Podcast appearances and mentions of Robert MacFarlane

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 29, 2025 is: deliquesce • del-ih-KWESS • verb Deliquesce can mean "to dissolve or melt away" or, in reference to some fungal structures (such as mushroom gills), "to become soft or liquid with age or maturity." // The mushrooms deliquesced into an inky fluid. See the entry > Examples: "He would mould his figures in full in wax, then take a hot knife and—like a metaphysical surgeon—cut away triangles, rhomboids, flaps and scraps, until only a latticework was left. These new shapeshifting figures comprised more gaps than joins: bodies in the delicate, arduous process of shedding their skins, scattering into metal petals, being eroded and deliquesced. Things were freshly able to pass through these painstakingly hard-to-cast bronzes: light, air, sight." — Robert Macfarlane, Apollo, 1 May 2025 Did you know? Deliquesce comes from the prefix de- ("from, down, away") and a form of the Latin verb liquēre, meaning "to be fluid." Things that deliquesce, it could be said, turn to mush in more ways than one. In scientific contexts, a substance that deliquesces absorbs moisture from the atmosphere until it dissolves in the absorbed water and forms a solution. When plants and fungi deliquesce, they lose rigidity as they age. When deliquesce is used in non-scientific contexts, it is often in a figurative or humorous way to suggest the act of "melting away" under exhaustion, heat, or idleness, as in "teenagers deliquescing in 90-degree temperatures."

Consider human ecological loneliness and our longing for reconnection with all creation. What healing is available in an era defined by environmental loss and exploitation? Can we strengthen the fragile connection between modern society and the space we inhabit?“Loneliness is the symptom that desires its cure.”In this episode Macie Bridge welcomes writer, translator, and poet Laura Marris to reflect on her essay collection The Age of Loneliness, a meditation on solitude, grief, and the ecology of attention. Marris considers what it means to live through an era defined by environmental loss and human disconnection, yet still filled with wonder. She shares stories of tardigrades that endure extreme conditions, how airports reveal our attitudes toward birds, and the personal loss of her father that awakened her to “noticing absence.” Together, they explore how ecological loneliness might transform into longing for reconnection—not only among humans, but with the creatures and landscapes that share our world. Marris suggests that paying attention, naming, and noticing are acts of restoration. “Loneliness,” she writes, “is the symptom that desires its cure.”Episode Highlights“Loneliness is the symptom that desires its cure.”“There are ways, even very simple ones, that individuals can do to make the landscape around them more hospitable.”“I don't believe that humans are hardwired to exploit. There have been many societies with long traditions of mutual benefit and coexistence.”“It's really hard to notice an absence sometimes. There's something curative about noticing absences that have been around but not acknowledged.”“Ecological concerns are not a luxury. It's actually really important to hold the line on them.”Helpful Links and ResourcesThe Age of Loneliness by Laura Marris — https://www.graywolfpress.org/books/age-lonelinessUnderland by Robert Macfarlane — https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393242140E.O. Wilson on “Beware the Age of Loneliness” — https://www.economist.com/news/2013/11/18/beware-the-age-of-lonelinessAbout Laura MarrisLaura Marris is a writer and translator whose work spans poetry, essays, and literary translation. She is the author of The Age of Loneliness and has translated Albert Camus's The Plague for Vintage Classics. She teaches creative writing and translation at the University at Buffalo.Show NotesThe Ecology of Loneliness and LongingLaura Marris discusses The Age of Loneliness—“Eremocene”—a term coined by E.O. Wilson to describe a speculative future of environmental isolation.Fascination with poetic form and environmental prose emerging during the pandemic.Ecological loneliness arises from biodiversity loss, but also offers the chance to reimagine more hospitable human landscapes.Extreme Tolerance and the Human ConditionMarris describes tardigrades as metaphors for endurance without thriving—organisms that survive extremes by pausing metabolism.“How extremely tolerant are humans, and what are our ways of trying to be more tolerant to extreme conditions?”Air conditioning becomes an emblem of “extreme tolerance,” mirroring human adaptation to a destabilized environment.Birds, Airports, and the Language of BlameMarris explores how modern air travel enforces ecological loneliness by eradicating other species from its space.She reveals hidden networks of wildlife managers and the Smithsonian's Feather Identification Lab.Reflects on the “Miracle on the Hudson,” where language wrongly cast geese as antagonists—“as if the birds wanted to hit the plane.”Loneliness, Solitude, and Longing“Loneliness is solitude attached to longing that feels painful.”Marris distinguishes solitude's generativity from loneliness's ache, suggesting longing can be a moral compass toward reconnection.Personal stories of her father's bird lists intertwine grief and ecological noticing.Ground Truthing and Community ScienceMarris introduces “ground truthing”—people verifying ecological data firsthand.She celebrates local volunteers counting birds, horseshoe crabs, and plants as acts of hope.“Community care applies to human and more-than-human communities alike.”Toxic Landscapes and Ecological AftermathMarris recounts Buffalo's industrial scars and ongoing restoration along the Niagara River.“Toxins don't stop at the edge of the landfill—they keep going.”She reflects on beauty, resilience, and the return of eagles to post-industrial lands.Attention and Wonder as Advocacy“A lot of advocacy stems from paying local attention.”Small, attentive acts—like watching sparrows dust bathe—are forms of resistance against despair.Cure, Absence, and Continuing the ConversationMarris resists the idea of a final “cure” for loneliness.“Cure could be something ongoing, a process, a change in your life.”Her annual bird counts become a continuing dialogue with her late father.Wisdom for the Lonely“Take the time to notice what it is you're lonely for.”She calls for transforming loneliness into longing for a more hospitable, interdependent world.Production NotesThis podcast featured Laura MarrisInterview by Macie BridgeEdited and Produced by Evan RosaProduction Assistance by Alexa Rollow, Emily Brookfield, and Hope ChunA Production of the Yale Center for Faith & Culture at Yale Divinity School https://faith.yale.edu/aboutSupport For the Life of the World podcast by giving to the Yale Center for Faith & Culture: https://faith.yale.edu/give

Welcome to Part 2 of our Underland meditation series. Last week we explored the underground as a place to dispose of what is harmful — trauma, secrets, and pain. This week, we venture deeper to discover the treasure, wisdom, and insight waiting for us in those shadowed spaces.Inspired by Robert Macfarlane's book Underland, this meditation uses the metaphor of underground cave exploration to guide you through narrow, uncomfortable passages toward expansive inner caverns of insight. Like Alice's journey down the rabbit hole, this practice invites chaos and uncertainty as pathways to profound self-discovery.What You'll Experience:Guided progressive relaxation from skin through fascia, muscle, and boneExtended silent meditation for deep inner explorationAmazon rainforest nature soundscapePractice softening resistance rather than fighting your experienceTools for working with difficult meditation sessionsPerfect for:Meditation practitioners ready for deeper shadow workAnyone struggling with dark or difficult meditation experiencesThose seeking self-discovery and inner wisdomPeople working through trauma or emotional healingClaustrophobic feelings in meditation or lifeRelated Episodes: Listen to Entering The Underland: Nature Meditation for Processing Fear and Underground Healing {part 1} for the complete exploration of disposing of what is harmful before mining for inner treasure.Content Warning: This episode discusses trauma, shadow work, and difficult emotions. Practice only when you feel physically and emotionally resourced to do so.Sign up for my newsletter at http://eepurl.com/jjPrV2 to receive free mini meditations and soundscapes each week, along with creative musings and more.New episodes every Monday (just the meditation) and Thursday (a full meditation class).Learn more or contact me at https://www.merylarnett.com/. Thank you to Nick McMahan for today's nature field recordings; and thank you to Brianna Nielsen for production and editing support. Find them at:https://www.nickcmcmahan.com/https://www.instagram.com/itsbriannanielsenThis podcast explores meditation, mental health and the power of connection, offering guidance for caregivers, healers, and therapists facing compassion fatigue, burnout, and other mental health struggles through self-care, self-compassion, and resilience. With a focus on anxiety, depression, and overwhelm, each episode provides tools like meditation, mindfulness, breathwork, and grounding to cultivate clarity and reduce stress. Listeners can also experience nature-inspired guided meditations, designed to bring peace and balance in times of distress.

Flüsse, die Rechte haben? Wälder, die denken? Berge, die fühlen? Immer öfter wird gefordert, dass die Natur als lebendiges Gegenüber anerkannt wird – und Rechte erhält. Auch Robert Macfarlane, die wichtigste Stimme des britischen «Nature-Writing», kämpft dafür und erklärt, welche Folgen es hätte. Schmelzende Gletscher, abnehmende Biodiversität, Aussterben der Arten – es ist an der Zeit, neu über Natur nachzudenken. Der mehrfach ausgezeichnete britische Bestsellerautor Robert Macfarlane macht das in seinen Büchern. Im neuesten Wurf begibt er sich auf Reisen. Von Ecuador über Südindien bis nach Québec begegnete er Flüssen, die er nicht mehr als Landschaftsobjekte, sondern als lebendige Wesen erlebte. In seinem neuen Buch nennt er sie sogar Co-Autoren. Und er fragt sich: Wie gerecht ist ein Rechtssystem, das sich nur am Menschen orientiert? Was, wenn hinter der ökologischen Krise in Tat und Wahrheit ein Weltbild steht, das den Menschen als Herrscher über die Natur, als Nutzer und Eigentümer versteht? Und was wäre zu tun, um dieses Denken zu überwinden? Was würde es wirklich bedeuten, wenn wir Flüsse, Berge und Wälder als Mit-Wesen verstünden, als Subjekte statt Objekte? Olivia Röllin spricht mit Robert MacFarlane über den Trost der Flüsse, die Grenzen menschlicher Herrschaft und die Vision eines neuen Gesellschaftsvertrags zwischen Mensch und Natur.

Flüsse, die Rechte haben? Wälder, die denken? Berge, die fühlen? Immer öfter wird gefordert, dass die Natur als lebendiges Gegenüber anerkannt wird – und Rechte erhält. Auch Robert Macfarlane, die wichtigste Stimme des britischen «Nature-Writing», kämpft dafür und erklärt, welche Folgen es hätte. Schmelzende Gletscher, abnehmende Biodiversität, Aussterben der Arten – es ist an der Zeit, neu über Natur nachzudenken. Der mehrfach ausgezeichnete britische Bestsellerautor Robert Macfarlane macht das in seinen Büchern. Im neuesten Wurf begibt er sich auf Reisen. Von Ecuador über Südindien bis nach Québec begegnete er Flüssen, die er nicht mehr als Landschaftsobjekte, sondern als lebendige Wesen erlebte. In seinem neuen Buch nennt er sie sogar Co-Autoren. Und er fragt sich: Wie gerecht ist ein Rechtssystem, das sich nur am Menschen orientiert? Was, wenn hinter der ökologischen Krise in Tat und Wahrheit ein Weltbild steht, das den Menschen als Herrscher über die Natur, als Nutzer und Eigentümer versteht? Und was wäre zu tun, um dieses Denken zu überwinden? Was würde es wirklich bedeuten, wenn wir Flüsse, Berge und Wälder als Mit-Wesen verstünden, als Subjekte statt Objekte? Olivia Röllin spricht mit Robert MacFarlane über den Trost der Flüsse, die Grenzen menschlicher Herrschaft und die Vision eines neuen Gesellschaftsvertrags zwischen Mensch und Natur.

Not all meditation asks us to find the light; sometimes we need to explore the darkness. In this first episode of the October Underland series, meditation teacher Meryl Arnett invites you to stop running from your fears and instead turn around to face them. Inspired by Robert Macfarlane's book Underland, this episode and meditation practice explores what happens when we acknowledge the darkness, both within ourselves and in the world around us, rather than trying to escape it.If you've been feeling overwhelmed by political chaos, buried trauma, or simply the weight of difficult emotions you've pushed underground, this meditation will help you understand why staying present to discomfort is the path to genuine healing and transformation.What To ExpectUnderstanding the "underland" as both physical space (caves, burial sites) and metaphorical space (the unconscious, buried trauma)The wisdom of the Three of Swords tarot card: discovering hope at the very center of griefA guided meditation practice with immersive Amazon Rainforest soundscapes from field recordist Nick McMahanAn invitation to acknowledge what we've disposed of, buried, or hidden that needs our attentionPerfect ForAnyone feeling overwhelmed by political anxiety or helplessness in the face of global eventsMeditation practitioners ready to explore deeper, shadow work through contemplative practicePeople processing buried trauma, grief, or difficult emotionsPractitioners interested in nature-based meditation with authentic soundscapesMeditation DetailsLength: 22 minutesStyle: Guided meditation with 7-minute silent practice periodPosition: Lying down or seated (your choice)Soundscape: Amazon Rainforest field recordings by Nature Field Recordist Nick McMahanBest for: Anxiety relief, processing fear, shadow work, trauma acknowledgment, political overwhelm, deep relaxationJoin Meryl throughout October as we explore the underland: what we've disposed of (harmful thoughts and buried trauma), what we can yield (minerals and metaphors), and what we shelter (precious matter and memories).Next episode: Discover what happens when we soften enough to yield the value and wisdom hidden in our darkness.Sign up for my newsletter at http://eepurl.com/jjPrV2 to receive free mini meditations and soundscapes each week, along with creative musings and more.New episodes every Monday (just the meditation) and Thursday (a full meditation class).Learn more or contact me at https://www.merylarnett.com/. Thank you to Nick McMahan for today's nature field recordings; and thank you to Brianna Nielsen for production and editing support. Find them at:https://www.nickcmcmahan.com/https://www.instagram.com/itsbriannanielsenThis podcast explores meditation, mental health and the power of connection, offering guidance for caregivers, healers, and therapists facing compassion fatigue, burnout, and other mental health struggles through self-care, self-compassion, and resilience. With a focus on anxiety, depression, and overwhelm, each episode provides tools like meditation, mindfulness, breathwork, and grounding to cultivate clarity and reduce stress. Listeners can also experience nature-inspired guided meditations, designed to bring peace and balance in times of distress.

LCJ Keegan on the modern courtroom — AI, experts and leadershipOn Episode 132, The Fifth Court hosts Peter Leonard and Mark Tottenham have rare access to Dame Siobhán Keegan, the Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, to discuss evaluating expert evidence in an age of AI and complex fact-finding, leadership on the bench, and the realities of administering justice in Belfast's Royal Courts. The episode is recorded with her in the Royal Courts of Justice, LCJ Keegan flags her Macfadyen Lecture on evaluating the expert witness in the modern legal landscape—a timely frame for how courts should approach AI-assisted and technical testimony (provenance, transparency, methodology, limits).Her cultural choice 'Is a River Alive?' by Robert Macfarlane, published by Hamish HamiltonPlus, our case-law segment, drawn from the Decisis.ie casebook, covers a failed attempt to register a New York multi-billion judgment against Argentina in Ireland without locating Irish-sited assets, and the Court of Appeal's approach to frivolous and vexatious challenges to demolition orders.Sponsored by Charltons Solicitors and Collaborative Practitioners of Dublin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let the Wild Gods Rise.  Easy to say and harder to do - but if you were offered a portal, a way to step into the other-worlds, to reconnect with all that we have been and could be, would you take it? If you're listening to this, you are likely steeped in the mechanical world of our culture - but it doesn't have to be like this.  The other worlds are alive, present…wild—and just within reach. All we need are doorways, places where the veils between the worlds grow thinner and then route maps to take us to—and through—them. There are many of these: some of us have places where we go to sit, day after week after month after year; places we walk where the lapwings fly or the toads grumble or the lichens coat the rocks. Some of us dance, or sing, or hold spaces for each other to find the endless re-creation of the web in the inter-becoming moment, the dependent co-arising of the magic of life. Many of us go to books and it's one of these we're visiting today: Wild Folk by Jackie Morris and Tamsin Abbott is a work of art, a delight on so many levels—and it's explicitly a portal to the wild at the heart of the world. I'm fairly sure I don't need to introduce these two amazing women, but just in case: Jackie Morris is an artist, illustrator and wordsmith. Alone or in collaboration has written & illustrated over forty books, including classics such as The Snow Leopard, Song of the Golden Hare, and East of the Sun, West of the Moon. More recently, she and Robert Macfarlane co-created The Lost Words, and The Lost Spells, and I'm delighted to say they are working on new book on birds, which is due to come out soon.Tamsin Abbott has been creating painted stained-glass panels for over twenty years. Herwork is influenced by this ancient land and how we are connected to it: the hills, the woods, the plants, birds and animals that live alongside us and the world of myths and fairytales that we have spun around it. She has appeared on BBC Countryfile, appeared in many of this country's foremost magazines and exhibited in our leading galleries. As you'll hear, Jackie and Tamsin had been friends for many years before the seed of Wild Folk finally took root at a residency in the wilds of Exmoor. The result is a work of pure magic.  Come along with us and let's explore the what and the how and the where and the who of this astonishing act of co-creation. Where you'll find WILD FOLK in the UK https://www.jackiemorris.co.uk/where-the-wild-folk-books-are/Tamsin's website https://www.tamsinabbott.co.uk/Tamsin on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tamsintheshed/Tamsin on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Tamsin-Abbott-260979701880/Jackie's website https://www.jackiemorris.co.uk/Jackie on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jackiemorrisartist/Jackie on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JackieMorrisPaints/What we offer: Accidental Gods, Dreaming Awake and the Thrutopia Writing Masterclass If you'd like to join our next Open Gathering offered by our Accidental Gods Programme it's  'Dreaming Your Death Awake' (you don't have to be a member) it's on 2nd November - details are here.If you'd like to join us at Accidental Gods, this is the membership where we endeavour to help you to connect fully with the living web of life. If you'd like to train more deeply in the contemporary shamanic work at Dreaming Awake, you'll find us here. If you'd like to explore the recordings from our last Thrutopia Writing Masterclass, the details are here

From the Thames to the Tigris, the Ure to the Euphrates, rivers have flowed through the history of humanity, shaping our civilisations and sustaining our species. Robert Macfarlane and Elif Shafak illuminate the life-giving force of rivers, the stories they have inspired, and explore the crucial question of how humans can coexist with the natural world on which our survival depends. From the Epic of Gilgamesh to the gods of old, from the ancient Euphrates to the Thames of today, from lost rivers buried deep beneath our feet to the revival of nature on our own doorsteps, Elif and Robert reveal the intricate tapestry woven from human and natural history, and the resilience of nature, memory, and storytelling. On the cusp of today's chaos, in a world balanced between hope and despair, Elif and Robert reveal how we can fight against apathy, insist upon hope, and protect the natural world around us for generations and stories to come. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Whether it's the Amazon or Amstel, our language, laws, and economies still treat rivers as resources – channels to be dredged, diverted, and controlled. In his latest book, Is a river alive?, Robert Macfarlane asks whether rivers are not objects, but beings with life, agency, and rights. How would it change us to live not above the river, but alongside it?With Is a river alive?, Macfarlane writes his most political book yet. Recognizing rivers as living entities, he argues, is essential to restoring our damaged ecosystems. It calls for a radical reimagining of law, language, and land – a shift from dominion to kinship.This conversation takes place in the Dutch delta, where the Rhine, Meuse, and Scheldt meet the sea. In collaboration with the Embassy of the North Sea and the Confluence of European Water Bodies, we examine how the Rights of Nature movement could reshape Europe's laws and policies. What can the Netherlands – a country built on water – learn from this shift?In cooperation with Embassy of the North Sea and Uitgeverij Athenaeum.Zie het privacybeleid op https://art19.com/privacy en de privacyverklaring van Californië op https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rob Fairley talks to me about his journey as an artist - starting at an early age with a school visit to St Kilda, through Edinburgh College of Art and onwards to Mallaig and then Shona Beag island where he spent 5 years as its sole occupant in his early 20s. There he created what would now be described as land art, for example altering the movement of deer in certain ways to create patterns, or 'tuning' a causeway by moving rocks to change the pitch. He used climbing mainly as a means of exploration, and undertook several mountaineering expeditions to the Himalaya with Mal Duff - sketching people in busy Kathmandu and creating vivid mountain watercolours.Rob recounts the origins of Room 13, a child-led art project starting in 1994 at Caol Primary School, Fort William. The Room 13 approach spread internationally and allowed young people a creative freedom not found in mainsteam school art education. The 'outsider art' produced - freed from classroom or teacher influence - often explored adolescent themes neglected at school. Rob was involved with several Room 13 trips to Nepal including a road trip with Room 13's young people from Delhi to Mumbai to establish a school for Mumbai's street children.I misnamed Robert Macfarlane's book 'Underland' when we are discussing the Chauvet cave paintings and 'thin places'. Rob's website is at robfairley.co.ukIf you want to buy me a cuppa to help support the podcast, thank you and please do at: ⁠https://ko-fi.com/finlaywild

In this episode, our host discusses the new book by the British writer, Robert Macfarlane, Is a River Alive? It's an exciting contribution to the growing body of literature that expands our imaginations and our legal frameworks to account for the agency and liveliness of the natural world. 

Renowned natural history writer Robert Macfarlane traveled to Ecuador, India and Quebec, pondering the question of whether rivers are living beings -- the premise behind much of the movement to legally recognize the rights of nature. He found that the answer to that question is more complicated and wondrous -- and more life-altering and world-changing -- than he could have imagined.

Ob Flüsse Lebewesen sind, diese Frage ist schwer zu beantworten. Auch der britische Autor Robert Macfarlane, der sich als ihr Fürsprecher sieht, hat damit Schwierigkeiten. Anhand dreier großer Flüsse auf drei Kontinenten versucht er ihre Einzigartigkeit und ihr Recht zu leben zu erkunden. Rezension von Johannes Kaiser

Ob Flüsse Lebewesen sind, diese Frage ist schwer zu beantworten. Auch der britische Autor Robert Macfarlane, der sich als ihr Fürsprecher sieht, hat damit Schwierigkeiten. Anhand dreier großer Flüsse auf drei Kontinenten versucht er ihre Einzigartigkeit und ihr Recht zu leben zu erkunden. Rezension von Johannes Kaiser

Mark is back with Heritage Engagement Manager Ingrid Shearer on the banks of the River Clyde to discuss one of Scotland's first access rights success stories, the case of Harvie's Dyke.Also on the Clyde, Helen Needham takes a wander with author Louise Welsh and architect Jude Barber, who are asking for recognition of the legal personhood status of the river.Helen and Mark are joined by Chris Romer-Lee who co-founded Swimmable Cities to discuss how we can swim in our urban waterways once more and the benefits of cleaning up our rivers for both people and nature.It's the 25th edition of the Strathaven Hot Air Balloon Festival this weekend and Mark heads along to find out what it takes to bring 25 hot air balloons together for a show and how they are recovered after they float away with the wind. Festival Secretary Les Hoggan confides that the secret lies in whisky.In an excerpt of the midweek podcast, Helen catches up with Robert Macfarlane at the Edinburgh Festival to talk about the ‘aliveness' of rivers.How can nature influence more responsible AI systems? Mark finds out when he visits the exhibition Tipping Point: Artists Responses to AI in Edinburgh with Gavin Leuzzi, Lead, Fellowships at Edinburgh University's Bridging Responsible AI Divides.Ghillie and Manager Iain MacMaster has worked at Finavon Castle Water Estate for 10 years and he knows the land inside out. He takes Mark for a walk of the South Esk River and explains the changes in weather patterns he has been experiencing.Helen learns about the legacy of Scottish geologist Hugh Miller who grew up in Cromarty. She joins Bob Davidson and Sidney Johnston of the Friends of Hugh Miller Society to go fossil hunting on the beach at Cromarty.

Explore the fascinating intersection of poetry, art, and identity on this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast featuring Mason Pashia. Mason discusses his debut book, Kestrel and Other Songs, and dives deep into the creative process, the power of words, and the ways poetry invites us to see the world differently. From his inspirations like Robert Macfarlane to the influence of place and personal experiences, Mason shares insights that connect creativity with education, identity, and community. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation that celebrates storytelling, imagination, and the transformative role of art in shaping how we view and engage with the world. Get your copy now! Outline (00:00) Introduction to Kestrel (02:32) The Art of Poetry (12:00) Writing from a Place (15:20) Art and Education (21:45) Futures Thinking and Abundance (25:44) Closing Thoughts and Reflections Links Watch the full video here Read the full blog here Into Wind Buy Kestrel Landmarks by Robert Macfarlane

Helen Needham discusses the 'aliveness' of rivers with writer Robert Macfarlane

Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky. Links to assorted local theater & book venues   Robert Macfarlane: “Is A River Alive?” Robert Macfarlane, whose latest book is “Is a River Alive,” in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky. The best-selling nature writer, and author of “Underland” and “The Old Ways” discusses the relationship of the human race to nature in the context of the rights of natural phenomena, specifically rivers. What rights does the earth have in terms of man's hegemony? Where do we fit in nature? In this interview, recorded recorded June 11, 2025, he talks about his journey to three rivers: a cloud forest in South America, a dying river in India, and a river that runs through eastern Canada, along with a look at the spring near his home in England, and puts them all in context of environmentalism and politics. He is the author of several books, including “”Mountains of the Mind” and “Ghostways,” Robert Macfarlane teaches at Cambridge University.     The post August 7, 2025: Nature Author Robert Macfarlane, “Is A River Alive?” appeared first on KPFA.

Every year, we ask one big question: What is a River? This year, the currents brought us to Dr. Robert Macfarlane—writer & professor—and his newly released book, Is A River Alive?, Dr Macfarlane joined us to explore that very question. From the chalk streams from his home in England to rivers across three continents, Macfarlane pursues his answers. In this episode, we move through his global journey, his new water literacy, and why he calls himself a teacher first. GUESTSDr Robert Macfarlane, University of CambridgeDr Robert Macfarlane, Wikipedia@robgmacfarlaneBook:  IS A RIVER ALIVE?Audio Book:  IS A RIVER ALIVE?Film:  MOUNTAIN narrated by Willem DafoeThe poem Inversaid by Gerard Manley HopkinsRights of NatureUniversal Declaration of River RightsRiver Seine in Paris and a Declaration of River RightsBritain's Premier Nature Writer Cries Us a River SPONSORSNatural Systems DesignIG @naturalsystemsdesignin @natural_systems_designAmerican WhitewaterIG @americanwhitewaterFB @American WhitewaterMembershipJournalRiver Info     THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

Robert Macfarlane, whose latest book is “Is a River Alive,” in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky. The best-selling nature writer, and author of “Underland” and “The Old Ways” discusses the relationship of the human race to nature in the context of the rights of natural phenomena, specifically rivers. What rights does the earth have in terms of man's hegemony? Where do we fit in nature? In this interview, recorded recorded June 11, 2025, he talks about his journey to three rivers: a cloud forest in South America, a dying river in India, and a river that runs through eastern Canada, along with a look at the spring near his home in England, and puts them all in context of environmentalism and politics. He is the author of several books, including “”Mountains of the Mind” and “Ghostways,” Robert Macfarlane teaches at Cambridge University.   The post Robert Macfarlane: “Is A River Alive?” appeared first on KPFA.

Serious pollution incidents by water companies in England rose by 60% last year, but the best-selling author Robert Macfarlane says there is a way to save our rivers. Days after a long-awaited review of the water sector in England and Wales was published, Amol sat down with Robert for a conversation about the state of rivers globally, why some are dying and how we can save them. From President Donald Trump's dismantling of the Clean Water Act in the US to the dying River Wye, Robert takes us on a journey around the world and explains why he is optimistic about the future. He says we can do things like give our rivers rights and mobilise citizen scientists to save them. Robert also digs out Amol's report card from when he taught him at Cambridge University more than twenty years ago. GET IN TOUCH * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk Amol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The Independent. Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers with Izzy Rowley. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by Rohan Madison. The editor is Sam Bonham. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.

What if a river is alive? What would it say about our world today? About the way we treat water, land, and each other? This question is at the heart of Robert Macfarlane's latest book, Is a River Alive? On this episode Robert invites us to reimagine rivers not as background scenery or mere water channels, but as living entities, storytellers, and deserving of rights. To keep up with Robert check out his website: https://www.robertmacfarlane.com or connect with him on X: @RobGMacfarlane or Instagram: @RobGMacfarlane If you want to purchase a copy of Is a River Alive you can do so by getting it direct from the publisher Norton or on Amazon If you enjoyed this conversation and want to cultivate your own wild connection, check out my new Audible course Reconnect with Nature packed with simple, science-backed ways to bring nature back into your daily life, plus a companion workbook, Rooted in Nature, to guide your journey And of course connect with me  Website: http://www.jenniferverdolin.com Instagram:@realdrjen X: @realdrjen and @wildconnectpod Wild Connection TV: @wildconnectiontv4022

On the Saturday July 19, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse we meet Louise Pitre. Often hailed as Canada's first lady of musical theatre, she is a Tony-nominated actress renowned for her powerful performances on Broadway and across North America and Europe. Best known for originating the role of Donna Sheridan in “Mamma Mia!,” she has also played Fantine in “Les Misérables” and Edith Piaf in “The Angel & the Sparrow” among many others. Today we talk about “Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812,” an innovative musical from Mirvish that follows Natasha's scandalous affair and Pierre's existential crisis amidst the backdrop of 19th-century Moscow, drawn from Tolstoy's “War and Peace.” Then, we'll meet British author, academic, and adventurer Robert Macfarlane. A Cambridge University fellow, Macfarlane's work often reflects his deep engagement with wild places, from ancient pathways to subterranean realms, earning him acclaim for his evocative prose and environmental advocacy. Today we talk about his new book “Is a River Alive?” a book that suggests rivers are not mere matter for human use, but living beings, who should be recognized as such in both imagination and law.

Internationally renowned nature writer Robert Macfarlane discusses how rivers used to play a bigger role in human culture, how rivers influenced our personal life journeys, and how rivers help us reimagine the flow of time itself. Robert's latest book is Is a River Alive?

Join AudioFile's Alan Minskoff and Host Jo Reed as they share an audiobook for the soul. This exquisite work of nature writing celebrating Scotland's Cairngorms mountains remains a classic of ecological observation. Tilda Swinton's rendition of Nan Shepherd's poetic prose mesmerizes. Her tone is exceptionally clear, her pace adds drama, and her style of narrating is immersive. Written in the 1940s, the book remained unpublished until the 1970s. Shepherd appreciated these mountains in all seasons and lived near them for much of her life. The language sings, “Nothing is so ghostly as mist over snow.”  Read our review of the audiobook at our website Published by Simon & Schuster Audio Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile's website   Support for Behind the Mic comes from Hachette Audio and NIGHT WATCHER, by Daphne Woolsoncroft (of the Going West podcast), who read an audio-exclusive author's note before the stunning dual-narration by Will Collyer and Helen Laser. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robert Macfarlane is a British writer internationally known for his writing on nature, people, and place.  His best-selling books include Underland, Landmarks, The Old Ways, The Wild Places and Mountains of the Mind.  They have been translated into more than 30 languages and won many prizes around the world and have been adapted for film, music, theatre, radio, and dance.  He has also written operas, plays and films including river and mountain.  In 2017 the American Academy of Arts and Letters awarded him the EM Forester Prize for literature.  Macfarlane lives in Cambridge England where he is a fellow at Emmanual College, Cambridge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kiran Dass reviews Is A River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane, published by Hamish Hamilton.

David Farrier is Professor of Literature and the Environment at the University of Edinburgh. David's first book, Footprints: In Search of Future Fossils, looked at the marks we are leaving on the planet and how these might appear in the fossil record in the deep future. It was published in March 2020 with both The Times and The Telegraph naming it a book of the year. Its fans include Robert Macfarlane and Margaret Atwood, and it has been translated into nine other languages. He has had pieces published in The Atlantic, BBC Future, Emergence, Prospect, Daily Telegraph, Orion, and Washington Post. He has spoken at numerous online events, has given an invited lecture at the Royal Geographical Society, and has appeared on radio and podcasts such as BBC Free Thinking and Little Atoms. On this week's episode of Little Atoms he talks to Neil Denny about his latest book Nature's Genius: Evolution's Lessons for a Changing Planet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robert Macfarlane of Cambridge University shares his extraordinary journey writing and researching his latest book “Is a River Alive?” and explains why a river can be viewed very much as a metaphor for life, always flowing, twisting, changing and adapting while at the same time providing sustenance for man and nature alike.  

Don't miss today's conversation with Robert Macfarlane. A polyvocal deep dive into the mysteries of words and rivers, of speech acts as spells, whorls as worlds, of grammars of animacy, of what it means to river, and to be rivered. From the Epic of Gilgamesh to Virginia Woolf's wave in the mind to Ursula K. […] The post Robert Macfarlane : Is a River Alive? appeared first on Tin House.

This week on Mongabay's podcast, celebrated author and repeat Nobel Prize in Literature candidate Robert Macfarlane discusses his fascinating new book, Is a River Alive?, which both asks and provides answers to this compelling question, in his signature flowing prose. Its absorbing narrative takes the reader to the frontlines of some of Earth's most embattled waterways, from northern Ecuador to southern India and northeastern Quebec, where he explores what makes a river more than just a body of water, but rather a living organism upon which many humans and myriad species are irrevocably dependent — a fact that is often forgotten. Regardless of whether humans see rivers as useful resources or living beings, Macfarlane says their great ability to rebound from degradation is demonstrable and is something to strive for. " When I think of how we have to imagine rivers otherwise, away from the pure resource model, I recognize that we can reverse the direction of 'shifting baseline' syndrome. We can make it ‘lifting baseline' syndrome. We can make our rivers touchable, then swimmable, then drinkable again. Drinkable rivers. Imagine that!" Subscribe to or follow the Mongabay Newscast wherever you listen to podcasts, from Apple to Spotify, and you can also listen to all episodes here on the Mongabay website. Please send questions, feedback or comments to podcast[at]mongabay[dot]com. Banner image: The author Robert Macfarlane. Photo by Bryan Appleyard. Courtesy of Robert Macfarlane. -------- Timecodes (00:00) The liquid asset story (05:42) The beginning of the ‘hydrocene' (12:49) Is a river alive? (20:01) ‘Rights of nature' (30:02) Landmarks of hope & looming threats (35:41) ‘Slow violence' (39:43) ‘A gathering that seeks the sea' (45:13) Public waterways under private ownership (48:59) How the Cuyahoga River caught fire (53:58) Collective health over private wealth

Hamen, Samuel www.deutschlandfunk.de, Büchermarkt

Mike ventures deep beneath the surface with director Rob Petit to discuss Underland (2025), a haunting, meditative documentary that charts an extraordinary subterranean journey into the hidden worlds beneath our feet. Narrated by author and co-writer Robert Macfarlane, the film adapts his bestselling book Underland: A Deep Time Journey, bringing to life an awe-inspiring descent into caves, catacombs, glacial crevasses, and underground rivers spanning continents. More than just a travelogue, Underland explores humanity's relationship with deep time—how we bury our dead, our nuclear waste, and our myths far below the surface.Mike and Petit explore the technical and philosophical challenges of filming underground, the role of sound and narration in shaping the film's atmosphere, and how Underland uses darkness and silence to confront ecological crisis, mortality, and deep history. A lyrical, unsettling, and urgent cinematic experience, Underland burrows into the mind as much as the earth.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Mike ventures deep beneath the surface with director Rob Petit to discuss Underland (2025), a haunting, meditative documentary that charts an extraordinary subterranean journey into the hidden worlds beneath our feet. Narrated by author and co-writer Robert Macfarlane, the film adapts his bestselling book Underland: A Deep Time Journey, bringing to life an awe-inspiring descent into caves, catacombs, glacial crevasses, and underground rivers spanning continents. More than just a travelogue, Underland explores humanity's relationship with deep time—how we bury our dead, our nuclear waste, and our myths far below the surface.Mike and Petit explore the technical and philosophical challenges of filming underground, the role of sound and narration in shaping the film's atmosphere, and how Underland uses darkness and silence to confront ecological crisis, mortality, and deep history. A lyrical, unsettling, and urgent cinematic experience, Underland burrows into the mind as much as the earth.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

I interviewed Robert Macfarlane, a writer who has mastered the art of nature writing. What makes him fascinating isn't just that he writes beautifully about landscapes, but how he thinks about language itself. We talked about why he rewrites first sentences hundreds of times, what happens when entire languages die forever, why AI makes all writing sound the same, and how to build a stronger feel for using vivid and rich language. If you want to write more powerfully and develop your distinctive voice, this conversation will show you how to do that. Enjoy! Hey! I'm David Perell and I'm a writer, teacher, and podcaster. I believe writing online is one of the biggest opportunities in the world today. For the first time in human history, everybody can freely share their ideas with a global audience. I seek to help as many people publish their writing online as possible. Follow me Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannel X: https://x.com/david_perell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robert Macfarlane, a fellow at the University of Cambridge and the author of several books, including Underland and his new one, Is a River Alive? (W. W. Norton & Company, 2025), talks about the new book that questions how we treat rivers through the stories of rivers in Ecuador, India and Canada.

For more than 20 years, British author and Cambridge University professor Robert Macfarlane has garnered international acclaim for his writings on nature and our relationships to it, from awe-inspiring wonder and life-giving sustenance to relentless extraction and exploitation. For his new book, “Is a River Alive?”, Macfarlane explores the idea of rivers as animate beings, a concept that is connected to the Rights of Nature movement that has spurred a novel legal framework to protect imperiled waterways, animals and ecosystems around the world. To find out, Macfarlane embarked on a journey that spanned continents and topographies. He trekked through a cloud forest in Ecuador, visited dying and polluted waterways in southeastern India and kayaked down a river in northeastern Canada that was granted legal personhood in 2021 to save it from being dammed. Along the way, Macfarlane introduces us to the people fighting to defend these rivers, creeks and basins while bearing witness to the assaults and threats the waterways constantly face. Macfarlane joins us to discuss “Is a river alive?” and the ideas it explores.

What would it mean if we treated rivers as alive? That's the question that nature writer Robert Macfarlane wrestles with in his new book. What would happen if we took that aliveness seriously? How would we know what a river would want? Who would speak for it? These are questions that communities around the world are dealing with as they work to figure out how to protect rivers and the ecosystems that rely on them. This hour, Macfarlane joins us to talk about his new book, Is a River Alive?, and the stories we tell about the natural world. GUEST: Robert Macfarlane: Writer whose books include Underland: A Deep Time Journey, The Lost Words: A Spell Book, and The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot. His new book is Is a River Alive? Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rivers are vanishing; not just from our landscapes, but from our imaginations. Acclaimed author and Cambridge University professor Robert Macfarlane explores the deeply moving idea at the heart of his new book, Is a River Alive? He shares stories from Ecuador, India and Canada—where rivers have been granted legal personhood and recognized as living beings and asks us to reconnect with nature in a deeper way.

Is a river alive? That's the animating question in Robert Macfarlane's new book. And if the answer is yes, and rivers are living things, what do we owe them?

Celebrated nature writer Robert Macfarlane has written about mountains, trails, and the old ways of humans on Earth. His new book lays out its premise in the title: “Is a River Alive?” He seeks answers to the question in a cloud forest in Ecuador, a dying ecosystem in Chennai, and a powerful river in Canada. We talk to Macfarlane about what rights nature should have and we hear from you. Do you feel a living presence in wild spaces? Guests: Robert Macfarlane, nature writer; author, "Is a River Alive?"; Previous books include "Underland: A Deep Time Journey" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with University of British Columbia professor Lori Daniels about what Canada's early fire activity signals about the wildfire season ahead, nature writer Robert Macfarlane reflects on the push for rivers to be designated as living entities, former National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation director Ry Moran looks at progress made 10 years after the TRC's calls to action, we play an all-new round of our monthly challenge That's Puzzling!, and poet and lecturer Lee Campbell explains how the underground queer slang Polari went mainstream.Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

Sam Leith's guest on this week's Book Club podcast is Robert Macfarlane. In his new book Is A River Alive? he travels from the cloud forests of Ecuador to the pollution-choked rivers of Chennai and the threatened waterways of eastern Canada. He tells Sam what he learned along the journey – and why we need to reconceptualise our relationship with the natural world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam Leith's guest on this week's Book Club podcast is Robert Macfarlane. In his new book Is A River Alive? he travels from the cloud forests of Ecuador to the pollution-choked rivers of Chennai and the threatened waterways of eastern Canada. He tells Sam what he learned along the journey – and why we need to reconceptualise our relationship with the natural world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Travel writing, ecological reporting and history flow together in a portrait of one of nature's most powerful features in Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane. Rob joins us to talk about the rights of rivers, white river kayaking, giving old ideas new power, moral imagination, fear vs risk, water puns and more with guest host Chris Gillespie. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Chris Gillespie and mixed by Harry Liang.                     New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane Underland: A Deep Time Journey by Robert Macfarlane

In this conversation, acclaimed author Robert Macfarlane asks the ancient and urgent question: is a river alive? Understanding rivers to be presences, not resources, he immerses us in the ways they “irrigate our bodies, thoughts, songs, and stories,” and how we might recognize this within our imagination and ethics. He speaks about his latest book, and traces his journeys down the Río Los Cedros in Ecuador, the waterways of Chennai in India, and the Mutehekau Shipu in Nitassinan and how each brought him to experience these water bodies as willful, spirited, and sacred beings. Read the transcript.  Photo by William Waterworth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robert Macfarlane's lyrical musings explore and celebrate our relationship with landscape and nature. He's a prize-winning author, a lyricist, librettist and spoken-word performer and he's collaborated with artists, musicians and actors, including Willem Dafoe. At the heart of his latest book is the idea that a river is a living being…will that then inspire his Inheritance Tracks?Inherited: River Man by Nick Drake Pass on: Monkey Gone to Heaven by PixiesProducers: Catherine Powell and Minnie Harrop

Rivers have been on my mind recently with some recent buzzy arrivals on their power (from Elif Shafak to non-fiction Robert Macfarlane). Join me with author Suma Subramaniam and illustrator Tara Anand to discuss their beautiful picture book My Name Is Long As a River. Inspired by Suma's own heritage, the story celebrates the deep connections between names, family history, and cultural identity. Together, Suma and Tara share how rivers, poetry, and personal memory shaped this tribute to the power of knowing where we come from.Listen now on iTunes,Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts, and if you enjoyed this, PLEASE SHARE THE EPISODE WITH A FRIEND!Rivers have been on my mind recently with some recent buzzy arrivals on their power (from Elif Shafak to non-fiction Robert Macfarlane). Join me with author Suma Subramaniam and illustrator Tara Anand to discuss their beautiful picture book My Name Is Long As a River. Inspired by Suma's own heritage, the story celebrates the deep connections between names, family history, and cultural identity. Together, Suma and Tara share how rivers, poetry, and personal memory shaped this tribute to the power of knowing where we come from.Listen now on iTunes, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts, and if you enjoyed this, PLEASE SHARE THE EPISODE WITH A FRIEND! Suma SubramaniamTara Anand, photographed by Brittany OxleySHOWNOTES for Ep. 98:Connect with Suma through her website And with Tara Anand hereBooks and other stuff we discussed on the show:Martyr! by Kaveh AkbarTerry Pratchett's Discworld booksTishani Doshi's poetry collection A God at the DoorThe Covenant of Water by Abraham VergheseAmar Chitra Katha comicsMalgudi Days by R.K. NarayanSupport the show via Patreon!Questions? Comments? Get in touch @theindianeditpodcast on Instagram! Want to talk gardens? Follow me @readyourgardenSpecial thanks to Soumya Saksham, Sudipta Biswas and the team at The Media Tribe for audio-post production!

In his new book, Robert Macfarlane takes the reader on a river journey, through history and geography, to posit the idea that rivers are not merely for human use, but living beings. In Is A River Alive? he argues that human fate is interwoven with the natural world, and that it's time we treated nature not as a resource, but a fellow being. But does the natural world have legal rights? In A Barrister for the Earth the lawyer Monica Feria-Tinta explains how she's sought justice for environmental wrongs. Her case against the destruction of cloud forests was the world's first Rights of Nature case. In Britain many environmental campaigners argue for the Right to Roam and greater access to private land. But in Uncommon Ground, Patrick Galbraith presents a counterargument on the benefits of restricting access to the countryside, advocating for wildlife's right to tranquillity.Producer: Katy Hickman