Constant Wonder
Episodes
Ethiopian Church Forests Nurture Hope - December 24
24 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Forests planted around churches in the Ethiopian desert nurture soul and body. Part of a Constant Wonder series marking the Christian Advent with dai...
The Comfort of Swaddling Bands - December 23
23 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The ties that bind us—family or community—may sometimes feel restrictive, but they actually hold us safe and keep us calm, like swaddling bands, a...
Joseph Goes to Bethlehem - December 22
22 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joseph was put in a bind when Mary conceived. We can learn from the angelic visitations he received—and from his responses. Part of a Constant Wond...
Miracles at the Winter Solstice - December 21
21 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The human need for light and warmth are miraculously met by our planet and solar system. Ben Abbott compares these earthly systems to Christ's divine ...
Unexpected Lessons from an Aquarium - December 20
20 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Author Philip Yancey learned a surprisingly poignant lesson about Christ while taking care of the fish in his aquarium. Guest: Philip Yancey, author ...
Las Posadas: Searching for Shelter - December 19
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Originating in Mexico over 400 years ago, Las Posadas is now an Advent tradition through much of Latin America. Neighborhood bands of "pilgrims" repre...
The Wonder of Birth - December 18
18 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When Mary and Joseph present the infant Jesus at the temple, they are honoring the human bodies of both mother and child. Part of a Constant Wonder s...
The Inspirational Power of the Magnificat - December 17
17 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
She may have started life as a "nowhere person in a nowhere place," but Mary's devotion has inspired generations. Part of a Constant Wonder series m...
What Was the Star of Bethlehem? December 16
16 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Astronomers and historians have long debated whether the Star of Bethlehem was really a star at all. Part of a Constant Wonder series marking the Chr...
Three Phases of Prayer - December 15
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With grace, the hilarious Kevin Kling has overcome trauma and learned to live with disability. You may recognize your own spiritual journey in his hum...
Ask the Animals - December 14
14 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When Gayle Boss stumbled on a passel of river otters on her 66th birthday, she learned from them that you're never too old to be playful. She agrees w...
Music Captures the Sublime - December 13
13 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Even when Dr. Francis Collins wasn't a believer, music moved his soul. Part of a Constant Wonder series marking the Christian Advent with daily vig...
The Babe in the Manger - December 12
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After artist Jenedy Paige discovered that many popular depictions of Christ's nativity scene are historically inaccurate, she set out to create a pain...
The Unusual Stillness of the Painted Turtle - December 11
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lessons on stillness from a cold-blooded creature that has mastered the art of not breathing to survive a frozen winter. Part of a Constant Wonder se...
Peace in Waiting - December 10
10 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A bird laid an egg in the hand of the Celtic Saint Kevin, and, as the story goes, he held that egg steady until the chick hatched and flew away. Learn...
A Miracle Makes You Want to Dance - December 9
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Amateur astronomers tracking Jupiter dance and laugh about a discovery, leading to a reflection on what makes a miracle. Part of a Constant Wonder se...
Be Not Afraid - December 8
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When an angel shows up in scripture, its first words are often "be not afraid." Who are these creatures, and what role do they play in Christian doctr...
Bells Ring Out for Charity - December 7
07 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Generosity is contagious . . . and sometimes competitive—in the best way possible! Stories from a Salvation Army bell-ringer. Part of a Constant Wo...
Celebrating the Creation During Advent - December 6
06 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How children can learn from the Creation story to love Advent. Part of a Constant Wonder series marking the Christian Advent with daily vignettes th...
Love Has a Ripple Effect (#LightTheWorld) - December 5
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When he was a teen, Isaac Ogutu’s family was gifted a cow by an English farmer, and their lives were transformed. Now, years later, Isaac works with...
Hope in the Bleak Midwinter - December 4
04 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When the winter world is dark and still, look to the Christmas story for the promise of light. Part of a Constant Wonder series marking the Christia...
It Takes a Village - December 3
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In Italy, it takes a village to welcome the Christ child. We explore the sacred within raucous Neapolitan nativity sets that can boast hundreds of fig...
Waiting for the Light - December 2
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Historically, believers in Christianity were encouraged to focus on only the essentials. Gayle Boss brings this ancient practice into the 21st century...
A Fresh Way to Celebrate Advent - December 1
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Here's a way to reawaken the wonder of the Christmas season: a mini Advent garden. Part of a Constant Wonder series marking the Christian Advent tra...
2025 Audio Advent Calendar
27 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Enjoy an audio advent calendar with a short episode for every day from December 1 through Christmas. Each episode invites thoughtful reflection on the...
Returning Ferrets to the Wild After Near Extinction
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When Shep the ranch dog discovered a mysterious rodent raiding his food dish, the canine forever changed the trajectory of the black-footed ferret spe...
A Town Made Of Leaves Brought Beauty and Hope
19 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When options for recess became limited during the pandemic, a group of children in Oak Park, Illinois created Leaf Town, a thriving metropolis made of...
Chinese Immigrants' Remarkable Quest For The American Dream
12 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When Ava Chin went looking for the father who had abandoned her family, she discovered the rich and complicated legacy of her Chinese immigrant relati...
How to Invite More Life and Wildness into the Garden
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There’s a sea change happening . . . on land. People are rethinking what a garden is, what a yard is for, what urban green spaces can do to help lif...
A Pediatric Neurosurgeon Shares Stories of Triumph and Resilience
29 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Neurosurgeon Jay Wellons performs the most delicate surgeries on the traumatized brains of children, where every cut and stitch has life-changing cons...
A Universe Full of Life: Sy Montgomery's Animal Adventures
22 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Octopuses, chickens, hummingbirds, turtles, emus... the list of animals that Sy Montgomery has befriended goes on. On Constant Wonder, we explore all ...
Bees with Good Vibes: A Tale of Two Hives
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when you combine a professional cellist's technical skill and a physicist's experiment with vibration sensors? You get a play-able beehi...
She's Thrown Her Heart and Soul into Beekeeping
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After taking on the care of a beehive, Jessica Lahey quickly discovered that no amount of research could prepare her for the real buzz—like what hap...
To Rescue an Animal, You've Got to Think Like One
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Giraffes don't like to swim, so how do you get them off an island that's flooding? How do keepers feed a violent, orphaned baby elephant that's been t...
Eccentric Inventor Reveals Secrets of the Ocean
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Exploring deeper in the ocean than anyone before him—into the dark depths of the sea where no ray of sunlight reached—William Beebe saw shocking l...
Endurance for One Moment More: Jenedy Paige on Art, Faith, and Grit
17 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For Jenedy Paige, journaling started as a childhood habit and became a lifeline in adulthood, especially after the tragic drowning of her son. Art and...
How to Raise Awe Seekers
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if cultivating awe could change the way we see the world? In this special joint episode of Constant Wonder and The Lisa Show, hosts Marcus Smith ...
The Miracle of Being in a Body
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After a tragic car accident took the life of Jeff Olsen's wife and young son, the young father struggled with guilt and his own excruciating physical ...
Love, Celebrate, and Heal the Land: A Navajo Artist's Journey
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A dream inspired Navajo artist Eugene Tapahe to take his art to the National Parks, spreading hope during the frustrating and fear-filled early days o...
Storyteller Kevin Kling, A Life of Humor and Humility
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Storyteller Kevin Kling has overcome trauma and learned to live with disability, without ever losing sight of the hilarious–even in the horrible. We...
How Farmers Show Their Love for the Land
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kelsey Timmerman grew up in rural Ohio, right across the border from Indiana. By the time he graduated from college, he was eager to leave the Midwest...
Dreams Before Dying
06 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dying patients often profess to see deceased loved ones around them in the days and weeks before they pass. So often that hospice care doctor Chris Ke...
Vet at the Edge of the Earth
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jonathan the Giant Tortoise was born in the 1800s and is still alive today, thanks to vet Joe Hollins. Hear about Joe's adventures with Jonathan and w...
How to See Like a Naturalist (Without Leaving Home)
23 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Thor Hanson reminds us that wonder isn’t reserved for far-off rainforests or remote islands—it can thrive right outside our door. From looking up ...
Collecting Eiderdown on the Rugged Rocks of the Atlantic
16 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On a tiny, remote island, an English farmer and writer captures the story of Anna Måsøy, a Norwegian "duck woman." In a practice that dates back to ...
One Scientist's Search For Life In Extreme Places
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Karen Lloyd is no stranger to life in the extremes: she has encountered super-resilient microbial life near volcanoes, on the ocean floor, and deep in...
Shared Solitude: The Eye-Opening Epiphanies Of A Children's Writer
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Though his life looked calm from the outside, Douglas Wood's undiagnosed ADHD and dyslexia dragged him down—until he received a personal letter from...
The Unique Connection Between Musician and Instrument
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When she was growing up, Dr. Kate Kennedy dreamed of becoming a professional cellist. After a devastating injury at music school, this dream was cut s...
The "Cutting Edge" of Tradition: Black Folk Art Reimagined
18 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Everyday people overcome seemingly insurmountable hurdles to produce fine art. Due to decades of historical isolation, the quilters of Gee's Bend, Ala...
Glimmers of Awe: The Fascinating World of Fireflies
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Facing the loss of her Elkmont cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains—a family treasure for five generations—Lynn Faust began to pay more attention to...
Finding Genuine Healing in the Rainforest
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Hanbury-Tenisons have turned to a rare temperate rainforest on their family farm for solace and renewal after emotional and physical trauma. Now t...
The Batman of Mexico (and the World!)
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever since "Dracula," bats have been seen as terrifying threats that carry disease. They're actually essential to our agriculture and industry. In thi...
A Humble Farmer Goes On An Unbelievable World Tour
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
One day in 1901, a young farmer from Croatia set out on a walk. Decades later, he was still walking, had traversed six continents, and had stood face-...
A Devoted Doctor's Quest to Heal the Homeless
14 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Meet a tireless physician who has spent nearly four decades caring for the unhoused population of Boston. We'll also learn about some of his enterpris...
Motherhood In Miniature: Hidden Insight from a Hummingbird Nursery
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hummingbirds are often admired for their dazzling speed and iridescent beauty, but their nesting habits remain one of nature's best-kept secrets. Citi...
A Civil Rights Leader Establishes Secret Schools
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Educator and activist Septima Clark used her passion for teaching to increase literacy rates in the Deep South, preparing Black citizens to pass the v...
She Walked 500 Miles for a Bird Under Threat
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The best way to see the world is on foot, it might be argued. Mary Colwell has had amazing encounters with wildlife on her walking treks around the gl...
A New Era of Peace in the Wolf Wars
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel Curry had had recurring dreams about wolves, long before he chose to devote his career to helping them. After working with captive wolves for s...
Is There Such Thing As a "Bad" Naturalist?
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When Paula Whyman started trying to rehabilitate 200 acres she'd just bought, she knew very little about conservation. Among many other challenges, sh...
Getting Away Makes You a Better Neighbor
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Use the power of retreat and meditation to ease the stress of our frenetic lifestyle. From decades of friendship with the Dalai Lama, Pico Iyer has le...
How to Snorkel Right in Your Own Backyard (Practically)
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If snorkeling seems like something you can only do on a tropical vacation, think again. In this podcast episode, we meet a river snorkeling guide who ...
How a Writer Rewired Her Brain After Amnesia
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After waking from a coma with devastating brain damage, Samina Ali relearns to walk and speak alongside her newborn son. Guest: Samina Ali, author of...
Hare in the House: An Enchanting and Wild Companion
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When Chloe Dalton starts caring for a newborn hare, the line between "indoors" and "outdoors" blurs—inviting her to explore the natural world that s...
The Simple, Wonder-full Life of the Snowflake Man
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From rural oddity to New York Times writer, Wilson Bentley's singular devotion to snow and desire to share it with others changed snow science forever...
Humor: A Powerful Tool in the Face of Anxiety
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Clint Edwards' hilarious honesty gives encouragement to those struggling with mental health challenges. Facing off his anxiety with humor and hope, h...
How Adoptee Found Birth Family Thanks to Mysterious Tattoo
19 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When Korean adoptee Sara Jones went looking for her birth family, she wondered if a strange tattoo given to her in childhood could unlock any secrets....
Pittsburgh's Revolutionary Black Paramedics Made a Breakthrough in Medicine, Part II
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A norm-shattering young White female doctor joins Black paramedics in 1970s Pittsburgh. And, meet the graceful but determined Black paramedic who prov...
Pittsburgh's Revolutionary Black Paramedics Made a Breakthrough in Medicine, Part I
12 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Before 1966, if you needed transport to the hospital, authorities might send a police car, or even a hearse. That year, Pittsburgh's non-profit Freedo...
Unlock Unexpected Wisdom from a Dynamic Planet
05 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Earth's crust reveals a dynamic, lively epic unfolding. Dramatic changes in the Earth's geology offer inspiration for its human residents. Guest:...
Discovering Extraordinary Awe in Tragedy
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After cancer takes his brother's life, Dacher Keltner repeatedly experiences awe in ways that expand the boundaries of what, even for him, is real. G...
Finding a New Life in the Woods
22 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jarod Anderson found unique purpose in the woods of his childhood during a life-threatening battle with depression. As the host of the popular podcast...
Learning Ultimate Empathy . . . from Chickens
15 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What can animals written off as "mindless" or "scary" teach us about developing compassion for the natural world and for other people? Guest: Sy Mont...
Not So Scary: The Dazzling Secrets of the Dark
08 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Darkness makes even the most familiar places unfamiliar. But Leigh Ann Henion finds this exciting, not scary—night reveals a magical, wondrous world...
So Much to Love About Constant Wonder!
01 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A new season of fresh content is on its way! In the meantime, nature writer Gayle Boss takes a minute to enumerate the many joys that Constant Wonder ...
The Awe-Inspiring Magic Hidden in Everyday Delights
27 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Poet and essayist Ross Gay talks about finding moments of wonder in everyday life. Wandering, finger painting, laundromats, bike riding, gardening, li...
Getting Giddy in the Quiet World of Plants
20 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Get to know BBC personality and naturalist Mike Dilger, from his passion for birds and wildlife, to his adventures in the cloud forests of Ecuador. In...
Resilient Female Botanists Challenge the Untamed Colorado River
13 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In 1938, two botanists from Michigan challenge the raging Colorado River in pursuit of cactus, the first known women to run the river through the Gran...
A Boy from the Streets Crashes Symphony Hall
06 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A story of human triumph: A young child is rescued from life on the streets, fostered, and mentored. He chases a dream to play classical music, and no...
From Hidden Secrets To Inspiring Peaks
30 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A widowed mother's secrets haunted her young boys' lives. When Philip Yancey discovered the truth about his father's death at age 23, he had to refram...
A Map for a Lifetime of Adventure
23 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Can one local map offer a lifetime of adventure? Alastair Humphreys embarks on a quest to discover the hidden marvels of his London neighborhood. As...
Never Look a Bear in the Eye
16 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Unexpected wonder from Arctic encounters with beluga whales, wolves, grizzlies, and polar bears. Adventurer Jonathan Waterman shares four decades of e...
How to Save the Elusive Seahorse
09 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A story of passion, persistence, and a barely plausible sea creature. Experts insisted that seahorses couldn't live in cold water off the coasts of De...
Learn from Space How to Be a Good Earthling
02 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This astronaut never took the stunning view from the Space Station for granted, even after 100 days in space. Life lessons for earthlings: behave like...
Parenting Secrets from the World's Fastest Animal
25 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When Scottish peregrine falcon chicks were stolen, George Smith used DNA to reveal the smugglers' crimes and return the birds to grateful peregrine pa...
A Geneticist's Breakthrough to Faith and Hope
18 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bright hope for cystic fibrosis and progeria patients. Francis Collins gives a wide-ranging interview: the sequencing of the human genome; life-changi...
The Amazing Ability of Plants to Make Smart Decisions
11 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Plants are sentient. It's not just animals that think. Able to choose, they detect problems, find nutrients, and defend themselves. Guest: Zoë Schl...
Animal Adventures from Constant Wonder KIDS!
09 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bringing the wonders of the natural world to the curious kids in your life, Constant Wonder KIDS is the podcast that turns everyday moments into extra...
A Hmong Refugee Breaks her Silence
04 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When she realized that her father had become a voice for the scattered Hmong people, Kao Kalia Yang—who'd refused to speak English for 20 years—fo...
Finding Joy in Your Back Yard with Amy Tan
28 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Lyme disease keeps her from driving, but the beloved author of The Joy Luck Club relishes the wonder of nature right at home. Amy Tan's insights will ...
Late in Life Comebacks and Triumphs
24 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Yasmeen Lari was a famous Pakistani architect celebrated for her work in steel, cement, and glass. In her 60s, she turned her back on all that, and, a...
Human Foster Parents Take Flight to Help Young Birds Migrate
17 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Northern bald ibises vanished from the wild in Europe 400 years ago. Austrian scientists attempted to re-introduce the birds to the wild, but the bird...
Where in the World Is Home?
10 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Born to a Taiwanese mother and Welsh father, Jessica J. Lee grew up in suburban Ontario feeling "not quite Canadian." She attempted to set down roots ...
Exploring the Mind of a Bee
03 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A bee’s brain is tiny, but its one million neurons make shockingly complex connections. Individual bee and bumblebee intelligence is phenomenal, fro...
A Scientist's Path from Grief to Wonder
26 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Alan Townsend describes his early professional and personal life as marked by a naïve faith in the power of science to provide answers and solve prob...
Secret Harvests: A Farmer Discovers a Long-Lost Aunt and Heals Family Wounds
19 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After farmer Mas Masumoto was contacted as next-of-kin for a woman he knew almost nothing about, he set about to uncover why his disabled aunt was hid...
The Fine Art of Laid-Back Hard-Core Fasting
12 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Amidst the annus horribilis that was 2020, New York-based writer John Oakes sought to exorcise some of his own inner noise and "automaticity" by doing...
A Hopeful Marriage, Despite Incurable Cancer
05 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When Christian Wiman and Danielle Chapman met and married, life seemed charmed and the horizon calm. But within a year, Christian was diagnosed with a...
Stories of Adventure from the Bear Man of India
29 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
He's known as the "Bear Man of India" for his work rescuing sloth bears from inhumane conditions "dancing" on the streets. His obsession with helping ...
Finding God in the Movies
22 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week we bring you a very special feed drop. Our host, Marcus Smith, appears as a guest on the podcast "The[ART]ology: Finding God in the Movies."...
Family Embraces "Dad 2.0" After Traumatic Brain Injury
15 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After Tod O'Donnell suffers a traumatic brain injury, his filmmaker son, Tim, documents his recovery and his advocacy for others. The family embraces ...