Oh, hey, we just won the 2022 Webby Award for Best Host, which is a weird thing to say

as the host of this podcast, especially since I'm recording this in my sisters' garage.

So who says you have to be professional to win things?

Hi, it's Ali Ward.

It's your internet dad, back with a fresh episode, crafted for you just this week.

So acoustic ecology, what the heck is it?

So it's what sounds in nature tell us about who's living where?

Ah, this whole episode is just like a nature app, but with much more gossip.

And we've got one of the worlds best for this.

So thisologist got his PhD in marine science from the University of Queensland and his

worked in conservation in over 20 countries from snow leopard tracking in Mongolia to

big grass munchers in Kenya and tiny bugs in Borneo.

And he's co-authored tons of research papers, plus a book called Conservation Planning

and is currently the lead scientist and director of conservation for the Nature Conservancies

Asia Pacific Region and has been given all kinds of awards for using technology and bio-coustics

to help save our flaming gasping, burning acid bath planet.

Today, we have this episode for you.

So it was a recent scorching hot afternoon in LA.

We hopped on the horn and I thought, man, this is going to be the easiest thing ever.

A remote interview with a mic guy, no tech challenges here, but a last.

For some reason, his mic was faltering and was super quiet.

Can you even believe I can't?

...