The World We Want: The NAAEE Podcast

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.

Image

Wild mushrooms grow on a mossy log

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.

Image

"The World We Want, Crystal DiMiceli" Crystal wears a pink shirt and sits in front of a mic and laptop.

Growing Hope Through Positive Storytelling and Community Action

In this latest episode of The World We Want, host Gerry Ellis speaks with conservation communicator and Forces for Nature podcast host Crystal DiMiceli about hope, storytelling, and why meaningful environmental action often begins with small, local steps that inspire lasting change.

Listen to More Episodes

Upcoming Guests

Image

Diego Ramón headshot

Diego Román

Up Next! 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.

Image

Headshots of Margie Vandeven and Roger Stills

Margie Vandeven and Roger Still

Coming soon! Margie Vandeven, Ph.D., is the education branch chief for the Missouri Department of Conservation, where she applies her prior leadership experience to conservation education initiatives. A lifelong educator dedicated to improving lives through education, she has shaped educational policy and practice at the classroom, school, state, and national levels throughout her career.

Roger Still, co-founder and executive director of One Health Us, is currently capping his career working to integrate nature, food, and human health into a tangible approach that can be scaled from his community to others. Still has a wealth of knowledge and experience spanning over twenty-five years from his time as a senior executive at Nature Conservancy and National Audubon Society, in addition to being a consultant to philanthropic, nonprofit, and for-profit organizations.


The World We Want podcast is a co-production of the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), in partnership with GLOBIO. 

Gerry Ellis behind a camera

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.

NAAEE logo
GLOBIO logo

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.

ee360+ logo

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.