When Jack Bruce founded WellBirds, he was excited to merge two of his passions—birding and health. It’s no secret that birding can improve our mental health, but did you know it can improve our social, emotional, and physical health as well?

Join us on this episode of The Thing with Feathers as we learn from Jack about the birds of Atlanta and the myriad of ways birding can strengthen and connect us.

Plus, a window into fabulous programs like Mental Health First Aid that can help us love our neighbors well.

As a mom of three youngish kids (6, 9, and 12), I was so excited to talk to Barbara Hunsicker. Barbara is a Florida birder, a theologian, and a mom of two. She shares her best birding tips to welcome kids into the joy, the gift of watching youngsters discover the world of birds, and how we might learn from our kids, too.

Plus, we talk hurricane relief and what natural disasters can mean for us and our feathered friends. Barbara and her family were new to Florida—her husband Dave pastors a Presbyterian church there—when Hurricane Helene came through, wreaking havoc on their church property as well as many of their congregants’ homes. It was a trial-by-fire in beginning their ministry, and in many ways they are still recovering.

She helps answer the questions: what happens to birds in a hurricane, and how does a community’s recovery shape its togetherness and its love?

Plus, we celebrate the birds of Florida and talk theology, mystery, favorite birds, nemesis birds, and the small, surprising places where Barbara is finding hope today.

You can follow Barbara’s birding journey on Instagram, too, where she’s one of my very favorites for bird photography and Florida joy.

Today on the podcast, Daryl Ellis—beloved and patient birding spouse—joins the show to celebrate our 100th episode. Together we talk about the origin story of The Thing with Feathers, what it’s like to be married to a birder (and discover that you’re slowly becoming one yourself), and the importance of purusing joys and hobbies in midlife.

Plus: which local bird we can set our watch by, the delight of mulch (yes, really), and how to support your spouse in that which brings them joy.

A great word of thanks to all those who have supported The Thing with Feathers in its journey. From molting to migration, faith to falcons, bird fests to binoculars, sparrows to spiritual reawakenings, we’ve covered so much ground in these 100 episodes.

I can’t wait for the next 100.

What topics haven’t we covered that you’d like to learn about in the days ahead?