Constant Wonder

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ARCHIVE BONUS: Life As an Astronaut Nov 02, 2022

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Astronaut Terry Virts experienced a juxtaposition of the sublime and the mundane, sensing God while floating weightless, fixing cables outside his spacecraft. While in orbit, Virts took more than 300,000 photos, which became part of the National Geographic IMAX film "A Beautiful Planet." Podcast Guest: Colonel Terry Virts, fighter pilot, test pilot, NASA astronaut, and author of "How to Astronaut: An Insider's Guide to Leaving Planet Earth." He also directed "One More Orbit,” documenting the fastest circumnavigation of the earth via both poles.

Mysterious Tattoo Reunites Korean Adoptee With Birth Family Oct 26, 2022

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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. Jones was adopted into an American family at age three. She 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. Hear the story on this week's podcast. Guest: Sara Jones, CEO of InclusionPro, Board Member of The (Utah) State Workforce Development Board, Board of Trustees for Intermountain Salt Lake Valley Hospitals, Co-Founder of Women Tech Council Visit Sara Jones on Instagram to learn more: https://www.instagram.com/saradansiejones/?hl=en

A Pediatric Neurosurgeon Shares Stories of Triumph and Resilience Oct 19, 2022

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Neurosurgeon Jay Wellons performs the most delicate surgeries on the traumatized brains of children, where every cut and stitch has life-changing consequences. He’s also an enthralling storyteller and a tireless advocate for his patients–a lesson he learned the hard way. Join us as he shares inspiring tales of his patients’ journeys. Guest: Jay Wellons, MD, Cal Turner Chair and Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; author of "All That Moves Us: A Pediatric Neurosurgeon, His Young Patients, and Their Stories of Grace and Resilience" Read Jay Wellons' book: https://parnassusbooks.net/book/9780593243381 Find him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allthatmovesus_official/?hl=en

From the Streets to Symphony Hall: The Improbable Backstory of a World-Class Tuba Player Oct 12, 2022

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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. 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/

ARCHIVE BONUS: The Hidden Life of the Deep Ocean Oct 05, 2022

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The abyss of the deep sea is anything but lifeless!

Black Paramedics Find an Ally in a Young White Female Doctor – Freedom House, Part II Sep 28, 2022

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Part 2 of our Freedom House story involves the racial politics of saving lives in the late '60s and early '70s, a norm-shattering young White female doctor, and the graceful but determined response of one skilled Black paramedic, who provided unheralded leadership to the people he worked under. 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 Library on the History of Women in America Visit Kevin Hazzard online to learn more about his writing and research: Main website: https://www.kevinhazzard.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goes_by_haz... X/Twitter: https://x.com/goes_by_hazzard

America's First Paramedics Were Black Pioneers in Pittsburgh – Freedom House, Part I Sep 21, 2022

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Paramedics haven't always raced to the scene of an emergency. Before 1966, if you called for help to get to the hospital, you might get a police car, or even a hearse. That year, Pittsburgh's non-profit Freedom House set out to change that for the city's Hill District, which was predominately Black. Staffed by trained Black men and mentored by the inventor of CPR, the 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, paramedic at Freedom House and former Assistant Chief, City of Pittsburgh EMS Photo Credit: Heinz History Center Visit Kevin Hazzard online to learn more about his writing and research: Main website: https://www.kevinhazzard.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goes_by_haz... X/Twitter: https://x.com/goes_by_hazzard

A Humble Farmer Goes On An Unbelievable World Tour Sep 14, 2022

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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 magazine. She wrote about Mikulec's odyssey for "Smithsonian Magazine." Nathan Raab, rare book collector, Philadelphia, PA Visit Carolyn Wells online to explore her work: Author page: https://rebeccaregobarry.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccaregobarry/ Originally aired September 14, 2022

A Humble Farmer Walks the Globe and Meets the World's Elite Sep 14, 2022

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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 magazine. She wrote about Mikulec's odyssey for "Smithsonian Magazine." Nathan Raab, rare book collector, Philadelphia, PA Curious about Rebecca's other writing? Visit her website to learn more about her other books: https://rebeccaregobarry.com/

BONUS: Fabric: History Hidden in Plain Sight Sep 07, 2022

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The history of fabric is the history of life and death on this planet.

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