Naturalist Craig Foster spends his days exploring the underwater kelp forest off the coast of South Africa. This wondrous place is home to octopuses, cuttlefish, otters, and more, and a place of inspiration and awe for those willing to explore.

Guest: Craig Foster, naturalist and documentary filmmaker, known for his 2020 film, My Octopus Teacher

Link to Season 5 Printable: https://www.byuradio.org/blog-post/cc199ea1-396c-4dc1-93ea-48fe6197bccf

Photographer Eugene Tapahe doesn’t just take pictures of animals in the natural world- he captures their stories. Raised in Navajo culture, Eugene approaches the land with respect, patience, and gratitude and can teach us how photographs can tell stories about belonging, responsibility, and our relationship with the Earth.

Guest: Eugene Tapahe, artist, photographer, creator of “Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project” and “Kéyah, Our Home.”

Link to Season 5 Printable: https://www.byuradio.org/blog-post/cc199ea1-396c-4dc1-93ea-48fe6197bccf

This Egyptian cat statuette is here to set the record straight. Yes, she’s a little bit of a diva, but don’t all cats deserve to be worshiped? No, she’s not really the goddess Bastet, just an offering to her, thank you very much. And no, she’s certainly no phony! Hear about the role of cats in ancient Egypt and how this statuette proved her age, with a little help from some conservation scientists.

For a listening guide, a coloring sheet, images, and more, visit https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/if-objects-could-talk/ready-for-my-closeup-meow/

Author and naturalist Sy Montgomery believes animals have important lessons to teach us, if we take the time to listen. Learn how dogs, birds, and even tigers have shaped her understanding of curiosity, courage, and our connection to the natural world.

Guest: Sy Montgomery, award-winning author and naturalist

Link to Season 5 Printable: https://www.byuradio.org/cc199ea1-396c-4dc1-93ea-48fe6197bccf

Tom Kerss studies the aurora borealis—the glowing northern lights that ripple across the night sky in brilliant colors. Learn what causes this magical light show, how humans have thought about the lights over the centuries, and why these dancing lights connect Earth to the sun.

Guest: Tom Kerss, Astronomer, founder of Stargazing London, author of "The Northern Lights: The Definitive Guide to Auroras"

Link to Aurora Pictures: https://guidetoiceland.is/the-northern-lights/22-photos-of-the-aurora-in-iceland

A cello might seem like an unusual place for a beehive, but for Martin and Deirdre Bencsik, it was a beautiful experiment. By carefully placing bees inside a cello, a bee sound researcher and a classical musician discovered what happens when music, listening, and the natural world come together.

Guests: Martin Benscik, sound researcher, and Deirdre Benscik, cellist

After sharing her experiences with powerful leopard seals in a previous Winter Wonders episode, field biologist Naira de Gracia returns to take us even deeper into life on Antarctica’s icy coast—this time with the lively and adorable fur seals. In this mini-episode, Naira describes what it’s like to work around these energetic animals, how scientists learn more about fur seals, and the wonder she experiences with these special creatures.

Guest: Naira de Gracia, field biologist and Antarctic researcher

While kayaking through the remote Arctic, explorer and author Jon Waterman had an unforgettable—and unexpected—meeting with a wild polar bear. In this Winter Wonders mini-episode, Jon shares the heart-pounding moment, what he learned about these powerful predators, and how the experience shaped his understanding of the rapidly changing Arctic.

Guest: Jon Waterman, author of Into the Thaw: Witnessing Wonder Amid the Arctic Climate Crisis

Field biologist Naira de Gracia has spent seasons working in Antarctica’s icy world, where penguins rule the shoreline. In this Winter Wonders mini-episode, she shares her close-up encounters with these hardy, hilarious birds and what she learned in the coldest place on Earth.

Guest: Naira de Gracia, field biologist and Antarctic researcher

Arctic explorer Jon Waterman has spent years traveling through some of the coldest, wildest landscapes on Earth—places where wolves still roam free. In this Winter Wonders mini-episode, he shares his surprising encounters with these intelligent animals and their life in the true North.

Guest: Jon Waterman, author of "Into the Thaw: Witnessing Wonder Amid the Arctic Climate Crisis"