the Best Biome
The Best Biome Podcast
Three prairie biologists make the ever-growing argument for why grasslands are the world’s best biome.
Nicole, Rachel, and Allan discuss the deep evolutionary history of the plains, the intricacies of unique grassland ecosystems, and frequently just lose our minds about absurdities like ostriches stealing each other’s children.
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Three prairie biologists make the ever-growing argument for why grasslands are the world’s best biome. Features hosts Rachel Roth, Nicole Brown, and Allan Saylor of Kansas-based nonprofit Grassland Groupies.
In the final episode of the season for The Best Biome we lay out some concerns we have for the conservation of our beloved grasslands under a second term of the Trump administration. It’s a hard discussion, but one we felt we needed to have. And boy was it a long one. If you don’t feel up to listening now, we understand, though we still recommend you check out the action items at the end (see timestamps below to skip there). Much love to you all, and we’ll be back in March.
Timestamps:
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:04:37) Nicole: Implications of DOI Changes
(00:33:00) Brain Bleach Success Stories
(00:35:45) Rachel: EPA Changes and the Author of Project 25
(01:09:58) Allan: The Fall of Science
(01:41:06) Action Items
(01:55:57) Outro
Action Items:
- Learn more about the Monarch conservation plan and show your support (public comment period opens TODAY Dec 12 24): http://fws.gov/monarch
- Earthjustice Environmental Law – Rapid Response Legal Fund thru Dec 31: https://earthjustice.org/
- North American Grasslands Conservation Act: https://actforgrasslands.org/
- Engage with Citizen Science in your area: https://scistarter.org
- Citizen Science Projects by Federal Agencies: https://www.citizenscience.gov/catalog/
Inaction is not an option when it comes to fighting for what you believe in and those you love… but you don’t have to do it all. Take care of yourself.
Arm Yourself With Knowledge:
- Surviving Autocracy by Masha Gessen (Bookshop affiliate link)
- The Endangered Species Act Overview and Impact on Private Property
- Trilateral Committee’s work on buffalo | grasslands conservation
- Visitor Spending Effects – Economic Contributions of National Park Visitor Spending
- EPA Enforcement Data and Results
- Climate Disinformation Database | Mandy Gunasekara – EPA Project 2025 Author
- League of Conservation Voters: Lee Zeldin’s score card (incoming EPA admin)
- EPA Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights: Journey to Justice
- The Second Trump Administration Will Put Profit Over People and Opinions Over Facts. But We’re Prepared to Fight Back! Union of Concerned Scientists
- Attacks on Science. Union of Concerned Scientists
+++ More of Our Work +++
Grassland Groupies' Website
Facebook
TikTok
Twitch
Bluesky
+++ Contact Us +++
Text/Call: (316)-512-8933
info@grasslandgroupies.org
+++ Support Us +++
Bonfire Merch Store
CashApp: $GrasslandGroupies
Or… donate directly to our org.
Episodes Expounded
See photos, citations, and summaries of the topics featured on our episodes below, including embedded players for each episode.
We are working on getting transcripts for these episodes, so bear with us. We’ll post transcripts on these posts once they’re available.