What if noticing a chickadee, or spending Sunday offline, could change the way you see your neighbourhood — and yourself?

This week, I’m joined by Matt Howard, a wildlife biologist, writer,  and engaging voice on how we connect with the natural world. Matt has worked everywhere from a tiny island in Alaska to California wind farms, and he now brings that deep ecological knowledge into everyday conversations about birds, frogs, and even the gear we think we need to enjoy the outdoors.

We talk about everything from chickadee calls and suburban bird feeders to wildlife road crossings, community science, and why stories matter just as much as data. Matt also shares how his “Log Cabin Sundays” digital detox practice has shifted his perspective, and what it means to navigate being a middle-aged “influencer” in the sustainability space.

This conversation is both funny and hopeful — a reminder that connecting with nature doesn’t have to be complicated, and that the choices we make in our own backyards and communities really do matter.

Takeaways

• Storytelling can help people connect with science and see nature differently
• Bird feeders and native plants can create vital suburban habitats
• Community science projects let anyone contribute to conservation
• Wildlife road crossings save countless animals and need ongoing support
• Noise pollution is a hidden but powerful threat to wildlife
• Log Cabin Sundays show the value of slowing down and unplugging
• Buying outdoor gear second-hand is one way to enjoy nature without feeding consumerism

One Small Shift

Matt suggests making your next outdoor adventure a little greener by choosing secondhand gear. Whether it’s borrowing from a friend, checking a thrift shop, or repurposing what you already have, enjoying nature doesn’t have to come with new stuff.

Connect With Matt

Instagram

TikTok

Threads

Patreon - Howie's Everything Club

Substack - Log Cabin Sundays

YouTube

Resources

Merlin Bird ID (app)

Safe Nesting Materials for Birds (blog post)

Beaverland: How One Weird Rodent Made America - Leila Philip (book)

Silent Spring - Rachel Carson (book)

No New Things - Ashlee Piper (book)

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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio

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