90 Miles from Needles: the Desert Protection Podcast
Join Chris Clarke as he explores the challenges and opportunities of the American Southwest's fragile ecosystems. Engaging interviews with experts, activists, and advocates on conservation, land management, and environmental justice. Science and sentiment, politics and philosophy, hiking and history, culture and creativity all go into defending the desert. Be forewarned: We are out to recruit you to the cause.
A podcast dedicated to desert conservation
90 Miles from Needles: the Desert Protection Podcast
90 Miles from Needles: The Desert Protection Podcast engages listeners in the fight for the American Southwest's fragile ecosystems through illuminating conversations with experts and advocates. Discover the intersection of science, culture, and conservation today.
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24
July 31, 2026
S5E24: Tree Sit at the Border
Kate Scott reports from a tree sit in Lochiel, where activists occupied the last of four landmark cottonwoods after contractors destroyed the others for double-wall construction through the San Rafael Valley.
23
July 24, 2026
S5E23: Beyond Laws: Building a Movement to Save Our Deserts
Chris argues that federal environmental law remains indispensable but insufficient, calling for durable local power, community narratives and relationships capable of defending desert places when national protections are weakened or ignored.
22
July 17, 2026
S5E22: Morgan Sjogren on the War on Utah's National Monuments
Writer Morgan Sjogren describes the emotional and ecological stakes of renewed attacks on Bears Ears and Grand Staircase–Escalante, connecting monument boundaries to rivers, cultural landscapes, resource extraction and everyday life in southern Utah.
21
July 10, 2026
S5E21: Don't Mine 29! Australian Company Threatens Joshua Tree
Chance Wilcox explains how Dateline Resources’ proposed rare-earth mine could industrialize roughly 20,000 acres beside Twentynine Palms and Joshua Tree National Park, threatening residents, wildlife, water, air quality and a tourism-dependent economy.
20
July 3, 2026
S5E20: Our Love for Fireworks Could Harm the Desert
Chris examines fireworks as a recurring source of wildland ignitions, explaining how invasive grasses and depleted firefighting capacity magnify the danger while proposing safer celebrations suited to desert communities.
19
June 26, 2026
S5E19: Greenlink West Carves a Costly Path Through Wild Nevada
Laura Cunningham and Kevin Emmerich trace Greenlink West from the Amargosa Valley toward northern Nevada, arguing that the transmission line will accelerate utility-scale solar, gas generation and hyperscale data-center development across intact desert.
18
June 19, 2026
S5E18: Desert Heat: Who Really Pays the Price?
Chris combines practical hot-weather safety with an examination of unequal heat exposure, contrasting voluntary recreation with the risks imposed on migrants, outdoor workers and incarcerated people who often cannot escape extreme temperatures.
17
June 12, 2026
S5E17: The Desert Needs Our Voice and We Need Your Help
After a personal loss and production hiatus, Chris speaks candidly about the podcast’s reach and asks listeners to help by reviewing, recommending and sharing the show so desert reporting can find the people who need it.
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