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 www.sarahtdubb.com to learn more about her work and updates on her next novel, Honey Bee Mine, coming February 2026.

📸 Follow Sarah on Instagram @sarahtdubbwrites for updates on her work and creative inspiration.

🎬 Watch Adventures in Love & Birding now streaming on Hallmark+, or gain with the Hallmark+ BingePass!

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

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 can follow Pedro to catch snapshots of him rock climbing, his daily life, and writing updates on Instagram at @pedro_hoffmeister.

🎬 He also shares videos and creative work on TikTok at @pedro_hoffmeister.

📖 To connect with him on Facebook, visit Pedro Casapardo Hoffmeister.

🌐 Learn more about Pedro and explore his books and projects on his website, pedrohoffmeister.com.

🎙️ Pedro’s newest project, the American Afterlife Podcast, launches this October! Find it and follow for new episodes this Fall on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeart.

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

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 birding in joyful, unexpected ways.

Left: Christina’s stunning painting of an Osprey in flight. Right: A snapshot from Christina's bird-inspired wedding, featuring her in-laws dressed as Trogons.

Resources & Links from This Episode

🖌️ Visit Christina’s Website to learn more about her art and birding adventures.

🎨 Check out Christina’s Art to see her whimsical paintings and bird illustrations.

💌 Support Christina on Patreon and gain access to her bird trading cards and exclusive artwork.

📚 Read Kenn Kaufman's Memoir Kingbird Highway: The Biggest Year in the Life of an Extreme Birder, the book that inspired Christina’s birding journey.

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski