Nature Guys podcast connects you to the exciting natural world right in your own neighborhood. These nature connections will help you be cool, calm, collected and ready to make a positive difference in the world.
Our team is dedicated to connecting people to nature.
How it all started
Bill and Bob launched the first episode of Nature Guys in October 2016. They met when Bob started volunteering at Cincinnati Nature Center as a hike leader for school groups. They really got to know each other when they led wildflower hikes for the Arc of Appalachia‘s Wildflower Pilgrimage. At the end of one their hikes a woman suggested they do a radio show on nature. When Bill announced he was retiring at the end of 2016 the idea kicked into high gear. Sadly, Bill passed away in 2020.
Host and Producer
Bob attended Miami University and secured degrees in business and education. His careers included working in his family owned accounting firm and teaching elementary education. He was mentored in natural history by his wife Beth, and he met Bill when they began volunteering at Cincinnati Nature Center.
Bob sorted out all of the technology to create and produce Nature Guys podcast!
Cohosts
Charles Van Rees
Charles Van Rees is a wetland ecologist and conservation biologist with expertise in freshwater biodiversity and ornithology. You can contact Charles and learn more about his activities via Charles Van Rees website or Twitter @Gulothoughts. Check out Charles’ nature blog at Gulo in Nature. Also don’t miss Charles’ TEDx talk from Bozeman A glance through nature’s playbook on YouTube.
Gia Giammarinaro
Gia Giammarinaro is the lead Naturalist at Cincinnati Parks California Woods Nature Preserve. With a list of outdoor experiences that includes everything from finding bioluminescent mycelium in a redwood forest to having lunch on top of a beaver dam, Gia definitely has plenty of fun stories and knowledge to share.
Greg Torres
Greg Torres is a professional horticulturist. He an active volunteer and President of Northside Greenspace Inc. Greg grew up exploring the forest with his brother and before coming to Cincinnati he was a naturalist in Florida. Greg says “it’s beneficial for more individuals to spend some time away from our human hang-ups for a period and instead in the baseline that nature provides, to help find a better direction for our species.” He definitely encourages us all to step outside and stay a while.
Tina Brouwer-Kraska
Tina is Director of Red Oaks Forest School, a grassroots non-profit working to increase access to nature-based education, exploration, and play across Central and Eastern Kentucky. Tina is a long-time naturalist and photographer living in Central Kentucky. She has a Masters Degree in Peregrine Falcon Behavior and Ecology and a Bachelors Degree in Natural Resource Conservation and Management, both from the University of Kentucky. She is passionate about getting all kids outdoors and advancing equity in nature-based education.
Behind the scenes
Webmasters
Bob’s sister Lisa has served as webmaster since the beginning of Nature Guys. She is currently retired from a career of developing software – especially chemical information software. Lisa’s friend Dave provides additional technical website support.
Graphic Designer
Jennie Hefren has been the graphic designer for Nature Guys since our inception. She is a great photographer as well as logo designer.
Photographer
John Howard has provided many amazing photographs for Nature Guys. John is an excellent naturalist.
Artist
Lissa Malloy is Nature Guys artist. Check out her amazing art work at Society 6.
Communication Specialist
Bob’s wife Beth handles much of the communications for Nature Guys. She is a retired teacher and librarian with a gift for reaching people.
Bill Creasey
Listen to Bob’s eulogy for Bill in the episode Our Friend Bill. We updated our logo in 2020 with a Cooper’s hawk to honor Bill’s spirit. Listen to the eulogy to hear the story. Learn more about Cooper’s hawks in the episode Watch for the Cooper’s Hawk at Your Bird Feeder.
Bill was the Chief Naturalist at Cincinnati Nature Center for over 43 years. During his time at CNC he provided volunteer and teacher training, taught programs for adult and youth members, directed summer camps, and developed birding trips all over the world. Bill attended Miami University where he obtained degrees in Zoology and Botany. Later he obtained his Masters in Education with certification to teach from the University of Cincinnati.
