This week, I’m continuing to turn the tables on conservation podcasters by interviewing them. I had the great pleasure of sitting down with one of the Earth to Humans podcast hosts, Hannah Mulvany.
Earth to Humans explores humankind's relationship with planet Earth, covering topics within the environmental and conservation space through the diverse perspectives of its three hosts—including this episode's guest, Hannah Mulvany.
In addition to being a host and a part-time field biologist, Hannah created her own science communication career. As the director and founder of Song and Dance Communications, she has carved out a unique career, blending her expertise in communications with her love for nature. She amplifies voices for conservation and environmental stewardship by serving as a communications manager and social media strategist for various nonprofits and organizations worldwide.
With a diverse portfolio spanning graphic design, copywriting, content creation, nature storytelling, and social media management, Hannah is a true self-starter and go-getter. Her role as a science communicator is pivotal in translating scientific concepts into engaging and accessible narratives that resonate with diverse audiences and fostering a deeper communication of environmental issues among the general public.
Hannah’s journey is bound to inspire you to take action, stop waiting around, and start making things happen for yourself and the planet.
In this episode, Hannah shares invaluable insights into her approach to conservation action and the power of leveraging your skills and talents to effect change. From knocking on doors to creating her own opportunities to speaking up for the environment in everyday life, Hannah's journey exemplifies the spirit of empowerment and resilience. You'll walk away from this podcast feeling inspired, empowered, and ready to make a difference in your own life and the world around you.
Specifically, we discussed:
I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of nearly 20 yrs with 20+ peer-reviewed scientific publications, author of the book Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know (https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/) and founder of Fancy Scientist. My channel and the Fancy Scientist LLC is dedicated to connecting people to science and nature, breaking stereotypes of, and empowering scientists. I help aspiring and struggling wildlife biologists get the right training so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world.
Sign up for my next free job training: https://stephanieschuttler.com/trainingwaitlist/
Want to learn about cool animals, conservation, and get tips about careers in wildlife biology, science, and more? Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/StephanieSchuttler and join my email list: https://stephanieschuttler.com/
I’d love to meet you. Connect with me on social media:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/pins/
Join the “Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology” Facebook group to connect with other aspiring wildlife biologists, post your questions and get free advice: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology
Listen to the Fancy Scientist Podcast:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/29swiuHG4TWKbS9gRZrORW
I was instantly captivated when I first discovered Crystal DiMicelli's podcast, Forces for Nature. You know that feeling when you find someone who shares your passion and vibe on a level that just feels right? Well, that's exactly what I felt when I tuned in!
You see, Crystal and I share a deep love for conservation and wildlife issues, and like me, Crystal understands that the “doom and gloom” narrative is not the most effective when inspiring change. Instead, on her podcast, she spotlights conservation success stories, expert insights, and even provides listeners with concrete action steps they can take, leaving them feeling energized and empowered instead of hopeless and helpless. In this episode of the Fancy Scientist podcast, I dive into the world of wildlife wins, environmental victories, and effective conservation communication through my interview with Crystal. With her 20 years of experience in wildlife conservation and environmental education, Crystal brings a unique perspective on why staying positive is a game-changer in creating meaningful change.
Since launching her podcast to highlight stories of individuals working to protect animals and habitats, Crystal has inspired countless listeners with her message of optimism and empowerment. From this episode, you'll come away feeling refreshed and ready to take positive action, just as Crystal encourages. Learn simple, everyday choices you can make to shrink your environmental footprint, gain insight into how Crystal overcomes introversion to spread her greater call to action, and get plugged into awesome resources to create change in your community!
Specifically, we discussed:
Make sure to download Crystal’s free guide: Becoming a Force for Nature so that you don’t become overwhelmed by all the doom and gloom you hear and start taking practical actions today!
https://forcesfornature.com/fancyscientist/
I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of nearly 20 yrs with 20+ peer-reviewed scientific publications, author of the book Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know (https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/) and founder of Fancy Scientist. My channel and the Fancy Scientist LLC is dedicated to connecting people to science and nature, breaking stereotypes of, and empowering scientists. I help aspiring and struggling wildlife biologists get the right training so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world.
Sign up for my next free job training: https://stephanieschuttler.com/trainingwaitlist/
Want to learn about cool animals, conservation, and get tips about careers in wildlife biology, science, and more? Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/StephanieSchuttler and join my email list: https://stephanieschuttler.com/
I’d love to meet you. Connect with me on social media:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/pins/
Join the “Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology” Facebook group to connect with other aspiring wildlife biologists, post your questions and get free advice: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology
Listen to the Fancy Scientist Podcast:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/29swiuHG4TWKbS9gRZrORW
When it comes to careers in wildlife, one of the things you’ll hear me say over and over again is that you need to go after what you want - you can’t just sit back and wait for things to happen. YOU have to make them happen. But what happens if you don’t know how to go after what you want? You aren’t sure exactly what to do?
That was the case for Chitra Rekha Basyal, one of my students in the Successful Wildlife Professional program. In this episode of the Fancy Scientist podcast, I want to share with you how Chitra overcame barriers to career goals by going after what she wanted - even when she didn’t know how - and finding mentorship.
Chitra found her calling in wanting to protect threatened and endangered turtles in her home country of Nepal. But as a forestry student hungry for research opportunities, she hit barrier after barrier that threatened her dream career like lack of funding, lack of connections in the field, and uncertainty about career pathways. After attending a virtual conference on turtle conservation needs in Nepal, she boldly reached out to the organizers to find a way to get involved. This led to opportunities to design her own baseline research project studying threatened Nepalese turtle species. Chitra successfully secured grant funding and collaborated with regional experts, gaining invaluable hands-on research experience.
Although Chitra developed some great research experience, she hit a wall and knew she had to get a Master’s and wanted one in the US, but had no idea how to go about this. She found me on LinkedIn and reached out.
I was so impressed by Chitra’s dedication and passion to turtle conservation and knew that I could help her dream of getting a Master’s degree come true. I thought she would be a perfect fit for my Successful Wildlife Professional Program and encouraged her to apply.
Chitra came into the program with that one goal in mind: to get a Master’s degree in the United States. She diligently attended all of the webinar training and showed up to mentoring sessions with questions to ask and her resume to work on. With mentorship and clarity on the pathway to getting a Master’s degree, Chitra put in the work and networked with people who could be an advisor to her. Her dedication and hard work have paid off, as she was invited to apply for a Master’s program. She once again put in the work during mentoring sessions; we went over her personal statements back and forth making revisions, and now she just started her Master’s program in Illinois.
Chitra's success is one of my proudest moments in guiding passionate students to achieve their wildlife conservation dreams. Through persistence and unconventional approaches, her story is one of seeking creative solutions when traditional paths are blocked.
This podcast is a must-listen for any student or professional struggling with how to break into a competitive field like wildlife biology. Chitra's passion and resourcefulness demonstrate that we can break through limitations. Her success proves that anyone with grit and vision can manifest their goals despite real and perceived obstacles.
Specifically, we discussed:
I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of nearly 20 yrs with 20+ peer-reviewed scientific publications, author of the book Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know (https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/) and founder of Fancy Scientist. My channel and the Fancy Scientist LLC is dedicated to connecting people to science and nature, breaking stereotypes of, and empowering scientists. I help aspiring and struggling wildlife biologists get the right training so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world.
Sign up for my next free job training: https://stephanieschuttler.com/trainingwaitlist/
Want to learn about cool animals, conservation, and get tips about careers in wildlife biology, science, and more? Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/StephanieSchuttler and join my email list: https://stephanieschuttler.com/
I’d love to meet you. Connect with me on social media:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/pins/
Join the “Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology” Facebook group to connect with other aspiring wildlife biologists, post your questions and get free advice: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology
Listen to the Fancy Scientist Podcast:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/29swiuHG4TWKbS9gRZrORW
This week’s episode of the Fancy Scientist podcast was inspired by an extremely honest and vulnerable article by Georgina Mayhew called The Conservation Career Trap. When I posted this in my Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook group, it sparked an overwhelming response from others sharing similar sentiments or fears that the same would happen to them.
Some standout comments included:
Georgina’s post highlights the struggles many face - from the romanticized vision of working with charismatic creatures in exotic locations to the realities of day-to-day life in working in conservation, and the harsh truths of rejection, debt, and unpaid volunteering. In this podcast, I explore the topics brought up by the Conservation Career Trap and validate some of the hidden struggles that many conservationists face. I also explore the emotional toll that this career path can take and the importance of maintaining a healthy sense of self-worth separate from job success.
But here's the twist: being aware of these very real challenges doesn't mean you should abandon your dreams. Instead, it's about empowering you with knowledge of what it looks like on the other side and strategies to navigate these obstacles when they arise.
This episode is a MUST-listen for anyone considering a career in wildlife conservation. You'll gain valuable insights into the challenges you will face and learn strategies for overcoming them. By the end of this podcast, you'll be better prepared to navigate the Conservation Career Trap and pursue your passion with realistic expectations and a solid plan.
Specifically, we discussed:
I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of nearly 20 yrs with 20+ peer-reviewed scientific publications, author of the book Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know (https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/) and founder of Fancy Scientist. My channel and the Fancy Scientist LLC is dedicated to connecting people to science and nature, breaking stereotypes of, and empowering scientists. I help aspiring and struggling wildlife biologists get the right training so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world.
Sign up for my next free job training: https://stephanieschuttler.com/trainingwaitlist/
Want to learn about cool animals, conservation, and get tips about careers in wildlife biology, science, and more? Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/StephanieSchuttler and join my email list: https://stephanieschuttler.com/
I’d love to meet you. Connect with me on social media:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/pins/
Join the “Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology” Facebook group to connect with other aspiring wildlife biologists, post your questions and get free advice: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology
Listen to the Fancy Scientist Podcast:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/29swiuHG4TWKbS9gRZrORW
The wisdom of Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer's book Braiding Sweetgrass has lingered in my mind and heart for quite some time. This episode of the Fancy Scientist podcast is pretty different from past ones, and I'm excited to explore with you the bridge between science and spirituality I hope you’ll have an open mind to explore with me.
Robin’s book inspired this podcast, leaving me with lots of thoughts and wisdom from her lessons on indigenous knowledge, nature connections, and science. I made this podcast to share this book’s profound impact on me and the lessons that we as scientists can learn from not only acknowledging and incorporating indigenous wisdom into science but also tapping into the spiritual connection. I am going to argue that all of us have a relationship with nature, but we are taught to ignore and forget about it.
Braiding Sweetgrass goes beyond the typical scientific discourse. It taps into aspects we, as scientists, often shy away from—spirituality and the profound connection between humans and nature. As I share my own journey of self-discovery and reconnection with spirituality, I want to challenge the stigma that often surrounds these topics within the scientific community.
In this episode, I explore the often ignored intersection of indigenous wisdom, conservation, and the forgotten spiritual connection that we, as scientists, have with nature. The conservation story has evolved and improved, but there's still work to be done. We must recognize and respect indigenous knowledge, learn from it, and integrate it into conservation not only because it’s the right thing to do and nature benefits from it but also because doing so teaches us lessons about ourselves, ultimately making the world a better place for everyone and everything. .
I appreciate you listening with curiosity and compassion as we explore new dimensions of the conservation story.
Specifically, I talked about:
I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of nearly 20 yrs with 20+ peer-reviewed scientific publications, author of the book Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know (https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/) and founder of Fancy Scientist. My channel and the Fancy Scientist LLC is dedicated to connecting people to science and nature, breaking stereotypes of, and empowering scientists. I help aspiring and struggling wildlife biologists get the right training so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world.
Sign up for my next free job training: https://stephanieschuttler.com/trainingwaitlist/
Get a free chapter of my book “Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know” to see how I can help you in your career: https://stephanieschuttler.com/getting-a-job-in-wildlife-biology-book/
Want to learn about cool animals, conservation, and get tips about careers in wildlife biology, science, and more? Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/StephanieSchuttler and join my email list: https://stephanieschuttler.com/
I’d love to meet you. Connect with me on social media:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/pins/
Join the “Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology” Facebook group to connect with other aspiring wildlife biologists, post your questions and get free advice: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology
Listen to the Fancy Scientist Podcast:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/29swiuHG4TWKbS9gRZrORW