Golden State Naturalist

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

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Island Biogeography with Kevin Alison and John Knapp
Aug. 14, 2026

Island Biogeography with Kevin Alison and John Knapp

Humans have been fascinated by islands since the writing of the earliest works of literature, but the outsized role they play in our imaginations isn't limited to fiction. Islands make up only a tiny percentage of the land on earth, but they represent about a fifth of the planet's total biodiversity. And things stranger than fiction happen on islands, from the evolution of miniature mammoths and enormous flightless birds with no fear of humans to the illumination of the theory of evolution itse
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Schedule Update
July 31, 2026

Schedule Update

The pod is going stronger than ever, but it's also part of a larger picture than ever, which means a little shuffle is in order. Have a listen to find out the specifics. I'll see you on the next full episode soon! Stay golden, Michelle
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California Grasslands with Justin Luong
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July 16, 2026

California Grasslands with Justin Luong

The golden hills of California are hiding things. At first glance, grasslands like these ones appear to be simple systems. And to some degree, they are simplified versions of their precolonial selves, but they’re also home to thousands of species of native plants that support an intricate ecology. Look a little closer, peer between the swishing blades, know what to look for, and you’ll see not only a mesmerizing web of life but also California’s history written in the grass. Come with me and D
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Seeds with Cheryl Birker
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June 25, 2026

Seeds with Cheryl Birker

Seeds are far more present in our lives than most of us realize. They compose everything from our morning coffee to our favorite chocolates and have helped shape the world as we know it. California native seeds are just as vital, and protecting them is a way of safeguarding our very future. Join me and Cheryl Birker at the California Botanic Garden as we explore the hidden world of seeds. In this episode, we take a deeper look into the difference between spores and seeds, seeds that require fi
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Forgotten Lands with Josh Jackson
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June 11, 2026

Forgotten Lands with Josh Jackson

California is home to 15 million acres of a kind of land most people have never heard of. These lands span deserts, grasslands, oak woodlands, and coastal rainforests. They’re free or very inexpensive to visit, and they’re almost never crowded. But what are these mythical wonderlands? These are the largely overlooked lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, or BLM, and you can go and see them. Josh Jackson, author of The Enduring Wild: A Journey Into California’s Public Lands, took me t
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Did someone say season 5?
June 7, 2026

Did someone say season 5?

What do California lizards and tiny foxes have in common? Check out this special announcement episode to find out. More soon, friends! Michelle Kayleigh Shawn McCollum
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Recent Blog Posts

How Otters Came Back to Monterey Bay
Sept. 11, 2025

How Otters Came Back to Monterey Bay

If you want to see something interesting in nature, it’s always a good idea to look where the people with big, fancy binoculars are looking. At least, this is how I spotted my first sea otter one sunny fall day on the Monterey Peninsula.  I’d been …
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This is more complicated than I expected
April 22, 2025

This is more complicated than I expected

Dogbane: Apocynum Cannabinum. Photo by Stan Shebs. Copyright note. A closer look at a plant with many stories I can think of a half dozen reasons to despise dogbane. Its milky sap causes blisters, it can kill dogs and sicken livestock, every part…
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🦋 The bad news that might be good news
Dec. 15, 2024

🦋 The bad news that might be good news

How saving the monarch could help save us, too  When I walked into the Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary one fall day two years ago, I didn’t see a single butterfly. At least not at first. The low wooden fence, Monterey pines, towering eucalyptus tre…
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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.