TALATERRA

Alastair Duncan is an award-winning artist and educator who uses sound to interpret place. As founder and director of StillWalks he develops interactive projects that promote understanding of place and the outdoors.

How does Alastair create StillWalks projects?

What has he learned about sound?

How does he work with schools, community organizations, a local prison, and immigration services?

Let’s find out.

LINKS

StillWalks

StillWalks on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@stillwalks)

Viewing Nature Scenes Positivity Affects Recovery of Autonomic Function Following Acute-Mental Stress

View Through a Window May Influence Recovery from Surgery

From Orange to Blue: How Nature Imagery Affects Inmates in the “Blue Room”

High Tide Birds soundtrack, courtesy of StillWalks®, all rights reserved.

Correction: 

Near the end at 49:11, when talking about research, Alastair mentioned the University of Exeter. He intended to say the University of Essex.

Thank you for listening.

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with friends and colleagues and consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (Click on “Listen on Apple Podcasts.”). Your review brings attention to the significant contributions independent environmental education professionals make to the field and society.

____________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE:

On September 2, 2026, the TALATERRA website merged with Transferable Solutions. Conversations can be accessed through the interactive map. You can also explore the podcast's catalog of episodes on Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

CREDITS:

• Producer: Tania Marien
• Music: So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License;
• SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.
• Subscribe to Transferable Solutions, a newsletter about reimagining environmental skills
• Contact Us
• Talaterra is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. Learn More
• © 2019 - 2026 Talaterra Inc

ABOUT:

TALATERRA combines "tala" (Icelandic for "to speak" and "to talk") with "terra" (Earth)—because speaking for our planet and telling its stories is what environmental educators do.

TALATERRA: to speak Earth.

Katura Reynolds is an Interpretive Content Developer and scientific illustrator. She has worked in exhibit design since 1997 and has created learning environments at museums such as The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Garden, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, and most recently Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, WA.

She is especially interested in bilingual and bi-cultural content development and community-based social marketing.

How did Katura learn to design bilingual learning environments?

What recommendations does she have for us?

Let’s find out.

LINKS

Scribbiling Science

Best practices for the design of bilingual museum graphics (NISE Network)

Translation Process Guide (NISE Network)

Bilingual Exhibit Research Initiative (BERI), diving into how folks use bilingual graphics in museums.

Roots of Wisdom Legacy Document, with insights on cross-cultural collaborations.

View transcript

Thank you for listening.

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with friends and colleagues and consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (Click on “Listen on Apple Podcasts.”). Your review brings attention to the significant contributions independent environmental education professionals make to the field and society.

____________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE:

On September 2, 2026, the TALATERRA website merged with Transferable Solutions. Conversations can be accessed through the interactive map. You can also explore the podcast's catalog of episodes on Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

CREDITS:

• Producer: Tania Marien
• Music: So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License;
• SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.
• Subscribe to Transferable Solutions, a newsletter about reimagining environmental skills
• Contact Us
• Talaterra is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. Learn More
• © 2019 - 2026 Talaterra Inc

ABOUT:

TALATERRA combines "tala" (Icelandic for "to speak" and "to talk") with "terra" (Earth)—because speaking for our planet and telling its stories is what environmental educators do.

TALATERRA: to speak Earth.

Kate Field is a co-founder of Leap Farm, a 300-acre award-winning family farm in Tasmania. Together with her husband, Kate implements regenerative farming techniques to produce their signature cheese and to raise goats and cattle.

Kate is also the host and producer of “The Curious Farmer” podcast in which she explores the topic of regenerative agriculture.

How did Kate and her husband come to own their independent farm?

What changes to the land have they observed since taking an ecological approach to farming?

Let's find out.

LINKS

Leap Farm

The Curious Farmer

Thank you for listening.

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with friends and colleagues and consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (Click on “Listen on Apple Podcasts.”). Your review brings attention to the significant contributions independent environmental education professionals make to the field and society.

____________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE:

On September 2, 2026, the TALATERRA website merged with Transferable Solutions. Conversations can be accessed through the interactive map. You can also explore the podcast's catalog of episodes on Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

CREDITS:

• Producer: Tania Marien
• Music: So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License;
• SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.
• Subscribe to Transferable Solutions, a newsletter about reimagining environmental skills
• Contact Us
• Talaterra is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. Learn More
• © 2019 - 2026 Talaterra Inc

ABOUT:

TALATERRA combines "tala" (Icelandic for "to speak" and "to talk") with "terra" (Earth)—because speaking for our planet and telling its stories is what environmental educators do.

TALATERRA: to speak Earth.

Next week Talaterra Cowork will host Breakthrough! - Purpose of Environmental Education.

This Breakthrough! session will be the first of many monthly conversations to encourage dialogue between independent professionals working in fields related to environmental education and their colleagues.

This month’s topic was inspired by papers I read by Dr. Rupu Gupta and her colleagues. Last year I had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Gupta for the podcast. Dr. Gupta’s specialty is conservation psychology. She studies why people have an interest in nature, why they don’t, what motivates them to take care of nature, and what barriers prevent people from caring for the environment.

This week we revisit my conversation with Dr. Gupta because next week’s Breakthrough! session is informed and inspired by her work and the research tool she helped create at Knology.

I hope you enjoy learning about Dr. Rupu’s research and that you consider participating in next week’s Breakthrough! conversation.

LINKS

Knology.org

More about Dr. Rupu Gupta

Let’s Talk: What to you is the purpose of environmental education?

Transcript: Ep60, What is Environmental Education for?

Social media photo by Marleen Mulder-Wieske on Unsplash

____________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE:

On September 2, 2026, the TALATERRA website merged with Transferable Solutions. Conversations can be accessed through the interactive map. You can also explore the podcast's catalog of episodes on Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

CREDITS:

• Producer: Tania Marien
• Music: So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License;
• SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.
• Subscribe to Transferable Solutions, a newsletter about reimagining environmental skills
• Contact Us
• Talaterra is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. Learn More
• © 2019 - 2026 Talaterra Inc

ABOUT:

TALATERRA combines "tala" (Icelandic for "to speak" and "to talk") with "terra" (Earth)—because speaking for our planet and telling its stories is what environmental educators do.

TALATERRA: to speak Earth.

The future of work is uncertain. 

What does this mean to independent professionals like you and me?

We can talk about it if you want.

How?

Let’s find out.

LINKS

Talaterra

When Every Aspect of Your Museum Job Has Changed, How Do You Move Forward?

International Nature Journaling Week

____________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE:

On September 2, 2026, the TALATERRA website merged with Transferable Solutions. Conversations can be accessed through the interactive map. You can also explore the podcast's catalog of episodes on Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

CREDITS:

• Producer: Tania Marien
• Music: So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License;
• SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.
• Subscribe to Transferable Solutions, a newsletter about reimagining environmental skills
• Contact Us
• Talaterra is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. Learn More
• © 2019 - 2026 Talaterra Inc

ABOUT:

TALATERRA combines "tala" (Icelandic for "to speak" and "to talk") with "terra" (Earth)—because speaking for our planet and telling its stories is what environmental educators do.

TALATERRA: to speak Earth.

Last week I had the opportunity to meet with a group of environmental educators. Participants logged in from California, Oregon, Wisconsin, Maine, Mexico, and Costa Rica.

What did I learn?

What is Talaterra’s next initiative for freelance environmental professionals?

Let’s find out.

LINKS

Register for Breakthrough! - Purpose of EE

Practitioners’ perspectives on the purpose of environmental education

Transcript: Ep 58, Announcing Breakthrough!

____________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE:

On September 2, 2026, the TALATERRA website merged with Transferable Solutions. Conversations can be accessed through the interactive map. You can also explore the podcast's catalog of episodes on Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

CREDITS:

• Producer: Tania Marien
• Music: So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License;
• SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.
• Subscribe to Transferable Solutions, a newsletter about reimagining environmental skills
• Contact Us
• Talaterra is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. Learn More
• © 2019 - 2026 Talaterra Inc

ABOUT:

TALATERRA combines "tala" (Icelandic for "to speak" and "to talk") with "terra" (Earth)—because speaking for our planet and telling its stories is what environmental educators do.

TALATERRA: to speak Earth.

“(A) lack of environmental education opportunities in our daughters’ elementary school.”

“Through work I was doing with scientific journals and museum publications.”

“(An) internship with an organic farm through school.”

These are only a few of the responses I received to the question:

How did you start working in the field of informal education?

I included this question in the survey I used in the early days of The Freelance Project.

What else did I learn?

Let's find out.

LINKS

Freelancing in Environmental Education

____________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE:

On September 2, 2026, the TALATERRA website merged with Transferable Solutions. Conversations can be accessed through the interactive map. You can also explore the podcast's catalog of episodes on Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

CREDITS:

• Producer: Tania Marien
• Music: So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License;
• SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.
• Subscribe to Transferable Solutions, a newsletter about reimagining environmental skills
• Contact Us
• Talaterra is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. Learn More
• © 2019 - 2026 Talaterra Inc

ABOUT:

TALATERRA combines "tala" (Icelandic for "to speak" and "to talk") with "terra" (Earth)—because speaking for our planet and telling its stories is what environmental educators do.

TALATERRA: to speak Earth.

This week we meet up with Mark and Crystal Mandica, founders of The Amphibian Foundation. When Mark and Crystal launched the Foundation in 2016, they had to get creative when it came to funding because a federal startup grant they were counting on did not come through. They hit the ground running and turned their Foundation into what it is today. Because of the current COVID-19 pandemic, they once again find themselves having to fund themselves creatively.

After listening to the original episode (aired December 18, 2019), you’ll hear the conversation I had with Mark and Crystal earlier this week. They have exciting new updates to share, so be sure to stick around to find out what’s new.

How is The Amphibian Foundation growing their network?

What is their new initiative for families?

Let’s find out. 

LINKS

The Amphibian Foundation

Amphibian Foundation Membership

Critter Camp Worldwide

____________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE:

On September 2, 2026, the TALATERRA website merged with Transferable Solutions. Conversations can be accessed through the interactive map. You can also explore the podcast's catalog of episodes on Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

CREDITS:

• Producer: Tania Marien
• Music: So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License;
• SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.
• Subscribe to Transferable Solutions, a newsletter about reimagining environmental skills
• Contact Us
• Talaterra is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. Learn More
• © 2019 - 2026 Talaterra Inc

ABOUT:

TALATERRA combines "tala" (Icelandic for "to speak" and "to talk") with "terra" (Earth)—because speaking for our planet and telling its stories is what environmental educators do.

TALATERRA: to speak Earth.

Alice Merry is a co-founder of Museo Wak'a, a pop-up participatory museum delighting communities in Lima, Peru. I spoke with Alice to learn more about Museo Wak'a and how it contributes to lifelong learning in communities.

Alice and co-founder Gustavo Florez Salcedo and team member Rolando Flores Vega launched Museo Wak'a three years ago in a garage after a flood. Since then, they received a grant from the Royal Society of Arts, formed partnerships with museums, and won the hearts of residents.

How did Museo Wak'a develop partnerships with traditional museums?

What has been Waka's most successful approach to sponsorships?

What's next for this community-oriented museum?

Let's find out.

LINKS

Museo Wak'a: A New Kind of Museum

Museo Wak'a on Facebook

Event photos on Facebook

Our First Few Interviews: Heritage, Shame, and Food

More Interviews: Make an Event of It

Alice on LinkedIn

Alice's podcast about women and financial inclusion (The Feminist Finance Podcast)

Data for Visitor-serving Organizations

A Beautiful Constraint

____________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE:

On September 2, 2026, the TALATERRA website merged with Transferable Solutions. Conversations can be accessed through the interactive map. You can also explore the podcast's catalog of episodes on Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

CREDITS:

• Producer: Tania Marien
• Music: So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License;
• SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.
• Subscribe to Transferable Solutions, a newsletter about reimagining environmental skills
• Contact Us
• Talaterra is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. Learn More
• © 2019 - 2026 Talaterra Inc

ABOUT:

TALATERRA combines "tala" (Icelandic for "to speak" and "to talk") with "terra" (Earth)—because speaking for our planet and telling its stories is what environmental educators do.

TALATERRA: to speak Earth.

Janice Kelley is an author and the founder of an afterschool program called Nature Detectives. This week we revisit my conversation with Janice because she recently launched a podcast series based on her book, Mornings on Fair Oaks Bridge. Today's episode begins with our discussion about her new podcast, followed by an in-depth conversation about her book and afterschool program. Our in-depth interview first aired on March 7, 2019.

What's the story behind the book Mornings on Fair Oaks Bridge?

How did Janice create and grow Nature Detectives?

Where does she want to take the program?

Let's find out.

LINKS

Nature Legacies (Janice’s website)

Mornings on Fair Oaks Bridge podcast

Nature Detectives

Mornings on Fair Oaks Bridge: Watching Wildlife at the Lower American River

Through the Eyes of John Muir: Practices in Environmental Stewardship

____________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE:

On September 2, 2026, the TALATERRA website merged with Transferable Solutions. Conversations can be accessed through the interactive map. You can also explore the podcast's catalog of episodes on Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

CREDITS:

• Producer: Tania Marien
• Music: So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License;
• SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.
• Subscribe to Transferable Solutions, a newsletter about reimagining environmental skills
• Contact Us
• Talaterra is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. Learn More
• © 2019 - 2026 Talaterra Inc

ABOUT:

TALATERRA combines "tala" (Icelandic for "to speak" and "to talk") with "terra" (Earth)—because speaking for our planet and telling its stories is what environmental educators do.

TALATERRA: to speak Earth.