Join us as we chat with people from across the globe who care about education and the environment—the trailblazers, visionary leaders, and everyday heroes making a difference.
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Imagine a world where communities thrive, curiosity sparks change, and hope isn't just a wish—it's a plan in action.
Welcome to The World We Want, the NAAEE podcast that's not just talking about a better future—we're bringing it to life, one inspiring story at a time.
Listen to More Episodes
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Love as the Root of Impactful Nature-Based Education with Sean Southey | S1 Ep 12
What does it mean to fall in love with nature—and why does that love matter for the future of our planet? Explore how love and connection form the foundation of lasting change. Join us as we hear from someone whose confidence in love’s ability to change the world and our relationship to it is both inspiring and activating.
Upcoming Guests
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John "Jack" Muir Laws
Coming soon! John Muir Laws (aka Jack) is a principal leader and innovator of the worldwide nature journaling movement and the co-founder of the Wild Wonder Foundation. An award-winning naturalist, artist, scientist, and educator, Jack has dedicated four decades of his life to connecting people to nature through art and science, including through initiatives like the Wild Wonder Foundation and Nature Journal Club.
At the heart of his work is a simple but powerful idea: that careful observation leads to understanding, and understanding leads to care. By teaching people how to notice—really notice—plants, animals, patterns, and ecosystems, he is helping people build a personal connection to the natural world that can last a lifetime.
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Diego Román
Coming Soon! Our guest Dr. Diego Román is an associate professor of Bilingual/Bicultural Education at the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Román holds a B.S. in Agronomy from Zamorano University in Honduras and an M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He also earned an M.S. in Biology, a M.A. in Linguistics, and a Ph.D. in Educational Linguistics, all from Stanford University. At the K–12 level, Dr. Román taught middle school science to Emergent Bilinguals for seven years, first in rural Wisconsin and then in San Francisco, California. Dr. Román's research interests are located at the intersection of applied linguistics, bilingual education, and science education. Specifically, he investigates the implicit and explicit ideologies reflected in the design and implementation of bilingual and science education programs particularly on how environmental topics are taught to multilingual students. Dr. Román has researched the language used to teach climate change at the middle school level and is currently examining science, environmental, and bilingual programs (Spanish/English and Kichwa/Spanish) in rural Wisconsin and in Ecuador.
The World We Want podcast is a co-production of the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), in partnership with GLOBIO.
About Our Host Gerry Ellis
Gerry’s award-winning career as an international wildlife film-maker, photographer, and writer spans three decades and features work appearing in National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, The New York Times, Ranger Rick, and more. He is the author and/or photographer of more than a dozen books, including two in the highly acclaimed National Geographic Kids Book series. His current work is featured on the GLOBIO YouTube channel Apes Like Us. He is also the host of Talking Apes podcast.
For more than five decades, the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) has served as the professional association, champion, and backbone organization for the field of environmental education (EE), working with EE professionals across United States, Canada, and Mexico, as well as globally, to advance environmental literacy and civic engagement to create a healthier and more sustainable future.
GLOBIO partners with primate-focused conservation nonprofits and cause-driven organizations to create impactful media that informs and inspires. GLOBIO's mission is to elevate the voices of those protecting great apes, wildlife, and the environment. With over 20 years of experience in wildlife media, they bring expertise and passion to every project.
The World We Want podcast, season two, is funded by the Office of Environmental Education at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through ee360+, the Environmental Education and Training Program led by NAAEE under Assistance Agreement No. NT 84019001. It has not been formally reviewed by EPA. The views expressed in season two of this podcast are solely those of the podcast guests and/or NAAEE, and EPA does not endorse any products or commercial services mentioned in this podcast.