Overheard at National Geographic National Geographic

National Geographic photographer David Guttenfelder is no stranger to dangerous situations. After graduating from college, he left his life in rural Iowa to cover the 1994 Rwandan genocide, an experience that kicked off a decades-long career of reporting on war, conflict, and major news events all around the world. But when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down travel to most countries, he took an assignment close to his roots—paddling the treacherously unpredictable waters between the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior. He describes what it was like visiting historic lighthouses and sea caves, and shares some surprising lessons he took away from that experience.
For more information on this episode, visit natgeo.com/overheard.
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For more on the Apostle Islands and their history, read writer Stephanie Pearson’s piece and see the stunning images David Guttenfelder captured while kayaking out there. 
Guttenfelder is also one of the few Westerners who has spent an extensive amount of time in North Korea. The photos he took there show a side of the country people rarely get to see. 
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He’s also been covering the war in Ukraine. You can check out some of his photographs from the front lines in this story for The New Yorker. 
You can follow David Guttenfelder on Instagram @dguttenfelder.
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Photographer Mark Thiessen, who’s worked on staff at National Geographic for over 30 years, likens his job to a Swiss army knife—versatile enough to tackle many kinds of assignments. Even when the subject is challenging, he approaches each assignment with a lot of curiosity and creativity, whether it’s shooting smoke jumpers who leap out of planes to fight wildfires or making “rain” in the studio to take a unique portrait of an Explorer. And as a special treat, Thiessen will take us up a flight of stairs from the photo studio to show us one of his favorite hobbies: beekeeping.
For more information on this episode, visit natgeo.com/overheard.
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Follow Mark on Instagram at @Thiessenphoto. 
See what it takes to put out a wildfire in this Nat Geo article, and follow smokejumpers out of a plane in this article. 
Hear more of Mark on the Overheard episode “An Accidental Case of the Blues,” about the discovery of the first blue pigment since Thomas Jefferson was president. 
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Did you know that people steal bee hives? Find out why in the Overheard episode “Honeybee Chop Shop.” 
Want to take better photos at home? Nat Geo staff photographer Becky Hale explains how.
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With 224 million people, Nigeria is Africa's most populous country. By 2050, it could crack the global top three with some 375 million people. In the second of our two-part series on the global population passing eight billion, National Geographic photographer Yagazie Emezi describes scenes she captured in Lagos, Africa’s biggest city—including intimate close-ups of a family raising four children in a one-room apartment and women receiving prenatal care. Plus, a Nigerian demographer explains how the country's soaring birth rate could make it an economic powerhouse, but only if the country finds new ways to invest in its youthful population.
For more information on this episode, visit natgeo.com/overheard.
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See Yagazie Emezi’s photos—and other scenes from a world with 8 billion people—in the April issue of National Geographic.  
For a previous National Geographic assignment, Yagazie photographed the women stepping up to remake Rwanda. Follow her on Instagram @yagazieemezi.
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With a get-rich spirit that fuels the continent’s largest economy, see why Lagos has become Africa’s boom town.
Read more from Akanni Akinyemi, including how Africa will shape the future of the planet’s population. 
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There are more than 8 billion humans on Earth, according to the United Nations. And for decades, China has had more people than any other country. But now, China’s population is declining. As soon as this year, it could lose its place as the most populous nation in the world. National Geographic photographer Justin Jin shares what he observed in this pivotal moment for China; he captured scenes where many young women are choosing not to have children, and instead are spending their money on doggie daycare and on karaoke nights with friends and male escorts. As we head into Women’s History Month, we’ll explore why Chinese women are taking a different path, despite the government campaigns pushing them to get married and have children.
For more information on this episode, visit natgeo.com/overheard
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See Justin Jin’s photos—and other scenes from a world with 8 billion people—in the April issue of National Geographic.
Earth's growing population belies vastly different types of demographic change taking shape around the globe. Here’s why demographers don’t agree on what will happen next.
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Follow Justin on Instagram @Justin.Jin.
Learn about Chinese propaganda targeting women—and how more women are pushing back—in Leta Hong Fincher’s books Leftover Women: The Resurgence of Gender Inequality in China and Betraying Big Brother: The Feminist Awakening in China.
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This episode is part four of The Soul of Music—Overheard’s four-part series focusing on music, exploration, and Black history. Our guest this week is Meklit Hadero, a Nat Geo Explorer and Ethio-jazz musician. Meklit is the creative force behind the transmedia storytelling project Movement, which explores the intersection of migration and music. She and fellow Explorer and music producer Jahawi Bertolli talk about migration, the ancient instruments known as rock gongs, and how their music is inspired by nature.
For more information on this episode, visit natgeo.com/overheard.
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Learn more about Meklit Hadero and the Movement project at her website meklitmusic.com. You can follow her on Twitter or Instagram @meklitmusic. 
Learn more about Jahawi Bertolli and his First Rock project on his website jahawi.com. You can follow him on Instagram @jahawibertolli. 
Check out the Overheard episode “Ancient Orchestra” to learn more about Jahawi and the sound of rock gongs.
And keep listening to songs featured in The Soul of Music as well as a few bonus tracks in this Spotify playlist. 
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Follow FREEK and his music on instagram @freektv. 
The “star sounds” you heard were provided by Jon Jenkins, co-investigator for data analysis for the Kepler Mission. Learn more about the Kepler Mission and star sonification on their webpage. 
Learn more about ethio-jazz pioneer Mulatu Astake in this Nat Geo article. 
Thinking about traveling to Ethiopia? This Nat Geo travel guide can help you plan your trip.
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This episode is part three of The Soul of Music—Overheard’s four-part series focusing on music, exploration, and Black history. Our guest this week is Grammy-nominated trumpeter Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah, formerly known as Christian Scott. Chief Xian sits down with National Geographic Explorer and archaeologist Justin Dunnavant to discuss Xian’s childhood in New Orleans, how he created a new instrument, and what he calls stretch music.
For more information on this episode, visit natgeo.com/overheard.
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Learn more about Chief Xian at his website https://www.chiefadjuah.com/. And you can follow him on Instagram @christianscottofficial. 
You can also download his stretch music app, an interactive music player, in the Google Play store or Apple App store. 
Also, be sure to follow Justin online to stay updated with his latest adventures: www.justindunnavant.com or on social media @archfieldnotes. 
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Interested in learning more about global Black history and heritage? Follow Justin Dunnavant as he explores Loíza, the ancestral heart and soul of the Afro-Puerto Rican community, in Hulu’s Your Attention Please: Initiative 29.
Listen to episode 3 of the Into the Depths podcast which includes Justin as a guest.
Want to travel to New Orleans? Check out Nat Geo’s travel guide for tips on how to make the most of your trip. 
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