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Nurtured by Nature
Do you care deeply about the natural world? Have you struggled with eco-anxiety, overwhelm & despair due to the constant negative narrative about the environment & the mass depletion of biodiversity? Do you feel a sense of powerlessness & hopelessness in the face of the inaction at governmental level?
I’m on a mission to shift the conversation, searching out empowering solutions & evidence of what’s already being achieved, to restore our collective hope & remind us that we are not powerless bystanders.
At Nurtured By Nature I bring together a fascinating diversity of guests, offering their unique perspectives & guidance, as we discuss ways to marry ancient wisdom & modern culture in a synergy that enables us as a society to restore balance to our lives & environment & fully take responsibility for our role in healing our world.
I provide you with a space that you can return to for constant hope and inspiration, knowing that by coming together as a community, it allows us to amplify our impact, as we discover the tangible solutions of how we can all get involved & embrace these ideas to create a powerful movement for positive change.
Expect to hear stories & advice from authors, artists, photographers, musicians, health & wellness practitioners, incredible businesses prioritising nature, foragers, gardeners, farmers, food producers, scientists, conservationists & charities involved in habitat restoration, species protection & rewilding, & many more diverse voices, all united by our deep & abiding love for the natural world & a desire to make a positive impact.
So pull up a chair, join us in conversation & help weave these important messages into the world, whilst being empowered to make your own positive impact, to be part of the solution as we rediscover our true place in nature’s incredible tapestry.
Nurtured by Nature
Finding Nature in the City with Ryan Mandelbaum, Wild NYC: Experiencing the amazing nature in & around New York City
Today I'm joined by Ryan Mandelbaum, author of Wild NYC: Experiencing the amazing nature in & around New York City.
When we think of immersing ourselves in nature most of us are likely guilty of imagining far off wilderness locations but Ryan is passionate about exploring the incredible diversity of nature that can be found in the urban environment & in particular in NYC.
Urban areas were often chosen for their rich natural features that would have benefitted wildlife as much as the humans that were drawn to these areas.
We discuss how connecting with nature has enriched their life in numerous unexpected ways, finding community in the often isolating city existence. Even if you are a complete beginner, there has never been a better time to become a naturalist. Simply start on your own street & begin observing the natural world. If you slow down & look there are untold secrets to be revealed from Raven’s nesting on the Brooklyn bridge, to humpback whales & even mountain ferns on the side of a railway viaduct.
As we begin to recognise & appreciate the amazing nature on our doorsteps, we likely become advocates for our natural heritage & this ripples out into the world in untold ways, catalysing social movements as well as environmental change.
Learn more about Ryan
Ryan F. Mandelbaum is a science writer, naturalist, & educator. You can find him searching for critters across the five boroughs before returning home to Brooklyn to observe birds & moths from the roof of their apartment. Ryan has written about the natural world of NYC for the New York Times, Scientific American, Audubon Magazine, & their newsletter eyy, i’m walkin’ here. Ryan volunteers for the New York State Breeding Bird Atlas, the Finch Research Network & the Feminist Bird Club.
Wild NYC by Ryan Mandelbaum & Chelsea Beck
A vibrant, family friendly guide to the unexpected nature found in & around the Big Apple. NYC may have a reputation as a concrete jungle, but it’s full of amazing wildlife - you just need to know where to find it! Equal parts natural history, field guide, & trip planner, Wild NYC shows readers how to experience another side of the City That Never Sleeps. Highlighting the natural aspects of the city’s landscapes & the wildlife that accompanies it, this quirky guide takes a leaf out of a famous New Yorker’s book & encourages its readers to “take a walk on the wild side.”
From easy-to-spot squirrels & praying mantids to more elusive humpback whales & purple finches, this delightful handbook profiles over 100 local species, complete with illustrations & information on where to find them. Also included are descriptions of day trips that help tourists & locals alike explore natural wonders on hiking trails, in public parks, & on street corners.
Website: http://www.ryanfmandelbaum.com/
Instagram: @ryanfmandelbaum
New York City Bird Alliance: https://nycbirdalliance.org
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More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography Website
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