Best Backyard Tiny Home Podcasts (2025)

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A Bad Naturalist’s Journey to Restore a Mountaintop Meadow 1:22:44

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9d ago1:22:44

1:22:44

Summary Paula Whyman shares her journey of trying to restore and manage a remnant prairie located on a Virginia mountaintop. Our conversation touches upon some of the challenges she faced, lessons she’s learned, and exciting discoveries she’s made along the way. Whether you're managing a small backyard or large acreage, Paula's story provides valua…

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Native Plants That Attract Hummingbirds to Eastern U.S. Gardens 13:24

12d ago13:24

13:24

Summary Hummingbirds are probably one of the most beloved groups of birds that people want to attract to their yards. In this episode, I share 10 of my favorite native plants for attracting hummingbirds to gardens in the eastern U.S. 3 things you’ll learn from this episode The surprising truth about a hummingbird’s diet. The best way to attract and…

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Gardening for Moths: Why It’s Important for Backyard Conservation 1:11:36

1M ago1:11:36

1:11:36

Summary In this episode, we focus on the fascinating world of moths and why gardening for moths is so im-portant for any backyard ecologist. We also talk about specific native plants grow to attract moths, simple ways to observe moths, practical tips for photographing moths at night, and much more. From pollination by fuzzy moth eyeballs to carnivo…

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9 Native Blueberries You Can Grow in the Home Landscape 14:29

2M ago14:29

14:29

Summary Our native Vacciniums, what we commonly call the blueberries, are keystone plants which support tons of pollinators and wildlife. They also produce yummy berries which we can eat. In this episode, we talk about 9 species that are native to at least some part of the eastern U.S., and are relatively easy to find for sale at native plant nurse…

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Choose the Best Native Milkweed for Your Eastern U.S. Garden 19:34

3M ago19:34

19:34

Summary Milkweeds are a common component of butterfly and pollinator gardens. Not only are they important for monarch caterpillars, but they are also used by a wide variety of pollinators. There are lots of different species of milkweed that are native to the eastern U.S. and have the potential to work really well in home gardens. In this episode w…

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Laurel Wilt: How Tiny Beetles Can Kill Huge Trees 1:17:55

3M ago1:17:55

1:17:55

Summary In this episode, we dive deep into Laurel Wilt Disease which is a vascular wilt disease affecting trees in the Lauraceae family, such as sassafras, spicebush, and redbay. We discuss its history, how it spreads, ecological and cultural impacts of the disease, current management options, and challenges associated with managing the disease. We…

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Virginia strawberry: A Beautiful, Tasty, and Underutilized Native Groundcover 6:07

4M ago6:07

6:07

Summary The Virginia strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) is our most widespread native wild strawberry in the eastern U.S. It supports a wide range of pollinators and wildlife. It can also make an amazing groundcover in a native plant garden. However, this is not the wild strawberry that most people find growing in their yards and garden beds. 3 thing…

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Ironweed’s Beauty and Ecological Value in Your Garden: Mt. Cuba’s Vernonia Trial 57:06

4M ago57:06

57:06

Summary Each fall, the beautiful, rich, purple blooms of ironweeds (Vernonia spp.) grace fields and open areas throughout much of the eastern U.S. They are an ecological powerhouse for pollinators and wildlife, including a specialist bee. Ironweeds can make amazing additions to our native plant gardens where they serve as biodiversity magnets. In t…

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Eastern Carpenter Bees: How to Peacefully Co-exist and Why They Are Important 15:14

5M ago15:14

15:14

Summary While carpenter bees get a bad rap, they are also important pollinators and play a vital role in the ecosystem. Their bad reputation can also sometimes be overblown. So, let’s talk a little bit about carpenter bees, why they are important, and how to discourage them from nesting in places where you don’t want them. 3 things you’ll learn fro…

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Doug Tallamy’s Habitat Restoration Story and How You Can Help Save Nature 49:08

5M ago49:08

49:08

Summary Dr. Doug Tallamy shares the story of how he and his wife transformed their newly built home located on a former hayfield into a thriving forest ecosystem. We talk about how they got started, their struggles along the way, the habitat wins they’ve celebrated, and what his next steps are for his property. He also shares what he’s most excited…

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Darkness Matters: Light Pollution’s Threats and Simple Ways to Help 10:42

6M ago10:42

10:42

Summary Darkness is a vital, and often overlooked, component of our ecosystems. Unfortunately, we’re losing it to light pollution. Decreasing the light pollution around your home will not only benefit the environment but will also benefit you because you’ll be able to see better without all the excess glare and will save money because you aren’t pa…

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BirdCast: Revealing the Mysteries of Bird Migration 1:14:25

6M ago1:14:25

1:14:25

Summary Twice a year billions of birds migrate across the U.S. We’ve only recently discovered just how large that number really is. Being able to quantify that number is thanks to a large degree to a program called BirdCast which anyone from backyard birders to scientists to emergency managers can use. Join us as we dive into the fascinating world …

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How to Do Spring Garden Cleanup for Pollinators and Wildlife 10:46

7M ago10:46

10:46

Summary As gardeners, it’s common to get the gardening itch in late winter and early spring. The temptation to finish cleaning up our gardens during this time is a natural temptation. However, when doing your spring garden cleanup, it’s important to remember why you didn’t do those activities in the fall. Remembering that can help you choose what t…

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Exploring the Fascinating World of Ground Nesting Bees 46:48

7M ago46:48

46:48

Summary Ground nesting bees represent a significant portion of our native bee population, yet they often go unnoticed due to their solitary nature and unique nesting habits. In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of ground nesting bees and how we can get involved in their study and conservation. Today’s guest Dr. Jordan Kueneman is a r…

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How to Attract More Birds to Your Yard 8:25

7M ago8:25

8:25

Summary When someone decides they want to attract birds to their yard, often the first thing they do is put up a birdfeeder (or two). It’s what we did when I was a kid, and it’s what countless other people I know have done. There’s nothing wrong with putting out a birdfeeder. They’re a great way to bring the birds to locations where it’s easy for u…

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From Suburban Yard to Wildlife Haven: Amanda’s Story 43:13

8M ago43:13

43:13

Summary Amanda shares the journey she and her husband have taken to transform their small, suburban yard into a vibrant habitat for birds and pollinators. We discuss the various projects they’ve undertaken, the challenges of DIY landscaping, the importance of community support, and the positive reactions from neighbors and family. Their story shows…

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We’re back! 3:26

8M ago3:26

3:26

Summary I am so excited to be relaunching the Backyard Ecology™ podcast! New episodes will be released every other week, and we have some exciting guests already lined up. Going forward, in addition to the traditional audio version of the podcast episodes, there will also be a video version available for the episodes with guests. The video version …

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Top 10 Backyard Ecology Podcast Episodes: October 1, 2022 – October 1, 2023 13:07

1+ y ago13:07

13:07

I can’t believe that 2023 is almost over! This year has flown by! For the past several weeks, I’ve been doing top 10 roundups of the different types of Backyard Ecology content. We’ve talked about the videos, the blog articles, and the nature trivia style shorts. So, let’s wrap it up with a rundown of the top 10 podcast episodes of the year. 🦋 9b) …

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Top 10 Backyard Ecology “Shorts” 4:42

1+ y ago4:42

4:42

Did you know that in addition to the regular Backyard Ecology videos that Anthony creates, he also produces a series of nature-trivia style short videos? Most of these videos are literally only a few seconds long so are perfect “bite-sized” samples if you’re just getting started or are looking for something to watch for a few seconds on your phone.…

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Top 10 Backyard Ecology Blog Articles: October 2022 - October 2023 10:44

2y ago10:44

10:44

I always like to do roundups of the top 10 blog articles and top 10 podcast episodes at the end of every year because I know how easy it is to miss stuff. Sometimes we have the best intentions to go back and read or listening to something, but other things come up and then we forget. So, it can be helpful to have a reminder at the end of the year f…

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Top 10 Backyard Ecology Videos 8:38

2y ago8:38

8:38

Did you know that we have a Backyard Ecology YouTube channel? If you’re like many of the blog readers and podcast listeners who responded to our 2023 end-of-year survey, then answer is “probably not.” If you are one of our frequent viewers, thank you for coming on this journey with us. We enjoy reading all your comments on the videos. If you haven’…

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Tips and Tricks for Growing Prairie Plants in Your Native Plant Garden 54:05

2y ago54:05

54:05

Did you know that for many of our most commonly grown native wildflowers and grasses, 2/3 or more of the plant is underground in the form of roots? Or that you can reduce weeding requirements in your native plant garden by understanding the root systems of different plants that you are growing? Or that there is now a resource that can help you avoi…

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Resharing Your Favorites: Winter Hummingbirds 59:25

2y ago59:25

59:25

Did you know that some hummingbirds will overwinter in the eastern U.S.? These aren’t our normal ruby throated hummingbirds that visit our feeders and yards all summer long. These are often western species of hummingbirds, like the rufus hummingbird. Winter hummingbirds aren’t common, and they become less common the further you are from the souther…

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Fall Cleanup in the Pollinator and Wildlife Garden: A Comprehensive Guide to What You Need to Know and Do 14:59

2y ago14:59

14:59

When gardening with native plants for pollinators and wildlife, much of the traditional fall cleanup for gardens is not only unnecessary but could be detrimental. And if you don’t have to do all that fall cleanup, you’ll have more time to kick back and enjoy the everchanging natural wonders around you. The full transcript of this episode can be fou…

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Resharing Your Favorites: Gardening with Native Plants 1:03:07

2y ago1:03:07

1:03:07

Did you know that common milkweed isn’t native to Georgia? Or that there are many native plants which can be grown in large pots on a patio or balcony? Or that some simple “cues to care” can significantly change how a native plant garden is perceived by others? I originally recorded this conversation with Jennifer Ceska in the spring of 2022. A yea…

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The Secret to Building a Thriving Backyard Ecosystem: Embracing “It Depends” 9:19

2y ago9:19

9:19

“It depends” is often the most accurate and expert answer that you can give to questions related to biology and ecology. Granted, it can be a frustrating answer because we all love simple, straightforward answers. But once you understand the true meaning of “it depends,” it becomes a very liberating answer, especially when it comes to creating poll…

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Building Thriving Ecosystems and Exploring Nature in Your Backyard with Backyard Ecology 10:36

2y ago10:36

10:36

Over the last 6-8 months, we’ve been working hard to make Backyard Ecology even better and to implement new ways to help people on an even deeper level. I am so excited because I can finally share some of what we’ve been working on! The full transcript of this episode can be found at: https://www.backyardecology.net/building-thriving-ecosystems-and…

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The American Goldfinch: A Comprehensive Guide 18:38

2y ago18:38

18:38

American goldfinches are beautiful and fascinating songbirds that can be found over most of the continent. Their late nesting season and almost exclusively seed-based diet, even as nestlings, make them unique among our songbirds. They are also easy to attract to our properties. I talk about all those things and much more in this episode. The full t…

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Exploring Urban Ecology: Understanding and Appreciating Nature Where We Live 55:25

2y ago55:25

55:25

Did you know that urban ecology doesn’t just apply to big cities and towns? Even if you live in a fairly rural area, if there is a lot of interaction between where you live and a nearby town or city then you may fall into the broad category of urban ecology. That means urban ecology is likely to apply to most of us. Today we're talking with Dr. Sar…

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What Happens When a Tree Gets Blown Over? Discovering New Habitats Created by Fallen Trees 12:29

2y ago12:29

12:29

As sad as the loss of a tree can be, there’s also an excitement because fallen trees provide many different types of valuable and often overlooked habitats. I talk about some of those habitats in this episode. The full transcript, including additional pictures, can be found on the episode’s webpage: https://www.backyardecology.net/what-happens-when…

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Moths: Unsung Heroes of Pollination and Beyond 1:02:42

2y ago1:02:42

1:02:42

Did you know that there are approximately 10 times more moth species worldwide than there are butterfly species? Or that without moths we would have fewer songbirds, less genetic diversity in many of our native plants, and lower harvests of many popular fruits? Or that creating better moth habitats around our homes also benefits our health and well…

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Sometimes Life Happens 7:44

2y ago7:44

7:44

I share a story of how Anthony and I had a “life happens” moment on our property over the weekend. My hope is that our story of how “life happened” to us this week can give you a little bit of encouragement, or at least, help you feel not quite so alone the next time life throws a wrench in your plans. The full transcript, including pictures, can b…

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Learning to See and Identify Plants with Alan Weakley 55:13

2+ y ago55:13

55:13

If you’ve ever found a plant that you didn’t recognize and wanted to know what it was, then this episode is for you. We talk with Dr. Alan Weakley about learning to observe plants, how to identify plants, why that’s important, and some exciting new tools that are available to help us better recognize and appreciate the diversity of plants around us…

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5 Tips for Attracting Butterflies to Your Yard 11:29

2+ y ago11:29

11:29

I offer five tips to help you attract butterflies to your property. Depending on your property and situation, you may not be able to do all of them. That’s ok. If you have a small property, look around you. See what’s lacking in your area and try to fill in the gaps. The important thing is to be aware and to do what you can. The full transcript can…

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Gardening with Sedges - Mt. Cuba Center Carex Trial 59:06

2+ y ago59:06

59:06

Did you know there is a group of native plants which can be highly adaptable, can serve multiple functions in our gardens, and perhaps even be a backbone component to our home landscapes, but which has historically been overlooked for those purposes? This group of native plants is the sedges, or more specifically, members of the genus Carex. In thi…

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How Can Your State’s Native Plant Society Help You? 1:05:54

2+ y ago1:05:54

1:05:54

Do you want to start growing native plants in your yard, but don’t know where to find them? Or maybe you aren’t even sure what a native plant is for your area. Or maybe you are in a situation where you can’t plant anything right now, but you still want to learn about native plants and enjoy them in the wild. Your state’s native plant society may be…

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Birding Tools and Technology to Help You Be a Better Birder 1:09:36

2+ y ago1:09:36

1:09:36

Birding is a fun activity with many different ways you can do it. You can bird by ear and identify birds by their songs. You can look at the birds and identify them that way. You can watch the birds out your window or as you spend time in your yard. Or you can go on trips where birding can be either a side activity or the main purpose of the trip. …

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Everything You Want to Know About Nesting Birds with NestWatch 1:05:53

2+ y ago1:05:53

1:05:53

Do you enjoy having birds nest on your property? Would you like to learn more about what to look for in a nest box to make it the best it can be for your birds? Are you interested in finding out how you can safely monitor your nesting birds and help scientists study nesting birds? In this episode, I am joined by Holly Grant. Holly is the Project As…

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Why Are Invasive Species Something You Should Care About? 55:33

2+ y ago55:33

55:33

Do you struggle with invasive species on your property? Or, have you ever wondered, what’s the big deal with invasive species? Why are they so bad? Or maybe you just wondered how our invasive species got here. After all, if they are so awful, then why would anyone bring them here? If so, then you aren’t alone. Invasive species are something that mo…

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Battery Powered Lawn Care Equipment and Ecological Lawn Care 52:42

2+ y ago52:42

52:42

Lawn care probably isn’t the first thing you think of when you think about backyard ecology. Honestly, it isn’t for me either. But it is something that most of us have to deal with in one way or another whether we do it ourselves or hire someone to do it for us. And I don’t know about you, but lawn equipment in general, much less battery powered la…

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Growing Native Plants, Insect-Plant Interactions, Playing in the Pond, and Much More with Dr. Randi Eckel 1:06:04

2+ y ago1:06:04

1:06:04

You know how sometimes you’ll meet someone and things just “click?” You quickly discover that you have lots of shared interests and experiences and your conversation just flows as it goes down one path and then the next. Well, that’s exactly what happened in this episode as I talked with Dr. Randi Eckel. Randi is the owner of Toadshade Wildflower F…

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Should you mow your meadow or pollinator planting? 18:23

2+ y ago18:23

18:23

Have you planted a meadow or pollinator planting on your property? Or, do you know someone or some place in your community that has one? If it’s on your property then part of the recommended management for it may have been to mow it periodically. Or if it’s not on your property then you may have driven by it only to see it being mowed or find that …

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Ecology Based Landscaping with Larry Weaner 1:01:12

2+ y ago1:01:12

1:01:12

Do you want your yard to benefit nature, while also being a place that speaks to you and is somewhere you enjoy spending time? Would you love for your yard to also be a place your neighbors admire and that inspires them to create pollinator and wildlife friendly landscapes? In this episode of the Backyard Ecology podcast, we talk with Larry Weaner …

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Top 10 Most Popular Backyard Ecology Episodes: Thanksgiving 2021 – Thanksgiving 2022 17:07

2+ y ago17:07

17:07

Over the past year, we’ve had some amazing conversations with a variety of highly talented and passionate people. I am very grateful to them for sharing their enthusiasm and knowledge with us. What was your favorite episode of the year, and why? Please let us know in the comments. For today’s episode, I’m going to quickly review the 10 most popular…

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The Christmas Bird Count: An Over 120 Year Tradition 47:00

3y ago47:00

47:00

The Christmas Bird Count, also known as the CBC, began in 1900. For the past 122 years, volunteer birders of all ages and abilities have gathered together to conduct surveys of the birds found in their areas. The Christmas Bird Count is the longest running, community science or citizen science program in the U.S. and has spread to Canada and many o…

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Thank You for Being Part of Backyard Ecology 4:09

3y ago4:09

4:09

The holiday seasons are upon us. This is often a time to gather with family and friends, give thanks, share memories, exchange gifts, and reflect both on what we have and what we hope to achieve in the coming year. I thought about skipping this episode completely since it will release on Thanksgiving Day and many of us will be involved with holiday…

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Fascinating Wasp Diversity 1:00:59

3y ago1:00:59

1:00:59

Wasps are often portrayed as one of “the bad guys” in the insect world. But part of that common misconception comes from a lack of knowledge or understanding about wasps in general and stereotypes that don’t apply to most wasp species. The truth is that wasps are extremely diverse and what most of us think of when we think of a “wasp” makes up only…

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Monarch Butterflies and OE (Ophryocystis elektroscirrha) 1:07:47

3y ago1:07:47

1:07:47

Monarch butterflies have become an increasingly hot topic in recent decades, and especially in the last couple of years. Conversations about monarchs often revolve around topics like their migrations, the importance of milkweeds, or other flowers we can plant for monarchs. Rarely do the topics of monarch health or monarch diseases come up. Yet thes…

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5 Native Plants that Bloom in the Late Fall 23:14

3y ago23:14

23:14

One of the most common pieces of advice given related to pollinator gardening is to try and have a constant supply of blooms available throughout the growing season. That’s easy in the spring. The summer is a little more challenging than the spring, but is still relatively easy. Even early fall isn’t too bad thanks to the goldenrods, ironweeds, and…

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Galls: Amazingly Diverse and Fascinating Plant Growths 1:13:19

3y ago1:13:19

1:13:19

Have you ever found a leaf with weird little balls or spiky things attached to it? Or found a plant with a weird growth on its stem or a dense clump of leaves growing out of an odd place? Chances are those were galls. Going into this conversation, I knew a little bit about galls, but not much. However, what I knew was pretty interesting. So I wante…