Episode 329-Musings on Bernd Heinrich

Episode 329-Musings on Bernd Heinrich

Author: Dr. Steven Shepard August 27, 2026 Duration: 9:25
I just finished reading my 83rd book of the year, Bernd Heinrich’s “The Common Uncommon.” Bernd is the author of many books about the natural world, including Mind of the Raven, Winter World, The Geese at Beaver Bog, A Year in the Maine Woods, and many, many others. Oh—he’s also a world record holder for ultra-marathon running: In 1983, he set an American record for a 24-hour run of 156 miles, 1388 yards in a race in Maine. A year later, he set an American record for running 100 miles in a little over 12 hours. And a year after that, he set the American track record of 7:00:12 for running 100 kilometers, in the process becoming the only American man to hold both the road and track American records for the same event. In fact, he wrote a book about running called Why We Run, which is fascinating. “The Common Uncommon,” the book I just finished, is all about curiosity, and it takes place in the woods surrounding his cabin in Maine, where much of his field research takes place. But as I was reading Bernd Heinrich’s book, I was also re-reading Karen Bakker’s book, “The Sounds of Life: How Digital Technology is Bringing Us Closer to the Worlds of Animals and Plants.” The two books together hit me hard.

Dr. Steven Shepard has spent a lifetime with his senses tuned to the environment, and The Natural Curiosity Project is the audio result of that deep attention. Each episode is built from his photographs, field recordings, and written observations, woven together into a narrative that feels less like a lecture and more like a shared exploration. You’ll hear the specific rustle of leaves in a particular forest, the call of a bird he’s been tracking for weeks, and the quiet reflections that arise from simply paying close attention. The core idea driving this podcast is a powerful one: that genuine curiosity is not just a personal trait but a transformative force. By immersing listeners in the details of the natural world-the often overlooked patterns, sounds, and stories-Shepard aims to spark that fundamental sense of wonder. He operates on the conviction that from curiosity comes discovery, and from that discovery, a more meaningful knowledge and, ultimately, a deeper understanding of our place within the world. This isn’t about grand pronouncements, but about the incremental insights gained through patient observation. Tuning into this podcast means joining a guided, sensory experience designed to reawaken your own questions about the landscape outside your window and the intricate systems that sustain it. The hope is that by the end of an episode, the world sounds a little different, looks a bit more intricate, and feels worthy of a second, more curious glance.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Natural Curiosity Project
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