EPISODE · Aug 18, 2025 · 1H 12M
#87 Sy Montgomery -How animals teach us to appreciate and love the natural world.
from AWONDERJUNKIE · host Ryan Anderson
Researching articles, films, and her 38 books for adults and children, nationally bestselling author Sy Montgomery has been chased by an angry silverback gorilla in Rwanda, hunted by a tiger in India, and swum with piranhas, electric eels and pink dolphins in the Amazon. Her work has taken her from the cloud forest of Papua New Guinea (for a book on tree kangaroos) to the Altai Mountains of the Gobi (for another on snow leopards.) For THE SOUL OF AN OCTOPUS (a National Book Award finalist) she befriended octopuses at the New England aquarium and scuba dived and snorkeled with wild octopuses in Mexico and French Polynesia; next she drew on her scuba skills to cage dive with great white sharksand swim freely with giant oceanic manta rays . For her most recent national bestseller for adults, Of Time and Turtles, she befriended a 42-pound wild snapping turtle named Fire Chief, who shows his extraordinary trust by allowing her to feed him by hand. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband, the writer Howard Mansfield, and their border collie Thurber. Summary In this engaging conversation, Sy Montgomery shares her profound love for animals and nature, recounting her experiences with various creatures, including turtles, octopuses, and hummingbirds. She discusses her journey as a writer, the importance of connecting children to the natural world, and the lessons she has learned from her animal companions. Montgomery emphasizes the significance of animal consciousness and the magic of the natural world, inspiring listeners to appreciate and protect the environment. Her reflections on life, death, and gratitude resonate deeply, making this conversation a heartfelt exploration of the bond between humans and animals. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Sy Montgomery 03:21 The Journey of Fire Chief the Turtle 06:20 Friendship and Collaboration with Matt 09:19 Early Connections with Animals 11:28 The Impact of Pets on Life 14:11 Pursuing a Passion for Nature 17:13 The Octopus Experience 20:14 The Importance of Connection to Nature 33:03 The Delicate World of Hummingbirds 39:25 The Connection Between Humans and Hummingbirds 46:34 The Journey of Christopher Hogwood, the Pig 51:21 Lessons from Animals: How to Be a Good Creature 01:00:14 The Mystical Nature of Dolphins 01:11:52 Gratitude and Connection to the Natural World 01:12:25 Podcast exit terence - https://symontgomery.com/ Photo of Sy by Michael Sterling Music for every episode Intro and exit music used: Strange the dreamer by Savfk - www.youtube.com/@savfkmusic Connect with Ryan Anderson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awonderjunkie/ awonderjunkie.com Breathe4Flow.com Rumble https://rumble.com/user/awonderjunkie Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@awonderjunkie iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-wondejunkie/id1739838765 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1CcQXpxfV9P89IrKmtV2hS?si=6519a88aef444ba0 A bit about Ryan Anderson- https://open.spotify.com/episode/7bsR23JM4z6p1RPpbv7czC?si=4ba51224cf464e70 Keywords Sy Montgomery, animal consciousness, nature writing, turtles, octopuses, hummingbirds, pink dolphins, animal rescue, environmentalism, children's literature
What this episode covers
Researching articles, films, and her 38 books for adults and children, nationally bestselling author Sy Montgomery has been chased by an angry silverback gorilla in Rwanda, hunted by a tiger in India, and swum with piranhas, electric eels and pink dolphins in the Amazon. Her work has taken her from the cloud forest of Papua New Guinea (for a book on tree kangaroos) to the Altai Mountains of the Gobi (for another on snow leopards.) For THE SOUL OF AN OCTOPUS (a National Book Award finalist) she befriended octopuses at the New England aquarium and scuba dived and snorkeled with wild octopuses in Mexico and French Polynesia; next she drew on her scuba skills to cage dive with great white sharksand swim freely with giant oceanic manta rays . For her most recent national bestseller for adults, Of Time and Turtles, she befriended a 42-pound wild snapping turtle named Fire Chief, who shows his extraordinary trust by allowing her to feed him by hand. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband, the writer Howard Mansfield, and their border collie Thurber. Summary In this engaging conversation, Sy Montgomery shares her profound love for animals and nature, recounting her experiences with various creatures, including turtles, octopuses, and hummingbirds. She discusses her journey as a writer, the importance of connecting children to the natural world, and the lessons she has learned from her animal companions. Montgomery emphasizes the significance of animal consciousness and the magic of the natural world, inspiring listeners to appreciate and protect the environment. Her reflections on life, death, and gratitude resonate deeply, making this conversation a heartfelt exploration of the bond between humans and animals. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Sy Montgomery 03:21 The Journey of Fire Chief the Turtle 06:20 Friendship and Collaboration with Matt 09:19 Early Connections with Animals 11:28 The Impact of Pets on Life 14:11 Pursuing a Passion for Nature 17:13 The Octopus Experience 20:14 The Importance of Connection to Nature 33:03 The Delicate World of Hummingbirds 39:25 The Connection Between Humans and Hummingbirds 46:34 The Journey of Christopher Hogwood, the Pig 51:21 Lessons from Animals: How to Be a Good Creature 01:00:14 The Mystical Nature of Dolphins 01:11:52 Gratitude and Connection to the Natural World 01:12:25 Podcast exit terence - https://symontgomery.com/ Photo of Sy by Michael Sterling Music for every episode Intro and exit music used: Strange the dreamer by Savfk - www.youtube.com/@savfkmusic Connect with Ryan Anderson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awonderjunkie/ awonderjunkie.com Breathe4Flow.com Rumble https://rumble.com/user/awonderjunkie Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@awonderjunkie iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-wondejunkie/id1739838765 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1CcQXpxfV9P89IrKmtV2hS?si=6519a88aef444ba0 A bit about Ryan Anderson- https://open.spotify.com/episode/7bsR23JM4z6p1RPpbv7czC?si=4ba51224cf464e70 Keywords Sy Montgomery, animal consciousness, nature writing, turtles, octopuses, hummingbirds, pink dolphins, animal rescue, environmentalism, children’s literature
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#87 Sy Montgomery -How animals teach us to appreciate and love the natural world.
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