Desert Culture Episodes

What can Joshua trees teach us about family? Chris Clarke reads an excerpt from his book in progress about the Mojave Desert's signature plant, weaving natural history with personal memory and reflections on kinship. Through encounters with Joshua trees and the landscapes they inhabit, he considers relationships among plants, animals, people, and place—and challenges the idea that nature consists of isolated individuals rather than communities of interconnected lives.

Independent journalism and grassroots conservation both depend on engaged communities. This special Giving Tuesday episode explains how listener support helps sustain 90 Miles from Needles and the Desert Advocacy Media Network while reflecting on why independent voices remain essential to protecting the deserts of the American Southwest.

Artist, naturalist, and bestselling author Obi Kaufmann joins the podcast to discuss California's deserts, public lands, and the stories maps can tell. Together we explore how art, science, and conservation can help people see familiar landscapes with fresh eyes—and inspire them to protect what they discover.

Protecting the desert can be emotionally difficult work. This deeply personal episode reflects on grief, disappointment, and resilience in conservation, exploring how people continue fighting for the landscapes they love even after setbacks and losses. It's a conversation about hope as much as hardship.

The creosote bush is so common across the Southwest that it's easy to overlook—but it may be the single most important plant in North American deserts. This episode explores the biology, ecology, and remarkable adaptations of Larrea tridentata, from its ancient clones to its role in supporting wildlife and shaping entire desert ecosystems. You'll never look at a creosote flat the same way again.

Ironwood trees are among the ecological giants of the Sonoran Desert, supporting hundreds of species while helping entire ecosystems flourish. In the Season 1 finale, we celebrate this extraordinary tree, explore its biology and importance, and reflect on the first year of 90 Miles from Needles with thanks to the listeners who made it possible.

Conservation work can be exhausting, especially when environmental setbacks seem relentless. In this personal episode, Chris reflects on activist burnout, the emotional challenges of protecting the desert, and the encouraging successes that remind us why the work is still worth doing.

The colorful balloons released at celebrations often end their journeys tangled in desert vegetation or scattered across remote landscapes. This episode looks at the surprising environmental impacts of mylar balloons, answers listener questions about Joshua Tree National Park, and explores how small choices can have lasting consequences for the desert.

Bristlecone pines are among the oldest living organisms on Earth, surviving for thousands of years in some of the harshest environments imaginable. This episode pairs their extraordinary story and new threats to the trees with a reflection on resilience, asking what keeps people motivated to continue protecting the desert even when progress feels slow.

Mesquite, palo verde, and ironwood are often called the bean trees of the desert, providing food, shelter, and stability for countless other species. This episode explores the remarkable ecology of these legumes while also sharing how listeners can support independent desert journalism and conservation.

Desert heat is unforgiving, but many tragedies can be prevented with preparation and good decision-making. This episode offers practical advice for staying safe during extreme heat while explaining why deserts become dangerous so quickly when people underestimate the conditions.

Coyotes are among the most adaptable animals in North America, thriving in deserts, suburbs, and cities alike. This episode explores the fascinating biology and behavior of coyotes while offering practical advice for peacefully coexisting with one of the Southwest's most misunderstood predators.

Wildflowers are among the desert's greatest spectacles, but many native plants are facing mounting pressures from climate change, invasive species, and habitat loss. This episode explores the ecology of desert wildflowers, why superblooms happen, and what disappearing flowers can tell us about the health of desert ecosystems.

Welcome to 90 Miles from Needles, a podcast about the deserts of the American Southwest and the people working to protect them. In this inaugural episode, hosts Chris Clarke and Alicia Pike introduce the show's mission, explore why deserts deserve far more attention than they receive, and preview the science, politics, history, and storytelling that will shape future episodes. Whether you're a lifelong desert lover or a curious newcomer, this is where the journey begins.

In this episode, Alicia points out that despite Chris's delusions of popularity, there are people who don't know who he is. Hilarity ensues. Transcript Season 0, Episode 4: Who is Chris? Chris Clarke: This podcast is made possible by our supporters at Patreon, who give us the resources we need to produce each episode, you can join their ranks at 90milesfromneedles.com/patreon. Alicia Pike: So Chris, when you invited me to be a part of this podcast, I naturally assumed I would need an introductio...

Hello friends! Transcript of this episode is at 90milesfromneedles.com In this Season Zero short episode, Chris and Alicia discuss the commonly shared urban legend that Joshua trees are not really trees. This is a topic that has gotten on Chris's nerves before. Spoiler: They're trees. Chris cites a biologist on Twitter with a handy definition of tree. Here's the guy. Thanks, Tom. With regard to whether the trees are one or two species, or members of what family? Here's something Chris wrote a wh...

A brief description of what we'll be doing with the podcast, partly to answer questions and partly to get practice with our equipment. All flaws and glitches included for transparency's sake. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/ninetymilesfromneedles) Support our show!: https://90milesfromneedles.com/patreon See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Become a desert defender!: https://90milesfromneedles.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.