51: Sparrows, Prayer, and the Art of Calm (Roger Hutchison)

The Thing with Feathers: birds and hope with Courtney Ellis

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Merlin Bird ID⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

22:08

Host Francesca Amiker sits down with directors Joe and Anthony Russo, producer Angela Russo-Otstot, stars Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt, and more to uncover how family was the key to building the emotional core of The Electric State . From the Russos’ own experiences growing up in a large Italian family to the film’s central relationship between Michelle and her robot brother Kid Cosmo, family relationships both on and off of the set were the key to bringing The Electric State to life. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts . State Secrets: Inside the Making of The Electric State is produced by Netflix and Treefort Media.…

about a year ago 49:46

MP3•एपिसोड होम

How can birds help us through the painful pieces of life? Roger Hutchison, author, illustrator, and speaker, serves at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church in Houston, and came to us for a vibrant conversation about mental health, spirituality, birds, and hope.

Links from Roger's show:

Birding links:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠e-Bird⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow The Thing With Feathers:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTWF on Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTWF on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTWF on Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Thing With Feathers is produced by Courtney Ellis. Original music by Del Belcher. New episodes every Monday.

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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/courtney-ellis02/message
Get full access to Keep Looking Up at courtneyellis.substack.com/subscribe

92 एपिसोडस

#Courtney Ellis #Science #New Books

51: Sparrows, Prayer, and the Art of Calm (Roger Hutchison)

The Thing with Feathers: birds and hope with Courtney Ellis

published about a year ago

साझा करें

MP3•एपिसोड होम

Links from Roger's show:

Birding links:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Merlin Bird ID⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠e-Bird⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow The Thing With Feathers:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTWF on Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTWF on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTWF on Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Thing With Feathers is produced by Courtney Ellis. Original music by Del Belcher. New episodes every Monday.

---
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/courtney-ellis02/message
Get full access to Keep Looking Up at courtneyellis.substack.com/subscribe

92 एपिसोडस

#Courtney Ellis #Science #New Books

सभी एपिसोड

1
92: The Breeding Birds of Minnesota 47:42

6 days ago47:42

47:42

Lee Pfannmuller and Jerry Niemi know a thing or two about birds. With over one hundred years(!) of birding experience between them, they have spent their lives doing fieldwork related to conservation and ecology throughout the state of Minnesota and beyond. Today we celebrate the publication of their new, beautiful book The Breeding Birds of Minnesota. We talk about everything from bird surveys to caring for creation to wrangling volunteers. Find out the most frequently seen bird in Minnesota (the answer surprised me!), the most difficult places to perform bird surveys, and a great story about one place you should never drive a Prius. Join us for this special, encouraging episode all about the beautiful birds of one of our most fantastic and ecologically fragile states. Get full access to Keep Looking Up at courtneyellis.substack.com/subscribe…

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91: Creation and Conservation with Peter Harris 48:45

20 days ago48:45

48:45

Peter Harris co-founded A Rocha , a Christian nonprofit dedicated to conservation back in 1983. Together he and his wife Miranda built an organization that helped churches and Christians across the world work together to care for creation. Their vision was to build a global family of conservation organizations working together to live out God’s calling to care for creation and equip others to do likewise. Today, A Rocha exists in more than 20 countries, from Portugal to the United States to India to Kenya. It continues to bring together those interested in conservation with people of faith, offering practical ways people can work to steward the good gift of creation God has given. Friends, I could have spoken with Peter for days upon days. He is a wealth of wisdom, humility, and kindness, and I learned so much from our hour together. I’m so excited to share today’s episode with you - our discussion ranges from practical tips for conservation to the British evangelist John Stott’s love for birds to coping with grief to and loss to the hollowness of consumerism to how gosh-darned wonderful the avian world is. “People are looking to understand,” said Peter. I’ll also never forget our initial email exchange where I, a little star-struck by a guest who has done so much good in the world, told Peter I was looking forward to learning from him. “We will learn from each other, Courtney,” he said. Check out Peter’s beautiful book from the 1990s, Under the Bright Wings , about the faith-filled founding of A Rocha, too. Enjoy this gift of a podcast, perfect for thinking more about the beauty of God’s creation and how we might better care for it. Get full access to Keep Looking Up at courtneyellis.substack.com/subscribe…

1
90: Seeing God after Losing Faith (Liz Charlotte Grant) 46:21

5 weeks ago46:21

46:21

Liz Charlotte Grant ’s new book, Knock at the Sky: Seeking God in Genesis after Losing Faith in the Bible is a wild and wondrous read. And rightly so—anyone who’s spent any time in Genesis knows that it’s a delightfully odd and messy book. Join us on this episode about hope, backyard chickens, and the surprising ways God sometimes shows up even when we feel we’ve lost our faith. You may want to check out Liz’s fabulous Substack, The Empathy List , which has won Webby awards for its writing, as well as her haunting article on one of the saints of the evangelical church, Elisabeth Elliot. Get full access to Keep Looking Up at courtneyellis.substack.com/subscribe…

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89: Hope in Chronic Illness (Duane Bidwell) 44:02

7 weeks ago44:02

44:02

Duane Bidwell is the author, most recently, of the new book After the Worst Day Ever: What Sick Kids Know About Sustaining Hope in Chronic Illness, with Beacon Press. He’s a professor, a chaplain, and an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA). He also loves a raven, but we’ll get to that. Today’s episode is all about hope. Where we might find it, what we can learn from kids who have it—often against all odds—and how may serve as agents of hope to one another. We also dabble a little in birds, don’t you worry. Whether you’re feeling hopeful or hopeless, this is an episode not to be missed, my friends. And don’t forget to check out Duane’s beautiful book . You can find it anywhere books are sold. Get full access to Keep Looking Up at courtneyellis.substack.com/subscribe…

1
88: Winter Birding with Janet Hill 49:45

9 weeks ago49:45

49:45

Janet Hill first appeared on The Thing With Feathers back in 2023. I’d followed her wonderful photography for years and grown to appreciate her invitational style, and our conversation cheered and heartened me. I couldn’t think of a better person to come on the show to talk all things winter birding than Janet. From Saskatoon to Newfoundland, from California gulls to Black-billed Magpies, join us for a conversation about listening, the benefits of keeping records, and why Janet believes in the importance of getting outside every single day, even in sub-zero weather. Plus: an update on Mary the Blue Jay. Follow Janet over on BlueSky to see more of her beautiful work. Get full access to Keep Looking Up at courtneyellis.substack.com/subscribe…

1
87: Simon Stuart on Conservation and Hope 54:56

11 weeks ago54:56

54:56

Simon Stuart is the senior advisor to conservation at A Rocha. Until April of 2023, he served as Executive Director of A Rocha International. Simon has been instrumental in the species conservation movement around the world, including winning a Blue Planet Prize for his work with the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species. Really, I could go on. Simon is a gracious, brilliant guy with a biography longer than my arm. (He spent his gap year with Jane Goodall! He was almost kidnapped twice !) But I’m going to let him tell you his story of conservation and hope in his own words. Two things really stuck out to me about my conversation with Simon. First, his perspective that good, healthy change begins with “cultivating the love of what God has made.” With so much hopeless and despair around everything from the loss of biodiversity to climate change, it can be easy to descend into despair. But he reminded me that all good work begins and ends and has its roots in love. Secondly, I’ve always wondered what it would be like to discover a new species. Simon has that story to share as well. Buckle up for an adventure of an episode that takes us from Bath, England to Tanzania to India and back again. You won’t want to miss this one. Get full access to Keep Looking Up at courtneyellis.substack.com/subscribe…

1
86: Roger Hutchison on New Year's Resolutions... for Birds 50:02

13 weeks ago50:02

50:02

Roger Hutchison is an author, illustrator, and Christian educator in the Episcopal Church. He’s a two-time guest on our podcast, and we couldn’t think of a better fit for our end-of-year episode. Together we talk resolutions, words of the year, and what resolutions birds would make, if they made them. Plus, we take a look at his just-about-to-be-released book, The Gift of Baptism . This beautiful children’s picture book took my breath away with its soulful writing and gorgeous illustrations by Claire Westwood. Join us as we talk about finding hope even when *gestures broadly at everything.* Roger shares a bobcat story, how children are bearers and bringers of hope, and what sparrow-centric project he’s working on next. Get full access to Keep Looking Up at courtneyellis.substack.com/subscribe…

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85: A Closer Look with Susanne Swing Thompson 44:01

15 weeks ago44:01

44:01

Susanne Swing Thompson is the author of A Closer Look: The Neighborhood and the creative mind behind Wren Photos . Susanne is a big believer in the power and whimsy that can happen when we look more closely at our own backyards, streets, and local parks. While birding can take us far afield - and this is fun! - when we tune into the birds, wildlife, and flora right on our own front steps, we can begin to find magic right where we are. “I find myself wondering, ‘What is happening at home?’” said Susanne. Join us for this episode as we look more closely at our own neighborhoods and encourage you to do the same. If you’d like to subscribe to Susanne’s newsletter (I do; it’s lovely!), you may do so here . Get full access to Keep Looking Up at courtneyellis.substack.com/subscribe…

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84: Ornithography with Jessica Roux 42:49

17 weeks ago42:49

42:49

Nashville-based author and illustrator Jessica Roux takes her inspiration from the natural world, folklore, and world religions. In her beautiful book, Ornithography: An Illustrated Guide to Bird Lore, Jessica takes us on a journey into the mythology of different species of birds. Each avian description is partnered with a beautiful hand-drawn illustration, making this book great for anyone in need of a little more whimsy and beauty. (And isn’t that all of us?) Join us for this episode of The Thing with Feathers as we talk about illustration, inspiration, and our mutual love of Flannery O’Connor. Plus: how to appreciate and celebrate the gift of birds, a gentle solution for outdoor cats, and what Jessica’s working on next. To see more of Jessica’s beautiful illustrations, check out her work on Instagram . Get full access to Keep Looking Up at courtneyellis.substack.com/subscribe…

1
83: British Birding with Mark Winter 45:29

19 weeks ago45:29

45:29

Mark Winter is a birding guide at Even Sparrows . He’s also a lay theologian from the U.K. who comes to us with stories of St. Cuthbert, discovering awe, and his take on why Jesus never mentions eagles in the Bible. Join us for a visit to this pastoral and wind-swept land as we talk about Mark’s book, Look at the Birds of the Air, encounters with birds in Scripture, and why “just getting out there” is some of the best birding advice for newbies. Get full access to Keep Looking Up at courtneyellis.substack.com/subscribe…

1
82: A Bird Diva? 49:44

21 weeks ago49:44

49:44

Though birding seems like a whimsical hobby, birders can be surprisingly competitive. Bridget Butler seeks to bring mindfulness, peace, and gentle attention into the world of birds and birding. Her slow birding guiding practice, Bird Diva , brings people out into nature for focused time communing with the birds and one another. “I just wanted to stop and slow down and watch what the birds were doing,” said Butler. “And there weren’t that many bird outings that were doing that… I wanted more!” Her love for studying bird behavior took her into the world of slow birding, a world she invites us into today. Join us for this special episode of The Thing with Feathers as we learn from Bridget how to slow down, be present, and accept the gifts nature gives to us day by day. Get full access to Keep Looking Up at courtneyellis.substack.com/subscribe…

1
81: Creation Care with Ben Lowe 39:38

23 weeks ago39:38

39:38

Ben Lowe is the executive director for A Roche, a Christian organization dedicated to the practice of creation care. Part of its mission is to help people rejoice in the beauty, diversity, and complexity of the natural world, and (get this!) commit to delighting in and treasuring God’s good creation. Delighting in creation. What a wonderful, important, energizing idea. So often we encounter news headlines about climate change that are steeped in terror or cynicism. The world is ending, they say, and we are to blame. Lowe believes there is another way to approach conservation: one that is rooted in God’s call to steward the earth and the ultimate hope of the Gospel. It’s that and his organization’s grassroots efforts with communities and churches to make ecosystems healthier one, small step at a time that made this interview so rich. “It’s easier to despair when you’re not involved on the ground,” he told me. “Just getting your hands dirty is a great antidote to despair.” Don’t miss this special episode of The Thing with Feathers as we dive deep on what it means to work together to restore right relationships with creation—including our neighbors. And don’t forget to check out the work Ben and A Rocha are doing , both within the US and around the world. Get full access to Keep Looking Up at courtneyellis.substack.com/subscribe…

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80: Will Wilson Captures the Birds of Rwanda 43:56

25 weeks ago43:56

43:56

Author of Falling for the Birds of Rwanda and the soon to be released Following the Birds of Rwanda , Will Wilson didn’t start out as a birder. From age 18 until his early 40s, he served in the British military. How did he make the change from military life to a contemplative birding practice in the cities and wilds of Rwanda? Therein lies the tale. Will Wilson is a generous photographer based in Kigali, sharing his photos far and wide on social media. Looking through his eyes on Twitter and Instagram has been a great gift. If you’ve never been to Rwanda—or even if you have!—join us for this very special international episode as Will helps us explore weavers and bee-eaters and beautiful birds of all kinds. Get full access to Keep Looking Up at courtneyellis.substack.com/subscribe…

1
79: Night Magic with Leigh Ann Henion 41:11

27 weeks ago41:11

41:11

New York Times bestselling author Leigh Ann Henion believes we can learn a lot when the lights go out. From lightning bugs to salamanders, owls to bats, a whole world opens up after dark. Join us as we talk about our shared human need for darkness and why certain things flourish in less-seen times and places. Plus, check out Leigh Ann’s beautiful book, Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark , which releases with Algonquin tomorrow and can be found everywhere books are sold. Get full access to Keep Looking Up at courtneyellis.substack.com/subscribe…

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78: Bearing Witness to Creation (Mark Robertson) 44:33

29 weeks ago44:33