Learning How to See with Brian McLaren CAC

Welcome to the sixth season of Learning How to See which focuses on learning how to see nature in a new way. In this season, we'll look at nature through the lens of a child, a scientist, a lover, a doctor, a seeker, and a gardener. The goal is to develop a deeper connection and appreciation for the natural world. We need to see every tree and stone, every bird and fish, every stream and prairie and star with eyes of love and wonder. That's not just a matter of joy and meaning for our individual lives, it's increasingly a matter of survival for our species. We hope you'll join us for the new seasons of Learning How to See.
Resources:


Why Don't They Get It? by Brian McLaren can be found here.


Cory and the Seventh Story by Brian McLaren can be found here.

More info on Life and Doom, the new book by Brian McLaren can be found here.

What can children teach us about loving nature?
In the first episode of season 6, three of Brian’s grandchildren — Ella, Ada, and Lucas — drop by to talk about how to take responsibility and care for the planet. In this conversation, we see the from the perspective of a child as three of Brian's grandchildren highlight the impact of climate change through a shared love of animals and emphasizing the need for a more sustainable and compassionate relationship with nature.
Resources:

The transcript for this episode can be found here.

For more information about Brian's new book, Life After Doom, you can find more information here.

Check out Brian's grandkids Newt YouTube channel here.


Connect with us:

Have a question you'd like Brian to answer about this season? Email us: podcasts@cac.org or leave us voicemail. Questions for this season will only be accepted until June 21st, 2024.


This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/ Thank you!

Can we look at nature with both wonder and a scientist's eye?
In this episode, we're learning how to see nature from the perspective of a scientist. In Part 1, Author and professor Paul Wallace joins Brian to explore the intersection of science and spirituality in the natural world. Together, they discuss the awe-inspiring scale of the universe, the contemplative nature of scientific inquiry, and the urgent call to protect our dwindling bird populations.
Paul Wallace is a physicist, astronomer, and pastor who explores the intersection of science and faith. He is a professor at Agnes Scott College and has a Ph.D. in physics and a Master of Divinity and is passionate about making science and religion accessible to all.
Resources:

The transcript for this episode can be found here.

For more information about Brian's new book, Life After Doom, you can find more information here.

To learn more about Paul Wallace's work, visit his website here.


Connect with us:

Have a question you'd like Brian to answer about this season? Email us: podcasts@cac.org or leave us voicemail. Questions for this season will only be accepted until June 21st, 2024.


This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/ Thank you!

What sparks your sense of wonder in the natural world? 
In this episode, we're continuing our exploration of learning how to see like a scientist with botanist and author Susan Tweit. Brian McLaren and Susan Tweit explore how a hike in the Badlands sparked Susan's passion for sharing nature's wonders. In this conversation, they explore the power of science and storytelling as a way of deepening our connection with the Earth and igniting positive action for healing the planet, fueled by both love and grief for the environment.
Susan J. Tweit is a plant biologist who began her career working in the wilderness studying wildfires, grizzly bear habitat and sagebrush ecosystems. She turned to writing when she realized she loved telling the stories in the data. She is an award-winning author of twelve books, including a previous memoir, Walking Nature Home, and Bless the Birds: Living with Love in a Time of Dying. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Resources:

The transcript for this episode can be found here.

For more information about Brian's new book, Life After Doom, you can find more information here.

To learn more about Susan J Tweit's work, visit her website here.


Connect with us:

Have a question you'd like Brian to answer about this season? Email us: podcasts@cac.org or leave us voicemail. Questions for this season will only be accepted until June 21st, 2024.


This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/ Thank you!

What can you do, big or small, to create a positive impact on the planet?
In this episode, Brian interviews Scott Smith, a retired wildlife ecologist, about his career in conservation and the importance of protecting the natural world. Scott shares his early love for nature and how it led him to become a wildlife ecologist. He discusses the work of conservation, including habitat preservation, species monitoring, and genetic flow. Scott also highlights the interconnectedness between human society and the environment, emphasizing the need to address poverty, equity, and social justice in conservation efforts.
Resources:

The transcript for this episode can be found here.

If you're in Maryland, check out the events at Trinity Outdoors here.

What shapes the connection between your inner and outer landscapes?  
On the second part of seeing nature like a lover, Brian interviews a non-profit leader in sustainable development, Miriam Smith. In this episode, Miriam shares her powerful story of growing up in Chad during a civil war. She discusses how these experiences shaped her perspective on life and instilled a deep passion for nature and the environment, and how this informs her work with Eden Thriving, an organization dedicated to sustainable development and landscape restoration. Miriam emphasizes the importance of cherishing both our inner and outer landscapes, highlighting the connection between love and care for both ourselves, and our planet. Lastly, Miriam also shares about her efforts to protect and restore land in Kenya, underscoring the significance of cherishing our planet. You can read more about that at the link in the resource section.
Miriam Smith loves the outdoors, campfires, ‘ah-ha’ moments, poetry and the contemplative life. Her childhood was spent in Central and Eastern Africa where she gained a deep love for living close to nature, being present at a grassroots level, and working with dedicated teammates to cultivate the potential of land and lives. While raising her three children, she has served in a variety of non-profit community development programs in Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea and Kenya. She makes her permanent home along the banks of the Malewa River in Naivasha, Kenya where she serves as the Founding Director of Eden Thriving, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing the environmental roots of poverty. (www.edenthriving.org) 
Resources:

The transcript for this episode can be found here.

To learn more about Miriam's work with restoring the land in Kenya, visit this website here.

To learn more about Miriam, check out her website here.