Ponder While We Wander

S2 E10: What Exactly is Ecopsychology?

Location: Yosemite National Forest, California, USA Record date: 3/23/26 Release date: 5/15/26   Hosts: Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa Edited: https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/ [https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/]   Natasha Morisawa and Amber Martin explore the evolving definition of Ecopsychology, some of the challenges in naming the field, and why they took so long to include this in the podcast series. They share personal stories about their relationship to Land and Ecopsychology and how healing and new paths emerged from honoring these experiences. From the banks of a river in the Yosemite National Forest, their discussion encourages listeners to honor their own knowing and explores how Ecopsychology can help us ask deep, holistic and systemic questions necessary to support our relationship with Ecology, Psychology and Nature.   Explore more about Ponder While We Wander A soothing podcast for trying times. https://ponderwhilewewander.com/ [https://ponderwhilewewander.com/] https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/ [https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/] https://ponderwhilewewander.com/wander-well/ [https://ponderwhilewewander.com/wander-well/] https://www.instagram.com/ponder_while_we_wander/# [https://www.instagram.com/ponder_while_we_wander/]   Episode Resources Links: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/802184.Ecopsychology [https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/802184.Ecopsychology] https://sunypress.edu/Books/R/Radical-Ecopsychology [https://sunypress.edu/Books/R/Radical-Ecopsychology] https://mbgna.umich.edu/post/whats-name-limits-problems-and-puzzles-naming-and-referring-plants [https://mbgna.umich.edu/post/whats-name-limits-problems-and-puzzles-naming-and-referring-plants] https://esa.org/history/biographies/ecological-richness-diverse-contributors-of-diverse-contributions/women-in-ecology-series/ [https://esa.org/history/biographies/ecological-richness-diverse-contributors-of-diverse-contributions/women-in-ecology-series/]

S2 E9: What is a contemplative practice and why might we want to have one?

Location: Wawona,Yosemite National Forest, California, USA Record date: 3/1/26 Release date: 5/1/26   Hosts: Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa Edited: https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/ [https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/]   Episode Description:   From a deck in Wawona, California, under the Winter night sky of the Yosemite National Forest,Natasha Morisawa and Amber Martin discuss secular contemplative practice, the benefits of such a practice, and types of practices.   Topics include:  * An overview of different branches of contemplative practice * Specific invitations for exploring contemplative practice  * Single practices to start finding your individual practice * Recommendations for finding community around contemplative practice Keywords: Contemplative practice  Qigong Pauline Oliveros Labyrinths Nighttime Yosemite National Forest  Journaling Creativity Meditation Music Volunteer work Quiet the mind Deep listening Yoga Dance Retreats Nature  Relationships Community   Explore more about Ponder While We Wander A soothing podcast for trying times.   https://ponderwhilewewander.com/ [https://ponderwhilewewander.com/]   https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/ [https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/]   https://ponderwhilewewander.com/wander-well/ [https://ponderwhilewewander.com/wander-well/]   Episode Resources Links:   https://californiavalleymiwok.us/ [https://californiavalleymiwok.us/]   https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/historyculture/yosemite-indians.htm [https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/historyculture/yosemite-indians.htm]   https://www.npca.org/articles/7475-reclaiming-wahhoga [https://www.npca.org/articles/7475-reclaiming-wahhoga]   https://www.deeplistening.rpi.edu/deep-listening/pauline-oliveros/ [https://www.deeplistening.rpi.edu/deep-listening/pauline-oliveros/] https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/environment/tribal-land-yosemite/ [https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/environment/tribal-land-yosemite/]   https://pinetreemarketwawona.com/ [https://pinetreemarketwawona.com/]   https://contemplativemind.org/practices/tree [https://contemplativemind.org/practices/tree]   https://themoth.org/ [https://themoth.org/]   https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/waw.htm [https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/waw.htm]

S2 E8: Decentering ourselves: What does it mean to take ourselves out of the center of our relationship with nature?

Location: Yosemite National Forest, California, USA Record date: 3/25/26 Release date: 4/15/26   Hosts: Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa Edited: https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/ [https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/]   Natasha and Amber join you from the banks of a babbling spring in Yosemite National Park, to talk about De-centering ourselves in relationship to Nature.    They explore what is required of us to answer the dire call of Nature, through necessary and difficult paradigm shifts. They invite this topic into our consciousness and further ground their exploration in the work of Jeanine Kante in her book “Returning the Self to Nature, Undoing our Collective Narcism and Healing Our Planet.” Amber and Natasha explore how Jeanne Kante takes the DSM definition of Narcissism (a maladaptive personality disorder) and applies it to our industrialized western society.    They discuss what happens when individuals in a society begin to take on narcissistic traits through a “habit of mind” and how we can move from an anthropocentric or ego-centric point of view to an eco-centric and sustainable  relationship to Nature.    Amber and Natasha begin to unpack this complex and important topic through many different perspectives, aimed to help us all consider what it might take to better care for Nature.    Additional areas related to De-Centering Ourselves explored in this episode include: * Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and how we can flip this triangle to center community actualization and cultural perpetuity * First Nations, Blackfoot wisdom as more expansive in relationship to Nature * Kinship Relationally * Transformational learning through disorienting dilemma’s * The work of Kristin Neff on Self Compassion * Exploring the Rights of Nature movement through Robert McFarlane’s book, “Is a River is Alive”   Explore more about Ponder While We Wander A soothing podcast for trying times. https://ponderwhilewewander.com/ [https://ponderwhilewewander.com/] https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/ [https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/] https://ponderwhilewewander.com/wander-well/ [https://ponderwhilewewander.com/wander-well/] https://www.instagram.com/ponder_while_we_wander/# [https://www.instagram.com/ponder_while_we_wander/]   Episode Resources Links: https://californiavalleymiwok.us/ [https://californiavalleymiwok.us/] https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/historyculture/yosemite-indians.htm [https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/historyculture/yosemite-indians.htm] https://www.npca.org/articles/7475-reclaiming-wahhoga [https://www.npca.org/articles/7475-reclaiming-wahhoga] https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/environment/tribal-land-yosemite/ [https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/environment/tribal-land-yosemite/] https://pinetreemarketwawona.com/ [https://pinetreemarketwawona.com/] https://www.shambhala.com/returning-the-self-to-nature.html [https://www.shambhala.com/returning-the-self-to-nature.html] https://www.ciis.edu/profiles/jeanine-canty [https://www.ciis.edu/profiles/jeanine-canty] https://www.juliebrams.com/books [https://www.juliebrams.com/books] https://self-compassion.org/ [https://self-compassion.org/] https://self-compassion.org/kristin-neff/ [https://self-compassion.org/kristin-neff/] https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/218569826-is-a-river-alive [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/218569826-is-a-river-alive] https://atmos.earth/podcast/robert-macfarlane-on-embracing-flow-and-letting-rivers-heal-us/ [https://atmos.earth/podcast/robert-macfarlane-on-embracing-flow-and-letting-rivers-heal-us/]

S2 E7: Let’s Take an Awe Walk

Location: Yosemite National Forest, California, USA Record date: 3/25/26 Release date: 4/1/26   Hosts: Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa Edited: https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/ [https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/]   THANK YOU TO PINE TREE MARKET:   Ponder While We Wander is so grateful for our first community sponsorship! A big shout out to Pine Tree Market run by Michael and Katie Henderson, and their lodging support for us during our stay in Yosemite National Park. We are so grateful not only for their support but their excitement in helping us share all things EcoPsychology to a wider audience. If you ever find yourself in Wawona, CA make sure to swing by Pine Tree Market, your corner market while you’re in Wawona, and say hi for us! Sam the cat would love some pets as well, he’s always at the ready to greet his human friends.    Inspired by the book “Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How it Can Transform Your Life”, by Dacher Keltner, Amber and Natasha discuss “Awe Walks.” Wander with them through Yosemite National Park as they share Dacher’s definition of awe, explore how awe may show up somatically,and revisit memories that conjure up awe.    They also discuss different types of awe and the positive impacts engaging with awe has for our health and wellness as well as implications for connection and encouraging new ideas.  Dachner’s “5 Point Process” is introduced as an accessible way to begin intentionally inviting more awe into your every day.    The snowy field alongside huge, granite rock formations with many winged friends to hear in the background, provide a beautiful location to dive deeper into this awe-some topic.    Additional areas related to awe covered in this episode include: * Benefits of inviting awe including immune system support * Moral Beauty (moved by others actions) * How time in nature inspires awe * Music and awe * Visual Design (Human & Nature) * Spiritual/Mystical/Numinous aspects of Awe  * Epiphanies about big life questions * Awe in the Death and Dying Process * Shared Awe or Collective Effervescence  * Awe and Wonder * Happiness and Well-being  * Greater Good Science Center   Explore more about Ponder While We Wander A soothing podcast for trying times.   https://ponderwhilewewander.com/ [https://ponderwhilewewander.com/] https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/ [https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/] https://ponderwhilewewander.com/wander-well/ [https://ponderwhilewewander.com/wander-well/] https://www.instagram.com/ponder_while_we_wander/# [https://www.instagram.com/ponder_while_we_wander/]   Episode Resources Links: https://californiavalleymiwok.us/ [https://californiavalleymiwok.us/] https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/historyculture/yosemite-indians.htm [https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/historyculture/yosemite-indians.htm] https://www.npca.org/articles/7475-reclaiming-wahhoga [https://www.npca.org/articles/7475-reclaiming-wahhoga] https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/environment/tribal-land-yosemite/ [https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/environment/tribal-land-yosemite/] https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/ [https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/] https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62352297-awe [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62352297-awe]

S2 E6: Let’s talk about Journaling With Nature.

Location: Chetzamoka Park, Port Townsend, Washington, USA  Record date: 10/21/25 Release date: 3/15/26   Hosts: Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa Edited: https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/ [https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/]   Join Natasha and Amber as they introduce Journaling with Nature as a way to deepen our relationship with other-than-human Nature. Through the process of journaling,the opportunities to re-connect and re-member arise. They discuss greetings and partings as well as getting curious about this place and ourselves. Other topics include: * The benefits of journaling * Ways of starting a journaling practice * Entryways into relationship with Nature * Prompts for when you might like a little more structure or inspiration * Nature speaks in metaphor * Your relationship check-in with Nature * Seeing things with new eyes * Holding mystery and existential exploration * Practical tips for Journaling with Nature Explore more about Ponder While We Wander A soothing podcast for trying times. https://ponderwhilewewander.com/ [https://ponderwhilewewander.com/] https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/ [https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/] https://ponderwhilewewander.com/wander-well/ [https://ponderwhilewewander.com/wander-well/]   Episode Resources Links: Journaling with Nature guided meditation [https://youtu.be/N9RiJMax7LI] Journaling With Nature Prompts [https://ponderwhilewewander.com/2026/03/15/journaling-with-nature-prompts/] https://cityofpt.us/parksrec/page/chetzemoka-park [https://cityofpt.us/parksrec/page/chetzemoka-park] https://memoriesofthepeople.blog/2019/05/03/land-acknowledgement-port-townsend-washington/ [https://memoriesofthepeople.blog/2019/05/03/land-acknowledgement-port-townsend-washington/]