Naturalist Studies

Chi-Wei Chang, an ecotherapy instructor, discusses the science of how nature immersion supports mental health, emphasizing that spending time in nature isn’t just relaxing—it’s a vital practice for mental and emotional well-being. She also explains how modern indoor lifestyles, manmade noise, and screen exposure overstimulate our nervous systems, while connecting with nature—through breathing, sen...

How do extreme weather events form—and how can you recognize when one is becoming dangerous? In this episode, veteran meteorologist Troy Kimmel explains how to interpret large-scale weather patterns and spot the warning signs that often appear before disasters like the 2025 Texas floods. He breaks down the climatic factors that cause flash floods, prolonged heat waves, and major winter storms, and...

Leïla Six is a singer-songwriter on a mission to remind us all that we are nature. She writes about the ecological challenges we are facing, the circle of life and the beauty of seasons, and how she uses music to situate the human experience within its broader natural context.

Wildlife sculptor and author George Bumann shares insights from his new book Eavesdropping on Animals and explores how learning to interpret the language of animals can transform the way you experience nature— not just in remote settings, but outside your own doorstep.

Educator Kyra Stephenson, 'The Nature Lady', discusses the transformative effects nature based-education has on children's attitudes, behavior, and desire to learn along with tips for implementing in any school setting.

Minister and author Peter Haas discusses how nature was integrated in the spiritual and religious traditions of early man and how it is still relevant to modern society.

Experienced long distance hiker, backpacker, and all-around tough guy Jack Crowley discusses what he has learned through the years scaling Mt. Kilimanjaro, Himalayan high passes, and the rugged peaks of the California Sierras and Rocky Mountains.

Avian expert Mikael Behrens discusses how birding expanded his view of the outside world and helped facilitate his own nature connection journey.

Senior tracker and instructor Preston Taylor discusses his experiences of trailing animals, the scientific value and personal enjoyment gleaned from it, and how to learn this ancient skill that humans relied upon for thousands of years.

Senior tracker and instructor Matt Nelson discusses what encompasses wildlife tracking, why it's valuable to science, what it can teach you about animal behavior, and how it can add to your enjoyment and understanding of the outdoors.

Survival Instructor Matthew Hunter discusses what is meant by modern wilderness survival, how it differs from primitive living skills, and some important preparation tips and guidelines for those who venture into the backcountry.

Avian ecologist Dr. Katie Sieving from the University of Florida discusses the important role titmice and chickadees (aka Parids) play in bird language, and the amazing discoveries she and her team have made in unraveling their complex language.

Chris Hyde of Natureversity discusses the relevance of ancient human skills like wildlife tracking, bird language, and wilderness survival in our modern culture, and why they are important to learn for both kids and adults.

Jon Young, bird language master and author of What the Robin Knows discusses what constitutes “nature connection”, why it is important, and how practices like bird language and wildlife tracking can facilitate bringing nature connection back into our individual lives and our culture at large.