The Best Nature Podcasts According to Outdoor Guides
Here at Wildland, we know how powerful time in nature can be. It shifts the way we see the world in those deep, hard to describe ways. But most of us can’t spend every day listening to creeks babbling, wind moving through the trees, or a loon calling across a lake. So when you’re doing the dishes, commuting to work, or stuck inside on a rainy day, a good nature podcast can help fill the gap.
To help tide you over until your next adventure, I reached out to our guides and gathered a list of the podcasts we can’t get enough of. You’ll find deep cut geology picks, stories from women in the outdoors, and what it’s like to survive a crocodile attack. Here are ten nature podcasts that keep us connected to the wild, and a suggested starter episode to get you started on each.
Listen Like an (Outdoor) Pro
Outside/In
The NPR of the outdoor nature podcast world. Produced with the pacing and polish of public radio, the show blends storytelling, environmental science, and deep dive reporting into topics that shape our outdoor lives. From wildlife management to public land debates to the hidden systems that make outdoor recreation possible. It’s smart, surprising, and perfect for anyone who loves the outdoors and wants to understand the bigger stories happening behind the scenery.
Starter Episode:
Yardwork Part One: Lawn and Order Part one of a three part series about our relationship with nature literally right outside our front door. This episode covers the history of the American lawn and all the fun connotations associated with it, as well as changes we can make to our land to make this space more environmentally friendly.
The American Southwest
A love letter to the people and places of the American desert, The American Southwest by Thomas Wayne Riley dives deep into the region’s storied past. This nature podcast is perfect for anyone craving in-depth knowledge on topics like the mystery surrounding Everett Ruess, an eleven-episode exploration of Billy the Kid, the enduring question of what happened to the Ancestral Puebloans, and so much more. The delivery leans more toward a well researched book report than a casual conversation, but the level of detail and historical context adds immense richness to the landscapes many of us still explore today.
Starter Episode:
The Ancient Ones: The Anasazi Civil War Part six of a thorough look at the history of the Ancestral Puebloans, the Indigenous people of the Southwest, and the tumultuous civil war that contributed to their disappearancefrom the region.
For the Wild
If you’re looking for a slow, reflective escape from the noise of everyday life, For the Wild is for you. This podcast offers thoughtful interviews that explore our relationship with the earth through a variety of ecological, cultural, and philosophical lenses. It has a strong emphasis on our place as stewards of the earth and elevates indigenous voices.
Host Ayana Young brings in guests from diverse backgrounds, people working toward stewardship, responsible land management, and a world less driven by consumerism. The result is a calm, intentional listening vibe that’s somehow half guided meditation, half education, and half a beacon of bittersweet hope in our tumultuous world.
Starter Episode:
Dr Kate Stafford on What the Whales Hear A deep dive into the changing world of the bowhead whale as climate change affects their song and lifestyle. Gorgeous all around.
Backpacker Radio
If you’re curious about what actually happens on a thru hike, this is a nature podcast for and by thru hikers. With guests ranging from Fastest Known Time record holders, sports physical therapists’ opinions on the thru hiker diets, and deep dives into what thru hiking is like for women. It’s a lighthearted and chatty exploration into the weird little subculture surrounding walking in the woods for six months at a time with a strong emphasis on gear and poop stories.
Hosts Zac Davis and Juliana Chauncey kick back and keep the energy of being in a random shelter on the AT, chatting with whatever random hiker happened to wander in. They also have an entirely separate On Trail Correspondents series that features thru hikers on trail actively interviewing their fellow backpackers.
Starter Episode:
Budget Backpacking Gear: Saving Money on Tents, Backpacks, Clothing for Thru-Hiking (BPR #298) Where to scrimp and where to splurge on all things backpacking gear.
Expert guided backpacking Trips
Tooth and Claw
This is the podcast that treats wild animal attacks like the fascinating and terrifying stories they are. Hosted by wildlife biologist Wes Larson with his brother Jeff Larson and their friend Mike Smith, each episode serves up one of nature’s go-wrong moments: a shark, a bear, a rogue dolphin, and then breaks it down with science, humor, and solid safety takeaways. Think of it as a campfire chat that swings between “holy $#!%” and “oh hey, I can hike smarter because of that.” The banter is real, the facts are legit, and the result is a podcast that educates and entertains anyone who loves the great outdoors and wants to do it a little smarter.
Starter Episode:
The Grizzly Deaths of Timothy Treadwell and Amie Huguenard, Part 1: Treadwell’s Rise to Prominence The story of “Grizzly Man” Timothy Treadwell, and Amie Huguenard, who were killed by an Alaskan brown bear in 2003. This episode traces Treadwell’s early life, his complicated passion for bears, the 13 summers he spent living among them, and the mix of mythmaking, genuine devotion, and growing concern from experts that seemed to point toward an inevitable tragedy.
Ologies with Allie Ward
Ologies is the pseudo nature podcast for anyone who’s ever gotten way too excited about a weird science fact on trail. While not specifically about nature, host Alie Ward brings on experts from every possible “-ology,” from volcanology to mycology to dendrology, and turns deep science into something funny, curious, and totally approachable. Each episode feels like chatting with your smartest, most enthusiastic friend at camp who can explain complex natural phenomena without ever taking themselves too seriously. It’s endlessly entertaining, sneakily educational, and perfect for anyone who loves understanding the world just a little bit better.
Starter Episode:
Ursinology (BEARS) with Chris Morgan A relaxed conversation with one of the leading experts on bears who happens to have a weirdly good voice, Chris Morgan. He talks about what it’s like to track down bears in a dump, camping advice for bear country, and what makes bears so cute.
Broad Beta
A nature podcast by and for women and genderqueer adventurers, Broad Beta blends honest storytelling with practical mountain know-how. Mostly focusing on climbing and backcountry skiing, it covers tips and tricks as well as candid conversations about the emotional and physical challenges of moving through outdoor spaces. The pod feels like swapping beta in a cozy hut with people who truly get it. Light, warm, and community driven, it’s a space where shared wisdom and wild ideas inspire listeners to head into the mountains with confidence and connection. Tune in and get psyched!
Starter Episode:
Steph Abegg: Information Sharing in the Climbing World Steph Abegg, renowned alpine climber, data nerd, photographer, and route-beta wizard, joins the show to talk about building her massive climbing database, the math and creativity behind her famous trip reports, and the long recovery from an injury that nearly ended her time in the mountains.
The Wild with Chris Morgan
Speaking of Chris Morgan, The Wild with Chris Morgan feels like stepping quietly into a forest at dawn with a naturalist who’s spent his whole life paying attention. Each episode explores the hidden lives of animals and the ecosystems they depend on, blending field recordings, storytelling, and thoughtful science. It’s calm, immersive, and full of the kind of wonder that reminds you why we head into wild places in the first place. Perfect for anyone who wants a slower, more reverent look at the natural world.
Starter Episode:
Broadcast: How to catch a grizzly Chris recounts his first time catching a wild grizzly bear in the Canadian Rockies. Part two is equally neat, where he goes into the history of the grizzly bear in the PNW.
The Nick Zentner Geology Podcast
& The Schist of It
These shows rock. If you’ve ever wished you could bottle the energy of a great geology professor and take it on trail, these two nature podcasts are the next best thing. Nick Zentner brings big enthusiasm to the deep, old stories behind the landscapes we hike through (especially the PNW), breaking down complex earth processes in a way that feels both science heavy and accessible. He’s also got some great youtube videos and a killer radio voice. The Schist of It offers shorter, punchier dives into rock types, formations, and geologic quirks with a punny sense of humor. Together, they’re perfect for hikers and guides who love understanding how the mountains and deserts around us came to be, one plate boundary at a time.
Starter Episode:
Mount Rainier Geology If you’ve ever wondered about how one of the most prominent and imposing mountains in the US formed, some of its history, and how exciting the mantle vents can be you’ll love this. Wild stuff.
Camp Monsters by REI
If you like your campfire stories with a little extra chill, Camp Monsters is the perfect trail (or brightly lit room) companion. Each episode dives into cryptids, folklore, and wilderness legends from across North America. Think Mothman, Tommyknockers, Skunk Apes, and…Melon Heads? Told with cinematic sound design and a first person perspective, usually in the style of a campfire story. It’s spooky without being over the top, leaning more into the atmosphere than jump scares and it sometimes doubles down on cheesy, campy energy. Who doesn’t love a good campfire yarn?
Starter Episode:
The Batsquatch A collection of stories about the legend of Batsquatch, a nasty leather winged critter that snuck out of Mt Saint Helens when it erupted in 1980. Terrorizing camp counselors, stalking late night drivers, and generally creeping around the woods in the night making things go bump.
