{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Ranger Nick: Inspiring Curiosity, Teaching with Animals, and Reconnecting People to Nature","description":"On this episode of the Growing On Podcast, host John Holcomb sits down with Dr. Nick Fuhrman\u2014better known to many viewers as \u201cRanger Nick.\u201d A longtime contributor to The Farm Monitor and Associate Dean at the University of Georgia\u2019s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, Nick shares the story behind his passion for teaching, wildlife, and inspiring others to connect with the natural world. From growing up in Maryland with aquariums full of turtles and snakes to becoming a professor who brings live animals into the classroom, Nick\u2019s career has always centered on education and curiosity. In this conversation, he explains how animals\u2014from snakes and turtles to birds of prey\u2014help students overcome public speaking anxiety, build confidence, and rediscover their connection to nature. Nick also reflects on his journey as a first-generation college student, the mentors who helped shape his career, and how a simple opportunity eventually led him to UGA\u2014where he\u2019s been helping students grow for nearly two decades. Along the way, he shares stories from the classroom, including a memorable student who dressed as a turtle and discovered a passion for teaching special needs students. The conversation also explores Nick\u2019s popular \u201cRanger Nick\u201d segment on The Farm Monitor and how environmental education and agriculture naturally intersect. Whether he\u2019s teaching college students, filming TV segments, or taking classes into the woods to listen for owls, Nick\u2019s mission is the same: spark curiosity and help people see the natural world in a whole new way. In this episode you\u2019ll hear about: How wildlife and animals can transform the way students learn Why communication skills are becoming more important than ever The surprising ways nature inspires curiosity in today\u2019s students The story behind Ranger Nick and his long-running Farm Monitor segment Why reconnecting people to the outdoors matters more than ever If you\u2019ve ever wondered how a turtle, snake, or owl can inspire learning\u2014or why enthusiasm is one of the most powerful teaching tools\u2014this episode is for you. ","author_name":"Georgia Farm Bureau's: Growing On Podcast","author_url":"https:\/\/www.gfb.org\/media-and-publications\/growingon.cms","html":"