Defender Radio and The Switch
Episodes
What's Next?
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We want to look into the future for Defender Radio and The Switch – and that means hearing from you! We've put together a short (really) survey that...
Animal Law at University of Toronto featuring Dr. Angela Fernandez
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Animal law is a topic of growing interest to Canadians, advocates, and legal experts. While there are some great people doing great work related to an...
Fashion's Future is Fur-Free featuring PJ Smith
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
September is fashion month, with massive week-long events in major cities worldwide, including New York, London, Milan and Paris. And the question on ...
Canmore Cougar Tragedy Update feat. John Marriott and Maggie Spizziri
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The tragic story of a locally beloved cougar being killed near Canmore, Alberta, earlier this year was heartbreaking. John Marriott, an award-winning ...
Bring Back the Night: Light Pollution featuring Tijana Selak
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From streetlights to skyscrapers and everything in between, lighting up the night can help keep people safe. But, this often excessive lighting has a ...
Navigating Climate Grief featuring Dr. Shawna Weaver
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Wildfires and drought, floods and ice storms, and a seemingly never-ending news cycle of chaos around us is a lot. I’ll be honest – there are days...
The Mink VIRUS Act featuring Devan Schowe
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mink fur farms are a virus’s favourite place. There’s lots of opportunity to transmit, mutate, and lead to more virulent strains that threaten pub...
The Canmore cougar tragedy featuring John E. Marriott
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Anyone who follows John E. Marriott or Exposed Wildlife Conservancy on social media knows that a cougar John had tracked for many years was killed nea...
A Dam Good Conversation: Ben Goldfarb on Beavers, Wetlands, and Rewilding the World
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Fifty years ago this week, Canada officially made beavers one of our national symbols. In celebrating this anniversary – and the many ecological ser...
Canada's Most Distinct Species featuring Emma Kominek
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Canada’s iconic wildlife include moose, beavers, and wolves. But of the many species of vertebrate, which are the most evolutionarily distinct? And ...
The Switch: Going Green for March Break Travel
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you’re heading south to escape the cold, across the provinces for an adventure, or just a town over for a quick getaway, there are a lot of ...
Takaya's Ongoing Legacy featuring Cheryl Alexander
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The journey of Takaya the Lone wolf on Vancouver Island was one of hope, inspiration, and ultimately tragedy. Cheryl Alexander, acclaimed conservation...
The Switch: Road Salt Solutions
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Winter salt keeps sidewalks safe but harms Ottawa’s waterways. A five-year study shows toxic chloride levels in local streams year-round. Learn how ...
Saving North Atlantic Right Whales featuring Sheryl Fink
17 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
North Atlantic Right Whales are at extreme risk of extinction, with only around 370 individuals and around 70 reproductive females. According to Right...
The Switch: Meal Planning to Reduce Food Waste
10 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Canadians waste a ton of food - literally! Learn how meal planning can reduce food waste, save you money, and reduce your impact on emissions and clim...
Biodiversity and Urban Connectivity feat. Dr. Thami Croeser and Dr. Holly Kirk
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Enhancing biodiversity in urban areas is a critical step in improving our ecosystems, resilience against the climate crisis, and ensuring nature expos...
Dealing With Winter Drafts
27 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Cold drafts in winter aren’t only unpleasant, they could be costing you money and wasting energy. Listen now to The Switch to hear how to quickly i...
Tizzy and Me: Fifteen Ways To Love A Mink feat. Dr. Nadja Lubiw-Hazard
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
One day at school, 7-year-old animal loving Georgia discovers her best friend is wearing a coat made with mink fur; with the companionship of her dog ...
Season 11 Coming Soon!
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I’m excited to announce season 11 of Defender Radio and The Switch is going live this month! You’ll be hearing long-form interviews from expert sc...
Rescuing Rabbits with Amy's Bunny Barn
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We’re releasing this episode in time for International Rabbit Day – a celebration of our favourite floppy-eared lagomorphs. While rabbits do make ...
Speak at Humane Canada’s Summit for Animals with Natalia Hanson
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Finding community is an important part of being an advocate – and in a post pandemic world, that can be a struggle. Fortunately, opportunities like ...
The Ursa Project with Katie Graves
12 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hundreds of black bears are killed in British Columbia every year; often, the issue leading to government agents killing bears is attractants such as ...
Signs of Life with Sarah Cox
22 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
More than 5,000 wild species are at risk of extinction in Canada right now – it’s an overwhelming, staggering number, and it begs the question: wh...
Tales of the Urban Wild with Dr. Tiffany Yap and Meital Smith
08 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What’s the world like for a Puma in California? What would they encounter, and what would they make of the humans acting strangely in the landscape?...
Bears in our Backyards with Paul Johnson
01 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Black bears in British Columbia face an impossible reality: find new places to live, without being near people, while we continue to remove habitat an...
Nakoda's Story with John E. Marriott
24 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Nakoda was a grizzly bear who lived in Yoho National Park. She was a well-known bear, having been tracked by Parks Canada as Bear 178, and popular wit...
Beyond Animal Control with Jennifer Toussaint
10 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Mustachioed dog-nappers chasing animated pooches around the city may be what’s in some of our heads when it comes to animal control, but the importa...
California's Room to Roam Act with Dr. Tiffany Yap
03 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Room to roam for wildlife is essential to their health, particularly as they face increasing pressures related to development and the climate crisis. ...
Perceptions of Urban Coyotes in Ontario with Nicole Murphy + Dr. Stephanie Rutherford
27 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Traditional media has long portrayed coyotes in a negative light – and you don’t have to take my word for it. Nicole Murphy, a student at Peterbor...
Climate Grief with Dr. Shawna Weaver
13 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Some days are hard. The world feels like it’s falling apart, forests are burning, ecosystems are breaking down, and hope can be a long, long way awa...
How To Talk To A Science Denier with Dr. Lee McIntyre (repost)
06 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode originally released September 2021. The idea of walking into a flat earth convention makes my tummy hurt. For Dr. Lee McIntyre, it was an exer...
A Forever Home for Hooves with Michelle Singleton
29 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The search for home is something most people can relate to, at some point in their lives. Regardless of circumstance, that need for the place that is ...
The Emotional Lives of Animals with Dr. Marc Bekoff
22 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Making an emotional connection to a non-human animal is a defining moment in many peoples’ lives. It could be the family dog, a squirrel who hops pa...
VICTORY: Fighting Ag-Gag in Ontario with Camille Labchuk
15 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Investigations into farms by animal advocacy groups is an essential tool to exposing serious, systemic abuses of animals, failures to follow basic pol...
Depaving Hamilton with Green Venture
25 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A concrete laden Barton Street runs the distance of lower Hamilton, marking the transition from residential housing to commercial and industrial space...
Humane Canada's Summit for Animals
18 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you don’t already have passes to Humane Canada’s Summit for Animals May 5 to 7 in Halifax, you’re going to miss out on an awful lot! The annu...
The Art of Simone Diamond
11 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Simone Diamond is a Coast Salish artist who creates art pieces in the Coast Salish style. You may have seen Simone’s designs featured on products fr...
The Lives of Wild Dogs with Dr. Valli Fraser-Celin
12 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Improving the lives of dogs across Canada and around the world is a hefty goal – but by talking about the lives of wild dogs, Dr. Valli Fraser-Celin...
The Switch: Winter Planting for Wildlife
05 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s grey, generally cold, damp, and rather unpleasant in early February across Canada. Fortunately, it’s a great time of year to get outside and ...
Trapped In The Past Documentary Series with John E. Marriott
29 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Killing neck snares are cruel devices that experts and scientists have shown to be ineffective and inhumane. Yet they remain common across Canada. A n...
Plant-Based Eating Gets Edgy with Candice Hutchings
22 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Eating a plant-based diet is a great way to be healthy and reduce your impact on the environment and climate crisis. Making the change can be intimida...
The Switch: Rain Barrel Benefits
15 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you an active gardener looking for ways to reduce your impact on the local environment? Rain barrels are a great, accessible place to start! Join ...
Return of the British Beavers
08 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Beavers are incredible animals who have complex social lives, engineer essential ecosystems, and can help us develop climate resilience. In Canada, b...
The Switch: Zero Waste Gifting
18 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Gift giving is wonderful and generous, but around the holidays can generate a lot of waste. Dr. Elisabeth Ormandy (TEDx speaker, UBC Professor and ze...
Can AI Save Tigers? with Dr. Jeremy S. Dertien
11 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tigers are at risk of extinction around the globe. But in India, hard fought conservation has seen the population double since 2006. While this is fan...
Climate Grief with Dr. Shawna Weaver
27 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Some days are hard. The world feels like it’s falling apart, forests are burning, ecosystems are breaking down, and hope can be a long, long way awa...
The Switch: Share the Love on Giving Tuesday
20 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Giving Tuesday is a huge opportunity for non-profits and charities across the country to raise desperately needed funds to keep campaigns going. But C...
Are Canadians Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?
13 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Wolves are iconic, majestic and absolutely essential apex predators. But what do Canadians think about wolves? That was the primary question driving a...
The Switch: Defeating Winter Drafts
07 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Political leaders from across the spectrum have debated the taxation and cost of home heating in Canada recently; while noses are thumbed back and for...
Primates Are Not Pets with Dr. Jake Brooker
30 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Any time spent watching chimpanzees is valuable; they show tool use, complex social structures and behaviours, and, according to the latest science, a...
Rescuing Saskatchewan's Wildlife with Bonnie Dell
16 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Wildlife rehabilitators are incredible people: they dedicate their time, personal or professional, to assisting wild animals who are injured or orphan...
The Beaver Institute with Adam Burnett
25 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Beavers are an essential animal to the North American landscape. They create and maintain wetlands that are home to at-risk and endangered species; th...
Dogs Demystified with Dr. Marc Bekoff
11 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We spend our lives with dogs, sharing joy, sorrow, companionship, and often surprisingly deep friendships. But often, we can be perplexed by our best ...
The Squirrel Who Stole Solstice (repost)
19 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is a repost from last year's popular Defender Radio Solstice Special! The Squirrel Who Stole Solstice was written and directed by Marisa King. St...
The Switch: Choosing Ethical Beauty and Skincare Products
12 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ethical skincare expert Tricia Stevens of batch skincare joined The Switch to share tips on how to identify ethical and sustainable ingredients and pr...
Green Infrastructure with Dr. Anna Zakrisson
24 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Solutions to the climate crisis are multifaceted and require innovative thinking. It also means the way we’ve been doing things, particularly with d...
The Switch: Fairtrade Fashion with Kemp Edwards
10 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Fairtrade is a recognized sustainability term worldwide. Did you know that fairtrade practices are also applied in fashion? Kemp Edwards, sustainable ...
Talking With Bears with Ellie Lamb
03 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s a common saying, that animals have no voice. But they do – they can be quite proficient at communicating their needs. It’s more that humans...
'Heartbreaking' Inside Quebec Fur Farms with Camille Labchuk
09 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Two fur farms in Quebec are at the centre of a complaint filed by Animal Justice after they received images from We Animals Media. The photos, capture...
The Switch: Rodent Proofing Your Home with Erin Ryan
15 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) are being banned in jurisdictions around the world due to the harm they cause ecosystems and indi...
P.E.A.C.E. is Supporting Farmed Animal Sanctuaries
08 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Farmed animal sanctuaries are a place of healing and hope. But the creation and management of a farmed animal sanctuary can be an overwhelming process...
The Mini-Forest Revolution with Hannah Lewis
25 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Rewilding the world is an important step in combating climate change; recreating ecosystems and habitat can’t happen soon enough. Fortunately, a lot...
The Switch: How Bear Door Hangers Save Lives with Aaron Hofman
18 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Large wildlife such as bears and coyotes are often killed for being around human places and accessing anthropogenic food sources. But simple education...
Burnout and Asking For Help with Stephanie McMahon
11 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Content/Trigger Warning: This episode discusses subjects of burnout, self-care, self-harm, suicide, and mental health. I recently connected with Steph...
Wildlife Attractant By-Law Toolkit
27 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If a tool existed that would reduce negative encounters with wildlife in your municipality, would you implement it? I think most listeners would – a...
The Switch: Urban Meadows with Dr. Anna Zakrisson
20 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Green lawns and pavement do little to help the ecosystem, but finding ways to incorporate essential meadows in urban centres can make a significant im...
Rodenticides with Erin Ryan
13 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Rodents – mice, rats, squirrels and the like – are found all across Canada. At some point, pretty much every homeowner or building owner will be c...
Repost: Monitoring the Illegal Wildlife Trade and Canada's Role
26 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is a repost of a past episode. New episodes will be streaming by June 2022! The illegal wildlife trade is significantly broader and includes far...
Repost: How to Talk To A Science Denier
11 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Repost of a popular Defender Radio episode. New episodes return May 2022! Episode originally released September 2021. The idea of walking into a flat ...
Springing Into April
31 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the beginning of spring and the end of the eighth season of Defender Radio! As The Fur-Bearers’ fiscal year rolls over, my attentions are nee...
Humane Canada's Summit for Animals
21 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Humane Canada’s Summit for Animals is approaching, and it’s sounding like it’s going to be their best yet. The annual conference is going to inc...
MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith on Bill C-247
07 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Liberal MP for Beaches-East York, in February introduced Private Members Bill C-247, An Act to prohibit fur farming. This Act...
The Switch: Bird Safe Windows with Anouk Hoedeman
10 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You can save the lives of birds and keep your local ecosystem healthy by making a simple switch with the easy solutions suggested by Anouk Hoedeman of...
The Squirrel Who Stole Solstice
21 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Squirrel Who Stole Solstice was written and directed by Marisa King. Starring Kristi Boulton, Marisa King and Michael Howie. Original holiday caro...
The Switch: Zero Waste Gift Giving with Dr. Elisabeth Ormandy
13 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Gift giving is wonderful and generous, but around the holidays can generate a lot of waste. Dr. Elisabeth Ormandy (Executive Director of Society for H...
Frances Backhouse: Beaver Tales to Bear Necessities
06 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Frances Backhouse is a well-regarded naturalist and journalist, as well as the author of several books on beavers, including Once They Were Hats. Thou...
Giving Tuesday Special!
29 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Get details on the incredible matching gift challenge and how you can be a producer of the new trapping documentary! Learn more about the Trapped In T...
Trapped In The Past
22 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Giving Tuesday Challenge: For the week of Monday, November 29 to Friday, December 3, 2021, all donations to this project will be MATCHED up to $10,000...
The Switch: Placemaking and Little Free Libraries
15 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Placemaking and little free libraries go hand in hand to help residents make a switch in their community. Dr. Teale Phelps Bondaroff of the Victoria P...
Monitoring the Illegal Wildlife Trade and Canada's Role
08 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The illegal wildlife trade is significantly broader and includes far more species than most people think; and Canada is seemingly playing a role. Dr. ...
The Switch: Hugelkultur and Biodiversity, with Sam Ceci
01 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Samantha Ceci is helping create biodiversity in a monocultured woodlot by switching to Hugelkultur! Sam, a Master of Resource and Environmental Manage...
Coyote Portrayals in Media, Ten Years Later
25 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Portrayal of interactions between humans and coyotes, content analysis of Canadian Print Media 1998-2010 isn’t the most enthralling of titles. But t...
The Switch: Libraries Can Build Resilient Communities
18 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
April Griffith is helping her and other libraries across America become hubs for climate education and solutions. April is the Library Director at Eur...
Autumn Announcements
13 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Want to suggest topics for The Switch or Defender Radio? Reach out to us at [email protected], by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host ...
The Switch: Doom Scrolling with Stephanie McMahon
04 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Doom Scrolling or doom surfing is the tendency to keep looking at social media or other internet sites and read negative or bad news, despite the impa...
The Switch: Eco-friendly Menstrual Products
27 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Elisabeth Ormandy, Executive Director of Canadian Society for Humane Science, UBC professor, lecturer and zero waste enthusiast joins The Switch t...
Tomm Moore: Storytelling, Environmentalism, and WolfWalkers
20 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I have watched a LOT of content in the last year and a half. But little of it has hit me in the heart and mind as thoughtfully and powerfully as the O...
The Switch: Gas Leaf Blowers with Dr. Teale Phelps Bondaroff
13 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Teale Phelps Bondaroff is encouraging his community to switch off gas leaf blowers. According to Teale, gas leaf blowers contribute to noise pollu...
The Fur-Bearers' Stanley Park Coyotes Update
08 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNROD) announced last week they would be killing up to 35 coyotes ...
How To Talk To A Science Denier
06 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The idea of walking into a flat earth convention makes my tummy hurt. For Dr. Lee McIntyre, it was an exercise in curiosity explored in the introducti...
The Switch: Episode Zero
30 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Switch is a new bi-weekly show on the Defender Radio Podcast feed, produced by The Fur-Bearers and hosted by Michael Howie. This show will featu...
Protecting Wolverines with UAVs
23 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There are few mammals who are as outwardly tough and intimidating as Gulo gulo, the wolverine. These solitary individuals are considered a species of ...
Coyotes in Stanley Park with Dr. Kristen Walker
19 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
More than two dozen incidents of coyotes scratching and biting people have occurred in Vancouver’s Stanley Park since December 2020. You’ve likely...
Takaya's Legacy
09 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The name Takaya may ring a bell if you follow wildlife news. He was the lone wolf who lived on Discovery Island and other islands in the Salish Sea, a...
The Unseen Impacts of Wildlife Feeding
26 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Having a chipmunk come up, sniff your finger cautiously, then nip a treat and run off is magical; I won’t lie – it’s pretty remarkable. But the ...
Updates: Read-a-Thon and new Feature Series!
23 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Host Michael Howie brings you updates on The Fur-Bearers' Read-a-Thon event happening soon and how to register, as well as a look (and the need for yo...
Domestic Violence & Pets Part ii: Parachutes for Pets
12 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Parachutes for Pets in Calgary is a grassroots organization that is working to build community supports to protect the connection between people and t...
Domestic Violence & Pets Part i: Urban Resource Institute
12 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Urban Resource Institute, America’s largest domestic violence residential service provider. and the National Domestic Violence Hotline, recently rel...
Inside 15 Years of U.S. Wildlife Trade Data
29 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There’s been a lot of talk about the wildlife trade since the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic hit the global stage in early 2020. While much of the attention ha...
Old Growth 101
15 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Old growth logging is in the news cycle again, with the Fairy Creek blockade on Vancouver Island being the latest in the persistent debate on how to m...