Constant Wonder

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Is There Such Thing As a "Bad" Naturalist? Apr 09, 2025

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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" Find Paula Whyman online: https://paulawhyman.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulawhymanauthor/?hl=en

Getting Away Makes You a Better Neighbor Apr 02, 2025

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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" Explore Pico Iyer's work: https://picoiyerjourneys.com/#about

How a Writer Rewired Her Brain After Amnesia Mar 19, 2025

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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" Find Samina Ali online: https://saminaali.net/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samina.ali.writer/?hl=en

Hare in the House: An Enchanting and Wild Companion Mar 12, 2025

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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" Visit Cloe Dalton online: https://www.chloedalton.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chloedaltonuk/?hl=en © 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/4ipDIU8; no changes made

The Simple, Wonder-full Life of the Snowflake Man Mar 05, 2025

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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. Want to learn more? Check out the Jericho Historical Society! https://www.jerichohistoricalsociety.org/ Photo courtesy of snowflakebentley.com

Humor: A Powerful Tool in the Face of Anxiety Feb 26, 2025

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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" Visit Clint Edwards online to see more of his work: Substack blog: https://clintedwards.substack.com/about Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noideadaddyblog/?hl=en X/Twitter: https://x.com/byclintedwards?lang=en Originally Aired on February 8, 2023

How Adoptee Found Birth Family Thanks to Mysterious Tattoo Feb 19, 2025

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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. 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 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 Originally aired on October 26, 2022

Pittsburgh's Revolutionary Black Paramedics Made a Breakthrough in Medicine, Part II Feb 14, 2025

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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 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_hazzard/?hl=en X/Twitter: https://x.com/goes_by_hazzard Photo Credit: Harvard University, Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America Originally aired on September 28, 2022.

Pittsburgh's Revolutionary Black Paramedics Made a Breakthrough in Medicine, Part I Feb 12, 2025

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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, paramedic at Freedom House and former Assistant Chief, City of Pittsburgh EMS 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_hazzard/?hl=en X/Twitter: https://x.com/goes_by_hazzard Photo Credit: Heinz History Center Originally aired on September 21, 2022.

Unlock Unexpected Wisdom from a Dynamic Planet Feb 05, 2025

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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. Find copies of her books here: https://press.princeton.edu/our-authors/bjornerud-marcia

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