Constant Wonder

Latest Episodes:

Can Elephants Really Love Humans? Mar 18, 2026

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Businesswoman Françoise Malby-Anthony traveled the world for work, until a chance encounter in the metro changed her life. Within a year, she'd quit Paris for South Africa, where she and her partner, Lawrence, established a wildlife preserve for troubled and orphaned elephants and rhinos. When Lawrence passed away suddenly, the responsibility for these animals fell to Françoise. Join us in this tale of love, loss, and connection beyond the grave. Guest: Françoise Malby-Anthony, owner of Thula Thula Private Game Reserve and author of "The Elephants of Thula Thula" Learn more about Françoise and the Thula Thula reserve on their website: https://thulathula.com/our-story/ Thula Baba traditional lullaby accessed on the Soweto Gospel Choir YouTube channel. Originally aired on March 27, 2024

The Wild World of India's "Bear Man" Mar 11, 2026

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The "Bear Man of India" is best known for his work rescuing sloth bears from inhumane conditions, but Kartick Satyanarayan knew he wanted to help animals from a young age. It all began with full-moon nights spent high in a jungle tree, watching a procession of wild animals visit a nearby watering hole. In the intervening 30 years, he's braved the "timber mafia" and even gunshots in a tireless crusade to protect wildlife. Guest: Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder and CEO of Wildlife SOS Originally aired May 29, 2024

A Cheerful Mortician's Perspective on Love and Life Mar 04, 2026

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A small-town mortician savors life. Find out why "the internet's favorite mortician" encourages people not to skip out on funerals. And why he also advises listeners not to worry about "being an inconvenience" in either life or death. Guest: Victor M. Sweeney, author of "Now Departing: A Small-Town Mortician on Death, Life, and the Moments in Between" https://www.instagram.com/victor.m.sweeney/?hl=en https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4ktLen9cVM

Diving Into History, She Found a Powerful Sense of Belonging Feb 25, 2026

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Tara Roberts comes to find joy in learning about her ancestors—even though history once seemed too traumatic to face. Guest: Tara Roberts, author of "Written in the Waters: A Memoir of History, Home, and Belonging"

Secrets of the Stones: Megaliths Reveal Our Connection to the Past Feb 18, 2026

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Fiona Robertson has had a lifelong fascination with the ancient standing stones that dot the British Isles. As her own life filled with storms, these megaliths became examples of endurance, able to survive millenniums of weathering. Join us as we follow Fiona through the stone lands to explore how these mysterious sites connect us to the past, redefine our present, and give us hope for the future. Fiona Robertson is a writer, editor and megalith enthusiast who takes her family across the British Isles in search of standing stones. She is passionate about archaeology, history and folklore. Visit her online to learn more about her work: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stone_lands/?hl=en

Audio Expeditions: Travel Back in Time and Across the Globe Feb 11, 2026

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Anne Fadiman has an infectious curiosity. In this episode. she'll introduce us to ice-bound explorers who turn to theater, art, and journalism to stave off boredom and madness. Then we travel across the globe to a matchless night beneath Halley's Comet. We'll also meet a indomitable young student who lived by the motto "Yes to everything!" Guest: Anne Fadiman, author of "Frog and Other Essays" and "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down" https://us.macmillan.com/author/annefadiman

Rejoice in the Great Outdoors! Feb 04, 2026

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By promoting swimming, hiking, climbing, skiing, hunting, and many more recreational activities, Outdoor Afro reconnects Black people to nature. Founder Rue Mapp reminds us of the historical connections Black people have to the Earth, and she encourages people to look to nature for healing, hope, and fun! Guest: Rue Mapp, founder of Outdoor Afro and National Geographic Fellow https://ruemapp.com Chapters: (0:00) Introduction (5:27) Out of the Comfort Zone (9:17) Black Relationships With Nature (26:24) Reconnection (35:45) Outdoor Afro's Healing Hikes (45:56) Spiritual Transformation

Ancient Love Story Still Inspires Today Jan 28, 2026

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A love story for all time: Eleanor of Castile died in 1290, but her story still resonates today, thanks to the depths of her husband's devotion. You might know King Edward I as the fierce Edward Longshanks, but discover him in this episode as a besotted and grieving husband. Guests: Alice Loxton, author of "Eleanor: A 200-Mile Walk in Search of England's Lost Queen" https://aliceloxton.com; John Hibbs, tour guide at St. Mary's, Conwy, Wales https://caruconwy.com/our-churches/st-marys-conwy/; Kam Caddell of Kam Tours https://www.kamtours.com; Penny Griffin, reader and lector at St. Mary Magdalene, Geddington, England https://www.geddingtonweekleychurch.org.uk/; Luke McDonnell, muralist https://www.chibacreative.com/mural; Patricia Yiga, London commuter CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (4:43) Meet Eleanor (20:14) 12 Crosses, 200 Miles (29:15) Eleanor Watches Over Me (Geddington) (39:18) In Death We Cannot Cease to Love (Mural) (49:31) Everyone Plays Their Part (London Tube) (54:00) A Message from Grandfather

He Found Self-Confidence Through a Lifetime of Service Jan 21, 2026

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Growing up in an unstable home with an alcoholic father, David Hudson questioned his own worth from an early age. Now a retired Salvation Army officer, Dave reflects on the mentors and experiences that helped him find his confidence and dedicate his life to helping others. https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/

Gems from Constant Wonder: Adventures in Nature Jan 14, 2026

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Personal stories from an ethnobotanist who travels the world to find healing plants, a writer who conducted "frog church" as a child, and a biogeochemist who connects soil microbes to constellations of stars. Gems from past episodes of Constant Wonder that will speak to newcomers and longtime listeners alike! Guests: Sasha Reed, biogeochemist and USGS research ecologist https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/sasha-c-reed Cassandra Quave, ethnobotanist and professor of Dermatology and Human Health at Emory University https://naturespharmacy.substack.com/ Lyanda Lynn Haupt, naturalist and eco-philosopher https://www.lyandalynnhaupt.com/

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