John recently published A California Love Story: A collection of letters written between 1925 and 1927. The book colorfully illustrates the heavenly courtship of John's grandparents Ray and Dora Wilcox after Ray was forced westward to find work. When John Thill traveled to Kansas and Oklahoma to research the couple’s origins, he found their cross-country postcards and extensive letters collaborating on their future together in California the most charming and entertaining example of how they revived each other through their mutual promises. Their letters offer a poignant testament to long-distance love and a heartfelt glimpse into the lives of these two unique individuals. Along Ray's journey, he met and became friends with the Kelly Family, who donated the land to the Agua Hediona Lagoon Foundation. Join us to listen to excerpts from A California Love Story and hear stories from John Thill.

Contact The Show

Podcast Website: Nature All Around Me

The Foundation website: Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation or call 760-804-1969

Website: https://www.aguahedionda.org

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AguaHediondaLagoonFoundation

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aguahediondalagoonfoundation/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aguahedionda/

Producers: Samantha Richter, Lisa Rodman, Emily Bonds, Kellie Davis, Chris Swann, John Sanders, Samual Davis

Music: Frogs by the Water Hole by Chris Swann/Swann Concepts Pub

Studio: Imagine Podcasting, Carlsbad California

Contact The Show

Podcast Website: Nature All Around Me

The Foundation website: Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation or call 760-804-1969

Website: https://www.aguahedionda.org

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AguaHediondaLagoonFoundation

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aguahediondalagoonfoundation/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aguahedionda/

Producers: Samantha Richter, Lisa Rodman, Emily Bonds, Kellie Davis, Chris Swann, John Sanders, Samual Davis

Music: Frogs by the Water Hole by Chris Swann/Swann Concepts Pub

Studio: Imagine Podcasting, Carlsbad California

Sara Huber is a Water Resource Control Engineer with the State Water Resource Control Board. Sara is part of an all-hazard emergency management team based out of the California Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters in Sacramento and most recently supported emergency response and recovery operations for the January 2024 winter storms, tropical storm Hilary and the January-February 2024 winter storms. Before joining state service in 2019, Sara was an environmental consultant based out of Carlsbad, where she performed watershed assessments and helped clients comply with environmental regulations. Sara is a California Registered Engineer with a Bachelor's of Science in Civil Engineering and a Masters Degree in international water law and policy. Sara is an AHLF Life Member and enjoys promoting science, technology, engineering, and math as her schedule allows.

Contact The Show

Podcast Website: Nature All Around Me

The Foundation website: Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation or call 760-804-1969

Website: https://www.aguahedionda.org

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AguaHediondaLagoonFoundation

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aguahediondalagoonfoundation/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aguahedionda/

Producers: Samantha Richter, Lisa Rodman, Emily Bonds, Kellie Davis, Chris Swann, John Sanders, Samual Davis

Music: Frogs by the Water Hole by Chris Swann/Swann Concepts Pub

Studio: Imagine Podcasting, Carlsbad California

Introducing our new Director of Trails and Conservation Larissa Hepburn! Larissa is a southern California native who developed a passion for recreational trails and nature after spending a summer working in the wilderness of Yosemite National Park on a backcountry trail crew. She spent the next 14 years leading and mentoring youth corps in various National and State parks in California managing a variety of projects. Larissa is grateful her path has led her to the Foundation to combine her passions with managing trails that lead to the sea. She is excited to serve the community through education and outreach performing trail restoration and conservation projects. As famous world-renowned oceanographer Jacques Cousteau once said, “People protect what they love.” Larissa hopes to provide quality outdoor recreational access while protecting our natural resources. She is excited to watch the community fall in love with the lagoon and create meaningful connections to nature.

Contact The Show

Podcast Website: Nature All Around Me

The Foundation website: Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation or call 760-804-1969

Website: https://www.aguahedionda.org

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AguaHediondaLagoonFoundation

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aguahediondalagoonfoundation/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aguahedionda/

Producers: Samantha Richter, Lisa Rodman, Emily Bonds, Kellie Davis, Chris Swann, John Sanders, Samual Davis

Music: Frogs by the Water Hole by Chris Swann/Swann Concepts Pub

Studio: Imagine Podcasting, Carlsbad California

Join AHLF's own Samantha Passovoy to learn all about the most commonly seen reptiles and amphibians found in the Carlsbad area, including in and around the Agua Hedionda Lagoon.

In her previous career as a zookeeper and wildlife educator, she has trained animals for movies and television, visited schools and libraries with live animals to do educational presentations, worked as a wildlife care specialist and behaviorist at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and served as an adjunct professor focusing on wildlife education.

Currently, she is the Director of the Discovery Center here at the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation, in addition to acting as the Outreach Coordinator for the San Diego Herpetological Society. She hopes to inspire her community to care for all the plants and animals surrounding them.

Contact The Show

Podcast Website: Nature All Around Me

The Foundation website: Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation or call 760-804-1969

Website: https://www.aguahedionda.org

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AguaHediondaLagoonFoundation

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aguahediondalagoonfoundation/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aguahedionda/

Producers: Samantha Richter, Lisa Rodman, Emily Bonds, Kellie Davis, Chris Swann, John Sanders, Samual Davis

Music: Frogs by the Water Hole by Chris Swann/Swann Concepts Pub

Studio: Imagine Podcasting, Carlsbad California

Sara was born and raised in southern California. Her love of natural resources was instilled at a young age while growing up horseback riding, camping, and spending time outdoors. Her passion for the environment and nature led to her earning a degree in Environmental Studies.

She found an interest in outdoor education while working as an interpreter for California State Parks, where she led interpretive programs about ocean ecosystems, native plants and animals, Native American history, and geology.

The knowledge she has gained over the years brought her to AHLF in 2022, where she is so excited to teach children all about southern California’s incredible biodiversity and be a part of such a great team.

During her free time, Sara enjoys rock climbing, hiking, camping, and spending time with her two dogs.

Podcast website: Nature All Around Me

The Foundation’s website: Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation or call 760-804-1969

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Audrey Holloway is an Environmental Stewardship Teacher here at the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation, where she teaches in our all-outdoor preschool as well as teaching our school programs.

Audrey also works in shark conservation with Shark Stewards. We are excited for you to listen and learn about shark conservation and the ways you can help!

Podcast website: Nature All Around Me

The Foundation’s website: Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation or call 760-804-1969

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Linda is a Board Member here at the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation, elected in 2021. She has worked in Carlsbad at Thermo Fisher Scientific since 2014. Linda has a Ph.D. in Nutritional Biochemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an M.A. in Molecular and Cell Biology from UC Berkeley, and a B.S in Chemistry from San Diego State University (SDSU).

At Thermo Fisher, Linda works as a Technical Writer. In addition, she leads community outreach/STEM education programming at the Thermo Fisher Carlsbad site. Linda is passionate about STEM education and the environment. Currently, Linda serves on our Tip Top Run Committee, Education Committee, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee here at the Foundation.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science with a mission to enable its customers to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer. Their global team of more than 100,000 colleagues delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience, and pharmaceutical services through their industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services, Patheon, and PPD.

For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com

Podcast website: Nature All Around Me

The Foundation’s website: Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation or call 760-804-1969

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