
Into The Wild
You know that feeling you get when you care about the natural world & it’s future but there’s just so much going on & you can’t keep up? Well, enter Into The Wild, your new favourite wildlife & conservation podcast!
Each week (plus longer monthly shows that need more chat) hosts Ryan Dalton & Nadia Shaikh catch up on some nature news, sharing stories from the UK & around the world that have hit the main stream media & help unpack the madness.
Latest episodes

Sep 30, 2024 • 1h 1min
S2E8: Nature Room 101 LIVE at Global Birdfair!
Nerds get ready for some nature chaos with the first of 2 live shows recorded at 2024's Global Birdfair.
Featuring Nick Baker, Lucy Lapwing & Hannah Bourne-Taylor, Ryan & Nadia return to the stage with the travel vault of Nature Room 101 to what things our guests & audience put forward to be locked away for good!
This year Into The Wild is proudly supported by the Royal Entomological Society. A fabulous society dedicated to insect science. To read more about joining the RES's Associate Membership, click here
If you'd like to say "cheers" to the Into The Wild team & help support the show, then you can do so on www.ko-fi.com/intothewildpod
To follow the hosts of the show, Ryan & Nadia, follow them at @mrryanjdalton & @buteblackbird

Aug 27, 2024 • 1h 18min
S2E7: Wildlife Tourism: Exploration or Exploitation?
For many of us, there's a deep rooted feeling within us that gives us an urge to explore & travel the world & a part of that is built on wanting to see wildlife. Whether it's elephants in southern Africa, whales around the coast of Iceland or the many species of birds in Brazil. There's a pull that encourages us to spend money, travel & enjoy seeing these countries & their wildlife........but
Is wildlife tourism actually helping biodiversity & the local communities? How can we trust where our money is going? And in the current events of the climate crisis, should we all be encouraged to fly around the world? There's a lot of questions here so join us as we dig into the topic of Wildlife Tourism.
Guest appearances from Professor Adam Hart of Gloucester University & Chandika Jayarante of Jetwings Sri Lanka.
To check out the points/events/news/roles at the RES mentioned in todays show, follow the links below:
- All events
- Photography Competition
AND to read more about joining the Royal Entomological Society's Associate Membership, click here
If you'd like to say "cheers" to the Into The Wild team & help support the show, then you can do so on www.ko-fi.com/intothewildpod
To follow the hosts of the show, Ryan & Nadia, follow them at @mrryanjdalton & @buteblackbird

Jul 28, 2024 • 53min
S2E6: UK's National Parks: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
"National Parks in the UK are the crumpets of the nature industry" - Ryan Dalton, 2024
It's a quote Ryan stands behind & claims it makes sense but those that don't follow let's explain. National Parks are celebrating their 75th anniversary this year in the UK & whilst we have all heard of the term, do many of us know what they are? How they were established? What was their purpose? And whether they are achieving their aim? Well nerds, don't worry, Into The Wild has your back!
Strap yourselves in to learn all about the UK's National Parks from The Good, The Bad & The Ugly!
Guest appearances from Rose O'Neill from Campaign for National Parks & Laura Larkin from Bug Life.
For the Campaign for National Parks Health Report Page, click here
To check out the points/events/news/roles at the RES mentioned in todays show, follow the links below:
- All events
- RES Annual Insect Photography Winners
AND to read more about joining the Royal Entomological Society's Associate Membership, click here
If you'd like to say "cheers" to the Into The Wild team & help support the show, then you can do so on www.ko-fi.com/intothewildpod
To follow the hosts of the show, Ryan & Nadia, follow them at @mrryanjdalton & @buteblackbird

Jun 24, 2024 • 1h 8min
S2E5: Nature Room 101 with Isla Hodgson & Rory Crawford
Ryan & Nadia have grabbed the keys, put their PPE on & told their guests to stand back as they carefully open the vault door of Nature Room 101 for a new round of applicants to be put forward to join ticks, pheasants, cave centipedes, wind, bogs, deer & Himalayan balsam.
This round we welcome marine conservationist & Save Our Seas podcast host Isla Hodgson & CBeebies nature presenter Rory Crawford to ask them their Online Nature Gripes, Mundane Mammal & Worst Weather!
To follow our guests on the 'ol socials, follow them at Isla Hodgson & Rory Crawford.
To check out the points/events/news/roles at the RES mentioned in todays show, follow the links below:
- All events
- Leadership Roles
- Small Grant (£3k) Application
AND to read more about joining the Royal Entomological Society's Associate Membership, click here
To learn more about upcoming Urban Bird Walks by Leica Sport Optics, click here
If you'd like to say "cheers" to the Into The Wild team & help support the show, then you can do so on www.ko-fi.com/intothewildpod
To follow the hosts of the show, Ryan & Nadia, follow them at @mrryanjdalton & @buteblackbird

May 28, 2024 • 58min
S2E4: Insect Pollination: It's Not Just Bees!
In the last decade there has been a HUGE (& successful) push for people to appreciate bees & the work they do to pollinate not just flowers in the wild, but food crops to feed ourselves & it's not surprise why the bee was chosen. They are fluffy. They are cute. They are.....sexy, BUT...
When it comes in insects that pollinate plants, again, including food crops, it's more than just bees & in some cases.....it's a lot more than just bees. Join Ryan & Nadia this month as they delve in to learn about some less sexy insects that are vital when it comes to keep flora alive.
Guest appearances from Kate Borchardt & Juliana Rangel Posada
Kate's Paper on Wasps Here
Juliana's Paper on Blowflies Here
AND to read more about joining the Royal Entomological Society's Associate Membership, click here
If you'd like to say "cheers" to the Into The Wild team & help support the show, then you can do so on www.ko-fi.com/intothewildpod
To follow the hosts of the show, Ryan & Nadia, follow them at @mrryanjdalton & @buteblackbird

May 22, 2024 • 28min
Bonus Episode: Wildling with Isabella Tree
Isabella Tree, owner of Knepp Estate and author of 'Wilding,' shares her inspiring journey of transforming a struggling dairy farm into a flourishing sanctuary for wildlife. She discusses the remarkable resurgence of species, such as the return of Nightingales and the reintroduction of storks to Britain. Isabella highlights the connection between creativity and nature, as well as the upcoming documentary that captures this transformation beautifully. Listeners are encouraged to engage with and support nature conservation.

Apr 28, 2024 • 1h 34min
S2E3: Killing for Conservation: How Do We Feel?
Throughout history, humans, especially those of the western world, have intentionally & unintentionally introduced species around the world where they may have never reached before & as a result, negative consequences have occurred. BUT, the big questions that we often avoid is, should we actually now be intervening again to try to remove the issues that have been created. Is lethal control of mammals, fish, reptiles, insects, birds & plants really the only option? And how do we feel about this?
On this episode we explore this very topic & aim to have an honest discussion about how we feel about killing for conservation, whether or not the science tells us one way or another.
Guest appearances from Hugh Warwick, Prof Sierian Sumner & Leif Bersweden
RES Links:
- Physiological Entomology Session
- New Bee Research by ICAD
- Ento 24 Deatils
- Bug Hunting Kits
Hugh's Book - Cull of the Wild
AND to read more about joining the Royal Entomological Society's Associate Membership, click here
If you'd like to say "cheers" to the Into The Wild team & help support the show, then you can do so on www.ko-fi.com/intothewildpod
To follow the hosts of the show, Ryan & Nadia, follow them at @mrryanjdalton & @buteblackbird

Apr 11, 2024 • 40min
Bonus Episode: Community Conservation in Haiti with Jean Wiener
Six months ago Into The Wild attended the Whitley Fund for Nature's People for Planet Summit in London. An event where guest speakers around the world met to discuss big topics in community based wildlife conservation. At this event we were lucky enough to meet & speak with 2015 Whitley Fund for Nature Award Winner, Jean Wiener from Haiti.
This bonus episode is that very chat where Jean shares his experience of working with people & wildlife in a country like Haiti & what he feels is the best way forward to restore the natural resources for the planet, country & it's communities.
To learn more about the marine based community conservation work that Jean discussed, click here.
If you'd like to say "cheers" to the Into The Wild team & help support the show, then you can do so on www.ko-fi.com/intothewildpod
To follow the hosts of the show, Ryan & Nadia, follow them at @mrryanjdalton & @buteblackbird

Mar 25, 2024 • 1h 4min
S2E2: Marine Protected Areas in the UK: Something's Fishy
Grab your buckets, your spades & your towel nerds because we are heading to the coast in search of some answers about how our seas & coastal areas around the UK are protected.
Just how do marine protected areas work around the UK & are they doing their job? These are big questions but in this episode we guide you through the acronym maze that is UK ocean conservation.
Guest appearances from Caitlin Turner (MCS Sea Champion) Lanna Cheng (University of California San Diego)
If you want to learn more about marine insects the follow this link to a free e-book by Lanna Cheng.
AND to read more about joining the Royal Entomological Society's Associate Membership, click here
If you'd like to say "cheers" to the Into The Wild team & help support the show, then you can do so on www.ko-fi.com/intothewildpod
To follow the hosts of the show, Ryan & Nadia, follow them at @mrryanjdalton & @buteblackbird

Feb 26, 2024 • 56min
S2E1: Rivers in the UK: Let's Get Wet!
One of, if not the most, tranquil places many of us can imagine being is on the bank of a river. The sound of the water moving & the visual of the ripples or crashing of water speeding past. They ground us & are essential to life so we must be looking after them in the UK right?.......RIGHT?
For episode 1 of season 2 we are looking at the state of rivers in the UK. From how insects can be important indicators for determining river health, to the hard hitting truth about what we are dumping in these magnificent habitats.
Guest appearances from Emma Brisdion (River Trust), Rebecca Lewis (Bug Life) & Craig MacAdam (Bug Life).
Feeling brave & want to read & be clued up on The River Trust's latest report, click here
AND to read more about joining the Royal Entomological Society's Associate Membership, click here
If you'd like to say "cheers" to the Into The Wild team & help support the show, then you can do so on www.ko-fi.com/intothewildpod
To follow the hosts of the show, Ryan & Nadia, follow them at @mrryanjdalton & @buteblackbird