What can the quirky and surprising adaptations of the natural world teach us about curiosity, creativity, and our own place on earth?

Cara Giaimo is a freelance writer with a deep love for biodiversity and storytelling. Her latest work with Atlas Obscura, Wild Life: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Living Wonders, is an over-the-top collection of the world's most extraordinary wild species that takes you to all seven continents and beyond. It's more than a field guide—it's an adventure.

Cara shares her journey of researching and writing Wild Life and how writing about the natural world has shaped her own life and creative process. You’ll hear fascinating stories as we unpack surprising animal behaviors and the ways species adapt to urban environments. From multi-headed caterpillars to the rewilding of Chernobyl, our conversation celebrates the natural world, its endless creativity, and what we can learn from the resilience of wildlife.

What’s the most surprising wildlife encounter you’ve experienced on your travels? I'd love to hear about your experience, and I hope you’ll share it by sending me an audio message.

Premium Passport:

• Get ad-free episodes, exclusive content, and access to all episodes for only $3/month. Subscribe now!

Tune In To Learn:

• How Cara balances her solitary writing life with collaborative creativity in her band (and how it influences her writing)
• The three-year journey behind Wild Life and the passion that fueled the project
• How the exploration of nature reshaped her daily life, worldview, and travel desires
• Surprising wildlife stories, from monarch butterfly grounds to mussel filtration systems
• How cities have become home to unexpected animals, like peregrine falcons hunting by streetlight
• The unique relationship between Pakistan’s Jogi tribe and venomous snakes, rooted in tradition and respect
• Insights into the rewilding of Chernobyl and its implications for humans and wildlife
• How learning from nature can help us build more sustainable systems
• Why curiosity and mindfulness are key to noticing the hidden wonders of the natural world
• And so much more

Resources:

• Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport
• Sign up for our FREE newsletter
• Grab Cara’s book, Wild Life
• Follow Cara on Instagram
• Savannah Book Festival

Want More?

• Top 7 Hidden Wonders of the World With Dylan Thuras (Atlas Obscura)
• Ethical Wildlife Tourism With Kristen Diederich
• Living in Ecuador, Indigenous Communities, Rainforest Conservation, and Cultural Experiences With Photographer Mark Fox

Thanks To Our Sponsors

• Fruition - Use code TRAVEL20 for 20% off your first three months and visualize your full financial picture