Season 3 of the Bird Joy Podcast comes to a powerful close with hosts Dexter and Jason revisiting the highlights, laughter, and love that made this season unforgettable. From deep conversations on legacy and identity to global birding adventures, this episode is a celebration of nature, joy, and the people who make the outdoors a more inclusive space. Plus, a sneak peek of what’s coming in Season 4! 💬 Final Words from Your Hosts: “Birding has changed our lives, and the folks we met this season ...
Jul 25, 2025•36 min•Season 3Ep. 13
In this powerful season finale of Bird Joy, Dexter and Jason sit down with their brother and longtime collaborator, Christopher Kilgour, a transformative leader in the outdoor community. Chris is the founder of Color in the Outdoors, steward of Piece of Mind Acres, and co-founder of the Underground Hiking Collective. From growing up near Tenney Park with ducks and his mom to becoming a fierce advocate for equity and healing in nature, Chris shares his journey with vulnerability, wisdom, and joy....
Jul 18, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 12
In this globe-spanning episode, we sit down with legendary birder George Armistead. This man has guided trips on all seven continents and made it his mission to craft wild and meaningful birding adventures. We discuss the roots of his passion, the power of group travel, the behind-the-scenes magic of The Life List podcast, and how birding culture is evolving globally. Whether you’re a backyard birder or a global chaser, this episode will leave you ready to pack your bins and hit the trail. Guest...
Jul 11, 2025•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 11
In this episode of the Bird Joy Podcast, hosts Dexter Patterson and Jason Hall sit down with Dr. Miyoko Chu, Senior Director of Communications at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Dr. Chu is a powerhouse at the intersection of science, storytelling, and technology, known for her pioneering work on the Merlin Bird ID app and her beautiful, bird-inspired books. We explore her journey into ornithology, the global success of Merlin, and the exciting future of bird conservation—powered by data, digital...
Jul 04, 2025•57 min•Season 3Ep. 10
In this joyful and thought-provoking episode, Dexter and Jason sit down with Danielle Belleny, a wildlife biologist, birder, storyteller, and co-founder of Black Birders Week. Danielle is known for her ability to blend ecology, joy, and cultural reflection, and she encourages us to see nature in often-overlooked places, particularly cemeteries. Her celebrated works include *This Is a Book for People Who Love Birds* and *A Junior Birder’s Handbook*, and she is also behind the growing #CemeteryBir...
Jun 27, 2025•51 min•Season 3Ep. 9
In this episode, Dexter and Jason are joined by Nicole Jackson, environmental educator, urban birder, nature photographer, and co-organizer of Black Birders Week. Nicole shares her journey into environmental education, the healing power of nature, and her passion for making outdoor spaces more inclusive. From grassroots work in Ohio to national initiatives like Let’s Go Outside! with Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Nicole’s story is a powerful reminder that nature belongs to everyone. The conversati...
Jun 20, 2025•57 min•Season 3Ep. 8
In this special on-the-road episode, Dexter and Jason visit the Soaring Eagles of Chase STEMM Academy in Toledo, Ohio, for an inspiring conversation with 6th and 7th-grade student ambassadors. Just steps from Manhattan Marsh, these young scholars are exploring nature, STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Medicine), and their big dreams. Shout-out to Vonda Hogle for helping bring this recording to life! Another big shoutout to the folks at The Biggest Week in Birding for connecting ...
Jun 13, 2025•45 min•Season 3Ep. 7
In this inspiring episode of the Bird Joy Podcast, hosts Dexter and Jason sit down with renowned photographer, author, filmmaker, and speaker Dudley Edmondson. With a career spanning over 30 years, Dudley has captured nature's wild beauty and redefined who belongs in those wild spaces. From the Arctic Circle to inner-city green spaces, Dudley's work weaves together storytelling, healing, and representation in the outdoors.He shares insights from his groundbreaking book Black & Brown Faces in...
Jun 06, 2025•54 min•Season 3Ep. 6
We’re celebrating Black Birders Week with a very special guest: Corina Newsome — wildlife biologist, conservation scientist, and one of the original co-organizers of the first Black Birders Week in 2020. In this inspiring episode, Corina joins Dexter and Jason to talk about her journey from zookeeper to passionate advocate for environmental justice, and how she’s helping reshape who feels welcome in the outdoors. Corina reflects on the moment she fell in love with wildlife, the movement-building...
May 30, 2025•57 min•Season 3Ep. 5
In this episode, Dexter and Jason sit down with Kojo Baidoo — a 23-year-old birder, Princeton graduate, and self-proclaimed vulture enthusiast — to explore how one young conservationist is flipping the script on one of the most misunderstood birds in the skies. Kojo shares how his birding journey began in Maryland and took flight during his time studying Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at Princeton. He opens up about his experiences navigating the birding world as a young Black birder, the me...
May 23, 2025•49 min•Season 3Ep. 4
In this inspiring episode of The Bird Joy Podcast , Jason and Dexter sit down with Shane Alden Edwards, better known online as The Wild Dryad . A self-taught illustrator and botanist, Shane has captured the hearts of over half a million nature lovers through his vibrant educational content centered on plants, ecology, and outdoor learning. From early creative roots in aquaponics and drawing, to leading community workshops in partnership with The Conservation Foundation and The Field Museum of Na...
May 16, 2025•51 min•Season 3Ep. 3
The second episode of The Bird Joy Podcast features hosts Dexter Patterson and Jason Hall in conversation with their "dream guest," Dr. J. Drew Lanham, a distinguished wildlife ecologist, professor, poet, and author. The episode delves into Dr. Lanham's deep connections to nature, starting with his childhood on The Home Place and the influence of his grandmother. The discussion explores themes of land, identity, and belonging for Black individuals in landscapes with a history of slavery, referen...
May 09, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 2
We're back! In the Season 3 premiere of Bird Joy , your favorite birding buddies reunite to catch up, share what’s new, and get pumped for the peak of spring migration. From exciting bird sightings to major personal milestones—including Dexter’s new book and In Color Birding Club’s website launch—this episode sets the tone for an inspiring and vibrant new season. In This Episode: A warm welcome back to the Bird Joy community Early spring sightings and birding energy Community-driven birding upda...
May 02, 2025•55 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Season 2 of the Bird Joy Podcast was an unforgettable journey! This season, we celebrated diverse voices and explored themes like birding, mentorship, science communication, healing, community, and breaking barriers in STEAM fields. From pioneers like Emmy-award winner and best-selling author Christian Cooper to next-generation leaders like Isaiah Scott, our guests inspired us with their passion and wisdom. Dexter reflects on the personal growth and healing sparked by powerful conversations with...
Jan 17, 2025•53 min•Season 2Ep. 13
In the final guest appearance of Season 2, Dexter and Jason sit down with British Columbia's own Melissa Hafting to explore how birding can provide profound healing and hope. Melissa reflects on her experiences as a Black woman birding in British Columbia and discusses her remarkable new book, Dare to Bird: Exploring the Joy and Healing Power of Birds . She shares how her parents nurtured her love for birds early on and how that foundational support motivates her to mentor the next generation of...
Jan 10, 2025•43 min•Season 2Ep. 12
In this uplifting episode, Dexter and Jason are joined by Alex Troutman, known as the “Best Smile in Birding,” to explore the many ways to find joy in the great outdoors. Whether it’s birding, fishing, hunting, or camping, Alex inspires us to live life with a wildlife mirror, reflecting the beauty of the natural world. Alex shares his incredible research journey highlights, including studying Karner Blue Butterflies in Wisconsin, sea turtles in Texas, and bats in Malaysia. The conversation inclu...
Jan 03, 2025•52 min•Season 2Ep. 11
Dexter and Jason welcome Calvin Feagans , an environmental scientist, educator, and talented nature photographer, to the Bird Joy Podcast this week! Calvin shares how his passion for urban ecology and biodiversity drives his creative work, from the educational EnviroBytes to urban ecology re port cards. He also discusses the challenges and joys of turning data into storytelling tools, mapping bird migration patterns, and reclaiming old industrial spaces for conservation efforts. Throughout the c...
Dec 27, 2024•45 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Get comfortable. Take a seat. Gather around friends for a warm and meaningful conversation with the famed author, mindful birder, licensed marriage and family therapist, California Audubon board member, and accessible birding advocate Tammah Watts ! In this episode we discuss her approaches to birding as it pertains to her own healing and connection with our community, including incredible encounters with Red-shouldered Hawks and Mourning Doves to aid in the healing. We cover some experiences we...
Dec 20, 2024•50 min•Season 2Ep. 9
The vibe is SOOOO right this week with our homie Indigo Goodson-Fields . Indigo comes to hang with us from Brooklyn, NYC, where she is a birder, poet, bird guide, writer, educator, and bird model (with Bird Collective) . We spend some time talking about how she curates her community in ways that enrich her own mental health as well as the community around her. This includes leading “Birding, Poetry, and Power” outings through Field Meridians as well as those more quiet and reflecting moments in ...
Dec 13, 2024•43 min•Season 2Ep. 8
We have some excellence for ya’ll on this episode! Our two guests today are Dr. Murry Burgess and Lauren D. Pharr , the founders of Field Inclusive Inc. In this episode, we get into the need for an organization like Field Inclusive when it comes to helping marginalized field researchers, including those who are out in our forests, swamps, ponds, oceans, and deserts studying birds! This covers everything from field training to safety training and even equitable financial compensation. You can lea...
Dec 06, 2024•51 min•Season 2Ep. 7
It’s finally here! The long-awaited Gull Joy episode. This week, Dexter and Jason converse with one of North America's most well-known gull experts, Amar Ayyash . We sit down with Amar and discuss how he went from making French fry-infused eye contact with gulls as a kid to being the author of a sensational new gull text, “ The Gull Guide: North America .” We dive into how to find joy in the pursuit of gulling. This includes visiting Cape May to see an Ivory Gull , hanging in landfills , and enj...
Nov 29, 2024•41 min•Season 2Ep. 6
On this week's episode, Dexter and Jason sit down with two fun and amazing folks, Luis Gles and Mariah Hryniewich of Woodstars Nature Tours. Mariah and Luis speak to us from the Rio Grande Valley in Texas about manning the Florida Keys Hawkwatch and experiencing the greatest Peregrine Falcon migrations on record. The Hawkwatch also boasts incredible numbers of Swallow-tailed and Mississippi Kites , Bahama Swallows, and tons of warbler flight. If that extreme heat, humidity, and mosquitoes weren’...
Nov 22, 2024•49 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Dexter and Jason sit down with Jordan Rowley on this week's episode. Jordan is a PhD student at Utah State University , where he focuses on the social science surrounding birders and birdwatchers. It’s like birding… but of people! The research is fascinating as it breaks down some of the demographics of birders and where they fall on different social scales. We research and discuss why things would break down that way. Dexter and Jason get a crash course on multi-species justice. We also discuss...
Nov 15, 2024•43 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Extraordinary episode ahead! This week, we speak with Isaiah “Ike” Scott, a senior at Cornell University, specifically focusing on studying ornithology at the Cornell Lab or Ornithology . Ike talks to us about what it’s like to study birds and how we followed this particular path in his education, including his teaching under Dr. Irby Lovett . Ike is also a bird artist and can express some beautiful aspects of his birding. Check it out at Ikes Bird Art . We touch on what it’s like to be a studen...
Nov 08, 2024•47 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Join Dexter and Jason on this fantastic episode where we welcome our FIRST-ever guest on the podcast! In this episode, we are so excited to chat with best-selling author Christian Cooper about all things birding and bird joy! We cover experiences from his books, “Better Living Through Birding, Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World.” , and his amazing Emmy-winning TV show, Extraordinary Birder with Christian Cooper . How does Christian find his “bird joy”? How does he feel about the movemen...
Nov 01, 2024•50 min•Season 2Ep. 2
We are back!!! It’s been too long homies. We have missed you! On this episode, Jason and Dexter get back in the saddle and catch up on what’s been going on in the bird world. This includes visiting the International Crane Foundation with the homies to see birds like the endangered Whooping Crane and the incredibly beautiful Blue Crane . It also included doing some conservation work with Bird Safe Philly and advocating for bird safe windows/glass. Most notably however is the discussion on how hom...
Oct 25, 2024•38 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Wow. We started in “Fake Spring” and took you through birding etiquette, safety, diversity/inclusion, and budgeting. We are here in mid-summer, excited to celebrate the bird joy we created and shared! We look forward to continuing that and bringing you new and fresh voices from around the birding world. We are all “nerding out” through our bird joy, and it’s so beautiful. Sometimes, we focus so much on the technical aspects of birding that we miss sharing the joy involved in the process. Althoug...
Jul 12, 2024•40 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Join Dexter and Jason in this jam-packed episode, where they emphasize the crucial role of planning in ensuring a safe and enjoyable birding trip. The homies delve into the basics of safety, including the essential steps to plan your visit to a birding area. Are you aware of what you need to safely get there, bird, and safely get home to those folks who love you the most? This includes making sure you have things like food and water if you need it for a longer trip, accessible and safe parking o...
Jul 05, 2024•48 min•Season 1Ep. 11
What is conservation in birding? How can you contribute to bird conservation locally? Join Dexter and Jason as they explore how to find bird joy while contributing to conservation. You don’t need to be a tenured PhD in Ornithology to contribute to conservation locally. There are several local opportunities to participate, such as those offered by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology . Seek and join the conversations in your local municipalities, counties, and communities. Those likely lead to laws tha...
Jun 28, 2024•44 min•Season 1Ep. 10
This episode is dedicated to all of our listeners and supporters. Dexter and Jason recap an amazing spring, including Black Birders Week 2024! They get in and out of our amazing bird moments, which include finding a Blackburnian warbler in Central Park with Indigo-Goodson Fields and Emmy winner Christian Cooper . This included a trip to Queens to find Piping Plovers with the NYC Plover Project , culminating in a Black Excellence in Birding Gala ! Dexter describes what it was like to bird in Madi...
Jun 21, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 9
