Paula Whyman, author of *Bad Naturalist* and a devoted conservationist, shares her inspiring journey from a bug-obsessed child to the steward of a 200-acre Virginia mountaintop. She emphasizes the critical role individual landowners play in restoring native ecosystems, challenging the idea that nature only flourishes in national parks. Whyman discusses her ecological restoration efforts to combat invasive species and promote biodiversity, revealing how each small victory reignites her hope for America's environmental future.