Constant Wonder

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

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

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.

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/

A widowed mother's secrets haunted her young boys' lives. When Philip Yancey discovered the truth about his father's death at age 23, he had to reframe his entire understanding of his family's past. Eventually, he would overcome skepticism and cynicism to embrace a career as an inspirational writer and journalist, in which he has won the hearts of millions. Guest: Philip Yancey, author of "Where the Light Fell: A Memoir" and "What’s So Amazing About Grace?" Find Phillip Yancey online: https://philipyancey.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipyanceyofficial/?hl=en X/Twitter: https://x.com/philipyancey

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

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

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/

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/

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/