Terra Informa

We're on a break this month! So this week, we're re-airing one of our favourite archive episodes produced by Terra Informa alum, Sofia Osborne. Sofia brings us a story about de-extinction: the use of selective breeding, cloning, and genetic engineering to “resurrect” extinct species. This technology poses a lot of moral and ethical questions—would these “de-extincted” animal species be authentic? Could they ever be wild? Do we owe it to the species we’ve driven to extinction to bring them back? And who should decide whether we use this technology?Extra resources suggested by Sofia: How to Clone a Mammoth by Beth Shapiro "The Perils if De-extinction" by Ben Minteer  The IUCN SSC Guiding Principles on Creating Proxies of Extinct Species for Conservation Benefit Download the program log here.Make sure to tune in next week, when we air a special episode of the podcast Beyond Blathers, produced by Sofia and another Terra Informa alum, Olivia deBourcier!★ Support this podcast ★

This week we explore the meaning and significance of the winter solstice, reflecting on both the dark and the light so prominent at this time of year. The Terra Informa team shares what has made them thankful in the past year, and for inspiration we share "Praise Song for the Unloved Animals" by Margaret Renkl. Terra Informa will be rebroadcasting some favourite episodes for the next four weeks, with new content in February 2021. Take care!★ Support this podcast ★

This week on Terra Informa, Sonak Patel and Hannah Cunningham talk all about Christmas trees. When and where did this tradition begin? What was used to decorate the trees before electricity? And, to bring it all home, Elizabeth Dowdell regales us with a childhood tale of making the harrowing journey to harvest the family Christmas treeDownload program log here. Are you passionate about environmental news and stories? Volunteer with us! Send an email to terra@cjsr.com and tell us a little bit about yourself :) ★ Support this podcast ★

Listeners, we know you're all very upset that Eurovision was cancelled this year due to COVID. So, we decided to host something similar ourselves on the radio. This week, we bring to you the first ever EuroBirdoVision Identification Competition. You'll hear Terra Informers Charlotte Thomasson, Elizabeth Dowdell, and Sonak Patel try to guess the difference between the names of European birds and bands. You'll also hear some bird songs, and bird facts. The bird songs in this episode are from DiBird and Avi-base. The bands mentioned in this episode are: Eugent Bushpepa, Nemra, Lasgo, Irfan, Osmi Putnik, Monsieur Doumani, Priessnitz, Kellermensch, Mana Mana, Poll, Goran Gora, and Telectu.Download the program log here.★ Support this podcast ★

Science is cool. You may agree, since you're listening to a podcast that talks a lot about science of the environmental variety. But, science can be hard to understand, and research can be hard to access. Here at Terra Informa, we asked ourselves, how could we help track down, and break down, new scientific discoveries for our listeners, and make it fun to listen to and easy to understand? In this week's episode, we talk about a recent science communication workshop the team did with CJSR Podcast Coordinator and Terra Informa alumni, Chris Chang-Yen Phillips. Then, we dig into science - what is it? How does one... well, do it? Finally, we practice our science communication skills as we explain the science behind a very peculiar trait of an equally peculiar animal. If you enjoyed this episode, and want to hear more new research findings in the future, let us know by sending an email to terra@cjsr.com!If you’re passionate about environmental news and stories, consider volunteering for Terra Informa. We’re alway

For this edition of our monthly news roundup, we’re covering the natural disasters that may have slid under our radar due to a certain global pandemic. While hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and ice storms may not have received front page media attention, these natural disasters are still taking place, in Alberta and globally. And last time we checked, climate change is undeterred by the state of the world. As our climate warms, these events are increasing in magnitude and intensity. Let this be a reminder to keep fighting the good fight. Download the program log here. ★ Support this podcast ★

At Terra Informa, we've talked trash before. Back in 2017, we even went on a tour of the Edmonton Waste Management Centre. But, one thing we haven't talked about are the people who do the incredibly important job of sorting and processing our garbage. This week at Terra Informa, we interview filmmaker Anthony Goertz about The Line, a film that focuses on the employees of Quality One Training and Support, a program that connects people with barriers to employment including a criminal record, newcomer status, or addictions or mental illnesses with employment opportunities at the Edmonton Waste Management Centre. You can watch The Line here online through Vimeo (rent it for $3.00, buy it for $8.00, or if you can't buy it, email us at terra@cjsr.com for a discount code so you can view it for free), or if you have a Telus internet subscription, you can stream it for no extra cost through OptikTV starting at the end of November. Download the program log here.★ Support this podcast ★

This week we’re talking about the Nintendo video game Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Or, at least we’re going to start there. A few weeks ago we caught up with Terra Informa alumni Sofia Osborne for an episode about the computer game, the Sims. While she’s not busy writing and winning community radio awards, Sofia actually makes another podcast. Because we’re such great pals, and go way back, we invited Sofia and her co-host Olivia Debourcier to take over the Terra Informa airwaves. In this episode, Sofia and Olivia go Beyond Blathers, to tell us all about the Monarch butterfly. Program log here.★ Support this podcast ★

This week, we're bringing you a super special edition trivia episode! Listen in to see how we stacked up against questions on plants (fictional and non-fictional), animals, and.... our own show? Grab a piece of paper and get ready to test your knowledge! This special episode was originally produced for Fundrive, an annual fundraiser in support of our home station, CJSR 88.5 FM. To learn more about CJSR and our mission, visit CJSR's website. Download the program log here. ★ Support this podcast ★

Do you feel that? The chill in the air, the feeling of a hand brushing your shoulder? Scara Informa is back and it's spookier than ever! This year, the Terra Informers will take you on a haunted tour of the world as we visit haunted forests around the globe - apparently there's lots of them. Download the program log here.★ Support this podcast ★

This week on Terra Informa, Elizabeth Dowdell, Charlotte Thomasson, and Hannah Cunningham discuss the 1984 Hayao Miyazaki film Nausicä of the Valley of the Wind. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode writer, editor, and former Terra Informer Sofia Osborne catches us up on a story originally pitched for TI, a story about the Sims 4 Eco-Lifestyle expansion pack. Sofia reads her article on the game, titled "How the Sims Reflects The Inadequacy of Eco-Capitalism", published August 2020 in the magazine Passage.★ Support this podcast ★

We're baaaaaaack! This week, Terra Informers Elizabeth Dowdell, Hannah Cunningham, Sonak Patel, and Charlotte Thomasson catch you up on some of the environmental news headlines you may have missed while we were taking our fall break. Tune in to hear about some energy headlines, a name change (and more?) to the Alberta Fish and Wildlife conservation officers, a new plan for an Alberta to Alaska railway project, a big decision from RBC, and... singing dogs are back? What a month! Find the program log here. ★ Support this podcast ★

This week, we're airing an archive episode that originally aired on April 23, 2018. Download program log here. ★ Support this podcast ★

This week, we're airing an archive episode that originally aired on January 21, 2019. Download program log here.★ Support this podcast ★

This week, we're bringing you an archive episode that originally aired on July 22, 2019. Download program log here.★ Support this podcast ★

In this archive episode, we bring you some reading inspiration while we're on our break! This episode originally aired on February 13, 2017. ★ Support this podcast ★

It's the first week of our fall break! While we prepare new episodes, take a listen to this archive episode from September 2019 about Canadian youth and the climate crisis.Download program log here. ★ Support this podcast ★

We're taking a break! Catch you October 12 with a brand new episode!

This week on Terra Informa, Charlotte Thomasson and guests talk trees. On both an individual and collective level, the protection of these leafy giants has always been important, and the urgency to protect these ancient species only grows with the increasing threats of climate change, wildfire, industry, and development. Indigenous land-defenders have long led the effort to protect endangered old-growth trees on a large scale. But as we’ll hear today, you can be called to speak up for the trees right in your own backyard. We'll hear from Kelci Mohr, environmental advocate and resident of Nelson, British Columbia, as well as Terra Informer Dylan Hall and Troy Sebastian, a contractor for the Ktunaxa Nation.Download the program log here. ★ Support this podcast ★