Conservation is about People

Today we’re joined by wildlife scientist Corina Newsome, as we explore the roots of her passion for birds before diving into how her career has brought her into spaces of seeking environmental justice and equity and helping climate-threatened species survive in a changing world.

Our conversation invites us to rethink everything we think we know about nature and wildness. Sure, it’s about birds—but really, it’s about people, place, belonging, and what it means to find wonder in unexpected places.

We talk about migratory birds that travel across hemispheres, robins nesting in city trees, and how a single moment on a busy Atlanta street corner can hold more wildness than we’re trained to notice.

We also get into some big, necessary questions:

• Who gets to feel safe and welcome in outdoor spaces?
• What role does joy play in serious climate work?
• And how can we use science and storytelling to shift the narrative?

This episode is full of heart, perspective, and wild ideas—and we can’t wait for you to hear it!

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts or at thewildidea.com and follow Corina on Instagram

Books, resources, and other notes from today’s episode:

• Reed Environmental Writing Award
• Gaslight: The Atlantic Coast Pipeline and the Fight for America‘s Energy Future by Jonathan Mingle
• Jared Kofsky, Maia Rosenfeld, and Steve Osunsami: “Our Inheritance is Washing Away ”
• Walk Ride Paddle by Tim Kaine
• America the Beautiful for All
• Byhalia Pipeline
• Memphis Community Against Pollution
• Groundwork Hudson Valley
• Dr. Carolyn Finney

Corina Newsome is a wildlife biologist dedicated to the integration of environmental justice and equity into conservation science, policy, and practice. With a specific passion for avian conservation, Corina’s research has focused on answering landscape ecology questions that help climate-threatened species survive in a changing world.

Corina’s fascination with birds extends beyond her research and into the communities where she lives and works, serving as a vehicle through which she connects herself, and others, to the living world around them. In addition to her work in conservation, Corina is committed to uplifting Black professionals in STEM fields to inspire the next generation of leaders.

Find Corina on Instagram.

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