Scottish-born American naturalist and author
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Stewart Alsop hosts a conversation with Oliver Polzin, a founding team member of Meow Wolf and naturalist, exploring the intersection of creativity, conservation, and architecture. Oliver discusses his current postgraduate work at SCI-Arc in Los Angeles studying synthetic landscapes through an architectural lens, his deep fascination with Pleistocene megafauna and the La Brea Tar Pits, and his vision for creating a "biophilic culture" that reframes humanity's relationship with other species and ecosystems. The discussion ranges from Oliver's early work building mud caves at Meow Wolf to his current explorations of AI-assisted design tools, 3D printing with recycled materials, holistic grazing management systems for the Great Plains, and the ancient Amazonian practice of creating terra preta soil—all part of his broader investigation into how we can design interventions for climate and conservation issues while maintaining what makes us fundamentally human.Timestamps00:00 Stewart introduces Oliver Polzin from Meow Wolf's founding team and discusses how his yoga teaching there inspired the podcast's exploration of creativity and stress relationships.05:00 Oliver describes his architecture graduate program studying climate and conservation through synthetic landscapes, contrasting dark green naturalist ecology with bright green capitalist environmentalism.10:00 Discussion of conservation ethics and AI's potential for monitoring environmental systems, with Oliver explaining his journey from painting to experimental mud construction at early Meow Wolf.15:00 Stewart shares his robotics learning journey with ESP32s in Buenos Aires while Oliver questions humanoid robot design, suggesting functional form factors matter more than human resemblance.20:00 Oliver explores cardboard as material obsession and explains treasure hunt mechanics in Meow Wolf exhibits, creating dopamine-driven discovery experiences through layered storytelling.25:00 Stewart describes creating treasure hunts for Spanish learners in Buenos Aires parks while Oliver validates experiential art's growing importance in an increasingly digital culture.30:00 Conversation shifts to three-d printing flexible filaments for architectural models and Oliver's megafauna book project about La Brea Tar Pits Pleistocene fossils.35:00 Oliver connects Earth consciousness to Pale Blue Dot perspective, arguing humans face developmental threshold understanding planetary responsibility after 300,000 years as anatomically modern species.40:00 Deep dive into end-Pleistocene extinction events and megafauna loss, discussing two-ton capybaras and how predator relationships shaped human psychology and anxiety responses.45:00 Oliver presents speculative Great Plains biopreserve concept with de-extinct megafauna, contrasting holistic rotational grazing with destructive monoculture agriculture systems.50:00 Discussion concludes with Amazonian dark earth technology and indigenous landscape management, emphasizing need for biophilic culture embracing deep time ecological perspective.Key Insights1. Oliver Polzin is part of the founding team of Meow Wolf and is currently studying at SCI-Arc in Downtown LA in a postgraduate program called Synthetic Landscapes, which examines global scale climate and conservation issues through an architectural lens. Architecture exists between art and science, and he believes architectural thinking offers a valuable framework for designing interventions for climate and conservation challenges. This program represents a significant evolution from his earlier work at Meow Wolf, where he created immersive experiential art installations using materials like adobe and cardboard.2. There is an important distinction in ecological thought between what Paul Kingsnorth calls dark green and light green approaches to environmentalism. The dark green strain represents the older naturalist movement from the early twentieth century, focusing on biological systems, ecosystems, and endangered species. Light green emerged in the 1970s after the Earth Day movement and centers on clean energy, solar panels, and wind power as a way to maintain our current lifestyle. Oliver argues that the bright green approach represents a capitalist overlay that has captured the conservation movement, whereas true conservation requires focusing on actual biological systems rather than just technological solutions.3. The experiential art form that Meow Wolf pioneered still has enormous untapped potential, particularly as society becomes increasingly digital. Oliver believes there will be a huge wave of experiential desire in this decade as people crave human connection and real-world excitement. The treasure hunt and scavenger hunt format represents a compelling form of real-life RPG that creates meaningful human interactions. This type of experience design, which Meow Wolf developed through installations like the House of Eternal Return, plays with human dopamine systems by compelling people to open doors, explore spaces, and follow narrative threads through physical environments.4. The architectural model or dollhouse concept represents a crucial rhetorical tool that Oliver is learning to apply to climate and conservation work. Architects have long created physical models to show stakeholders what a building will be like, and this practice of showing a story in compelling ways for different types of brains is essential for getting traction on projects. While architectural models used to be made from foam core, paper, and balsa wood, they are now largely created through 3D printing, which allows for incredibly complex forms and interlocking structures that would have been impossible to construct manually.5. Oliver is obsessed with megafauna and the end Pleistocene extinction event that occurred roughly twelve thousand years ago. For three hundred thousand years, anatomically modern humans existed alongside massive beasts like short faced bears and American lions, and we were the smaller creatures in the ecosystem. The extinction of over one hundred genera of animals over ninety nine pounds, combined with sea level rise of nearly four hundred feet, fundamentally changed human existence and led to the development of agriculture and civilization. Much of our current psychological development, including anxiety responses, is still based on this time period when we lived among these massive animals.6. The current food system in the Great Plains is fundamentally broken compared to the historical managed food system maintained by Plains tribes, who sustained thirty to sixty million bison through 1800. Oliver explored a speculative project about turning the Great Plains into a massive biopreserve of de-extinct megafauna, contrasting the natural system of rotational grazing where predators keep herds moving with the current monoculture crop agriculture that requires external inputs like fertilizer, pesticides, and herbicides. The natural system builds soil and increases fecundity, while industrial agriculture degrades soil, creates toxic runoff, and produces genetically modified crops that feed animals in toxic concentrated feeding operations.7. The fundamental challenge facing humanity now is creating what Oliver calls a biophilic or ecophilic culture that is loving of other species and our home planet. This requires both psychological shifts and changes in how we design systems at all scales. The Amazon provides a powerful example of this, as recent LiDAR mapping has revealed that what appeared to be pristine wilderness was actually a vast tended garden created by indigenous civilizations who developed technologies like Amazonian dark earth through burning middens with various additives. These cultures understood how to be embedded in a web with other species while playing an important orchestrating role, offering a model for how humans might relate to other forms of life in our current era.
On episode 57, Sam and Adrian dig into two stories making waves in their respective corners of the outdoor world before launching into an unplanned fifth installment of Everest season coverage and a full listener mailbag.Sam kicks things off with a story from his own week on Mount Shasta, where he watched runner Sarah Burke blow past his group near the summit and set a new women's unsupported FKT — Horse Camp to summit in 2 hours and 10 seconds, breaking the previous mark of roughly 2:13. The moment sends him down a rabbit hole into Shasta's surprisingly deep speed-record history, from John Muir's 4:10 ascent in 1874 to Norman Clyde's 2:43 in 1923, and into a broader conversation with Adrian about what "unsupported" really means when guided teams and other climbers are nearby to help if something goes wrong. Adrian brings his own story from Yosemite, where guidebook author Eric Sloan has added roughly 16 new bolts to the first three pitches of the famous Snake Dike route on Half Dome, shrinking runouts that once stretched 50 to 100 feet down to just 10 or 12. The move has reignited a long-simmering debate over who gets to decide how safe a historic climb should be, and both hosts land on the same conclusion: it's a conversation best settled locally, by the climbing community itself, rather than dictated from the top down.From there, the two pivot into a story too big to leave out of the season: a fifth, unplanned Everest episode.Hillary Dawa's Six-Day Survival on Everest — A Sherpa originally hired as a Camp Two cook for the small operator Himalayan Traverse Adventure was put on a summit push he wasn't trained or equipped for. On the descent, with the team low on oxygen and one client struggling badly, Dawa was left seated near the Yellow Band while the rest of the group continued down — and no apparent search effort followed. He spent six days descending alone, fell into a crevasse near 18,000 feet and broke his femur, survived two days trapped before an avalanche gave him a way out, and was eventually spotted crawling through the bottom of the icefall by a trash-cleanup crew before being helicoptered to safety.What Went Wrong — and What Needs to Change — Sam and Adrian walk through the chain of decisions that led to the accident, from the irresponsibility of putting an undertrained worker on a summit push to the company's failure to search once he went missing. They push for changes that outlast this season's headlines: minimum experience standards at every level of a team, an independent rescue presence on the mountain, and government oversight enforcing basic rules at every camp.Listener Mailbag: Suffering, Decision-Making, and the Case for a Mountain Guide — Tying directly back to the Dawa story, Adrian breaks down how to tell productive suffering from real danger at altitude, using headache severity as a rough gauge. Both hosts agree that knowing where that gray-area line sits is exactly the judgment call a certified, IFMGA/AMGA-trained mountain guide is built to make — and what was missing on Dawa's team.Listener Mailbag: Quick Hits — Rounding out the episode: theft at high-altitude camps (rare for passports and valuables, more common as opportunistic gear grabs), training mental toughness through repeated exposure to difficulty and failure, Adrian's picks for a favorite 8,000-meter peak beyond Everest (Cho Oyu for safety and beauty, Makalu for those chasing something wilder), techniques for safely passing on crowded fixed lines, preventing snow blindness through consistent eye protection, and a candid rundown of how mountaineers manage GI distress at altitude.With Everest properly wrapped, Sam and Adrian are turning toward guest episodes and the approaching Karakoram season, with K2 and the rest of Pakistan's big peaks on deck.Follow us on Instagram @duffelshufflepodcast and visit www.duffelshufflepodcast.com to join our mailing list.The Duffel Shuffle Podcast is supported by Alpenglow Expeditions, an internationally renowned mountain guide service based in Lake Tahoe, California. Visit www.alpenglowexpeditions.com or follow @alpenglowexpeditions on Instagram.
Jesus spoke of coming that we may have life and have it more abundantly--but what does this mean? After a very brief sketch, I emphasize the beauties of nature and how God provides for living things. Find an entire quick chapter on Jesus' joy in the blog post. Then to add some spice and introduce thoroughness, I turn to John Muir, a follower of Jesus who expressed his joy in nature with an inspiring eloquence. I give a taste of that in this video. But if you truly want to grow in appreciating the beauties of nature, find it in the blogpost.
The masculine need for space contrasted with the feminine need for connection. Exploring some elements of polarity and differences in communication.00:00 —Space as en essential element04:00 — male well being and space11:00 — feminine versus masculine communication16:00 — John Muir is calling___________Resource: FREE 50 Essential Books & Films - https://ancientintelligence.kit.com/t... Weekly newsletter - https://anyashakh.substack.com Beyond the podcast, I work 1:1 with men: Read what other men have said - https://share.google/oScXWNergQbnLknbA Book a free consultation today - https://calendly.com/anyashakh/discov...
Can't sleep? Quiet your mind with chapters from The Yosemite by John Muir. Support the podcast and enjoy ad-free and bonus episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts. For other podcast platforms go to https://justsleeppodcast.com/supportOr, you can support with a one time donation at buymeacoffee.com/justsleeppodOrder your copy of the Just Sleep book! https://www.justsleeppodcast.com/book/If you like this episode, please remember to follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. Also, share with any family or friends that might have trouble drifting off.Goodnight! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the summer of 1880, John Muir set out to explore the icy wilderness of what is now Glacier Bay National Park. Traveling by canoe with a missionary and Tlingit guides, he reluctantly allowed a small black dog named Stickeen to join the expedition. At first, Muir dismissed the dog as a useless companion. However, when a violent storm trapped the two of them on Brady Glacier, surrounded by deep crevasses and failing daylight, Stickeen revealed a courage Muir could not ignore, forever reshaping how he understood the minds of animals. WE WERE NOMINATED FOR A WEBBY! VOTE FOR US HERE BY APRIL 16TH! For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodes For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials: Instagram: @nationalparkafterdarkTikTok: @nationalparkafterdark Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page! Thank you to this week's partners! PAKA: Head to pakaapparel.com to grab your hoodie IQBAR: Text PARK to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products, plus FREE shipping. Message and data rates may apply. Bellesa: EVERYONE who signs up wins a FREE Rose suction toy with their order at https://www.bboutique.co/vibe/nationalparkafterdark-podcast Kachava: Go to https://kachava.com and use code NPAD for 15% off your first order. 3 Day Blinds: For their buy 1 get 1 50% off deal, head to http://3DayBlinds.com/NPAD Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
There's a quote from the great conservationist John Muir that goes, "When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." My guest today, Gary Stager, has been working in education since before I was born, and I turn 40 this summer, so the sense that you get talking to Gary about teaching and learning is that when you try to pick out anything by itself, you find it hitched to everything else in the universe.Gary has been prolific as an author and educator, and as the line in his official bio reads, “When Jean Piaget wanted to better understand how children learn mathematics, he hired Seymour Papert. When Dr. Papert wanted to create a high-tech alternative learning environment for incarcerated at-risk teens, he hired Gary Stager.” This work was the basis for Gary's doctoral dissertation in Science and Mathematics Education. He's worked across several continents, collaborated on a project that won a Grammy Award, and led seminars and taught students in Reggio Emilia, Italy.In this conversation, Gary shares the defining experiences of his education as a student and how those shaped his values as a teacher, we talk about today's pedagogical authoritarianism and its contrast to Reggio Emilia, his optimism about the reclaiming the role of technology in education, and, ultimately, reclaiming the art of teaching.If you've ever heard Gary speak you know he's a compelling storyteller, and I found myself in this conversation like a kid at storytime, awed at the wealth of energy, wisdom, and experience he brings to our collective endeavor. This could have easily been a 3 hour episode, and part of keeping the runtime down was editing out a lot of my active listening interjections to keep up the flow of Gary's stories.
The journal of nature-lover John Muir who spent the summer of 1869 walking California's Sierra Nevada range. From French Bar to Mono Lake and the Yosemite Valley, Muir was awestruck by everything he saw. The antics of the smallest “insect people” amazed him as much as stunted thousand-year old Juniper trees growing with inconceivable tenacity from tiny cracks in the stone. Muir spent the rest of his life working to preserve the high Sierra, believing that “the clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” John Muir (1838-1914) was born in Dunbar, Scotland and grew up in Wisconsin, USA. This recording commemorates the 140th anniversary of that first summer. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
The journal of nature-lover John Muir who spent the summer of 1869 walking California's Sierra Nevada range. From French Bar to Mono Lake and the Yosemite Valley, Muir was awestruck by everything he saw. The antics of the smallest “insect people” amazed him as much as stunted thousand-year old Juniper trees growing with inconceivable tenacity from tiny cracks in the stone. Muir spent the rest of his life working to preserve the high Sierra, believing that “the clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” John Muir (1838-1914) was born in Dunbar, Scotland and grew up in Wisconsin, USA. This recording commemorates the 140th anniversary of that first summer. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
The journal of nature-lover John Muir who spent the summer of 1869 walking California's Sierra Nevada range. From French Bar to Mono Lake and the Yosemite Valley, Muir was awestruck by everything he saw. The antics of the smallest “insect people” amazed him as much as stunted thousand-year old Juniper trees growing with inconceivable tenacity from tiny cracks in the stone. Muir spent the rest of his life working to preserve the high Sierra, believing that “the clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” John Muir (1838-1914) was born in Dunbar, Scotland and grew up in Wisconsin, USA. This recording commemorates the 140th anniversary of that first summer. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
The journal of nature-lover John Muir who spent the summer of 1869 walking California's Sierra Nevada range. From French Bar to Mono Lake and the Yosemite Valley, Muir was awestruck by everything he saw. The antics of the smallest “insect people” amazed him as much as stunted thousand-year old Juniper trees growing with inconceivable tenacity from tiny cracks in the stone. Muir spent the rest of his life working to preserve the high Sierra, believing that “the clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” John Muir (1838-1914) was born in Dunbar, Scotland and grew up in Wisconsin, USA. This recording commemorates the 140th anniversary of that first summer. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
The journal of nature-lover John Muir who spent the summer of 1869 walking California's Sierra Nevada range. From French Bar to Mono Lake and the Yosemite Valley, Muir was awestruck by everything he saw. The antics of the smallest “insect people” amazed him as much as stunted thousand-year old Juniper trees growing with inconceivable tenacity from tiny cracks in the stone. Muir spent the rest of his life working to preserve the high Sierra, believing that “the clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” John Muir (1838-1914) was born in Dunbar, Scotland and grew up in Wisconsin, USA. This recording commemorates the 140th anniversary of that first summer. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
The journal of nature-lover John Muir who spent the summer of 1869 walking California's Sierra Nevada range. From French Bar to Mono Lake and the Yosemite Valley, Muir was awestruck by everything he saw. The antics of the smallest “insect people” amazed him as much as stunted thousand-year old Juniper trees growing with inconceivable tenacity from tiny cracks in the stone. Muir spent the rest of his life working to preserve the high Sierra, believing that “the clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” John Muir (1838-1914) was born in Dunbar, Scotland and grew up in Wisconsin, USA. This recording commemorates the 140th anniversary of that first summer. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
The journal of nature-lover John Muir who spent the summer of 1869 walking California's Sierra Nevada range. From French Bar to Mono Lake and the Yosemite Valley, Muir was awestruck by everything he saw. The antics of the smallest “insect people” amazed him as much as stunted thousand-year old Juniper trees growing with inconceivable tenacity from tiny cracks in the stone. Muir spent the rest of his life working to preserve the high Sierra, believing that “the clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” John Muir (1838-1914) was born in Dunbar, Scotland and grew up in Wisconsin, USA. This recording commemorates the 140th anniversary of that first summer. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Let's wander the forests of relaxation with more from this ode to the natural beauties of western America. This time, we learn more of the forests of Yosemite, from silver firs to ancient cedars, and Muir has a rather melancholy visit with an aged Ralph Waldo Emerson. Carpe diem while you can, friends. Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener-supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "Our National Parks" at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/60929 Music: "Watching Whales on the Moon," by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY, https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, https://www.boringbookspod.com.
On this episode we hit the trails! With this false Spring coming later this week, we decided it was time to get out into nature, do some hiking, some biking and even some kayaking! We battle the elements on the John Muir, and so some fauna and flora peeping out in Arizona.And we wrap it up by pitching our tents while we build the perfect camp ground in Camping Season.But first... apparently Greg was recently subjected to a game of 20 questions at work...
The 15-Minute History Podcast team welcomes you back to another Sketches in History. This segment, just for kids, shows that history isn't just a story; it's an adventure. Join Lottie Archer as she dives into her extraordinary notebook, where sketches from history come to life.In this episode, she travels to May 1903 to witness an unlikely camping trip that changed America forever. Standing beside a crackling campfire in Yosemite Valley, Lottie watches as President Theodore Roosevelt ditches his Secret Service, sleeps under ancient sequoia trees, and learns from wild-bearded naturalist John Muir why these natural wonders must be saved. In this episode, your kids will learn about living the strenuous life, discover how one camping trip led to the protection of 230 million acres of America's most beautiful places, and witness the moment when a president chose to fight timber barons and powerful industries to preserve nature for children not yet born!Listen and subscribe to the 15-Minute History podcast to hear Sketches in History every other Thursday. Got a favorite historical moment? Share it with us at 15minutehistory@gmail.com, and it might just make its way into the notebook!
Peace Talks Radio co-founder Paul Ingles talks with fine art landscape photographer Jan Bartelstone about his 2023 book An Ecstatic Gathering of Writers: Honoring Nature, Mankind, and Spirit. Bartelstone describes some of his large scale photographs in the book and the accompanying inspirational prose and poetry from top writers like N. Scott Momaday, John Muir, Pablo Neruda, Kahlil Gibran, e e Cummings, Terry Tempest Williams, Simon Ortiz, and more. He also reflects on how his devotion to a more peaceful world has tied into his photographic art for decades.
Bishop reflects on Sunday's Gospel. Steven and Kayla Garone of Catholic Comedy and the St. Philip Neri Festival talk about spreading joy and fun. Bishop, Fr. John Muir and Brett Meister recap the biggest stories from 2025. You'll also get up to date on the latest news and events from the Diocese of Phoenix. Special thanks to Catholic Cemeteries and Funeral Homes for making this show possible.
Let's sink into seasonal slumber with two essays by famed American naturalists. In the first, John Muir takes us to Tahoe in the winter, where he delights in its glacial-born beauties and his friend skis poorly. In the second, Thoreau regales us with tales of mischievous visitors to his cabin in Walden. Delightful! Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener-supported! All December supporters will be entered into our Annual Holiday Giveaway at the end of the month! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "Winter Animals" in "Walden" at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/205 Music: "Watching Whales on the Moon," by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY, https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, https://www.boringbookspod.com.
A reading of selected musings from the great John Muir with nature video montage for your contemplation and relaxation.John Muir (April 21, 1838 – December 24, 1914), also known as "John of the Mountains" and "Father of the National Parks", was a Scottish-born American naturalist, author, environmental philosopher, botanist, zoologist, glaciologist, and early advocate for the preservation of wilderness in the United States.His books, letters and essays describing his adventures in nature, especially in the Sierra Nevada, have been read by millions. His activism helped to preserve the Yosemite Valley and Sequoia National Park, and his example has served as an inspiration for the preservation of many other wilderness areas. The Sierra Club, which he co-founded, is a prominent American conservation organization. In his later life, Muir devoted most of his time to his wife and the preservation of the Western forests._________________________________
The mountains are calling and I must go - John Muir
There may be no other person in Northern California more in touch with the behavior of wildlife than the award-winning nature photographer Randy Robbins. Based in Susanville, Robbins' images of bald eagles, mountain lions, bears, bobcats, foxes, and hundreds of other species have helped both the public, and wildlife biologists, better understand the animals in our own backyards that we never see. Robbins snapped the very first high resolution photo of a Lassen Pack Wolf in 2021 in the ashes of the Dixie Fire, captured the first known image of the rare and endangered Sierra Nevada Red Fox and was the first photographer to ever be awarded by the Natural History Museum of London for an iPhone image. Robbins' photos have been featured in media outlets worldwide, winning dozens of prestigious awards in only seven years of work. In Episode 76, we chat with Robbins at his Susanville photo gallery – A Thousand Windows – about his path to being a wildlife photographer, his relationship to God, both as a pastor and an outdoorsman, and the public criticisms he faces from all sides for simply capturing beautiful portraits of animals in the wild. 2:50 – PowBot and Trail Whisperer photograph wildlife.4:50 – Recording from Susanville, California, riding the Bizz Johnson Trail.6:25 – Introducing Randy Robbins, award-winning wildlife photographer and trails advocate for Susanville Area Bicycling Association.8:30 – California Wildlife Photo of the Year Award - Bald Eagle called “Fly Fishing”.10:00 – Natural History Museum of London Wildlife Photographer of the Year – “Full Circle”.10:50 – Getting the very first high resolution photo of the Lassen Pack Wolf.15:00 – 800 Main Street, Susanville, California originally built in 1901, now home to A Thousand Windows – Randy Robbins' photography gallery.18:50 – A Thousand Windows – a John Muir quote.20:00 – Randy is a former teacher and part-time pastor at a Christian church.21:30 – What's the difference between finding God in the outdoors and finding it in church?23:25 – How has your photography influenced your faith?25:00 – After 2 years, getting a camera trap image of the Lassen Pack Wolf after the Dixie Fire.26:00 – The patience required to be a good photographer27:10 – Taking 3 years to get a photo of the endangered Sierra Nevada Red Fox.30:00 – Lassen Volcanic National Park as a habitat for wildlife, and getting a permit to photograph in a National Park.32:20 – Social media influencers, YouTubers and filming permits in National Parks.35:30 – How did Randy get into photography?39:25 – The highs and lows of social media, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook in promotion.43:35 – Dealing with the haters on social media.44:50 – Is taking a photograph of an animal compromising the animal's habitat?48:45 – Do animals like trails?50:10 – Winning a Natural History Museum of London award for taking an iPhone photo, and then being criticized for it.54:05 – Setting up an effective camera trap in the forest.58:00 – Waiting in the woods for hours, days sometimes years before getting the right shot.1:00:00 – Getting the award winning Bald Eagle shot in a kayak on Antelope Lake.1:04:00 – The wolf discussion – Is the reintroduction of wolves in California good or bad? 1:08:25 – The criticisms Randy receives for simply taking a photo of a wolf.1:11:45 – The Beyem Seyo Pack of wolves attacking and killing dozens of cattle in Sierra Valley.1:14:45 – Has Randy ever been a hunter? As a photographer, would he be able to hunt?1:16:30 – What has photography taught you most about animal behavior?1:21:00 – How have the massive wildfires of the last few years impacted wildlife?1:25:50 – Tracking animals and learning the different animal paw prints.1:29:45 – Why isn't Susanville more popular as a mountain town?1:40:40 – Would John Muir have ridden a mountain bike or a split board? 1:44:00 – What does Mind the Track mean to you?1:49:08 – Get Randy Robbins' prints – Randyrobbinsphotography.com and athousandwindows.com
Fr. John Muir joins us to talk about Sunday's Gospel. Sr. Ginger Downey explores the ways Mary said yes to God and we'll share a conversation on the second year of Bishop's pastoral plan, TILMA. You'll get up to date on the latest news and events in the Diocese of Phoenix. Special thanks to Catholic Cemeteries and Funeral Homes for making this show possible.
In this episode of This Old Tree, with Doug Still...High up in California's Sierra Nevada mountains stands the largest tree on earth by volume - the General Sherman Tree. The famous giant sequoia has captivated millions of visitors, but few know the rich tapestry of stories woven around its massive trunk. Join us as we explore the “Giant Forest” of Sequoia National Park with former park ranger and author William C. Tweed. From the indigenous Monache and Yokuts who first walked among these giants, to ambitious Euro-American explorers like John Muir, to a Black Army Captain who became the park's first actual manager, discover how "first encounters" with giant sequoias become life-altering events. What evolutionary secrets enable sequoias to grow so large? Why do frequent fires help them to survive? And what is "sequoia time?" The General Sherman tree and its mates have changed how we view the natural world and our place within it.
"Slow down to the speed of wonder." ~ John Muir Laws This is an episode about nature journaling, but Jack would be the first to say: it isn't about the journal, it's about the journey. He's developed interdisciplinary programs that combine art with science and train us to observe the world with rigor and joy -- strengthening our capacity to be intentionally curious. John Muir Laws: https://johnmuirlaws.com Theme music by Sean Balick; other music by Sketchbook, via Blue Dot Sessions. Visit the episode webpage here: https://lynnborton.com/2025/11/27/curiosity-nature-journaling-with-john-muir-laws/
Fr. John Muir joins us to talk about Sunday's Gospel. Bishop Dolan shares his new pastoral letter. Alyssa Yingling will help us enter into Advent. Lisa Sabido gives us an update and special invitation from Young Catholic Professionals. We'll share the latest news and events in the Diocese of Phoenix. Special thanks to Catholic Cemeteries and Funeral Homes for making this show possible.
Special guest Fr. John Muir joins us to talk about Sunday's Gospel as well as reflect on gratitude. He will host a conversation about the 20th anniversary of Honor Your Mother, a celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe. We'll share the latest news and events in the Diocese of Phoenix. Special thanks to Catholic Cemeteries and Funeral Homes for making this show possible.
Love to hear from you; “Send us a Text Message”Beauty isn't a filter on life; it's a way to understand it, and ourselves. Jack sits down with Artist-photographer and author Erik Stensland to explore how a season of crushing burnout in the Balkans led him toward solitude, quiet attention, and a life reoriented by wonder in Rocky Mountain National Park. Together we unpack why silence feels unbearable at first, why many of us would rather hit the metaphorical shock button than face our inner world, and how a simple practice—ten phone-free minutes in a forest—can begin to settle the mind. Eric explains the difference between loneliness and chosen solitude, and how beauty, understood as goodness rather than glamour, becomes a practical guide for daily decisions. We also dive into desire: not suppressing it, not indulging it, but tracing it to the deeper longing for meaning, belonging, and purpose.If environmental news leaves you frozen, EriK offers a third path beyond doom and denial. Inspired by John Muir, he shows how falling in love with places fuels lasting care and healing... paying attention, telling small stories, buying less.Ready to test it for yourself? Put the phone away, take a quiet walk, and notice one true thing. If this conversation moves you, follow, share with a friend who needs a breath of fresh air, and leave a review so more people can find their way back to beauty.Visit Erik and Purchase "The Journey Beyond, Learning to Live Beautifully in a Troubled World" and the shipping is free:)Read Jack's Latest "Directing Our Passions and Desires to a Love that is Beautiful" Here are the links to Jack's Substack and X https://x.com/JP2RenewalCheck out the Podcast on YouTubeContact me: info@jp2renew.orgSupport the show
The ground keeps moving, but our old habits try to pretend nothing has changed. In this mini episode, James Baraz talks honestly about what this moment is saying to us: we're not separate, our choices echo, and we can learn to respond with more care than fear. James Baraz's website: https://www.awakeningjoy.info/Starting with a simple practice—paying attention—we trace how mindfulness exposes the threads that bind our lives together, from family routines to global supply chains. When you feel those threads, John Muir's idea that everything is hitched to everything else stops being a quote and becomes a compass.From there we explore a handful of principles that travel well across crises and calm alike. Actions have consequences—call it karma or cause and effect—and that truth invites more deliberate choices at work, at home, and in public life. Integrity is not a moral badge; it's the felt ease of living one story instead of juggling two. Stewardship shows up as everyday compassion, the kind that checks in on neighbors, protects shared resources, and invests in long horizons. And change, while hard, becomes probable when intention outweighs inertia. James talks about that tipping point and how a clear why turns into practical habits that actually stick.These stories help us see our agency: the power to align values with action and to widen our circle of concern without burning out. Mindfulness ties it all together as a gateway to clarity — creating just enough pause to interrupt reactivity, meet complexity, and choose the next right step.If this conversation resonates, share it with someone who's ready to lead with care. Subscribe for more grounded, practical insights, and leave a review to tell us which principle you're practicing this week.Support the showCertify To Teach Mindfulness & Meditation Since 2015, we've trained over 2,000 people to teach mindfulness in healthcare, business, education, yoga, sports teams, and the U.S. Government. MindfulnessExercises.com/certify Certify At Your Own Pace: Just complete 40 hours of self-paced meditation + online workbook completion with lifetime access to personalized support. Deepen Your Own Mindful Presence: Whatever your starting place is, we will help you deepen your own embodied, experiential understanding. Teach With Integrity & Authenticity: We help you find your unique voice to make mindfulness relevant and practical for your own students or clients. Receive International Accreditation: Trusted by Fortune 500 companies, international healthcare centers, coaching schools, and the U.S. Government. Boost Your Career: Use our templates to quickly form your own paid mindfulness courses, workshops, keynotes or coaching packages. MindfulnessExercises.com/certify
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit chadcrouch.substack.comOne thing I think you come to appreciate after some months or years of field recording, or intentional listening, is the variability of sound that conifers make when played by the wind.Where I live, I'm surrounded by conifers. Douglas-firs abound. They produce a sharp sound in the wind, occasionally what you might call a hiss. Just an hour to the east, beyond the crest of the Cascade Range, a more arid landscape plays host to ponderosa pine trees. The wind on their long, bundled needles is quite different. Because their needles are flexible and bundled together, they sway and brush against each other in waves, producing a softer sound. More of a shush. Words fail me here. You just have to listen.This recording captures the song of the pines as a backdrop for the birds that make this habitat their home.We hear Western Wood Pewee, Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch, Hairy Woodpecker, White-crowned sparrow, American Robin, Red-breasted Nuthatch, and California Quail—to name names—on a mild June evening near Glenwood, Washington. But what is it about ponderosa pine trees that they produce such a sonorous sound? According to field recordist Gordon Hempton, the pitch is a function of the length of the needle or blade of grass. “We can go back to the writings of John Muir, which — he turned me on to the fact that the tone, the pitch, of the wind is a function of the length of the needle or the blade of grass. So the shorter the needle on the pine, the higher the pitch; the longer, the lower the pitch.”-Gordon Hempton, recordistWhile that sounds plausible and is certainly memorable, it's not the whole story. It's not just about length; stiffness, density, bundling, and flexibility all matter too. All the complexity of the canopy structure goes into the sound. The turbulence of the wind moving between needles, branches and trunks, and the brushing of the needles against each other all plays a role. Take a guitar string; the string is fixed at both ends and vibrates at specific frequencies determined by its length, tension, and mass. Needles are only fixed at one end, so they're more like tines than strings. The frequency of a guitar string follows clear mathematical relationships: a string twice as long vibrates at half the frequency (one octave lower), assuming same tension and thickness. The sound of pine needles comes primarily from aerodynamics: wind flowing around needles creates fluctuations in the air. Needles twice as long do not whisper an octave lower; rather, they produce a lower range of pitches due to the lower frequency of movements and resulting turbulence they create. A string can produce a clear frequency. A needle produces a spectrum of frequencies; a texture. What can be said about all the variety of needles, leaves, and blades of grass and the sounds they make in the wind? Has someone attempted to map them? If there is such an inventory, I did not find it, but I did find the following observations made nearly seven centuries ago in an interesting piece of nature writing. It's observational, philosophical, and poetic all at once: Wind cannot create sound on its own: it sounds only in connection with things. It is unlike the ferocious clamor of thunder, which rumbles through the void. Since wind sounds only in connection with things, its sound depends on the thing: loud or soft, clear or vague, delightful or frightening—all are produced depending on the form of the thing. Though it may come into contact with earthen or rock pedestals in the shape of tortoises, sounds are not produced. If a valley is empty and immense, its sound is vigorous and fierce; when water gently flows, its sound is still turbulent and agitated—neither achieves a harmonious balance, and both cause man to feel fearful and frightened. Therefore, only plants and trees can produce suitable sounds.Among plants and trees, those with large leaves have a muffled sound; those with dry leaves have a sorrowful sound; those with frail leaves have a weak and unmelodic sound. For this reason, nothing is better suited to wind than the pine.Now, the pine as a species has a stiff trunk and curled branches, its leaves are thin, and its twigs are long. It is gnarled yet noble, unconstrained and overspreading, entangled and intricate. So when wind passes through it, it is neither obstructed nor agitated. Wind flows through smoothly with a natural sound. Listening to it can relieve anxiety and humiliation, wash away confusion and impurity, expand the spirit and lighten the heart, make one feel peaceful and contemplative, cause one to wander free and easy through the skies and travel along with the force of Creation. It is well suited to gentlemen who seek pleasure in mountains and forests, delighting in them and unable to abandon them.-Liu Chi, (1311–1375)Thanks for listening and reading. If you made it this far, consider tapping ‘like' just to let me know you were here. I often wonder things like, will I lose readers with this big block quote? Are subscribers alienated by a post marked ‘paid'? Ponderosa Grove is available under the artist name Listening Spot on all streaming platforms today Friday, November 7th, 2025.
“I’m interested in writing because I don’t want to sleepwalk through life. I feel like we have an appallingly brief time on earth, and we’re here to see and understand and do as much good as we can before we’re gone.” –Anthony Doerr In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Anthony talk about how the pace of travel changes the experience of travel, and what it’s like to travel as a writer (2:45); how to manage the local and the global, the specific and the universal, the concrete and the speculative, in one’s writing (12:30); how the idea of “home” influences one’s craft as a writer who travels (23:00); common mistakes writers make when writing about places and cultures they don’t know well, and humiliating travel (and book-tour) experiences (31:00). Anthony Doerr is a novelist and essayist, and short story writer. His 2014 novel All the Light We Cannot See won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and was made into a Netflix miniseries in 2023. Books and authors mentioned: Four Seasons in Rome, by Anthony Doerr (book) The Vagabond’s Way, by Rolf Potts (book) Daniel Woodrell (novelist) Aimee Nezhukumatathil (poet and essayist) Benjamin Percy (author, essayist and comic book writer) Paul Theroux (travel writer and novelist) Bob Shacochis (novelist and literary journalist) Peter Hessler (travel writer and journalist) Tony D’Souza (novelist) Marco Polo Didn’t Go There, by Rolf Potts (book) Travels in Alaska, by John Muir (book) Lolita, by Vladimir Nabokov (book) Joseph Conrad (Polish-British novelist) Wade Davis (Canadian author and anthropologist) Jared Diamond (author and historian) Gina Ochsner (novelist and short story writer) Other links: Downton Abbey (British historical drama TV series) “My Beirut Hostage Crisis,” by Rolf Potts (travel essay) “The Hunter’s Wife,” by Anthony Doerr (short story) “Querencia,” by Suzannah Lessard (New Yorker article) Querencia (Spanish mystical concept) Jardin des Plantes (botanical garden in Paris) Corsac fox (steppe fox found in Mongolia) Pantheon (ancient Roman temple) “On Native Ground,” by Wade Davis (essay) “The Deep,” by Anthony Doerr (short story) The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel's 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don't host a “comments” section, but we're happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.
Learning from the Scripture of Nature, with Prof. Richard Groves. Series: Spacious Christianity, Spacious Hearts A Spacious Christianity, First Presbyterian Church of Bend, Oregon. Scripture: Matthew 6:26-29.Discover the sacred wisdom of nature this Sunday! Join us this week online as we explore how the seasons, scriptures, and soul intertwine. Experience a message that will reconnect you with the divine in the world around us.Join us each Sunday, 10AM at bendfp.org, or 11AM KTVZ-CW Channel 612/12 in Bend. Subscribe/Follow, and click the bell for alerts.At First Presbyterian, you will meet people at many different places theologically and spiritually. And we love it that way. We want to be a place where our diversity brings us together and where conversation takes us all deeper in our understanding of God.We call this kind of faith “Spacious Christianity.” We don't ask anyone to sign creeds or statements of belief. The life of faith is about a way of being in the world and a faith that shows itself in love.Thank you for your support of the mission of the First Presbyterian Church of Bend. Visit https://bendfp.org/giving/ for more information.Keywords:Hospice chaplain, Sacred art of living, Nature as scripture, Sermon on the Mount, Spirituality, Celtic tradition, John Philip Newell, Environmental needs, John Muir, Ecological consciousness, Sequoia strength, Soul force, Climate change, Spiritual literature, Pilgrimage., presbyterian, church, online worship, bend, oregonFeaturing:Rev. Dr. Steven Koski, Rev. Sharon Edwards, Becca Ellis, Brave of Heart, Prof. Richard Groves, GuestsSupport the show
High up in California's Sierra Nevada mountains stands the largest tree on earth by volume - the General Sherman Tree. The famous giant sequoia has captivated millions of visitors, but few know the rich tapestry of stories woven around its massive trunk.Join us as we explore the “Giant Forest” of Sequoia National Park with former park ranger and author William C. Tweed. From the indigenous Monache and Yokuts who first walked among these giants, to ambitious Euro-American explorers like John Muir, to a black Army Captain who became the parks first true manager, discover how "first encounters" with giant sequoias become life altering events. What evolutionary secrets allow sequoias to get so big? Why do frequent fires help them to survive? And what is "sequoia time?" The General Sherman tree and its mates have changed how we view the natural world and our place within it.GuestWilliam C. TweedAuthor and Retired Chief NaturalistSequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, CAKing SequoiaChallenge of the Big Trees: The History of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (co-author with Lary M. Dilsaver)ReadersJosh Abrams (Hale Tharp)Ewen Eadie (John Muir)Jeff Taliaferro (Capt. Charles Young)MusicJustin PetersOrganizations That Support Giant SequoiasNational Park Service, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National ParksGiant Sequoias Land CoalitionSequoia Parks ConservancySave the Redwoods LeagueAncient Forest SocietyTule River Tribe of CaliforniaTheme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of New England ISA. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org
John Muir: The Forest Is the Door In this episode, we explore the life and legacy of John Muir—writer, wanderer, and early environmental advocate. We reflect on his long walks, the trees he loved, and the complicated truths of his era, as we launch our new theme: Stewards of the Earth. Get the book Peace Stuff: Enough (Kickstarter) Find the Books, Podcast & Kickstarter: Everything you need to follow the Peace Stuff: Enough journey is here: AvisKalfsbeek.com Recommended Reading: My First Summer in the Sierra by John Muir https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/32540 Music: "Dalai Llama Rides a Bike" by Javier "Peke" Rodriguez Bandcamp: https://javierpekerodriguez.bandcamp.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3QuyqfXEKzrpUl6b12I3KW?si=uszJs37sTFyPbXK4AeQvow
Episode 217: Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada tackle a subject that’s easy to overlook — beauty. Not the kind of beauty sold in store aisles or filtered through a cellphone, but the kind that stops us in our tracks and makes us forget, for just a moment, about ourselves. Kyte recalls a recent camping trip during which he stumbled upon a scene so stunning that he instinctively reached for his phone — only to realize he’d left it behind. What followed, he says, was an experience of pure presence: sunbeams slicing through lifting fog, the quiet steps of deer and the realization that no photograph could ever do it justice. That moment becomes the starting point for a conversation about how beauty reshapes our sense of meaning and morality. “We spend so much time in our own heads,” Kyte said. “Beauty reminds us there’s something significant outside ourselves.” It’s an idea that stretches from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essays on nature to Iris Murdoch’s notion of “unselfing” — the idea that paying attention to something beyond our own desires is the first step toward living ethically. Rada connects those philosophical ideas to everyday life — including the digital habits that make true attention harder to find. He wonders whether seeing a beautiful image on a four-inch screen counts as the same kind of experience. Kyte doesn’t dismiss the value of photography but insists that beauty can’t be possessed, only encountered. “The moment we try to capture it, we risk losing it,” he said. The discussion ranges from foggy forests to still-life paintings, from Emerson’s influence on John Muir to the idea that even the way we see other people changes when we cultivate reverence. Along the way, the hosts wrestle with one provocative question: If we begin to see beauty everywhere, does it still feel extraordinary?
Author Robert Aquinas McNalley shares tales of John Muir and his racist attitudes in his new book, Cast out of Eden
Nous sommes le 15 juillet 1869… John Muir s'éloigne du troupeau de moutons dont il a la charge et grimpe le flanc de montagne. Entouré de gigantesques pins et du chant des rivières, il gambade joyeusement. Soudain, arrivé au sommet, la vue s'ouvre et John Muir ne peut retenir un cri d'extase. Devant lui, la vallée dont on lui a tant parlé, les sublimes dômes de granite profondément ancrés dans le ciel… tout en bas, en a pic, il n'a qu'à se pencher et il la voit couler, la rivière, la miraculeuse rivière ! … Et puis il y a les cascades, les nombreuses et glorieuses cascades ! La beauté irradie de partout et s'imprime dans la peau de John Muir… Il bondit, crie sa joie, hurle son bonheur, si bien qu'un ours noir s'enfuit du buisson d'à côté… John Muir, né en Ecosse en 1838, aurait pu devenir un inventeur de génie, il a préféré être un promeneur émerveillé. Il a marché à travers les Etats-Unis, du Nord au Sud, puis d'Est en Ouest, pour finalement arriver en Californie. Tombé amoureux de la Sierra Nevada et des montagnes de Yosemite, il écrit et se battit pour protéger un environnement qui était alors attaqué de toute part. Invité : Alexis Jenni, auteur de deux biographies de John Muir aux éditions Paulsen : « J'aurais pu devenir millionnaire, j'ai choisi d'être vagabond » et « Celui qui voulait toujours marcher dans la forêt » illustrée par Anton Van Hertbruggen. Merci pour votre écoute Un Jour dans l'Histoire, c'est également en direct tous les jours de la semaine de 13h15 à 14h30 sur www.rtbf.be/lapremiere Retrouvez tous les épisodes d'Un Jour dans l'Histoire sur notre plateforme Auvio.be :https://auvio.rtbf.be/emission/5936 Intéressés par l'histoire ? Vous pourriez également aimer nos autres podcasts : L'Histoire Continue: https://audmns.com/kSbpELwL'heure H : https://audmns.com/YagLLiKEt sa version à écouter en famille : La Mini Heure H https://audmns.com/YagLLiKAinsi que nos séries historiques :Chili, le Pays de mes Histoires : https://audmns.com/XHbnevhD-Day : https://audmns.com/JWRdPYIJoséphine Baker : https://audmns.com/wCfhoEwLa folle histoire de l'aviation : https://audmns.com/xAWjyWCLes Jeux Olympiques, l'étonnant miroir de notre Histoire : https://audmns.com/ZEIihzZMarguerite, la Voix d'une Résistante : https://audmns.com/zFDehnENapoléon, le crépuscule de l'Aigle : https://audmns.com/DcdnIUnUn Jour dans le Sport : https://audmns.com/xXlkHMHSous le sable des Pyramides : https://audmns.com/rXfVppvN'oubliez pas de vous y abonner pour ne rien manquer.Et si vous avez apprécié ce podcast, n'hésitez pas à nous donner des étoiles ou des commentaires, cela nous aide à le faire connaître plus largement. Hébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.
DescriptionMoralistic Therapeutic Deism (MTD) didn't just appear out of nowhere—it's the product of centuries of American religious and cultural development. In this video, we trace its roots from Puritanism through Unitarianism, Transcendentalism, therapeutic spirituality, and beyond.In this video I mention…Paul Vanderlay, Christian Smith, John Winthrop, Jonathan Edwards, Michael Servetus, John Calvin, Joseph Priestley, William Ellery Channing, John Locke, Isaac Newton, John Milton, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, Mary Baker Eddy, Phineas Quimby, The Fox Sisters, Helena Blavatsky, Rudolf Steiner, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Helen Schucman, Marianne Williamson, Oprah Winfrey, Gregory of Nyssa, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Parker, Abraham Lincoln, Christopher Columbus, and more.
Drift off to sleep tonight with a chapter from Yosemite by John Muir. Support the podcast and enjoy ad-free and bonus episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts. For other podcast platforms go to https://justsleeppodcast.com/supportOr, you can support with a one time donation at buymeacoffee.com/justsleeppodOrder your copy of the Just Sleep book! https://www.justsleeppodcast.com/book/If you like this episode, please remember to follow on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite podcast app. Also, share with any family or friends that might have trouble drifting off.Goodnight! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This episode features Ted Wang, CFO of John Muir Health, as he shares key industry trends he is monitoring, strategies for adapting to regulatory shifts, and the collaborative culture fueling the system's success. Ted also highlights recent accolades, major facility expansions, and his vision for enhancing access and efficiency in the year ahead.
Craig is a husband & a father. He lives in Melbourne, Australia & grew up as a swimmer. Over the decades he let his fitness slip away & then decided to regain it. He has been living a vegan lifestyle for roughly 10 years. He loves hiking & has tackled the famous 211 mile John Muir trail. This is his story.
In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt and naturalist John Muir embarked on a legendary three-day camping trip through Yosemite. Away from politics and public life, they huddled under the stars, explored the towering sequoias, and shared a vision that would change the future of America's wild places. This unforgettable meeting is often credited with sparking the modern conservation movement—leading to the expansion of national parks and permanent protection for some of our most treasured landscapes. Join us as we retrace their journey, uncover the stories behind their conversations, and explore how a few nights in the wilderness helped shape the course of American environmental history. Find the Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the Parkography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography
Send us a textHello, my beautiful friends!This week, I'm coming to you with part two of our series on The Best Practices of Life—a conversation close to my heart and rooted in both the trail and the truth.As I hike a section of the Pacific Crest Trail-through pines and reflections, and thinking about what it means to live a life guided by systems of love, clarity, and commitment.In this episode, we explore what best practices really mean in real life—not just in the office or on a project plan, but in our hearts, in our food choices, in how we speak to ourselves, and how we follow through when no one else is watching.We'll talk about how to minimize overwhelm, why honesty in communication is everything, how to bring mindfulness and nature into our daily flow, and what it really means to build confidence and trust—starting with yourself.This episode is for you if you're craving structure, flow, and a softer, stronger way of staying on track with your wellness and life goals.Let's walk it out together."And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul."—John Muir[Disclaimer]The content of this podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. It is not intended as medical or psychological advice, nor does it substitute professional guidance. Please consult a licensed provider for support with any health or mental wellness needs. Let's go, let's get it done. Get more information at: http://projectweightloss.org
Today's poem is John Muir, A Dream, A Waterfall, A Mountain Ash by Robert Hass. The Slowdown is currently taking a break. We'll be back soon with new episodes from a new host. This week, we're going back into the archive to revisit Ada Limón's time as host. Today's episode was originally released on October 20, 2022. In this episode, former host Ada Limón writes… “Today's poem by former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Hass, is a poem that balances the worrisome long threads of our lives against the large wonder of mountains. The poem's title also asks us to question who gets to name, or claim, nature at all.” Celebrate the power of poems with a gift to The Slowdown today. Every donation makes a difference: https://tinyurl.com/rjm4synp
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Chris Brunton aka “Trailboss”. Trailboss is a legendary force in the construction and maintenance of the Appalachian Trail, most notably, the infamous Rollercoaster section of the trail through Virginia. Trailboss enlightens us with some history of the trail, the process for procuring the trail's corridor through that section, how he met his wife (CEO of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy) Sandi Marra, why he dedicates his life to the AT, and much more. We wrap the show with a brief overview of the difference between freezing and refrigerating food for Chaunce, the triple of the longest minutes, and a listener provides a hack for staying hydrated when you can't reach the side pockets on your pack. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com. Shady Rays: Use code “TREK” for 50% off two or more pairs of sunglasses at shadyrays.com. Betterment: Learn more at betterment.com/trek. Ka'Chava: Use code “BACKPACKER” for 15% off at kachava.com. [divider] Interview with Chris “Trailboss” Brunton Time stamps & Questions 00:05:20 - Trail Days Day 2 00:13:25 - Reminders: Sign up for the Trek's newsletter, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon and apply to blog for the Trek! 00:15:30 - Introducing Trailboss 00:18:00 - Tell us about growing up in England 00:21:00 - How did you get started doing trail work? 00:33:00 - What brought you to the US? 00:37:00 - What was it like to emigrate to the US? 00:38:55 - How did you deal with the aftermath of handshake agreements? 00:42:10 - What was the mindset when building the Rollercoaster section? 00:47:50 - When did the section get its name and its sign? 00:53:40 - What is the motive in purchasing land near the trail corridor? 00:54:50 - What are the positive benefits of the ATC? 01:02:00 - Discussion about Benton McCaye and Myron Avery 01:06:40 - What are the rewarding aspects of doing trail maintenance? 01:12:30 - How did the PATC get started? Segments Trek Propaganda: “We Are Transforming These Mountains in a Way Humans Have Never Seen”: The Future of the Sierra Nevada, John Muir's Range of Light by Karl Ford QOTD: Does ice cream expire and if so why? Triple Crown of the longest minutes Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Carl Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Lauren F, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Greg Floravanti “Lumberjack”, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Ruth S, and Spencer Hinson.
This week, Chris goes full clean slate! Matt gets an ending so bleak he is compelled to apologize! John Muir was eaten by the monsters he loved!
Hello internet! This week's episode is all about the conservationist and Father of National Parks JOHN MUIR! Enjoy and be sure to share with a friend!National Immigration Project: https://nipnlg.org/
Let's relax with more of this sleepy stroll through some of America's greatest natural wonders, protected for the enjoyment of all people as national parks. This time, we continue our tour of Yosemite and its mighty glacier-carved mountains. Majestic! Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read “Our National Park” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/60929 Music: "Watching Whales on the Moon,” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY, https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.