Proactive Relocation Away from Rising Waters
What can we do for Massachusetts communities on the front lines of flood risk to set them up for a safer, more resilient future?
Podcast: Nature is the Solution
December 15, 2025
Last updated January 21, 2026
What does it look like when communities, scientists and partners come together to let nature lead? Join us on a podcast journey across the state to find out! Learn about the innovative, nature-based solutions The Nature Conservancy is leading and collaborating on. Over nine episodes, you'll hear about how we’re working together to spark impactful change—all by turning to nature as a powerful solution.
Tune in every other week starting January 20, 2026, for a new episode. Find the latest episodes of Nature is the Solution below, on WBUR and on any platform where you get your podcasts.
Episode One is out Now!
Learn more about the power of oysters and how they support coastal health.
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The Episodes
Dropping every other week starting January 20, 2026.
© Mike Gearin
Oysters at Work
Reefs and Farmers Reviving Our Coast
Oyster reefs in the Northeast are like the coral reefs of the tropics—natural powerhouses that clean the water, shelter marine life and buffer our shorelines from storms. Yet most of these reefs have all but disappeared. This episode follows an inventive partnership between oyster farmers and conservationists with a shared goal of bringing oysters back. Through the intertwined worlds of oyster reef restoration and aquaculture, we explore how rebuilding reefs strengthens ecosystems, supports coastal economies and brings much needed resilience to our coasts.
Host: Steve Kirk, Coastal Program Director
Featuring: Dr. Boze Hancock, TNC Senior Marine Habitat Restoration Scientist; Island Creek Oysters; Honeysuckle Oyster Farm; Martha's Vineyard Shellfish Group; and Tom O'Shea, Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game
Learn more about our oyster aquaculture and restoration projects over the years.
© Loren Dowd/TNC
Living Shorelines
Building Resilience with Nature
What does a truly resilient shoreline look like? In this episode, we travel to Collins Cove in Salem, Massachusetts, where a living shoreline is helping the community adjust to rising sea levels and more powerful storms. By using natural materials and ecological design, they rebuilt marsh habitat to support wildlife and create a more inviting coastal environment for local residents. We explore how rethinking our shores through nature-based solutions can protect homes, strengthen ecosystems and shape coastlines where both people and natural systems flourish.
Host: Chris McGuire, Ocean Program Director
Also featuring: Dan Goulart, Coastal Project Manager; Julia Knisel and Deanna Moran, Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management; Tom O'Shea, Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game
Drops Tuesday, February 3.
© Loren Dowd/TNC
Moving with the Coast
Exploring Relocation from Climate Change
As rising seas and stronger storms threaten homes and infrastructure, some coastal residents are wrestling with a fundamental question: when is it time to move away from flood-prone homes? We examine what it means to relocate thoughtfully—ensuring safety, preserving community ties and planning for a sustainable future. By shifting with the coastline rather than resisting the changes, relocation is a forward-looking strategy that can open pathways to long-term resilience for people and nature alike.
Host: Emma Gildesgame, Climate Adaptation Director
Drops Tuesday, February 17.
© Jerry and Marcy Monkman/EcoPhotography
Rivers Reconnected
Healing Waterways and All They Support
The science and stories behind river restoration and ecological connectivity.
Drops Tuesday, March 3.
© Richard Getler
The Appalachian Mosaic
Linking Lands for a Resilient Future
Why connected Appalachian ecosystems matter for wildlife, people and climate.
Drops Tuesday, March 17.
© Tina McCarthy/TNC
Stewards of the Earth
Caring for the Land We Depend On
A deep dive into land stewardship, conservation and community-driven care.
Drops Tuesday, March 31.
© Christel Hiltibran
Powering Tomorrow
Renewable Energy Rooted in Nature
How clean energy solutions intersect with conservation and community needs.
Drops Tuesday, April 14
© Loren Dowd/TNC
Nature's Climate Toolkit
Solutions in Plain Sight
Unpacking natural climate solutions—from forests to farms to the coast.
Drops Tuesday, April 28
© Nick Giliberto
The Climate-Health Connection
Nature’s Role in Protecting People
How environmental change shapes public health and well-being—and how nature can help.
Drops Tuesday, May 12
Behind the Scenes
Take a look behind the recordings of the podcast episodes—on the shore, in the field and at the studio!
Restoration Up Close: Behind the scenes of recording episode one of the "Nature is the Solution" podcast during an oyster planting on Martha's Vineyard with Martha's Vineyard Shellfish Group. © Bekah Meyers/TNC
On the Water: Oyster restoration partners on Martha's Vineyard take a boat of oysters to a site in Katama Bay where they will be planted on the reef. © Bekah Meyers/TNC
In the Studio: Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Tom O'Shea joined WBUR Podcast Producer Jay Feinstein in the studio to share some insights for "Nature is the Solution." © Julia Hopkins
Interview Along the Shore: WBUR Podcast Producer Jay Feinstein interviews Julia Knisel, coastal shoreline and floodplain manager, MA Office of Coastal Zone Management, at a living shoreline in Salem. © Emma Gildesgame/TNC
Capturing Sound: WBUR Podcast Producer Jay Feinstein records the sounds of the water at a living shoreline at Collins Cove in Salem, MA, for the "Nature is the Solution" podcast. © Emma Gildesgame/TNC
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