Episodes

  • Bird Bones with Dr. Anna Pidgeon
    Jan 6 2026

    In this episode we answer questions like "why are bird bones hollow?" and learn about how baby birds grow their bones within the egg with our bird bone expert, Dr. Anna Pidgeon, a researcher and professor at UW - Madison!

    Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities!


    Get out and explore nature with us!


    Make a donation to SoWBA


    Episode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website!


    Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod

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    10 mins
  • Mustelid Mystery with Rowan Koester-Jess
    Dec 2 2025

    In this episode we hear the tale of the Great Mustelid Mystery that started at Aldo Leopold Nature Center in spring 2024. Get comfy and put on your nature detective caps as Rowan Koester-Jess takes us through this riveting mystery.


    See offerings from Aldo Leopold Nature Center


    Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities!


    Get out and explore nature with us!


    Make a donation to SoWBA


    Episode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website!


    Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod

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    26 mins
  • Tracks with Jamie Nack
    Nov 4 2025

    In this episode, we answer questions like "do animals cover their tracks?" and learn about how animals with bare tails handle winter weather with our tracks expert, Extension Senior Wildlife Outreach Specialist, Jamie Nack!

    Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities!


    Get out and explore nature with us!


    Make a donation to SoWBA


    Episode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website!


    Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod

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    16 mins
  • Bats with Jennifer Redell Part 2
    Oct 7 2025

    In this episode, we talk more with DNR Conservation Biologist Jennifer Redell about what scientists are doing to help bats with White Nose Syndrome and how they are working to prevent the spread of the disease.


    Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities!


    Get out and explore nature with us!


    Make a donation to SoWBA


    Episode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website!


    Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod

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    11 mins
  • Bats with Jennifer Redell Part 1
    Oct 7 2025

    In this episode, we talk about White Nose Syndrome and how it affects our Wisconsin bats with our bat expert Jennifer Redell, a conservation biologist at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Be sure to return for part two!


    Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities!


    Get out and explore nature with us!


    Make a donation to SoWBA


    Episode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website!


    Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod

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    13 mins
  • Monarch Butterflies with Emma Pelton
    Sep 2 2025

    In this episode, we answer questions like "How do monarchs know where to go on their migration?" and learn about the Monarch Butterfly mysteries still to be uncovered with our Monarch Butterfly expert Emma Pelton, conservation biologist for the Xerces Society.


    See the work of the Xerces Society

    Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities!


    Get out and explore nature with us!


    Make a donation to SoWBA


    Episode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website!


    Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod

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    14 mins
  • Insect Anatomy with PJ Liesch
    Aug 5 2025

    In this episode we answer questions like "why do centipedes have so many legs?" and "do insects fart?" and learn about the ways that bugs view our world completely different than how we do with our Insect Anatomy expert PJ Liesch the director of the UW-Madison Insect Diagnostic Lab!


    See more of PJ's work here!


    And follow him on X (Twitter) @WisconsinBugGuy

    Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities!


    Get out and explore nature with us!


    Episode transcription with pictures and links available on our website!


    Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod

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    14 mins
  • Raptors with Jackie Sandberg and Jack Pace
    Jul 1 2025

    In this episode, we answer questions like “How can we identify hawks when they are flying so high in the sky?“ and learn about hawks use UV vision to their advantage when hunting.


    Learn more about the Wildlife Center here!


    Check out SoWBA’s free lessons, games, and activities!


    Get out and explore nature with us!


    Make a donation to SoWBA


    Episode Transcription with pictures and links available on our website!


    Music: “The Forest and the Trees” by Kevin MacLeod


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    13 mins