Ever wonder why some of the States in the US have such weird shapes, like West Virginia, or Maryland? I mean, what were they thinking? Well. In this episode, Steve digs into the history of some of the weirdest of them and finds answers. It’s kind of interesting, and the answers may surprise you.

The Singing Planet is a film by my friend Liz McKenzie, with naturalist, sound recordist, and anthropologist Richard (Nels) Nelson, and Hank Lentfer, Nels’ close friend and a gifted wildlife sound recordist in his own right. The Singing Planet celebrates the voices of the natural world, focusing on the extraordinary richness of the wildlife in Alaska.

You can rent or buy The Singing Planet on Vimeo (https://vimeo.com/ondemand/thesingingplanet); Please do. Put on your headphones, sit back, and immerse yourself in the voice of the planet. You’ll be so glad you did.

I like people who draw from many different interests and skills to create the career that they ultimately pursue. Nathan Wolek is equal parts musician, programmer, researcher, wildlife sound recordist, and professor at Stetson University in north-central Florida. When he’s not creating music, or writing computer programs, or working with students, he’s in the field, recording everything from NASA rocket launches to shells swirling musically in a natural spring. Listen and enjoy—Nathan’s quite a guy.

Time for a new EPA--the Digital Environment Protection Act. We already regulate banking, pharmaceuticals, air travel, smoking, motor vehicle safety, alcohol, aviation, and a host of other things—including environmental noise. Now, we need a law to regulate digital noise.

Any arguments?

When Pacific Bell accepted the gift of two mated pairs of swans to live in the lakes around their new headquarters building in San Ramon, California, in the early 80s, little did they know that the birds would develop a taste for human flesh. Have a listen.

60 years ago, Rachel Carson's book, "Silent Spring," was released. It created a firestorm of controversy that ultimately led to the formation of the modern environmental movement, and helped push Richard Nixon--yes, THAT Richard Nixon--to create the Environmental Protection Agency, the Clean Water Act, and the Noise Abatement Act. It's time to revisit Ms. Carson's work. Happy 60th anniversary, Silent Spring.

Rob Prince teaches documentary filmmaking at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. But he’s also the host of the wildly popular Podcast, “Dark Winter Nights: True Stories from Alaska.” In this episode, Rob and host Steve Shepard talk about documentary filmmaking, the power of the free press, the role of curiosity, the importance of relying on diverse news sources, and of course, his amazing Podcast.

Luke Pearson is a composer, musician, naturalist, educator, and wildlife sound recordist. He works as a nature educator, where his combined skills and background, including recording and listening trips in South Africa, help him open kids’ eyes to the wonders of the natural world.

Why is an excellent customer experience so difficult to deliver? It isn't--if you know what to do. In this entertaining episode, Steve tells the story of a tiny hotel in Los Angeles that has cracked the code and delivers what is perhaps the best customer experience in the country. Have a listen--and take notes.

Just about a year ago, I released my 97th book and second novel, The Nation We Knew. It quickly became the number one best-selling title in political fiction on Amazon, worldwide. The theme? What could the world look like, if we were to set aside out political differences and focus on the future—on creating the kind of place we want to leave for our children and grandchildren. In this retrospective, Steve talks about the experience of publishing a book that has been both praised and condemned. Enjoy!