Constant Wonder

Snakes. Scorpions. Sharks. From a young age, Rachel Graham has always been interested in marginalized, "scary" animals. In this episode of Constant Wonder, she and host Marcus Smith discuss how she embarked on her quest to change people’s mindsets about sharks—fascinating and threatened creatures that regularly fill her with awe.

From being surrounded by a real-life sharknado to swimming alongside curious whale sharks, Rachel has had many peaceful, once-in-a-lifetime encounters with these megafauna.  As part of her work with the non-profit conservation organization MarAlliance, she partners with local fishermen and coastal communities to protect vulnerable marine wildlife.

Guest: Rachel Graham, Founder and Executive Director of MarAlliance

Chapters:
(0:00) A real-life sharknado
(9:43) Mr. Facey the whale shark
(18:16) The dangers of overfishing
(26:10) Childhood nature adventures
(34:47) Caring for hammerheads
(45:03) How old can sharks get?

Originally aired November 9, 2022

Gaelynn Lea plays the violin like a cello — a technique she discovered almost by accident, one that would eventually carry her from a small-town orchestra to NPR's Tiny Desk Concert and, later, to composing the original music for Broadway's revival of Macbeth, starring Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga. In this episode of Constant Wonder, she talks with Marcus Smith about her unconventional technique, the unexpected opportunities it opened up, and how her songwriting continues to evolve.

Gaelynn Lea was born into a family of artists, with musical parents and an early start in youth theater. But everything changed in elementary school, when an orchestra teacher encouraged her to try holding the violin like a cello — a small discovery that would shape the rest of her career.

Guest: Gaelynn Lea is a violinist, songwriter, composer, disability advocate, and author of "It Wasn't Meant to Be Perfect: A Memoir."

Photo credits to Mike Madison

Dino Martins is an entomologist who finds beauty in every bug. In this episode of Constant Wonder, he tells host Marcus Smith about his passion for parasites and how a lifetime of studying creepy-crawlies draws on both scientific and spiritual knowledge.

Dino Martins grew up in Kenya, surrounded by wildlife and the insects that feed on them. Seeing parasitic wasps colonize caterpillars taught him the value of paying close attention, and he can enthrall even a skeptic with the marvels of the tsetse fly. He winningly argues that parasites and other predators are full of wonder and worthy of our fascination.

Guest: Dino Martins, entomologist, evolutionary biologist, and author of “Hidden Creatures: Luscious Leeches, Bashful Botflies, and the Wondrous, History-Shaping World of Parasites”

Visit our Substack for a look at Dino Martins’ art! https://bit.ly/4eZekFN

(0:00) Meet Dino Martins
(8:34) A Childhood Full of Creatures
(25:10) A High-School Dropout?
(30:45) The “Ick” Factor
(33:43) Coexistence & Control
(44:34 Spirituality in Spiders
(49:14) Parasitic Paradoxes

Late-in-life debuts, comebacks, and triumphs. In this episode, "Roctogenarians" author Mo Rocca shares with Constant Wonder host Marcus Smith awe-inspiring stories of people who made major career pivots late in life.

Yasmeen Lari was a famous Pakistani architect celebrated for her work in steel, cement, and glass. In her 60s, after a massive earthquake hit her country, she began to work with locals, building humble homes of adobe, mud, and bamboo. Painter Henri Matisse, debilitated by stomach cancer in his 70s, hung up his brushes and took up scissors to continue making art. And Disney illustrator Tyrus Wong waited until he was 90 years old to receive full credit for the revolutionary work he'd done on "Bambi." Never say it's too late to succeed!

Guest: Mo Rocca, correspondent for "CBS News Sunday Morning," author of "Roctogenarians: Late in Life Debuts, Comebacks, and Triumphs," and host of the "Mobituaries" podcast

Chapters:
(0:00) What Makes a "Roctogenarian"?
(3:32) A Revolutionary Disney Animator
(17:00) Origin of Mo Rocca's Obsession with Roctogenarians
(22:33) An Artist's Self-Reinvention
(32:40) Paper Plant Specimens
(36:13) From Modern to Humble Architecture

Originally aired July 24, 2024

Amy Leach is an essayist and musician with a penchant for improvisation. In this episode of Constant Wonder, she and host Marcus Smith share a worldview: one filled with awe and praise for everything from puppies to porcupines. With roots in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Amy has found a more expansive view of God and the sacred.

Amy Leach is the kind of person who believes in finding what you're not necessarily looking for, be it on a walk outside or around your local Walmart. Since she was young, she's nursed a passionate love for music, but prefers to improvise over following a score. She tells stories of being transfixed by birds and bears and ibexes while looking for words to describe the indescribable. But most importantly, she finds divinity in nearly everything, even pickles.

Guest: Amy Leach, essayist and author. Her latest book is “The Salt of the Universe: Praise, Songs, and Improvisations.”

Chapters:
(0:00) Meet Amy Leach
(5:13) In the Thrall of the Violin
(13:52) Spirit of the Music
(20:31) Praise for Everything
(32:44) Birding and Bearing
(38:22) Serviceable & Mysterious