Making the Ordinary Extraordinary

Making the Ordinary Extraordinary

Author: NC Museum of Natural Sciences June 1, 2022 Duration: 29:55

Artist Benjamin Von Wong’s work lies at the intersection of fantasy and photography, combining everyday objects with shocking statistics. His YouTube videos have generated over 100 million views for causes like ocean plastics, electronic waste and fashion pollution. Von Wong’s art focuses on amplifying a positive impact by visualizing how humans interact with and impact nature through our actions. Discover why he believes “it’s fun to be a person who doesn’t love nature but is an environmentalist” with the latest episode of the Love Nature podcast.


Produced by the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, Love Nature is built on a simple, powerful idea: our curiosity about the living world is a profound and shared starting point. This isn't a lecture series, but a series of conversations where that innate fascination leads the way. Each episode introduces you to a different voice-a scientist in the field, a researcher analyzing data, an artist interpreting patterns-who brings a unique perspective to our relationship with the environment. What unites them is a palpable passion, a personal story of connection that goes beyond academic interest. You'll hear the enthusiasm in their voices as they discuss not just what they study, but why it matters to them personally and what it reveals about our place in a complex, changing system. The discussions are lively and nuanced, often circling around a central theme of care and stewardship. By tuning into this podcast, you're invited into a space where expertise meets heartfelt advocacy, where learning about intricate ecosystems or animal behavior is intertwined with genuine hopes for their future. The goal is to leave each episode feeling that infectious spark of inspiration, equipped with a richer, more textured understanding of the natural forces around us and a clearer sense of how we, as inherently curious beings, can engage with them more thoughtfully. It’s about deepening that connection we all instinctively feel, one conversation at a time.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 32

Love Nature
Podcast Episodes
The Art of Science Communication [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:14
Welcome to the third season of the Love Nature Podcast. The NC Museum of Natural Sciences is a proud participant of the North Carolina Science Festival, a month-long celebration of science every April. We are kicking off…
The Classroom Around Us [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:55
Tom Earnhardt grew up surrounded by nature in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. This experience forever shaped his perspective and passions, leading him into a career in environmental law, teaching and advocacy for…
Starstruck [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:03
Rachel Smith is an astrophysicist and the Head of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Lab and Curator for Meteorites. Rachel is in interested in the origins of life, how it began on Earth…
Changing Climate; Adaptive Architecture [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:56
Find out how growing up near 600 acres of woods in the DC area and a pivotal trip to Jacques-Cartier National Park inspired George Elvin, a professor of architecture at NC State University, to join his love of architectu…
Breaking Down Barriers with Citizen Science [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:07
Chris Goforth is an entomologist and science educator who leads citizen science efforts at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. Citizen science is the partnership between the public and professional researchers, an importa…
The Comedy of Science [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:37
Brian Malow is a comedian who loves science. Yes, you read that correctly. He is enthusiastic about creating connections between science and humor to deepen his audience’s appreciation for nature. Longtime fans of the NC…
Building a More Science-Minded Society [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:02
A Miami native with Jamaican heritage, Danni Washington is deeply passionate about science communication and protecting and preserving our oceans. Using social and traditional media platforms, Danni takes her audiences o…
Exquisite Creatures [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:22
For over 22 years artist and naturalist Christopher Marley has traveled the world to reclaim collected rare (and real) organisms to create unique and beautiful works of art. Marley's love of nature and its beauty are evi…
Facing the New Horsemen of the Apocalypse [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:05
New York Times best-selling author, Richard Louv, returns to provide further insight in this week’s episode, discussing how humans can commit to re-wilding natural areas and how cities can play a role by becoming engines…
Our Wild Calling [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:03
Join New York Times best-selling author, journalist and environmental advocate, Richard Louv, for the second season premiere of the Love Nature podcast. Richard discusses his latest book, Our Wild Calling, and a childhoo…