Constant Wonder

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Collecting Eiderdown on the Rugged Rocks of the Atlantic Jul 16, 2025

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On a tiny, remote island, an English farmer and writer captures the story of Anna Måsøy, a Norwegian "duck woman." In a practice that dates back to the Vikings, islanders coax wild eider ducks to nest on their islands, where the birds leave behind eiderdown—a material so precious that even kings and queens of Europe used it in their bedding. In learning Anna's story, this Englishman reconnects with his own heritage—passed down through six centuries of farming on his family's land in England. Guest: James Rebanks, farmer and author of "The Place of Tides" Find James Rebank online here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herdyshepherd1/?hl=en X/Twitter: https://x.com/herdyshepherd1?lang=en

One Scientist's Search For Life In Extreme Places Jul 09, 2025

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Karen Lloyd is no stranger to life in the extremes: she has encountered super-resilient microbial life near volcanoes, on the ocean floor, and deep in the crust of the Earth. Some of these microbes can survive extreme temperatures, "breathe" minerals like gold, and some can even live for thousands of years. In this episode of Constant Wonder, learn about how extraordinary life on Earth can be. Guest: Karen G. Lloyd is the Wrigley Chair in Environmental Studies, Professor of Earth Sciences, and Professor of Marine and Environmental Biology at the University of Southern California. She is the author of "Intraterrestrials: Discovering the Strangest Life on Earth" Check out Karen Llyod's book! https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691236117/intraterrestrials

The Unique Connection Between Musician and Instrument Jun 25, 2025

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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 long-lost cello to restore this precious instrument—the soul of Pál Hermann—to his daughter, Corrie, now in her mid-90s. Guest: Dr. Kate Kennedy, writer, cellist and broadcaster, and author of Cello: A Journey Through Silence to Sound Audio of Sam Lucas playing Pál Hermann's Cello Concerto at Wigmore Hall used with permission from Kate Kennedy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3I18yVuCEY&t=2s Audio of Kate Kennedy performing Bach's Cello Suite No. 2 in D minor used with permission from the Kaunas Ninth Fort Museum and Kate Kennedy Audio of Deirdre Bencsik playing the "bee cello" used with permission from Professor Martin Bencsik and the Bee Cello Project

The "Cutting Edge" of Tradition: Black Folk Art Reimagined Jun 18, 2025

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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 in Ten Objects" https://www.robellawake.com Essie Bendolph Pettway, quilter from Gee’s Bend, Alabama. Her work is in the permanent collections of the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Alabama, and the Studio Museum in Harlem, New York https://www.soulsgrowndeep.org/artist/essie-bendolph-pettway Louisiana P. Bendolph, quilter from Gee's Bend, Alabama. Her quilts are in the permanent collections of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Clark Atlanta University Art Museum, The High Museum of Art, The Dallas Museum of Art, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art https://www.soulsgrowndeep.org/artist/louisiana-p-bendolph Gee's Bend Quiltmakers: https://www.soulsgrowndeep.org/gees-bend-quiltmakers Illustration of Harriet Powers courtesy of Johnalynn Holland, illustrator of "A Short History of Black Craft in Ten Objects" https://johnalynnholland.com/ Photo of "Conjure Memory - Things Fall Apart" courtesy of Robell Awake

Glimmers of Awe: The Fascinating World of Fireflies Jun 11, 2025

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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 observe them, becoming a self-taught firefly expert and unveiling the mysteries of nature's tiny lanterns. Guest: Lynn Faust, author of "Fireflies, Glow-worms, and Lightning Bugs: Identification and Natural History of the Fireflies of the Eastern and Central United States and Canada" Learn more about Lynn Faust's book: https://www.ugapress.org/9780820348728/fireflies-glow-worms-and-lightning-bugs/ Photo credit: SmokyMountains.com Originally aired April 3, 2024

Finding Genuine Healing in the Rainforest Jun 04, 2025

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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 Lizzie Hanbury-Tenison, founder of Cabilla retreat center Rob Stoneman, Director of Landscape Recovery Landscape Recovery for the British Wildlife Trusts Read the Hanbury-Tensions' book: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/462415/our-oaken-bones-by-hanbury-tenison-merlin/9781529144222 Learn more about the Cabilla Retreat: https://www.cabillacornwall.com/vision/ Find them online: Merlin's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DHya0T1KkP4/ Rob Stoneman's X/Twitter: https://x.com/RobStoneman

The Batman of Mexico (and the World!) May 28, 2025

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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 Learn more about Rodrigo Medellín's research: Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rodrigo-Medellin-3 Find him online! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/batmanmedellin/?hl=en Originally aired July 19, 2023

Motherhood In Miniature: Hidden Insight from a Hummingbird Nursery May 07, 2025

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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. Visit Eric Pittman's website to see more hummingbirds up close: https://www.hummingbirdsupclose.com/ Guest: Eric Pittman, Hummingbirds Up Close; subject of "The Bird in My Backyard" documentary Photo credit: Eric Pittman Select hummingbird audio courtesy of Paul Marvin and Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library

A Civil Rights Leader Establishes Secret Schools Apr 30, 2025

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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 Find Elaine Weiss online: Author page: https://elaineweiss.com/ X/Twitter: https://x.com/efweiss5?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElaineWeissAuthor/ Photo Caption: Septima Poinsette Clark, 1973; Photo Credit: Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC. News footage courtesy of EasyStreet, Pond5, www.pond5.com

She Walked 500 Miles for a Bird Under Threat Apr 23, 2025

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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" Learn more about Curlew Action: https://www.curlewaction.org/ Find Mary Colwell online: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marycolwell1/?hl=en

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