The Wild Dark and the Universe Above us with Craig Childs

n this episode of Overheard, host Dan Ruedl sits down with award-winning author and environmental writer Craig Childs, winner of the Environmental Literature Award at the 2025 Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival for his latest work, The Wild Dark: Finding the Night Sky in the Age of Light. From the deserts of the American Southwest to the artist cabins of the Banff Centre, Childs shares the story behind his newest book — a journey by bicycle from the blinding glow of Las Vegas to one of the darkest night skies in North America. Together, they explore what darkness means in an age of light pollution, the value of solitude, and how reconnecting with the stars can help us see ourselves and our planet more clearly. Craig discusses his creative process during his Banff Centre residency, his lifelong connection to wild landscapes, and how The Wild Dark fits into the broader arc of his celebrated career as one of North America’s foremost voices in environmental literature. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation about wilderness, wonder, and what it means to truly look up.