Magic & Mountains

As Buddha said, "Make of your life a light." What does that really mean? And how do we make our life, our gift of time, a candle flame that can light even the darkest places?

In this episode, T. A. Barron takes us on a beautiful journey of inspiration and light. He reads passages from his books Heartlight and The Great Tree of Avalon. We explore radiant ideas as well as distant stars, and we meet magical creatures including dragons, chimewings, light flyers, and more. We celebrate the light of story, of poetry, of Merlin, and of music, as well as the enduring light of love.

Will you use your life to make a little light?

Tune in to spark the flame.

Follow @tabarronauthor and check out this YouTube Short from T. A. Barron about his favorite quote from Buddha.

Learn more about Heartlight and The Great Tree of Avalon by T. A. Barron.

Download a printable copy of the poem highlighted in this episode, "Death, Soft on the Snow," by T. A. Barron.

Magic & Mountains is hosted by T. A. Barron, beloved author of 32 books and counting. Carolyn Hunter is co-host.

Magic & Mountains Theme Song by Julian Peterson

Join T. A. Barron in an intimate and soulful conversation with the bright light that is Dr. Jane Goodall. What is her deepest wish for the world? And what is her next great adventure?

T. A. and Dr. Jane, who is now almost 90 years old, consider our troubled world, the indomitable human spirit, and the importance of giving people a sense of their own individual power.

Hope is a remarkable thing, and Dr. Jane has made it her mission to give people just that – HOPE. She shares how to inspire young people, and who encouraged her at a young age to pursue her passion and purpose.

Tune in for an episode filled with inspiration and wisdom with one of the world's most uplifting and compassionate leaders.

About Dr. Jane Goodall:

Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) and UN Messenger of Peace, is a world-renowned ethologist and activist inspiring greater understanding and action on behalf of the natural world.

Dr. Goodall is known for groundbreaking studies of wild chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania, which forever changed our understanding of our relationship to the rest of the animal kingdom. This transformative research continues today as the longest running wild chimpanzee study in the world. Jane's work builds on scientific innovations, growing a lifetime of advocacy including trailblazing efforts through her international organization the Jane Goodall Institute which advances community-led conservation, animal welfare, science, and youth empowerment through JGI's Roots & Shoots program.

Today, Jane continues to connect with worldwide audiences, despite the challenges of the pandemic, through 'Virtual Jane' including remote lectures, recordings, and her podcast, the Jane Goodall Hopecast. In 2021, Jane was the recipient of the Templeton Prize, and her newest book, The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times, was published.

Jane is a global icon spreading hope and turning it into meaningful positive impact to create a better world for people, other animals, and the planet we share.

Learn more about the Jane Goodall Institute.

Follow @tabarronauthor or find him on Facebook for show information.

Magic & Mountains is hosted by T. A. Barron, beloved author of 32 books and counting. Carolyn Hunter is co-host.

Magic & Mountains Theme Song by Julian Peterson

In season 2 of Magic & Mountains, we journey far and wide to the minds of courageous and visionary leaders like Jane Goodall and Isabel Allende, guided by the uplifting wisdom of T. A. Barron. We explore the wonders and inspiration of nature (as well as the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss) and the power of young people to make a positive difference in our world. Plus, you'll hear T. A.'s amazing stories from his three decades as a wandering bard — as well as his views on the wonders of "light", as we can find both in the stars and in the eyes of a loved one.

Season 2 episodes are released weekly on Mondays starting October 2 through mid-December 2023!

How did one eight-year-old girl protect endangered rainforest in Costa Rica and all the songbirds living there? How did a bold middle schooler rally an entire community in Montana to install solar panels?

Today we welcome on to the show two more outstanding young heroes.

Phebe Meyers founded a group called Change the World Kids that has helped tropical songbirds throughout Central America.

Claire Vlases did everything possible to gain support for installing solar panels in her Montana town… including dressing up as a solar panel for Halloween.

T. A., Phebe, and Claire discuss the importance of community and the power of thinking like a kid.

These young heroes share what gives them hope, who are their mentors, and how they overcame critics of their young age and ambitious goals.

How can one kid make a lasting difference?

Tune in and hear these kids' answers.

Change the World Kids is still hard at work – learn more!

Claire's story (and that Halloween costume…) was also featured on our sister site, Inspiring Young Heroes.

Check out the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes.

Magic & Mountains is hosted by T. A. Barron, beloved author of more than 30 books. Carolyn Hunter is co-host.

Magic & Mountains Theme Song by Julian Peterson

How did one 11-year-old girl ultimately touch the lives thousands of young people in Africa? How did one teenage boy in New York City change an abandoned lot into a garden… while also changing the lives of many in his community?

Today we meet Ashley Carter & Shawn Henry, two inspiring young people who have won the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes.

Ashley founded a nonprofit group called Africaid that supports education and entrepreneurship training for girls across East Africa.

Shawn founded an organization in New York City called Garden Angels that has planted many seeds – some in the ground, some in the heart.

T. A. asks these young heroes why they did what they did and how it has made a difference to others and to themselves.

We discuss the difference that one person can make, and how we can all overcome obstacles and doubt.

Tune in to meet these young heroes… and to learn the meaning of the Swahili proverb "Haba na Haba, Huiaza Kibaba."

Learn more about how Africaid is still changing lives.

Shawn and Ashley's heroic stories (and many others!) are also featured on our sister site, Inspiring Young Heroes.

Check out the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes.

Magic & Mountains is hosted by T. A. Barron, beloved author of more than 30 books. Carolyn Hunter is co-host.

Magic & Mountains Theme Song by Julian Peterson

What is the difference between a hero and a celebrity? What does it mean to be a real-life hero? And why do heroes really matter?

T. A. and Carolyn discuss why we need heroes now more than ever.

T. A. describes meeting a deeply cynical girl in Ohio who inspired him to write the non-fiction book The Hero's Trail. Hear the amazing story of a courageous girl named Wilma Rudolph. And learn about the origins of the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes.

Tune in… and be inspired.

Magic & Mountains is hosted by T. A. Barron, beloved author of more than 30 books. Carolyn Hunter is co-host.

Magic & Mountains Theme Song by Julian Peterson

What is a resplendent quetzal? And how can magnificent creatures like this enlighten and inspire us… and give us the courage to protect the world's most wondrous ecosystems?

In this episode, T. A. welcomes onto the show his friend and hiking companion, Carter Roberts, the President and CEO of the World Wildlife Fund in the USA.

Carter shares with us his first magical experience in nature. He tells us how he finds time to get out in nature while leading one of the largest conservation organizations on the planet. He also explains what WWF is doing to protect our home planet, our fellow creatures, and ourselves.

T. A. and Carter discuss why we depend upon nature. We talk about climate change and the loss of nature, and how the two are intertwined.

And finally, we hear about Carter's favorite animal, the resplendent quetzal.

Learn more about World Wildlife Fund.

Magic & Mountains is hosted by T. A. Barron, beloved author of more than 30 books. Carolyn Hunter is co-host.

Magic & Mountains Theme Song by Julian Peterson

How does Rue, founder of Outdoor Afro, retain her sense of joy? And how has she kept her childlike sense of wonder through all the challenges of life?

We are so thrilled to welcome to the show one of T. A.'s most favorite people in the whole world, Rue Mapp. She is the founder and CEO of Outdoor Afro, an important organization and network that celebrates and inspires Black leadership and connections in nature.

We learn about what inspired Rue to create Outdoor Afro, and her highest goals and aspirations for the organization. We also get to hear about her passion for hunting… as well as olives.

T. A. and Rue discuss her triumphant new book Nature Swagger, as well as their favorite places in nature.

Tune in.

Check out Rue's book, Nature Swagger.

Learn more about Outdoor Afro.

Magic & Mountains is hosted by T. A. Barron, beloved author of more than 30 books. Carolyn Hunter is co-host.

Magic & Mountains Theme Song by Julian Peterson

Why does nature have such great power to heal, transform, and inspire? Walk with us in the enchanted forest of nature, full of wonder and mystery.

T. A. Barron shares the story of how he first came to know the enduring power of nature. He walks us through his journey from a nature writer to a fantasy writer and why the magic of nature infuses all his stories.

Carolyn and T. A. discuss the dangers that nature is facing in the 21st century and some ways we can help.

We sit in the hold of a great Redwood tree and read a passage from The Ancient One, where a young teenage girl from Oregon faces grave peril to herself and her world… and finds the courage to hope.

Ultimately there are many ways nature renews our hope and gives us the strength to prevail. What are they? Tune in to find out.

Check out The Ancient One.

Magic & Mountains is hosted by T. A. Barron, beloved author of more than 30 books. Carolyn Hunter is co-host.

Magic & Mountains Theme Song by Julian Peterson

Why is it essential to follow your dreams? What part of your soul would you sacrifice if you never tried? What can we learn from life's rejections and failures?

In today's episode, T. A. invites you to see your own life as a story. A story of which YOU are the author.

He shares some of the most bizarre and surprising (and funny!) turns in his own life story… including the 32 rejections of his first novel! He also shares the laugh-out-loud tale of how he met the wonderful author Madeleine L'Engle.

After getting all those rejections, how did he become the author of more than 30 published books, numerous best-sellers, and many international editions? Tune in to find out… and to begin seeing your life as a story.

Check out T. A.'s blog on this topic: Live Your Life as a Story.

Magic & Mountains is hosted by T. A. Barron, beloved author of more than 30 books. Carolyn Hunter is co-host.

Magic & Mountains Theme Song by Julian Peterson