In this episode hear the passion of John Muir Laws, a scientist, teacher and author who helps people forge deeper, more personal connections with nature through keeping illustrated nature journals.

John and I talk about how he entered into nature journaling, the importance of parents encouraging kids to explore their interests, ways sketchnoters and visual thinking can enter into nature journaling, and more.

This is a fantastic interview I know you’re going to love!

SPONSORED BY

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RUNNING ORDER

• Intro: Who is John?
• How John got into nature journaling
• What is nature journaling?
• Using journaling to slow down and pay attention
• Nature journaling is an invitation to the infinite
• I notice — words, pictures, numbers
• I wonder — what, why, how, when?
• It reminds me of — what else is like this in my experience?
• Creativity is useful connections between seemingly unrelated things
• Observing the world this way opens up your brain to curiosity
• There are infinite opportunities for curious exploration
• Observations can lead to biomimicry innovation
• Noting relationships between observations and things you understand
• John’s Sketchnote Handbook story
• How sketchnoting nature ideas expanded John’s process thinking
• We think we understand, but we’ve only scratched the surface
• The differences between science and mathematics
• You can be part of the process through observation and curiosity
• Human memory is unreliable: visual documentation is critical
• Visualization is a critical thinking tool
• Tools
• Outro

LINKS

• John Muir Laws Website
• John’s Blog Archive - loads of gems in there
• Wild Wonder Nature Journaling Conference
• John Muir Laws on Twitter
• John Muir Laws on Instagram
• The Nature Journal Club
• John Muir Laws Store
• Book: The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling
• Book: The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds
• Book: Sierra Birds: a Hiker’s Guide
• Book: The Laws Guide to the Sierra Nevada

TOOLS

Amazon affiliate links below support the Sketchnote Army Podcast.

• Growth Mindset is critical
• Actively, intentionally harness your curiosity - do curiosity
• Prismacolor Col-Erase Non-Photo Blue Pencil No. 20028
• Pentel GraphGear 1000 Mechanical Pencil 0.5mm
• Bic Round Stic Xtra Life Ballpoint Pen
• Strathmore Hardbound Toned Tan Paper Art Journal
• Strathmore Hardbound Mixed Media Gray Paper Art Journal
• John’s Field Sketching Supplies and Naturalist Equipment

CREDITS

• Producer: Alec Pulianas
• Theme music: Jon Schiedermayer

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SUPPORT THE PODCAST

To support the creation, production and hosting of the Sketchnote Army Podcast, buy one of Mike Rohde’s bestselling books. Use code ROHDE40 at Peachpit.com for 40% off!

Subscribe to the Sketchnote Podcast

You can subscribe to the podcast through iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube or your favorite podcast listening source.

Support the Podcast

To support the creation, production, and hosting of the Sketchnote Army Podcast, buy one of Mike Rohde's bestselling books. Use code ROHDE40 at Peachpit.com for 40% off!

Sketchnote Lab is Mike Rohde’s space designed to bridge the gap between sketchnote theory and practice. You don’t need to be an artist to think visually. Join Mike and learn to use sketchnotes to clarify your thinking, solve problems, and move forward. Learn more about Sketchnote Lab.

Mike is the author of The Sketchnote Handbook and The Sketchnote Workbook, bestselling books that teach regular people how to start sketchnoting and build a regular sketchnoting practice.

He founded the Sketchnote Army and hosts the Sketchnote Podcast, where he interviews visual thinkers to understand what makes them tick.

Mike teaches recorded, live, and in-person workshops to accelerate your sketchnoting practice and provides personalized coaching for your specific visual-thinking challenges.

He is the illustrator of bestselling books like REWORK, REMOTE, The $100 Startup, Honest SEO, The Culture Playbook, and The Future Begins with Z.

Become a Supporting or Founding Lab Partner to support Mike’s work.

Some links in Sketchnote Lab posts are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools and resources I use and believe in.

©2026 Mike Rohde, Sketchnote Lab