Stay in tune with our phenomenal world. Join us for explorations of science, art, history, and more. We're on a quest to find awe and wonder in all nature—human or wild, vast or small. Encounters that move us beyond words. Hosted by Marcus Smith, Constant Wonder is a production of BYUradio. https://www.byuradio.org/d91712ba-f2d5-4181-a92b-dadf49c7e52b en-us © 2026 BYU Broadcasting BYUradio BYUradio byurpodcasts@byu.edu false Episodic Join host Marcus Smith for conversations that invite you to discover, explore, and reengage with the wonders of the world around you. Find new episodes that will be available each week starting February 9th, 2022. https://www.byuradio.org/644f4ae9-40c6-4462-a11a-216bc5a0e358 644f4ae940c6-4462-a11a-216bc5a0e358 Wed, 01 Dec 2021 07:00:00 GMT false 112 trailer A new season of fresh content is on its way! In the meantime, nature writer Gayle Boss takes a minute to enumerate the many joys that Constant Wonder brings her as a listener. Find out why an "abandon to wonder" can make all of us feel more alive! https://www.byuradio.org/10c5a144-b872-4532-94af-950c817943e7 10c5a144b872-4532-94af-950c817943e7 Wed, 01 Jan 2025 07:00:00 GMT false 363 trailer 10 Bringing the wonders of the natural world to the curious kids in your life, Constant Wonder KIDS is the podcast that turns everyday moments into extraordinary adventures! This new show from Constant Wonder shares fascinating facts and true stories about amazing people doing incredible things in nature. Join us as we explore the playful side of octopuses who enjoy toys like Lego bricks. Dive into the ocean with whale sharks and meet one who has an unexpectedly friendly personality. Or cheer for tiny athletes at the International Hedgehog Olympic Games. Each episode of Constant Wonder KIDS is a bite-sized story taken from its parent podcast, Constant Wonder. Perfect for road trips, bedtime listening, or when your brain’s got an itch that needs to be scratched. https://www.byuradio.org/663cdafc-ea2c-47ac-a5b0-b98ef3b88466 663cdafcea2c-47ac-a5b0-b98ef3b88466 Mon, 09 Sep 2024 06:00:00 GMT false 148 bonus 9 Constant Wonder shares excerpts of three of our favorite episodes from 2023. We meet a family who discovered that their Nazi grandfather had actually aided the French resistance in WWII; we follow two intrepid female botanists along a death-defying boat trip through the Grand Canyon; we meet a "range rider" who keeps the peace between ranchers and wolves. These are only a sampling of the fascinating, inspiring conversations from the last year. Guests: Burkhard Bilger, author of "Fatherland: A Memoir of War, Conscience, and Family Secrets" and staff writer at "The New Yorker" Melissa Sevigny, author of "Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon." Thanks to Lew Steiger for allowing us to use his recordings of Lois Jotter's recollections. Daniel Curry, range rider and wolf advocate in Eastern Washington https://www.byuradio.org/7883ed49-3daf-468d-8def-2f3ae8849b9c 7883ed493daf-468d-8def-2f3ae8849b9c Wed, 27 Dec 2023 07:00:00 GMT false 3327 bonus 7 While we're busy working on Season 8 of the Constant Wonder podcast, we're pleased to bring you an episode from a podcast we think you'll love. In Curator's Choice, Ayla Sparks goes behind the scenes at museums and other points of interest, getting the stories that explain why they're so special. In this episode, you'll learn the quirky and litigious history of Luray Caverns' discovery. You'll also hear the world's largest lithophone, aka the "stalacpipe organ." If you enjoy this episode be sure to check out more Curator's Choice adventures at Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. And join us on May 8 for the launch of Constant Wonder Season 8, which gets going with an episode on nematodes, the astounding, ubiquitous and sometimes, you might say, iniquitous microscopic worms beneath your feet. https://www.byuradio.org/1a034700-67f3-47f3-b8f2-ab5045b5e1a3 1a03470067f3-47f3-b8f2-ab5045b5e1a3 Wed, 17 Apr 2024 06:00:00 GMT false 2647 bonus 7 When invasive plants and animals crowd out native species—and you just can't beat 'em—you might as well eat 'em! That's Joe Roman's argument. It's not a perfect solution, but from lionfish in the Caribbean to the snails and weeds in your backyard, chefs and foodies are serving up invasive species in the name of conservation. Enjoy this short bonus episode from Constant Wonder! Guest: Joe Roman, conservation biologist and research affiliate at the University of Vermont; author, "Eat, Poop, Die: How Animals Make Our World" https://www.byuradio.org/534621de-1516-4e27-afd9-2d9f21376953 534621de1516-4e27-afd9-2d9f21376953 Wed, 15 Nov 2023 07:00:00 GMT false 458 bonus 6 Join us for conversations that invite you to discover, explore, and engage with the wonders of the world around you. New episodes available Wednesdays, starting September 20, 2023, on your favorite podcast platforms and the BYUradio app. https://www.byuradio.org/5f925aa5-3490-4919-9088-b4517efdabf3 5f925aa53490-4919-9088-b4517efdabf3 Wed, 06 Sep 2023 06:00:00 GMT false 179 trailer 6 Astronaut Terry Virts experienced a juxtaposition of the sublime and the mundane, sensing God while floating weightless, fixing cables outside his spacecraft. While in orbit, Virts took more than 300,000 photos, which became part of the National Geographic IMAX film "A Beautiful Planet." Podcast Guest: Colonel Terry Virts, fighter pilot, test pilot, NASA astronaut, and author of "How to Astronaut: An Insider's Guide to Leaving Planet Earth." He also directed "One More Orbit,” documenting the fastest circumnavigation of the earth via both poles. https://www.byuradio.org/33afe89a-6a02-4ab9-92b6-82b0d2692ea8 33afe89a6a02-4ab9-92b6-82b0d2692ea8 Wed, 02 Nov 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 3170 bonus 2 In Auschwitz, twenty-five Jewish slaves used their sewing skills to survive the Holocaust. The Upper Tailoring Studio, run by the commandant's wife, Hedwig Höss, and a prisoner, Marta Fuchs, was created to design, cut, and sew popular fashions for the Nazi elite. But it was also the means of saving Jewish women from the gas chambers. Guest: Lucy Adlington, author of "The Dressmakers of Auschwitz: The True Story of the Women Who Sewed to Survive" https://www.byuradio.org/bb6be856-4c63-4b5c-8edd-d7f9f28f8199 bb6be8564c63-4b5c-8edd-d7f9f28f8199 Wed, 25 May 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 1625 bonus 2 The abyss of the deep sea is anything but lifeless! https://www.byuradio.org/af76f9e2-c6a1-4c63-be25-45957da86010 af76f9e2c6a1-4c63-be25-45957da86010 Wed, 05 Oct 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 3170 bonus 2 The history of fabric is the history of life and death on this planet. https://www.byuradio.org/40e64150-cb28-44bb-9e65-69f5bbf12d80 40e64150cb28-44bb-9e65-69f5bbf12d80 Wed, 07 Sep 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 3170 bonus 2 Extended version of our conversation with Jackie Higgins. https://www.byuradio.org/5d3ccee5-ba95-4738-b9e9-415fe8b52c8a 5d3ccee5ba95-4738-b9e9-415fe8b52c8a Fri, 22 Apr 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 2792 bonus 2 Constant Wonder is giving listeners a sneak peak of another BYUradio show, The Apple Seed. In this episode, a musician and a couple of actors take unlikely approaches to sharing scripture. (4:58) Detroit storyteller and blues guitarist Robert B. Jones talks about how he became an ordained minister (9:51) Rev. Jones tells the story of he built his guitar from the wood from different parts of his childhood home to stay connected to his hometown in the story “Detroit Guitar,” recorded live in the Apple Seed studio (25:32) Host Sam Payne connects with his Greek grandparents by learning to cook Greek food in today’s entry in The Radio Family Journal (34:03) Two New York pals connect to their heritage by performing Torah stories for families as a duo called The Bible Players https://www.byuradio.org/4379ade3-a6da-4daa-94a9-1cbef1e3149a 4379ade3a6da-4daa-94a9-1cbef1e3149a Wed, 27 Apr 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 3303 bonus 2 Constant Wonder is giving listeners a sneak peak of another BYUradio show, Top of Mind. Millions of Americans move each year in search of a better house, neighborhood, job, or quality of life. Is leaving the only way to live some place better? What would it take for an imperfect place to become your perfect match? Today we crisscross the country and check in with Top of Mind listeners about what makes a city great. Guests: Majora Carter, author of “Reclaiming your Community” Jim and Deb Fallows, co-authors of “Our Town: A Journey into the Heart of America” Melody Warnick, author of “This Is Where You Belong” and “If You Could Live Anywhere” Lynn Kreutz, Hayley Trotter, Reed Wolfley, Erika Layland, Jenny Van Stone, Kim Parati – Top of Mind Listeners https://www.byuradio.org/b8fd1c7d-4d2a-478a-a5bf-cb805989f558 b8fd1c7d4d2a-478a-a5bf-cb805989f558 Wed, 13 Jul 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 3227 bonus 2 An exploration of delectable foods and the people who make them: Pho is delicious and nutritious, one of the best comfort foods. Learn some tips for making your own pho at home. Every week, 400,000 food lovers wait anxiously for a new video about pasta from their favorite YouTubers: authentic Italian grandmothers. And, St. Vith, Belgium is home to the only sourdough library in the world—they are dedicated to preserving and researching sourdough for current and future generations. Guests: Andrea Nguyen, cooking teacher, editor, consultant, and author of "Vietnamese Food Any Day: Simple Recipes for True, Fresh Flavors" and "The Pho Cookbook: Easy to Adventurous Recipes for Vietnam's Favorite Soup and Noodles” Vicky Bennison, creator of “Pasta Grannies” YouTube channel Karl De Smedt, Sourdough Librarian at Puratos Sourdough Library, St. Vith, Belgium https://www.byuradio.org/31306b5c-b58d-4a17-8fae-926463b7e7ea 31306b5cb58d-4a17-8fae-926463b7e7ea Wed, 10 Aug 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 3118 bonus 2 The "Bear Man of India" is best known for his work rescuing sloth bears from inhumane conditions, but Kartick Satyanarayan knew he wanted to help animals from a young age. It all began with full-moon nights spent high in a jungle tree, watching a procession of wild animals visit a nearby watering hole. In the intervening 30 years, he's braved the "timber mafia" and even gunshots in a tireless crusade to protect wildlife. Guest: Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder and CEO of Wildlife SOS Originally aired May 29, 2024 https://www.byuradio.org/5f9c4cee-842a-41fc-9251-4c1d1546935d 5f9c4cee842a-41fc-9251-4c1d1546935d Wed, 11 Mar 2026 06:00:00 GMT false 3595 full 13 10 A small-town mortician savors life. Find out why "the internet's favorite mortician" encourages people not to skip out on funerals. And why he also advises listeners not to worry about "being an inconvenience" in either life or death. Guest: Victor M. Sweeney, author of "Now Departing: A Small-Town Mortician on Death, Life, and the Moments in Between" https://www.instagram.com/victor.m.sweeney/?hl=en https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4ktLen9cVM https://www.byuradio.org/bbab140a-21ad-49b9-a688-1aa388c8ed67 bbab140a21ad-49b9-a688-1aa388c8ed67 Wed, 04 Mar 2026 07:00:00 GMT false 3032 full 13 9 Tara Roberts comes to find joy in learning about her ancestors—even though history once seemed too traumatic to face. Guest: Tara Roberts, author of "Written in the Waters: A Memoir of History, Home, and Belonging" https://www.byuradio.org/d781ce77-74a8-45d2-8780-56e6712c1cce d781ce7774a8-45d2-8780-56e6712c1cce Wed, 25 Feb 2026 07:00:00 GMT false 3487 full 13 8 Fiona Robertson has had a lifelong fascination with the ancient standing stones that dot the British Isles. As her own life filled with storms, these megaliths became examples of endurance, able to survive millenniums of weathering. Join us as we follow Fiona through the stone lands to explore how these mysterious sites connect us to the past, redefine our present, and give us hope for the future. Fiona Robertson is a writer, editor and megalith enthusiast who takes her family across the British Isles in search of standing stones. She is passionate about archaeology, history and folklore. Visit her online to learn more about her work: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stone_lands/?hl=en https://www.byuradio.org/1b93ccd0-1050-409b-be97-64688c28d5a5 1b93ccd01050-409b-be97-64688c28d5a5 Wed, 18 Feb 2026 07:00:00 GMT false 2906 full 13 7 Anne Fadiman has an infectious curiosity. In this episode. she'll introduce us to ice-bound explorers who turn to theater, art, and journalism to stave off boredom and madness. Then we travel across the globe to a matchless night beneath Halley's Comet. We'll also meet a indomitable young student who lived by the motto "Yes to everything!" Guest: Anne Fadiman, author of "Frog and Other Essays" and "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down" https://us.macmillan.com/author/annefadiman https://www.byuradio.org/b02e2ae5-9825-441a-b9e6-d1cf3017b8e8 b02e2ae59825-441a-b9e6-d1cf3017b8e8 Wed, 11 Feb 2026 07:00:00 GMT false 3154 full 13 6 By promoting swimming, hiking, climbing, skiing, hunting, and many more recreational activities, Outdoor Afro reconnects Black people to nature. Founder Rue Mapp reminds us of the historical connections Black people have to the Earth, and she encourages people to look to nature for healing, hope, and fun! Guest: Rue Mapp, founder of Outdoor Afro and National Geographic Fellow https://ruemapp.com Chapters: (0:00) Introduction (5:27) Out of the Comfort Zone (9:17) Black Relationships With Nature (26:24) Reconnection (35:45) Outdoor Afro's Healing Hikes (45:56) Spiritual Transformation https://www.byuradio.org/9e6bc9db-52df-4384-9a4c-efda9494fe2a 9e6bc9db52df-4384-9a4c-efda9494fe2a Wed, 04 Feb 2026 07:00:00 GMT false 3106 full 13 5 A love story for all time: Eleanor of Castile died in 1290, but her story still resonates today, thanks to the depths of her husband's devotion. You might know King Edward I as the fierce Edward Longshanks, but discover him in this episode as a besotted and grieving husband. Guests: Alice Loxton, author of "Eleanor: A 200-Mile Walk in Search of England's Lost Queen" https://aliceloxton.com; John Hibbs, tour guide at St. Mary's, Conwy, Wales https://caruconwy.com/our-churches/st-marys-conwy/; Kam Caddell of Kam Tours https://www.kamtours.com; Penny Griffin, reader and lector at St. Mary Magdalene, Geddington, England https://www.geddingtonweekleychurch.org.uk/; Luke McDonnell, muralist https://www.chibacreative.com/mural; Patricia Yiga, London commuter CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (4:43) Meet Eleanor (20:14) 12 Crosses, 200 Miles (29:15) Eleanor Watches Over Me (Geddington) (39:18) In Death We Cannot Cease to Love (Mural) (49:31) Everyone Plays Their Part (London Tube) (54:00) A Message from Grandfather https://www.byuradio.org/5db004c3-ec4c-4da0-a242-0b714b8e304a 5db004c3ec4c-4da0-a242-0b714b8e304a Wed, 28 Jan 2026 07:00:00 GMT false 3575 full 13 4 Growing up in an unstable home with an alcoholic father, David Hudson questioned his own worth from an early age. Now a retired Salvation Army officer, Dave reflects on the mentors and experiences that helped him find his confidence and dedicate his life to helping others. https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/ https://www.byuradio.org/e96c23e9-4711-4a49-a493-3b833f5daf28 e96c23e94711-4a49-a493-3b833f5daf28 Wed, 21 Jan 2026 07:00:00 GMT false 2899 full 13 3 Personal stories from an ethnobotanist who travels the world to find healing plants, a writer who conducted "frog church" as a child, and a biogeochemist who connects soil microbes to constellations of stars. Gems from past episodes of Constant Wonder that will speak to newcomers and longtime listeners alike! Guests: Sasha Reed, biogeochemist and USGS research ecologist https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/sasha-c-reed Cassandra Quave, ethnobotanist and professor of Dermatology and Human Health at Emory University https://naturespharmacy.substack.com/ Lyanda Lynn Haupt, naturalist and eco-philosopher https://www.lyandalynnhaupt.com/ https://www.byuradio.org/a200fe52-f6c3-4272-b1c8-6af5aceb68dc a200fe52f6c3-4272-b1c8-6af5aceb68dc Wed, 14 Jan 2026 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 13 2 Artifacts hundreds of years old are exposed on the shore of London's River Thames when the river's tide goes out. Mudlarks walk the banks, searching for fragments and relics that reveal stories long forgotten. Come walk along the river with us as we connect past and present, from the Roman era to the modern day. Guests: Flora Spiegel, editor and mudlark https://www.instagram.com/thankyou_riverthames/?__d=11 Lara Maiklem, mudlark and author laramaiklem.com Kate Sumnall, Curator of Archaeology at London Museum https://www.londonmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/secrets-thames/ Note: you must have a permit from the PLA to mudlark on the Thames. https://www.byuradio.org/8556e56c-6422-45a0-950a-924c3510cf2e 8556e56c6422-45a0-950a-924c3510cf2e Wed, 07 Jan 2026 07:00:00 GMT false 3321 full 13 1 When Shep the ranch dog discovered a mysterious rodent raiding his food dish, the canine forever changed the trajectory of the black-footed ferret species. Join us as we explore the precarious but wonderful lives of North America's only native ferret. We'll even take you along on a release of captive-born ferrets into the wild. Guests: Travis Livieri, founder and Executive Director of Prairie Wildlife Research https://prairiewildlife.org/ Justin Chuven, Deputy Recovery Program Coordinator at the National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center https://www.fws.gov/office/national-black-footed-ferret-conservation-center Brian Maxfield, wildlife conservation biologist with Utah Department of Natural Resources Jimmy Breitenstein, wildlife photographer https://www.jimmybreitenstein.com/ Other voices from the ferret release: Clint Sampson, Crew, Marek https://www.byuradio.org/5a7b5ea8-530a-42f8-a0af-5817cf5390ee 5a7b5ea8530a-42f8-a0af-5817cf5390ee Wed, 26 Nov 2025 07:00:00 GMT false 3331 full 12 16 When options for recess became limited during the pandemic, a group of children in Oak Park, Illinois created Leaf Town, a thriving metropolis made of fallen leaves and lost trinkets. Beth and Kathleen Rooney recount the rise, fall, and rebuilding of the little community and remind us of the value of imagination and attention to little things. Guests: Beth and Kathleen Rooney, authors of "Leaf Town Forever" https://www.leaftownforever.com https://www.byuradio.org/f976f69b-3b42-4a58-9971-b08f527510d0 f976f69b3b42-4a58-9971-b08f527510d0 Wed, 19 Nov 2025 07:00:00 GMT false 2493 full 12 15 When Ava Chin went looking for the father who had abandoned her family, she discovered the rich and complicated legacy of her Chinese immigrant relatives. Her great-great-grandfather helped build the railroad that united America, but his adopted country soon turned against him, legislating the Chinese Exclusion Act. This episode of the Constant Wonder podcast explores how Ava Chin's family continued to thrive in America, despite intense discrimination. As her family history unfolds, we witness Ava Chin lay claim to a past she never knew she had. Guest: Ava Chin, author of "Mott Street: A Chinese American Family's Story of Exclusion and Homecoming" Learn more about Ava Chin: http://avachin.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ava_chin/?hl=en https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/563929/mott-street-by-ava-chin/ Excerpts from "Butterfly Lovers’ Violin Concerto" used by permission from the BYU Chamber Orchestra Originally aired Sept 27, 2023 https://www.byuradio.org/1823f547-8525-42e5-aa1b-5b82a7b0c804 1823f5478525-42e5-aa1b-5b82a7b0c804 Wed, 12 Nov 2025 07:00:00 GMT false 3569 full 12 14 There’s a sea change happening . . . on land. People are rethinking what a garden is, what a yard is for, what urban green spaces can do to help life flourish. This visionary who promotes “more-wild-than-not” landscapes is a leader in redefining beauty. Rebecca McMackin grew up on a small farm in Connecticut, where her love for the natural world first took root. She spent a decade as Director of Horticulture at Brooklyn Bridge Park, managing 85 acres of organic parkland and championing biodiversity in the heart of the city. She's now one of today's preeminent voices in the cause of life-supporting, ecologically sound gardening practices. Guest: Rebecca McMackin, Lead Horticulturist for the American Horticultural Society, publisher of the "Grow Like Wild" newsletter Learn more about Rebecca McKackin: https://www.rebeccamcmackin.com/ Find her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oroeoboeococoao/?hl=en https://www.byuradio.org/426b4855-b528-453e-ab80-be6ffc73a026 426b4855b528-453e-ab80-be6ffc73a026 Wed, 05 Nov 2025 07:00:00 GMT false 3369 full 12 13 Neurosurgeon Jay Wellons performs the most delicate surgeries on the traumatized brains of children, where every cut and stitch has life-changing consequences. He’s also an enthralling storyteller and a tireless advocate for his patients–a lesson he learned the hard way. Join us as he shares inspiring tales of his patients’ journeys. Guest: Jay Wellons, MD, Cal Turner Chair and Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; author of "All That Moves Us: A Pediatric Neurosurgeon, His Young Patients, and Their Stories of Grace and Resilience" Read Jay Wellons' book: https://parnassusbooks.net/book/9780593243381 Find him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allthatmovesus_official/?hl=en Originally aired November 22, 2022 https://www.byuradio.org/e23248d8-cbf1-4ce6-a343-49a2a1b02eb7 e23248d8cbf1-4ce6-a343-49a2a1b02eb7 Wed, 29 Oct 2025 06:00:00 GMT false 3290 full 12 12 Octopuses, chickens, hummingbirds, turtles, emus... the list of animals that Sy Montgomery has befriended goes on. On Constant Wonder, we explore all sources of awe—human and wild—and in this episode we'll bring you exciting stories from both worlds. Guest: Sy Montgomery, naturalist and author of over thirty books, including "The True and Lucky Life of a Turtle" Find her online: Author page: https://symontgomery.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sytheauthor/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SyTheAuthor/ https://www.byuradio.org/842679cc-91d3-40da-be4c-818988aa8f28 842679cc91d3-40da-be4c-818988aa8f28 Wed, 22 Oct 2025 06:00:00 GMT false 3060 full 12 11 What happens when you combine a professional cellist's technical skill and a physicist's experiment with vibration sensors? You get a play-able beehive—a living collaboration between humans and animals. In this episode, learn about the beautiful and musical lives of bees. Guests: Professor Martin Bencsik of Nottingham Trent University Professional cellist Deirdre Bencsik Learn more about Martin Bencsik's bee research here: https://www.ntu.ac.uk/staff-profiles/science-technology/martin-bencsik Learn more about Diedre Bencsik's musical career here: https://www.lindowensemble.co.uk/copy-of-vw https://www.byuradio.org/efdd2ea6-f4c9-47c4-ae8a-49f7c6c14cb2 efdd2ea6f4c9-47c4-ae8a-49f7c6c14cb2 Wed, 15 Oct 2025 06:00:00 GMT false 2319 full 12 10 After taking on the care of a beehive, Jessica Lahey quickly discovered that no amount of research could prepare her for the real buzz—like what happens when a hungry bear raids the hive. In this episode, Jess shares what it’s like to balance heartbreak and humor, protecting her bees while still finding empathy for the wild creatures that see them as a snack. Guest: Jessica Lahey, amateur beekeeper and author of "The Gift of Failure" and "The Addiction Inoculation." Visit Jessica Laney online: Main website: https://www.jessicalahey.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teacherlahey/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicapottslahey/ Substack: https://substack.com/@jesslahey https://www.byuradio.org/1d346722-0b50-4e73-ab20-18b2afe7b565 1d3467220b50-4e73-ab20-18b2afe7b565 Wed, 08 Oct 2025 06:00:00 GMT false 1919 full 12 9 Giraffes don't like to swim, so how do you get them off an island that's flooding? How do keepers feed a violent, orphaned baby elephant that's been traumatized by humans? The answer is to think like an animal. Meet some empathetic rescuers who had to get creative to save the animals in their care. Guests: David O'Connor, President of Save Giraffes Now Ami Vitale, filmmaker and National Geographic Magazine photographer Jake Owens, Director of Conservation at the L.A. Zoo Learn more about Save Giraffes Now: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savegiraffesnow/?hl=en X/Twitter: https://x.com/savegiraffesnow?lang=en Get involved: https://savegiraffesnow.org/ Originally aired March 30, 2022 https://www.byuradio.org/f2181d4b-9f2f-4403-8182-0e587c5667d0 f2181d4b9f2f-4403-8182-0e587c5667d0 Wed, 01 Oct 2025 06:00:00 GMT false 3148 full 12 8 Exploring deeper in the ocean than anyone before him—into the dark depths of the sea where no ray of sunlight reached—William Beebe saw shocking lights, colors, and critters that made him question life on land. In this episode of Constant Wonder, meet a scientist as interesting as the watery worlds he discovered. Guest: Brad Fox, author of The Bathysphere Book: Effects of the Luminous Ocean Depths William Beebe narrated by Brian Croxall, Professor of Digital Humanities at BYU Visit Brad Fox online: Author page: https://bradfox.org/about Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradmfox/?hl=en Originally aired on August 16, 2023 https://www.byuradio.org/23dde6d4-73d6-4e61-8cbe-921a503534d4 23dde6d473d6-4e61-8cbe-921a503534d4 Wed, 24 Sep 2025 06:00:00 GMT false 3309 full 12 7 For Jenedy Paige, journaling started as a childhood habit and became a lifeline in adulthood, especially after the tragic drowning of her son. Art and writing gave her voice; running and climbing gave her release. Her practice of seeking both God and growth eventually led her to the national stage of American Ninja Warrior. Through it all, she has come to see strength not only as personal resilience but as a calling—to bring light and encouragement to others walking through their own storms. Guest: Jenedy Paige, oil painter and "American Ninja Warrior" participant Find Jenedy Paige online: Her website: https://jenedypaige.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenedypaige/?hl=en Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jenedypaigeart Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenedypaige/ https://www.byuradio.org/1efc0979-729d-4de3-9b66-6784033e0a7e 1efc0979729d-4de3-9b66-6784033e0a7e Wed, 17 Sep 2025 06:00:00 GMT false 2429 full 12 6 What if cultivating awe could change the way we see the world? In this special joint episode of Constant Wonder and The Lisa Show, hosts Marcus Smith and Lisa Valentine Clark talk with child development expert and author Deborah Farmer Kris about her new book, "Raising Awe Seekers: How the Science of Wonder Helps Our Kids Thrive." Together, they explore how everyday moments of awe—in nature, in kindness, in family life—can shape resilience, deepen connection, and help kids (and parents) live more joyfully. Find Deborah Farmer Kris Online: Parenthood365: https://www.parenthood365.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parenthood365/?hl=en Substack: https://parenthood365.substack.com/about Check out the Lisa Show! https://www.byuradio.org/the-lisa-show https://www.byuradio.org/95172faa-a186-447c-83aa-136d8926e2a1 95172faaa186-447c-83aa-136d8926e2a1 Wed, 10 Sep 2025 06:00:00 GMT false 3007 full 12 5 After a tragic car accident took the life of Jeff Olsen's wife and young son, the young father struggled with guilt and his own excruciating physical recovery. Eventually, he drew solace from divine love, and with joy he realized the gift of the human body. He even finds awe in his prosthetic leg. Guest: Jeff Olsen, Director of Creative Services at BYU Broadcasting Find Jeff Olsen online: Author page: https://www.jefferycolsen.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jefferycolsen/?hl=en https://www.byuradio.org/83546934-6b58-4b20-b0f2-a4eceb1e8d85 835469346b58-4b20-b0f2-a4eceb1e8d85 Wed, 03 Sep 2025 06:00:00 GMT false 3790 full 12 4 A dream inspired Navajo artist Eugene Tapahe to take his art to the National Parks, spreading hope during the frustrating and fear-filled early days of the pandemic. His "Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project" has now traveled the globe, inspiring hope and healing among all people. Also, hear about some incredible up-close experiences that this photographer has had with wildlife. And, learn how you can participate in his on-going international art installation project. Guest: Eugene Tapahe, artist, photographer, creator of "Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project" and "Kéyah, Our Home" See Tapahe's work here: https://www.tapahe.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNlV624I8SQ&ab_channel=TapahePhotography https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pLr90JTf-E&ab_channel=TapahePhotography Participate in the Kéyah installation: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdcJ_xK48Lv3HpepM0VQaCh4nEXuwx6KeGwc0zsOauM7-x3WQ/viewform Special thanks to Eugene Tapahe for wolf photo and audio of jingle dress dances, and to Smithsonian Folkways Recordings for use of Corn Grinding Song (1) https://folkways.si.edu/navajo-songs/american-indian/music/album/smithsonian https://www.byuradio.org/50b52a93-aac1-4923-bb5f-4d59003c1f3c 50b52a93aac1-4923-bb5f-4d59003c1f3c Wed, 27 Aug 2025 06:00:00 GMT false 3529 full 12 3 Storyteller Kevin Kling has overcome trauma and learned to live with disability, without ever losing sight of the hilarious–even in the horrible. We follow him from his mischievous childhood to his empathetic and inspiring performances around the world. He still laughs often, and so will you, during this episode of the "Constant Wonder" podcast. Guest: Kevin Kling, author, playwright, and storyteller Visit Kevin's website to learn more about his work, speaking events, and performances: https://www.kevinkling.com/ Originally aired Jan 11, 2023 https://www.byuradio.org/c14c2088-b6b5-42c8-b54f-cef0895b80c1 c14c2088b6b5-42c8-b54f-cef0895b80c1 Wed, 20 Aug 2025 06:00:00 GMT false 3238 full 12 2 Kelsey Timmerman grew up in rural Ohio, right across the border from Indiana. By the time he graduated from college, he was eager to leave the Midwest. He started buying one-way plane tickets and traveled to dozens of countries. When he started his own family and put down roots in rural Indiana, his travels made him consider how he could be a better steward of the land where he and his family live. Timmerman tells us how he was able to see the wonder near his home through the wisdom of the people he visited all around the world. Guest: Kelsey Timmerman, author of "Regenerating Earth: Farmers Working with Nature to Feed Our Future" Find Kelsey Timmerman online: Author page: https://kelseytimmerman.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelseytimmerman/?hl=en X/Twitter: https://x.com/KelseyTimmerman https://www.byuradio.org/9cdd3945-9d9c-4cbe-bc0d-8d31568ba94d 9cdd39459d9c-4cbe-bc0d-8d31568ba94d Wed, 13 Aug 2025 06:00:00 GMT false 3102 full 12 1 Dying patients often profess to see deceased loved ones around them in the days and weeks before they pass. So often that hospice care doctor Chris Kerr decided to make a scientific study of the phenomenon. He found that while the medical community typically views death as defeat, there is actually a great deal of spiritual growth right there at the end of life. This podcast episode invites you to reconsider these unique dreams before dying. Guest: Christopher Kerr, MD, PhD, CEO & Chief Medical Officer at Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo, and author of "Death Is But a Dream: Finding Hope and Meaning at Life's End" Find a copy of "Death is But a Dream" here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/604704/death-is-but-a-dream-by-christopher-kerr-md-phd-with-carine-mardorossian-phd/ Originally aired March 8, 2023 https://www.byuradio.org/7272ebec-d980-4b04-a600-4af456d972e6 7272ebecd980-4b04-a600-4af456d972e6 Wed, 06 Aug 2025 06:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 11 16 Jonathan the Giant Tortoise was born in the 1800s and is still alive today, thanks to vet Joe Hollins. Hear about Joe's adventures with Jonathan and with a herd of skittish reindeer. Also find out what happens when a vet jumps to conclusions in the search for the mysterious killer plaguing a fold of lambs. Fascinating stories from islands at the end of the Earth. Guest: Jonathan Hollins, author of "Vet at the End of the Earth: Adventures with Animals in the South Atlantic" Find a copy of Jonathan Hollins' book here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Vet-at-the-End-of-the-Earth/Jonathan-Hollins/9781639367429 https://www.byuradio.org/bc7d85b3-b3ac-4a28-89d3-4188014df4a1 bc7d85b3b3ac-4a28-89d3-4188014df4a1 Wed, 30 Jul 2025 06:00:00 GMT false 3277 full 11 15 Thor Hanson reminds us that wonder isn’t reserved for far-off rainforests or remote islands—it can thrive right outside our door. From looking up to spot bald eagles to crawling  on your hands and knees to find new insects, Hanson shares how attentiveness and curiosity can open up astonishing worlds. Join us as we explore how slowing down and observing carefully can awaken the same thrill of discovery felt by the greatest naturalists. Guest: Thor Hanson, author of "Close to Home: The Wonders of Nature Just Outside Your Door" Visit Thor Hansen's website to learn more about his amazing work: https://thorhanson.net/ https://www.byuradio.org/7806915d-1c9b-4753-a46c-a0863af65ca8 7806915d1c9b-4753-a46c-a0863af65ca8 Wed, 23 Jul 2025 06:00:00 GMT false 2888 full 11 14 On a tiny, remote island, an English farmer and writer captures the story of Anna Måsøy, a Norwegian "duck woman." In a practice that dates back to the Vikings, islanders coax wild eider ducks to nest on their islands, where the birds leave behind eiderdown—a material so precious that even kings and queens of Europe used it in their bedding. In learning Anna's story, this Englishman reconnects with his own heritage—passed down through six centuries of farming on his family's land in England. Guest: James Rebanks, farmer and author of "The Place of Tides" Find James Rebank online here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herdyshepherd1/?hl=en X/Twitter: https://x.com/herdyshepherd1?lang=en https://www.byuradio.org/39edae3e-197c-4da6-811e-a1c8c713deb6 39edae3e197c-4da6-811e-a1c8c713deb6 Wed, 16 Jul 2025 06:00:00 GMT false 3569 full 11 13 Karen Lloyd is no stranger to life in the extremes: she has encountered super-resilient microbial life near volcanoes, on the ocean floor, and deep in the crust of the Earth. Some of these microbes can survive extreme temperatures, "breathe" minerals like gold, and some can even live for thousands of years. In this episode of Constant Wonder, learn about how extraordinary life on Earth can be. Guest: Karen G. Lloyd is the Wrigley Chair in Environmental Studies, Professor of Earth Sciences, and Professor of Marine and Environmental Biology at the University of Southern California. She is the author of "Intraterrestrials: Discovering the Strangest Life on Earth" Check out Karen Llyod's book! https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691236117/intraterrestrials https://www.byuradio.org/e241686e-3a6b-4453-84fa-262e60c47836 e241686e3a6b-4453-84fa-262e60c47836 Wed, 09 Jul 2025 06:00:00 GMT false 3156 full 11 12 Though his life looked calm from the outside, Douglas Wood's undiagnosed ADHD and dyslexia dragged him down—until he received a personal letter from the famed wilderness writer Sig Olson. Olson's encouragement set him on a path to become a wilderness guide and a noted children's author. Guest: Douglas Wood, author of over 40 books, retired wilderness canoe guide, and most recently the author of "A Wild Path," a collection of essays for adults Visit Douglas Wood's website to learn more about his work: https://douglaswood.com/ Originally aired March 13, 2024 https://www.byuradio.org/0ced0718-62b7-498c-a93e-36200faba32c 0ced071862b7-498c-a93e-36200faba32c Wed, 13 Mar 2024 06:00:00 GMT false 3323 full 11 11 When she was growing up, Dr. Kate Kennedy dreamed of becoming a professional cellist. After a devastating injury at music school, this dream was cut short. However, in recent years, Kennedy has reclaimed her identity as a cellist. She set out across Europe to investigate how cellists connect to their instruments. On her journey, she learned about the story of Pál Hermann—a composer and cello virtuoso who was killed in the Holocaust. After learning about his story, Kate was determined to find his long-lost cello to restore this precious instrument—the soul of Pál Hermann—to his daughter, Corrie, now in her mid-90s. Guest: Dr. Kate Kennedy, writer, cellist and broadcaster, and author of Cello: A Journey Through Silence to Sound Audio of Sam Lucas playing Pál Hermann's Cello Concerto at Wigmore Hall used with permission from Kate Kennedy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3I18yVuCEY&t=2s Audio of Kate Kennedy performing Bach's Cello Suite No. 2 in D minor used with permission from the Kaunas Ninth Fort Museum and Kate Kennedy Audio of Deirdre Bencsik playing the "bee cello" used with permission from Professor Martin Bencsik and the Bee Cello Project https://www.byuradio.org/c934035a-6abb-4845-bacc-dd764690dc7b c934035a6abb-4845-bacc-dd764690dc7b Wed, 25 Jun 2025 06:00:00 GMT false 3417 full 11 10 Everyday people overcome seemingly insurmountable hurdles to produce fine art. Due to decades of historical isolation, the quilters of Gee's Bend, Alabama developed a radical, abstract approach to quilting. We meet two quilters from the small town who have quilts on display in some of the finest museums in the country. We also meet a contemporary furniture maker whose work is a living history of Black craft. Guests: Robell Awake, chairmaker, teacher, and author of "A Short History of Black Craft in Ten Objects" https://www.robellawake.com Essie Bendolph Pettway, quilter from Gee’s Bend, Alabama. Her work is in the permanent collections of the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Alabama, and the Studio Museum in Harlem, New York https://www.soulsgrowndeep.org/artist/essie-bendolph-pettway Louisiana P. Bendolph, quilter from Gee's Bend, Alabama. Her quilts are in the permanent collections of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Clark Atlanta University Art Museum, The High Museum of Art, The Dallas Museum of Art, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art https://www.soulsgrowndeep.org/artist/louisiana-p-bendolph Gee's Bend Quiltmakers: https://www.soulsgrowndeep.org/gees-bend-quiltmakers Illustration of Harriet Powers courtesy of Johnalynn Holland, illustrator of "A Short History of Black Craft in Ten Objects" https://johnalynnholland.com/ Photo of "Conjure Memory - Things Fall Apart" courtesy of Robell Awake https://www.byuradio.org/dc84b812-d6bd-46dc-9f91-57c25e5fd787 dc84b812d6bd-46dc-9f91-57c25e5fd787 Wed, 18 Jun 2025 06:00:00 GMT false 3866 full 11 9 Facing the loss of her Elkmont cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains—a family treasure for five generations—Lynn Faust began to pay more attention to the fireflies there, the "light show," as the family called it, where thousands of fireflies would light up in unison. When she read that synchronous fireflies did not exist in North America, she knew that scientists were wrong. The creatures were right in her own yard! Realizing just how little was known about these enchanting insects, she set out to observe them, becoming a self-taught firefly expert and unveiling the mysteries of nature's tiny lanterns. Guest: Lynn Faust, author of "Fireflies, Glow-worms, and Lightning Bugs: Identification and Natural History of the Fireflies of the Eastern and Central United States and Canada" Learn more about Lynn Faust's book: https://www.ugapress.org/9780820348728/fireflies-glow-worms-and-lightning-bugs/ Photo credit: SmokyMountains.com Originally aired April 3, 2024 https://www.byuradio.org/d4f5f8b1-ef4c-464a-92b3-3972e0cf16c8 d4f5f8b1ef4c-464a-92b3-3972e0cf16c8 Wed, 11 Jun 2025 06:00:00 GMT false 3154 full 11 8 The Hanbury-Tenisons have turned to a rare temperate rainforest on their family farm for solace and renewal after emotional and physical trauma. Now they want to share this healing resource with others. But they also want to restore and expand the ancient forest. Healing the land and healing ourselves in this episode of Constant Wonder. Guests: Merlin Hanbury-Tenison, author of "Our Oaken Bones: Reviving a Family, a Farm and Britain’s Ancient Rainforests" and founder of Cabilla retreat center Lizzie Hanbury-Tenison, founder of Cabilla retreat center Rob Stoneman, Director of Landscape Recovery  Landscape Recovery for the British Wildlife Trusts Read the Hanbury-Tensions' book: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/462415/our-oaken-bones-by-hanbury-tenison-merlin/9781529144222 Learn more about the Cabilla Retreat: https://www.cabillacornwall.com/vision/ Find them online: Merlin's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DHya0T1KkP4/ Rob Stoneman's X/Twitter: https://x.com/RobStoneman https://www.byuradio.org/82451512-1202-40fd-84a4-1c10b7fde69c 824515121202-40fd-84a4-1c10b7fde69c Wed, 04 Jun 2025 06:00:00 GMT false 3261 full 11 7 Ever since "Dracula," bats have been seen as terrifying threats that carry disease. They're actually essential to our agriculture and industry. In this episode of Constant Wonder, you'll meet an expert who can set the record straight. No wonder he's known as "The Batman of Mexico"; he's been obsessed with the flying mammals since he was young! Guest: Rodrigo Medellin, Professor of Ecology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico Learn more about Rodrigo Medellín's research: Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rodrigo-Medellin-3 Find him online! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/batmanmedellin/?hl=en Originally aired July 19, 2023 https://www.byuradio.org/4f899df1-5fde-4978-9d5f-19c1791de709 4f899df15fde-4978-9d5f-19c1791de709 Wed, 28 May 2025 06:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 11 6 One day in 1901, a young farmer from Croatia set out on a walk. Decades later, he was still walking, had traversed six continents, and had stood face-to-face with the most famous people of the age. His mammoth autograph book, lost to history for nearly a century, has resurfaced to tell the tale of Joseph Mikulec and his eccentric quest. Guests: Rebecca Rego Barry, author of "Rare Books Uncovered: True Stories of Fantastic Finds in Unlikely Places" and editor of Fine Books & Collections magazine. She wrote about Mikulec's odyssey for "Smithsonian Magazine." Nathan Raab, rare book collector, Philadelphia, PA Visit Carolyn Wells online to explore her work: Author page: https://rebeccaregobarry.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccaregobarry/ Originally aired September 14, 2022 https://www.byuradio.org/54cf1090-2eff-4763-b278-a7f46a9fcacc 54cf10902eff-4763-b278-a7f46a9fcacc Wed, 14 Sep 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 11 5 Meet a tireless physician who has spent nearly four decades caring for the unhoused population of Boston. We'll also learn about some of his enterprising and generous patients, who've formed a community that watches out for one another on the streets, as they find redemption and hope amid tragedy. Guests: Jim O'Connell, MD, President of Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School Tracy Kidder, author of "Rough Sleepers: Dr. Jim O’Connell’s Urgent Mission to Bring Healing to Homeless People" and winner of the Pulitzer Prize Learn more about the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program: https://www.bhchp.org/about/our-mission-work/ Find a copy of Jim O'Connell and Tracy Kidder's book: https://www.tracykidder.com/books.html Photo credit: Bill Brett Originally aired May 10, 2023 https://www.byuradio.org/99dd505a-19f2-4179-9e93-98d61dcd910d 99dd505a19f2-4179-9e93-98d61dcd910d Wed, 10 May 2023 06:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 11 4 Hummingbirds are often admired for their dazzling speed and iridescent beauty, but their nesting habits remain one of nature's best-kept secrets. Citizen scientist Eric Pittman takes us into this hidden world, sharing his firsthand observations of hummingbird mothers as they build intricate nests and nurture their young—right in his very own backyard. Join us as we explore the hidden wonders of nature that await when we take the time to look. Visit Eric Pittman's website to see more hummingbirds up close: https://www.hummingbirdsupclose.com/ Guest: Eric Pittman, Hummingbirds Up Close; subject of "The Bird in My Backyard" documentary Photo credit: Eric Pittman Select hummingbird audio courtesy of Paul Marvin and Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library https://www.byuradio.org/587b6119-4ec9-496b-a5e6-f32a4e350449 587b61194ec9-496b-a5e6-f32a4e350449 Wed, 07 May 2025 06:00:00 GMT false 2171 full 11 3 Educator and activist Septima Clark used her passion for teaching to increase literacy rates in the Deep South, preparing Black citizens to pass the voter registration tests that were designed to disenfranchise them. Guest: Elaine Weiss, author of "Spell Freedom: The Underground Schools that Built the Civil Rights Movement" Septima Clark reader: Janice L. Jones Find Elaine Weiss online: Author page: https://elaineweiss.com/ X/Twitter: https://x.com/efweiss5?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElaineWeissAuthor/ Photo Caption: Septima Poinsette Clark, 1973; Photo Credit: Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC. News footage courtesy of EasyStreet, Pond5, www.pond5.com https://www.byuradio.org/f06e0a94-74d0-4e42-afda-d46990bfd0c6 f06e0a9474d0-4e42-afda-d46990bfd0c6 Wed, 30 Apr 2025 06:00:00 GMT false 3417 full 11 2 The best way to see the world is on foot, it might be argued. Mary Colwell has had amazing encounters with wildlife on her walking treks around the globe. She's even used her walks to raise awareness and increase protection of the fascinating but imperiled curlew. Mary Colwell, Director of Curlew Action; TV and radio producer, conservationist; author, "Curlew Moon" Learn more about Curlew Action: https://www.curlewaction.org/ Find Mary Colwell online: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marycolwell1/?hl=en https://www.byuradio.org/197e2f42-df82-4027-857f-7942cdda4b95 197e2f42df82-4027-857f-7942cdda4b95 Wed, 23 Apr 2025 06:00:00 GMT false 3198 full 11 1 Daniel Curry had had recurring dreams about wolves, long before he chose to devote his career to helping them. After working with captive wolves for several years, he became a "range rider," a human intermediary between predators and the cattle they might want to eat. In this episode of Constant Wonder, we'll discover Curry's extraordinary empathy for both domestic and wild creatures, and we'll hear how he works to keep them all safe. Photo credit: Tyler Tjomsland/The Spokesman-Review Guest: Daniel Curry, range rider and wolf advocate in Eastern Washington Find Daniel Curry online: https://thewolfranger.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedanimalmanimal/?hl=en Originally aired on May 17, 2023 https://www.byuradio.org/05fdd14d-ab98-40e3-835e-a9459c3c4c0c 05fdd14dab98-40e3-835e-a9459c3c4c0c Wed, 17 May 2023 06:00:00 GMT false 3233 full 10 16 When Paula Whyman started trying to rehabilitate 200 acres she'd just bought, she knew very little about conservation. Among many other challenges, she faced off with mile-a-minute vine and rattlesnakes, but, with self-effacing humor and passion for this corner of the Blue Ridge Mountains, she persisted (and still persists!) in restoring the land to a healthy equilibrium. Guest: Paula Whyman, author of "Bad Naturalist: One Woman’s Ecological Education on a Wild Virginia Mountaintop" Find Paula Whyman online: https://paulawhyman.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulawhymanauthor/?hl=en https://www.byuradio.org/fb66b4bb-3a2b-44d8-b06a-4847360ab322 fb66b4bb3a2b-44d8-b06a-4847360ab322 Wed, 09 Apr 2025 06:00:00 GMT false 3159 full 10 15 Use the power of retreat and meditation to ease the stress of our frenetic lifestyle. From decades of friendship with the Dalai Lama, Pico Iyer has learned the value of sacred silence. Guest: Pico Iyer, author of "Aflame: Learning from Silence" Explore Pico Iyer's work: https://picoiyerjourneys.com/#about https://www.byuradio.org/96d6b89a-6df7-4cfe-ad9c-408bdcd0d427 96d6b89a6df7-4cfe-ad9c-408bdcd0d427 Wed, 02 Apr 2025 06:00:00 GMT false 2846 full 10 14 If snorkeling seems like something you can only do on a tropical vacation, think again. In this podcast episode, we meet a river snorkeling guide who encourages us to stick our heads in the water, right in our local streams and rivers. Keith Williams thinks you'll be amazed at the aquatic life you'll see there. Tune in to Constant Wonder and get hooked with some amazing fish tales. Guest: Keith Williams, author of "Snorkeling Rivers and Streams: An Aquatic Guide to Underwater Discovery and Adventure" and guide at Freshwater Journeys Read more snorkeling stories by Keith at https://blog.nature.org/author/keith-williams/ Originally aired on January 25, 2023 https://www.byuradio.org/f8edaaf0-3441-4730-80de-6355e5844831 f8edaaf03441-4730-80de-6355e5844831 Wed, 25 Jan 2023 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 10 13 After waking from a coma with devastating brain damage, Samina Ali relearns to walk and speak alongside her newborn son. Guest: Samina Ali, author of "Pieces You'll Never Get Back: A Memoir of Unlikely Survival" Find Samina Ali online: https://saminaali.net/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samina.ali.writer/?hl=en https://www.byuradio.org/16ab736f-d1a9-4e2e-acc4-4e51b655e2f5 16ab736fd1a9-4e2e-acc4-4e51b655e2f5 Wed, 19 Mar 2025 06:00:00 GMT false 3320 full 10 12 When Chloe Dalton starts caring for a newborn hare, the line between "indoors" and "outdoors" blurs—inviting her to explore the natural world that she previously took for granted. Guest: Chloe Dalton, author of "Raising Hare: A Memoir" Visit Cloe Dalton online: https://www.chloedalton.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chloedaltonuk/?hl=en © The British Library; Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en; BYU Broadcasting does not claim ownership in the wildlife sounds provided by The British Library obtained at https://bit.ly/4ipDIU8; no changes made https://www.byuradio.org/1cda35ac-59ec-4a45-9af1-27d339c6211a 1cda35ac59ec-4a45-9af1-27d339c6211a Wed, 12 Mar 2025 06:00:00 GMT false 3279 full 10 11 From rural oddity to New York Times writer, Wilson Bentley's singular devotion to snow and desire to share it with others changed snow science forever. Guests: Wayne Howe, former president of the Jericho Historical Society; Kenneth Libbrecht, professor of physics at the California Institute of Technology; Anna and Juniper of Jericho, VT; Seth of Provo, UT. Special thanks to Rod Gustafson for voicing Wilson Bentley. Want to learn more? Check out the Jericho Historical Society! https://www.jerichohistoricalsociety.org/ Photo courtesy of snowflakebentley.com https://www.byuradio.org/7b9f04bc-0020-40fb-b5b6-278dca61fe1d 7b9f04bc0020-40fb-b5b6-278dca61fe1d Wed, 05 Mar 2025 07:00:00 GMT false 3268 full 10 10 Clint Edwards' hilarious honesty gives encouragement to those struggling with mental health challenges. Facing off his anxiety with humor and hope, he learns to raise his a family of his own after growing up at odds with his parents. Guest: Clint Edwards, blogger and author of "Anxiously Ever After: An Honest Memoir on Mental Illness, Strained Relationships, and Embracing the Struggle" Visit Clint Edwards online to see more of his work: Substack blog: https://clintedwards.substack.com/about Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noideadaddyblog/?hl=en X/Twitter: https://x.com/byclintedwards?lang=en Originally Aired on February 8, 2023 https://www.byuradio.org/06643a69-f139-4ba8-ad40-84602d466090 06643a69f139-4ba8-ad40-84602d466090 Wed, 26 Feb 2025 07:00:00 GMT false 3169 full 10 9 When Korean adoptee Sara Jones went looking for her birth family, she wondered if a strange tattoo given to her in childhood could unlock any secrets. Adopted into an American family at age three, Jones found much success here in America, becoming an attorney and CEO. It wasn't until her own kids started asking questions that she decided to search for her birth family. And she started her search with that mysterious tattoo. Guest: Sara Jones, CEO of InclusionPro, Board Member of The (Utah) State Workforce Development Board, Board of Trustees for Intermountain Salt Lake Valley Hospitals, Co-Founder of Women Tech Council. Visit Sara Jones on Instagram to learn more: https://www.instagram.com/saradansiejones/?hl=en Originally aired on October 26, 2022 https://www.byuradio.org/b1bd6245-650f-49d9-b2f7-bdac095bae67 b1bd6245650f-49d9-b2f7-bdac095bae67 Wed, 19 Feb 2025 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 10 8 A norm-shattering young White female doctor joins Black paramedics in 1970s Pittsburgh. And, meet the graceful but determined Black paramedic who provided unheralded leadership in spite of racism from patients and superiors. Guests: Kevin Hazzard, author of "American Sirens: The Incredible Story of the Black Men Who Became America's First Paramedics" John Moon, former paramedic at Freedom House and former Assistant Chief, City of Pittsburgh EMS Visit Kevin Hazzard online to learn more about his writing and research: Main website: https://www.kevinhazzard.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goes_by_hazzard/?hl=en X/Twitter: https://x.com/goes_by_hazzard Photo Credit: Harvard University, Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America Originally aired on September 28, 2022. https://www.byuradio.org/8cf9e98d-49f2-4e5a-8b84-5e31d1764359 8cf9e98d49f2-4e5a-8b84-5e31d1764359 Fri, 14 Feb 2025 07:00:00 GMT false 2376 full 10 7 Before 1966, if you needed transport to the hospital, authorities might send a police car, or even a hearse. That year, Pittsburgh's non-profit Freedom House set out to change that for the city's predominately Black Hill District. Staffed by trained Black men, their ambulance service served as a model for newly emerging paramedic services around the country. Guests: Kevin Hazzard, author of "American Sirens: The Incredible Story of the Black Men Who Became America's First Paramedics" John Moon, paramedic at Freedom House and former Assistant Chief, City of Pittsburgh EMS Visit Kevin Hazzard online to learn more about his writing and research: Main website: https://www.kevinhazzard.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goes_by_hazzard/?hl=en X/Twitter: https://x.com/goes_by_hazzard Photo Credit: Heinz History Center Originally aired on September 21, 2022. https://www.byuradio.org/2265d102-8d64-4e66-80e4-a3d094847255 2265d1028d64-4e66-80e4-a3d094847255 Wed, 12 Feb 2025 07:00:00 GMT false 2621 full 10 6 The Earth's crust reveals a dynamic, lively epic unfolding. Dramatic changes in the Earth's geology offer inspiration for its human residents. Guest: Marcia Bjornerud, author of "Turning to Stone: Discovering the Subtle Wisdom of Rocks" and Professor of Geosciences and Environmental Studies, Lawrence University. Find copies of her books here: https://press.princeton.edu/our-authors/bjornerud-marcia https://www.byuradio.org/85cac2ce-15a3-4cf1-b4dd-332d6f9ddc22 85cac2ce15a3-4cf1-b4dd-332d6f9ddc22 Wed, 05 Feb 2025 07:00:00 GMT false 3004 full 10 5 After cancer takes his brother's life, Dacher Keltner repeatedly experiences awe in ways that expand the boundaries of what, even for him, is real. Guest: Dacher Keltner, founding director, Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley; author, "Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life" Visit Dacher's website to explore more of his writing: https://www.dacherkeltner.com/ Originally aired 2/15/23 https://www.byuradio.org/201dbd2c-d98a-44c6-a964-269908bfc384 201dbd2cd98a-44c6-a964-269908bfc384 Wed, 15 Feb 2023 07:00:00 GMT false 2871 full 10 4 Jarod Anderson found unique purpose in the woods of his childhood during a life-threatening battle with depression. As the host of the popular podcast "The Cryptonaturalist," he shares real love for nature with thousands through whimsical, magical, and outright outrageous stories. Visit Jarod Anderson's onling to explore his marvelous work: Author page: https://www.jarodkanderson.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jarodkanderson/?hl=en https://www.byuradio.org/79fbe0c7-19db-40a2-8853-c644d283a32a 79fbe0c719db-40a2-8853-c644d283a32a Wed, 22 Jan 2025 07:00:00 GMT false 3351 full 10 3 What can animals written off as "mindless" or "scary" teach us about developing compassion for the natural world and for other people? Guest: Sy Montgomery, author of "What the Chicken Knows: A New Appreciation of the World's Most Familiar Bird" Find Sy Montgomery online: Author page: https://symontgomery.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sytheauthor/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SyTheAuthor/ https://www.byuradio.org/dd45e875-c002-40d9-971b-9d1fa74d84d4 dd45e875c002-40d9-971b-9d1fa74d84d4 Wed, 15 Jan 2025 07:00:00 GMT false 2794 full 10 2 Darkness makes even the most familiar places unfamiliar. But Leigh Ann Henion finds this exciting, not scary—night reveals a magical, wondrous world. Guest: Leigh Ann Henion, author of "Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark" Visit Leigh Henion's online to learn more about her writing, research, and life: Author page: https://leighannhenion.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leighannhenion/?hl=en https://www.byuradio.org/155ac895-f176-4b96-b686-bd657edc4470 155ac895f176-4b96-b686-bd657edc4470 Wed, 08 Jan 2025 07:00:00 GMT false 2819 full 10 1 Poet and essayist Ross Gay talks about finding moments of wonder in everyday life. Wandering, finger painting, laundromats, bike riding, gardening, listening to beautiful music, recognizing the care that is offered to us. In this episode of Constant Wonder, we discover Ross Gay's philosophy of delight. Guest: Ross Gay, author of "The Book of Delights," "Inciting Joy," and "The Book of (More) Delights" Find Ross Gay online to explore his other work: https://www.rossgay.net/about Originally aired October 25, 2023 https://www.byuradio.org/8ff0b5dc-9875-4c8d-ae09-a9747f09d927 8ff0b5dc9875-4c8d-ae09-a9747f09d927 Wed, 27 Nov 2024 07:00:00 GMT false 3259 full 9 14 Get to know BBC personality and naturalist Mike Dilger, from his passion for birds and wildlife, to his adventures in the cloud forests of Ecuador. In this episode, we explore Mike's early experiences with birdwatching, his quest to find 1,000 different plant species in a single year, and his heartwarming proposal story, involving a ladder, a ring, and some chickens. Mike Dilger celebrates the natural world with contagious enthusiasm. Guest: Mike Dilger, BBC presenter and author of "One Thousand Shades of Green" Explore Mike's writing and photography here: https://mikedilger.co.uk/ Episode originally aired April 19, 2023 https://www.byuradio.org/3eb65aba-09ca-4dbb-89cf-97d2042d816c 3eb65aba09ca-4dbb-89cf-97d2042d816c Wed, 20 Nov 2024 07:00:00 GMT false 3293 full 9 13 In 1938, two botanists from Michigan challenge the raging Colorado River in pursuit of cactus, the first known women to run the river through the Grand Canyon. An entertaining but little-known tale of resilience and beauty at the edge of the impossible. Guest: Melissa Sevigny, author of "Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon." Explore Melissa's other writing here: https://melissasevigny.com/ Thanks to Lew Steiger for allowing us to use his recordings of Lois Jotter's recollections. Kyle Remand, Ryan Clark, Brian Tanner, Eric Glissmeyer, Audrey Hughes, Kristi Lindstrom, Becca Hurley, and Barry Squires voiced the various roles. Episode originally aired September 9, 2023. https://www.byuradio.org/9cb98659-8937-4f34-aa86-f7a1f6780e08 9cb986598937-4f34-aa86-f7a1f6780e08 Wed, 13 Nov 2024 07:00:00 GMT false 3464 full 9 12 A story of human triumph: A young child is rescued from life on the streets, fostered, and mentored. He chases a dream to play classical music, and now as a mentor himself, he encourages others to dream big. With humility and humor, Richard Antoine White shares his unique journey. A favorite episode reprise, originally posted October 12, 2022. Guest: Richard Antoine White, author of "I'm Possible: A Story of Survival, a Tuba, and the Small Miracle of a Big Dream"; principal tubist for the Santa Fe Symphony and the New Mexico Philharmonic; Associate Professor of Tuba/Euphonium at the University of New Mexico Visit Richard's website to learn more about him and his music: https://rawtuba.com/ https://www.byuradio.org/d486a252-518e-4aea-a26c-fe3e86a996d7 d486a252518e-4aea-a26c-fe3e86a996d7 Wed, 06 Nov 2024 07:00:00 GMT false 3293 full 9 11 Can one local map offer a lifetime of adventure? Alastair Humphreys embarks on a quest to discover the hidden marvels of his London neighborhood. As a National Geographic explorer, he has rowed across the Atlantic, biked around the world, and run a marathon in the Sahara—but he still loves to find the ordinary, wondrous things right under our noses. Guest: Alastair Humphreys, National Geographic Explorer and author, "Local: A Search for Nearby Nature and Wildness" Find Alastair Humphreys online: https://alastairhumphreys.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/al_humphreys/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKsTMxQP7HUCRTuNEEQWLww X/Twitter: https://x.com/Al_Humphreys https://www.byuradio.org/a0787d58-2d74-487f-a54e-7ee30ba7671a a0787d582d74-487f-a54e-7ee30ba7671a Wed, 23 Oct 2024 06:00:00 GMT false 2364 full 9 9 Unexpected wonder from Arctic encounters with beluga whales, wolves, grizzlies, and polar bears. Adventurer Jonathan Waterman shares four decades of experience on the ice, and he explores the emerging beauty of a warming ecosphere. Guest: Jonathan Waterman, author of "Into the Thaw: Witnessing Wonder Amid the Arctic Climate Crisis" Check out Jonathan's other survival books and say hi online: https://authorsunbound.com/jonathan-waterman/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waterman_jonathan/?hl=en https://www.byuradio.org/cd567c76-739b-4ce7-9e31-9d1cb004559f cd567c76739b-4ce7-9e31-9d1cb004559f Wed, 16 Oct 2024 06:00:00 GMT false 2359 full 9 8 A story of passion, persistence, and a barely plausible sea creature. Experts insisted that seahorses couldn't live in cold water off the coasts of Devonshire, England or Long Beach, California. Then two scuba divers proved them wrong. Guests: Neil Garrick-Maidment, Founder of The Seahorse Trust Roger Hansen, scuba instructor and retired high school teacher Want to learn more? Check out The Seahorse Trust and see the waves they are making! https://www.theseahorsetrust.org/ https://www.byuradio.org/efd3ff87-8cf2-40e4-99bb-368a4fa48f3f efd3ff878cf2-40e4-99bb-368a4fa48f3f Wed, 09 Oct 2024 06:00:00 GMT false 2443 full 9 7 This astronaut never took the stunning view from the Space Station for granted, even after 100 days in space. Life lessons for earthlings: behave like a crewmate, not a passenger, on this planet. That's the message Nicole Stott has been sharing ever since her return. And she gives particular insight into the healing effects of art and space on sick and traumatized children. Guest: Nicole Stott, retired NASA astronaut; author of "Back to Earth: What Life in Space Taught Me About Our Home Planet―And Our Mission to Protect It"; Founding Director of the Space for Art Foundation Find Nicole Stott online: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astro_nicole/?hl=en Want to get involved? Visit the Space for Art Foundation and find out how you can help! https://www.spaceforartfoundation.org/ https://www.byuradio.org/fad6f00e-b5e1-41ed-a456-76f7c65cf7ef fad6f00eb5e1-41ed-a456-76f7c65cf7ef Wed, 02 Oct 2024 06:00:00 GMT false 3040 full 9 6 When Scottish peregrine falcon chicks were stolen, George Smith used DNA to reveal the smugglers' crimes and return the birds to grateful peregrine parents. Also in this episode, we meet a California peregrine matriarch named Annie, whose engaged parenting approach has met with unusual success. Guests: Lynne Schofield and Sean Peterson, visiting biology professors at St. Olaf's College and ornithologists with Cal Falcons George Smith, Peregrine Coordinator for the Scottish Raptor Study Group Want to learn more about raptor conservation? Visit the Scottish Raptor Study Group and get involved! https://www.scottishraptorstudygroup.org/scottish-raptor-monitoring-scheme/ https://www.byuradio.org/64dbeb57-da38-4b2c-8bac-5129eac4268b 64dbeb57da38-4b2c-8bac-5129eac4268b Wed, 25 Sep 2024 06:00:00 GMT false 2724 full 9 5 Bright hope for cystic fibrosis and progeria patients. Francis Collins gives a wide-ranging interview: the sequencing of the human genome; life-changing treatments for genetic diseases; how he astonished himself when he began to question his atheism; wrestling with the way his team at the NIH handled the Covid pandemic. All part of his journey on the "Road to Wisdom." Guest: Francis Collins, former Director of the National Institutes of Health; founder of BioLogos; author of "The Road to Wisdom: On Truth, Science, Faith, and Trust" Find a copy of Francis Collins' book: https://www.francisscollins.com/ https://www.byuradio.org/2756b66f-5431-478b-9a41-2e1bb60e29d5 2756b66f5431-478b-9a41-2e1bb60e29d5 Wed, 18 Sep 2024 06:00:00 GMT false 3268 full 9 4 Plants are sentient. It's not just animals that think. Able to choose, they detect problems, find nutrients, and defend themselves. Guest: Zoë Schlanger, science writer for The Atlantic and author of "The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth" Find Zoë Schlanger online: https://www.zoeschlanger.com/the-light-eaters X/Twitter: https://x.com/zoeschlanger https://www.byuradio.org/e2486ec3-dd36-40d9-9022-6c40acde2c9e e2486ec3dd36-40d9-9022-6c40acde2c9e Wed, 11 Sep 2024 06:00:00 GMT false 2913 full 9 3 When she realized that her father had become a voice for the scattered Hmong people, Kao Kalia Yang—who'd refused to speak English for 20 years—found the courage to do the same. Guest: Kao Kalia Yang, author of "Where Rivers Part," "The Song Poet," and "The Latehomecomer" Find Kao Kalia Yang online: https://www.kaokaliayang.com/kao-kalia-yang/ https://www.byuradio.org/2582198a-1e65-449a-bd9c-1261ea1d2e5b 2582198a1e65-449a-bd9c-1261ea1d2e5b Wed, 04 Sep 2024 06:00:00 GMT false 2657 full 9 2 Lyme disease keeps her from driving, but the beloved author of The Joy Luck Club relishes the wonder of nature right at home. Amy Tan's insights will help you see your back yard, whatever its size, in a whole new light. Tune in as she describes the animal life in her yard—hummingbirds, owls, finches, squirrels, and even rats—as if they were players on the stage of a great opera. Guest: Amy Tan, author of The Backyard Bird Chronicles Find Amy Tan online: https://amytan.net/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amytanwriter/?hl=en https://www.byuradio.org/65b76b93-1eb4-4d8f-8adf-08f5b3142cbb 65b76b931eb4-4d8f-8adf-08f5b3142cbb Wed, 28 Aug 2024 06:00:00 GMT false 2776 full 9 1 Yasmeen Lari was a famous Pakistani architect celebrated for her work in steel, cement, and glass. In her 60s, she turned her back on all that, and, after a massive earthquake hit her country, she began to work with locals building humble homes of adobe, mud, and bamboo. Painter Henri Matisse, when debilitated by stomach cancer in his 70s, hung up his brushes and took up scissors to continue making art. And, the Disney illustrator Tyrus Wong waited until he was 90 years old to receive full credit for the revolutionary work he'd done on "Bambi." Never say it's too late to succeed! Guest: Mo Rocca, correspondent for "CBS News Sunday Morning," author of "Roctogenarians: Late in Life Debuts, Comebacks, and Triumphs," and host of the "Mobituaries" podcast https://www.byuradio.org/afa8f645-5342-408a-b4d6-dd33bf525ea3 afa8f6455342-408a-b4d6-dd33bf525ea3 Wed, 24 Jul 2024 06:00:00 GMT false 2756 full 8 12 Northern bald ibises vanished from the wild in Europe 400 years ago. Austrian scientists attempted to re-introduce the birds to the wild, but the birds got spectacularly lost when they were released for migration, flying east in their search for south. In this episode of Constant Wonder, learn how Johannes Fritz was inspired by a Hollywood movie, leading him to teach the bald ibises to migrate safely—by guiding them for hundreds of miles in a microlight plane. Guest: Johannes Fritz, biologist, conservationist, and founder of the Waldrappteam Want to learn more? Check out Waldarappteam's website to find out more! https://www.waldrappteam.at/en/ Photo copyright of Waldrappteam Conservation and Research https://www.byuradio.org/c87788b3-6e71-4d6d-a01b-c997954f2096 c87788b36e71-4d6d-a01b-c997954f2096 Wed, 17 Jul 2024 06:00:00 GMT false 3000 full 8 11 Born to a Taiwanese mother and Welsh father, Jessica J. Lee grew up in suburban Ontario feeling "not quite Canadian." She attempted to set down roots in England as a young adult, but her sense of belonging was challenged by the xenophobia that followed Brexit. In this episode of Constant Wonder, we'll examine how nature helps an immigrant or transplant feel at home. Guests: Jessica J. Lee, author of "Dispersals: On Plants, Borders, and Belonging" and "A Garden Called Home" Stephanie Krzywonos, author of "Glacial Erratic," published in the Willowherb Review Find Jessica online: https://www.jessicajleewrites.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicajlee/?hl=en Find Stephanie online: https://stephaniekrzywonos.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephkrzywonos/?hl=en https://www.byuradio.org/3da1f529-0b05-4f3e-af58-d1b83eb0996c 3da1f5290b05-4f3e-af58-d1b83eb0996c Wed, 10 Jul 2024 06:00:00 GMT false 3299 full 8 10 A bee’s brain is tiny, but its one million neurons make shockingly complex connections. Individual bee and bumblebee intelligence is phenomenal, from spatial memory to communication. And would you believe that bees are likely also capable of play? Two leading researchers paint a compelling picture of just how much we’ve underestimated the individual sentience of bees. The stereotype of the bee as a robot fully dependent on the hive is far from accurate. We explore fascinating bee research involving harmonic radar, machine learning, and AI—in an effort to see the world through the eyes of a bee. Guests: Lars Chittka, professor of Sensory and Behavioral Ecology at Queen Mary University of London and author of "The Mind of a Bee" Tim Landgraf, professor of Machine Learning and Robotics at the Free University Berlin https://www.byuradio.org/cbb88b49-98ec-4c01-b4bd-f64f9191b632 cbb88b4998ec-4c01-b4bd-f64f9191b632 Wed, 03 Jul 2024 06:00:00 GMT false 2897 full 8 9 Alan Townsend describes his early professional and personal life as marked by a naïve faith in the power of science to provide answers and solve problems. Townsend was already softening his early scientific dogmatism when his wife and his daughter were diagnosed with unrelated brain cancers. One survived, while the other did not, and this father and husband then had to choose how to how to put back the pieces, both of his life and of his view of a universe that once seemed to him so clear and logical. Guest: Alan Townsend, author of "This Ordinary Stardust: A Scientist's Path from Grief to Wonder" Find Alan Townsend online: https://www.alantownsend.info/ https://www.byuradio.org/3427158a-c2b6-43dc-8a25-8f7ae302644f 3427158ac2b6-43dc-8a25-8f7ae302644f Wed, 26 Jun 2024 06:00:00 GMT false 2888 full 8 8 After farmer Mas Masumoto was contacted as next-of-kin for a woman he knew almost nothing about, he set about to uncover why his disabled aunt was hidden away after WWII, and his efforts began to heal wounds that were seven decades old. His story tracks the triumphs and heartaches of four generations of Japanese Americans. Guest: David Mas Masumoto, author of "Secret Harvest: A Hidden Story of Separation and the Resilience of a Family Farm" Want to know more? Visit the Masumoto family's blog for new books, family recipes, and their story: https://www.masumoto.com/ Original artwork by Patricia Wakida https://www.byuradio.org/51fd7564-5d51-48f3-b02f-36c7559b8e11 51fd75645d51-48f3-b02f-36c7559b8e11 Wed, 19 Jun 2024 06:00:00 GMT false 3403 full 8 7 Amidst the annus horribilis that was 2020, New York-based writer John Oakes sought to exorcise some of his own inner noise and "automaticity" by doing a week-long liquid-only fast. He liked it so well that he and his wife, Carin Kuoni, began fasting twice a year. And he liked that so well that he wrote a book about it. In this episode of Constant Wonder he and Carin explain the how and why of these biannual fasts. Guests: John Oakes, author of "The Fast: The History, Science, Philosophy, and Promise of Doing Without" Carin Kuoni, Senior Director/Chief Curator, Vera List Center for Art and Politics Find John Oakes online: https://john-oakes.com/ Instagram: Find Carin Kouni online: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carinkuoni/?hl=en https://www.byuradio.org/77510876-e212-45b7-94e9-3ee687042423 77510876e212-45b7-94e9-3ee687042423 Wed, 12 Jun 2024 06:00:00 GMT false 3112 full 8 6 When Christian Wiman and Danielle Chapman met and married, life seemed charmed and the horizon calm. But within a year, Christian was diagnosed with a rare, incurable blood cancer, and their life veered in directions unforeseen. Now, over twenty years later, Christian and Danielle and their two teenage daughters are thriving; Christian is cancer free after the latest round of therapy. He has been the beneficiary of multiple timely medical breakthroughs. Along the way, they have experienced intense joy amidst great pain and developed a quiet, shared Christian faith. Guests: Christian Wiman, professor at Yale Divinity School and the Yale Institute of Sacred Music; editor; poet; author of "Zero at the Bone: Fifty Entries Against Despair" Danielle Chapman, poet, essayist, and lecturer in English at Yale University. her work can be found here: https://daniellechapmanauthor.com/ https://www.byuradio.org/83048800-5a72-43d2-943e-c8cf189f13c3 830488005a72-43d2-943e-c8cf189f13c3 Wed, 05 Jun 2024 06:00:00 GMT false 3239 full 8 5 He's known as the "Bear Man of India" for his work rescuing sloth bears from inhumane conditions "dancing" on the streets. His obsession with helping animals began early in his life, when he'd spend full-moon nights high in a jungle tree watching a procession of wild animals visit a nearby watering hole. In the intervening 30 years, he's braved the "timber mafia" and even gunshots in a tireless crusade to protect wildlife. Guest: Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder and CEO of Wildlife SOS https://www.byuradio.org/7401044c-82c8-40c2-aa18-40ee0b2ae8e8 7401044c82c8-40c2-aa18-40ee0b2ae8e8 Wed, 29 May 2024 06:00:00 GMT false 3694 full 8 4 This week we bring you a very special feed drop. Our host, Marcus Smith, appears as a guest on the podcast "The[ART]ology: Finding God in the Movies." In this episode, Marcus describes how the Constant Wonder podcast came to be. And he shares his favorite movies, from "Babette's Feast" to "Marcel the Shell with Shoes On." "The[ART]ology" podcast puts the art back into theology by finding God in the movies. Host Vincent Nel delves into the mysteries that movies reveal about ourselves and God. Featuring guests, deep dives, and thoughtful discussions, each episode centers around a theme and explores movies from an artistic and theological perspective. Find more of the [ART]ology podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-art-ology/id1557323788 https://www.byuradio.org/e8ed4f6c-72f6-415b-b156-d4a66b170068 e8ed4f6c72f6-415b-b156-d4a66b170068 Wed, 22 May 2024 06:00:00 GMT false 2035 full 8 3 After Tod O'Donnell suffers a traumatic brain injury, his filmmaker son, Tim, documents his recovery and his advocacy for others. The family embraces "Tod 2.0," a more fearless, more open version of his former self. Listen to Tod's accounts of life today, what he calls "a new frontier." Guests: Tod O'Donnell, subject of the documentaries "The House We Lived In" and "No Quit" Tim O'Donnell, documentary filmmaker and co-founder of Pixela Films Original music, "The Field," by James Call Curious about Tod's other documentaries? Check out his company, Pixela films! https://pixelafilms.com/about-us/ https://www.byuradio.org/1350c4b9-4730-4a12-a70b-8319a3311a60 1350c4b94730-4a12-a70b-8319a3311a60 Wed, 15 May 2024 06:00:00 GMT false 3252 full 8 2 Explore the hidden world of nematodes. These tiny—less than one millimeter long—organisms are everywhere in the soil, some as plant parasites, others as pest predators. With 57 billion nematodes in the soil for each human standing on it, turns out their importance in genetic research and biomedicine is immense. Join us as we delve into this fascinating field and tap into the excitement and humor of nematologists on the cutting edge of discovery. Guests: Byron Adams, biology professor at Brigham Young University Adler Dillman, nematology professor at UC Riverside Michael Werner, microbiology professor at the University of Utah Songs from "The Plant Parasitic Nematode Songbook" were written by Kathy Merrifield and sung by Brian Tanner, Becca Hurley, and Sam Payne https://www.byuradio.org/ace898fd-1c5a-4ec7-a01e-4a020b8756b2 ace898fd1c5a-4ec7-a01e-4a020b8756b2 Wed, 08 May 2024 06:00:00 GMT false 3254 full 8 1 Facing the loss of her Elkmont cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains—a family treasure for five generations—Lynn Faust began to pay more attention to the fireflies there, the "light show," as the family called it, where thousands of fireflies would light up in unison. When she read that synchronous fireflies did not exist in North America, she knew that scientists were wrong. The creatures were right in her own yard! Realizing just how little was known about these enchanting insects, she set out to observe them, becoming a self-taught firefly expert and unveiling the mysteries of nature's tiny lanterns. Guest: Lynn Faust, author of "Fireflies, Glow-worms, and Lightning Bugs: Identification and Natural History of the Fireflies of the Eastern and Central United States and Canada" Learn more about Lynn's book: https://www.ugapress.org/9780820348728/fireflies-glow-worms-and-lightning-bugs/ Photo credit: SmokyMountains.com https://www.byuradio.org/9aac8527-1bd1-4959-9f17-924bcaca4e96 9aac85271bd1-4959-9f17-924bcaca4e96 Wed, 03 Apr 2024 06:00:00 GMT false 3270 full 7 12 Businesswoman Françoise Malby traveled the world for work, until a chance encounter in a London tube station changed her life. Within a year, she'd quit Paris for South Africa, where she and her partner, Lawrence, would eventually establish a wildlife preserve to shelter troubled and orphaned elephants and rhinos. The two would eventually marry and spend 14 years together operating the Thula Thula preserve. When Lawrence passed away suddenly, the responsibility for these animals fell to Françoise. In this episode of Constant Wonder, a tale of love and loss, and a touching connection beyond the grave. Guest: Françoise Malby-Anthony, owner of Thula Thula Private Game Reserve and author of "The Elephants of Thula Thula" Learn more about Françoise and the THula Thula reserve on their website: https://thulathula.com/our-story/ Thula Baba traditional lullaby accessed on the Soweto Gospel Choir YouTube channel. https://www.byuradio.org/28643dff-09ce-43fd-9f59-8e2143760519 28643dff09ce-43fd-9f59-8e2143760519 Wed, 27 Mar 2024 06:00:00 GMT false 3688 full 7 11 Emmett Hoops was seven when he determined to help save the nearly extinct American chestnut tree. He's 64 now, but his hope and passion are unabated. In this episode of Constant Wonder, you'll meet Emmett, but you'll also hear voices from the past: people who grew up under the leaves of the chestnut tree and who relied on its nutritious nuts—before blight drove it from the American forest around 1940. Guests: Emmett Hoops, Director for District 5 and Vice President for Outreach, New York Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation Andy Newhouse, Director of American Chestnut Project at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Want to get involved with Chestnut restoration? Visit the American Chestnut Foundation online to learn more about their mission! https://www.americanchestnut.org/ Special thanks to Bethany N. Baxter for archival interviews from Appalachia conducted in 2008. https://www.byuradio.org/cf9d9801-4cdb-4a48-a065-1f9753b1b16b cf9d98014cdb-4a48-a065-1f9753b1b16b Wed, 20 Mar 2024 06:00:00 GMT false 3218 full 7 10 Though his life looked calm from the outside, Douglas Wood's undiagnosed ADHD and dyslexia dragged him down—until he received a personal letter from the famed wilderness writer Sig Olson. Olson's encouragement set him on a path to become a wilderness guide and a noted children's author. Guest: Douglas Wood, author of over 40 books, retired wilderness canoe guide, and most recently the author of "A Wild Path," a collection of essays for adults Visit Douglas Wood's website to learn more about his work: https://douglaswood.com/ https://www.byuradio.org/e2be0114-dcc9-436d-83ae-72bdefa359a5 e2be0114dcc9-436d-83ae-72bdefa359a5 Wed, 13 Mar 2024 06:00:00 GMT false 3233 full 7 9 Raised in landlocked Soweto, Zandile Ndhlovu didn't have easy access to a pool or the ocean, and she grew up hearing tales of monsters lurking in rivers and the sea. When she was nearly 30, she went on a snorkeling trip in Bali and felt a startling feeling of "coming home" beneath the waves. She would soon give up her management consulting career to become the first female Black South African freediving instructor. She can hold her breath for nearly five minutes underwater! As an ambassador for the sea, she travels the globe sharing the wonder of the ocean and the power of human breath. GUEST: Zandile Ndhlovu, freediving instructor, Founder and Director of the The Black Mermaid Foundation, author of the children's book "Zandi's Song" Find Zandile on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zandithemermaid/?hl=en Learn more about the Black Mermaid Foundation: https://www.blackmermaid.co.za/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblackmermaid_foundation/?hl=en https://www.byuradio.org/d58f9391-f2d6-43f7-89de-912385948724 d58f9391f2d6-43f7-89de-912385948724 Wed, 06 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 7 8 Born just after Emancipation, Anna Maria Threewitts and CG Garrett grow up to become pillars of their Black community. Their ten children must decide if they'll embrace their parents' high expectations for achievement in the Jim Crow South, or head north as part of the Great Migration that forever changed the face of America. Guest: David Nicholson, author of "The Garretts of Columbia: A Black South Carolina Family from Slavery to the Dawn of Integration" Readers: Othello Richards, John Pilmer, and Peachie Jones Explore more of David's writing on his website: https://davidnicholson.info/ "A Charge to Keep I Have" written by Charles Wesley, sung by Hasan Green, accessed at TheHasanGreen YouTube channel "Manual Typewriter Sound Effect" accessed at Sound Effects YouTube channel https://www.byuradio.org/15e5fa9a-917c-49a0-85ed-3660ea38e788 15e5fa9a917c-49a0-85ed-3660ea38e788 Wed, 28 Feb 2024 07:00:00 GMT false 3827 full 7 7 When Freeman Hrabowski III first heard Martin Luther King speak in church, he was a 12-year-old math nerd trying to avoid getting hazed by the older kids. A week later, he, along with hundreds of other kids, was a hero of the civil rights movement, having spent five nights in jail. Later that fall, one of Freeman's schoolmates died in the notorious 16th Street Baptist Church bombing. Those events shaped the course of a life devoted to helping Black children reach their educational goals. Guest: Freeman Hrabowski III, Emeritus President of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and author of "The Resilient University: How Purpose and Inclusion Drive Student Success" Visit Freeman Hrabowski online to learn more about his work! https://www.fhrabowski.com/ https://www.byuradio.org/8cfe1f0d-d837-4c6a-951b-ffc61ceea1f7 8cfe1f0dd837-4c6a-951b-ffc61ceea1f7 Wed, 21 Feb 2024 07:00:00 GMT false 2945 full 7 6 New Yorker cartoonist Amy Kurzweil's efforts to connect to people in her own past led her to write and illustrate two graphic family histories. The first tells the story of her mother's mother, who escaped the Holocaust without any photos or personal records, only her memories—many still fresh in her now-97-year-old head. Her father's father, profiled in Kurzweil's latest book, left an abundance of records and writings but died long before the cartoonist was born. Two very different lives to reconstruct. Two very different challenges in storytelling. Guest: Amy Kurzweil, author of "Artificial: A Love Story" and "Flying Couch: A Graphic Memoir" explore Amy's art on her website https://amykurzweil.com/ and on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amykurzweil/?hl=en https://www.byuradio.org/4dd4f7eb-c5fc-41fc-a211-08be070ce1d8 4dd4f7ebc5fc-41fc-a211-08be070ce1d8 Wed, 14 Feb 2024 07:00:00 GMT false 3577 full 7 5 When the secret police discover that a well-off Iranian doctor has converted to Christianity, she must flee the country with her two children, taking only what they can fit in a suitcase. Witness her son's coming-of-age as a refugee in Oklahoma as he wrestles with the question: Is what we gained commensurate with what we lost? A heart-wrenching, inspiring—and, at times, hilarious—episode from Constant Wonder. Guest: Daniel Nayeri, author of "Everything Sad is Untrue (A True Story)" Explore Daniel's writing at https://www.danielnayeri.com/ and on Instagram: https://www.danielnayeri.com/ Thanks to Onetent for the use of "Persian Fantasy," accessed at pixabay.com https://www.byuradio.org/9d9675f5-1c5f-4aeb-be48-060f646778d0 9d9675f51c5f-4aeb-be48-060f646778d0 Wed, 07 Feb 2024 07:00:00 GMT false 3804 full 7 4 Turtles have amazing recuperative powers; when an injured turtle is given the right care and time to heal, it can often outlive its human rescuers—and possibly its rescuers' children as well. Acclaimed nature writer Sy Montgomery and illustrator Matt Patterson share the transformative lessons they've learned at the Turtle Rescue Center in Southbridge, Massachusetts. In this episode of Constant Wonder: What can turtles teach us about patience, endurance, time, and even what it means to be human? Guests: Sy Montgomery, author, and Matt Patterson, illustrator, of "Of Time and Turtles: Mending the World, Shell by Shattered Shell" Find Sy Montgomery online at https://symontgomery.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sytheauthor/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SyTheAuthor/ Find Matt Patterson online at https://www.mpattersonart.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stoneridgeartstudios/?hl=en Photo by Erin Patterson https://www.byuradio.org/24b159ee-cd15-47b9-9a0d-67141d67b5e2 24b159eecd15-47b9-9a0d-67141d67b5e2 Wed, 31 Jan 2024 07:00:00 GMT false 3088 full 7 3 A foundling newborn owl on the brink of death was rescued by a passionate conservationist. After a couple years, she was released to the wild, where's she's lived a healthy life—she's even raised two broods of chicks. But she still calls to and pays regular visits to her rescuer, right in his own backyard, a miracle of hope and connection. Also in this episode of Constant Wonder, a bonus conversation about tracking the world's largest owl in Siberia. Guests: Carl Safina, author of "Alfie and Me: What Owls Know, What Humans Believe," Endowed Professor for Nature and Humanity at Stony Brook University, and founding president of the Safina Center Jonathan C. Slaght, Regional Director, Temperate Asia, Wildlife Conservation Society; author of “Owls of the Eastern Ice: A Quest to Find and Save the World’s Largest Owl” Want to learn more? Find Jonathan online at https://jonathanslaght.com/ Explore more of Carl's writing at https://www.carlsafina.org/ Owl calls: © Sergey Surmach 2012; Creative Commons CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Deed https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/; BYU Broadcasting does not claim ownership in the sounds provided by Mr. Surmach which BYU obtained from https://xeno-canto.org/species/Bubo-blakistoni https://www.byuradio.org/bbe5ad5f-845b-4083-b893-f5658bc0158a bbe5ad5f845b-4083-b893-f5658bc0158a Wed, 24 Jan 2024 07:00:00 GMT false 3207 full 7 2 When his daughter is diagnosed with Down Syndrome, an anthropology professor must test his commitment to the lesson that his field had long taught: that someone is different doesn't mean something is wrong with them. He discovers, though, that even leading social scientists like Margaret Mead and Erik Erikson struggled to accept Down Syndrome as part of a normal life. In this episode of Constant Wonder, he and his family embrace an expanded concept of what a "normal" childhood looks like. Guest: Thomas W. Pearson, professor of Anthropology at University of Wisconsin-Stout and author of "An Ordinary Future: Margaret Mead, the Problem of Disability, and Child Born Different" Find Thomas online at https://www.thomaswpearson.org/ https://www.byuradio.org/2cf574d8-9a7a-42f7-b844-e9e8b5793035 2cf574d89a7a-42f7-b844-e9e8b5793035 Wed, 17 Jan 2024 07:00:00 GMT false 3067 full 7 1 Sixty years ago, the island of Surtsey was born of a volcanic eruption. It would've remained a bleak, barren place were it not for bird droppings which created a tiny ecosystem in which plants, insects, and birds now thrive. It's a compelling example of the way that animals distribute nutrients around the globe through their poop. In other instances, carcasses nourish many forms of life around them, especially during and after a migration. In this episode, we'll find wonder around the world in quite unlikely places. Guest: Joe Roman, author of "Eat, Poop, Die: How Animals Make Our World" Find Joe online: https://joeroman.com/ X/Twitter: https://x.com/roamnjoe https://www.byuradio.org/d310a8a1-08b9-4237-a889-afef252ec714 d310a8a108b9-4237-a889-afef252ec714 Wed, 08 Nov 2023 07:00:00 GMT false 3190 full 6 8 As a biology professor and a published writer, Steven Peck spent his entire life closely observing everything around him. But then his world was overturned by a brain infection that caused severe hallucinations, and he was plunged into a terrifying realm of assassin-children, evil doctors, and river-rafting MRI machines. Emerging from that chaos, Peck grappled with the power of the human brain to construct and alter the reality we experience. In this episode of Constant Wonder, he talks about how such a horrific and mind-altering experience led to an increased capacity for compassion. Steven Peck, professor of biology at BYU and author of over forty short stories and novels. Visit Steven online to find out more about his writing: https://stevepeckniche.com/ https://www.byuradio.org/8e4371b3-a42f-49f3-9d6e-ab86ea3bc226 8e4371b3a42f-49f3-9d6e-ab86ea3bc226 Wed, 01 Nov 2023 06:00:00 GMT false 3168 full 6 7 Poet and essayist Ross Gay talks about finding moments of wonder in everyday life. Wandering, finger painting, laundromats, bike riding, gardening, listening to beautiful music, recognizing the care that is offered to us. In this episode of Constant Wonder, we discover Ross Gay's philosophy of delight. Guest: Ross Gay, author of "The Book of Delights," "Inciting Joy," and "The Book of (More) Delights" Find Ross Gay online to explore his other work: https://www.rossgay.net/about https://www.byuradio.org/074a2163-d018-4624-88f3-22e491476d4d 074a2163d018-4624-88f3-22e491476d4d Wed, 25 Oct 2023 06:00:00 GMT false 3166 full 6 6 Steven Melendez was introduced to ballet as a child living in a homeless shelter. After an international ballet career—during which he tried to downplay his past—he now works to welcome more kids with backgrounds like his into the ballet studio and onto the world's finest stages. The documentary "Lift" chronicles his journey. Guests: Steven Melendez, Artistic Director of New York Theatre Ballet David Petersen, Director and Producer of "Lift" Find Steven online: https://stevenmelendez.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestevenmelendez/?hl=en Find David online: https://www.beaufort9films.com/lift https://www.byuradio.org/d3cad420-e69d-4ed6-8bb9-7bbd7027f44c d3cad420e69d-4ed6-8bb9-7bbd7027f44c Wed, 18 Oct 2023 06:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 6 5 Andrew Leland figured out he was going blind when he began stumbling in the dark as a teenager. Using the then-nascent internet, he diagnosed himself with retinitis pigmentosa, a condition which has caused his sight to gradually degrade from the outside in. Far from being the tragedy he expected, his blindness has simply become part of everyday life—bringing with it surprising humor and unexpected beauty. Guest: Andrew Leland, freelance writer for The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, McSweeney’s Quarterly, and The San Francisco Chronicle, among others Find Andrew online: https://www.andrewleland.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quailty/?hl=en https://www.byuradio.org/9f97ac36-7cf8-4d85-a5b6-f912487e1d75 9f97ac367cf8-4d85-a5b6-f912487e1d75 Wed, 11 Oct 2023 06:00:00 GMT false 2928 full 6 4 When the two teenage children of a close-knit family are killed by a drunk driver, the grief-stricken parents turn to their Jewish community for support. They learn that constructive grief requires community and conversation, and they set out to rebuild a joyful life that honors their lost children while embracing others in need. Guests: Colin Campbell, author of "Finding the Words: Working Through Profound Loss with Hope and Purpose," and Gail Lerner Find Colin online: https://colincampbellauthor.com/colin/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colincampbellwriter/ Find Gail online: https://gaillerner.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gail.lerner/?hl=en https://www.byuradio.org/03501dc6-3921-49a3-8dd5-6e27ba7f8659 03501dc63921-49a3-8dd5-6e27ba7f8659 Wed, 04 Oct 2023 06:00:00 GMT false 3670 full 6 3 When Ava Chin went looking for the father who had abandoned her family, she discovered the rich and complicated legacy of her Chinese immigrant relatives. Her great-great-grandfather helped build the railroad that united America, but his adopted country soon turned against him, legislating the Chinese Exclusion Act. This episode of the Constant Wonder podcast explores how Ava Chin's family continued to thrive in America, despite intense discrimination. As her family history unfolds, we witness Ava Chin lay claim to a past she never knew she had. Guest: Ava Chin, author of "Mott Street: A Chinese American Family's Story of Exclusion and Homecoming" Learn more about Ava Chin: http://avachin.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ava_chin/?hl=en https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/563929/mott-street-by-ava-chin/ Excerpts from "Butterfly Lovers’ Violin Concerto" used by permission from the BYU Chamber Orchestra https://www.byuradio.org/6fd6291f-a646-4c7b-adac-c4f98f3a85e7 6fd6291fa646-4c7b-adac-c4f98f3a85e7 Wed, 27 Sep 2023 06:00:00 GMT false 3569 full 6 2 In 1938, the raging rapids of the Colorado were still untamed and undammed when a pair of botanists from the University of Michigan captured the country's imagination. They would become the first known women to run the river through the Grand Canyon. They did it in pursuit of plants and science, but their story is a little-known tale of resilience and beauty at the edge of the impossible. Guest: Melissa Sevigny, author of "Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon." Explore Melissa's other writing here: https://melissasevigny.com/ Thanks to Lew Steiger for allowing us to use his recordings of Lois Jotter's recollections. Kyle Remand, Ryan Clark, Brian Tanner, Eric Glissmeyer, Audrey Hughes, Kristi Lindstrom, Becca Hurley, and Barry Squires voiced the various roles. https://www.byuradio.org/3aa8a122-f94d-431d-ac1d-6fa843eb34a7 3aa8a122f94d-431d-ac1d-6fa843eb34a7 Wed, 20 Sep 2023 06:00:00 GMT false 3484 full 6 1 Utah Lake has long had a poor reputation for being murky and prone to algal blooms, but efforts to save the once-endangered June sucker fish are bringing new life to the massive lake. In this episode of Constant Wonder, see how a coalition of scientists, government officials, and regular folk are looking out for an ecosystem unlike any other. Guests: Josh LeMonte, Professor of Geology at BYU Michael Mills, Executive Director at the Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission Melissa Stamp, Projects Manager the Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission Ben Abbott, Professor of Plant and Wildlife Sciences at BYU Henry Jones, Anna Monson, and Feyan Hoffman, volunteers at Utah Lake Learn more about the Utah Lake Conservation Project and the local June Suckers here: https://www.junesuckerrecovery.org/meet-the-june-sucker Web photo credit: Keith Lane https://www.byuradio.org/65dcf7e1-3821-4bec-aaca-892ee4ca5df6 65dcf7e13821-4bec-aaca-892ee4ca5df6 Wed, 23 Aug 2023 06:00:00 GMT false 3255 full 5 8 Exploring deeper in the ocean than anyone before him—into the dark depths of the sea where no ray of sunlight reached—William Beebe saw shocking lights, colors, and critters that made him question life on land. In this episode of Constant Wonder, meet a scientist as interesting as the watery worlds he discovered. Guest: Brad Fox, author of The Bathysphere Book: Effects of the Luminous Ocean Depths William Beebe narrated by Brian Croxall, Professor of Digital Humanities at BYU Visit Brad Fox online: Author page: https://bradfox.org/about Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradmfox/?hl=en https://www.byuradio.org/bb976faa-68a5-44d4-a41b-feeee8b1b850 bb976faa68a5-44d4-a41b-feeee8b1b850 Wed, 16 Aug 2023 06:00:00 GMT false 3309 full 5 7 Karl Gönner was a Nazi, and his family didn't ask a lot of questions about that time in his life. But after his death, they came to find out, in a most unexpected way, that he'd protected villagers in occupied France against abuse by the Nazi regime. In this episode of Constant Wonder, a family discovers that their history is more inspiring than they'd ever suspected. Guest: Burkhard Bilger, author of "Fatherland: A Memoir of War, Conscience, and Family Secrets" and staff writer at "The New Yorker" https://www.byuradio.org/93d753d7-3028-4e5d-a1ed-376a0bdc4364 93d753d73028-4e5d-a1ed-376a0bdc4364 Wed, 09 Aug 2023 06:00:00 GMT false 3212 full 5 6 Barely 20 years ago, there was little scientific consensus on the purpose of sleep. Now, there is broad agreement that sleep and dreams are where the unconscious mind processes events, solves problems, and organizes memories. Robert Stickgold helped break the field open, in part by getting amnesiacs to play tetris. Sidarta Ribeiro was drawn to the field largely through his own striking dream and sleep experiences, starting when he was just five years old. Explore the world of dreams in this episode of Constant Wonder. Guests: Sidarta Ribeiro, Professor of Neuroscience at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil Robert Stickgold, Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School https://www.byuradio.org/eee587df-63e5-46c0-8bdb-acefbc1164e2 eee587df63e5-46c0-8bdb-acefbc1164e2 Wed, 02 Aug 2023 06:00:00 GMT false 3235 full 5 5 Stella Levi, age 100, grew up on the island of Rhodes in a community of Sephardic Jews who had lived there for over 500 years. She survived the Italian and German occupations and the deportation of her entire community to Auschwitz. Decades later, Levi met Michael Frank, a writer living in New York City. This chance encounter led to weekly meetings for over six years. In this episode of Constant Wonder, Michael Frank tells us the story of their friendship, Stella Levi's incredible life, and the lost Jewish community of Rhodes. Guest: Michael Frank, author of "One Hundred Saturdays: Stella Levi and the Search for a Lost World" Find Michael online: https://michaelfrank.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelfrankauthor/ Music courtesy of Daphna Mor and Nina Stern and their ensemble, "East of the River," from their upcoming album “Ija Mia" (7/31/23) The clips of Stella speaking Ladino are from the Endangered Language Alliance Audio of Stella's speech is from NYU's Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò https://www.byuradio.org/05f31244-ca13-4d9c-98d0-c444d1f57ff5 05f31244ca13-4d9c-98d0-c444d1f57ff5 Wed, 26 Jul 2023 06:00:00 GMT false 3481 full 5 4 Ever since "Dracula," bats have been seen as terrifying threats that carry disease. They're actually essential to our agriculture and industry. In this episode of Constant Wonder, you'll meet an expert who can set the record straight. No wonder he's known as "The Batman of Mexico"; he's been obsessed with the flying mammals since he was young! Guest: Rodrigo Medellin, Professor of Ecology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico Learn more about Rodrigo Medellín's research: Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rodrigo-Medellin-3 Find him online! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/batmanmedellin/?hl=en https://www.byuradio.org/eaa9e921-dee0-46ba-af7d-14a9c7dcce51 eaa9e921dee0-46ba-af7d-14a9c7dcce51 Wed, 19 Jul 2023 06:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 5 3 Christopher Clark always had a sharp sense of humor. But when he was diagnosed with ALS and gradually became paralyzed, he also refined and shared a sense of awe at the miracle of living, even though—and maybe because—his own body was dying. His widow, Lisa Valentine Clark, tells his story to Constant Wonder, in an episode you won't want to miss. Guests: Lisa Valentine Clark, host of "The Lisa Show" on BYUradio Ken Craig, Chris Clark's best friend and Donor Liaison at Philanthropies Dept. for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Visit "The Lisa Show" to hear more stories from Lisa: https://www.byuradio.org/the-lisa-show Web photo credit: Justin Hackworth https://www.byuradio.org/124dd0e3-6db4-41b3-a2ec-01a367cebbc4 124dd0e36db4-41b3-a2ec-01a367cebbc4 Wed, 12 Jul 2023 06:00:00 GMT false 3359 full 5 2 A young field biologist, whose peripatetic childhood left her feeling rootless, searches for a sense of home in some of the world's wildest places. She works in extreme conditions in Antarctica, studying prey and predators, birds, and seals. In the process, she discovers fragility and terror, and, ultimately, the magic of life. Guest: Naira de Gracia, field biologist and author of "The Last Cold Place: A Field Season Studying Penguins in Antarctica" Find Naira online: https://www.nairadegracia.com/ https://www.byuradio.org/eeb8c9d3-2a83-4660-8a99-6af74f37dd23 eeb8c9d32a83-4660-8a99-6af74f37dd23 Wed, 05 Jul 2023 06:00:00 GMT false 2948 full 5 1 Lyanda Lynn Haupt's mission is to connect people with nature in their everyday lives. In her own life, that's led to sitting in the dark alongside a moose, walking barefoot in a prehistoric Celtic tomb, and adopting a starling. Sometimes, as can happen when backpacking alone in the wilderness, encounters with nature can be scary as well as inspiring. But awe includes both fear and wonder, and our guest will examine both in this episode of Constant Wonder. Guest: Lyanda Lynn Haupt, naturalist, speaker, and author of "Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit" Learn more about Lyanda's work on her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lyandahaupt/?hl=en https://www.byuradio.org/b6e66a59-7396-4b43-b3d6-aa48ca3e8439 b6e66a597396-4b43-b3d6-aa48ca3e8439 Wed, 31 May 2023 06:00:00 GMT false 3496 full 4 7 People living on the edge of African nature preserves can pass their diseases to gorillas living there. In this episode of Constant Wonder, a wildlife vet practices "One Health" by investing in the health and economic security of humans to ensure primates stay healthy, too. The result is robust gorilla tourism that benefits the entire country. Guest: Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, founder and CEO of Conservation Through Public Health and author of "Walking with Gorillas: The Journey of an African Wildlife Vet" Find Gladys on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gladyskalemazikusoka/?hl=en Photo credit: Jo-Anne McArthur / #unboundproject / We Animals Media https://www.byuradio.org/91286e45-71ae-4010-942d-68dd167ed3d9 91286e4571ae-4010-942d-68dd167ed3d9 Wed, 24 May 2023 06:00:00 GMT false 3404 full 4 6 Daniel Curry had had recurring dreams about wolves, long before he chose to devote his career to helping them. After working with captive wolves for several years, he became a "range rider," a human intermediary between predators and the cattle they might want to eat. In this episode of Constant Wonder, we'll discover Curry's extraordinary empathy for both domestic and wild creatures, and we'll hear how he works to keep them all safe. Photo credit: Tyler Tjomsland/The Spokesman-Review Guest: Daniel Curry, range rider and wolf advocate in Eastern Washington Find Daniel Curry online: https://thewolfranger.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedanimalmanimal/?hl=en https://www.byuradio.org/20af36ae-85e2-401c-a2fa-2f398ff6d9d2 20af36ae85e2-401c-a2fa-2f398ff6d9d2 Wed, 17 May 2023 06:00:00 GMT false 3231 full 4 5 In this episode, meet Dr. Jim O'Connell, a tireless physician who has spent nearly four decades caring for the unhoused population of Boston. We'll also learn about some of his enterprising and generous patients, who've formed a community that watches out for one another on the streets. Finding redemption and hope amid tragedy, on Constant Wonder. Guests: Jim O'Connell, MD, President of Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School Tracy Kidder, author of "Rough Sleepers: Dr. Jim O’Connell’s Urgent Mission to Bring Healing to Homeless People" and winner of the Pulitzer Prize Learn more about the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program: https://www.bhchp.org/about/our-mission-work/ Find a copy of Jim O'Connell and Tracy Kidder's book: https://www.tracykidder.com/books.html Photo credit: Bill Brett https://www.byuradio.org/6fcd6057-a2dc-4a4b-8ef7-84ed342b13a9 6fcd6057a2dc-4a4b-8ef7-84ed342b13a9 Wed, 10 May 2023 06:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 4 4 As a young White girl in Ohio, Rachel Jamison had imagined what life was like for her pioneer ancestors, and she peppered her grandparents with questions about her past. Decades later, she and her family discovered a connection to a prominent early American Black intellectual and met their living Black relatives. The full story of her past had been hiding in plain sight. Guest: Rachel Jamison Webster, author of "Benjamin Banneker and Us: Eleven Generations of an American Family" Visit Rachel at her website to learn more about her newest projects: https://www.racheljamisonwebster.com/ https://www.byuradio.org/33cdb253-6b1b-463a-b6db-fdb20aea2ccf 33cdb2536b1b-463a-b6db-fdb20aea2ccf Wed, 03 May 2023 06:00:00 GMT false 3718 full 4 3 Prem Jauhar was a world-class agricultural scientist—an inspiration to his son Sandeep, our guest, who became a cardiologist. When the elderly father Prem started behaving oddly, Sandeep and his two siblings grew frustrated and confused. It’s a classic family story of grown children struggling together to help a parent beset with Alzheimer’s. A beautiful father-son bond, established early on when young Sandeep would help Prem tend his beloved garden, manifests itself at the end of Prem’s life in tender exchanges between a now childlike father and a grieving son. Everyone will have something profound to gain from this episode of Constant Wonder. Guest: Sandeep Jauhar, MD, PhD, Director of the Heart Failure Program at Long Island Jewish Hospital; author of "My Father's Brain: Life in the Shadow of Alzheimer's"; contributing opinion writer for The New York Times Find Sandeep online to explore more of his work: https://sandeepjauhar.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandeepjauhar/ X/Twitter: https://x.com/sjauhar https://www.byuradio.org/082e26db-e854-493e-a55b-aae5687a8a97 082e26dbe854-493e-a55b-aae5687a8a97 Wed, 26 Apr 2023 06:00:00 GMT false 3463 full 4 2 Get to know BBC personality and naturalist Mike Dilger, from his passion for birds and wildlife, to his adventures in the cloud forests of Ecuador. In this podcast episode, we explore Mike's early experiences with birdwatching, his quest to find 1,000 different plant species in a single year, and his heartwarming proposal story, involving a ladder, a ring, and some chickens. Mike Dilger celebrates the natural world with contagious enthusiasm. Guest: Mike Dilger, BBC presenter and author of "One Thousand Shades of Green" Find him online: https://mikedilger.co.uk/ https://www.byuradio.org/61b96078-93fc-41cf-aa82-aca9d058aa9a 61b9607893fc-41cf-aa82-aca9d058aa9a Wed, 19 Apr 2023 06:00:00 GMT false 3347 full 4 1 As a young woman from the East Coast, Sasha Reed had never been camping before when she was introduced to the Arizona desert by her future husband. She fell in love with both, and crouching on the dry ground she noticed and became obsessed with fragile communities of organisms known as "biocrust." This led her into a scientific field, biogeochemistry, that would shape her professional life. With infectious enthusiasm, she's become an evangelist for biocrust communities, finding joy and amusement in their spunky methods of not only surviving, but thriving. Guest: Sasha Reed, biogeochemist with the U.S. Geological Survey, researching biocrust Curious about Sasha's work? Visit USGS's website to learn about her latest publications: https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/sasha-c-reed Photo credit: Canyonlands National Park, Utah. © William Bowman https://www.byuradio.org/bf2439f4-1dfb-47b3-ba56-e7276a1f7c35 bf2439f41dfb-47b3-ba56-e7276a1f7c35 Wed, 22 Mar 2023 06:00:00 GMT false 3483 full 3 12 In 1863 on the South Dakota frontier, a Lakota Indian elder and a US army colonel had a tense and deadly encounter. They could not have known that their children would marry each other, and thus create a welded and complex legacy that generations of their descendants would work to reconcile. Guest: Philip J. Deloria, Professor of History at Harvard University https://www.byuradio.org/f87e87b3-e168-4470-9cfa-2ed2d70de057 f87e87b3e168-4470-9cfa-2ed2d70de057 Wed, 15 Mar 2023 06:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 3 11 Dying patients often profess to see deceased loved ones around them in the days and weeks before they pass. So often that hospice care doctor Chris Kerr decided to make a scientific study of the phenomenon. He found that while the medical community typically views death as defeat, there is actually a great deal of spiritual growth right there at the end of life. This podcast episode invites you to reconsider these unique dreams before dying. Guest: Christopher Kerr, MD, PhD, CEO & Chief Medical Officer at Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo, and author of "Death Is But a Dream: Finding Hope and Meaning at Life's End" Find a copy of "Death is But a Dream" here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/604704/death-is-but-a-dream-by-christopher-kerr-md-phd-with-carine-mardorossian-phd/ https://www.byuradio.org/316838e0-3b7f-4501-8393-1e234aa3802f 316838e03b7f-4501-8393-1e234aa3802f Wed, 08 Mar 2023 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 3 10 The apex of marine archaeologist Mensun Bound's stellar career happened a year ago this week, when the expedition he spearheaded found Ernest Shackleton's "Endurance" at the bottom of an Antarctic sea. This was just the latest find in a career marked by big discoveries, including a 2,500-year-old Etruscan ship and a Roman wreck weighed down by massive stone columns looted from Athens. Bound has a special term for that electric moment when he uncovers a piece of history and feels like he's connecting with the mind of its creator. He calls it "mind touch." Now, the expedition to find Shackleton's ship required a crew of experts, an icebreaker, two helicopters, and cutting edge submersible robots. But the real magic in this story is Bound's palpable connection through time to people whose stories have enriched our world. Guest: Mensun Bound, Director of Exploration on the 2019 and 2022 expeditions to locate Shackleton’s Endurance; previously Triton Fellow in Maritime Archaeology at Oxford University; author of "The Ship Beneath the Ice: The Discovery of Shackleton's Endurance" Learn more about Mensun's adventures on his website: https://www.mensunbound.com/ Photo Credit: National Geographic/The Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust https://www.byuradio.org/9b32f411-62e4-44a2-9bde-bafa7c0fa411 9b32f41162e4-44a2-9bde-bafa7c0fa411 Wed, 01 Mar 2023 07:00:00 GMT false 3602 full 3 9 Being in and around water heals us emotionally. Water "evangelist" J Nichols shares his insight and his personal "water stories," when water has inspired him and also when it's healed him from trauma. As part of this episode, we're asking listeners, "What's your water story?" Tune in to Constant Wonder and find out how to share yours! Wallace J Nichols, author of "Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do" and co-author of "Dear Wild Child: You Carry Your Home Inside You" Learn more about J's lifework and mission at his website: https://www.wallacejnichols.org/122/the-blue-mind-movement.html https://www.byuradio.org/857ca1aa-17a0-4277-adc0-5725e4505eec 857ca1aa17a0-4277-adc0-5725e4505eec Wed, 22 Feb 2023 07:00:00 GMT false 3310 full 3 8 Dacher Keltner has been a leading researcher on the subject of awe for nearly 20 years. It’s hard to improve upon his description of the phenomenon: Awe is an emotion we feel upon encountering something so vast that it upends our sense of what is real. But when cancer took his brother’s life, Keltner personally and repeatedly experienced awe in ways that expanded the boundaries of what, even for him, is real. In this podcast episode, he visits with us about his new openness to experiences of awe that science cannot adequately account for. Guest: Dacher Keltner, Professor of Psychology at UC Berkeley and author of "Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life" Visit Dacher's website to explore more of his writing: https://www.dacherkeltner.com/ https://www.byuradio.org/f15f250a-d496-45cd-9d84-40dbe316fe4a f15f250ad496-45cd-9d84-40dbe316fe4a Wed, 15 Feb 2023 07:00:00 GMT false 2871 full 3 7 Meet Clint Edwards, a man whose hilarious honesty has brought hope and laughter to his readers in the New York Times, Washington Post, and on his popular blog: No Idea What I’m Doing. Follow his story of growing up at odds with his parents and eventually learning to raise a family of his own, all while managing mental health struggles. On this episode of Constant Wonder, learn about finding wonder in the mundane, the difficult, the hilarious, and the in-between. Guest: Clint Edwards, blogger and author of "Anxiously Ever After: An Honest Memoir on Mental Illness, Strained Relationships, and Embracing the Struggle" Visit Clint Edwards online to see more of his work: Substack blog: https://clintedwards.substack.com/about Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noideadaddyblog/?hl=en X/Twitter: https://x.com/byclintedwards?lang=en https://www.byuradio.org/8a2496a6-29c3-4b1a-9aeb-561fecf84925 8a2496a629c3-4b1a-9aeb-561fecf84925 Wed, 08 Feb 2023 07:00:00 GMT false 3598 full 3 6 Constant Wonder presents the second of a two-part episode on "infrasound," or sound that lies below the threshold of human hearing. Infrasound can explain seemingly inexplicable animal behavior. In part 2, we meet Hawaiian insects and African elephants that use the same technique to hear sounds not audible to the human ear. They both can hear with their feet! And while we don't hear with our feet, research on these animals may help improve hearing aids in the future—because we do actually hear with our bones. Guest: Caitlin O'Connell-Rodwell, instructor at Harvard Medical School, elephant expert, and co-founder and CEO of Utopia Scientific Learn more about Caitlin at her website: https://www.caitlineoconnell.com/ https://www.byuradio.org/84489f96-d2c8-4081-8530-c4390198227b 84489f96d2c8-4081-8530-c4390198227b Fri, 03 Feb 2023 07:00:00 GMT false 2246 full 3 5 This is the first of a two-part episode on "infrasound," or sound that lies below the threshold of human hearing. Infrasound can warn of impending danger. In part 1, we go to Hawaii and Chile with an volcanologist who records the voices of volcanos, looking for subtle shifts in their infrasound that could signal a pending eruption. Then we go up the coast to Guatemala, to detect mudslides triggered by a volcano—before they happen, giving people time to get out of the way. Guest: Jeffrey Johnson, Associate Professor of Geoscience at Boise State University Learn more about Jeffrey's volcanologist activities at his website: https://sites.google.com/view/jeffreybjohnson/home https://www.byuradio.org/836d28e0-bfcc-4b2c-ac0e-c348a583633a 836d28e0bfcc-4b2c-ac0e-c348a583633a Wed, 01 Feb 2023 07:00:00 GMT false 1473 full 3 4 If snorkeling seems like something you can only do on a tropical vacation, think again. In this podcast episode, we meet a river snorkeling guide who encourages us to stick our heads in the water, right in our local streams and rivers. Keith Williams thinks you'll be amazed at the aquatic life you'll see there. Tune in to Constant Wonder and get hooked with some amazing fish tales. Guest: Keith Williams, author of "Snorkeling Rivers and Streams: An Aquatic Guide to Underwater Discovery and Adventure" and guide at Freshwater Journeys Read more snorkeling stories by Keith at https://blog.nature.org/author/keith-williams/ https://www.byuradio.org/7e608634-56b1-4c8c-8080-ab562076e47a 7e60863456b1-4c8c-8080-ab562076e47a Wed, 25 Jan 2023 07:00:00 GMT false 3293 full 3 3 Storyteller Kevin Kling has overcome trauma and learned to live with disability, without ever losing sight of the hilarious–even in the horrible. We follow him from his mischievous childhood to his empathetic and inspiring performances around the world. He still laughs often, and so will you, during this episode of the "Constant Wonder" podcast. Guest: Kevin Kling, author, playwright, and storyteller Visit Kevin's website to learn more about his work, speaking events, and performances: https://www.kevinkling.com/ https://www.byuradio.org/e06e8951-c89f-470d-8981-1fa83642b3dc e06e8951c89f-470d-8981-1fa83642b3dc Wed, 11 Jan 2023 07:00:00 GMT false 3238 full 3 2 If you've never stopped by the side of the trail to listen to a beetle larvae chewing on a pine tree, or to the sound of the woodpecker looking for that beetle, we'll give you a chance in this podcast episode. If you've never been puzzled by the high-pitched voice of a male elk bugle, we encourage you to take the time to wonder about nature's oddities. Focusing on underappreciated sounds and sensations opens up an enormous world of insight and beauty. Guest: David George Haskell, author of "Sounds Wild and Broken: Sonic Marvels, Evolution's Creativity, and the Crisis of Sensory Extinction" and Professor of Biology at Sewanee: The University of the South Learn more about David online: Author page: https://dghaskell.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidgeorgehaskell/?hl=en https://www.byuradio.org/631d2b71-8fd8-412b-832e-1474a8fcf313 631d2b718fd8-412b-832e-1474a8fcf313 Wed, 04 Jan 2023 07:00:00 GMT false 3078 full 3 1 What good is a library or a museum if you can't get to it? In this episode of the podcast, Constant Wonder introduces innovators who bring inspiration to people in the most unexpected ways. We learn about the inventor of the bookmobile, a feisty librarian who allowed neither bureaucrats nor train wrecks to interfere with her mobile library. Then we meet the curator of ATM-sized museums that are popping up in unusual places and opening the world to people who may not otherwise get to visit museums. And, finally, an artist who heads up a street mosaic project staffed by volunteers with mental illness. Their work appears in neglected alleyways and neighborhood parks. Guests: Sharlee Glenn, author of "Library on Wheels: Mary Lemist Titcomb and America's First Bookmobile" Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/sharleeglennwordweaver/ Charles Philipp, cofounder of MICRO, a distributed fleet of micro-museums Website: https://charlesphilipp.com/ Tessa Hunkin, mosaicist Website: https://www.tessahunkin.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tessahunkin/?hl=en https://www.byuradio.org/69fedf02-fa56-4743-8559-67791efefd10 69fedf02fa56-4743-8559-67791efefd10 Wed, 30 Nov 2022 07:00:00 GMT false 3634 full 2 39 Meet an Icelandic woman who speaks to (and for) elves. Her efforts led to a famous compromise over a highway construction project in Iceland that would've taken out an elf "church." But more importantly, American researcher Nancy Marie Brown claims, a belief in elves–or in the possibility of elves–could change the way we see, and care for, our environment. Skeptical? That's okay. On this Constant Wonder podcast, we aim to suspend our disbelief to explore ancient ways of thinking, at least for an episode. Guests: Nancy Marie Brown, author of "Looking for the Hidden Folk: How Iceland's Elves Can Save the Earth" Website: https://www.nasw.org/users/nmb/ Ragnhildur Jónsdóttir, elf seer and educator Mara Menzies, Kenyan/Scottish performance storyteller Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raggajonsdottir/?hl=en https://www.byuradio.org/c49d01ec-9187-4c40-acad-668cea6e3cb2 c49d01ec9187-4c40-acad-668cea6e3cb2 Wed, 23 Nov 2022 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 2 38 In three decades at National Geographic, Ann Williams has been an eyewitness to some of the greatest archaeological treasures of the last century. She was just outside on the dark and stormy night when they loaded King Tut's mummy into a CAT scanner. She examined the fibers of an ancient woven blanket shrouding an Incan teenager, who'd been sacrificed to the gods. She documented the bowls and baskets left behind as an entire Alaskan Yupik village fled an attack. Guest: Ann Williams, General Editor of "Treasures of Egypt: A Legacy in Photographs from the Pyramids to Cleopatra" and "Lost Cities, Ancient Tombs: 100 Discoveries That Changed the World" Listen to Constant Wonder wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.byuradio.org/c80d1884-1519-4bbe-883a-fd8265f29663 c80d18841519-4bbe-883a-fd8265f29663 Wed, 16 Nov 2022 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 2 37 From a young age, Rachel Graham was interested in all kinds of marginalized animals, from snakes to bats. But when she went on a dive trip and experienced a real-life sharknado, it became clear that her future would be inextricably tied to sharks. This marked the beginning of her quest to change people’s mindsets about these fascinating and threatened creatures. Guest: Rachel Graham, Ph.D., Founder and Executive Director of MarAlliance Learn more about MarAlliance's work: https://maralliance.org/ Listen to Constant Wonder wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.byuradio.org/de76f938-85d5-418b-a455-a935ea7dd2c9 de76f93885d5-418b-a455-a935ea7dd2c9 Wed, 09 Nov 2022 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 2 36 When Korean adoptee Sara Jones went looking for her birth family, she wondered if a strange tattoo given to her in childhood could unlock any secrets. Jones was adopted into an American family at age three. She found much success here in America, becoming an attorney and CEO. It wasn't until her own kids started asking questions that she decided to search for her birth family. And she started her search with that mysterious tattoo. Hear the story on this week's podcast. Guest: Sara Jones, CEO of InclusionPro, Board Member of The (Utah) State Workforce Development Board, Board of Trustees for Intermountain Salt Lake Valley Hospitals, Co-Founder of Women Tech Council Visit Sara Jones on Instagram to learn more: https://www.instagram.com/saradansiejones/?hl=en https://www.byuradio.org/f0270f59-63a8-41cc-955b-76d49df704af f0270f5963a8-41cc-955b-76d49df704af Wed, 26 Oct 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 2 35 Neurosurgeon Jay Wellons performs the most delicate surgeries on the traumatized brains of children, where every cut and stitch has life-changing consequences. He’s also an enthralling storyteller and a tireless advocate for his patients–a lesson he learned the hard way. Join us as he shares inspiring tales of his patients’ journeys. Guest: Jay Wellons, MD, Cal Turner Chair and Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; author of "All That Moves Us: A Pediatric Neurosurgeon, His Young Patients, and Their Stories of Grace and Resilience" Read Jay Wellons' book: https://parnassusbooks.net/book/9780593243381 Find him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allthatmovesus_official/?hl=en https://www.byuradio.org/94dd768d-68d4-4dbe-8728-1b0108746a98 94dd768d68d4-4dbe-8728-1b0108746a98 Wed, 19 Oct 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 2 34 A story of human triumph: A young child is rescued from life on the streets, fostered, and mentored. He chases a dream to play classical music, and now as a mentor himself, he encourages others to dream big. With humility and humor, Richard Antoine White shares his unique journey. Guest: Richard Antoine White, author of "I'm Possible: A Story of Survival, a Tuba, and the Small Miracle of a Big Dream"; principal tubist for the Santa Fe Symphony and the New Mexico Philharmonic; Associate Professor of Tuba/Euphonium at the University of New Mexico Visit Richard's website to learn more about him and his music: https://rawtuba.com/ https://www.byuradio.org/ac9a30ec-3665-40df-ac7b-1ca640f063b2 ac9a30ec3665-40df-ac7b-1ca640f063b2 Wed, 12 Oct 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 3283 full 2 33 Part 2 of our Freedom House story involves the racial politics of saving lives in the late '60s and early '70s, a norm-shattering young White female doctor, and the graceful but determined response of one skilled Black paramedic, who provided unheralded leadership to the people he worked under. Kevin Hazzard, author of "American Sirens: The Incredible Story of the Black Men Who Became America's First Paramedics" John Moon, former paramedic at Freedom House and former Assistant Chief, City of Pittsburgh EMS Photo Credit: Harvard University, Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America Visit Kevin Hazzard online to learn more about his writing and research: Main website: https://www.kevinhazzard.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goes_by_haz... X/Twitter: https://x.com/goes_by_hazzard https://www.byuradio.org/eddf4596-57cc-42b1-a854-63f9cd391a12 eddf459657cc-42b1-a854-63f9cd391a12 Wed, 28 Sep 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 2376 full 2 32 Paramedics haven't always raced to the scene of an emergency. Before 1966, if you called for help to get to the hospital, you might get a police car, or even a hearse. That year, Pittsburgh's non-profit Freedom House set out to change that for the city's Hill District, which was predominately Black. Staffed by trained Black men and mentored by the inventor of CPR, the ambulance service served as a model for newly emerging paramedic services around the country. Guests: Kevin Hazzard, author of "American Sirens: The Incredible Story of the Black Men Who Became America's First Paramedics" John Moon, paramedic at Freedom House and former Assistant Chief, City of Pittsburgh EMS Photo Credit: Heinz History Center Visit Kevin Hazzard online to learn more about his writing and research: Main website: https://www.kevinhazzard.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goes_by_haz... X/Twitter: https://x.com/goes_by_hazzard https://www.byuradio.org/425ff49b-1ddf-43c3-a327-f59f7a2269f5 425ff49b1ddf-43c3-a327-f59f7a2269f5 Wed, 21 Sep 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 2607 full 2 31 One day in 1901, a young farmer from Croatia set out on a walk. Decades later, he was still walking, had traversed six continents, and had stood face-to-face with the most famous people of the age. His mammoth autograph book, lost to history for nearly a century, has resurfaced to tell the tale of Joseph Mikulec and his eccentric quest. Guests: Rebecca Rego Barry, author of "Rare Books Uncovered: True Stories of Fantastic Finds in Unlikely Places" and editor of Fine Books & Collections magazine. She wrote about Mikulec's odyssey for "Smithsonian Magazine." Nathan Raab, rare book collector, Philadelphia, PA Curious about Rebecca's other writing? Visit her website to learn more about her other books: https://rebeccaregobarry.com/ https://www.byuradio.org/63c1ea22-ed3a-44c5-b2b5-0dd6fe7f4be0 63c1ea22ed3a-44c5-b2b5-0dd6fe7f4be0 Wed, 14 Sep 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 2 30 In some cultures, the dead are regularly exhumed and carried about in celebration. Why, in the West, are we so much more somber about death and dead bodies? And what can we learn from the carnival atmosphere at many death festivals? Guests: Erica Buist, author of "This Party’s Dead: Grief, Joy and Spilled Rum at the World’s Death Festivals" Website: https://ericabuist.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericabuist/ Victoria Finlay, author of "Fabric: The Hidden History of the Material World" Website: https://victoriafinlay.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoriafinlaywriter/?hl=en https://www.byuradio.org/fb2500fc-a8ef-4f41-bd10-4c5fb9962b6b fb2500fca8ef-4f41-bd10-4c5fb9962b6b Wed, 31 Aug 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 2 29 Tony Rinaudo arrived in Africa optimistic that his tree-planting efforts would reverse the damages of deforestation and drought. His efforts failed abysmally, but one day he stumbled on a solution that had been right at his feet the whole time. His new methods have led to the regeneration of more than 200 million trees in Niger alone. Guest: Tony Rinaudo, author of "The Forest Underground: Hope for a Planet in Crisis" and Principal Climate Action Advisor for World Vision International https://www.byuradio.org/dac090c4-058a-495d-94ab-9cc23a8e04d7 dac090c4058a-495d-94ab-9cc23a8e04d7 Wed, 24 Aug 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 2 28 Have you heard the buzz about pollinators? Bees, butterflies, wasps, and even some flies live fascinating lives and play critical roles in our ecosystems. Come learn why we should make more room for pollinators in our yards and how to do it. Guests: Rachel Taylor, Founder of Utah Friends of Monarchs Joseph (Joe) Wilson, Associate Professor of Biology, Utah State University; co-author of several books, including "Common Bees of Eastern North America" and "The Bees in Your Backyard: A Guide to North America's Bees" Want to learn more about your pollinators? Visit Bees in Your Backyard's website for more fun facts: https://www.beesinyourbackyard.com/ https://www.byuradio.org/455213b9-b720-42d5-b290-7497ae557097 455213b9b720-42d5-b290-7497ae557097 Wed, 17 Aug 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 3166 full 2 27 When widespread disaster strikes, survivors lose not just their homes and belongings, they also can lose their "lifescape": their relationships with their neighbors, the places they frequent daily, their support systems. Meet some survivors from around the world who have held on to their lifescapes with creativity and tenacity. From out of the rubble, stories of inspiration and hope. Guests: Lucy Easthope, author of "When the Dust Settles: Stories of Love, Loss and Hope from an Expert in Disaster" Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whenthedustsettleslucy/?hl=en Marc Mattox, Public Works Director and Town Engineer for the City of Paradise, CA Jeff Marcus, retired principal and former special teams football coach at Paradise High School Rick Printz, retired head football coach from Paradise High School Josh Alvies, former player and current JV football coach at Paradise High School https://www.byuradio.org/b0e9a8d9-56ce-4a07-a85f-fb6bcd94e2a2 b0e9a8d956ce-4a07-a85f-fb6bcd94e2a2 Wed, 03 Aug 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 2 26 Travel with us to otherworldly places, both beautiful and strange. You may never get to see these places in person, but we'll take you there: volcanoes in space, the tips of the mighty redwoods, the sunken Titanic. We've mined our archives for breathtaking adventure stories. Guests: Richard Preston, author of "The Wild Trees: A Story of Passion and Daring" Website: https://richard-preston.net/about/ Robin George Andrews, author of "Super Volcanoes: What They Reveal about Earth and the Worlds Beyond" Website: https://robingeorgeandrews.com/ Palani Mohan, author of "Hunting with Eagles in the Realm of the Mongolian Kazakhs" Website: https://www.palanimohan.com/ Kerry McCauley, author of "Ferry Pilot: Nine Lives over the North Atlantic" Website: https://kerrymccauley.com/ Doug Peacock, author of "Was it Worth It? A Wilderness Warrior's Long Trail Home" Website: https://dougpeacock.net/ https://www.byuradio.org/96acabcd-8451-4a69-9cae-6fc20f47bcac 96acabcd8451-4a69-9cae-6fc20f47bcac Wed, 27 Jul 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 2 25 Brilliant Planet, founded by an enthusiastic dreamer who has always believed in the power of photosynthesis, borrows a simple process from nature to produce food and sequester carbon. And, an ocean farm that needs no seeds, no fertilizer, no fresh water, no LAND. Through the non-profit GreenWave, its farmer teaches his competitors how do it, too. Guests: Raffael Jovine, Founder and Chief Scientist, Brilliant Planet; author of "How Light Makes Life: The Hidden Wonders and World-Saving Powers of Photosynthesis" Bren Smith, Co-Founder of Greenwave; author of "Eat Like a Fish: My Adventures as a Fisherman Turned Restorative Ocean Farmer" Photo credit: Brilliant Planet Interested in regenerative ocean farming? Visit Greenwave's website to learn more about their work and ways to get involved: https://www.greenwave.org/ https://www.byuradio.org/3dc15c98-468a-4d41-b096-7de0e916c4a2 3dc15c98468a-4d41-b096-7de0e916c4a2 Wed, 20 Jul 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 2 24 Adam Nicolson went looking for tranquility and reflection when he built tide pools along Scotland's harsh coastline. He found plenty to reflect on, but things were not so peaceful in the pools. He discovered that to maintain harmony in the wild, species need to be at each others' throats. Guest: Adam Nicolson, author of "Life Between the Tides" Visit Adam online: https://www.instagram.com/adamnicolson1/?hl=en https://www.byuradio.org/92bd1b11-c92b-4b87-a48d-833bd8a4d067 92bd1b11c92b-4b87-a48d-833bd8a4d067 Fri, 08 Jul 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 2350 full 2 23 There's plenty of warfare in animal kingdom, even within a species: battalions of mongooses square off against each other, hermit crabs evict each other in the quest for the perfect shell, ravens rally their brothers to back them up in a rumble. Sounds almost like West Side Story. But all of this conflict actually leads to more peace and harmony, not less. Guest: Lee Alan Dugatkin, author of "Power in the Wild: The Subtle and Not-So-Subtle Ways Animals Strive for Control over Others" Explore Lee's other writing: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/author/D/L/au8005058.html Photo courtesy of Harry Marshall/Banded Mongoose Research Project https://www.byuradio.org/1a92259c-a193-4755-8cc6-dc8d0d8693f3 1a92259ca193-4755-8cc6-dc8d0d8693f3 Wed, 06 Jul 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 1391 full 2 22 A true national anthem isn't set by law: it's chosen by the people, often emerges out of conflict, and its meaning shifts over time. All of that and more is true of The Star-Spangled Banner. But still, it was sung by four generations of Americans before it became our official anthem. It's been translated into 40 languages, requires extraordinary athleticism to sing, and has long been both an object of awe and a lightening rod for controversy. Guest: Mark Clague, author of "O Say Can You Hear? A Cultural Biography of The Star-Spangled Banner" and a professor of musicology at the University of Michigan. Visit Mark on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/usmusicscholar/?hl=en https://www.byuradio.org/81d67859-6927-41cf-8682-e719bfd6886a 81d678596927-41cf-8682-e719bfd6886a Wed, 29 Jun 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 3166 full 2 21 This greenhouse in the Utah desert seems to be right out of science fiction, where yummy tomatoes grow without soil and produce for nearly an entire year. The greenhouse gets heat and CO2 from a natural-gas power plant to which it is linked by a sort of umbilical cord. Within this bubble of clean, warm air, bumblebees pollinate the vines, and wasps fend off parasites. Whether you hope to build a colony on Mars or just aim to get a good tomato when there's snow on the ground, this is a good place to start. Guests: Travis Jones, General Manager of Longvine Growing Co. Martin Weijters, Head Grower at Longvine Growing Co. https://www.byuradio.org/1d46d26c-1c18-4ba5-9524-c8c9bef19250 1d46d26c1c18-4ba5-9524-c8c9bef19250 Wed, 22 Jun 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 2409 full 2 20 "The past is never dead," wrote William Faulkner. "It's not even past." Ron Coddington was a young boy at a flea market one Saturday, when he stumbled on a book of Civil War-era photos and felt his world shift beneath his feet. The boy's passion deepened as he grew to adulthood, maturing into a deeply felt obligation to uncover these stories. Many photos of the time were preserved on calling cards ("cartes de visite") that people would hand out to others, much like the profile pictures we post on social media today. Guest: Ron Coddington, Editor and Publisher of "Military Images" magazine Want to learn more about Cartes de visite? Visit Ron's website: https://ronaldscoddington.com/ Cartes de visite featuring Daniel Waldo, Martin C. Clark, and Almira Newcomb McNaughton Lockwood Fales from Ron Coddington's personal collection. These images are used with his permission. https://www.byuradio.org/abf97544-c828-4d3e-8dd7-83aae3204d7b abf97544c828-4d3e-8dd7-83aae3204d7b Wed, 15 Jun 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 1591 full 2 19 An old friend of Benjamin Franklin always regretted not having asked the founding father if he could taxidermize his body. He thought Franklin might have agreed, and then maybe George Washington might have also followed suit. But (maybe to our collective relief) what we do have, instead, as a tangible reminder of our first president are several collections of cuttings from his hair. In the days before photography, a lock of hair might be the only proof that a person had access to a notable man like Washington. After his death, some pseudoscientists used Washington's hair to "prove" the biological superiority of America's founders. Others used their clippings to prove that they, too, were there at America's founding. Now, in our digital age, are these kinds of physical relics and mementos still important? Guest: Keith Beutler, author of "George Washington's Hair: How Early Americans Remembered the Founders" and professor of history at Missouri Baptist University Visit Keith's website to learn more about the Founding Fathers' hair: https://www.georgewashingtonshair.org/home https://www.byuradio.org/20a152f7-7009-4481-86df-3f4c9f862525 20a152f77009-4481-86df-3f4c9f862525 Wed, 08 Jun 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 2072 full 2 18 Meet the improbable rescuer of a dilapidated English manor house: Hopwood DePree, a Hollywood producer having a mid-life crisis. He'd heard rumors about his family's ancestral castle, and when he discovers that it really exists–but in a shocking state of disrepair–he goes all in to save it. Guests: Hopwood DePree, author of "Downton Shabby: One American's Ultimate DIY Adventure Restoring His Family's English Castle" Geoff Wellens, historian Bob Wall, caretaker of Hopwood Hall; historical and heritage building specialist Zena Howard, PR & Communications for Hopwood DePree and Hopwood Hall Estate Want to keep up with the renovations? Visit Hopwood DePree's YouTube channel to see updates on the castle's repairs: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmP4mhZrjgdfqQRzPQ9mXwA https://www.byuradio.org/05b20028-82f4-4410-8513-72af35f8fd8b 05b2002882f4-4410-8513-72af35f8fd8b Wed, 01 Jun 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 3208 full 2 17 Why do some cultures object to dogs the way that we object to rats? And why do we object to rats? Simon Barnes says they're our brothers. We explore who's really domesticating whom in the pet ownership process, why we choose to protect certain wild animals over others, how there's no such thing as the natural world, and many other assumptions about our relationships with animals. Guests: Hal Herzog, psychologist; author of "Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat: Why It's So Hard to Think Straight about Animals"; blogger at "Animals and Us" blog in Psychology Today Simon Barnes, author of "The History of the World in 100 Animals" Madi Vazquez, veterinary nurse Visit Hal online: https://halherzog.com/ Explore Simon's other writing at his website: https://simonbarnesauthor.co.uk/biog/ https://www.byuradio.org/e648e049-b156-4124-b301-63b7364006b7 e648e049b156-4124-b301-63b7364006b7 Wed, 18 May 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 3305 full 2 16 After losing a leg as a toddler and struggling with repeated infections, Cassandra Quave became obsessed, even as a young child, with preventing infection. That obsession has led her from Florida's swamps to the Peruvian Amazon in pursuit of plants that can defeat antibiotic-resistant superbugs. Her stories are personal, riveting and inspiring, and they offer hope for a medical future that's quite different from our present. Guest: Cassandra Quave, author of "The Plant Hunter: A Scientist's Quest for Nature's Next Medicines" and Associate Professor of Dermatology and Human Health at Emory School of Medicine Visit Cassandra online to learn more about her work: https://www.cassandraquave.com/ https://www.byuradio.org/c69cb96a-fe52-43f4-8567-1ca25029acd9 c69cb96afe52-43f4-8567-1ca25029acd9 Wed, 11 May 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 3994 full 2 15 Clarinet duets with laughing thrushes, nightingales, whales and cicadas. Philosopher and ornithologist David Rothenberg poses the question: do birds make music, or do they just make sounds to defend a territory or attract a mate? We also talk to a zoomusicologist in Scotland, and we listen to a trio of two oboes and a dog. Guests: David Rothenberg, musician, composer, author, philosopher-naturalist, and Professor of music and philosophy at the New Jersey Institute of Technology Emily Doolittle, composer, zoomusicologist, and Athenaeum Research Fellow and Lecturer in Composition at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Learn more about David's work at his website: https://davidrothenberg.wordpress.com/ Visit Emily online to learn about her compositions: https://emilydoolittle.com/ https://www.byuradio.org/8fa2c38f-5f27-4d9e-9cb6-64424a65144d 8fa2c38f5f27-4d9e-9cb6-64424a65144d Wed, 04 May 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 2 14 Meet the crustacean that packs the biggest punch in the animal kingdom and the river-dweller that could be called a "swimming tongue." We investigate animal superpowers to celebrate what marvels our fellow creatures are, and also to remind ourselves of our own often-neglected senses. Guest: Jackie Higgins, author of "Sentient: How Animals Illuminate the Wonder of Our Human Senses" Learn more about Jackie's work by visiting her online at her website https://jackiehiggins.co.uk/ and on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackiehiggins_/?hl=en https://www.byuradio.org/ae162891-db26-4272-a49d-05ed2c72e7ab ae162891db26-4272-a49d-05ed2c72e7ab Fri, 22 Apr 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 1740 full 2 13 He walked the streets in secret, a veterinarian in his off-hours, looking to help the pets of the homeless. Now his work in the subject of the tv show "Street Vet." He describes how his work has changed the lives of both pets and their owners. And his own. Guest: Kwane Stewart, veterinarian and co-founder of Project Street Vet Learn more about Kwane's work online: Street Vet: https://drkwanestreetvet.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkwane/?hl=en https://www.byuradio.org/f56452f2-2d6e-4cdf-800c-225a72f25039 f56452f22d6e-4cdf-800c-225a72f25039 Wed, 20 Apr 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 1521 full 2 12 Darwin hated peacocks because he couldn't explain their excess beauty. He likely would have hated mockingbirds for the excessive complexity of their songs. Where many birds are content with a few simple chirps, mockingbirds learn hundreds of sounds from other birds and animals and mix them together using sophisticated musical techniques, the kind human musicians often employ. Their songs go far, far beyond anything necessary to find food, defend territory, or attract a mate. Why do they do it? Guests: David Rothenberg, author, composer, musician, and Distinguished Professor of Humanities & Social Sciences at the New Jersey Institute of Technology Dave Gammon, Professor of Biology, Elon University Learn more about David's work at his website: https://davidrothenberg.wordpress.com/ https://www.byuradio.org/705884fe-b433-493c-b02d-ca52e5de8c34 705884feb433-493c-b02d-ca52e5de8c34 Wed, 13 Apr 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 2977 full 2 11 This seed could symbolize the resilience of an entire people. Atop a lonely desert fortress near the Dead Sea, a Judean date seed lay inert for over 2,000 years. We talk to the scientists who brought that tree to life, named it Methusaleh, and rejuvenated an extinct species. Guests: Elaine Solowey, Director of the Center for Sustainable Agriculture, The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies R.A., Ketura, Israel Sarah Sallon, Hadassah University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel Jodi Magness, Professor of Archeology, University of North Carolina. https://www.byuradio.org/2adb167f-1e1d-4a87-a2e3-50db2e2419fb 2adb167f1e1d-4a87-a2e3-50db2e2419fb Wed, 06 Apr 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 2436 full 2 10 Giraffes don't like to swim, so how do you get them off an island that's flooding? How do keepers feed a violent, orphaned baby elephant that's been traumatized by humans? The answer is to think like an animal. Meet some empathetic rescuers who had to get creative to save the animals in their care. But their efforts paid off, and, turns out, the humans' lives were better for it, too. Guests: David O'Connor, President of Save Giraffes Now Ami Vitale, filmmaker and National Geographic Magazine photographer Jake Owens, Director of Conservation at the L.A. Zoo Learn more about Save Giraffes Now: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savegiraffesnow/?hl=en X/Twitter: https://x.com/savegiraffesnow?lang=en Get involved: https://savegiraffesnow.org/ https://www.byuradio.org/4fb2b40d-0501-45a6-95d0-19ca07d23c12 4fb2b40d0501-45a6-95d0-19ca07d23c12 Wed, 30 Mar 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 2 9 When Daniel Kish was a toddler, he got around. One night he climbed out of his window and made his way over multiple chain link fences, but the neighbors knew who he was. "All the neighbors knew who the blind kid belonged to," he says. As a kid, Daniel climbed trees, rode bikes, and swam in pools. Today he is one of the world's leaders in human echolocation and does pretty much whatever he wants. And he's teaching younger generations to do the same. Part 2 of 2. Guests: Daniel Kish, President of World Access for the Blind Robert Just, retired medical record transcriber Visit World Access for the Blind's website to learn more about Daniel's mission: https://waftb.net/ https://www.byuradio.org/d024bc4d-1664-4265-9bca-d7c0a0d52a2b d024bc4d1664-4265-9bca-d7c0a0d52a2b Fri, 25 Mar 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 3319 full 2 8 Daniel Kish is blind and he navigates the world kind of like a bat—making clicking sounds with his mouth and, from the echoes he gets back, building a picture of the world he's moving through. "The sonic environment is incredibly alive," says Kish, who lost his eyes to cancer when he was barely one year old. He doesn't just get around. He reveals in the physical beauty of the world. "Domes are pretty special," he says. "So I've been in these tropical gardens, for example, where they'll have these dome structures over these gardens. And when you find the apex of the dome, your every sound that you make, and every sound that's being made in that dome is highly, highly resonant." Come along with us while we walk alongside one of the world's leading experts on echolocation. Part 1 of 2. Guest: Daniel Kish, President of World Access for the Blind Visit World Access for the Blind's website to learn more about their mission: https://waftb.net/ https://www.byuradio.org/eb0401df-173d-40cc-83ab-b6c34bf03044 eb0401df173d-40cc-83ab-b6c34bf03044 Wed, 23 Mar 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 1879 full 2 7 Larry Doby, Sr., became the second Black player in the MLB, and his home run during the '48 World Series turned the series around for the Indians. Behind him stood the team's free-thinking owner, Bill Veeck, who wanted to upend the sport, opening his doors to Negro league players and bringing a carnival atmosphere into the stands. Baseball would never be the same again. Guests: Larry Doby, Jr., son of Larry Doby, Sr.; union stage hand, Local One IATSE, New York City Luke Epplin, author of "Our Team: The Epic Story of Four Men and the World Series That Changed Baseball" Explore more of Luke's writing at his website: https://lukeepplin.com/ https://www.byuradio.org/479f22d4-c3db-4929-9384-1917bc9a1739 479f22d4c3db-4929-9384-1917bc9a1739 Wed, 16 Mar 2022 06:00:00 GMT false 3140 full 2 6 We examine why flavor is our "most neglected sense" and we meet a restaurant owner who, in the spirit of the fictional "Babette's Feast," is spreading the message that "Food Is Love." https://www.byuradio.org/54e0beba-90bb-4b28-838e-09a073d4c7da 54e0beba90bb-4b28-838e-09a073d4c7da Wed, 09 Mar 2022 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 2 5 When a two-year-old baby orca lost her mother, rescuers in Washington State and Canada rallied to get her home to her grandmother and extended family. Nothing was easy about this rescue, but the results exceeded expectations. Now living a normal life with her clan, Springer is the mother of two with a third on the way. Here is an intimate tale told by people who were there. Guest: Donna Sandstrom, author of "Orca Rescue," founder of "The Whale Trail," a series of sites to watch whales from shore, and and has previously been a task force member of the Southern Resident Orca Recovery. Visit Donna online to learn more about her book: https://www.donnasandstrom.com/ To get updates on Springer and learn more about Orcas, visit the Springer File on the Orca Observatory's website: https://www.orcaconservancy.org/blog/springer-file https://www.byuradio.org/d1ffd3a2-8dff-4690-8d9b-fb9fe78692c2 d1ffd3a28dff-4690-8d9b-fb9fe78692c2 Wed, 02 Mar 2022 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 2 4 With a hint of magic and the lure of buried wisdom, Ancient Egypt has, like a mysterious and powerful magnet, for millennia pulled on the collective imagination of the West. But almost as gripping as the story of Egypt itself is the story of Egyptomania, the tale of how that fascination took hold, the bold adventurers who unearthed antiquities, the clashing empires that fought over these ancient prizes, and a pair of brilliant linguists who cracked the ancient code of the hieroglyphs. Guest: Edward Dolnick, chief science writer at the Boston Globe, and author of "The Writing of the Gods: The Race to Decode the Rosetta Stone," "The Clockwork Universe," and "Dinosaurs at the Dinner Party." Find out more about Edward's work at his website: https://edwarddolnick.net/ https://www.byuradio.org/baf1a5e6-cc92-4064-8e9b-d68553f099fb baf1a5e6cc92-4064-8e9b-d68553f099fb Wed, 23 Feb 2022 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 2 3 Mollusks cultivate underwater gardens, cuttlefish become invisible, and tiny fish run spas for predators. Meanwhile, some ingenious humans work to protect the underwater world that most of us rarely see. Photograph from UNDERWATER WILD by Craig Foster and Ross Frylinck. Copyright © 2018, 2021 by Quivertree Publications. Reprinted by permission of Mariner Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers LLC. All rights reserved. Learn more about Craig Foster and the Save Our Seas initiative: https://saveourseas.com/project-leader/craig-foster/ Find Sy Montgomery online: Author page: https://symontgomery.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sytheauthor/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SyTheAuthor/ Explore Helen Scales' work: https://helenscales.com/ https://www.byuradio.org/00493770-bfe7-4b38-831e-f55daff9d1a6 00493770bfe7-4b38-831e-f55daff9d1a6 Wed, 16 Feb 2022 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 2 2 When a comet crashes into Jupiter, the first to see it are amateurs at the Vatican Observatory in Rome, who can't restrain themselves from shouting and dancing. Far to the north, an aurora hunter backs into a freezing river in Iceland and barely notices his frigid feet. His eyes are on the skies. Miracles, mindfulness, and celestial wonder. Guest: Brother Guy J. Consolmagno, S.J., Director of the Vatican Observatory, "The Pope's Astronomer," and author of "Turn Left at Orion: Hundreds of Night Sky Objects to See in a Home Telescope—and How to Find Them" Guest: Tom Kerss, F.R.A.S., aurora-hunter, veteran of the Royal Observatory, founder of Stargazing London, and author of "The Northern Lights: The Definitive Guide to Auroras" Learn more about the Vatican Observatory: https://www.vaticanobservatory.va/en/ Curious about Tom's other work? Visit his website to discover more about the night sky: https://tomkerss.com/#books https://www.byuradio.org/21548881-7e47-42fd-bdf5-bccbcb29bbdc 215488817e47-42fd-bdf5-bccbcb29bbdc Wed, 09 Feb 2022 07:00:00 GMT false 3101 full 2 1 A cancer survivor dispels the myths and stigmas of cancer survivorship. Nancy Frates, co-creator of the ALS ice bucket challenge, explains how the movement took off. Guests: Judith Pearson, founder of A 2nd Act and author of "From Shadows to Life: A Biography of the Cancer Survivorship Movement." Explore more of Judith's work on her website: https://judithlpearson.com/ Nancy Frates, ALS advocate https://www.byuradio.org/e69297b6-1711-458d-b6ec-d28a05aa09e2 e69297b61711-458d-b6ec-d28a05aa09e2 Wed, 02 Feb 2022 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 1 25 Why the mishaps of the 1904 Olympic Marathon almost led to the event being banned in all future Olympic Games. Also, how world's fairs have changed the world. Guests: Jody Sowell, Managing Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Missouri Historical Society Charles Pappas, senior writer at Exhibitor Magazine and author of “Flying Cars, Zombie Dogs, and Robot Overlords: How World's Fairs and Trade Expos Changed the World” See more of Charles' World Expo work here: https://www.charlespappas.world/about https://www.byuradio.org/98fc2f2d-66d5-4b42-be5d-31c71b1d8f93 98fc2f2d66d5-4b42-be5d-31c71b1d8f93 Wed, 26 Jan 2022 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 1 24 Trees conspire with each other to thwart seed predators. David Allen Sibley tries to answer essential birder questions: “What do birds do?” and “Why?” Guests: David Allen Sibley, artist, birder, and author of Sibley Field Guides and “What It’s Like to Be a Bird: From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing—What Birds Are Doing, and Why” Take a look at David's bird guides on his website: https://www.sibleyguides.com/ Bryant Olsen, conservation ecologist at Tracy Aviary https://www.byuradio.org/af79421b-8e58-4743-89c0-265fc80f1bb9 af79421b8e58-4743-89c0-265fc80f1bb9 Tue, 25 Jan 2022 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 1 23 Henry Ford and Thomas Edison dreamed of more than Model-Ts and lightbulbs. Guests: Thomas Hager, author of "Electric City: The Lost History of Ford and Edison’s American Utopia" Jeff Speck, city planner and author of "Walkable City" and "Walkable City Rules" Follow Jeff's work on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeffspeckfaicp/?hl=en https://www.byuradio.org/a9faf251-9856-44ee-84af-bd46369738c6 a9faf2519856-44ee-84af-bd46369738c6 Mon, 24 Jan 2022 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 1 22 How Hawaiian cowboys stunned Wyoming. Guests: David Wolman, co-author of "Aloha Rodeo: Three Hawaiian Cowboys, the World's Greatest Rodeo, and a Hidden History of the American West." Explore more of his writing here: https://www.david-wolman.com/ Julie Checkoway, author of "The Three-Year Swim Club: The Untold Story of Maui’s Sugar Ditch Kids and Their Quest for Olympic Glory" Read more of her work on her website: https://juliecheckoway.com/bio/ https://www.byuradio.org/53468332-ca41-4b64-9c01-f3685c652d67 53468332ca41-4b64-9c01-f3685c652d67 Wed, 19 Jan 2022 07:00:00 GMT false 3166 full 1 21 The benefits and hazards of fear. And, how to die in space. Guests: Daniel Blumstein, author of "The Nature of Fear: Survival Lessons from the Wild" Paul Sutter, author of “How to Die in Space: A Journey through Dangerous Astrophysical Phenomena”; astrophysicist at Stony Brook University and The Flatiron Institute; and host of “Ask a Spaceman!” podcast, which you can listen to here: https://www.pmsutter.com/shows/askaspaceman https://www.byuradio.org/3f832b94-9fa1-4513-9b25-011b7bafaa06 3f832b949fa1-4513-9b25-011b7bafaa06 Tue, 18 Jan 2022 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 1 20 How a formerly enslaved man in Kentucky worked with a former Confederate hero to win damages from a lynch mob, and how a formerly enslaved woman sued her former master, and won. Guests: Ben Montgomery, author of "A Shot in the Moonlight: How a Freed Slave and a Confederate Soldier Fought for Justice in the Jim Crow South" W. Caleb McDaniel, Associate Professor of History at Rice University and author of “Sweet Taste of Liberty: A True Story of Slavery and Restitution in America” https://www.byuradio.org/eded7a6a-0ed8-45c0-b77a-19766e02a771 eded7a6a0ed8-45c0-b77a-19766e02a771 Mon, 17 Jan 2022 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 1 19 Scorpions hear through their feet, navigate by the stars, and cannibalize each other. And, milking deadly snakes to make lifesaving anti-venom. Guests: Lauren Esposito, Assistant Curator and Schlinger Chair of Arachnology at the California Academy of Sciences and the founder of 500 Queer Scientists Carl Barden, owner and director of Medtoxin Venom Laboratories and director of The Reptile Discovery Center https://www.byuradio.org/2379b833-9b17-4812-9d67-c781cb1659ca 2379b8339b17-4812-9d67-c781cb1659ca Wed, 12 Jan 2022 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 1 18 The secrets to making excellent pho at home; cooking with Italian grannies; and an introduction to the world's only sourdough library. Guests: Andrea Nguyen, cooking teacher, editor, consultant, and author of "Vietnamese Food Any Day: Simple Recipes for True, Fresh Flavors" and "The Pho Cookbook: Easy to Adventurous Recipes for Vietnam's Favorite Soup and Noodles" Vicky Bennison, creator of “Pasta Grannies” YouTube channel, which you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/@pastagrannies Karl De Smedt, Sourdough Librarian at Puratos Sourdough Library, St. Vith, Belgium https://www.byuradio.org/848214c5-f776-4078-9e53-8f9d8a47fabb 848214c5f776-4078-9e53-8f9d8a47fabb Tue, 11 Jan 2022 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 1 17 A delightful history of using personal ads to find love. And, when did diamonds become a girl's best friend? Guests: Francesca Beauman, historian, bookseller, and author of "Matrimony, Inc.: From Personal Ads to Swiping Right, a Story of America Looking for Love," and "Shapely Ankle Preferr'd: A History of the Lonely Hearts Ad" Read more of Francesca's writing on her website: https://www.francescabeauman.com/ Rachelle Bergstein, author of "Brilliance and Fire: A Biography of Diamonds." Explore her other work on her website: https://www.rachellebergstein.com/ https://www.byuradio.org/b6db2d9f-251c-47d7-b6a7-7890897a6c88 b6db2d9f251c-47d7-b6a7-7890897a6c88 Mon, 10 Jan 2022 07:00:00 GMT false 3171 full 1 16 Pigments in every color that you can imagine. Guests: Narayan Khandekar, Director of the Center for the Technical Study of Modern Art and Curator of the Forbes Pigment Collection at Harvard Ben Jensen, Chief Technical Officer, Surrey NanoSystems https://www.byuradio.org/b21b116d-1dca-4983-a6f1-f6eb0e333abc b21b116d1dca-4983-a6f1-f6eb0e333abc Wed, 05 Jan 2022 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 1 15 The abyss of the deep sea is anything but lifeless! Guests: Nicole Xu, PhD candidate, Bioengineering, Stanford University Helen Scales, author of "The Brilliant Abyss: Exploring the Majestic Hidden Life of the Deep Ocean, and the Looming Threat That Imperils It." Explore Helen's other work: https://helenscales.com/ https://www.byuradio.org/31740cb7-5d44-460d-bf52-f16f1e138a07 31740cb75d44-460d-bf52-f16f1e138a07 Tue, 04 Jan 2022 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 1 14 For two POWs in WWI, a con was the only way to secure their freedom. And, Gregor MacGregor fooled hundreds into believing in a nonexistent promised land. Guests: Maria Konnikova, journalist and author of "The Confidence Game: Why We Fall For It . . . Every Time." Discover more of her writing on her website: https://www.mariakonnikova.com/ Margalit Fox, author of "The Confidence Men: How Two Prisoners of War Engineered the Most Remarkable Escape in History." Explore her other work on her website: https://margalitfox.com/ https://www.byuradio.org/9841b0cb-afbd-4927-9bf0-aa4d4d7aec4d 9841b0cbafbd-4927-9bf0-aa4d4d7aec4d Mon, 03 Jan 2022 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 1 13 Whitman's poetry sheds light on human connections and national identity. Maps help us view history differently. Guests: Jennifer Crandall, documentary filmmaker, and creator of film "Whitman, Alabama" Susan Schulten, historian at the University of Denver https://www.byuradio.org/48d61241-48bd-48d7-85fe-7c5325bbabe9 48d6124148bd-48d7-85fe-7c5325bbabe9 Wed, 29 Dec 2021 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 1 12 From "chili queens" to the founder of Taco Bell to the invention of Doritos, how America embraced Mexican food. Guests: Gustavo Arellano, author of "Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America" Paul W. Bosland, Professor of Horticulture and Director of Chile Pepper Institute, New Mexico State University https://www.byuradio.org/cc99a4a2-b4a7-46e1-a4a2-c290f7f45081 cc99a4a2b4a7-46e1-a4a2-c290f7f45081 Tue, 28 Dec 2021 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 1 11 Monuments and mummies alike provide insights to the distribution of power in ancient Egypt. Guests: Kara Cooney, Professor of Egyptian Art and Architecture at UCLA and author of "The Good Kings: Absolute Power in Ancient Egypt and the Modern World." Learn more about her work on her website: https://karacooney.squarespace.com/ Jamie Fraser, Curator for the Ancient Levant and Anatolia at the British Museum in London https://www.byuradio.org/efa2e472-71b4-421b-b6c2-8160804c23f6 efa2e47271b4-421b-b6c2-8160804c23f6 Mon, 27 Dec 2021 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 1 10 The Santa Claus Association was supposed to help kids, but its founder was no saint. And, the myths behind the man Johnny Appleseed. Guests: Howard Means, journalist and author of "Johnny Appleseed: The Man, the Myth, the American Story" Explore Howard's other writing on his website: https://howardmeans.com/ Alex Palmer, author of "The Santa Claus Man: The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in New York." Discover more of Alex's work on his website: https://www.alexpalmerwrites.com/books https://www.byuradio.org/8ec0ea0f-14be-4851-8d09-9cbe8d702981 8ec0ea0f14be-4851-8d09-9cbe8d702981 Wed, 22 Dec 2021 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 1 9 Climate change, ice instruments, and lab-designed snowflakes. Guests: David Robinson, geographer at Rutger's University, New Jersey State's climatologist, and member of Protect Our Winters (POW), a climate change organization that can be found here: https://protectourwinters.org/about-pow/ Kenneth G Libbrecht, Professor of Physics at Caltech Tim Linhart, ice sculptor and founder of Ice Music. See some of his work here: https://cellomuseum.org/tim-linharts-ice-cellos-extreme-icemanship/ https://www.byuradio.org/3420f84b-ce9a-4f56-a347-84440b261a7f 3420f84bce9a-4f56-a347-84440b261a7f Tue, 21 Dec 2021 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 1 8 Christmas wouldn't be the same without Dickens. And, the railroads changed Christmas forever. Guests: Lucinda Hawksley, art historian, public speaker broadcaster, and great-great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens. Learn more about Lucinda's writing at her website: https://www.lucindahawksley.com/ Ainissa Ramirez, P.h.D and award-winning scientist. She has written for Forbes, The Atlantic, and the American Scientific, and is the author of "The Alchemy of Us." Visit her website to learn about her other writing: https://www.ainissaramirez.com/books https://www.byuradio.org/415c1093-77a0-4561-8a8e-5cac7f9ce075 415c109377a0-4561-8a8e-5cac7f9ce075 Mon, 20 Dec 2021 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 1 7 Danielle Reed explores the wide genetic differences in taste buds, and a related topic, why COVID-19 causes some people to lose their sense of taste and smell. And, musician Annie Dickinson sees music in color. Guests: Danielle Reed, Chief Science Officer at Monell Chemical Senses Center. Annie Dickinson, singer and director of A&R @ Nettwerk Music Group. https://www.byuradio.org/c81e4fb6-2f7c-4f8b-84d1-084ee993c674 c81e4fb62f7c-4f8b-84d1-084ee993c674 Wed, 15 Dec 2021 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 1 6 Federal law enforcement was weak at the beginning of the 20th century. Guest: Willard M. Oliver, Professor of Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University, author of "The Birth of the FBI: Teddy Roosevelt, the Secret Service, and the Fight Over America's Premier Law Enforcement Agency." https://www.byuradio.org/03dcf814-ce69-449a-9679-53e114e33f8f 03dcf814ce69-449a-9679-53e114e33f8f Tue, 14 Dec 2021 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 1 5 Advances in cardiac surgery were pioneered by fearless heart surgeons, and some unsung heroes who assisted them. Guest: Thomas Morris, historian award winning author of "A Matter of the Heart" and "The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth." Visit Thomas Morris online to learn more about his work: https://www.thomas-morris.uk/the-matter-of-the-heart/ https://www.byuradio.org/80701f78-12f0-45be-aa1c-e0aaa74e913d 80701f7812f0-45be-aa1c-e0aaa74e913d Mon, 13 Dec 2021 07:00:00 GMT false 3169 full 1 4 Jim Thorpe was known as the greatest athlete in the world. Guest: Robert. W. Wheeler, author of "Jim Thorpe: World's Greatest Athlete." Still curious? Visit the Jim Thorpe Foundation's website to learn more about his legacy: https://www.jimthorpememorialfoundation.org/ https://www.byuradio.org/22c628da-7b21-4093-927b-c5ccc1dc1d5a 22c628da7b21-4093-927b-c5ccc1dc1d5a Fri, 10 Dec 2021 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 1 3 Preserving traditional and ancient arts. https://www.byuradio.org/d1c14524-a8ae-46b9-91b4-12bc551cb41a d1c14524a8ae-46b9-91b4-12bc551cb41a Thu, 09 Dec 2021 07:00:00 GMT false 3170 full 1 2 The wonders of these smart, social creatures. Guest: Sy Montgomery, naturalist and author of over thirty books, including "The True and Lucky Life of a Turtle" and "The Soul of an Octopus." Find her online: Author page: https://symontgomery.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sytheauthor... Facebook: / sytheauthor https://www.byuradio.org/02c47307-48ce-4008-b0b8-1f6b61130bbe 02c4730748ce-4008-b0b8-1f6b61130bbe Wed, 08 Dec 2021 07:00:00 GMT false 3172 full 1 1