Wooly mammoths, whale poop, marsh gas… these are some of the things I discuss with environmental journalist and science curator for TED Talks David Biello in our conversation about his book, The Unnatural World: The Race to Remake Civilization in Earth’s Newest Age.

Biello argues that we’re still prey to the false notion that there’s a divide between the human and the natural, when, in fact, we humans are dependent on the natural world for our survival and are, furthermore, affecting every corner of the world, no matter how remote.

In our conversation, we explore this notion of the Anthropocene – the geologic term meant to define an era in which humans are having such a dramatic effect on the earth that we will leave our mark in the geologic record. Biello argues we need to take ownership of our oversized role and become better, more deliberate and thoughtful stewards of our home.