Are you feeling stressed, scattered, or mentally drained? Science suggests a surprisingly simple way to feel better: spending time in nature.

In this episode of Nature Breaking, we explore the growing body of psychological research showing how time spent outdoors improves focus, mood, and overall mental health. Host Seth Larson is joined by Dr. Dennis Stolle, Executive Lead Psychologist for Applied Psychology at the American Psychological Association (APA), to break down what's actually happening in our brains when we step into outside—and why even small doses of nature can make a real difference. It's an important reminder that when we take care of nature, nature takes care of us.

This episode was produced as part of a collaboration between WWF and APA in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month.

Links for More Info:

Dr. Dennis Stolle bio

American Psychological Association

WWF – Mental Health & Nature page

Chapters:

0:00 Preview

0:33 Intro

2:07 History of research into nature and mental health

5:09 What happens in our brains when we're outside?

9:21 How time in nature improves happiness

13:19 How too much time indoors or on screens hurts our mental health

16:43 Tips for boosting mental health through nature

20:41 We need nature, and nature needs us

23:08 Outro

When you think of endangered species, chances are the giant panda comes to mind. With their black‑and‑white coats, bamboo obsession, and internet‑famous antics, pandas are among the most beloved animals on Earth—and they're also one of conservation's most hopeful success stories.

In this episode of Nature Breaking, we're diving into the surprisingly weird and wonderful world of giant pandas with Colby Loucks, Vice President and Deputy Lead of WWF's Wildlife Program. Together, we unpack what makes pandas so unique—from their "fake thumb" and bamboo‑only diet to their solitary lifestyles and playful personalities.

But this isn't just about adorable panda videos. We also talk about how decades of conservation work helped giant pandas rebound from the brink of extinction, why they were reclassified from endangered to vulnerable, and what their recovery teaches us about protecting other species. Along the way, Colby shares firsthand stories from the field—including what it's really like trying (and failing) to spot a panda in the wild.

Links for More Info:

Colby Loucks bio

WWF Giant Panda page

Chapters:

0:00 Preview

0:24 Intro

2:00 Giant Pandas 101

4:56 Why do pandas play?

7:56 How giant pandas became a conservation success story

12:28 Colby's story about tracking a panda in the wild

15:37 Outro

*Bonus Episode*

What does it really mean to invest in nature—and why does it matter?

In this special crossover episode of Nature Breaking and The Pew Charitable Trusts' After The Fact podcast, WWF's Seth Larson and Pew's Giuliana Pence explore the growing field of nature finance. Joined by experts from both organizations, they tackle a big question: how much does it cost to protect nature, and where does that money come from? You'll hear from Matthew Cranford of WWF and Shubash Lohani of Pew as they explain why the world needs roughly $1.2 trillion per year by 2030 to halt biodiversity loss—and why current funding falls short. They also break down innovative financing tools like Project Finance for Permanence, debt‑for‑nature swaps, and market-based models that are helping fund and secure long‑term protection for forests, oceans, and wildlife.

From supporting Indigenous‑led conservation to restoring degraded landscapes, this episode shows why conservation isn't just a cost—it's an investment in healthy ecosystems, resilient communities, and a stable global economy that can also yield financial returns, in addition to nature benefits. If you've ever wondered how conservation actually gets funded, this episode offers a clear, accessible look at what happens when nature gets the investment it deserves.

Links for More Info:

Matthew Cranford bio

Shubash Lohani bio

Pew's After The Fact podcast

WWF's Nature Finance & Investment strategy

Enduring Earth

Chapters:

0:00 Intro – Welcome to a special crossover episode with Pew & WWF

1:29 Today's topic: nature finance

3:46 How much does it cost to save nature?

6:28 What does that money pay for?

12:17 What is "nature finance" and how does it work?

16:33 WWF's Nature Finance & Investment strategy

22:07 Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) & the Enduring Earth coalition

26:07 PFP results for nature and people

29:34 Connecting funders with high-quality projects

32:18 Quick Pitch: Why should funders invest in nature?

35:10 Matthew and Shubash reflect on each other's work

37:09 Seth and Giuliana's final thoughts

This week on Nature Breaking, we're teaming up with conservationist and content creator Maya Higa to kick off WWF's annual Give an Hour for Earth campaign. Maya is a Twitch streamer and YouTuber whose online community contributed tens of thousands of hours to our campaign last year.

Host Seth Larson interviews Maya about her journey from growing up on a farm to becoming a zookeeper, falconer, livestreamer, and founder of Alveus Sanctuary – a wildlife rehabilitation facility. She explains how digital platforms can be powerful tools for environmental education, what she's learned about inspiring young audiences, and why she believes small, everyday actions—done by many—can drive massive change.

Maya and Seth also break down their top recommendations for this year's Give an Hour for Earth activities, from simple trash cleanups to thoughtful grocery shopping, wildlife rehabilitation volunteering, and even livestream fundraising for conservation. Whether you're looking for hands‑on ways to help the planet or a dose of hope in the face of big environmental challenges, this episode is full of inspiration.

Links for More Info:

TAKE ACTION: Give an Hour for Earth

Maya Higa

Alveus Sanctuary

Maya's trash cleanup vlog

Chapters:

0:00 Preview

0:35 Intro

2:21 Maya's origin story

7:26 Maya's Tiny Mic video series and "hiding the broccoli"

9:54 The Alveus Sanctuary's mission

11:37 Give an Hour for Earth: Maya's trash cleanup experience

14:35 How small actions make a big difference

15:35 Maya and Seth's Top 3 Actions for Earth

22:16 Outro

Good news is hard to come by in the conservation world—but this week, we have some to share. A new report from WWF‑Mexico shows that the endangered migratory eastern monarch butterfly is showing promising signs of recovery, with monarchs occupying 7.24 acres of forest in their wintering grounds in Mexico—up from 4.42 acres last year. That's a 64% increase.

In this episode of Nature Breaking, we revisit conversations with two monarch experts—Eduardo Rendón‑Salinas of WWF‑Mexico and Court Whelan of Natural Habitat Adventures—to explain why this rebound matters, how monarch populations are measured, and what challenges still lie ahead. From the butterfly's amazing multi‑generational migration that spans thousands of miles to the threats posed by habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change, this episode dives into one of the most extraordinary natural phenomena on Earth.

If you're looking for a rare bit of optimism—and a reminder of why these butterflies inspire wonder across North America—this episode is for you.

Links for More Info:

Report: Monarch butterfly population increases by 64%

Monarch Milkweed Finder

Chapters:

0:00 Preview

0:23 Intro & New Report Findings

2:10 The epic migration of monarchs (spring to late summer)

3:41 The epic migration of monarchs (late summer to winter)

6:00 How do we monitor and estimate monarch populations?

7:40 Threats facing monarchs

10:42 Why should we care about monarchs?

12:07 Outro

Right now we're at the height of awards season, when artists across a variety of disciplines get awarded for the best achievements in their respective industries. In the spirit of that season, we decided to hand out some awards of our own this week. This episode features the first-ever Nature Breaking Awards. It's just like your favorite awards show, but for conservation instead of music or movies. Co-hosts Seth Larson and Hayley Lawton will run through fun categories like "Best Ecosystem Soundtrack" and "Wildest Wardrobe," discuss the nominees, and hand out some (largely arbitrary) awards. Because after all, we're all winners when it comes to saving the planet.

Subscribe to WWF's YouTube page

Find Nature Breaking on Apple Podcasts & Spotify

Chapters:

0:00 Preview

0:19 Intro

1:33 Explaining the Nature Breaking Awards

3:05 Standout Support Species

5:03 Outstanding Wildlife Effects

6:38 Best Ecosystem Soundtrack

8:52 Wildest Wardrobe

10:08 Outstanding Ecosystem

11:37 Reactions to the winners

12:58 Outro

Finance has a critical role to play in achieving conservation goals. Simply put, saving an ecosystem, or a species, isn't free. Those efforts require lots of scientific research and analysis, tools, infrastructure, and staff. WWF has been at the forefront of a variety of innovative ways to finance those efforts – from Project Finance for Permanence initiatives, to debt for nature swaps, and more.

Today we're going to talk about another approach that's gaining steam: impact investing. Impact investing is all about making investments with the goal of advancing social or environmental outcomes – not about maximizing financial returns. Joining Nature Breaking today to explain how it works is Isabelle Foster, WWF's Senior Impact Investing Specialist. Isabelle is part of WWF Impact, our impact investing venture. And she's also a podcast host, having recently launched a limited-series show called Catalyzing Climate Conversations. Her new show is a partnership with the Aspen Institute's Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE).

Stay tuned to hear from Isabelle about how impact investing works, why WWF is investing in companies like EatCloud—whose software platform is helping grocery stores and other businesses divert food from the landfill and instead support local communities—and how these investments advance conservation outcomes on the ground.

Links for More Info:

Isabelle Foster bio

WWF Impact

PODCAST: Catalyzing Climate Conversations

CHAPTERS:

0:00 Preview

0:30 Intro

1:56 What is impact investing?

5:20 How can impact investing help the planet?

8:02 WWF's approach to impact investing

13:34 Example of success: EatCloud

21:45 Podcast plug for Catalyzing Climate Conversations

27:39 Outro

Did you know that extreme weather disasters in the U.S. are now causing more than 20 billion‑dollar events every year, leaving a growing share of those losses uninsured? As climate change accelerates—and as ecosystems like wetlands and forests are destroyed and degraded—the insurance protection gap is widening, putting households, businesses, and entire communities at rising financial risk.

In this episode of Nature Breaking, you'll hear from David Kuhn, WWF's Director for Adaptation and Resilience Partnerships and a contributor to a new WWF report on the insurance crisis. David explains what's driving the surge in uninsured losses, why premiums are skyrocketing, and how climate‑driven disasters are undermining the stability of the US insurance system. He also breaks down how nature loss is stripping communities of their "first line of defense" against floods, storms, and heat—and why restoring ecosystems may be one of the most cost‑effective ways to strengthen resilience and shore up the insurance system.

As David shares, there's reason for hope in spite of these alarming trends. With smart policies, better risk modeling, and investments that treat nature as essential infrastructure, we can reduce damages, lower costs, and build a safer, more resilient future.

Links for More Info:

David Kuhn bio

REPORT: Tackling the Insurance Protection Gap

Op-Ed: Nature is a powerful ally against fires and floods (LA Times)

Chapters:

0:00 Teaser

0:31 Intro

1:56 Explaining the insurance protection gap

6:47 Insurance becoming an unsustainable business model

10:23 Practical impacts of insurance gap on consumers

15:23 Role of nature loss in the insurance crisis

19:16 How nature can help mitigate the insurance crisis

21:32 Recommendations for policymakers, insurers, companies, etc.

25:50 Reasons for hope

30:00 Outro