I'm Christy Hyman and I am a geographer who loves birds and the outdoors. I talk to academics about how they view nature and how much or how little they embrace it into their lives.
On this episode of Random Nature, Dr. Kathryn Benjamin Golden talks to us about growing up in the Bay Area of California, her new book, This Insurgent Ground: Black Women, Marronage, and Rebellion in the Great Dismal Swamp. She also shares a random nature moment that involves MEGAFAUNA!BY THE WAY-- In the middle there is a brief moment of quiet due to a tech hiccup but we pick right back up.Get Kathryn's book here:https://uncpress.org/9781469697970/this-insurgent-ground/
Discusses:Air quality advisories in western New York and the Finger Lakes.Wildfire smoke originating in Canada.The particular risks for children, older adults, and people with asthma.The idea that environmental events in one region can affect people far awayLinksDr. Golden:https://spatialhumanorg.wpcomstaging.com/2026/07/09/kathryn-benjamin-golden-phd-next-guest-on-random-nature-podcast/Great Dismal Swamp PBS Featuring Eric Sheppard:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-J5QNauVIcMy trade book:https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/cultural-heritage-resilience-of-the-great-dismal-swamp-9780761892021/
Today's bonus episode dives into a surprising HOA vs. sunflowers showdown. We hear how one homeowner's pollinator‐friendly blooms were slashed by the HOA president—despite no laws banning them— and how kids' bikes in driveways even earned a stern warning. From hummingbirds drawn to those very sunflowers to the broader fight for pollinator gardens amid climate change, we unpack why neighborhood rules can so easily stifle nature (and family fun). Then, we contrast that with a community where every resident gets a raised bed to grow veggies or wildflowers at will. Tune in to rethink control, gardens, and the small ways we all can help wildlife.Links:https://spatialhumanorg.wpcomstaging.com/2026/06/26/hoas-are-killing-birds-calltoaction/https://boicevillecottages.com/https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/opinion/columnists/2024/08/31/when-an-hoa-takes-regulation-way-too-far/75001170007/
In this episode of Random Nature, host Christy Hyman welcomes writer and scholar Maia Butler to trace the landscapes that shaped her life and her work. Maia opens by locating her roots on Coast Salish land in Olympia, Washington, before moving through her childhood in south- central Alaska on Denaʼina Athabascan lands. She describes early memories of Homer on the Aleutian Chain; making mud pies, digging and cooking clams on the beach, and falling asleep under the midnight sun.As Maia grew, so did her “landscape literacy”: learning subsistence fishing and hunting, foraging for medicinal plants with her mother as her first teacher, and braving long winters of snow and ice. She vividly recalls volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and avalanches—moments when Alaska's raw power humbled her family and forged in her a lifelong sense that “worlds are ending and new ones are beginning” at every turn.Later, Maia moved south for graduate school, planting new roots in coastal North Carolina on Lumbee, Coharie, Waccamaw Siouan, and Eastern Band Cherokee lands and before that, in Louisiana's bayous and wetlands. There, the rhythms of hurricanes and floods echoed Alaska's natural drama, teaching her once again to respect forces beyond human control.Christy shares her own Alaskan stories from Nome—bathtub races at dawn, ten-year-olds driving trucks, and weeks under endless daylight and finding in Maia's memories a shared awe for remote places where nature is always in charge. Tune in to hear how these experiences inform Maia's writing, her sense of localness, and her belief that every storm, eruption, or blackout is both an ending and a beginning.Links to Dr. Maia Butler's projects:https://maialbutler.substack.com/p/the-novels-of-toni-morrison-resources-73a/commentshttps://centerforfiction.org/group-workshop/a-year-of-toni-morrison-volume-ii-with-maia-butler-additional-sessionhttps://www.bloomsbury.com/us/bell-hookss-radical-pedagogy-9781350441590https://www.upress.state.ms.us/Books/N/Narrating-History-Home-and-DyasporaAlso look for the forthcoming collection Black Women's Gardens as Art and Practice (Harvard 2027)Topics/People/Events Covered:Wilmington Race Massacre of 1898: In November 1898, white supremacist militias in Wilmington, North Carolina staged a violent overthrow of the city's legitimately elected government—one of the few successful coups in U.S. history. The mob burned down the offices of a Black-owned newspaper, killed an unknown number of Black residents, and expelled Black and white Republican leaders from the city. The event effectively ended Reconstruction-era Black political power in North Carolina and has been largely omitted from mainstream historical memory.Alexander Manly: Black(very, very lightskinned could actually have passed for white) journalist and publisher of the Wilmington Daily Record, the only Black daily newspaper in the country at the time. His 1898 editorial challenging the racist myth of the Black male predator was used as a pretext for the massacre. Manly's voice and its violent silencing represent the stakes of Black intellectual life in the post-Reconstruction South.https://goinnorth.org/exhibits/show/milo-manly/manly-familyCamille Dungy:Poet, essayist, and editor whose work reclaims the natural world as a site of Black experience and expression. Her edited volume Black Nature recovered a tradition of African American nature poetry that mainstream literary culture had long ignored. Maia mentions Dungy's work Soil in the podcast.Jesmyn Ward: Mississippi-born novelist and two-time National Book Award winner. Her fiction renders Black Southern communities with unflinching intimacy, returning repeatedly to water—flood, gulf, storm surge—as both literal threat and spiritual presence.bell hooks: Prolific Black feminist thinker whose scholarship and cultural criticism examined the intersections of race, gender, and class while insisting on love as a radical political practice.Critical Fabulation: A term coined by scholar Saidiya Hartman describing the practice of filling archival silences through rigorous, imaginative speculation giving narrative form to lives that history has rendered nameless or voiceless, while remaining transparent about the act of doing so.
In this bonus episode, Christy is on her usual 45-minute walk to her favorite village coffee house when a car goes airborne right in front of her and disappears into a ravine— the motorist, his dog and all. She reflects on the cascade of fears that hit her in those few seconds, the divine and ancestral protection she feels carried her through, and what the whole terrifying experience revealed about the very real safety gaps facing birders and pedestrians on roads like Valley Road. Plus: shout-outs to the Joe Farm down in Alabama, Ithaca's planned greenway, and a handful of Finger Lakes birding spots worth knowing. Stay birdy, everyone.Linkshttps://southhillrecway.wordpress.com/https://www.connectingwithbirdsandnaturetours.com/https://www.fortbaptistfarm.com/
What does it mean to grow up saved—and then spend your career studying how race, religion, and power have always been tangled together in the west? Christy sits down with Ed J. Blum, historian of Ideas, to find out. From his evangelical upbringing in suburban New Jersey to his landmark scholarship on W.E.B. Du Bois, Ed traces the through-line between personal faith and intellectual obsession. He and Christy swap stories of religious intensity— her family's fervor (at least on Easter), his Mission work, and the complicated questions both raised about belonging and poverty. Ed also pulls back the curtain on his forthcoming book, which uncovers surprising data about racial categorization in Revolutionary-era America. And somehow, it all ends with a pollinator.
In this episode, Christy checks in with a spring update from the Finger Lakes region of New York, where she'll be based full-time after permanently wrapping up a professional affiliation in North Carolina. She covers the famously unforgiving Tompkins County frost calendar—last freeze as late as May 30—and what that means for her raised garden bed at the Cottages, where she's planning a split experiment: half given over to creeping Charlie, half to two varieties of sunflower. She also introduces her two cats, Gimley and Silhouette. The episode closes on the sounds of the Finger Lakes in spring—bullfrogs, owls, birdsong—and a nudge to anyone considering a move to the area.
March 11, 2026. My son's 20th Birthday. A turning that took place in Heaven.
Common Grackle Operated a Soda Dispenser in Howard University Cafeteria.You read that right.In this episode of Random Nature, Christy challenges conventional wisdom about avian behavior. What happens when birds don't follow the rulebook? From American Robins defying dietary expectations to the surprising intelligence of the much-maligned Common Grackle, I explore how birds adapt to changing environments and food sources. Christy also shares a BHM fact about the importance of Howard University archives. links:https://dh.howard.edu/msrc/
On this special MLK Day episode, I explore how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s fight for justice connects directly to today's climate crisis. From his support of sanitation workers to the roots of the environmental justice movement, I trace how King's vision of equality and dignity for all inspires climate scientists, activists, and communities on the front lines. Join me as I examine the links between civil rights, environmental protection, and the urgent work of building a just, livable future for everyone.https://wildtomorrow.org/blog/2022/1/17/martin-luther-king-jr-and-the-environment
In this bonus episode of Random Nature, Christy shares heartfelt reflections on the significance of the day, not only as a time for gratitude but also as a momentous occasion marking the release of their trade book, set for November 27, 2025, by Bloomsbury. With a focus on the current economic challenges facing many listeners, Christy emphasizes that there's no pressure to purchase the book; instead, she is simply excited to share this milestone.
Hey everyone! It's been a minute, and I just wanted to check in with you all. I'm still hanging in there, staying prayed up and meditated up amidst the tough times in my home country. A big shoutout to all the ADVOCATES holding the line—let's keep that hope alive!I wanted to give you some updates. First off, I'm working on a new episode that should be out this summer. I know it's been a while, but I appreciate your patience. The exciting news is that my book, "Cultural Heritage Resilience of the Great Dismal Swamp,” is set to be released on November 27th! It was initially slated for early October 2025, but there were some scheduling changes with my publisher and my UK tour that pushed it back. If you can, please support the book! Even if you can't purchase it, sharing it and talking about it goes a long way.Also, I'm thrilled to let you know that I'm currently writing another book, which will be published by Louisiana State University Press. A huge shoutout to Rand Dotson, PhD. The title is “Pest Control: Birds, Black Folk, and the History of Environmental Consciousness in the U.S. South.” So that's it for today! Stay prayed up, and if faith isn't your thing, then stay meditated up! Find your joy and connect with your people. Until next time
Welcome back to Random Nature, the podcast where Christy the birder/academic explores the enchanting and often surprising connections between humanity and the natural world. Today she engages in a lively discussions with a fascinating guests, This week she talks to Eric K., a journalist based in the D.C. area.We mention:Canada GeeseUrban foxescampus food delivery robots.
In this poignant episode, Christy reflects on the heavy emotions surrounding her new year, a time that marks not just a fresh start but also deep sorrow for those who mourn the loss of a child. With an emphasis on Sufi philosophy, Christy navigates the concept of death as a reunion with the divine, offering solace amidst the heartache of losing her younger child Ricky, a vibrant spirit whose brief life brought immense joy to his family and friends. As Christy shares cherished memories, including the laughter shared over late-night televangelist antics, the journey of grief unfolds against the backdrop of travels planned for the year ahead. The episode is a heartfelt reminder to cherish love and connection while urging those still lost in their own struggles to embrace and share love openly.The closing of this episode is a track by Brand New Heavies, a cover of "Many Rivers to Cross"-- Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. This falls under educating the public about childloss and grief.
Welcome back to another episode of the Random Nature Podcast! In this bonus episode titled "Things Keep Breaking, Part Two," host Christy Hyman shares a humorous and relatable tale from her adventures in bird photography. After enjoying some successful shots of various birds at Myers Point in Lansing, New York, Christy faces a frustrating technical challenge when her camera malfunctions while capturing backyard visitors. Determined to troubleshoot, she tries multiple SD cards, updates the firmware, and examines the camera for debris, but to no avail. As summer fades and the new school year approaches, Christy reflects on the challenges of fitting in her passion for birding amidst a busy schedule, all while living in a remote area with limited access to camera repair shops. Join Christy as she wades through the trials and tribulations of bird photography, sharing both her insights and her dismay, as well as tips for staying resilient when things don't go as planned. Tune in to find out how she navigates this setback in her birding journey and what her next steps might be!
In this whimsical episode, we follow Christy on a light-hearted adventure at her local birdwatching hotspot. Amidst the serene sounds of nature, Christy encounters an unexpected twist when she suspects a clever crow has stolen her car keys. With her binoculars on hand and her phone ready for backup, she grapples with the hilarious idea of a feathered thief making off with her belongings. As she navigates the parking lot, filled with both frustration and amusement, listeners are treated to a charming tale about the unpredictability of nature and the never-ending surprises that come with being a bird enthusiast. Join us as we explore the delightful moments that arise when the ordinary meets the extraordinary in the world of birdwatching!
In this bonus episode, Christy shares her recent experiences with a malfunctioning car battery and the impact it had on her birding adventures. She discusses how her battery seemed to drain quickly, prompting a visit from AAA. After initially being told the battery was fine, it soon became clear that it wasn't, leading to a replacement right at her location.With her car issues resolved, Christy excitedly heads to Stewart Park with her camera, hoping to capture some stunning wildlife photos. However, her plans take an unexpected turn when her camera lens malfunctions, leaving her frustrated as she struggles to get a clear shot of the birds. Despite these setbacks, Christy reflects on her love for birding, sharing the joy it brings her, especially during the quieter summer months in her small town. Tune in for a delightful mix of storytelling, nature appreciation, and a touch of humor as she navigates the challenges of life and technology.
In this episode of Random Nature we explore the captivating worlds of destination birding and backyard birding. I shout out several other cool podcasts:LifelistHannah and Erik go BirdingBird BanterScience of BirdsBirdJoy PodcastWe highlight incredible locations such as the Pantanal in Brazil, home to over 650 bird species, and Hokkaido in Japan, known for its diverse ecosystems that attract various birds throughout the year. Transitioning to backyard birding, we discuss how to create a bird-friendly environment with feeders, native plants, and water sources, allowing birdwatchers to connect with local wildlife from the comfort of home. Whether venturing into the wild or observing familiar species in your yard, each birding experience enriches our appreciation for nature. I close out to remind everyone of Black Birders Week, then announce that my trade book is available for preorder: https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/cultural-heritage-resilience-of-the-great-dismal-swamp-9780761892021/
In this episode, we dive into a strange journey. One where birds help humans find their cars in a city packed with parking decks.
In this episode I discuss updates about birds and travel as well as provide details on my upcoming book, The Cultural Heritage Resilience of the Great Dismal Swamp:Exploring the Cultural Heritage Resilience of the Great Dismal Swamp** In this episode, we delve into the cultural resilience of the Great Dismal Swamp, highlighting the powerful stories of local residents who have preserved their traditions despite historical silences. We discuss the intersection of cultural values, heritage tourism, and the enduring legacy of freedom, all while emphasizing the importance of landscape stewardship informed by Indigenous practices. Join us as we uncover how marginalized communities establish empowering spaces to honor their heritage, even in the absence of external support. We'll explore the rich history of the Great Dismal Swamp Region, focusing on settlements such as Mattoanoak, Bowers Hill, and Skeetertown, where ancestral lifeways continue to thrive. Through the resilient cultural narratives shared by community members, we spotlight their deep connections to the land and tradition, and the call to return to their roots. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about resilience, community, and heritage!
On a Heaven child's birthday, we know that the object is to celebrate that they were born. This is a very coherent form of commemoration. I love my son as much as the day I birthed him, as much as they day of funeral, and I love him still as a Spirit child in Heaven.✨ Celebrating You Today ✨ Today marks the birthday of my precious son, and while you may not be here with us, your spirit shines brightly in all the beauty around us.
Today we explore the fascinating world of ecology and conservation! We have a special guest who has dedicated their life to studying bird ecology. With a wealth of knowledge about avian habitats, behaviors, and conservation strategies, Fred Beaudry will share insights that illuminate the critical role birds play in our lives. Together, we'll dive into their experiences and explore how we can all contribute to the preservation of these incredible beings. I also sing a very old sing that my mother taught me, lol.
This episode introduces us to my friend and collaborator Jim Anderson, PhD. Anderson recounts his experiences growing up on a dairy farm in rural Wisconsin, emphasizing activities like cow-milking, fishing, hunting, and trapping muskrats. He reflects on the harsh realities of life and death in nature(content warning), shaped by childhood adventures and a strong connection to wildlife, ultimately leading to a career as a wildlife biologist.
How to bird on the conservative Jersey Shore without losing your mind.
Birds I saw in TX!
In today's episode, we talk to historian of the African Diaspora, Oscar de la Torre!Our conversation spans the globe!
In this episode, I give you updates on what I have been up to and provide a few random nature moments I experienced, with bonus tidbits on a few of my friends' most random nature moments.
In this podcast, I discuss my gardening approach, birdseed, yard birds, and American Kestrel Raids!
Bonus! Christy tells us where she is headed next in her academic career. And of course BIRDS!Birds mentioned: Pileated WoodpeckerPeople mentioned: Ed Baptist PhD, Bill Block, PhD, soon to be PhD Megan Jeffreys .
Part activist, part administrator, and part academic,” Anna Sims Bartel earned her Ph.D. in Comparative Literature at Cornell University. She runs her own consulting firm and enjoys doing public humanities work as well helps drive the development of community-engagement centers in higher ed. She is someone who became a fast friend when I moved to Ithaca in July 2023.Anna enjoys the things that support chronic hope: the chaos of her young family; being in, on, or near moving water; the smell of dirt and the good things that grow in it.Pick up "The Scholar as Human" which Anna co-edited with Debra A. Castillo too.
Here I give a glimpse into what is coming up next. I talk about my confusing fall birding migration in a new region and FUNGI.My next guest will be Dr. Anna Bartel.
A meditation on grief and nature on a day of sorrow.
In this episode I share a precious moment with the Rose-Breasted Grosbeak and my emotional farewell.
Meet one of my sweetest Feminist Geographer friends, Dr. Molana!
Ruddy Turnstones, Gulls, Brown Pelicans.Also grief.
In today's minisode we hear from three of my friends in this order: Dr. Kate Malaia, Dr. Claire Jimenez, Dr. Matt Cohen.They share their most random/unusual/incredible nature moment.Check out their works!Recent article from Malaia: Transforming the Architecture of Food: From the Soviet to the Post-Soviet Apartmenthttps://online.ucpress.edu/jsah/article/80/4/460/119541/Transforming-the-Architecture-of-FoodFrom-theJimenez's latest book: What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez?https://www.grandcentralpublishing.com/titles/claire-jimenez/what-happened-to-ruthy-ramirez/9781538725986/Cohen's latest Book: The Silence of the Miskito Princehttps://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/the-silence-of-the-miskito-prince
I talk with Dr. Randal Jelks, PhD and he gives us a glimpse of many travels he has had from Louisiana to the Dakotas and beyond.Letters to Martin, Dr. Jelks latest book! Get it here:https://www.chicagoreviewpress.com/letters-to-martin-products-9781641606035.php
I talk to Ed Baptist, PhD. We speak on Durham, NC, small scale farming, and hawks! I also discuss some challenges with grief. To that end consider this a content warning on profound sadness.
In this episode, I provide highlights of my visit to Wesleyan University in Middletown Connecticut as well as my more recent visit to the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. I talk about viewing a Common Loon at Picnic Point! Said bird was viewed in company with the great birder Dexter Patterson and Dan Fallon! I also introduce Edward E. Baptist my next guest. His work focuses on the history of the 19th-century United States, particularly the history of the enslavement of African Americans in the South. He is writing a book enslaved captive's experience of the slave trades and forced migrations, the systems of labor that emerged, and the economic and political and cultural consequences for women and men and children. He also owns a farm with his wife in the Fingerlakes region of New york. And he is an AVID Cyclist too. Y'all listen in for Dr. Ed Baptist next time. Links: https://nelson.wisc.edu/https://www.wesleyan.edu/academics/faculty/rbryant/profile.htmlhttps://dexterpatterson.com/https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/common-loonhttps://research.cornell.edu/researchers/edward-e-baptist
Madeleine gives us a glimpse of her interactions with Nature through recalling her time as a child loving horses, taking adventures as a college student, and reflecting on the gifts of her father from that she treasures.At the end of the episode, Madeleine's Great Pyrenees does a trick that causes her to speak to him. If you want to learn more about The Artwork of the Congo and the complicated implications of the European Gaze try these links: Art Nouveau, Art of Darkness: African Lineages of Belgian Modernism, Part I by Debora L. Silvermanhttps://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/662515?journalCode=wes The Trouble with “Heart of Darkness”Is Joseph Conrad's novel a critique of colonialism, or an example of it? by David Denbyhttps://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1995/11/06/the-trouble-with-heart-of-darkness Governing economic interests: Interwar road construction in Belgian Congo by Lawrence Heindryckx https://journals.openedition.org/belgeo/43202
In this minisode I introduce the upcoming podcast guest, José Ignacio Carvajal Regidor, PhD. I also share two Random Nature moments of my very own!
Christy gathers:Elizabeth Sobel, PhdDorothy Kim, PhDJohn Handel, PhDKarin Dalziel, M.A., and artistRaquel Bryant, PhdMary Shelly, attorney and law librarianSteven Nelson, attorneyHannieh Molana, PhDLearotha Williams,, PhDK.T. Ewing, PhDCaroline Propersi-Grossman, PhDHannah Albert-Abrams PhDDhanashree Thorat, Phdto talk the most random nature moment in their lives.
Episode 2 debuts today and we are in the studio with writer, artist, and university professor, Ravynn Stringfield! Get into it. Learn about her time growing up in Wakefield, VA spending time with family, becoming a community celebrity as Miss Peanut Festival Queen, and her green thumb when it comes to sunflowers!
Random Nature checks in with writer and university professor Noreen Masud who shares how the outdoors and wildlife inform her day to day. From the city of Lahore and the pines of northern Pakistan to the moors of Newcastle, Noreen Masud's approach to nature is unique and multifaceted.
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