Ponder While We Wander

Natasha Morisawa, Amber Martin
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Mental Health

This is where we have explored and recorded topics that open our curiosity and find connection to outside spaces. We will also connect with others who inspire us and walk new paths literally and figuratively. Come listen! ponderwhilewewander.com

  1. 2d ago

    S2 E16: Relationship to Stuff

    Location: Saratoga Woods, Whidbey Island, WA Record date: 4/21/2026 Release date: 8/15/2026   Hosts: Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa Edited: https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/   Episode Description: Join Amber and Natasha on a breezy day from Saratoga Woods on Whidbey Island, WA where they dive into the complexities surrounding our Relationship to Stuff.  After taking a moment to greet the land and many animals all around them, they introduce Earth Overshoot Day, getting curious about what it means to use more resources than we have and explore a global mindset around consumerism. Throughout this episode Amber and Natasha discuss their own relationships to stuff and share how personal and family histories inform these relationships. They invite and encourage a sense of curiosity and tenderness when exploring this topic as both generational and personal experiences of trauma often go hand in hand with how one views and interacts with stuff.  They explore the spectrum of hoarding and how traumatic loss or grief can play a role in the stuff we keep, naming a range of functional to dysfunctional, and explore how our survival needs and ability to sustain ourselves impact our relationship to stuff.    Additional areas explored in this episode include: -Consumer dissatisfaction   -Capitalism  -Youth culture  -Benefits/challenges of sourcing things hyper locally  -Natural disasters and emergency preparedness  -How to explore and understand what drives our collection of stuff  -How pleasure centers are tied to newness and novelty  -Creative ways to find newness and novelty with less consumption  -Various methods for decluttering  -Importance of critical thinking and learning  -Radical acceptance to phase of life moments  -Voluntarily simplicity    As Amber and Natasha dive into this topic one overarching theme becomes clear, our relationship to stuff is complicated! Join them in Pondering this complexity and see what you may discover about your relationship status to stuff.    Keywords: Earth Overshoot Day Voluntary Simplicity Clutter Hoarding De-cluttering Minimalist Living more intentionally Ecological living   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://www.psrc.org/about-us/tribes https://overshoot.footprintnetwork.org/ https://clutterersanonymous.org/ https://simplicitycollective.com/start-here/what-is-voluntary-simplicity-2 https://www.robingreenfield.org/foragingyear/ https://somewhatsimpleliving.com/3-box-method-for-decluttering/ https://www.theminimalists.com/packing/ https://www.thespruce.com/20-10-cleaning-method-8742970 https://www.thespruce.com/swedish-death-cleaning-4801461

  2. Aug 1

    S2 E15: Living More Simply

    Location: Seattle Japanese Garden unceded lands of the Coast Salish Peoples, specifically the Duwamish, Suquamish, Stillaguamish, and Muckleshoot People.  Record date: 4/21/2026 Release date: 8/1/2026   Hosts: Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa Edited: https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/   Episode Description: Join Amber and Natasha from the Seattle Japanese Garden, in Seattle WA as they discuss what it is to Live More Simply. They are greeted upon entry into the garden by a split maple tree, beautiful rhododendrons, many azaleas and the background hum of city noise.   The episode begins with a question: “What comes to mind when you think of living more simply?” They explore how to define problems versus symptoms in modernity and the costs of living in these busy times. Natasha introduces the idea of a simplicity assessment as a way to help us all determine what aspects of modernity may be impacting us. They acknowledge many of the symptoms of living in modernity are common and that there are systems that benefit from people being overwhelmed and distracted.  They introduce multitasking versus single tasking and how simplicity may support us as we move through transition periods in life.  Amber and Natasha also explore how busyness, attachment to things and our attachment to the way we think things SHOULD be, may come into play when we think about living more simply. They invite us to consider how creating space in our schedules for simplicity, exploring mindful consumption, assessing if our actions align with our values and the things we say we care about can offer a perspective shift and help us more deeply ponder where we stand in relation to “Living More Simply”.    Keywords:   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/

  3. Jul 16

    S2 E14: Wandering

    Location: Yosemite National Forest, California, USA Record date: 3/27/26 Release date: 7/15/26   Hosts: Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa Edited: https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/   Episode Description:Join Amber and Natasha as they wander through Wawona, California. As the snow is melting and river water is flowing they explore what it is to wander! They share definitions, poems, and explore chronos versus chiros ways of being with time. Natasha also introduces the wander’s society and the idea of psychogeography.   In this episode Amber and Natasha discuss the archetype of the wanderer, how aspects of their own paths from the outside could be viewed as wandering and validate there are many paths to a destination and through an experience.  They discuss how slowing down and wandering can have powerful implications that support our ability to explore our interconnectedness to self, others, and Nature. They also introduce wandering intentionally in groups and the benefit of wandering with openness and curiosity. They discuss how wandering can support creating new neural pathways, increase creativity and help us feel more alive in the world!    Join Natasha and Amber as they celebrate wandering, invite listeners to wander and offer support and encouragement to do so in their own way.  Keywords:   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: Bouchard-Roberts, Conner, editor. A Field Companion for Wandering. Postcard Bookshop, 2021. https://open-books-a-poem-emporium.myshopify.com/products/bouchard-roberts-conner-a-field-copb

  4. Jul 1

    S2 E13: Stargazing

    Location: Yosemite National Forest, California, USA Record date: 3/1/26 Release date: 7/1/26   Hosts: Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa Edited: https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/   Join Amber and Natasha in Wawona, CA under the stars, in this first ever episode recorded at night! Together they discuss our need for darkness and stargazing. They explore how stargazing can help us connect us to something bigger than ourselves and how darkness is rich with metaphor.  They share memories of their own experiences stargazing and touch on how both stargazing and darkness are good for our physical health!   They delve into the positive effects stargazing has on us humans such as, its ability to inspire awe and how it could be considered a contemplative practice that can boost our creativity and encourage us to imagine new and positive solutions to challenges.   In addition, they include a discussion on how light pollution negatively impacts us and our other than human friends, including birds, turtles and flowers.    Come join them as they appreciate darkness, the vastness of the stars and ponder how stargazing could inspire deeper kindness and care within us all.    "I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night" -Sarah Williams   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://darksky.org/about/

  5. Jun 16

    S2 E12: Forest Bathing and other location based ecotherapies.

    Location: Yosemite National Forest, California, USA Record date: 2/27/26 Release date: 6/15/26   Hosts: Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa Edited: https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/   Episode Description: Join Natasha and Amber as they slip and slide down a slushy, snow path to a peaceful forest grove where they discuss Forest Bathing and a variety of nature based therapies!    With so many different therapies that center our relationship with and within nature, Amber and Natasha offer listeners an introduction to many of these therapies and the elements they may include.   They explore both the similarities and differences between therapies, what you may expect if you engage in one of these therapies and share many of the benefits offered by nature based therapies.    Throughout the episode they continue to explore the idea of returning home to nature and how each of these therapies include an opportunity to do just that.    Some of the therapies explored in this episode include: -Ocean Based Therapy -Sylvotherapy (Umbrella Term) includes Spiritual, Energetic and Scientific Elements -Curative Sylvotherapy -Creative Sylvotherapy -Culinary Sylvotherapy -Recreational Sylvotherapy -Energetic Sylvotherapy -Shinrin-Yoku or Forest Bathing -Wilderness Based Therapies  Join them and discover which nature based therapy may call to you!    Quote: “The art of forest bathing is the art of connecting with nature through our senses. All we have to do is accept the invitation.” — Dr. Qing Li   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/ http://www.forestbathinginternational.org/ https://www.forestbathingfinder.com/find-a-walk/ https://sdbg.org/shinrin-yoku-connecting-people-to-nature-through-the-art-of-forest-bathing/

  6. Jun 1

    S2 E11: Ecotherapy: Finding your Nature prescription.

    Location: Wawona, Yosemite National Forest, California, USA Record date: 2/24/26 Release date: 6/1/26   Hosts: Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa Edited: https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/   Expanding on the themes of previous episodes of the benefits of having a deeper relationship with other-than-human nature, Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa share personal stories and different ways humans have found their entryways to deepening that relationship in modernity. They address some of the challenges and ways to self-assess which nature prescription might work for you. They also share some ideas of formal and informal nature therapies and preview some that will be covered in more detail in following episodes.   They include ways to connect or re-connect with your cultural lineage, connecting with land with cultural humility, ideas for simple ways to deepen our relationship with other-than-human nature, and ways to make this relationship tending a practice to foster meaning and purpose.   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/

  7. May 15

    S2 E10: What Exactly is Ecopsychology?

    Location: Yosemite National Forest, California, USA Record date: 3/23/26 Release date: 5/15/26   Hosts: Amber Martin and Natasha Morisawa Edited: https://www.studiosymbiotic.com/   Natasha Morisawa and Amber Martin explore the evolving definition of Ecopsychology, some of the challenges in naming the field, and why they took so long to include this in the podcast series. They share personal stories about their relationship to Land and Ecopsychology and how healing and new paths emerged from honoring these experiences. From the banks of a river in the Yosemite National Forest, their discussion encourages listeners to honor their own knowing and explores how Ecopsychology can help us ask deep, holistic and systemic questions necessary to support our relationship with Ecology, Psychology and 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/ https://www.instagram.com/ponder_while_we_wander/#   Episode Resources Links: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/802184.Ecopsychology https://sunypress.edu/Books/R/Radical-Ecopsychology https://mbgna.umich.edu/post/whats-name-limits-problems-and-puzzles-naming-and-referring-plants https://esa.org/history/biographies/ecological-richness-diverse-contributors-of-diverse-contributions/women-in-ecology-series/

  8. May 1

    S2 E9: What is a contemplative practice and why might we want to have one?

    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

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

This is where we have explored and recorded topics that open our curiosity and find connection to outside spaces. We will also connect with others who inspire us and walk new paths literally and figuratively. Come listen! ponderwhilewewander.com

Information

  • Creator
    Natasha Morisawa, Amber Martin
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Ponder While We Wander