Soil! Dirt! Earth. Dr. Lydia Jennings, aka Native Soil Nerd, breaks down the stuff under our feet and explains everything from mining to why soil can be different colors. Also: medicine from microbes, giving back to the land after extractive processes, collecting samples in urban rivers, elders’ ecological knowledge, planting hot Cheetos, potting soil mysteries, lung fungus, the smell of rain and why gardening makes you happy. Oh and running hundreds of miles for your science. 

Follow Dr. Lydia Jennings on Twitter @1NativeSoilNerd or on Instagram @llcooljennings

Her website: nativesoilnerd.com

Donations went to RisingHearts.org and to Lydia’s film, Will Run for Soil

More episode sources and links

More episodes you may enjoy: Geology (ROCKS), Indigenous Cuisinology (NATIVE COOKING), Indigenous Fire Ecology (GOOD FIRE), Indigenous Fashionology (NATIVE CLOTHING), Experimental Archeology (OLD TOOLS/ATLATLS), Carnivorous Phytobiology (MEAT-EATING PLANTS), Cycadology (RARE PLANT DRAMA), Bisonology (BUFFALO), Foraging Ecology (EATING WILD PLANTS), Critical Ecology (SOCIAL SYSTEMS + ENVIRONMENT)

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Sound editing by Mercedes Maitland & Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media

Transcripts by Emily White of The Wordary

Website by Kelly R. Dwyer

Theme song by Nick Thorburn