California Episodes
Focusing on the deserts of California, from the Great Basin to the Mojave to the Colorado Desert, and the battles to protect public lands from development, energy projects, and off-road vehicle damage.
Oct. 17, 2025
S4E39: Ideology vs. Wildlife Science: A Conversation with Mandy Culbertson
Join host Chris Clarke for an insightful discussion on wildlife protection and democratic governance with Mandy Culbertson from Wildlife for All. Explore the varying effectiveness of state wildlife policies across the Southwest, the threat of border militarization to biodiversity, and current polit…
Oct. 3, 2025
S4E37: Desert Communities and United Fronts: Building a Cross-Desert Protection Movement
Chris Clarke embarks on a journey to the Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta in El Paso, sharing insights from his travels and engaging encounters. He highlights the importance of desert protection, discussing his experiences with passionate advocates across diverse desert communities. Chris explores the sign…
Sept. 12, 2025
S4E34: Joshua Trees and Family Trees
Chris Clarke reflects on his first encounter with the North American deserts, sparked by a 1966 road trip with his father, James Clarke, who recently celebrated his 91st birthday. This episode revisits a previously shared piece by Chris exploring family ties, personal history, and the profound conn…
Aug. 15, 2025
S4E31: 5 Years On: Cima Dome After the Flames
Chris Clarke reflects on the fifth anniversary of the Dome Fire, which devastated over 44,000 acres of the Joshua Tree forest in the Mojave National Preserve. The episode explores themes of loss, recovery, and environmental impact, as Clarke recounts his personal connection to the area and its tran…
Aug. 8, 2025
S4E27: Episode 100 | Poetry and Plants with Cameron Mayer
This chapter of our 100th episode showcases poetry and prose, celebrating the Mojave and Amargosa regions' beauty and resilience. Cameron Mayer shares poetry on plants like the Honey Mesquite and Mojave Aster, exploring themes of nature's resilience and connection.
July 18, 2025
S4E23: Desert Bucket List: 9 Destinations You Must See
Chris Clarke reflects on the recent loss of the Grand Canyon Lodge, urging listeners to prioritize visiting their own wish lists of desert sites before they vanish.
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...
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...
Oct. 25, 2022
S1E20: California still doesn't know what to do about the western Joshua tree
On October 12, the California Fish and Game Commission postponed a decision yet again on whether to grant the western Joshua tree protection under the California Endangered Species Act. Chris and Alicia speak to Brendan Cummi...