In this very special episode of the Spark Bird Podcast, the microphone turns toward the person who has spent the past two years behind the scenes: our producer and editor, Kayla Gajewski.

For more than 40 episodes Kayla has listened to people share their spark birds, the moments and experiences that have changed their lives. She never expected that simply editing those stories would become her own Spark Bird story. But somewhere along the way, the podcast taught her to look up, pay attention, ask questions, and see the natural world a little differently.

Resources & Links from This Episode

💼Follow Kayla's next chapter and connect with her on LinkedIn as she explores opportunities in creative fields, including writing, social media, and marketing.

🪞 Watch the TEDx talk that inspired our conversation about how stories can become mirrors and windows into experiences that are different from our own. Watch Akhand Dugar's TEDx Talk "Mirrors, Windows, & Sliding Doors".

📖 Another powerful exploration of how the stories we hear shape the way we understand other people and the world around us. Watch Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's TEDx Talk "The Danger of a Single Story" on YouTube

For one last time...

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this episode of the Spark Bird Podcast, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome writer, photographer, and speaker Emily Nichols to share her story of recovery, transformation, and the birds that helped her find her way back to the world.

Resources & Links from This Episode

🧠 Read Emily's article for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology about the connections between birding, the brain, and mental health: Birding Influences Brain Health and Mental Health.

✍️ Read Emily's Substack #JustEmilyThings, where she writes about birds, brains, lessons from the universe, and noticing the beauty in the ordinary world. "#JustEmilyThings is just an extension of me. It's encouragement to notice and appreciate the beauty in the ordinary world, remember how precious life is ... and maybe, just maybe ... stay [O]PTIMISTIC and [W]ILLING to [L]EARN from the plot twists the Universe (not-so-soft) tosses your way. OWL always be here to [S]UPPORT you."

📸 Follow Emily's birding adventures, photography, and observations from the field at @xoxosalsagirl on Instagram.

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

On this weeks episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally are joined by bestselling author Amy Tan to share the connections between writing and watching birds, the importance of curiosity over expertise, and how "you only need one bird to save all the birds."

Resources & Links from This Episode

📖 Learn more about Amy's illustrated book The Backyard Bird Chronicles and order a copy from her website.

🌐 Explore Amy's books, artwork, and upcoming projects on her website.

📸 See photos and sketches from Amy's latest birding adventures, nature journaling, and recent travels on her Instagram page @amytanwriter.

📱 Stay up to date with Amy's latest birding adventures, artwork, and nature journaling on her Facebook page.

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski