Ponder While We Wander

Location: Wawona,Yosemite National Forest, California, USA Record date: 3/1/26 Release date: 5/1/26   Hosts: Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa Edited: https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/   Episode Description:   From a deck in Wawona, California, under the Winter night sky of the Yosemite National Forest,Natasha Morisawa and Amber Martin discuss secular contemplative practice, the benefits of such a practice, and types of practices.   Topics include:  An overview of different branches of contemplative practice Specific invitations for exploring contemplative practice  Single practices to start finding your individual practice Recommendations for finding community around contemplative practice Keywords: Contemplative practice  Qigong Pauline Oliveros Labyrinths Nighttime Yosemite National Forest  Journaling Creativity Meditation Music Volunteer work Quiet the mind Deep listening Yoga Dance Retreats Nature  Relationships Community   Explore more about Ponder While We Wander A soothing podcast for trying times.   https://ponderwhilewewander.com/   https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/   https://ponderwhilewewander.com/wander-well/   Episode Resources Links:   https://californiavalleymiwok.us/   https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/historyculture/yosemite-indians.htm   https://www.npca.org/articles/7475-reclaiming-wahhoga   https://www.deeplistening.rpi.edu/deep-listening/pauline-oliveros/ https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/environment/tribal-land-yosemite/   https://pinetreemarketwawona.com/   https://contemplativemind.org/practices/tree   https://themoth.org/   https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/waw.htm

Location: Yosemite National Forest, California, USA Record date: 3/25/26 Release date: 4/15/26   Hosts: Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa Edited: https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/   Natasha and Amber join you from the banks of a babbling spring in Yosemite National Park, to talk about De-centering ourselves in relationship to Nature.    They explore what is required of us to answer the dire call of Nature, through necessary and difficult paradigm shifts. They invite this topic into our consciousness and further ground their exploration in the work of Jeanine Kante in her book “Returning the Self to Nature, Undoing our Collective Narcism and Healing Our Planet.” Amber and Natasha explore how Jeanne Kante takes the DSM definition of Narcissism (a maladaptive personality disorder) and applies it to our industrialized western society.    They discuss what happens when individuals in a society begin to take on narcissistic traits through a “habit of mind” and how we can move from an anthropocentric or ego-centric point of view to an eco-centric and sustainable  relationship to Nature.    Amber and Natasha begin to unpack this complex and important topic through many different perspectives, aimed to help us all consider what it might take to better care for Nature.    Additional areas related to De-Centering Ourselves explored in this episode include: Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and how we can flip this triangle to center community actualization and cultural perpetuity First Nations, Blackfoot wisdom as more expansive in relationship to Nature Kinship Relationally Transformational learning through disorienting dilemma’s The work of Kristin Neff on Self Compassion Exploring the Rights of Nature movement through Robert McFarlane’s book, “Is a River is Alive”   Explore more about Ponder While We Wander A soothing podcast for trying times. https://ponderwhilewewander.com/ https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/ https://ponderwhilewewander.com/wander-well/ https://www.instagram.com/ponder_while_we_wander/#   Episode Resources Links: https://californiavalleymiwok.us/ https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/historyculture/yosemite-indians.htm https://www.npca.org/articles/7475-reclaiming-wahhoga https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/environment/tribal-land-yosemite/ https://pinetreemarketwawona.com/ https://www.shambhala.com/returning-the-self-to-nature.html https://www.ciis.edu/profiles/jeanine-canty https://www.juliebrams.com/books https://self-compassion.org/ https://self-compassion.org/kristin-neff/ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/218569826-is-a-river-alive https://atmos.earth/podcast/robert-macfarlane-on-embracing-flow-and-letting-rivers-heal-us/

Location: Yosemite National Forest, California, USA Record date: 3/25/26 Release date: 4/1/26   Hosts: Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa Edited: https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/   THANK YOU TO PINE TREE MARKET:   Ponder While We Wander is so grateful for our first community sponsorship! A big shout out to Pine Tree Market run by Michael and Katie Henderson, and their lodging support for us during our stay in Yosemite National Park. We are so grateful not only for their support but their excitement in helping us share all things EcoPsychology to a wider audience. If you ever find yourself in Wawona, CA make sure to swing by Pine Tree Market, your corner market while you’re in Wawona, and say hi for us! Sam the cat would love some pets as well, he’s always at the ready to greet his human friends.    Inspired by the book “Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How it Can Transform Your Life”, by Dacher Keltner, Amber and Natasha discuss “Awe Walks.” Wander with them through Yosemite National Park as they share Dacher’s definition of awe, explore how awe may show up somatically,and revisit memories that conjure up awe.    They also discuss different types of awe and the positive impacts engaging with awe has for our health and wellness as well as implications for connection and encouraging new ideas.  Dachner’s “5 Point Process” is introduced as an accessible way to begin intentionally inviting more awe into your every day.    The snowy field alongside huge, granite rock formations with many winged friends to hear in the background, provide a beautiful location to dive deeper into this awe-some topic.    Additional areas related to awe covered in this episode include: Benefits of inviting awe including immune system support Moral Beauty (moved by others actions) How time in nature inspires awe Music and awe Visual Design (Human & Nature) Spiritual/Mystical/Numinous aspects of Awe  Epiphanies about big life questions Awe in the Death and Dying Process Shared Awe or Collective Effervescence  Awe and Wonder Happiness and Well-being  Greater Good Science Center   Explore more about Ponder While We Wander A soothing podcast for trying times.   https://ponderwhilewewander.com/ https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/ https://ponderwhilewewander.com/wander-well/ https://www.instagram.com/ponder_while_we_wander/#   Episode Resources Links: https://californiavalleymiwok.us/ https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/historyculture/yosemite-indians.htm https://www.npca.org/articles/7475-reclaiming-wahhoga https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/environment/tribal-land-yosemite/ https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62352297-awe

Location: Chetzamoka Park, Port Townsend, Washington, USA  Record date: 10/21/25 Release date: 3/15/26   Hosts: Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa Edited: https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/   Join Natasha and Amber as they introduce Journaling with Nature as a way to deepen our relationship with other-than-human Nature. Through the process of journaling,the opportunities to re-connect and re-member arise. They discuss greetings and partings as well as getting curious about this place and ourselves. Other topics include: The benefits of journaling Ways of starting a journaling practice Entryways into relationship with Nature Prompts for when you might like a little more structure or inspiration Nature speaks in metaphor Your relationship check-in with Nature Seeing things with new eyes Holding mystery and existential exploration Practical tips for Journaling with Nature Explore more about Ponder While We Wander A soothing podcast for trying times. https://ponderwhilewewander.com/ https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/ https://ponderwhilewewander.com/wander-well/   Episode Resources Links: Journaling with Nature guided meditation Journaling With Nature Prompts https://cityofpt.us/parksrec/page/chetzemoka-park https://memoriesofthepeople.blog/2019/05/03/land-acknowledgement-port-townsend-washington/

Location: Carrie Blake Park, Sequim, Washington, USA  Record date: 10/20/25 Release date: 3/1/26   Hosts: Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa Edited: https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/   Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa describe, normalize, and discuss the phobias we may have as humans in regard to the natural world. The potential origins, consequences, and environmental impact of biophobias are explored as well as ways to address phobias negatively impacting life. Understand more about how the disconnect to other-than-human nature has contributed to these consequences and how to lean into a better relationship with nature and the beings we’re interconnected with.   Explore more about Ponder While We Wander A soothing podcast for trying times.   https://ponderwhilewewander.com/ https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/ https://ponderwhilewewander.com/wander-well/   Episode Resources Links: https://www.sequimwa.gov/facilities/facility/details/Carrie-Blake-Park-2 https://jamestowntribe.org/

Location: Dungeness River, Sequim, Washington, USA  Record date: 10/20/2025 Release date: 2/16/26   Hosts: Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa Edited: https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/   Walking along a trail beside the Dungeness River, Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa discuss the topic of grounding and invite you to explore with them as they engage with the natural environment of the Dungeness River during salmon spawning season. Learn about ‘top down’ and ‘bottom up’ approaches to processing, the window of tolerance, and different parts of the human nervous system in order to help us manage the stressors of modernity and enhance relationships. They also facilitate two different experiential exercises you can practice with or take with you.     Explore more about Ponder While We Wander A soothing podcast for trying times. https://ponderwhilewewander.com/ https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/ https://ponderwhilewewander.com/wander-well/   Episode Resources Links: https://www.dungeness.com/river/info.htm https://jamestowntribe.org/ https://dungenessrivercenter.org/news/the-secret-lives-of-salmon/

Location: Halls Hill Labyrinth and Lookout, Bainbridge Island, Washington, USA  Record date: 10/19/25 Release date: 2/2/26   Hosts: Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa Edited: https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/   Based on the work of Richard Louv, Natasha Morisawa and Amber Martin take a walk on an outdoor labyrinth on Bainbridge Island, Washington to ponder the effects of less unstructured outdoor time on children and adults as well as ways to start to think about our time outside. They bring in some practical ways of addressing this imbalance and open the invitation to personally wander in the outdoors.  Explore more about Ponder While We Wander A soothing podcast for trying times. https://ponderwhilewewander.com/ https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/ https://ponderwhilewewander.com/wander-well/   Episode Resources Links: https://biparksfoundation.org/halls-hill/ Books by Richard Louv https://www.childrenandnature.org/ https://www.1000hoursoutside.com/ https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/six_ways_nature_helps_children_learn https://www.nrpa.org/globalassets/research/mingkuo-summary.pdf https://www.heinzawards.org/pages/ming-kuo

Location: Meerkerk Gardens, Whidbey Island, Washington, USA  Record date: 10/18/25 Release date: 1/15/25   Hosts: Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa Edited: https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/   From a curated, wooded garden on Whidbey Island, Washington, Natasha Morisawa and Amber Martin introduce the Rat Park study and its findings. They wander and ponder about the connection to humans and addiction as well as different ways of viewing mental health and addiction from not only an individual but a community lens as well. Join them in asking questions about what is working in our modern lives and what could be changed to prevent, reduce, and treat addiction. Along the way there are slugs, mushrooms, evergreens, and the cool, crisp, rainy afternoon of the Pacific Northwest.    Explore more about Ponder While We Wander A soothing podcast for trying times. https://ponderwhilewewander.com/ https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/ https://ponderwhilewewander.com/wander-well/   Episode Resources Links: https://www.meerkerkgardens.org/ https://historicwhidbey.org/whidbey-island-history https://drgabormate.com/addiction/ Rat Park: How a rat paradise changed the narrative of addiction. https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/what-does-rat-park-teach-us-about-addiction https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/can_connection_cure_addiction

Location: Curse and Holler Ranch, Chimicum, Washington  Record date: 10/16/25 Release date: 1/1/26   Hosts: Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa Edited: https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/   To be in relationships may be more crucial and difficult now than in previous generations. Based on stories of loneliness and the challenges of making friends in adulthood, Natasha and Amber start to unpack some of the ways this affects us as individuals and communities. They offer some practical ways of being with those challenges and invitations to connect with ourselves, other humans, and the world around us.     Explore more about Ponder While We Wander A soothing podcast for trying times. https://ponderwhilewewander.com/ https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/ https://ponderwhilewewander.com/wander-well/ Episode Resources Links: https://www.chimacumcenter.org/place.html https://saveland.org/ http://bowlingalone.com/ https://joinordiefilm.com/ https://www.priyaparker.com/ https://eji.org/news/visual-history-loitering-laws/ https://ponderwhilewewander.com/wander-well/

Location: HJ Carroll Park, Chimacum, Washington, USA Hosts: Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa Guest: Rev. Aaron Twitchell https://lovewellnj.com/ Edited: https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/   An episode in two parts. In part one, Amber and Natasha talk with Rev. Aaron Twitchell about good goodbyes in his experience with supporting, consulting with, and counseling individuals and families at the end of life. Then Natasha and Amber take the topic out into nature to a park with a stream and other than human nature. We explore if there is such a thing as a good goodbye and if there is, what can help support that. And we take a moment to allow interaction with nature to enhance our understanding and connection to goodbyes.   Explore more about Ponder While We Wander A soothing podcast for trying times. https://ponderwhilewewander.com/ https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/   Episode Resources Links: https://jeffersoncountywa.myrec.com/info/dept/details.aspx?DeptInfoID=566 https://lovewellnj.com/

Location: Kah Tai Lagoon, Port Townsend, Washington, USA Hosts: Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa Edited: https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/   Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa talk and walk around the Kah Tai Lagoon with deer, herons, eagles, and other than human nature to discuss what the Polycrisis. They help us see through a lens of interconnectedness and discuss how to build a social, emotional, and spiritual first aid kit in managing the predicaments we find ourselves in.    Explore more about Ponder While We Wander A soothing podcast for trying times. https://ponderwhilewewander.com/ https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/   Episode Resources Links: https://cityofpt.us/parksrec/page/kah-tai-lagoon-nature-park https://polycrisis.org/lessons/what-does-the-term-polycrisis-mean/ https://commonslibrary.org/learn-from-joanna-macy/ https://www.admiraltyaudubon.org/kah-tai-nature-park-updates

Location: Arroyo Seco, Pasadena, CA, USA Hosts: Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa Edited: https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/   Amber and Natasha explore the challenges and human connection to the universal experience of grief. They touch on the different types of grief, how we grieve, and why it is important to acknowledge it when it shows up. Our relationship with nature can provide ways of incorporating ritual and meaning-making into ways of holding and processing grief instead of disconnecting from it all together.    Explore more about Ponder While We Wander A soothing podcast for trying times. https://ponderwhilewewander.com/ https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/   Episode Resources Links: https://gabrielinotribe.org/ https://www.cityofpasadena.net/parks-and-rec/arroyo-seco/ https://www.ekrfoundation.org/5-stages-of-grief/change-curve/ https://grief.com/ https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-work-of-grief-and-love/ https://www.priyaparker.com/art-of-gathering-newsletter/grieve-together-now https://www.kintsugigrief.com/resources

Location: Captain Whidbey, Whidbey Island, Washington, USA Hosts: Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa Edited: https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/   Natasha and Amber travel to a magical place by ferry and, fueled by a couple cups of coffee, ponder the significance of coffee. They explore the ritual and magic of connecting over a warm beverage. Can a cup of coffee connect us to ourselves, loved ones, strangers, the whole world? Grab a beverage of your choice and join us.   Explore more about Ponder While We Wander A soothing podcast for trying times. https://ponderwhilewewander.com/ https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/   Episode Resources Links: https://www.captainwhidbey.com/ https://www.ebeysreserve.com/history-culture https://www.islandhistory.org/our-story https://michaelpollan.com/books/caffeine-how-coffee-and-tea-created-the-modern-world/   “Just the other day, I was in my neighborhood Starbucks, waiting for the post office to open. I was enjoying a chocolatey cafe mocha when it occurred to me that to drink a mocha is to gulp down the entire history of the New World. From the Spanish exportation of Aztec cacao, and the Dutch invention of the chemical process for making cocoa, on down to the capitalist empire of Hershey, PA, and the lifestyle marketing of Seattle's Starbucks, the modern mocha is a bittersweet concoction of imperialism, genocide, invention, and consumerism served with whipped cream on top.” ― Sarah Vowell https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Sarah-Vowell/1558688   “I hope there are days when your coffee tastes like magic, your playlist makes you dance, strangers make you smile, and the mighty sky touches your soul. I hope there are days when you fall in love with being alive”  – Brooke Hampton https://www.barefootfive.com/barefoot-me

Location: Discovery Bay, Washington, USA Hosts: Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa Edited: https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/   Come see how noticing our discomfort can invite us into deeper connection with nature as we ponder by the shore where birds, seals, and other than human nature join us.    Explore more about Ponder While We Wander A soothing podcast for trying times.   https://ponderwhilewewander.com/ https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/   Episode Resources Links: https://silvotherapy.co.uk/about-forest-healing http://www.tribalmuseum.jamestowntribe.org/

Location: Fort Flagler Historical State Park, Washington, USA Hosts: Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa Edited: https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/   Natasha and Amber visit a place where the ocean meets forest to tune into birds as a way of intentionally paying attention and deepening how we make meaning in our lives. Come listen to the topic and the birds!    Explore more about Ponder While We Wander A soothing podcast for trying times. https://ponderwhilewewander.com/ https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/   Episode Resources Links: http://www.tribalmuseum.jamestowntribe.org/ https://amytan.net/backyard-bird-chronicles https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31932836-mozart-s-starling https://parks.wa.gov/find-parks/state-parks/fort-flagler-historical-state-park

Location: Price Sculpture Forest, Whidbey Island, Washington, USA Hosts: Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa Edited: https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/   Natasha and Amber amble along in the Price Sculpture Forest on Whidbey Island, Washington, USA and explore creativity as an important force for individuals and humanity as a whole. If you are looking for an invitation or support to sink into your creativity, you’ll definitely want to listen to this episode!   Explore more about Ponder While We Wander A soothing podcast for trying times. https://ponderwhilewewander.com/ https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/   Episode Resources Links: https://sculptureforest.org/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/finding-the-right-words/202506/creativity-is-not-a-luxury https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/can_empathy_help_you_be_more_creative https://historicwhidbey.org/whidbey-island-history https://www.haydentimm.com/

Location: Penn Cove, Washington, USA Hosts: Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa Edited: https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/   Rest is important, so why is it so hard? Amber and Natasha discuss some of the messages and individual and collective challenges to getting rest and give some examples of nature that invite us to take a deeper perspective to rest.   Explore more about Ponder While We Wander https://ponderwhilewewander.com/ https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/   Episode Resources Links: https://allpoetry.com/poem/15374223-Wild-geese-by-Mary-J-Oliver https://salish-current.org/2024/11/20/orcas-display-uncanny-behavior-in-historic-penn-cove-visit/ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42771901-how-to-do-nothing https://historicwhidbey.org/whidbey-island-history

Hosts: Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa Location:  Ft Townsend, Port Townsend, WA   Come walk with us while we explore the “love of life” humans have with natural environments. Amber and Natasha share ways in which this enhances our lives and can be integrated into everyday living. We find some banana slugs, evidence of other animals around, and breathe in the forest air, and you’re invited to come along! Explore more about Ponder While We Wander https://ponderwhilewewander.com/ https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/ “They travel long distances to stroll along the seashore, for reasons they can't put into words.” ― Edward O. Wilson    Episode Resource Links: https://www.childrenandnature.org/ https://natureconnectionguide.com/shop-base/forest-bathing-how-trees-can-help-you/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6143402/ https://sdbg.org/shinrin-yoku-connecting-people-to-nature-through-the-art-of-forest-bathing/ https://waparks.org/parks/fort-townsend/ https://parks.wa.gov/about/news-center/field-guide-blog/fort-townsend-historical-state-park-history https://www.nrdc.org/bio/maria-mccain/bringing-outdoors-benefits-biophilia https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/biophilia

Schmitz Preserve Park Seattle, WA- USA   Is it time for a relationship check-in with nature?   Have you thought about your relationship with the outside world lately? What happens when we shift from inside to outside? What if our connection with nature was more relational than transactional? We explore this and more as we walk a muddy trail in Seattle, WA- USA.   Explore more about Ponder While We Wander https://ponderwhilewewander.com/ https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/   Episode Resources Links: https://natureconnection.guide/ https://earth.org/human-connection-with-nature/ https://greenseattle.org/about-us/land-acknowledgement/ https://theunpluggedclub.com/relationship-with-nature/ https://www.seattle.gov/parks/allparks/schmitz-preserve-park https://mohai.org/blog/2010/mohai-minute-schmitz-park/ https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/schmitz-preserve-park

Denny Park Seattle, WA- USA   Join us for a discussion where we explore what labyrinths are, how you can walk them, and how walking them can be an important contemplative practice for our times.    https://labyrinthlocator.org/labyrinth/denny-park/440/   Explore more about Ponder While We Wander https://ponderwhilewewander.com/ https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/   Episode Resources https://labyrinthlocator.org/ https://labyrinthsociety.org/ https://veriditas.org/ https://www.contemplativelife.org/practice/the-center-for-contemplative-mind-in-society/all/teaching-learning https://www.contemplativelife.org/practice/labyrinth/all/body-movement

Seattle, Washington-USA Discovery Park   We explore the topic of how we do hard things as we launch our discussion from an article of a study about social support and our perception of how steep a hill can be. There are also some surprise raccoons. Come explore if it matters who you’re standing next to or not when we do hard things!    Explore more about Ponder While We Wander https://ponderwhilewewander.com/ https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/   Episode Resources https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3291107/

Seattle, Washington-USA Discovery Park   Jumping off of the work of Dr. Vaughan Wilkins and the field of applied Ecopsychology, Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa explore the theme of Enculturated Zoochosis. Metaphors applicable to living in modernity and the challenges we may be having are discussed while observing some of the urban wildlife of Discovery Park in Seattle, WA. Could we be experiencing collective trauma? If so, what are the symptoms and what are the problems? And how might we begin to address these?    Explore more about Ponder While We Wander https://ponderwhilewewander.com/ https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/   Episode Resources https://www.vaughanwilkins.com/thesis https://www.seattle.gov/x63689 https://unitedindians.org/

Welcome to Ponder While We Wander, a container for invitations and  inspiration for connection to ourselves, others, and nature. This video gives you an introduction to us, how we got here, some of  our hopes, and an introduction to the podcast Ponder While We Wander.   This is a project of love from two friends who happen to be therapists, and we’re looking forward to seeing where it goes.   Thank you for listening, Natasha Morisawa and Amber Martin   Find more information here: https://ponderwhilewewander.com/   Substack: https://ponderwhilewewander.substack.com/   Special thanks to: Logan Bell Ethan Bell  Eve Hellebrand https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/   More info on Natasha and Amber