relatives.
So, it is a very scientific framing, but you'll find as you listen to the season, it's a very kind of spiritual framing as well.
What are your key goals for the third season of "Going Wild"?
I want more people to know about this show. I really want more people to listen to this podcast and find pieces of themselves in every episode. I really hope that more folks find heroes in environmental scientists, environmentalists and conservationists.
My heroes are these people on the podcast and so it's been a dream come true to be able to work with them, and I really want to make sure that some of the guests we have become household names.
What are some of the most surprising things you've learned during your adventures for the podcast?
I have definitely gotten more of a scientific education that's for sure. By hosting this podcast, I have definitely learned a lot about the different fields within ecology and that has been really cool.
I've also honestly had a lot of things be reinforced like how a lot of us scientists go through so many of the same experiences, and we almost always feel totally isolated during that time.
A lot of the experiences aren't good, a lot of them are really challenging. We have some guests from previous seasons who talk about how they have left science not because they didn't love it, but because there were so many barriers to their success.
I've definitely learned that there is a community out there and maybe in the past our communities of scientists, particularly scientists of color, have been invisible but we are out there.
Given the diverse backgrounds of your guests, how does "Going Wild" aim to change perceptions about who can be a scientist or an adventurer?
Growing up, and even today in mainstream media, scientists, adventurers and wildlife experts are shown to be pretty homogeneous – typically white men. We made a commitment to tell the stories of primarily Black scientists and adventurers and other people of color who are underrepresented in this field. I'm hoping that as people listen to these stories, which also discuss the impact of race on one's professional journey, they can begin to expand their idea of who a scientist or adventurer is.
The podcast is produced by PBS' Nature. How has this partnership influenced the show's direction and reach?
PBS Nature carries a tremendous reputation. It's a trusted source for all things nature and wilderness and credible scientifically-based storytelling. It's been a dream to work with PBS Nature, and I believe we've been able to reach audiences that typically wouldn't tune in to such a radical show.
How do you tackle the challenge of making complex scientific topics relatable and accessible to the general public?
Honestly, talking about wild animals makes it a million times easier. There is complex science discussed in every episode, but it can be simplified when we talk about how bears behave, or how birds migrate.
The animals are giving us a huge assist!
Are there particular episodes or interviews in the upcoming season that you are particularly excited about?
I can't choose just one – Season 3 is pretty incredible. I'm excited to have audiences listen to our mountain lion episode where we invite guests from the local Indigenous community to talk about solutions for the future of mountain lion conservation.
What’s next for "Going Wild" beyond Season Three? Any collaborations or special projects in the pipeline?
I can't disclose our ideas for Season 4 yet, but it would be another groundbreaking, never-before-done season that I think could really catapult us!
How do you measure the success of a podcast that aims not just to entertain, but also to inform and make an impact?
We have reviews! Folks aren't shy to write their full opinions in their reviews and so far it's looking like we are really touching hearts and souls while inspiring so many young people to pursue their love of wildlife conservation!
In the face of climate change and a shifting global ecosystem, what role do you see "Going Wild" playing in the ongoing conversation about conservation and human-nature relationships?
This is our whole mission – to help build a community and empower/inspire people to fight this fight with us!
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