Hi, everybody. This is Joe Lampel, the Joe Behind Joe Gardner, and welcome to the Joe Gardner Show.

Today, we're diving into a topic that affects both wildlife and humans in ways we rarely think about,

especially in the context of a gardening theme podcast. But as I've mentioned in past episodes a few times,

especially when the topic doesn't seem to have much connection

to gardening. I'm here to remind you that everything we talk about on this podcast does, in fact,

have a connection. Although perhaps not an obvious one right up front, but in the great words of John

Muir, who in 1911 wrote this famous quote in his book, My First Summer in the Sierra, when we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.

Our subject today is one that I've been fascinated with since I learned of this several years ago.

It's road ecology. Now, if you aren't exactly clear on what that means or how it's connected in nature, biodiversity, wildlife, are ultimately healthy ecosystems.

Hang in there. You will. Our guest is Ben Goldfarb, an award-winning environmental journalist and author whose work shines a light on the hidden ways human infrastructure shapes ecosystems.

Ben's latest book, Crossings, How Road Ecology

is Shaping the Future of Our Planet. It's a fascinating and eye-opening book that explores how

roads fragment habitats, endanger wildlife, and impact biodiversity on a massive scale. His reporting

has been featured in National Geographic, the Atlantic, science,

the New York Times, and more. Ben holds a master's degree in environmental management from Yale

University and frequently speaks on issues of road ecology, habitat fragmentation, and ecological

restoration. In crossings, Ben takes us into the world of road ecologists, scientist, and conservationist,

working to understand how roads impact wildlife and what we can do to mitigate these effects.

From wildlife corridors to policy solutions, we'll explore the bigger picture of how reconnecting

landscapes benefits not only animals, but also people and ecosystems too.

I am so thrilled to have been on the show today, so let's get started. And as we do, thanks to

our sponsors for today's episode, Soil Cubed and Territorial Seed. Having access to good quality

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