Best Tommy Serafinski Podcasts (2024)

1
Christmas Wishes and a Peek into 2025 15:40

2h ago15:40

15:40

Unlike many podcasters who take a break over Christmas, I'm not taking breaks. Instead, as I do every year, I'm publishing a special episode with seasonal wishes and, most importantly, with a big thank you to all of you for being here with me, subscribing to the podcast whether on a podcast app or YouTube and particularly for signing up to my newsl…

1
Expert Talk: Bowhunting Ethics and Practice 1:00:49

7d ago1:00:49

1:00:49

This episode is a real treat for all those who are interested in bowhunting, bowhunting culture and the ethics of bowhunting compared to rifle hunting. Everything sprinkled with a healthy dose of hunting stories. It feels like I’m one of the only very few who talks about bowhunting with European listeners in mind. Indeed, I would like to see huntin…

1
192: EU Green Policy - The Science-Politics Divide with Faustine Bas-Defossez 1:03:58

14d ago1:03:58

1:03:58

How much influence do personal experiences of high-ranking officials have on EU environmental policies? What happens when science-based conservation collides with political interests? Can farmers and environmentalists find common ground in nature restoration? In this episode, I talk to Faustine Bas-Defossez, Director for Nature, Health and Environm…

1
The Return of the Irish Sturgeon 52:34

21d ago52:34

52:34

In this episode I'm joined by Declan Quigley to explore the history of sturgeon in Irish waters. We talk about the recent campaign by the Irish Wildlife Trust to reintroduce this ancient fish. The conversation dives into the history of sturgeon in Ireland, discussing their critical endangerment and the factors that led to their decline, including o…

1
191: Rewilding Myths and Misconceptions with Ian Parsons 1:12:43

28d ago1:12:43

1:12:43

What exactly is rewilding? Does it simply mean bringing back wolves, lynx and bears, or is there more to it? Can we balance food production and rural community needs with land left to natural processes and wildlife conservation? To answer these questions, I talk with Ian Parsons, editor of "Great Misconceptions: Rewilding Myths and Misunderstanding…

1
Ireland on the Fly with Daire and Tom 14:54

1M ago14:54

14:54

What drives two friends to create a weekly podcast about fly fishing? How do they manage to keep it fresh and engaging week after week? Ireland on the Fly started as Daire's passion project about four years ago, combining his media background with his newfound love for fly fishing. The podcast took on new life when Tom, an experienced angling guide…

1
190: The Geopolitics of Whale Conservation with Peter Corkeron 56:17

1M ago56:17

56:17

Is the resumption of commercial whaling inevitable? What hidden geopolitical forces are shaping international whale conservation efforts? Let's dive (pun not intended) into the complex world of whale conservation with marine scientist Dr Peter Corkeron. In our conversation, Peter uncovers the surprising connections between military bases, national …

1
Salmon Farming Exposed: Environmental Catastrophe and Community Impact 1:17:42

2M ago1:17:42

1:17:42

Listen to my conversation with John Aitchison from the Coastal Communities Network Scotland to learn about the devastating effects of salmon farming on the marine environment and coastal communities. Toxic waste, pesticides, diseases and parasites are just the tip of the iceberg. I knew that salmon farming was bad but I didn’t realise quite how bad…

1
189: Climate Anxiety and Presence Activism with Lynne Sedgmore 56:39

2M ago56:39

56:39

Do you feel climate anxiety? Is it overwhelming you? How do we find peace while being bombarded with dire environmental predictions? In an attempt to answer these questions, I talk with Lynne Sedgmore, a well-known educator, leadership coach, activist and the author of the book "Presence Activism: A Profound Antidote to Climate Anxiety". To set the…

1
Polar Bears in a Warming World with Andrew Derocher 1:04:39

2M ago1:04:39

1:04:39

Last week I published a blog post where I set out to answer the question of whether polar bears are facing impending extinction due to climate change or are they, in fact, doing better than ever. Around the time when I was investigating this question, I got in touch with Professor Andrew Derocher from the Department of Biological Sciences at the Un…

1
188: Peer Review Reimagined - How Stacks Journal is Transforming Scientific Publishing 1:03:38

2M ago1:03:38

1:03:38

Is scientific publishing broken? How can we make it more accessible and inclusive? And what if peer review could be collaborative and efficient instead of opaque and burdensome? In this episode, we dive into the world of academic publishing with Dr David Green, founder of Stacks Journal. We talk about how the current system is failing researchers a…

1
The EU Review of Wolf Protection Status 1:23:31

3M ago1:23:31

1:23:31

The European Commission is deliberating on lowering the protection status of wolves in the EU. It seems like this decision has been taken after the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen’s pony was killed by wolves. Is this really the reason for what many have dubbed “a new European wolf hunt”? To unpack this issue I talked to environm…

1
187: Soil, Dung Beetles, and Longhorn Beef with Elise Sutton 52:51

3M ago52:51

52:51

Can farming and conservation coexist harmoniously? How can farmers produce high-quality food while protecting biodiversity? Elise Sutton, a passionate conservationist and livestock manager at Cherry Lodge Farm, shares her experience in balancing food production with nature conservation. Elise talks about conservation grazing using English Longhorn …

1
186: Climate-Resilient Crops - Gene Editing with BetterSeeds and Ido Margalit 54:07

3M ago54:07

54:07

What are the latest advancements in gene editing for crops? How can genetic engineering help plants withstand climate change? Is genetically modified food safe for consumption? To answer these questions, I talk with Ido Margalit, a co-founder and the CEO of BetterSeeds, a plant genetics company focused exclusively on using genome editing/CRISPR tec…

1
185: Farmers' Perspective on Carnivore Reintroductions with Jonny Hanson 1:08:39

3M ago1:08:39

1:08:39

Can large carnivore conservation coexist with livestock farming? In this episode, environmental social scientist Jonny Hanson and I discuss the complex issue of large carnivore reintroductions in Britain and Ireland. What are farmers' perspectives on sharing landscapes with predators like wolves and lynx? How can we balance conservation goals with …

1
Wildlife In The Balance with Simon Mustoe 1:05:35

4M ago1:05:35

1:05:35

This is one of the most thought-provoking books I have read. Although I don’t agree with everything in the book, I can overlook my disagreements because of how brilliant some parts that I do agree with are. So I couldn’t wait to sit down with the author, expert ecologist, Simon Mustoe for a chat about his views and, of course, about the book. In hi…

1
184: Novel Ecosystems and Nature-Based Solutions with Marcus Collier 59:49

4M ago59:49

59:49

Are humans part of nature or separate from it? How do we define native species, and should we always strive to eradicate invasive ones? Can urban green spaces play a role in addressing climate change and biodiversity loss? And what is the Anthropocene anyway? These are only some of the questions I discussed with Dr. Marcus Collier, an Associate Pro…

1
183: Nature Restoration Law - an Irish Farmer’s Perspective with Bill O’Keeffe 1:20:51

4M ago1:20:51

1:20:51

Why was the farming community so opposed to the EU’s Nature Restoration Law? Doesn’t a healthy ecosystem benefit agriculture? Isn’t the availability of additional payments for alternative use of unproductive land a good thing? Aren’t the measures built into the law sufficient to protect the actively used agricultural land? To find answers to those …

1
182: Lead Ammunition and Health with Fredrik Widemo 1:04:36

5M ago1:04:36

1:04:36

Should we worry about consuming venison from an animal harvested with lead ammunition? Will cutting out and discarding meat around the impact area solve the problem? And what are the best practices to keep us safe? Most of us have heard about the negative effects of lead on health. Not only on our health but also on the health of the ecosystems. In…

1
181: Farming and Soil Biodiversity with Stuart Meikle 1:10:07

5M ago1:10:07

1:10:07

What is sustainable agriculture? Does regenerative farming mean focusing primarily on the soil biome? Is farming a leading cause of biodiversity loss? …and do we really have only 60 harvests left? To get the answers to those and other questions about farming and biodiversity, join me for a conversation with an agricultural management and policy spe…

1
180: Hunters Just Are 34:05

6M ago34:05

34:05

Not long ago I posted a tweet: “Hunters are not good or bad, they just are. Therefore, they must be managed just like, and as a part of, the wildlife they hunt.” It was an attempt to condense my thoughts about our relationship with wildlife and nature. I purposefully used the word “our” because I believe that we are all hunters; it's just that this…

1
179: Sika Deer: Pest or Precious? 1:28:35

6M ago1:28:35

1:28:35

Sika (cervus nippon) is a mid-sized deer that was introduced to Ireland in the 1860s to the Powerscourt Estate. Soon after that, it started spreading across Ireland. Today, the main concentrations of sika are in Kerry, Wicklow, Tyrone and Fermanagh. More recently, it has also been found in Waterford, Galway, Limerick, and Wexford. The National Biod…

1
178: Why Biodiversity Matters with Nigel Dudley 58:26

7M ago58:26

58:26

“Why Biodiversity Matters” is fundamentally a philosophy book. However, the author and our guest, Nigel Dudley, is not a philosopher but an accomplished conservation biologist who has accumulated an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience working on conservation projects across the world. He has worked as a consultant ecologist with internati…

1
177: Nature, Farming and Politics with Saoirse McHugh 1:02:17

7M ago1:02:17

1:02:17

Join me for a conversation with Saoirse McHugh who is running as an independent candidate for the European Parliament to represent the Midlands-North-West constituency. During our discussion, we delve into a wide array of topics such as the connection between agriculture and environmentalism, sustainable land management practices and agricultural s…

1
176: Invasive Ants Impact Lion Predation on Zebras, with Adam T. Ford 51:59

8M ago51:59

51:59

The paper that we discuss in this episode describes how an invasive species of ants disrupts lion hunting behaviour. There are also acacia trees, elephants, zebras and buffalos involved in the whole chain of interactions between species. To talk about this incredibly interesting research I invited an Associate Professor, Adam Ford, Canada Research …

1
175: SOTKA Wetlands with Veli-Matti Pekkarinen and Heikki Helle 58:54

8M ago58:54

58:54

Finnish SOTKA is a large-scale habitat restoration project and a part of a larger Helmi Habitats Programme aimed at restoring Finland’s biodiversity. It is run by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of the Environment. SOTKA’s objective is large-scale habitat restoration through wetlands rehabilitation, restoration of mires an…

1
174: Not A Conservationist 11:01

9M ago11:01

11:01

Many people claim they are conservationists. But are they really? Inspired by your comments and some discussions that I had in the past, I decided to talk about this subject. This episode was recorded outdoors, on the beautiful Irish coast of county Kerry. So, don’t be surprised to hear chough calling in the background or some occasional gusts of w…

1
173: The Last Keeper with Tom Opre 1:23:06

9M ago1:23:06

1:23:06

I have been waiting for Tom Opre’s new film “The Last Keeper” since I learned in July 2022 that he and his team are working on it. Well, the wait was over for me at the beginning of February 2024, as I was the only person in Ireland to screen the film. The wait will soon be over for you as well since the film premieres in mid-April in Edinburgh. Wh…

1
172: Antidote to Screen Addiction with Emanuel Rose 46:35

10M ago46:35

46:35

This episode is slightly different than usual when it comes to its subject. However, working with technology by day and creating digital content by night, I spend substantial time thinking about and grappling with this subject. So when I learned that a long-term supporter and a friend of the podcast, Emanuel Rose, wrote a book about it, I decided t…

1
171: Rewilding with Steve Carver 51:51

10M ago51:51

51:51

It has been a considerable time since the last time we spoke about rewilding on the podcast. I feel that the discussion around the practice as well as understanding of the term has moved on in the last three to four years. So, I decided to get an update on the state of rewilding. To do so, I invited the Director of the Wildland Research Institute a…

1
170: EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 with Frank Vassen 55:14

10M ago55:14

55:14

Currently, a lot is going on in the European Union concerning regulations that can impact nature and nature restoration. To get a better understanding of the current state of nature in the European Union and the future of nature conservation and restoration I talk with Frank Vassen. Frank works in the Nature Unit in the General Directorate for the …

1
169: Species Reintroductions 30:20

11M ago30:20

30:20

Species reintroductions, often in the context of rewilding, is a topic that we frequently discuss on this podcast. It is also fiercely debated on social media. I have been asked more than once about my views and opinions on this topic. Do I support species reintroductions? Well, it depends. In this episode, I’m going to break down my take on specie…

1
168: Coexistence with Wolves in Estonia with Helen Arusoo 57:29

11M ago57:29

57:29

On my podcast, we talk a lot about coexistence with large carnivores and the challenges it poses. Some of those challenges might seem insurmountable to some. To shed some light on overcoming these hurdles, I contacted Helen Arusoo, an Estonian nature journalist and the leader of the National Animal Working Group. In this conversation, we talk about…

1
167: Conservation Detection Dogs with Caroline Finlay 49:49

11M ago49:49

49:49

When we talk about dogs and conservation, it is usually in the context of wildlife disturbances caused by pet dogs and their inconsiderate owners. However, a specially trained dog can be an invaluable asset in conservation projects that require searches or detection. The subjects can vary from searching and finding carcasses to detecting nests and …

1
166: Conservation and Science in 2024 - Housekeeping 53:37

12M ago53:37

53:37

The new year has just started and I’m quick to treat you to yet another episode of the Conservation and Science podcast. Since it is this early in the year, it’s a good opportunity to give you an update about my plans for 2024 and what you can expect from the podcast. Listen to find out about changes to the episode release schedule, my writing and …

1
165: Flicker in the Water with Bob Gonzalez 49:37

12M ago49:37

49:37

A Flicker in the Water is a book about fishing I wish someone had written a long time ago. I gotta admit that due to its small size, I initially underestimated it. However, as I started reading it, I was immediately drawn to the series of fishing stories and captivated by original, real-life photos. In fact, reading this book was so pleasurable tha…

1
164: Shotgun Conservationist with Brant MacDuff 1:15:55

1y ago1:15:55

1:15:55

The story of Brant MacDuff, the author of the book under the title “The Shotgun Conservationist: Why Environmentalists Should Love Hunting” is in many ways similar to mine. We were both born and raised in the city without any contact or access to hunting. We overcame not insignificant obstacles to get into hunting later in life and both of us decid…

1
163: The EU Review of Wolf Protection Status 1:23:05

1y ago1:23:05

1:23:05

The European Commission is deliberating on lowering the protection status of wolves in the EU. It seems like this decision has been taken after the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen’s pony was killed by wolves. Is this really the reason for what many have dubbed “a new European wolf hunt”? To unpack this issue I talked to environm…

1
162: Sheep, Soil and Biodiversity with Suzanna Crampton 1:30:24

1y ago1:30:24

1:30:24

The impact of farming on nature is one of the most contested subjects. The negative impact on biodiversity and soil health is juxtaposed with food security and benefits to certain species of wildlife. But does it have to be one or the other? Join me for the conversation with Suzanna Crampton who is one of the most recognisable figures in Irish agri…

1
161: Archery Insights with Jim Clark 1:01:30

1y ago1:01:30

1:01:30

This episode is a real treat for all those who are interested in bowhunting, bowhunting culture and the ethics of bowhunting compared to rifle hunting. Everything sprinkled with a healthy dose of hunting stories. — It feels like I’m one of the only very few who talks about bowhunting with European listeners in mind. Indeed, I would like to see hunt…

1
160: Safari Club International with Ben Cassidy 57:34

1y ago57:34

57:34

Today, we continue the exploration of the public perception of hunting, the issue of social license to hunt and some current topics related to hunting. Certain issues such as the use of lead in hunting ammunition or the attempts to ban the import of certain animal parts, aka trophy import ban, often hit the headlines. And there is no better person …

1
159: Polar Bears in a Warming World with Andrew Derocher 1:04:57

1y ago1:04:57

1:04:57

This episode will answer all your questions about polar bears — including those you didn’t know you had. Our guest is Professor Andrew Derocher from the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta who specialises in ecology, conservation, and management of large Arctic mammals with a particular focus on polar bears. The subjects …

1
158: Wildlife In The Balance with Simon Mustoe 1:05:18

1+ y ago1:05:18

1:05:18

In his book, “Wildlife in The Balance”, expert ecologist Simon Mustoe lays out the case for animals being the most important ingredient of the ecosystem. He outlines the critical importance of keeping the planet’s energy inputs and outputs in balance and the role animals play in ensuring this balance. This connection of ecology with physics is one …

1
157: Is The Red Wolf a Real Species? Conversation with Peter Brewitt 59:13

1+ y ago59:13

59:13

In our conversation with Peter Brewitt from the University of California, Santa Cruz (currently the University of Cumbria) we dive into the history of the species as we know it, and their current conservation status and distribution. We discuss the genetic diversity of canids on the American continent, and why attempts to recover red wolves might b…

1
156: Save Blackswarth Road Wood with Phil Sturgeon 1:02:07

1+ y ago1:02:07

1:02:07

Some things are so tiny yet so central that they matter more than giant things elsewhere. This is a paraphrased message I got from Phil Sturgeon, an ex-techie and founder of Protect Earth charity, who dedicated his life to woodland creation and restoration. As it turns out, Phil is running a fundraiser to buy five acres of mature woodland in Crew's…

1
155: Sixgill Sharks and Flapper Skates with Patrick Collins 53:10

1+ y ago53:10

53:10

The sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus) is the largest of the Hexanchiformes order of sharks, the most primitive living sharks, sometimes called “fossil sharks”. The sixgill, sometimes known as the blunt nose sixgill or cow shark, can grow to over 6 metres (20 feet) in length and weigh over a tonne. What’s interesting is that in Ireland one can catch…

1
154: Hunting Europe: The Present and Future with David Scallan 1:12:53

1+ y ago1:12:53

1:12:53

It was my great pleasure to once again welcome to my show Dr David Scallan, the Secretary General of the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE). It has been over three years since the last time we spoke on the podcast. So I felt that it was high time to talk with David again as there is a lot going on for hunters and hunting organi…

1
153: Do You Believe in Climate Change? 19:03

1+ y ago19:03

19:03

This episode is slightly different from the usual format. It is a solo episode, so no guest today. I decided to record it because of a few bothersome messages I have received recently regarding climate change. But don’t worry, I will not repeat all the same information you get bombarded with on social media. And I will not reference any research or…

1
152: From Anti-hunter to Advocate with Philippe Jaeger 1:01:51

1+ y ago1:01:51

1:01:51

Hunting is a frequent topic on my podcast. It lies in the epicentre of the unnecessary divide in wildlife conservation space. It evokes strong emotions and is often the source of fierce debate and conflict. So today I’m bringing you my conversation with a man who has been on both sides of that argument. Philippe Jaeger is a hunting journalist who i…

1
151: Irish Sturgeon with Declan Quigley 52:37

1+ y ago52:37

52:37

One of the three pillars of my podcast is to preserve knowledge about how the natural environment was in the past and to record stories and experiences from many decades ago. One such story, that I have a feeling is slipping away, is the story of the Irish sturgeon. Or to be more precise the story of sturgeon in Irish waters, as it wasn’t a separat…

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