The Mindful Birding Podcast

The Mindful Birding Podcast – Cultivating the health benefits and joy of Mindful Birding Join co-hosts Holly Merker and Holly Thomas, along with other voices of the Mindful Birding Network and beyond, as we explore topics surrounding the practice of Mindful Birding. Episodes will delve into this style of observation, which pairs together elements of mindfulness and birding, amplifying the personal wellness benefits of both. Here, you’ll find episodes featuring insights into Mindful Birding from people around the globe, science segments, author interviews, tips for enhancing your Mindful Birding practice, plus a spotlight on the joy of birdsong.

The Mindful Birding Podcast is a health podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 40 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts The Mindful Birding Podcast, a health show with 40 episodes published.

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  The Mindful Birding Podcast

  Episode 41: Mindful Birding with Diego Calderon-Franco: Birds as Connectors

  Sep 25, 202645 min

  mindfulbirdingnetwork@gmail.com In this episode of the Mindful Birding Podcast , we spend time with Diego Calderón-Franco , a well-known Colombian bird guide whose remarkable story was recently featured on 60 Minutes with Anderson Cooper . After surviving a harrowing kidnapping and being held hostage, Diego turned to birds as a source of strength and healing. But his story reaches beyond his own resilience—it is also one of grace, reconciliation, and the unexpected ways birds can bring people together. You can hear and watch more of his story and meet some of the people he refers to in this National Geographic video “Birdwatching with Farc” by Tristan Martin. In the episode, Diego talks about a recent 7.4 earthquake in western Colombia, and the devastating impacts to the people and especially many Colombian bird guides, and he mentions ways to help the people there by donating in the following ways: https://vaki.co/en/birders-together or people can also donate directly via PayPal: https://paypal.me/COLOMBIABirding Holly Merker offers a the voices of the Canada Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, and Yellow Warbler in the Joy of Birdsong segment, giving nod to birds North America shares with Colombia. Intro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain Intro Birdsong & Clips throughout : Western Meadowlark Outro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain Outro Birdsong: Eastern Meadowlark Mindful Birding Network Website Instagram: @mindfulbirdingnetwork Produced by Co-hosts Holly Merker and Holly Thomas

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  The Mindful Birding Podcast

  Episode 39: Mindful Birding with Dr. Don McCown: Public Health and Biophilia

  Jul 24, 202640 min

  mindfulbirdingnetwork@gmail.com In this episode, our guest is Dr. Don McCown, Director of the Center of Contemplative Studies at the West Chester University in Pennsylvania. Don is also a birder and nature lover who has dedicated his long-career to exploring the teaching and practice of mindfulness in public health, higher education, early childhood, and community settings. We cover various topics including public health, biophilia , self-regulation through mindfulness, and teaching these skills to others through nature. You can find more info about Dr.McCown’s work here including the books he’s co-authored. Check out his podcast, Learning Life Skills Together here Holly Thomas reads an excerpt from “ For Presence ” by John O’Donahue Holly Merker shares a soundscape with the Louisiana Waterthrush song Intro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain Intro Birdsong & Clips throughout : Western Meadowlark Outro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain Outro Birdsong: Eastern Meadowlark Mindful Birding Network Website Instagram: @mindfulbirdingnetwork Produced by Co-hosts Holly Merker and Holly Thomas

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  Episode #38

  Episode 38: Mindful Birding Poetry, Prose, and Presence

  Jun 23, 202624 minS4

  mindfulbirdingnetwork@gmail.com In this episode, we’ve invited our listeners and network members to share works of poetry or prose that holds meaning for them within their own practice of Mindful Birding. For many practitioners of Mindful Birding, the art of poetry or putting words to our connections to birds can be a powerful element of the practice. In this episode, you will hear the voices of Kai Siedenburg , Arax Seghman, Pam Zicca, Susan Preston , Dave Edson , along with your two cohosts, Holly & Holly . Intro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain Intro Birdsong & Clips throughout : Western Meadowlark Outro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain Outro Birdsong: Eastern Meadowlark Mindful Birding Network Website Instagram: @mindfulbirdingnetwork Produced by Co-hosts Holly Merker and Holly Thomas

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  The Mindful Birding Podcast

  Episode 37: Resilience through Mindful Birding

  Apr 22, 202643 min

  mindfulbirdingnetwork@gmail.com In this episode, we explore the theme of resilience and the ways Mindful Birding can help strengthen our own psychological wellbeing during challenging times. We reflect on how turning our attention to birds can offer grounding, perspective, and gentle encouragement when life feels heavy or uncertain. We also spotlight the role of the caregiver, and how finding time to connect with birds can offer much-needed respite, renewal, and restoration. *In our Joy of Birdsong segment, natural sound recordist Laura Sebastianelli shares a recording of American Woodcock performing a sky dance at Frazer Point on the Schoodic Peninsula in Acadia National Park in Winter Harbor, Maine. If you want to learn to record nature, or are already an experienced recordist, she invites you to join her and others in a Natural Sound Recordists Gathering for a week of exceptional field recording opportunities in the Cobscook Bay region of Maine to record, learn, and share among peers. *** Due to processing and automated mastering through our podcast platform, Laura Sebastianelli’s audio file was unfortunately badly distorted! We sincerely apologize for this issue and would like to offer listeners access to the original recording, where you can hear her beautiful recording its unmastered, undistorted form.: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/435216921 Intro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain Intro Birdsong & Clips throughout : Western Meadowlark Outro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain Outro Birdsong: Eastern Meadowlark Mindful Birding Network Website Instagram: @mindfulbirdingnetwork Produced by Co-hosts Holly Merker and Holly Thomas

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  Episode #36

  Episode 36 : 100% Attention & Mindful Birding with Faraaz Abdool

  Mar 18, 202645 minS4

  mindfulbirdingnetwork@gmail.com In this episode we spend time with long-time Mindful Birding Network member Faraaz Abdool , and we a style of birding that Faraaz calls Casual Birding , and how this style, like Mindful Birding, anchors itself in the quality of attention. Faraaz is a wildlife photographer, author, speaker, and birding guide from Trinidad & Tobago who is passionate about making birding more accessible and meaningful for people everywhere. His book Casual Birding in Trinidad & Tobago , published in 2020 , explores a philosophy of birding that emphasizes enjoyment, curiosity, and connection over competition. This intention of " birding and being " is Mindful Birding. Faraaz’s photography and writing have been widely published, and he regularly speaks with birding groups, podcasts, and conservation audiences around the world. Through his guiding , media work, and collaborations , Faraaz helps inspire a deeper appreciation for birds and the experience of observing them. Check out Faraaz's website here: Faraaz Abdool ,com More about Faraaz here Intro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain Intro Birdsong & Clips throughout : Western Meadowlark Outro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain Outro Birdsong: Eastern Meadowlark Mindful Birding Network Website Instagram: @mindfulbirdingnetwork Produced by Co-hosts Holly Merker and Holly Thomas

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