Green Dreamer: Seeding change towards collective healing, sustainability, regeneration

Bethany Brookshire: Rethinking “pests” and the ways they challenge power

Sep 17, 2024

Bethany Brookshire, an award-winning freelance science journalist and author, delves into the complexities of how we label animals as 'pests.' She discusses the cultural evolution of this term and its ties to power dynamics and social justice. The conversation highlights how urban pests like rats symbolize broader societal issues, while proposing a shift in mindset towards coexistence with wildlife. Brookshire also shares insights on the ecological importance of overlooked species and emphasizes the need for innovative solutions that respect both humans and animals.

53:01

Creator website

Episode guests

Bethany Brookshire

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Different cultural perceptions of 'pests' reveal societal values, challenging the notion of separation between humans and animals in ecosystems.

Pest management often exacerbates social inequities and ecological consequences, necessitating a holistic approach that integrates environmental and social justice.

Deep dives

Cultural Perspectives on Pests

Different cultures have varying perceptions of what constitutes a pest, reflecting deeper societal values and beliefs. The concept of a 'pest' is often tied to the idea of an animal being out of place, which varies across languages and cultures. Some Indigenous cultures lack a word for 'pest' altogether, as they view themselves as part of the ecosystem, rejecting the notion of separation between humans and animals. This interconnected perspective challenges the subjective labeling of animals and shows how cultural narratives shape environmental relationships.

Intro

4min

Rethinking Pests and Weeds

12min

Pests and Social Justice

7min

Negotiating Coexistence: Elephants and Communities

7min

Rethinking Pests and Power Dynamics

17min

Reframing Our Relationship with Urban Wildlife

3min

What does it mean that the labeling of “pests” often relate to how they challenge power and order? How do the ways that “pests” are often targeted and managed further exacerbate socio-environmental injustices? And how might we learn to relate with animals deemed “out of place” beyond the subjective framing of “pests” altogether?

In this episode, we are honored to discuss all things related to “pests” with Bethany Brookshire, an award-winning freelance science journalist and author of the 2022 book Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains.

We invite you to…

tune in and subscribe to Green Dreamer via any podcast app;
join us on Patreon for the extended version of this episode;
and subscribe to our newsletter at greendreamer.substack.com.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more