Ice is nature’s exquisite abstract art (but it doesn’t belong in winter drinks!)
How much attention do you pay to ice? Maybe you’re sick and tired of all the ice around you this […]
Quiet, please! Let’s talk about quiet…with a bonus section where I will actually be quiet
The world is so noisy! Even if we live in relatively quiet places, we are bombarded by noise thanks to
Can music make you “float above the Earth in a starry dome”?
If you need to be uplifted, how about listening to some beautiful music and learning why it’s awe-inspiring? Awe scientist
Deep time: it’s almost unfathomable, but let’s try anyway!
Listen on Podbean: Listen on YouTube: Resources: What comes to mind when you think about the upcoming year? What
Awe and wonder are good for us! Here’s why I’m doing this…
Why am I doing this podcast anyway? Peek behind the curtain of my motivations in this short episode. Hint: because
The enormous solar furnace of Uzbekistan: be blown away by the engineering, and brave the creepy staircase to the top!
I can hardly begin to describe how cool this place was, in an industrial sort of way. I’ll tell you
Samarkand and the marvelous observatory: did you ever think a place of serious science could look so magnificent?
Samarkand is a city of gorgeous tiled architecture, but in a way the most interesting site is the observatory of
The wonders of travel: spend 9 minutes in the surprising city of Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Visiting new places inspires wonder by giving us fresh perspectives on daily life (among other reasons). Join me for a
Sea otters: because near-extinction stories are wonderful (and the otters are so darned cute)
I wrote my fourth-grade animal report about sea otters — so you know I love them! I hope you’ll love
Ketchup: you’ll never think about this ubiquitous American condiment in the same way again
Even mundane things in your kitchen can inspire wonder — or at least be interesting — if you pay attention.
Swarms of locusts — awe-full and awful
A horror show in August! Not all awe-inspiring phenomena are uplifting — this one surely isn’t, but it does inspire
Olympic athleticism: how can anyone possibly do that? (part 2)
Here’s more on the awe-inspiring Olympics, including two additional sports and the exciting conclusion of my personal badminton story. Listen
Olympic athleticism: how can anyone possibly do that? (part 1)
Did you watch the Paris Summer Olympics? There’s no question the athletes inspire awe and wonder — especially in those
Wyatt the wonder kitten: all good people love kittens, and Wyatt is a kitten hero to wonder at!
We all love inspiring stories about overcoming challenges. Here’s one about Wyatt, a beautiful and very happy little orange kitten
Spin the Globe to Samar Island: because the world is a wonder-inducing planet with a very interesting moon
What better way to pass time while waiting for the dentist than spinning the Google Earth globe and seeing where
Cicadas of 2024: wow are these insects cool (yes!), only appearing once every 13 or 17 years
The 17-year cicadas emerged once again this year in northern Illinois (while a 13-year brood emerged to the south), and
The ruins of Rome: layers of time right before your eyes, what could be more awe-inspiring?
Here’s my take on why the ruins of ancient Rome are so awe-inspiring. Then think about ancient (or at least
Peanuts: such ordinary little seeds, but take a closer look and you’ll appreciate them so much more
Peanuts are not really nuts, but they’re much more interesting than you might think. Even if you don’t eat them,
The northern lights: how can we not be amazed by lights jumping around in the sky?
Wow, pink and purple skies! I hope you’ve had a chance to see the northern lights. Let’s talk about this
Solar eclipse: everyone should see one at least once — it’s really worth the trip!
Did you see the recent total solar eclipse? Eclipses are really incredible! Find out why in this episode. Listen on
Seeds: annoying little things in our fruit…or the fascinating foundation of everything?
We take seeds for granted, yet they’re all around us and are obviously essential to life. We’ll discuss seeds and
Islands way up north: there’s something awe-inspiring about the world’s extreme northerly places
In today’s episode I talk about the northern islands Jan Mayen and Svalbard. These islands are so far removed from
Deep water: terrifying, mysterious, and beautiful all at once
Do you ever get the creeps thinking about how deep the ocean is — or even at the deep end