Constant Wonder

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-...

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_rivertham...

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 Wild...

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 Tow...

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 continu...

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 H...

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...

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...

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 Be...

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 beekeepe...

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...

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...

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 resilien...

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 ki...

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 p...

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...

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 storytel...

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...

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...

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...

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 disco...

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 wit...

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. Gue...

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 virtu...

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 B...