The Listener Podcast

I’m thrilled to finally share the story behind one of the most surreal, beautiful collaborations of my life — Wild Concerto. A sonic journey

Whispers from the grass. He is a bird with a beat. In the understory of a South American forest, where vines tangle and light filters down

In this episode, I speak of the bears who used to visit my garden in Washington State. I reflect on the extraordinary work of Dr. Lynn Rogers, who showed me that bears are not to be feared—they’re to be understood. They are curious, emotional, gentle beings. And they are being slaughtered. Some for thrill. Others for profit. All senselessly. Alongside the podcast, I’ve created a new artwork— “The...

That morning was like any other—until it wasn’t. I wandered from camp with my parabolic mic as the Kalahari woke up. Then, from the brush, came the strangest, most comical “heeeeeey!” I’d ever heard. I honestly thought one of the crew was messing around. Nope. It was real. A bird. The Grey Go-away-bird. Its call was unforgettable—wild, ridiculous, and absolutely perfect. Swipe to hear the moment I...

🌿 * Whispers from the ocean * 🌿 This week’s episode carries a heavy tide… I’ve just released a new piece titled Whispers from the ocean — a heartbreaking look at the Queensland Shark Control Program and the silent massacre taking place beneath the waves. Over 1,100 marine animals killed in just seven months — including sharks, rays, turtles, dolphins, and even threatened species. It wasn’t easy...

People often ask me what gear I’ve used to record the sounds of our planet over the years. Well — I finally sat down to tell that story. In my new podcast episode, “Tools of the Trade,” I walk you through five decades of sound recording — from nicking my brother’s Shure mic as a teenager, to discovering stereo with the Nagra IV-SJ, to mastering Mid-Side with my beloved MKH 30/40 combo. It’s a deep...

Sometimes a sound arrives so unexpectedly, it demands to be shared — no matter how long it’s been, or what time it is. This voice belongs to a bird dressed like no other — the Vulturine Guineafowl . Imagine Michael Jackson on safari, minus the glitter. That’s how surreal this bird looks. Piercing red eyes, electric-blue plumage, and the confidence of a rock star. I recorded this one in Kenya , mic...

My latest podcast episode exposes a world few are brave—or foolish—enough to walk into. From the Mirage Hotel’s so-called “Secret Garden” where dolphins boil under desert sun, to the lavish halls of the Safari Club International conference, where endangered lives are auctioned to the highest bidder—I’ve seen what happens when money and power are weaponized against the natural world. This episode i...

I’m taking you deep into the wild corners of New Zealand, to a place where one of the rarest birds on Earth still sings in the shadows. The kākāpō—an ancient, flightless, moss-colored parrot—is the star of my latest podcast episode, and it’s a story I’ll never forget. From battling seasickness (and some ill-advised oranges) to finally capturing the deep, resonant boom of a male calling out into th...

Dear friends, I’ve just released a new solo podcast episode that I hope will stir a few thoughts — and maybe a few hearts. It’s called “The Beauty We Overlook” , and it’s a deeply personal reflection on something that’s been bothering me for a long time: the way some birders — especially those new to it — dismiss or even despise the very species that have managed to survive alongside us. In this e...

An unflinching story from Taiji, Japan This week on The Listening Planet , I share one of the hardest stories I’ve ever had to tell—something I’ve carried with me for years. It’s not just about sound. It’s not just about dolphins. It’s about witnessing cruelty with a microphone in my hand and a camera around my neck—while knowing there was almost nothing I could do to stop it. I take you into the...