Episodes

Even after the Trump administration ended, border wall construction—and its environmental consequences—continued in unexpected ways. Featuring reporting from The Border Chronicle, this episode examines ongoing border infrastructure projects, their effects on wildlife and desert ecosystems, and the complicated politics surrounding conservation along the U.S.–Mexico border.

Renewable energy is essential for addressing climate change—but where we build it matters. This episode looks at the ecological costs of poorly sited utility-scale solar projects in the desert and discusses how better planning can protect wildlife, intact ecosystems, and public lands while still accelerating the transition to clean energy.

Wonder Valley is more than a quiet Mojave community—it's a place where residents are working together to defend the character of their desert home. This episode explores the challenges facing Wonder Valley, from industrial development to land-use conflicts, and highlights how local organizing can help protect both communities and the landscapes that surround them.

Arizona's controversial shipping-container border wall was erected in a matter of weeks—but dismantling it became a powerful symbol of the legal and political battles surrounding border policy. This episode examines why the barrier was built, the environmental damage it caused, and what its removal means for wildlife, public lands, and the future of the U.S.–Mexico border.

Few people have done more to protect the desert than Phil Pister. In this tribute, we remember the pioneering conservationist whose work helped save California's desert fishes from extinction and inspired generations of environmental advocates. We reflect on his legacy, his approach to conservation, and the lasting impact of a life devoted to protecting some of the desert's smallest—and most remarkable—creatures.

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.

Despite decades of habitat loss and declining populations, there are still reasons for optimism about the Mojave Desert tortoise. This episode explores the threats facing this iconic reptile, the conservation efforts showing promise, and why protecting connected desert habitat remains essential to its recovery.

The debate over protecting California's western Joshua tree continued long after the initial proposal for legal protection. This episode provides an update on the political and scientific discussions surrounding the species and explains why decisions made today will shape the future of one of the Mojave Desert's defining plants.

At a demonstration in the Nevada Mojave, environmental advocate Shannon Salter discussed the growing pressures facing the desert Southwest and the campaigns working to protect public lands and wildlife. Together we explore grassroots organizing, effective advocacy, and why individual voices continue to make a difference.

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.

Extreme drought and catastrophic flooding can seem like opposites, yet both are becoming defining features of the modern Southwest. This episode examines recent events in Death Valley and the Great Salt Lake, exploring what they reveal about climate change, water management, and the future of desert landscapes.

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.

Summer monsoons shape life across the deserts of the Southwest, bringing relief from extreme heat and sustaining plants and wildlife. This episode explores how the North American Monsoon works, why it varies from year to year, and what scientists are learning about its future in a changing climate.

Edward Abbey remains one of the most influential—and controversial—writers ever to write about the American desert. This episode takes a thoughtful look at Abbey's ideas, his enduring influence on environmentalism, and the ways his legacy continues to inspire both admiration and debate.

Phil Klasky devoted decades to protecting California's deserts, including the successful effort to stop a radioactive waste dump in Ward Valley. This episode honors his life and legacy while revisiting one of the most important environmental victories in modern desert conservation.

The western Joshua tree has become the center of one of California's most recognizable conservation battles. This episode explores the threats facing this iconic species, the debate over legal protections, and why the future of the Joshua tree is closely tied to the changing climate of the Mojave Desert.

The world's leading climate report contains thousands of pages, yet deserts often receive surprisingly little attention. This episode examines how the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change addresses arid lands, what was overlooked, and why deserts deserve a much larger role in conversations about climate change and adaptation.

For years, scientists believed this remarkable desert fish had disappeared forever—until an extraordinary rediscovery changed everything. This episode tells one of the desert's greatest conservation success stories and explores how determined scientists and conservationists helped bring a species back from the brink.

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.