Constant Wonder

When a nervous cat tries to communicate his needs, Hannah Anderson reflects on the symbolism of the Christ child in the manger.

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: Hannah Anderson, author of "Heaven and Nature Sing: 25 Advent Reflections to Bring Joy to the World"

The wintering painted turtle and the fox squirrel offer differing models for our own unique styles of spiritual waiting through dark periods of our lives.

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: Gayle Boss, author of "All Creation Waits: The Advent Mystery of New Beginnings"

This month, as Christmas draws near, join us on a journey called Advent. Constant Wonder will mark this venerable tradition, a calendar of hopeful anticipation, with daily short episodes, a new Advent experience every day, all the way through the 25th. Together with special guests, we'll seek out the wonder and awe felt by so many people during this season of hope, reverence, peace, and goodwill.

When invasive plants and animals crowd out native species—and you just can't beat 'em—you might as well eat 'em! That's Joe Roman's argument. It's not a perfect solution, but from lionfish in the Caribbean to the snails and weeds in your backyard, chefs and foodies are serving up invasive species in the name of conservation. Enjoy this short bonus episode from Constant Wonder!

Guest: Joe Roman, conservation biologist and research affiliate at the University of Vermont; author, "Eat, Poop, Die: How Animals Make Our World"

Sixty years ago, the island of Surtsey was born of a volcanic eruption. It would've remained a bleak, barren place were it not for bird droppings which created a tiny ecosystem in which plants, insects, and birds now thrive. It's a compelling example of the way that animals distribute nutrients around the globe through their poop. In other instances, carcasses nourish many forms of life around them, especially during and after a migration. In this episode, we'll find wonder around the world in quite unlikely places.

Guest: Joe Roman, author of "Eat, Poop, Die: How Animals Make Our World"

Find Joe online: https://joeroman.com/

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

As a biology professor and a published writer, Steven Peck spent his entire life closely observing everything around him. But then his world was overturned by a brain infection that caused severe hallucinations, and he was plunged into a terrifying realm of assassin-children, evil doctors, and river-rafting MRI machines. Emerging from that chaos, Peck grappled with the power of the human brain to construct and alter the reality we experience. In this episode of Constant Wonder, he talks about how such a horrific and mind-altering experience led to an increased capacity for compassion.

Steven Peck, professor of biology at BYU and author of over forty short stories and novels.

Visit Steven online to find out more about his writing: https://stevepeckniche.com/

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

Steven Melendez was introduced to ballet as a child living in a homeless shelter. After an international ballet career—during which he tried to downplay his past—he now works to welcome more kids with backgrounds like his into the ballet studio and onto the world's finest stages. The documentary "Lift" chronicles his journey.

Guests:

Steven Melendez, Artistic Director of New York Theatre Ballet

David Petersen, Director and Producer of "Lift"

Find Steven online: https://stevenmelendez.com/

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

Find David online: https://www.beaufort9films.com/lift

Andrew Leland figured out he was going blind when he began stumbling in the dark as a teenager. Using the then-nascent internet, he diagnosed himself with retinitis pigmentosa, a condition which has caused his sight to gradually degrade from the outside in. Far from being the tragedy he expected, his blindness has simply become part of everyday life—bringing with it surprising humor and unexpected beauty.

Guest: Andrew Leland, freelance writer for The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, McSweeney’s Quarterly, and The San Francisco Chronicle, among others

Find Andrew online: https://www.andrewleland.org/

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

When the two teenage children of a close-knit family are killed by a drunk driver, the grief-stricken parents turn to their Jewish community for support. They learn that constructive grief requires community and conversation, and they set out to rebuild a joyful life that honors their lost children while embracing others in need.

Guests: Colin Campbell, author of "Finding the Words: Working Through Profound Loss with Hope and Purpose," and Gail Lerner

Find Colin online: https://colincampbellauthor.com/colin/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colincampbellwriter/

Find Gail online: https://gaillerner.com/

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