Curious Planet

Still in the Woods

We find inspiration and peace on a walk where the wild things are.

Sparkles of Joy

We remember how fireflies have sparked joy, enchantment, and wonder in our lives, and contemplate a world where their light is forever extinguished. Mentioned in today’s episode: * Sara Lewis, Silent Sparks: The Wondrous World of Fireflies, Princeton University Press, 2016.

A Dog, a Woman, an Owl, and a Star

We consider our beginnings, and take up a second gratitude challenge, this time with the help of a backyard Barred Owl.

Music Can Change the World

Whether you learned the alphabet to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, or memorized the contents of the periodic table with the help of Tom Lehrer and The Elements, you’ll recognize the connection between music and memory. We tune into the power of music, and hear how it is helping young Iowans learn key concepts of water science. Mentioned in today’s episode: * Water Rocks!: The Musical. Iowa State University, 2022. https://www.waterrocks.org/musical [https://www.waterrocks.org/musical] * Daniel Levitin, I Heard There Was a Secret Chord: Music as Medicine, W. W. Norton & Company, 2024. * David McCall, Schoolhouse Rock!, ABC television series, 1973-2009. * Jane Goodall, Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey, Warner Books, 1999.

Remember Who We Were Before We Spoke English

Meskwaki elders inspire us to recall the stories of our past that connect us to the land we live on and the land of our ancestors. Mentioned in today’s episode: * Seed-saving. Here’s another Italian family whose seeds saved for five generations became an important part of an international seed vault: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2017/03/03/meet-south-side-family-who-saved-its-beloved-pepper-seed-5-generations/98599460/ [https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2017/03/03/meet-south-side-family-who-saved-its-beloved-pepper-seed-5-generations/98599460/]