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PODCAST

The Spark Bird Podcast

Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally

The Spark Bird Project is an ongoing community science initiative designed to gather, share, and study the stories of people"s passion for birds. Research findings go directly back to community partners to inform their efforts towards inclusively sparking and sustaining birders. Learn more and share your story at www.spark-bird.org!

science nature

All Episodes

43:40

Finding Wonder in the Dark with Leigh Ann Henion

The Spark Bird Podcast ·

2026/01/02

In this episode of the Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally talk with author and naturalist Leigh Ann Henion about what it means to really pay attention to the world around us, especially after dark. Leigh Ann shares her early love of birds, names the Great Blue Heron as her spark bird, and reflects on how certain species have shaped her curiosity and connection to nature. They discuss her book Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the

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43:15

From Banana Bird to Birder Brain with Kelly-Sue O'Connor

The Spark Bird Podcast ·

2025/12/19

In this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Kelly Sue O'Connor, creator of the mental-health and birding project Birder Brain. After recently returning home to Nova Scotia from Ontario, Kelly Sue shares the unexpected spark that ignited her birding journey by rescuing a domestic canary, lovingly nicknamed Banana Bird, on a Toronto street. From that moment, birding became not just a hobby but a grounding practice. Links & Resources from This Episode ⭐

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41:38

From Oil Spill to Advocacy with Isabelle Groc

The Spark Bird Podcast ·

2025/12/05

In this episode of the Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally sit down with Isabelle Groc, a photojournalist, author, and documentary filmmaker based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Isabelle specializes in wildlife, marine ecosystems, and the relationships between people and the natural world. Isabelle shares how her lifelong passion for conservation began with a moment of devastation. Growing up in France, she learned about the massive Amoco Cadiz oil spill and saw the

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39:19

Ivan Phillipsen's Flight Path to Wonder

The Spark Bird Podcast ·

2025/11/21

In this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Ivan Phillipsen, creator and host of The Science of Birds podcast and co-owner of Wild Latitudes worldwide nature tours. Ivan shares how a seemingly ordinary moment with his friend led him to his spark bird, the California Towhee. Ivan also shares his journey shifting from academia to science communication, the joy of returning to a more holistic view of the natural world, and the importance of scientific

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36:25

A Bird in Hand with Seunguk Shin

The Spark Bird Podcast ·

2025/11/07

In this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Seunguk Shin, Assistant Professor at the University of Missouri's School of Natural Resources. Seunguk shares how a Northern Cardinal became his spark bird. A moment of connection that still fuels his research, teaching, and creativity today. From developing bird and insect education projects for children to exploring how time in nature restores our attention. Links & Resources from This Episode 📘 Read

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39:27

Hog Island's Legacy with Rosy Tucker

The Spark Bird Podcast ·

2025/10/24

This week on The Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally are joined by Rosy Tucker, Program Manager at Hog Island Audubon Camp. Rosy shares how a Red Knot first ignited her love for birds and how that moment eventually led to a career as a teacher and environmental educator. From memorable classroom moments to the Atlantic Puffin Restoration Project, she reminds us that nature isn’t far away, it’s right in our own backyards. Links & Resources from This Episode 🌐 Learn more

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37:44

Birding with Benefits: Sarah T. Dubb’s Spark to Screen

The Spark Bird Podcast ·

2025/10/10

In this week's episode, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Sarah T. Dubb, a novelist whose love for birding inspired her debut book, BIRDING WITH BENEFITS. Sarah shares her journey from growing up in Tucson, Arizona, to becoming a passionate birder and writer. She discusses her process of writing and publishing her debut novel, and its adaptation into a Hallmark Plus movie, Adventures in Love & Birding. Links & Resources from This Episode 🌐 Visit Sarah’s website at

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48:37

Pedro Hoffmeister and the Osprey’s Catch

The Spark Bird Podcast ·

2025/09/26

In this week’s episode, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome writer, educator, and professional rock climber Pedro Hoffmeister. What began as a remembrance trip for a friend’s grandfather turned into an unexpected spark bird story. Despite setbacks, Pedro embraced the adventure! He shares how spending time in nature, along with meditation and cognitive therapy, helped him slow down, observe more birds, and heal after a traumatic brain injury. Resources & Links from This Episode 📸 You

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39:16

A Yellow Warbler to 10,000 Birds with Christina Baal

The Spark Bird Podcast ·

2025/09/12

In this week's episode of the Spark Bird Podcast, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally meet with Christina Baal, a birder and artist whose story began not with a sighting, but with the quest to find a 'dandelion-colored' Yellow Warbler. That golden spark launched a lifetime of birding and the dreams she’s been chasing ever since. Inspired by Ken Kaufman’s memoir, she set herself the goal of painting 10,000 birds, saying, "Ken Kaufman can do it. So can I." Today, Christina blends art and

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38:14

Mike Sacopulos and the Passion Behind BWD

The Spark Bird Podcast ·

2025/08/29

In this episode of the Spark Bird Podcast, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally are joined by Mike Sacopulos, an attorney and publisher of Bird Watcher's Digest (BWD) Magazine. Mike shares how birding brought him comfort during a challenging period of his childhood, carrying him through big life transitions and eventually leading him to BWD. They also discuss the magazine’s global artwork, the letters that remind Mike of its lasting impact, and how birding with BWD creates connections across

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36:09

How Books Take Flight with Kenn Kaufmann

The Spark Bird Podcast ·

2025/08/15

On this week’s episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, we talk with celebrated naturalist and author Kenn Kaufman, whose fascination with birds began in early childhood and never faded. Inspired by richly illustrated wildlife books, Kenn developed a passion for the natural world that took him hitchhiking across North America as a teenager. He shares stories from the road, his work writing and illustrating about nature, and why community is such a vital part of birding. Resources & Links from This

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40:30

The Birds We Return To with Laura Marris

The Spark Bird Podcast ·

2025/08/01

In this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, we talk with Laura Marris, Visiting Assistant Professor in the English department at the University at Buffalo. Laura shares how birding with her dad as a child shaped the way she sees the world. And we discuss her book The Age of Loneliness, reflecting on the decline in bird abundance, the role of community science, and what it means to truly notice the living world around us. This conversation is about more than birdwatching; it’s about presence, memory,

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55:36

Waking Up to Birds with Michael Lombardo

The Spark Bird Podcast ·

2025/07/18

In this week's episode, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Michael Lombardo, the creator of the McGolrick Bird Club in North Brooklyn. Michael shares his journey from a career in the tech industry to becoming a passionate birder and community leader. Michael discusses the creation and growth of the McGoldrick Bird Club, highlighting the importance of weekly bird walks, community engagement, and the power of noticing the natural world around us. Explore more from Michael Lombardo

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43:26

From City to Sand: Chris Allieri’s NYC Plover Project

The Spark Bird Podcast ·

2025/07/04

In this episode, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally speak with Chris Allieri, founder and executive director of NYC Plover Project, which he launched in 2021 after recognizing a gap in conservation efforts right in his own city. During the height of the pandemic, when New York City’s plover nesting grounds were especially vulnerable, Chris stepped up, not just to protect the birds, but to build a stronger culture of conservation in the city. His story is one of grassroots action,

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43:34

The Therapeutic Beauty of Birdsong with Nandi Rose

The Spark Bird Podcast ·

2025/06/20

In this episode of the Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome musician Nandi Rose of Half Waif. Nandi shares her Spark Bird story, recounting how a flash of color spotted in Costa Rica opened the door to a quieter, deeper noticing back home in the Upper Hudson Valley. For Nandi, it’s less about sight and more about sound, and bird song has become her guide. Even without binoculars, there’s a sense of recognition in the songs. A feeling of being spoken to, of returning to

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56:04

The Spark Bird Podcast x The Field Guides Podcast

The Spark Bird Podcast ·

2025/06/06

In this special crossover episode, The Spark Bird Podcast's Jenn Lodi-Smith teams up with Bill Michalek of The Field Guides Podcast for a walk through Buffalo’s historic Forest Lawn Cemetery. As they explore the grounds, Jenn and Bill reflect on their spark birds, discuss bird migration and conservation. The episode also features Spark Bird stories from a variety of voices from the Feminist Bird Club of Buffalo in Forest Lawn Cemetery, showcasing the power of community in birding. Resources & Links

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42:46

Lyanda Lynn Haupt on Storytelling and Starlings

The Spark Bird Podcast ·

2025/05/23

In this episode of the Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally talk with Lyanda Lynn Haupt, a writer known for exploring the connections between people and the natural world. The conversation follows Haupt’s path into bird watching, beginning in her childhood in the Pacific Northwest and shaped by her parents’ casual interest in birds. She recalls memorable encounters with species like the Northern Spotted Owl and how those moments influenced her work. Lyanda Lynn Haupt also

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25:19

Aaron Haiman: From Young Birder to Conservation Leader

The Spark Bird Podcast ·

2025/05/09

In this episode of the Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally talk with Aaron Haiman about his lifelong passion for birding, sparked by a childhood experience with a mounted White-Tailed Kite. Aaron shares his unique journey from becoming a young birder to his current role at the Wildlife Conservation Board in California. The conversation explores the importance of mentorship in birding, the barriers young birders face, and the joy of contributing to bird conservation. Aaron

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35:26

Edge of the World Birding with Dr. George Divoky

The Spark Bird Podcast ·

2025/04/25

In this episode of the Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally interview Dr. George Divoky, an ornithologist with a Ph.D. in Zoology. He shares his Spark Bird story, recounting how a sighting of a Slate-colored Junco in his childhood ignited his passion for birding. He discusses his extensive research on Black Guillemot and the challenges posed by climate change. Dr. Divoky also shares his personal experiences of solitude and connection with nature during his fieldwork in remote

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31:03

Birding Across America: Marcia OBara’s Inspiring Journey

The Spark Bird Podcast ·

2025/04/11

In this episode of the Spark Bird podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Marcia OBara, a retired registered nurse and avid birder. Marcia shares her inspiring journey from Niagara Falls, New York, to Arizona and recounts the spark bird moment in 1984 that ignited her passion for birding. Despite living with a severe lung disease, Marcia continues to lead accessible birding trips for the Tucson Audubon Society and other organizations. She discusses birding in all 50 states, how the

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29 results

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