Jason Wise: Nature, Foraging and Finding Connection in the City

We took this week’s episode outside and recorded in Griffith Park with Jason Wise, an environmental educator and queer ecologist who is helping people reconnect with the nature all around them. As part of our Earth Day series, Jason shares how he went from working in policy to leading foraging hikes and teaching others how to see the world differently.

We talk about foraging, invasive vs native plants, and how something as simple as going on a walk can completely shift your perspective. Jason also shares what it means to be a queer ecologist, how nature challenges a lot of societal norms, and why building community is just as important as connecting with the environment.

Follow Jason on Instagram at @jasonjourneyman and check out his upcoming events at jasonjourneyman.com if you want to experience one of his hikes in person.You can also download the app iNaturalist to start identifying plants, animals and insects in your own neighborhood.

This conversation will make you want to get outside, slow down, and look at your surroundings in a whole new way.