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Golden State Naturalist

A love letter to California's ecological past, present, and future.

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Recent Episodes

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Tule Elk with Orlando Rocha and Tom Batter
Oct. 10, 2024

Tule Elk with Orlando Rocha and Tom Batter

How is the story of tule elk tied to the story of California? What’s the difference between a grazer and a browser? Why do tule elk have such big feet? How much grazing is the right amount of grazing? Why do elk bugles sound…
[Greatest Hits] Central Valley Water and Wetlands with Ellen Wehr
Oct. 3, 2024

[Greatest Hits] Central Valley Water and Wetlands with Ellen Wehr

Did you know that California's Central Valley once contained a vast inland sea and was home to camels, 400 lb. saber-toothed salmon, and tiny four-tusked mastodons? Or that, just a couple of hundred years ago, it was a netw…
Wildlife Crossings with Ben Goldfarb
Sept. 12, 2024

Wildlife Crossings with Ben Goldfarb

Some animals plod across roads without hesitation. Others dart across quickly, while still more freeze at the sight of an oncoming car. A final group avoids roads altogether. Four distinct approaches, yet roads can have deva…
Top 10 California Native Species: BONUS Episode with Griff Griffith and Michael Hawk
Sept. 9, 2024

Top 10 California Native Species: BONUS Episode with Griff Griffith and Michael Hawk

What are your top ten favorite California native species? Join me, Griff Griffith, and Michael Hawk as we joyously compile our collective top ten list (a veritable menagerie meets botanical garden) and discuss how we can hel…
Coastal Wetlands with Empress Holliday
Aug. 29, 2024

Coastal Wetlands with Empress Holliday

Are coastal wetlands the same thing as estuaries? What about salt marshes? How can some plants grow in saltwater? Can I use them to salt my french fries? What’s an endangered river? Why do some birds build floating nests? Wh…
California Snakes with Michael Starkey
June 11, 2024

California Snakes with Michael Starkey

What makes California such a great spot for snake diversity? Where does antivenom come from, and why is it so expensive? Can you really inoculate yourself against snake venom? How did evolving alongside snakes impact who we …
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Recent Blog Posts

🦇 The state bat, grasshoppers, and us

Photo by Charles Hood.  At dusk, the bats begin to stir.   Long shafts of golden light peek under the roadway and into their concrete roost, making halos of each crest of pale fur. A dozen or so pallid bats cluster together here, both s…

A California Icon

  California Poppy Eschscholzia californica “These too are of a burning color–not orange, not gold, but if pure gold were liquid and could raise a cream, that golden cream might be like the color of the poppies.” -John S…

Golden State Naturalist Holiday Gift Guide

Gifts for the outdoorsy, the hikers, and the nature lovers in your life Happy Holidays, Friends!  Still need a gift for your outdoorsy friend, partner, child, or parent? Or maybe you’re the outdoorsy one, and your loved ones have asked …
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About the Host

Michelle Fullner

Host

Michelle Fullner is an educator, California Naturalist, parent of two woodland sprite daughters, and host of the Golden State Naturalist podcast, which is now ranked in the top 1% of podcasts globally. Michelle holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Comparative Literature from San Jose State University and a Master’s in English: Composition and Rhetoric, from California State University, Sacramento. As an educator, she taught middle and high school English in California public schools for ten years before transitioning to her life as a full-time admirer of acorns, California newts, redwood sorrel, and tide pools.

Michelle has reached millions of people with her content (social media and podcast) and is available for public speaking engagements and consultation regarding science communication and social media optimization for nature-related organizations. Please use the website contact form to reach out.