Episode 8 : Self-sustainability & Nature with Sophie Crossley

09/25/23 • 33 min

In this episode, Holly & Holly discuss ideas surrounding self-sustainability,through birds and nature with author Sophie Crossley, who works for Work in Mind a UK based organization dedicated to the connection between healthy buildings and workplace wellbeing, where there’s a strong focus on biophilic design or incorporating elements of nature into our work and living spaces for the wellness benefits.

In our Mindful Birding Nerding segment, Holly Thomas explores the book Blue Mind, by Wallace J. Nichols, and some of the take-aways from the book, and why and how we can benefit from spending time around water.

Holly Thomas shares a quote by Alan Watts from his book The Way of Zen.

Chris Benesh shares a soundscape of the beautiful song of Hermit Thrush, recorded in California in the Joy of Birdsong segment. https://fieldguides.com/guides/chris-benesh/
Other links:
Forest Therapy
Association of Nature and Forest Therapy
Forest Therapy Hub
BBC's Suprising Benefits of Blue Spaces

Intro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain
Intro Birdsong & Clips throughout : Western Meadowlark
Outro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgain
Outro Birdsong: Eastern Meadowlark
Mindful Birding Network Website
Instagram: @mindfulbirdingnetwork
Produced by Co-hosts Holly Merker and Holly Thomas

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Holly Thomas shares a quote by Alan Watts from his book The Way of Zen.

Previous Episode

Episode 7: Birding Through Grief and Loss

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This episode of the Mindful Birding Podcast is dedicated in loving memory of our friend Tom Johnson.
In this episode, we explore how birds and birding play an important part in the grieving process that we all experience in our lives.
We hear personal stories from Dr. Ed Pullen, creator and host of the Bird Banter Podcast, as he shares how birding was a helpful distraction in finding respite in coping with care-taking and deep loss.
Liz Pettit shares a story of how birds and birding helps in healing of her heart, after experiencing the loss of her son.
Her book Unimaginable is providing hope and comfort to many people.
The American Poet Mary Oliver's reflective poem
Starlings in Winter offers hope and inspires us to seek wonder in both the ordinary and the impossible. Holly Merker reflects on the spirituality and significance particular birds play after loss, particularly the Northern Cardinal.
Holly Thomas guides us through a reflective meditation for those we love, and offers tribute to a beloved friend of both of your co-hosts, as we honor the memory of extraordinary birder and person, Tom Johnson.
In our Joy of Birding segment with Chris Benesh, Chris reflects on how birds have soothed him amidst grief, especially in the loss of dear friend and colleague, Tom Johnson, AKA "The Albatross". Chris shares an intriguing and moving recording of Southern Royal Albatrosses made in Campbell Island of New Zealand.

Next Episode

Episode 9: Prescriptive Nature

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In this episode, we explore the concept of Prescriptive Nature, and gain a better understanding of how and where these prescriptions are being used today in preventative medicine across the globe.

Special guest Dr. Joe Blanda MD discusses the ParkRX program and shares how he prescribed nature to his own patients while a practicing orthopedic surgeon, and continues this initiative through projects in his local community in Akron Ohio.

Holly Thomas shares the poem The Cure For It All by Julia Fehrenbacher

In the Mindful Birding Nerding Science Segment, Holly Thomas explores why Prescriptive Nature might face hurdles in traditional medical settings, and highlights some of the work going on in Poland, specifically that of two pioneers in the area of the therapeutic benefits of birding Dr. Piotr Tryjanowski Dr. Slawomir Murawiec, and Dr. Katarzyna Simonienko - specifically her article on Therapeutic Ornithology

For our Joy of Birdsong segment, Holly & Holly bring you with them on a slow walk through an autumn landscape in southeastern Pennsylvania, sharing a few moments of their wondrous encounter with a pair of dueting Great Horned Owls

We invite you, our listeners, to share moments of gratitude you have with or for birds in our upcoming episode centering around Gratitude. Please email us before Nov.20. 2023 your recordings of gratitude, one minute or less, to: [email protected]

Other Links:
Japanese results of prescriptive nature: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/13/8/781
WHO Paper: https://www.un.org/en/un-chronicle/state-mental-health-globally-wake-covid-19-pandemic-and-progress-who-special-initiative
Dr. Katarzyna Simonienko https://www.forest-therapy.pl/en/forest-therapy/
Slawomir Murawiec
https://naturallybalanced.org/en/author/slawomirmurawiec/
Birding during COVID - http://www.psychiatria.com.pl/artykul.php?a=941
Nature and Mental Health: Birding is a Proven Solution https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9623220/