Inside This Podcast Episodes

* Transparency about the challenges of maintaining the podcast underlines the need for a supportive and engaged community.

Content note: sadness. Due to the death of a close family member, we will return on June 5. Listen if you want a few details.

Chris discusses into the challenges facing desert journalism amid dwindling traditional media and the rise of digital consumption. He explores the shift from shallow to deep journalism, emphasizing the need for thorough reporting that considers desert systems rather than isolated events. The episode introduces the Fellowship for Desert Reporting, an initiative to empower aspiring journalists and enrich desert coverage.

Chris discusses an unexpected brief pause in regular programming due to a recent house fire.

Chris discusses the fallout from media control and recent political events, emphasizing the need for grassroots support and engagement. The episode touches on the struggles small media outlets face against corporate control and authoritarian tendencies, urging listeners to spread the word.

Chris shares a crucial update on the show's release schedule, shifting new episodes to Fridays for better work-life balance. Previously released on Tuesdays, this change allows Chris to reclaim weekends and connect with family while continuing to advocate for desert conservation. Expressing gratitude to dedicated listeners and supporters, Chris invites everyone to mark their calendars for the new "Desert Protection Days."

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 while previewing future episodes. The upcoming "Other Podcasts" episode (actual title to be determined) promises to feature recommendations on influential podcasts like "The Border Chronicle," known for its in-depth analysis of border and migration issues. Key Takeaways: ...

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 environmental health. Join the journey to save the desert and uncover why these landscapes are essential to our world. Become a desert defender!: https://90milesfromneedles.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the 50th episode of 90 Miles from Needles, Chris Clarke looks beyond individual conservation battles to ask what the desert protection movement itself needs. He reflects on resource extraction, disappearing local news coverage, the shortage of people working consistently on desert issues, and the role independent journalism can play in building a stronger movement. It's both a progress report on the podcast and an argument for something larger: informed communities willing to become long-term advocates for desert landscapes.

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.

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.

For generations, Americans have been taught that deserts are barren wastelands waiting to be developed. This episode challenges those misconceptions by exploring what science—and the desert itself—actually tells us about biodiversity, resilience, and why changing our understanding of these landscapes is essential to their protection.

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.

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...

On a visit to Bonanza Spring, threatened by the Cadiz corporation's plan to mine desert groundwater for profit, Alicia Pike talks about what she hopes to bring to 90MFN as cohost. 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.

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.