Random Nature – Details, episodes & analysis

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Random Nature

Christy Hyman, PhD

Science

Leisure

Society & Culture

Frequency: 1 episode/33d. Total Eps: 43

I'm Christy Hyman and I am a geographer who loves birds and the outdoors. I talk to academics about how they view nature and how much or how little they embrace it into their lives.

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Data updated on 14/07/2026

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Score global : 68%

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A Pedestrian Birder's Close Call- THE CAR TOOK FLIGHT

Season 4 · Episode 10

Monday, June 8, 2026 • Duration 11:17

In this bonus episode, Christy is on her usual 45-minute walk to her favorite village coffee house when a car goes airborne right in front of her and disappears into a ravine— the motorist, his dog and all. She reflects on the cascade of fears that hit her in those few seconds, the divine and ancestral protection she feels carried her through, and what the whole terrifying experience revealed about the very real safety gaps facing birders and pedestrians on roads like Valley Road. Plus: shout-outs to the Joe Farm down in Alabama, Ithaca's planned greenway, and a handful of Finger Lakes birding spots worth knowing.

Stay birdy, everyone.

Links

https://southhillrecway.wordpress.com/

https://www.connectingwithbirdsandnaturetours.com/

https://www.fortbaptistfarm.com/

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GenX, Church, and Academia (and two pollinators) with Professor Ed J. Blum

Season 4 · Episode 9

Thursday, May 21, 2026 • Duration 39:00

What does it mean to grow up saved—and then spend your career studying how race, religion, and power have always been tangled together in the west? Christy sits down with Ed J. Blum, historian of Ideas, to find out. From his evangelical upbringing in suburban New Jersey to his landmark scholarship on W.E.B. Du Bois, Ed traces the through-line between personal faith and intellectual obsession. He and Christy swap stories of religious intensity— her family's fervor (at least on Easter), his Mission work, and the complicated questions both raised about belonging and poverty. Ed also pulls back the curtain on his forthcoming book, which uncovers surprising data about racial categorization in Revolutionary-era America. And somehow, it all ends with a pollinator.

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Gardening in the Fingerlakes Region

Season 4 · Episode 8

Thursday, May 7, 2026 • Duration 12:26

In this episode, Christy checks in with a spring update from the Finger Lakes region of New York, where she'll be based full-time after permanently wrapping up a professional affiliation in North Carolina. She covers the famously unforgiving Tompkins County frost calendar—last freeze as late as May 30—and what that means for her raised garden bed at the Cottages, where she's planning a split experiment: half given over to creeping Charlie, half to two varieties of sunflower. She also introduces her two cats, Gimley and Silhouette. The episode closes on the sounds of the Finger Lakes in spring—bullfrogs, owls, birdsong—and a nudge to anyone considering a move to the area.

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My son's 20th Birthday in Heaven- Some raw truths on Grief

Season 4 · Episode 7

Thursday, March 12, 2026 • Duration 08:35

March 11, 2026. My son's 20th Birthday. A turning that took place in Heaven.

Common Grackle Operated a Soda Dispenser inside Howard University Cafeteria

Season 4 · Episode 6

Tuesday, February 3, 2026 • Duration 09:08

Common Grackle Operated a Soda Dispenser in Howard University Cafeteria.

You read that right.

In this episode of Random Nature, Christy challenges conventional wisdom about avian behavior. What happens when birds don't follow the rulebook? From American Robins defying dietary expectations to the surprising intelligence of the much-maligned Common Grackle, I explore how birds adapt to changing environments and food sources. Christy also shares a BHM fact about the importance of Howard University archives.

links:

https://dh.howard.edu/msrc/

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MLK and Climate Resilience

Season 4 · Episode 5

Monday, January 19, 2026 • Duration 06:51

On this special MLK Day episode, I explore how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s fight for justice connects directly to today’s climate crisis. From his support of sanitation workers to the roots of the environmental justice movement, I trace how King’s vision of equality and dignity for all inspires climate scientists, activists, and communities on the front lines. Join me as I examine the links between civil rights, environmental protection, and the urgent work of building a just, livable future for everyone.

https://wildtomorrow.org/blog/2022/1/17/martin-luther-king-jr-and-the-environment

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BONUS- My Trade Book is Out Today (sample reading)

Season 4 · Episode 4

Thursday, November 27, 2025 • Duration 07:42

In this bonus episode of Random Nature, Christy shares heartfelt reflections on the significance of the day, not only as a time for gratitude but also as a momentous occasion marking the release of their trade book, set for November 27, 2025, by Bloomsbury. With a focus on the current economic challenges facing many listeners, Christy emphasizes that there’s no pressure to purchase the book; instead, she is simply excited to share this milestone.

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Quick Update in the midst of PURE CHAOS

Season 4 · Episode 3

Tuesday, October 21, 2025 • Duration 02:40

Hey everyone! It’s been a minute, and I just wanted to check in with you all. I’m still hanging in there, staying prayed up and meditated up amidst the tough times in my home country. A big shoutout to all the ADVOCATES holding the line—let’s keep that hope alive!

I wanted to give you some updates. First off, I’m working on a new episode that should be out this summer. I know it’s been a while, but I appreciate your patience. The exciting news is that my book, "Cultural Heritage Resilience of the Great Dismal Swamp,” is set to be released on November 27th! It was initially slated for early October 2025, but there were some scheduling changes with my publisher and my UK tour that pushed it back.

If you can, please support the book! Even if you can’t purchase it, sharing it and talking about it goes a long way.

Also, I’m thrilled to let you know that I’m currently writing another book, which will be published by Louisiana State University Press. A huge shoutout to Rand Dotson, PhD. The title is “Pest Control: Birds, Black Folk, and the History of Environmental Consciousness in the U.S. South.”

So that’s it for today! Stay prayed up, and if faith isn’t your thing, then stay meditated up! Find your joy and connect with your people. Until next time

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Midwest to East Coast- Random Nature Special Guest, Eric K!

Season 4 · Episode 2

Monday, September 1, 2025 • Duration 13:33

Welcome back to Random Nature, the podcast where Christy the birder/academic explores the enchanting and often surprising connections between humanity and the natural world. Today she engages in a lively discussions with a fascinating guests, This week she talks to Eric K., a journalist based in the D.C. area.

We mention:

Canada Geese

Urban foxes

campus food delivery robots.

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The Griever's New Year- and some Gospel music

Season 4 · Episode 1

Sunday, August 3, 2025 • Duration 06:14

In this poignant episode, Christy reflects on the heavy emotions surrounding her new year, a time that marks not just a fresh start but also deep sorrow for those who mourn the loss of a child. With an emphasis on Sufi philosophy, Christy navigates the concept of death as a reunion with the divine, offering solace amidst the heartache of losing her younger child Ricky, a vibrant spirit whose brief life brought immense joy to his family and friends. As Christy shares cherished memories, including the laughter shared over late-night televangelist antics, the journey of grief unfolds against the backdrop of travels planned for the year ahead. The episode is a heartfelt reminder to cherish love and connection while urging those still lost in their own struggles to embrace and share love openly.

The closing of this episode is a track by Brand New Heavies, a cover of "Many Rivers to Cross"-- Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. This falls under educating the public about childloss and grief.

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Random Nature – Details, episodes & analysis

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Random Nature – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

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Other19

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