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

Nicole Jackson joined our hosts, Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally, on this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast. Nicole is an environmental educator, nature enthusiast, and birder! Throughout this episode she speaks on the constant effect nature has had on her from childhood all the way up into her adult years, reflecting on experiences of exploring little escapes in her environment to find peace and open up to the world around her. She is very involved in various programs throughout the community and those can be found below.

Links and Resources from This Episode:

🐦Follow Nicole Jackson on Instagram @blkngrnbeauty.

🦆Visit the website for Black Birders Week to learn more about the program that supports Black STEM Professionals and inspires new audiences to engage in nature.

🌲Follow Black In National Parks Week to learn about Black experiences in all the national parks in the U.S.

📖Check out the article Nicole mentions called "What is Nature-Defecit Disorder?" by Richard Louv.

Show Notes by Adam Kozman

In this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally sit down with artist, nature journaler, and conservation volunteer Joe Feliciano. Joe shares the spark bird moments that shaped his love of birds, reflects on how art and nature have become deeply connected throughout his life, and discusses how volunteering helped him find community and purpose.

Links & Resources from This Episode

🎨 Follow Joe Feliciano on Instagram @thehorsepuppy to explore his joyful wildlife illustration and behind-the-scenes sketches.

🐦 Learn about Chicago Bird Collision Monitors, a volunteer organization working to rescue and protect migratory birds and reduce bird-building collisions throughout Chicago.

🌿 Learn more information and visit The Urban Birding Festival in Chicago, an annual celebration of birds, community, and conservation.

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Georgia Silvera Seamans, environmental educator, founder of Local Nature Lab, and host of the Your Bird Story podcast. Georgia reflects on the many spark bird moments throughout her life, from growing up in Jamaica, surrounded by birds without realizing their significance, to reconnecting with nature through trees, urban green spaces, and birding as an adult.

Links & Resources from This Episode

🌿 Follow Local Nature Lab on Instagram at @localnaturelab to explore urban nature, neighborhood ecology, and community programming in New York City.

🐦 Follow Georgia Silvera Seamans and the Your Bird Story podcast on Instagram at @yourbirdstory for more conversations about birds and personal connections to nature.

🎧 Listen to Your Bird Story, Georgia's podcast, on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

🌳 Visit the Local Nature Lab website to learn more about programs, tours, wildlife surveys, and ways to connect with nearby nature.

📚 Explore the book that inspired Georgia: The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America: Second Edition.

✨ Learn more about Georgia Silvera Seamans and her work through her website and blog.

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Jeffrey Train, educator and co-founder of Our Tern in Hoboken, New Jersey. What began as curiosity quickly grew into a passion for birding, teaching, and community stewardship.

Links & Resources from This Episode

🌿 Visit Our Tern to learn more about the community-driven effort to support nesting terns and urban ecology in Hoboken.

📸 Follow Jeffrey Train on Instagram @mrtrain_

🐦 Follow Our Turn on Instagram @ourternhoboken

📚 Learn more about To See Every Bird on Earth: A Father, a Son, and a Lifelong Obsession by Dan Koeppel, one of Jeff's favorite birding books and a memoir discussed during the episode.

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

On this week's episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally sit down with journalist, birder, and author Joe Trezza. Joe shares the unforgettable turkey vulture spectacle that became his spark bird experience, reflects on surpassing 1,000 species on his life list, and discusses his upcoming book about the legendary world birder Peter Kaestner.

Links & Resources from This Episode

📸 Follow Joe on Instagram for bird photos and updates about his upcoming book @byjoetrezza

📚 Joe's forthcoming book on world birding and legendary birder Peter Kaestner, The Big Life, releases May 4, 2027.

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski