Circular Economies and Linear Infrastructure: the Complex Interplay of Roads, Beavers, and Ecosystems with Ben Goldfarb

Mind, Body, and Soil

In this episode, Kate sits down with author Ben Goldfarb to discuss the profound effects of beavers and humans on ecosystems, particularly through the construction of roads and habitats. Ben Goldfarb is the author of Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of Our Planet and Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter. In this episode we explore a world filled with paradox, interconnectedness, and circularity. It’s a dialogue about the differences, and similarities, in how beavers and humans approach world building that uncovers thoughts on our built vs natural worlds and the implications for the future, the environment, and our communities. Ben shares some about the history of roads and how they bring us both closer to and further away from nature and from one another. Simultaneously, we explore how roads tend to beget more roads, just like how beaver dams tend to beget a more interconnected ecology. This is a big conversation, a fantastic interview that spans topics large and small to give listeners an idea of how we might build a better path forward.

Find Ben:

X (formerly Twitter): @ben_a_goldfarb

Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of Our Planet

Eager: The Suprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter

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