S6E35: Ken in Eastern Panama

S6E35: Ken in Eastern Panama

Author: Ken Behrens & Charley Hesse March 29, 2026 Duration: 1:20:30

Is the Darien actually the dangerous borderland that most people make it out to be? Is it crazy to bring young kids on a Darien trek to visit the nest of a Harpy Eagle?! Ken tells Charley about his eastern Panama adventure.


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Intro by Jenna Pinchbeck https://www.jennapinchbeck.com/ Jennapinchbeck@gmail.com. Theme music by John Behrens https://nashvilleaudioproductions.com/Feel free to contact us at: ken.behrens@gmail.com &/or cfchesse@gmail.com


Black-crowned Antpitta recording courtesy of Scott Olmstead, XC694955. Accessible at https://xeno-canto.org/694955. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0


Naturally Adventurous Podcast

Nature - Travel - Adventure - Birding


There’s a particular kind of curiosity that pulls you off the beaten path, toward the rustle in the undergrowth or the call from a distant canopy. Naturally Adventurous is built on that impulse, hosted by two guides who have followed it across continents. Ken Behrens and Charley Hesse aren’t just passing through; they’ve built lives in the remote corners where they’ve settled, from Madagascar to Thailand, Ecuador to South Africa. Their conversations are less like formal interviews and more like the stories swapped at the end of a long day in the field, rich with the details of a lifelong obsession with birds and natural history. Each episode pulls you into the texture of a place-the sounds, the surprises, the occasional misadventures-that comes from seeking out wild creatures in wild landscapes. You’ll hear about the logistics of navigating a swamp, the thrill of an unexpected sighting, and the quieter reflections on how these journeys shape a perspective. This podcast is for anyone who feels that pull toward the untracked, offering a deeply personal and authentic audio postcard from the world’s most fascinating ecosystems, all through the experienced ears of two people who have made a life out of looking.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 287

Naturally Adventurous
Podcast Episodes
S4E36: Yucatan with Ken & Charley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:21
Ken tells Charley about his recent trip to the Yucatan Peninsular. Mayan Antthrush recording courtesy of Peter Boesman, XC880113. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/880113. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercia…
S4E35: Charley's top birds from the birthplace of Karate [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:36
Charley tells Ken about the top 5 birds from his recent visits to the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. Okinawa Rail recording courtesy of Andrew Spencer, XC165614. Accessible at https://xeno-canto.org/165614. License Creative Co…
S4E34: "The Cartels are your Friend!" Ken in West Mexico [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:01
Charley asks Ken about his recent stint in the Puerto Vallarta area of West Mexico. Buff-collared Nightjar recording courtesy of Manuel Grosselet, XC331196. Accessible at https://xeno-canto.org/331196. License Creative C…
S4E33: Charley's Top 5 Mammals - Japan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:35
Charley tells himself about his Top 5 (plus 1) mammals from his recent tours to Japan. Ryukyu Scops-Owl recording courtesy of Rolf A. de By, XC470245. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/470245. License Creative Commons Att…
S4E32: Zac Babbit Returns - Florida (Herp) Man Speaks! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:56
Ken chats with returning guest Zac Babbit about his adventures in biodiversity in the sprawling state of Florida. Check out Zac's Instagram feed: https://www.instagram.com/zac.babbitphotography/ White-crowned Pigeon reco…
S4E31: California with Ken & Charley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:58
Ken tells Charley about his brief visit to California. Mountain Quail recording courtesy of Paul Marvin, XC715988. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/715988. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.…
S4E30: Birding vs bird photography with Ben Knoot [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:31
Are birders and bird photographers really at war? Blakiston's Fish-Owl recording courtesy of Sergey Surmach, XC692538. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/692538. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlik…
S4E29: Mauritius with Charley & Ken [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:26
Charley & Ken chat about their experiences in Mauritius. Mascarene Paradise-Flycatcher recording courtesy of Cedric Mroczko, XC471436. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/471436. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonComm…
S4E28: Thermal Imaging Devices as a Natural History Game-Changer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:24
What are thermal imagine devices? How do you use them to search for animals? And how do you go about choosing one to buy? Charley's device: HikMicro Lynx Pro LE10 Thermal Imaging Monocular Ken's device: AGM TAIPAN TM10-2…
S4E27: One of the most dangerous countries in the W Hemisphere?! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:09
Ken and Charley talk about the Caribbean island nation of Jamaica. Endemic bird and Rastafarian capital of the Caribbean! Rufous-throated Solitaire recording courtesy of Simon Elliott, https://xeno-canto.org/589885. Lice…