Wild Connection

What can animals teach us about empathy, intelligence, and connection? In this episode of Wild Connection, bestselling author Sy Montgomery shares her journey and explores what chickens (and other animals) really know. With over 30 books to her name—from The Soul of an Octopus to How to Be a Good Creature—Sy invites us to see the world through the eyes of others. You can keep up with Sy and check out all of her books by heading to her website: https://symontgomery.com/ [https://symontgomery.com/] or on Instagram @Sytheauthor If you want to host a book club using one of Sy's books and have this podcast episode as a companion or connect deeper with the content, I've created a downloadable Listener's Guide to accompany the dispose. You can find it on my website at www.jenniferverdolin.com/blog [http://www.jenniferverdolin.com/blog] If you want to watch the video on prairie dogs that came up in this episode you can see that here [https://youtu.be/AAiQgl4gCww] on my YouTube channel.  If you enjoyed this conversation and want to cultivate your own wild connection, check out my new Audible course Reconnect with Nature [https://www.audible.com/pd/Reconnect-with-Nature-Lessons-from-the-Natural-World-Audiobook/B0DYW69VLS]packed with simple, science-backed ways to bring nature back into your daily life, plus a companion workbook, Rooted in Nature [https://a.co/d/4F3Zx9g], to guide your journey And of course connect with me  Website: http://www.jenniferverdolin.com [http://www.jenniferverdolin.com] Instagram:@realdrjen

Join me in conversation with conservation legend Ian Redmond, whose groundbreaking work with Dian Fossey and lifelong advocacy for great apes and elephants has shaped global conservation. We talk about his early days in the forest, his current work with Ecoflix, and the power of storytelling in saving species. Recorded in September 2024, this episode offers a rare window into the past, present, and future of wildlife protection. Learn more about Ecoflix: www.ecoflix.com [https://www.ecoflix.com/] Follow Ian on X @4Apes  Don't miss the next episode featuring Sy Montgomery! #IanRedmond #WildConnectionPodcast #ConservationHeroes #Ecoflix #GreatApes #Gorillas #WildlifeStorytelling

This episode is a special one as I got to interview a personal scientific hero of mine, and fellow great ape researcher, Dr. Richard Wrangham. He shares his findings and heartwarming stories of some of the chimpanzees he's gotten to know over the years. He's also a prolific write and champion of chimps and communities. Check out the links below to find out more about the important work he and his colleagues are doing in Uganda.  Richard Wrangham [https://heb.fas.harvard.edu/people/richard-w-wrangham]  Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP) [http://www.un-grasp.org/] https://kasiisiproject.org/ [https://kasiisiproject.org/]

This episode features Dr. Susan B Eirich— author of Whispers from the Wild: An Invitation Stories from the Rescued Wild Animals of Earthfire institute. Susan’s work in Reconnection Ecology invites us to see animals not as ‘other,’ but as beings with whom we share this planet in a profound and reciprocal way. Check out the incredible work of the Earthfire Institute here [https://earthfireinstitute.org/] and learn more about Susan on her website [https://susanbeirich.com/] If you are digging the show subscribe and share it so others can enjoy it too. You can follow the show on Itunes, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Also follow the show on Twitter: @WildConnectPod You can also follow me on  Twitter: @realdrjen Instagram: @readrjen Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RealDrJen [https://www.facebook.com/RealDrJen]

George Makari is the author of a recent book titled Of Fear and Strangers: A History of Xenophobia. He is also a psychiatrist and historian, who is the Director of the DeWitt Wallace Institute of Psychiatry: History, Policy, and the Arts,Weill Cornell Medical College, where he has a clinical practice.