Though his life looked calm from the outside, Douglas Wood's undiagnosed ADHD and dyslexia dragged him down—until he received a personal letter from the famed wilderness writer Sig Olson. Olson's encouragement set him on a path to become a wilderness guide and a noted children's author. Guest: Douglas Wood, author of over 40 books, retired wilderness canoe guide, and most recently the author of "A Wild Path," a collection of essays for adults Originally aired March 13, 2024
Jul 02, 2025•55 min•Season 11Ep. 11
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 virtuoso who was killed in the Holocaust. After learning about his story, Kate was determined to find his...
Jun 25, 2025•57 min•Season 11Ep. 10
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 Black craft. Guests: Robell Awake, chairmaker, teacher, and author of "A Short History of Black Craft...
Jun 18, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 11Ep. 9
Facing the loss of her Elkmont cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains—a family treasure for five generations—Lynn Faust began to pay more attention to the fireflies there, the "light show," as the family called it, where thousands of fireflies would light up in unison. When she read that synchronous fireflies did not exist in North America, she knew that scientists were wrong. The creatures were right in her own yard! Realizing just how little was known about these enchanting insects, she set out to...
Jun 11, 2025•53 min•Season 11Ep. 8
The Hanbury-Tenisons have turned to a rare temperate rainforest on their family farm for solace and renewal after emotional and physical trauma. Now they want to share this healing resource with others. But they also want to restore and expand the ancient forest. Healing the land and healing ourselves in this episode of Constant Wonder. Guests: Merlin Hanbury-Tenison, author of "Our Oaken Bones: Reviving a Family, a Farm and Britain’s Ancient Rainforests" and founder of Cabilla retreat center Li...
Jun 04, 2025•54 min•Season 11Ep. 7
Ever since "Dracula," bats have been seen as terrifying threats that carry disease. They're actually essential to our agriculture and industry. In this episode of Constant Wonder, you'll meet an expert who can set the record straight. No wonder he's known as "The Batman of Mexico"; he's been obsessed with the flying mammals since he was young! Guest: Rodrigo Medellin, Professor of Ecology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico Originally aired July 19, 2023
May 28, 2025•53 min•Season 11Ep. 6
One day in 1901, a young farmer from Croatia set out on a walk. Decades later, he was still walking, had traversed six continents, and had stood face-to-face with the most famous people of the age. His mammoth autograph book, lost to history for nearly a century, has resurfaced to tell the tale of Joseph Mikulec and his eccentric quest. Guests: Rebecca Rego Barry, author of "Rare Books Uncovered: True Stories of Fantastic Finds in Unlikely Places" and editor of Fine Books & Collections magaz...
May 21, 2025•53 min•Season 11Ep. 5
Meet a tireless physician who has spent nearly four decades caring for the unhoused population of Boston. We'll also learn about some of his enterprising and generous patients, who've formed a community that watches out for one another on the streets, as they find redemption and hope amid tragedy. Guests: Jim O'Connell, MD, President of Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School Tracy Kidder, author of "Rough Sleepers: Dr. Jim O’Conn...
May 14, 2025•53 min•Season 11Ep. 4
Hummingbirds are often admired for their dazzling speed and iridescent beauty, but their nesting habits remain one of nature's best-kept secrets. Citizen scientist Eric Pittman takes us into this hidden world, sharing his firsthand observations of hummingbird mothers as they build intricate nests and nurture their young—right in his very own backyard. Join us as we explore the hidden wonders of nature that await when we take the time to look. Guest: Eric Pittman, Hummingbirds Up Close; subject o...
May 07, 2025•36 min•Season 11Ep. 3
Educator and activist Septima Clark used her passion for teaching to increase literacy rates in the Deep South, preparing Black citizens to pass the voter registration tests that were designed to disenfranchise them. Guest: Elaine Weiss, author of "Spell Freedom: The Underground Schools that Built the Civil Rights Movement" Septima Clark reader: Janice L. Jones Photo Caption: Septima Poinsette Clark, 1973; Photo Credit: Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture, College of C...
Apr 30, 2025•57 min•Season 11Ep. 2
The best way to see the world is on foot, it might be argued. Mary Colwell has had amazing encounters with wildlife on her walking treks around the globe. She's even used her walks to raise awareness and increase protection of the fascinating but imperiled curlew. Mary Colwell, Director of Curlew Action; TV and radio producer, conservationist; author, "Curlew Moon"
Apr 23, 2025•53 min•Season 11Ep. 1
Daniel Curry had had recurring dreams about wolves, long before he chose to devote his career to helping them. After working with captive wolves for several years, he became a "range rider," a human intermediary between predators and the cattle they might want to eat. In this episode of Constant Wonder, we'll discover Curry's extraordinary empathy for both domestic and wild creatures, and we'll hear how he works to keep them all safe. Photo credit: Tyler Tjomsland/The Spokesman-Review Guest: Dan...
Apr 16, 2025•54 min•Season 10Ep. 16
When Paula Whyman started trying to rehabilitate 200 acres she'd just bought, she knew very little about conservation. Among many other challenges, she faced off with mile-a-minute vine and rattlesnakes, but, with self-effacing humor and passion for this corner of the Blue Ridge Mountains, she persisted (and still persists!) in restoring the land to a healthy equilibrium. Guest: Paula Whyman, author of "Bad Naturalist: One Woman’s Ecological Education on a Wild Virginia Mountaintop"
Apr 09, 2025•53 min•Season 10Ep. 15
Use the power of retreat and meditation to ease the stress of our frenetic lifestyle. From decades of friendship with the Dalai Lama, Pico Iyer has learned the value of sacred silence. Guest: Pico Iyer, author of "Aflame: Learning from Silence"
Apr 02, 2025•47 min•Season 10Ep. 14
If snorkeling seems like something you can only do on a tropical vacation, think again. In this podcast episode, we meet a river snorkeling guide who encourages us to stick our heads in the water, right in our local streams and rivers. Keith Williams thinks you'll be amazed at the aquatic life you'll see there. Tune in to Constant Wonder and get hooked with some amazing fish tales. Guest: Keith Williams, author of "Snorkeling Rivers and Streams: An Aquatic Guide to Underwater Discovery and Adven...
Mar 26, 2025•53 min•Season 10Ep. 13
After waking from a coma with devastating brain damage, Samina Ali relearns to walk and speak alongside her newborn son. Guest: Samina Ali, author of "Pieces You'll Never Get Back: A Memoir of Unlikely Survival"
Mar 19, 2025•55 min•Season 10Ep. 12
When Chloe Dalton starts caring for a newborn hare, the line between "indoors" and "outdoors" blurs—inviting her to explore the natural world that she previously took for granted. Guest: Chloe Dalton, author of "Raising Hare: A Memoir" © The British Library; Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en; BYU Broadcasting does not claim ownership in the wildlife sounds provided by The British Library obtained at https://bit.ly...
Mar 12, 2025•55 min•Season 10Ep. 11
From rural oddity to New York Times writer, Wilson Bentley's singular devotion to snow and desire to share it with others changed snow science forever. Guests: Wayne Howe, former president of the Jericho Historical Society; Kenneth Libbrecht, professor of physics at the California Institute of Technology; Anna and Juniper of Jericho, VT; Seth of Provo, UT. Special thanks to Rod Gustafson for voicing Wilson Bentley. Photo courtesy of snowflakebentley.com
Mar 05, 2025•54 min•Season 10Ep. 10
Clint Edwards' hilarious honesty gives encouragement to those struggling with mental health challenges. Facing off his anxiety with humor and hope, he learns to raise his a family of his own after growing up at odds with his parents. Guest: Clint Edwards, blogger and author of "Anxiously Ever After: An Honest Memoir on Mental Illness, Strained Relationships, and Embracing the Struggle" Originally Aired on February 8, 2023
Feb 26, 2025•53 min•Season 10Ep. 9
When Korean adoptee Sara Jones went looking for her birth family, she wondered if a strange tattoo given to her in childhood could unlock any secrets. Adopted into an American family at age three, Jones found much success here in America, becoming an attorney and CEO. It wasn't until her own kids started asking questions that she decided to search for her birth family. And she started her search with that mysterious tattoo. Guest: Sara Jones, CEO of InclusionPro, Board Member of The (Utah) State...
Feb 19, 2025•53 min•Season 10Ep. 8
A norm-shattering young White female doctor joins Black paramedics in 1970s Pittsburgh. And, meet the graceful but determined Black paramedic who provided unheralded leadership in spite of racism from patients and superiors. Guests: Kevin Hazzard, author of "American Sirens: The Incredible Story of the Black Men Who Became America's First Paramedics" John Moon, former paramedic at Freedom House and former Assistant Chief, City of Pittsburgh EMS Photo Credit: Harvard University, Schlesinger Libra...
Feb 14, 2025•40 min•Season 10Ep. 7
Before 1966, if you needed transport to the hospital, authorities might send a police car, or even a hearse. That year, Pittsburgh's non-profit Freedom House set out to change that for the city's predominately Black Hill District. Staffed by trained Black men, their ambulance service served as a model for newly emerging paramedic services around the country. Guests: Kevin Hazzard, author of "American Sirens: The Incredible Story of the Black Men Who Became America's First Paramedics" John Moon, ...
Feb 12, 2025•44 min•Season 10Ep. 6
The Earth's crust reveals a dynamic, lively epic unfolding. Dramatic changes in the Earth's geology offer inspiration for its human residents. Guest: Marcia Bjornerud, author of "Turning to Stone: Discovering the Subtle Wisdom of Rocks" and Professor of Geosciences and Environmental Studies, Lawrence University
Feb 05, 2025•50 min•Season 10Ep. 5
After cancer takes his brother's life, Dacher Keltner repeatedly experiences awe in ways that expand the boundaries of what, even for him, is real. Guest: Dacher Keltner, founding director, Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley; author, "Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life" Originally aired 2/15/23
Jan 29, 2025•48 min•Season 10Ep. 4
Jarod Anderson found unique purpose in the woods of his childhood during a life-threatening battle with depression. As the host of the popular podcast "The Cryptonaturalist," he shares real love for nature with thousands through whimsical, magical, and outright outrageous stories.
Jan 22, 2025•56 min•Season 10Ep. 3
What can animals written off as "mindless" or "scary" teach us about developing compassion for the natural world and for other people? Guest: Sy Montgomery, author of "What the Chicken Knows: A New Appreciation of the World's Most Familiar Bird"
Jan 15, 2025•47 min•Season 10Ep. 2
Darkness makes even the most familiar places unfamiliar. But Leigh Ann Henion finds this exciting, not scary—night reveals a magical, wondrous world. Guest: Leigh Ann Henion, author of "Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark"
Jan 08, 2025•47 min•Season 10Ep. 1
A new season of fresh content is on its way! In the meantime, nature writer Gayle Boss takes a minute to enumerate the many joys that Constant Wonder brings her as a listener. Find out why an "abandon to wonder" can make all of us feel more alive!
Jan 01, 2025•6 min
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. Originally aired October 25, 2023 Guest: Ross Gay, author of "The Book of Delights," "Inciting Joy," and "The Book of (More) Delights"
Nov 27, 2024•54 min•Season 9Ep. 14
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 podcast 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 ...
Nov 20, 2024•55 min•Season 9Ep. 13
