Nature Breaking

Why do we call an elephant an elephant? Why did the narwhal become known as the "unicorn of the sea"? How did the praying mantis help to inspire kung fu in ancient China? And what can the names we give to animals tell us about ourselves as people?
In this episode of Nature Breaking, host Seth Larson sits down with bestselling author, conservationist, and WWF board member T.A. Barron to discuss his new book, Naming Nature. Drawing on languages, folklore, mythology, and cultural traditions from around the world, the book explores the fascinating stories behind the names of plants, animals, and landscapes—and what those names reveal about humanity's relationship with the natural world.
Tune in to hear how an oak tree near Oxford, England helped inspire T.A.'s passion for writing, how he developed the concept for Naming Nature, and how a run-in with a former NFL quarterback prompted him to reflect on what really matters in life.
Links for More Info:
T.A. Barron bio
Naming Nature
Chapters:
0:00 Preview
0:22 Intro
1:29 T.A. Barron on the power of storytelling
4:05 How an Oak Tree near Oxford inspired his writing career
8:27 How T.A.'s mother influenced his career
9:53 What inspired T.A. to write Naming Nature
15:03 How elephants got their name
22:06 How narwhals got their name
26:37 How hummingbirds got their name
29:11 How naming an animal can lead to its conservation
33:04 Meeting NFL quarterback Andrew Luck
36:40 Life advice from T.A.
41:22 Outro

As the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, there's no shortage of reflection about the landscapes, history, and ideals that have shaped this country. For many people, iconic American landscapes might include mountains, forests, or coastlines. But there's another ecosystem—vast, vital, and often overlooked—that's quietly disappearing: grasslands.
You might know grasslands by other names: prairies, plains, or savannas. Regardless of the name, grasslands matter more than you might think. They filter and supply clean water, store carbon, sustain rural communities and economies, and support iconic wildlife like bison, black-footed ferrets, and birds. But roughly 70% of America's grasslands have already been lost. And even worse, not enough people seem to notice: A recent WWF survey found that nearly half of Americans are unfamiliar with grasslands.
So why are grasslands disappearing—and what can be done to protect what's left? In this episode of Nature Breaking, host Seth Larson sits down with Martha Kauffman, WWF's Vice President for the Great Plains, to break down the science, history, and future of one of America's most important ecosystems.
Links for More Info:
Martha Kauffman bio
WWF Grasslands Survey
Grasslanders Campaign
TAKE ACTION: The Indian Buffalo Management Act
Chapters:
00:00 Teaser
00:35 Intro
02:22 Martha's passion for grasslands
05:41 Why should grasslands matter to all of us?
10:33 Current status of US grasslands
13:47 How to keep grasslands intact
24:23 Role of Indigenous Communities
26:26 Martha reflects on 20 years at WWF
28:44 Conserving US grasslands for the next 250 years
30:31 Outro

*Bonus Episode
Today's episode is a feed swap courtesy of Reframing Rural, an award-winning documentary show that explores the people, history, and culture of rural America. The episode, "From Sand to Soil," was included in Season 4 of Reframing Rural, which focused on the challenges that farm and ranch families face as they pass their operations from one generation to the next. Today you'll hear about the Bruski family, a ranching family in Montana that made a bold decision to rethink how their land is managed as part of their succession process. They did so with support from WWF's Ranch Systems and Viability Planning (RSVP) program, which helps support ranchers in meeting their sustainable management goals while strengthening the long-term viability of their operations.
You don't need to be a farmer or rancher to connect with this story. It's about family, change, and building something better for the future. Our thanks to Reframing Rural for sharing it with us. 
Links for More Info:
Reframing Rural
WWF's RSVP Program

Last winter you probably heard about the lack of snow in the western US, and how that might impact everything from ski resorts to farmlands and freshwater supplies. News coverage of this drought most-often invokes impacts on the Colorado River. But there's another system—the Rio Grande—that's facing just as much pressure.
Stretching from Colorado to the Gulf of Mexico, the Rio Grande – or the Rio Bravo as it's known in Mexico – supports millions of people, vast acres of farmland, and diverse ecosystems that support an array of wildlife. But the river has lost roughly 85% of its historic flows due to overuse and a years-long megadrought. And this summer could bring the worst conditions yet thanks to the lack of snowpack in the mountains that feed the river.
In this episode of Nature Breaking, we explore why the Rio Grande is running dry—and what that means for communities, wildlife, and the future of water in the region. Host Seth Larson is joined by Enrique Prunes, WWF's Rio Grande Manager and Freshwater Lead Specialist, to break down the crisis and explain what needs to change to secure a brighter future for the river.
Links for More Info:
Enrique Prunes bio
WWF's Rio Grande page
WWF's Water Scarcity page
Take Action: Pledge to be a Steward for Water
Chapters:
0:00 Preview
0:24 Intro
1:35 Rio Grande/Rio Bravo 101
4:32 Why the Colorado River gets more attention
6:12 Current state of the Rio Grande
9:25 What's causing the river to dry out?
14:24 How to balance agriculture w/ river health
18:05 US & Mexico sharing water resources
21:22 Solutions to restore the Rio Grande
26:47 What gives Enrique hope for the river?
31:25 Outro

Seafood is one of the most important food systems on the planet—supporting livelihoods, feeding communities, and fueling a global industry. But it's also under growing pressure. Overfishing, climate change, and illegal fishing are putting many marine ecosystems at risk.
So how can we meet global demand for seafood without pushing our oceans past their limits? And what role should companies play in building healthier, more resilient oceans?
In this episode of Nature Breaking, host Seth Larson speaks with Dr. Sarah Glaser, head of the Blue Foods program and Oceans Futures platform at WWF, and Andrew Russell, Global Marine Sustainability Lead at Mars. They discuss the challenges—and opportunities—of making seafood more sustainable. And they explore how a long‑standing partnership between WWF and Mars is working to improve sourcing practices, increase transparency across complex supply chains, and support healthier fisheries over the long term.
Links for More Info:
Dr. Sarah Glaser bio
Andrew Russell bio
Mars & WWF – Protecting Ocean Ecosystems
Chile Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP)
Chapters:
0:00 Preview
0:32 Intro
2:09 Defining "sustainable seafood"
6:02 Are we too late to save certain fish stocks?
8:37 How Mars got involved with sustainable seafood
12:14 How WWF and Mars are working together
16:14 Driving change for the whole seafood industry
20:04 What do best practices actually look like on a fishing vessel?
24:24 Blue finance – funding change at scale
31:58 What single change would have the biggest impact on ocean health?
35:51 Outro