Things Keep Breaking!!! Part 2! plus COSTA RICA

Things Keep Breaking!!! Part 2! plus COSTA RICA

Author: Christy Hyman, PhD July 18, 2025 Duration: 14:25

Welcome back to another episode of the Random Nature Podcast! In this bonus episode titled "Things Keep Breaking, Part Two," host Christy Hyman shares a humorous and relatable tale from her adventures in bird photography. After enjoying some successful shots of various birds at Myers Point in Lansing, New York, Christy faces a frustrating technical challenge when her camera malfunctions while capturing backyard visitors. 

Determined to troubleshoot, she tries multiple SD cards, updates the firmware, and examines the camera for debris, but to no avail. As summer fades and the new school year approaches, Christy reflects on the challenges of fitting in her passion for birding amidst a busy schedule, all while living in a remote area with limited access to camera repair shops. 

Join Christy as she wades through the trials and tribulations of bird photography, sharing both her insights and her dismay, as well as tips for staying resilient when things don’t go as planned. Tune in to find out how she navigates this setback in her birding journey and what her next steps might be!


Christy Hyman is a geographer with a deep affection for birds and the wild spaces just outside our doors. In Random Nature, she sits down with fellow academics, not for stiff lectures, but for genuine conversations that explore the surprising and personal relationships we have with the natural world. You’ll hear how a sociologist might find order in a tangled forest, or how a historian sees the landscape as a living archive. These discussions get at the heart of how people who think for a living actually *experience* nature-whether they seek it out daily on long walks or observe it more quietly from a kitchen window garden. This podcast lives in the intersection of science, culture, and everyday life, revealing that our connection to the environment is rarely straightforward. It’s often messy, overlooked, and wonderfully random. Each episode is an invitation to reconsider your own surroundings, to notice the details in your own home, garden, or local park through a slightly different lens. Tune in for thoughtful, meandering talks that bridge the gap between scholarly insight and simple, personal appreciation.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 40

Random Nature
Podcast Episodes
BONUS: SUMMER TIME; ANNOUNCEMENTS! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:35
Bonus! Christy tells us where she is headed next in her academic career. And of course BIRDS!Birds mentioned: Pileated WoodpeckerPeople mentioned: Ed Baptist PhD, Bill Block, PhD, soon to be PhD Megan Jeffreys .
Anna Bartel, PhD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:07
Part activist, part administrator, and part academic,” Anna Sims Bartel earned her Ph.D. in Comparative Literature at Cornell University. She runs her own consulting firm and enjoys doing public humanities work as well h…
BONUS: A CONFUSING FALL BIRD MIGRATION [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:13
Here I give a glimpse into what is coming up next. I talk about my confusing fall birding migration in a new region and FUNGI.My next guest will be Dr. Anna Bartel.
Season 2: The New Year [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:04
A meditation on grief and nature on a day of sorrow.
Bonus: Farewell Rose-Breasted Grosbeak [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:31
In this episode I share a precious moment with the Rose-Breasted Grosbeak and my emotional farewell.
Dr. Hanieh Molana [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:45
Meet one of my sweetest Feminist Geographer friends, Dr. Molana!
Minisode: Drs. Malaia, Jimenez, Cohen! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:54
In today's minisode we hear from three of my friends in this order: Dr. Kate Malaia, Dr. Claire Jimenez, Dr. Matt Cohen.They share their most random/unusual/incredible nature moment.Check out their works!Recent article f…