Episode 59: Philadelphia's Rail Park

The Rail Park is a new park in progress in Philadelphia, revitalizing three miles of unused rail lines into a usable, beautiful, public space for all. Situated on two obsolete train lines that served the Reading Terminal, the first phase of construction is complete—filled with pathways, greenery, and amazing city views. In this episode, we speak with Executive Director Rebecca Cordes Chan about the pertinent facts and history of the rail park, how the vision of the park is being realized, and how the project is progressing. Listen to the Rail Park’s podcast Sounds of the Rail Park.

The Cut

Episode 58: Doug Tallamy - Bringing Nature Home

Doug Tallamy is a professor of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, where he studies the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities. In his book Bringing Nature Home, Tallamy explains why everyone with access to a patch of earth can make a significant contribution toward sustaining biodiversity by simply choosing native plants. This episode- pulled from an interview conducted during the production of the film Negotiating with Nature - expands upon these ideas and alarming facts.

Episode 57: Richard Louv - Last Child In The Woods

Richard Louv is a non-fiction author and journalist best known for his seventh book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder, which investigates the relationship of children and the natural world. In this episode of Nature Revisited, Stefan asks Richard to revisit the central topics in this notable book within the context of today's cultural landscape of climate crisis, pandemic, loss of biodiversity, and human isolation.

Episode 56: Nick Byron Campbell - Arbow

Nick Byron Campbell is a musician & sound artist based in Bend, Oregon. In addition to creating music for film, TV and commercial, he also creates music under the moniker Left Vessel. His latest album One (and Driftless) incorporates a production technique Nick calls "arbow", which involves creating temporary instruments using living trees. In this episode Nick talks about his roots as a musician and nature enthusiast, and how the two interests have grown over time to become entwined in his latest musical works and sound art experiences.

This Year Be music video

Episode 55: Nadine Phillips - Nature & Forest Therapy

Nadine Phillips is a Forest Therapy Guide based in Mississippi, and is certified by the International Nature and Forest Therapy Alliance (INFTA). Deeply rooted in the Japanese concept of Shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing”, Forest Therapy is an evidence-based Public health practice considered to be a natural remedy to reduce stress and a pathway to a happier, healthier and more rewarding life. In this episode, Nadine talks with Stefan about her personal discoveries of the wonders of nature and how that has led to her sharing this passion, as well as some of the transformative, positive experiences she has helped foster for others.

Episode 54: Cindy Crosby - Chasing Dragonflies

Cindy Crosby is a writer, teacher, and lecturer on the tallgrass prairie and nature conservation. She is also a Master Gardener, a prairie steward, and a dragonfly monitor. Her latest book Chasing Dragonflies: A Natural, Cultural, and Personal History is an engaging introduction to these remarkable insects. In this episode, Cindy re-introduces us to the often-ignored dragonfly, describing their history, natural habitats & behaviors, cultural mythologies, and ways we can attract them to our own gardens.

Episode 53: Moely Prairie - In Their Own Words

Moely Prairie is the largest remnant of the 14,000-acre Sauk Prairie in Sauk County, Wisconsin. Because it has never been plowed, the prairie is home to a rich array of native prairie plants and animals. Permanently protected through a perpetual conservation easement by owner Barbara Moely in 2015, the prairie is managed and cared for by The Prairie Enthusiasts Empire-Sauk Chapter. In this episode of Nature Revisited, we learn- through the words of the aforementioned- of Moely Prairie's history, its ecological treasures, the challenges of its upkeep, and what lays in store for the future. *Read this episode’s write-up on The Prairie Enthusiasts blog.

Episode 52: John Shewey - The Allure of the Hummingbird

Lifelong birding enthusiast John Shewey is a veteran writer, editor, and professional outdoor photographer. John's new book The Hummingbird Handbook is a must-have guide to attracting, understanding and protecting hummingbirds. In this episode of Nature Revisited, John talks about the origin of his fascination with hummingbirds, and shares a variety of interesting facts, discoveries and insights into the alluring world of these captivating birds.

Episode 51: Hugo Rittson-Thomas - Wildflowers for the Queen

Hugo Rittson-Thomas is a British photographer, best known for his high-profile photographic portraiture, including portraits of Her Majesty The Queen and the Dalai Lama. In his new book Wildflowers for The Queen, Rittson-Thomas celebrates the unsung beauty and diversity of wildflower meadows - specifically the Coronation Meadows established by HRH The Prince of Wales in 2013. In conversation with Stefan of Nature Revisited, Hugo discusses the initiative behind the Coronation Meadows, the importance of such natural landscapes and connected wildlife within the UK, and the various challenges he faced in documenting their natural beauty.

Episode 50: Paul Hawken - Regeneration

Paul Hawken is an environmentalist, entrepreneur, author and activist who has dedicated his life to environmental sustainability and changing the relationship between business and the environment. In this episode of Nature Revisited, Paul introduces us to the concept of Regeneration - a response to the urgency of global warming that can regenerate life on earth and grant agency to a new generation of humanity working together in a system of interlocking initiatives to stem the climate crisis in the span of a single generation.

Episode 49: Daniel Mays- On Small Farming

In 2010, Daniel Mays started Frith Farm on a 14-acre piece of land in Scarborough, Maine. Drawn by Maine's food culture and support for local agriculture, Frith Farm now serves a CSA membership of over 200 families, as well as local natural food stores and farmer's markets. In this episode of Nature Revisited, Daniel talks about his path to establishing Frith Farm, the work and value he brings to the local community, and his belief that farmers should be stewards of the land, not miners of its resources, and that farms should be hubs of the community, not distant sources of its calories.

Episode 48: Heather Holm - Native Bees and Beyond

Heather Holm is a biologist, pollinator conservationist, and award-winning author. In addition to assisting with native bee research projects, she informs and educates audiences through her writing and many presentations about the fascinating world of native pollinators and the native plant communities that support them. In this episode of Nature Revisited, Heather introduces us to a surprising variety of native bees, the ways in which they support our ecosystem, and things we can all do at home to help sustain their populations.

Episode 47: The Stone Trust

Humans have utilized stone as an essential, long-lasting building material for millennia. The Stone Trust Center of southern Vermont offers an expanding program of educational events, workshops and outreach projects dedicated to the preservation and advancement of the ancient art and craft of dry stone walling. In this episode of Nature Revisited, we meet the students and staff of The Stone Trust and learn how they are engaged in preserving the natural use of plentiful stone in simple, gratifying ways.

Episode 46: Meg Lowman - The Arbornaut

Meg Lowman is a pioneering biologist, botanist and conservationist who has devoted more than forty years towards researching the hidden ecosystems of the world's forest canopies. In this episode of Nature Revisited, Meg talks about her new book The Arbornaut - a blend of memoir and fieldwork account. As in her book, Meg's discussion launches us into the life and work of a field scientist, offering insights and plans for action. Despite devastation across the world, through trees, we can still make an immediate and lasting impact against climate change.

Episode 45: Kevin Healey - Foraging: Searching For Nature's Bounty

Kevin Healey is a forager, scientist, chemist, and the author behind Pullupyourplants.com: a site that explores the ethnobotany of foraged food and peculiar produce. His passion is researching, discovering, and preserving the stories of the human-plant relationship. In this episode of Nature Revisited, Kevin reminds us of the ancient practice of foraging; an exploratory act within nature that can provide one with not only a potentially marvelous array of natural sustenance, but also intimate experiences that replenish one's connection with curiosities of the natural world that are all but forgotten in our current Industrial Age of monocrops and supermarkets.