The Curio-city Collective The Curio-city Collective

In Episode  10, we speak with Aslam Saiyad, photographer and co-founder of Go Hallu  Hallu, which conducts walks in the city. He talks about the importance  of slowing down, paying deeper attention to our local environment and  how that makes room for empathy. Through walks in less 'visible' areas  of the city, he re-introduces people to Mumbai's indigenous communities.

In Episode 9, we speak with two journalists, Yunus Lasania and Serish Nanisetti. Both have a deep connection to the history and heritage of Hyderabad and have brought the city and its bylanes alive through their work. Lasania is the founder of the Hyderabad History Project which organises walks that explore the history of Hyderabad beyond the larger more well known landmarks of the city.

In Episode 8, we speak with Vijay Dhasmana, rewilder and eco-restoration practitioner. He tells us the riveting story of how a degraded mining site was converted into the flourishing Aravalli Biodiversity Park in Gurugram and explains why cities urgently need to integrate wild spaces into their planning.

In this bonus episode, Zai Whitaker, writer and one of the founders of the Madras Crocodile Bank, shares what led her to begin writing books for children. She reads excerpts from her book, Boastful Centipede and Other Creatures and from one of her favourites, Kenneth Graham's The Wind in the Willows. Listen to this very special episode with the kids in your life!

In Episode 7, we chat with Zai Whitaker, writer and one of the founders of the Madras Crocodile Bank. She talks about what first drew her to the natural world, the influence of her family and the crucial role of conservation parks like the Crocodile Bank. She also shares how we can all connect to wonder in our very own cities and begin our conservation journey at home.

In our second extra for the month Sadhana Ramchander, urban tree guide and educator, speaks to us on how we can begin to heal the current disconnection and distance between urban children and the natural world - an important step in the direction towards building a future of renewal and hope.