On The Brink is a show about the Northern Spotted Owl and its shifting role in the Pacific Northwest. As its fragile forest home disappears, the future of this emblematic bird remains uncertain. Hosted by Molly Cruse, On The Brink explores what an owl can teach us about home, loss, collaboration, and hope.
Introduction
Molly has spent most of her life moving from one place in the world to another. In this introductory episode, she explores what it means to have a home… as well as what it means to lose it. Since moving to Oregon, she has become curious about how one particular animal, the Northern Spotted Owl, became the symbol of their home — the ancient old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest.
Episode One: Fighting the Good Fight
What does an owl have to do with politics, conflict, and war?
Over the last three decades, the Northern Spotted Owl became the controversial symbol of a shrinking ecological frontier. In this episode, Molly meets with Susan Jane Brown, an environmental lawyer, to dig deeper into why this small, fluffy, dark-eyed owl became an ambassador of an entire ecosystem and how Susan Jane played a pivotal role in shaping that narrative.
Episode Two: Fire is a Mysterious Beast
Today, habitat loss on federal lands is more likely attributed to wildfire than logging. Join Molly as she bushwhacks through a burnt forest with a group of dedicated scientists in search of an owl. Jeremy Rockweit and Jason Mowdy have never met before, but they share a similar passion: a love for this bird and its shrinking home. What does fire mean for the owl? Will we even find one of these increasingly rare birds in this charred landscape?