Ponder While We Wander

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