Constant Wonder

In Italy, it takes a village to welcome the Christ child. We explore the sacred within raucous Neapolitan nativity sets that can boast hundreds of figures.

Part of a Constant Wonder series marking the Christian Advent with daily vignettes that distill the spirit of the season, in keeping with our mission of exploring wonder and awe in all nature, human or wild, vast or small: encounters that move us beyond words.

Guest: Ed Simon, author of "Elysium: A Visual History of Angelology"

Here's a way to reawaken the wonder of the Christmas season: a mini Advent garden.

Part of a Constant Wonder series marking the Christian Advent tradition with daily vignettes that distill the spirit of the season, in keeping with our mission of exploring wonder and awe in all nature, human or wild, vast or small: encounters that move us beyond words.

Guest: Christine Sine, gardener and author of "The Gift of Wonder: Creative Practices For Delighting in God"

Enjoy an audio advent calendar with a short episode every day from December 1 through Christmas. Each episode invites thoughtful reflection on the season, inspired by nature’s miraculous phenomena (from a turtle hibernating through the cold of winter to an ermine that teaches a writer forgiveness) as well as music and art traditionally connected with the biblical story of the Nativity. Advent is a series from the Constant Wonder podcast, produced by BYUradio.

Poet and essayist Ross Gay talks about finding moments of wonder in everyday life. Wandering, finger painting, laundromats, bike riding, gardening, listening to beautiful music, recognizing the care that is offered to us. In this episode of Constant Wonder, we discover Ross Gay's philosophy of delight.

Guest: Ross Gay, author of "The Book of Delights," "Inciting Joy," and "The Book of (More) Delights"

Find Ross Gay online to explore his other work: https://www.rossgay.net/about

Originally aired October 25, 2023

Get to know BBC personality and naturalist Mike Dilger, from his passion for birds and wildlife, to his adventures in the cloud forests of Ecuador. In this episode, we explore Mike's early experiences with birdwatching, his quest to find 1,000 different plant species in a single year, and his heartwarming proposal story, involving a ladder, a ring, and some chickens. Mike Dilger celebrates the natural world with contagious enthusiasm.

Guest: Mike Dilger, BBC presenter and author of "One Thousand Shades of Green"

Explore Mike's writing and photography here: https://mikedilger.co.uk/

Episode originally aired April 19, 2023

In 1938, two botanists from Michigan challenge the raging Colorado River in pursuit of cactus, the first known women to run the river through the Grand Canyon. An entertaining but little-known tale of resilience and beauty at the edge of the impossible.

Guest: Melissa Sevigny, author of "Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon."

Explore Melissa's other writing here: https://melissasevigny.com/

Thanks to Lew Steiger for allowing us to use his recordings of Lois Jotter's recollections. Kyle Remand, Ryan Clark, Brian Tanner, Eric Glissmeyer, Audrey Hughes, Kristi Lindstrom, Becca Hurley, and Barry Squires voiced the various roles.

Episode originally aired September 9, 2023.

A story of human triumph: A young child is rescued from life on the streets, fostered, and mentored. He chases a dream to play classical music, and now as a mentor himself, he encourages others to dream big. With humility and humor, Richard Antoine White shares his unique journey. A favorite episode reprise, originally posted October 12, 2022.

Guest: Richard Antoine White, author of "I'm Possible: A Story of Survival, a Tuba, and the Small Miracle of a Big Dream"; principal tubist for the Santa Fe Symphony and the New Mexico Philharmonic; Associate Professor of Tuba/Euphonium at the University of New Mexico

Visit Richard's website to learn more about him and his music: https://rawtuba.com/

A widowed mother's secrets haunted her young boys' lives. When Philip Yancey discovered the truth about his father's death at age 23, he had to reframe his entire understanding of his family's past. Eventually, he would overcome skepticism and cynicism to embrace a career as an inspirational writer and journalist, in which he has won the hearts of millions.

Guest: Philip Yancey, author of "Where the Light Fell: A Memoir" and "What’s So Amazing About Grace?"

Find Phillip Yancey online: https://philipyancey.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipyanceyofficial/?hl=en

X/Twitter: https://x.com/philipyancey

Can one local map offer a lifetime of adventure? Alastair Humphreys embarks on a quest to discover the hidden marvels of his London neighborhood. As a National Geographic explorer, he has rowed across the Atlantic, biked around the world, and run a marathon in the Sahara—but he still loves to find the ordinary, wondrous things right under our noses.

Guest: Alastair Humphreys, National Geographic Explorer and author, "Local: A Search for Nearby Nature and Wildness"

Find Alastair Humphreys online:

https://alastairhumphreys.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/al_humphreys/?hl=en

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKsTMxQP7HUCRTuNEEQWLww

X/Twitter: https://x.com/Al_Humphreys

Unexpected wonder from Arctic encounters with beluga whales, wolves, grizzlies, and polar bears. Adventurer Jonathan Waterman shares four decades of experience on the ice, and he explores the emerging beauty of a warming ecosphere.

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

Check out Jonathan's other survival books and say hi online:

https://authorsunbound.com/jonathan-waterman/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waterman_jonathan/?hl=en