Ever since "Dracula," bats have been seen as terrifying threats that carry disease. They're actually essential to our agriculture and industry. In this episode of Constant Wonder, you'll meet an expert who can set the record straight. No wonder he's known as "The Batman of Mexico"; he's been obsessed with the flying mammals since he was young!
What began as a series of vivid dreams became a life-changing mission. When a two-year-old orphaned orca named Springer was found alone, those dreams helped spark a cross-border rescue that defied the odds. Today, Springer is thriving with her family—raising calves of her own. Hear Springer's full story from S2 E4 at the link in our bio or on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts!
What started as a curiosity about owl ears became a scientific breakthrough in the making. When researchers studied a 20-year-old owl with perfect hearing, they discovered something extraordinary: owl hearing doesn’t age. Now, those findings could one day help restore hearing in humans. Hear the full story from S7 E2 at the link in our bio or on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts!
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-to-face with the most famous people of the age.
Seal pups are born into a world of ice and uncertainty—but also wonder. In Antarctica, field biologist Naira de Gracia works among these fragile new lives, witnessing their first flops, first calls, and moments of unexpected trust. When one pup, just hours old, falls asleep on her lap, she’s reminded of the quiet magic found at the edge of the world. Hear her full story from S5 E1 at the link in our bio or on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts!
Turtles are masters of patience and healing. With the right care, an injured turtle can not only survive—it might outlive the very people who saved it. At the Turtle Rescue Center in Southbridge, MA, Sy Montgomery and Matt Patterson uncover what these ancient creatures can teach us about time, endurance, and even our own humanity. Hear the full story from S7 E3 at the link in our bio or on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts!
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 enterprising and generous patients, who've formed a community that watches out for one another on the streets, as they find redemption and hope amid tragedy.
When birds forget the way, humans take flight. Biologist Johannes Fritz shares how he taught endangered Northern Bald Ibises to migrate again—by leading them across Europe in a microlight plane. Inspired by a Hollywood film, driven by conservation, this is a story of devotion, wings, and second chances. Hear the full story from S8 E11 at the link in our bio or on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts!
Eric Pittman, citizen scientist and creator of Hummingbirds Up Close, shares an intimate look at one of nature’s rarest moments: a chick emerging from an egg no bigger than a Tic Tac. Filmed right in his backyard, this extraordinary footage reminds us of the hidden magic waiting just outside our windows. Hear the full story at the link in our bio or on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts!
Hummingbirds are often admired for their dazzling speed and iridescent beauty, but their nesting habits remain one of nature's best-kept secrets. Citizen scientist Eric Pittman takes us into this hidden world, sharing his firsthand observations of hummingbird mothers as they build intricate nests and nurture their young—right in his very own backyard. Join us as we explore the hidden wonders of nature that await when we take the time to look.