that quirky bird girl

do you struggle to talk about your feelings? alone, with others 1to1, or online?

have you leaned on online communities heavily because you find it easier to be yourself in?

do you feel most like yourself when you are surrounded by nature?

this episode is for you. and, for me. i have struggled with vulnerability practically my whole life - moving from home to home and school to school after my parents divorce made it nearly impossible to settle in and allow myself to be deeply known by anyone.

now, as a nearly 30 year old woman, i still struggle to this day. and birds help me out of it. they allow me to find myself again and know that i am not the things that have happened to me. i am what i do with them, and it is okay to share those things with people that i know and deeply love.

vulnerability isn't about perfection, it's about being and knowing when it is safe to just be. to allow the walls to cascade down. you deserve that.

and if you struggle with it, you are not alone. many, many others do too (myself included). with birds though, you can do another :) i believe in you! check out this episode for more on how birds allow me to be vulnerable.

Chapter overview 3:40

Vulnerable Birds 4:40

What is Vulnerability? 5:32

Back to the birds 6:47

My vulnerability story 28:06

Redefining vulnerability 34:00

check out my site for merch and fun events that i am hosting in nyc: https://thatquirkybirdgirl.com/

have you struggled to find your place in new rooms?

does meeting new people feel incredibly daunting?

if so, you’re not alone. millions of people feel exactly that way — including me.

my whole life has felt like a journey of finding my voice in rooms that sometimes felt exclusive instead of inclusive.

and now, so many people ask me: “how do you do it?”

the truth? sometimes we all need guides.

in my case… my guides have been birds. 🦆

birds have helped me understand myself, reconnect with the world around me, and remember that I have a place here too.

this episode is for anyone who hasn’t quite found their home within themselves yet — but is still searching, still growing, and still showing up.

you will find it, my friend.

and maybe, along the way, you’ll find a bird guide to walk (or fly 😉) beside you.

let me know what you think of this episode — sending you all so much love <333

what do you think about yourself?

seriously — sit with that question for a second.

do you see yourself as strong, brave, and capable of overcoming whatever crosses your path?

or are you more like past-me… where i struggled to recognize my own strength and instead labeled myself as weak, small, incapable?

if you relate to the latter, this episode is for you.

for years, i struggled with my self-image and the way i spoke to myself. birds unexpectedly became part of the reason i found my confidence again — and now, i’ve created this series to help others reconnect with their own bravery too.

because the truth is: you are not alone in this.

so many people quietly struggle with the way they view themselves, the stories they repeat in their heads, and the fear that they’re somehow “not enough.”

but now? it’s time to do something about it. together.

let me know in the comments what resonated with you most from this episode ✨

check out my website: https://thatquirkybirdgirl.com/

grab your that quirky bird girl pin today!🌷

have you been questioning yourself a bunch lately?

have you been struggling with your own self-talk lately?

are you unsure about what it might look like to truly love and embrace yourself?

this episode is all about finding the answers to those same questions… and honestly (genuinely), it’s about time you start being kinder to yourself 🦆

cultivating self-kindness usually needs a catalyst, and for me — that catalyst is birds. they guide me, show me who i am, and keep me grounded when life starts to feel overwhelming.

listen: life isn’t always easy. but finding the passions that ground you can reconnect you to the person you truly are.

watch this episode to turn off your internal self-critic. fall in love with yourself again and embrace your passions through some radical self-acceptance!

you've got this my friend :)

reach out to me with questions, comments, or sponsorship inquiries: [email protected]

🛍️ Order your limited edition That Quirky Bird Girl pin here:https://square.link/u/YK7XiuV8📲 Find all my other content, links, and lives here:⁠https://linktr.ee/learnaboutbirds⁠

ANOOOOOTHA episode of that quirky bird girl is up and this is a topic that I personally know alllllllll tooooooo wellllllll (because i had to fight for it) - joy!

this series has been so much fun to build and from last week's episode of resilience, it's only natural that our next topic is joy! why? because joy is a direct result of your ability to be resilient and recognize the beauty in our day to day!

it's a challenge to continue to be joyful in a world that can seem, oh, so very dark at times! but, birds guide me to find and re-find myself each and every single time!

in this episode, i talk about the steller's jay (whose name will soon be changed!), white throated sparrows and many many more!!

love y'all super mucho, hope you enjoy this new episode, and I will see ya on the other side :)))))

-steph

UR quirky bird girl

https://linktr.ee/learnaboutbirds

Welcome to SEASON 5 of THAT QUIRKY BIRD GIRL -- I cannot believe we have come this far and that I'm typing this, a year after launching this podcast and growing my community, we are now at over 10,000 quirksters and chirpers AND have a budding IRL community of over 800 people in NYC.

As this community grows, I've been spending a lot of time thinking about the advice and life experience that I want to be sharing with you all, and well -- from that, I am launching a brand new series!

We will be bringing back Bird Banter, but in a completely different way! Each week, we’ll explore a new value that the birds around me have helped me understand. The birds I’ve encountered, the moments that changed me, and the lessons I’m still learning from them.

Starting off strong (and arguably one of my favorites), RESILIENCE! I've talked about resilience a few times on my channel, but I'm so excited to be exploring it further with you all! In this episode, we dive deep into the areas of my life where I did (and DID NOT) feel strong, we chat the birds that supported me, and how I use this skill today.

So, my Quirksters and Chirpers… tell me—what value are we diving into next??

Love y'all super mucho and I will see ya on the other side :)))))

-steph

UR quirky bird girl

If you are coming to NYC or live here, check out my bird walks! They're fun, low-pressure, and beginner friendly for anyone to learn how to enjoy birds, outdoors, and maybe even a little exercise along the way :)

https://linktr.ee/learnaboutbirds

I had the best conversation with Kelly VanZant — and this one really stayed with me (all the way through and to Ecuador, if you've been following my TikToks lately!). 🥹✨

We talk about what it actually looks like to move through the world with dyslexia, ADHD, and dyscalculia — and how Kelly went from feeling challenged by those experiences to recognizing them as her superpowers. Not in a surface-level way, but in a deeply real, lived, “I figured this out and now I help others do the same” kind of way.

Kelly is the founder of Neuro Navigation, where she supports neurodivergent individuals in accessing the tools, accommodations, and confidence they deserve. We get into how she’s built a community and created resources that bridge gaps in systems that weren’t designed with neurodivergent people in mind.

We also talk about the honest side of advocacy — what it feels like to speak up for yourself, how exhausting that can be, and why having the right support system makes all the difference.

If you’ve ever felt misunderstood, underestimated, or like you had to work twice as hard just to be seen — this episode is your reminder: your brain isn’t broken, you are not broken… once you find your systems, it might just be your greatest strength. ✨

iiiiiiiii’m baccccckkkk! 🦆🦅

In this episode, I sit down with the lovely Ryan Goldberg, author of the newly published Bird City. Together, we talk birds, community, and the stories that shape who we become.

Ryan shares how his passion for birds began, the people who supported him along the way, and what it took to bring Bird City to life—a four-year journey shaped by both human and avian connections. As we chat, we even spot and admire birds in real time, birds like the Red-tailed Hawk, Purple Finch, American Goldfinch, Tufted Titmouse, and more.

We dive into how the city influenced Ryan from the very beginning, the birds that changed everything for him, and why storytelling—with care and intention—matters so deeply.

This is a truly can’t-miss episode with a can’t-miss author.

On a personal note, Ryan is incredibly inspiring and deeply community-driven. He cares about how stories are told and isn’t afraid to show it. I admire his passion for sharing and genuinely encourage everyone to seek out guides and voices with the same kindness, thoughtfulness, and enthusiasm that Ryan brings to his work.

✨You can learn more about Bird City and Ryan's website for his other amazing articles here!✨Be sure to subscribe to his Substack here!

BUCKLE IN - we are at Vanderbilt, chatting about two birds that I absolutely love and have heard a lot from during my time here. hope you enjoy :) 🛍️ Order your limited edition That Quirky Bird Girl pin here:⁠https://square.link/u/YK7XiuV8📲 Find all my other content, links, and lives here:⁠https://linktr.ee/learnaboutbirds⁠

In this episode of That Quirky Bird Girl, I sit down with the lovely and incredibly intelligent Daisy Yuhas — author, science writer, and genuinely one of the most grounded people I’ve ever talked to about birds!! 🐦‍⬛

We dive into her lifelong love of birds, how her childhood curiosity turned into a career in science communication, and the story behind her gorgeous book A Field Guide of Birds. Daisy and I talk about the accessibility of birding (yes, even if you don’t know a single bird name yet!), the species that first captured her heart, and why empathy and community are at the center of how she approaches nature.

We also explore the collaborative and creative process behind writing her book — how she worked with scientists, artists, and everyday bird lovers to build something beautiful, educational, and deeply human.

This episode is equal parts cozy conversation, nerdy bird joy, and a gentle reminder that paying attention to nature can reconnect us to ourselves and to each other. If you’ve ever wondered how birds help us build community and compassion… this one is for you.

Tune in, chirper and quirkster. You're gonna love Daisy. 💛🪶

Want to check learn more about Daisy? Check out her Instagram here and her website. 🛍️ Order your limited edition That Quirky Bird Girl pin here:⁠https://square.link/u/YK7XiuV8📲 Find all my other content, links, and lives here:⁠https://linktr.ee/learnaboutbirds⁠