Constant Wonder

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

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/

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/

Artifacts hundreds of years old are exposed on the shore of London's River Thames when the river's tide goes out. Mudlarks walk the banks, searching for fragments and relics that reveal stories long forgotten. Come walk along the river with us as we connect past and present, from the Roman era to the modern day. Guests: Flora Spiegel, editor and mudlark https://www.instagram.com/thankyou_riverthames/?__d=11 Lara Maiklem, mudlark and author laramaiklem.com Kate Sumnall, Curator of Archaeology at London Museum https://www.londonmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/secrets-thames/ Note: you must have a permit from the PLA to mudlark on the Thames.

When Shep the ranch dog discovered a mysterious rodent raiding his food dish, the canine forever changed the trajectory of the black-footed ferret species. Join us as we explore the precarious but wonderful lives of North America's only native ferret. We'll even take you along on a release of captive-born ferrets into the wild. Guests: Travis Livieri, founder and Executive Director of Prairie Wildlife Research https://prairiewildlife.org/ Justin Chuven, Deputy Recovery Program Coordinator at the National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center https://www.fws.gov/office/national-black-footed-ferret-conservation-center Brian Maxfield, wildlife conservation biologist with Utah Department of Natural Resources Jimmy Breitenstein, wildlife photographer https://www.jimmybreitenstein.com/ Other voices from the ferret release: Clint Sampson, Crew, Marek

When options for recess became limited during the pandemic, a group of children in Oak Park, Illinois created Leaf Town, a thriving metropolis made of fallen leaves and lost trinkets. Beth and Kathleen Rooney recount the rise, fall, and rebuilding of the little community and remind us of the value of imagination and attention to little things. Guests: Beth and Kathleen Rooney, authors of "Leaf Town Forever" https://www.leaftownforever.com

When Ava Chin went looking for the father who had abandoned her family, she discovered the rich and complicated legacy of her Chinese immigrant relatives. Her great-great-grandfather helped build the railroad that united America, but his adopted country soon turned against him, legislating the Chinese Exclusion Act. This episode of the Constant Wonder podcast explores how Ava Chin's family continued to thrive in America, despite intense discrimination. As her family history unfolds, we witness Ava Chin lay claim to a past she never knew she had. Guest: Ava Chin, author of "Mott Street: A Chinese American Family's Story of Exclusion and Homecoming" Learn more about Ava Chin: http://avachin.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ava_chin/?hl=en https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/563929/mott-street-by-ava-chin/ Excerpts from "Butterfly Lovers’ Violin Concerto" used by permission from the BYU Chamber Orchestra Originally aired Sept 27, 2023

There’s a sea change happening . . . on land. People are rethinking what a garden is, what a yard is for, what urban green spaces can do to help life flourish. This visionary who promotes “more-wild-than-not” landscapes is a leader in redefining beauty. Rebecca McMackin grew up on a small farm in Connecticut, where her love for the natural world first took root. She spent a decade as Director of Horticulture at Brooklyn Bridge Park, managing 85 acres of organic parkland and championing biodiversity in the heart of the city. She's now one of today's preeminent voices in the cause of life-supporting, ecologically sound gardening practices. Guest: Rebecca McMackin, Lead Horticulturist for the American Horticultural Society, publisher of the "Grow Like Wild" newsletter Learn more about Rebecca McKackin: https://www.rebeccamcmackin.com/ Find her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oroeoboeococoao/?hl=en

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 Originally aired November 22, 2022

Octopuses, chickens, hummingbirds, turtles, emus... the list of animals that Sy Montgomery has befriended goes on. On Constant Wonder, we explore all sources of awe—human and wild—and in this episode we'll bring you exciting stories from both worlds. Guest: Sy Montgomery, naturalist and author of over thirty books, including "The True and Lucky Life of a Turtle" Find her online: Author page: https://symontgomery.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sytheauthor/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SyTheAuthor/

What happens when you combine a professional cellist's technical skill and a physicist's experiment with vibration sensors? You get a play-able beehive—a living collaboration between humans and animals. In this episode, learn about the beautiful and musical lives of bees. Guests: Professor Martin Bencsik of Nottingham Trent University Professional cellist Deirdre Bencsik Learn more about Martin Bencsik's bee research here: https://www.ntu.ac.uk/staff-profiles/science-technology/martin-bencsik Learn more about Diedre Bencsik's musical career here: https://www.lindowensemble.co.uk/copy-of-vw

After taking on the care of a beehive, Jessica Lahey quickly discovered that no amount of research could prepare her for the real buzz—like what happens when a hungry bear raids the hive. In this episode, Jess shares what it’s like to balance heartbreak and humor, protecting her bees while still finding empathy for the wild creatures that see them as a snack. Guest: Jessica Lahey, amateur beekeeper and author of "The Gift of Failure" and "The Addiction Inoculation." Visit Jessica Laney online: Main website: https://www.jessicalahey.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teacherlahey/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicapottslahey/ Substack: https://substack.com/@jesslahey

Giraffes don't like to swim, so how do you get them off an island that's flooding? How do keepers feed a violent, orphaned baby elephant that's been traumatized by humans? The answer is to think like an animal. Meet some empathetic rescuers who had to get creative to save the animals in their care. Guests: David O'Connor, President of Save Giraffes Now Ami Vitale, filmmaker and National Geographic Magazine photographer Jake Owens, Director of Conservation at the L.A. Zoo Learn more about Save Giraffes Now: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savegiraffesnow/?hl=en X/Twitter: https://x.com/savegiraffesnow?lang=en Get involved: https://savegiraffesnow.org/ Originally aired March 30, 2022

Exploring deeper in the ocean than anyone before him—into the dark depths of the sea where no ray of sunlight reached—William Beebe saw shocking lights, colors, and critters that made him question life on land. In this episode of Constant Wonder, meet a scientist as interesting as the watery worlds he discovered. Guest: Brad Fox, author of The Bathysphere Book: Effects of the Luminous Ocean Depths William Beebe narrated by Brian Croxall, Professor of Digital Humanities at BYU Visit Brad Fox online: Author page: https://bradfox.org/about Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradmfox/?hl=en Originally aired on August 16, 2023

For Jenedy Paige, journaling started as a childhood habit and became a lifeline in adulthood, especially after the tragic drowning of her son. Art and writing gave her voice; running and climbing gave her release. Her practice of seeking both God and growth eventually led her to the national stage of American Ninja Warrior. Through it all, she has come to see strength not only as personal resilience but as a calling—to bring light and encouragement to others walking through their own storms. Guest: Jenedy Paige, oil painter and "American Ninja Warrior" participant Find Jenedy Paige online: Her website: https://jenedypaige.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenedypaige/?hl=en Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jenedypaigeart Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenedypaige/

What if cultivating awe could change the way we see the world? In this special joint episode of Constant Wonder and The Lisa Show, hosts Marcus Smith and Lisa Valentine Clark talk with child development expert and author Deborah Farmer Kris about her new book, "Raising Awe Seekers: How the Science of Wonder Helps Our Kids Thrive." Together, they explore how everyday moments of awe—in nature, in kindness, in family life—can shape resilience, deepen connection, and help kids (and parents) live more joyfully. Find Deborah Farmer Kris Online: Parenthood365: https://www.parenthood365.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parenthood365/?hl=en Substack: https://parenthood365.substack.com/about Check out the Lisa Show! https://www.byuradio.org/the-lisa-show

After a tragic car accident took the life of Jeff Olsen's wife and young son, the young father struggled with guilt and his own excruciating physical recovery. Eventually, he drew solace from divine love, and with joy he realized the gift of the human body. He even finds awe in his prosthetic leg. Guest: Jeff Olsen, Director of Creative Services at BYU Broadcasting Find Jeff Olsen online: Author page: https://www.jefferycolsen.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jefferycolsen/?hl=en

A dream inspired Navajo artist Eugene Tapahe to take his art to the National Parks, spreading hope during the frustrating and fear-filled early days of the pandemic. His "Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project" has now traveled the globe, inspiring hope and healing among all people. Also, hear about some incredible up-close experiences that this photographer has had with wildlife. And, learn how you can participate in his on-going international art installation project. Guest: Eugene Tapahe, artist, photographer, creator of "Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project" and "Kéyah, Our Home" See Tapahe's work here: https://www.tapahe.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNlV624I8SQ&ab_channel=TapahePhotography https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pLr90JTf-E&ab_channel=TapahePhotography Participate in the Kéyah installation: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdcJ_xK48Lv3HpepM0VQaCh4nEXuwx6KeGwc0zsOauM7-x3WQ/viewform Special thanks to Eugene Tapahe for wolf photo and audio of jingle dress dances, and to Smithsonian Folkways Recordings for use of Corn Grinding Song (1) https://folkways.si.edu/navajo-songs/american-indian/music/album/smithsonian

Storyteller Kevin Kling has overcome trauma and learned to live with disability, without ever losing sight of the hilarious–even in the horrible. We follow him from his mischievous childhood to his empathetic and inspiring performances around the world. He still laughs often, and so will you, during this episode of the "Constant Wonder" podcast. Guest: Kevin Kling, author, playwright, and storyteller Visit Kevin's website to learn more about his work, speaking events, and performances: https://www.kevinkling.com/ Originally aired Jan 11, 2023

Kelsey Timmerman grew up in rural Ohio, right across the border from Indiana. By the time he graduated from college, he was eager to leave the Midwest. He started buying one-way plane tickets and traveled to dozens of countries. When he started his own family and put down roots in rural Indiana, his travels made him consider how he could be a better steward of the land where he and his family live. Timmerman tells us how he was able to see the wonder near his home through the wisdom of the people he visited all around the world. Guest: Kelsey Timmerman, author of "Regenerating Earth: Farmers Working with Nature to Feed Our Future" Find Kelsey Timmerman online: Author page: https://kelseytimmerman.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelseytimmerman/?hl=en X/Twitter: https://x.com/KelseyTimmerman