About this episode

Marissa Ortega-Welch explores the origins and current challenges of wilderness in the podcast How Wild.

Today we’re sharing a podcast from our friends at KALW Public Media called How Wild . In the podcast, journalist and longtime backpacker Marissa Ortega-Welch explores where the original ideas for wilderness came from and how today’s changes are testing the definition of wilderness. In the first episode, Marissa ventures off trail in California’s Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park to see a grove of ancient giant sequoia trees that burned down in a severe fire, and learn why park biologists and environmentalists are grappling with how much to try and restore these trees. Both How Wild and Beyond the Shore are proud to be part of the American Storytelling Collection. To find even more great titles to explore the outdoors this summer with the NPR Network, just search for the 'American Storytelling Collection' in the NPR App or on Apple Podcasts.

People in this episode

Guest: Marissa Ortega-Welch

Topics covered

• wilderness
• environment
• nature
• restoration
• California
• podcast

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: KALW Public Media

Books & works: How Wild, American Storytelling Collection

Places: California, Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park

More episodes of Beyond the Shore

• The American Storytelling collection explores the great outdoors · June 9, 2026 · 1 min
• Lake Ontario, Unsafe Passage · May 29, 2026 · 31 min
• The ancient origins of, and enduring connections to Lake Superior · May 22, 2026 · 26 min
• Restoring the dinosaur fish of Lake Erie · May 15, 2026 · 27 min
• Surfing Lake Michigan · May 8, 2026 · 18 min
• The hidden shipwrecks of Lake Huron · May 1, 2026 · 23 min

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