Episodes
April 8, 2025
S4E11: Beauty Meets Struggle: The Endangered Treasures of BLM Lands
Episode Summary: In this episode of 90 Miles from Needles: The Desert Protection Podcast, host Chris Clarke engages in a compelling conversation with author Josh Jackson about the significance of BLM lands in California. Josh...
April 1, 2025
S4E10: 3 Ways the Desert Improves Your Life
Episode Summary: In this episode of "90 Miles from Needles: The Desert Protection Podcast," host Chris Clarke looks into three astonishing science facts about deserts that challenge traditional views of these arid landscapes....
March 25, 2025
S4E9: DEI and Desert Protection
We explore the intersection of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) with desert protection, highlighting how Trump's attacks on DEI harm not just people but also the ecosystems and communities inhabiting deserts.
March 18, 2025
S4E8: Plan Sonora: The New Face of Green Colonialism
Chris Clarke hosts an engaging discussion with Caroline Tracey, a journalist with The Border Chronicle, on the environmental and political challenges surrounding Plan Sonora, Mexico's ambitious renewable energy project. They examine the complex issues of lithium mining, solar and natural gas develo…
March 11, 2025
S4E7: The Southwest's Hidden Urban Histories with Kyle Paoletta
Join host Chris Clarke for an insightful discussion with journalist Kyle Paoletta about his book "American Oasis: Finding the Future in the Cities of the Southwest." Explore surprising histories and contemporary challenges of cities like Albuquerque, Las Vegas, and El Paso, and their role in shapin…
March 4, 2025
S4E6: The Desert Speaks Out
Episode Summary: In this episode of "90 Miles from Needles," host Chris Clarke delves into two pivotal events illuminating the current challenges and triumphs in desert conservation efforts. The episode captures the essence o...
Feb. 26, 2025
S4E5: DOGE Layoffs Are Sabotaging Public Lands
Episode Summary In this episode, we discuss the recent layoffs affecting the National Park Service and other land management agencies. Featuring Kristen Brengel of the National Parks Conservation Association, the episode look...
Feb. 18, 2025
S4E4: Other Podcasts You Should Check Out
This week, Chris shifts focus to recommending several podcasts that align with the mission of desert protection and conservation. Marissa Ortega Welch’s “How Wild” challenges conventional perceptions of wilderness by explorin...
Feb. 11, 2025
Teaser: a quick update
In this episode of "90 Miles from Needles," Chris provides listeners with an update on the state of the podcast. Despite a minor setback due to illness, Chris emphasizes the importance of authentic desert protection content w...
Jan. 29, 2025
S4E3: Ivanpah Solar to shut down
Episode Summary: In this extensive episode of "90 Miles from Needles," host Chris Clarke dives into the controversial Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating Station project in the Mojave Desert. He examines the ecological impacts ...
Jan. 21, 2025
S4E2: Good News at Ash Meadows
About the Guest: Mason Voehl is the Executive Director of the Amargosa Conservancy, which works to protect and celebrate the valuable ecosystems within the Amargosa Basin. Voehl's work includes a special focus on groundwater ...
Jan. 14, 2025
S4E1: Moab to Mojave: The Largest Conservation Corridor Explained
In this first episode of Season Four, we look at: Wildfires and Power Infrastructure: Power lines and climate change are making wildfires worse, so it's time to think about smaller, local power setups. Chuckwalla National Mon...
Jan. 6, 2025
Season Four coming soon!
Explore the vital efforts in desert conservation with the return of "90 Miles from Needles: The Desert Protection Podcast." Season four kicks off on January 14th. We explore the profound impact the desert has on global enviro...
Dec. 24, 2024
S3E37: BLM Cozies Up To Renewable Energy Companies
Join Chris Clarke as he discusses apparent collusion between Nevada's BLM staff and energy companies with journalist Jimmy Tobias. In this enlightening episode, explore the controversy surrounding the development of Greenlink...
Dec. 18, 2024
S3E36: Laughing Coyotes and Saguaro Dreams: An Unlikely Desert Awakening
The desert is more than a landscape; it is home. Chris Clarke's personal narrative exemplifies this connection, merging personal reflection with broader ecological advocacy. For those invested in its fate, the desert isn't ju...
Nov. 26, 2024
S3E35: Reimagine, Rebuild, Resist: Creating the World We Want Together
Episode Summary: In this episode of "90 Miles from Needles, the Desert Protection Podcast," host Chris Clarke delivers an impassioned reflection on the results of the recent election. He traces the roots of today's situation ...
Nov. 19, 2024
S3E34: Hope the Mexican Wolf: A Tale of Survival and Loss in Northern Arizona
Join host Chris Clarke as he delves into the poignant tale of Hope, a Mexican wolf, with Greta Anderson from Western Watersheds Project. Discover the politics behind wolf recovery north of Interstate 40, and the broader impli...
Nov. 12, 2024
S3E33: Dr. Naomi Fraga on the Frontlines of Botanical Conservation
Join host Chris Clarke and guest Dr. Naomi Fraga, Director of Conservation Programs at the California Botanic Garden, as they explore the challenges and successes in desert plant conservation in Nevada. Discover the plight of...
Nov. 5, 2024
S3E32: Vote, Engage, and Protect Our Desert
In this special Election Day 2024 episode of "90 Miles from Needles," Chris sheds light on the crucial role of civic engagement in the ongoing struggle to protect North America’s deserts. Released strategically on a day when ...
Oct. 22, 2024
S3E31: Return of the Lobo: Restoring Texas' Mexican Wolves
About the Guest(s): Chris Clarke is the host of the "90 Miles from Needles: The Desert Protection Podcast." He brings a wealth of knowledge about wildlife and conservation topics, particularly relating to the American Southwe...
Oct. 15, 2024
S3E30: Exploring the Art and Science of Joshua Trees
Explore the rich intersections of art, ecology, and desert life in this episode with Juniper Harrower, Sant Khalsa, and Chris Clarke. As curators and contributors to the "Desert Forest: Life with Joshua Trees" exhibition and ...
Oct. 8, 2024
S3E29: Barbed Wire and Border Walls: The Unseen Cost of Fragmented Habitats
About the Guest : Ben Goldfarb is an award-winning environmental journalist and prolific author known for his focus on the intersection of human activity and wildlife. His works, including Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shapi...
Sept. 24, 2024
S3E28: There Ain't No Big Faucet: Water Politics with the Great Basin Water Network
About the Guest: Kyle Roerink is the Executive Director of the Great Basin Water Network. Roerink has been a pivotal figure in advocating for sustainable water management across the Great Basin and the Colorado Plateau. His o...
Sept. 18, 2024
S3E27: Los Alamos's Dark Legacy: Plutonium Pollution in Plain Sight
About the Guest: Dr. Michael E. Ketterer is a Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at Northern Arizona University. With extensive expertise in analytical chemistry and environmental analysis of radionuclides such as uranium and pl...