Shows
The Spark Bird PodcastFrom Banana Bird to Birder Brain with Kelly-Sue O'ConnorIn this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Kelly Sue O'Connor, creator of the mental-health and birding project Birder Brain. After recently returning home to Nova Scotia from Ontario, Kelly Sue shares the unexpected spark that ignited her birding journey by rescuing a domestic canary, lovingly nicknamed Banana Bird, on a Toronto street. From that moment, birding became not just a hobby but a grounding practice. Links & Resources from This Episode ⭐ Explore Kelly Sue's work on her website: 👉 https://www.birderbrain.org/ 📸 Follow Ke...
2025-12-1943 min
The Spark Bird PodcastFrom Oil Spill to Advocacy with Isabelle GrocIn this episode of the Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally sit down with Isabelle Groc, a photojournalist, author, and documentary filmmaker based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Isabelle specializes in wildlife, marine ecosystems, and the relationships between people and the natural world. Isabelle shares how her lifelong passion for conservation began with a moment of devastation. Growing up in France, she learned about the massive Amoco Cadiz oil spill and saw the heartbreaking images of seabirds coated in oil. A spark that ignited her desire to tell stories, protect species, and shine a light...
2025-12-0541 min
The Spark Bird PodcastIvan Phillipsen's Flight Path to WonderIn this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Ivan Phillipsen, creator and host of The Science of Birds podcast and co-owner of Wild Latitudes worldwide nature tours. Ivan shares how a seemingly ordinary moment with his friend led him to his spark bird, the California Towhee. Ivan also shares his journey shifting from academia to science communication, the joy of returning to a more holistic view of the natural world, and the importance of scientific literacy in an age of misinformation. Links & Resources from This Episode...
2025-11-2139 min
The Spark Bird PodcastA Bird in Hand with Seunguk ShinIn this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Seunguk Shin, Assistant Professor at the University of Missouri's School of Natural Resources. Seunguk shares how a Northern Cardinal became his spark bird. A moment of connection that still fuels his research, teaching, and creativity today. From developing bird and insect education projects for children to exploring how time in nature restores our attention. Links & Resources from This Episode 📘 Read the article discussed in this episode here to learn more about Seunguk's collaborative research on bird...
2025-11-0736 min
The Spark Bird PodcastHog Island's Legacy with Rosy TuckerThis week on The Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally are joined by Rosy Tucker, Program Manager at Hog Island Audubon Camp. Rosy shares how a Red Knot first ignited her love for birds and how that moment eventually led to a career as a teacher and environmental educator. From memorable classroom moments to the Atlantic Puffin Restoration Project, she reminds us that nature isn't far away, it's right in our own backyards. Links & Resources from This Episode 🌐 Learn more about Hog Island and explore upcoming programs at hogisland.audubon.org...
2025-10-2439 min
The Spark Bird PodcastBirding with Benefits: Sarah T. Dubb's Spark to ScreenIn this week's episode, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Sarah T. Dubb, a novelist whose love for birding inspired her debut book, BIRDING WITH BENEFITS. Sarah shares her journey from growing up in Tucson, Arizona, to becoming a passionate birder and writer. She discusses her process of writing and publishing her debut novel, and its adaptation into a Hallmark Plus movie, Adventures in Love & Birding. Links & Resources from This Episode 🌐 Visit Sarah's website at www.sarahtdubb.com to learn more about her work and updates on her next novel, Honey Bee...
2025-10-1037 min
The Spark Bird PodcastPedro Hoffmeister and the Osprey's CatchIn this week's episode, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome writer, educator, and professional rock climber Pedro Hoffmeister. What began as a remembrance trip for a friend's grandfather turned into an unexpected spark bird story. Despite setbacks, Pedro embraced the adventure! He shares how spending time in nature, along with meditation and cognitive therapy, helped him slow down, observe more birds, and heal after a traumatic brain injury. Resources & Links from This Episode 📸 You can follow Pedro to catch snapshots of him rock climbing, his daily life, and writing updates on Instagram at...
2025-09-2648 min
The Spark Bird PodcastA Yellow Warbler to 10,000 Birds with Christina BaalIn this week's episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally meet with Christina Baal, a birder and artist whose story began not with a sighting, but with the quest to find a 'dandelion-colored' Yellow Warbler. That golden spark launched a lifetime of birding and the dreams she's been chasing ever since. Inspired by Ken Kaufman's memoir, she set herself the goal of painting 10,000 birds, saying, "Ken Kaufman can do it. So can I." Today, Christina blends art and birding in joyful, unexpected ways. Left: Christina's stunning painting of...
2025-09-1239 min
The Spark Bird PodcastMike Sacopulos and the Passion Behind BWDIn this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally are joined by Mike Sacopulos, an attorney and publisher of Bird Watcher's Digest (BWD) Magazine. Mike shares how birding brought him comfort during a challenging period of his childhood, carrying him through big life transitions and eventually leading him to BWD. They also discuss the magazine's global artwork, the letters that remind Mike of its lasting impact, and how birding with BWD creates connections across generations of readers and birders alike. Resources & Links from This Episode 🌿 Learn more abou...
2025-08-2938 min
The Spark Bird PodcastHow Books Take Flight with Kenn KaufmannOn this week's episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally meet with celebrated naturalist and author Kenn Kaufman, whose fascination with birds began in early childhood and never faded. Inspired by richly illustrated wildlife books, Kenn developed a passion for the natural world that took him hitchhiking across North America as a teenager. He shares stories from the road, his work writing and illustrating about nature, and why community is such a vital part of birding. Resources & Links from This Episode 🌎 Check out the Kaufman Field Guides web...
2025-08-1536 min
The Spark Bird PodcastThe Birds We Return To with Laura MarrisIn this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally talk with Laura Marris, Visiting Assistant Professor in the English department at the University at Buffalo. Laura shares how birding with her dad as a child shaped the way she sees the world. And we discuss her book The Age of Loneliness, reflecting on the decline in bird abundance, the role of community science, and what it means to truly notice the living world around us. This conversation is about more than birdwatching; it's about presence, memory, and the quiet ways nature holds us t...
2025-08-0140 min
The Spark Bird PodcastWaking Up to Birds with Michael LombardoIn this week's episode, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Michael Lombardo, the creator of the McGolrick Bird Club in North Brooklyn. Michael shares his journey from a career in the tech industry to becoming a passionate birder and community leader. Michael discusses the creation and growth of the McGoldrick Bird Club, highlighting the importance of weekly bird walks, community engagement, and the power of noticing the natural world around us. Explore more from Michael Lombardo and the McGolrick Bird Club 📸 Follow @mcgolrickbirdclub on Instagram for bird walk updates and moments of...
2025-07-1855 min
The Spark Bird PodcastFrom City to Sand: Chris Allieri's NYC Plover ProjectIn this episode, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally speak with Chris Allieri, founder and executive director of NYC Plover Project, which he launched in 2021 after recognizing a gap in conservation efforts right in his own city. During the height of the pandemic, when New York City's plover nesting grounds were especially vulnerable, Chris stepped up, not just to protect the birds, but to build a stronger culture of conservation in the city. His story is one of grassroots action, intergenerational learning, and a call to all of us to take part in protecting what's wild and at risk...
2025-07-0443 min
The Spark Bird PodcastThe Therapeutic Beauty of Birdsong with Nandi RoseIn this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome musician Nandi Rose of Half Waif. Nandi shares her Spark Bird story, recounting how a flash of color spotted in Costa Rica opened the door to a quieter, deeper noticing back home in the Upper Hudson Valley. For Nandi, it's less about sight and more about sound, and bird song has become her guide. Even without binoculars, there's a sense of recognition in the songs. A feeling of being spoken to, of returning to something familiar and sacred. Her music, like her birding, is...
2025-06-2043 min
Your Bird StoryJenn Lodi-Smith Collects Spark Bird StoriesJenn Lodi-Smith is a PhD psychologist and founder of The Spark Bird Project. The initiative flickered into life at the Hog Island Audubon Family Camp where Lodi-Smith was introduced to the concept of "spark birds." Lodi-Smith and her colleagues record and analyze contributed stories to better understand how people become birders and why they continue to bird. The Spark Bird Project shares its research findings with community partners to help organizations engage with established and new birders.—The Spark Bird Project website—Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera SeamansProducer and...
2025-06-1233 min
The Field GuidesBonus - The Spark Bird Podcast x The Field Guides PodcastIn this special bonus episode we're crossing over with The Spark Bird Podcast! (@sparkbirdproject)Bill joins one of the hosts of the Spark Bird Project podcast, Jenn Lodi-Smith, to go birding in Buffalo’s historic Forest Lawn Cemetery, sharing spark bird stories, conservation efforts for migration, and the joy of birding in community.You’ll also hear reflections from folks at the Feminist Bird Club of Buffalo (@fbc.buf) May the Spark Be with You outing, all recorded on-site at Forest Lawn Cemetery. This episode is a celebration of connection, accessibility, conservation, and the shared love...
2025-06-1056 min
The Spark Bird PodcastThe Spark Bird Podcast x The Field Guides PodcastIn this special crossover episode, The Spark Bird Podcast's Jenn Lodi-Smith teams up with Bill Michalek of The Field Guides Podcast for a walk through Buffalo's historic Forest Lawn Cemetery. As they explore the grounds, Jenn and Bill reflect on their spark birds, discuss bird migration and conservation. The episode also features Spark Bird stories from a variety of voices from the Feminist Bird Club of Buffalo in Forest Lawn Cemetery, showcasing the power of community in birding. Resources & Links from This Episode 🔗 Listen to more nature adventures with Bill and Steve on The...
2025-06-0656 min
The Spark Bird PodcastLyanda Lynn Haupt on Storytelling and StarlingsIn this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally talk with Lyanda Lynn Haupt, a writer known for exploring the connections between people and the natural world. The conversation follows Haupt's path into bird watching, beginning in her childhood in the Pacific Northwest and shaped by her parents' casual interest in birds. She recalls memorable encounters with species like the Northern Spotted Owl and how those moments influenced her work. Lyanda Lynn Haupt also talks about her experience living with a Starling, named Carmen, which inspired her book Mozart's Starling. ...
2025-05-2342 min
The Spark Bird PodcastAaron Haiman: From Young Birder to Conservation LeaderIn this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally talk with Aaron Haiman about his lifelong passion for birding, sparked by a childhood experience with a White-Tailed Kite. Aaron shares his unique journey from becoming a young birder to his current role at the Wildlife Conservation Board in California. The conversation explores the importance of mentorship in birding, the barriers young birders face, and the joy of contributing to bird conservation. We're excited to share all the ways you can follow and connect with Aaron, the voice behind A...
2025-05-0925 min
The Spark Bird PodcastEdge of the World Birding with Dr. George DivokyIn this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally interview Dr. George Divoky, an ornithologist with a Ph.D. in Zoology. He shares his Spark Bird story, recounting how a sighting of a Slate-colored Junco in his childhood ignited his passion for birding. He discusses his research on Black Guillemot and the challenges posed by climate change. Dr. Divoky also shares his personal experiences of solitude and connection with nature during his fieldwork in remote locations. (Photo Credit Joe McNally) Resources & Links from This Episode
2025-04-2535 min
The Spark Bird PodcastBirding Across America: Marcia OBara's Inspiring JourneyIn this episode of The Spark Bird podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Marcia OBara, a retired registered nurse and avid birder. Marcia shares her inspiring journey of birding in all 50 states and recounts her Spark Bird moment in 1984 that ignited her passion for birding. Despite living with a severe lung disease, Marcia continues to lead accessible birding trips for the Tucson Audubon Society and other organizations. She discusses how the practice has evolved from field guides to apps, and why accessibility in birding matters now more than ever. A photo by Freya McGregor. Taken...
2025-04-1131 min
The Spark Bird PodcastThe Healing Power of Ospreys with Pam LowellIn this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally talk with Pam Lowell, a social worker, watercolor artist, and author. Pam shares her Spark Bird story, describing how sightings of a Quetzal and an Osprey ignited her passion for birding and transformed her life. Pam highlights her volunteer work with Mass Audubon, her book My Summer with Ospreys: A Therapist's Journey Towards Hope, Community, and Healing Our Planet, and the importance of environmental advocacy. Resources & Links from This Episode Pam Lowell's Work & Socials: 📖 My Sum...
2025-03-2826 min
The Spark Bird PodcastArt, Health, and Birding with Tina MullenIn this episode of The Spark Bird podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome artist and healthcare professional Tina Mullen. Tina shares her Spark Bird story about how the Sandhill Crane ignited her passion for birds. She discusses her work in the Arts and Medicine program at the University of Florida and the importance of integrating creativity into healthcare settings to promote health and well-being. The conversation explores Tina's art projects, including her series on bird species decline inspired by a poignant letter to Roger Tory Peterson. Resources & Links from This Episode ...
2025-02-2844 min
The Spark Bird PodcastThe Power of Art and Journaling with John Muir LawsIn this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome naturalist and author John Muir Laws, also known as Jack. They dive into Jack's Spark Bird story, discussing how a childhood birding experience with his father ignited his lifelong passion for birds and nature. Jack shares insights on how journaling can enhance observation and attention, his transition from environmental education to creating field guides, and inciting the international nature journaling movement. Resources & Links from This Episode 🎨 John Muir Laws' Website – Explore his art, field guides, and educational resources: Visit he...
2025-02-0738 min
The Spark Bird PodcastBird Conservation with Scott WeidensaulIn this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Scott Weidensaul, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of over 30 books on natural history. Scott shares his lifelong passion for Raptors, recounting his influential visit to Hawk Mountain and his extensive work in bird migration research. He discusses the significance of technology in modern birding and conservation, highlighting initiatives like Project SNOWstorm and the Northeast Motus Collaboration. The episode also explores the historical impact of Roger Tory Peterson on the birding community and the enduring legacy of Hog Island Audubon Camp.
2025-02-0752 min
The Spark Bird PodcastBirding as a Pathway to Healing with Cat FribleyIn this episode of The Spark Bird podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Cat Fribley, Executive Director at Birdability. Cat shares her Spark Bird story, recounting how a college friend's introduction to birding provided emotional balance during a hard period of her life. She discusses Birdability's mission to make birding accessible for people with disabilities and health challenges. Cat also shares Birdability's various programs, including the Birdability Map and the new Blind Birders Birdathon, highlighting the organization's achievements in democratizing birding for all. Resources & Links from This Episode 🗺️ Explore the Birdability Map –...
2025-02-0743 min
The Spark Bird PodcastA Spark Bird Journey with Sara MorrisIn this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally talk with Sara Morris, the Executive Director of Shoals Marine Lab and President of the American Ornithological Society. Sara shares her Spark Bird story of how a family Christmas tradition and a borrowed bird field guide ignited her passion for birding and ornithology at age seven. They also discuss the link between birding and ornithology, the significance of field guides, and the necessity for ongoing bird conservation efforts. Resources & Links from This Episode 🌊 Shoals Marine Lab – A leading institution for hands-on marine...
2025-02-0639 min
The Spark Bird PodcastThe Intersection of Art and Birding with Kayla FiskIn this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally interview Kayla Fisk, a lifelong birder and artist from central New York. Kayla shares her Spark Bird story, recalling how a unique encounter with a Chuck-will's-widow during her childhood ignited her deeper fascination with birds and birding communities. Kayla also discusses how her art is inspired by birds, the mindfulness it brings, and the process of integrating birding into her artistic practice. Resources & Links from This Episode 📸 Follow Kayla on Instagram – See her latest birding adventures at @kaylafiskbirds. 🌐 Visit Kayla's We...
2025-02-0626 min
The Spark Bird PodcastThe Magic of Spark Bird Experiences with Arthur PearsonIn this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Arthur Pearson, CEO of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute (RTPI). Arthur shares his spark bird story, recounting how a Kingfisher ignited his passion for birding. They discuss the history and mission of RTPI, the revolutionary impact of field guides by Roger Tory Peterson, and the importance of naming in connecting with nature. Arthur discusses RTPI's efforts to honor Peterson's legacy through art and conservation, and the institute's role in fostering the next generation of nature advocates. Resources & Links from This E...
2025-02-0639 min
The Spark Bird PodcastIntroducing The Spark Bird PodcastIn the inaugural episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally, share personal narratives about how they developed their passion for birds. The podcast is a part of The Spark Bird Project, a community science initiative that collects and disseminates stories of people's enthusiasm for birds while gaining ecological insights into birders themselves. Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski
2025-02-0627 min