S1E1 Utah Unearthed: Moab — Don't Bust the Crust!

Season 1 of Utah Unearthed takes you deep into the iconic red-rock terrain of Moab — a mecca for outdoor adventure and a hotspot for ecological curiosity. Amid the buzz of hikers, bikers, and off-roaders, signs urging “Don’t Bust the Crust!” are everywhere. But what is the crust, and why does it matter? We dig into this question with Kristina Young, an ecosystem ecologist who’s spent 15 years studying the desert’s unsung hero: biocrust. These tiny communities hold the desert together — literally — and their story might just change the way you see the ground beneath your feet.

The hosts of Utah Unearthed include Aidan Bailey, an NHMU school outreach coordinator, Dr. Randy Irmis, NHMU’s curator of paleontology, and Andy Connolly, a former NHMU science communications specialist who now works with the Kansas Geological Survey. The show is produced and edited by Mark Johnston. Series logo by Will Shepherd.

Each episode, the team interviews a different scientist from a different discipline who will help both hosts and listeners unearth Utah’s incredible natural history. This podcast supports the Museum’s mission to illuminate the natural world and the place of humans within it. Learn more at nhmu.utah.edu/podcast.