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
Episode 36: Charley & Ken talk about small islands [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:22
As Charley finds himself on the idyllic Koh Surin, Ken and Charley discuss small islands and the wildlife they hold. Check out our brand new feature, a Google map of all the places mentioned in the podcast. https://www.g…
Episode 35: Charley interviews Ken , "Ask Me Anything" episode! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:05
Charley asks Ken a bunch of questions, so that he and the listeners can get to know him better. If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?fan_land…
Episode 34: Ken interviews Charley, "Ask Me Anything" episode! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:15
Ken asks Charley a bunch of questions, so that he and the listeners can get to know him better. Would dedicated vegetarian Charley eat meat under any circumstances? Listen to find out! Episode Photo Gallery: https://www.…
Episode 33: Charley & Ken welcome Julian Hough back to the show. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:21
Julian Hough returns for the final episode in a three-part series in which he shares the "Five Craziest Things He Has Done in Pursuit of Birds". This time he takes us to Turkey for a couple of epic tales, including a her…
Episode 32: Charley & Ken welcome Julian Hough back to the show. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:47
Julian Hough returns for Part 2 in a three-part series in which he shares the "Five Craziest Things He Has Done in Pursuit of Birds". This time he takes us on disastrous trips to Ramsey Canyon in Arizona, and in search o…
Episode 31: Charley & Ken welcome Julian Hough to the show. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:59
On this week's episode, our special guest is Julian Hough. British by birth, he has spent half his life living in the US and is a well-known birder there. Julian is a veteran world birder with many tales to tell. Today h…
Episode 30: Adventure Close to Home [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:24
Find out why Ken's Google Maps is now in Turkish, and about Charley's struggles to keep finding new birds for his rabid birder son. This week's photo gallery: https://www.ken-behrens.com/podcast-episode-30 Finally, if yo…
Episode 29: Charley & Ken welcome Adam Cruickshank to the show. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:23
On this week's episode, our special guest is host of The Birding Life Podcast, Adam Cruickshank. The 3 of us share a nostalgic look at each of our favourite 3 South African birds. Don't forget to check out this week's ME…
Episode 28: Ken and Charley's #1 Lifetime Mammal Sightings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:01
Ken and Charley reach a long series of episodes about their top 10 lifetime mammal sightings. Want clues about what they are? How about Peter Matthiessen and earth-pig?! If you like the show, please consider sponsoring u…
Episode 27: Ken & Charley welcome Nate Swick to the show [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:13
On this week's episode, our special guest is host of the popular America Birding Podcast, Nate Swick. He entertains us with stories from his Top 5 wildlife encounters from such far-flung places as Uganda, Honduras and th…