The Natural Curiosity Project

Dr. Steven Shepard

I photograph, record, and write about the natural world. I see, I listen, I write. I fundamentally believe that curiosity can save the world—so I publish stories to make people curious. Ultimately, curiosity leads to discovery, discovery leads to knowledge, knowledge leads to insight, and insight leads to understanding. Please enjoy!

  1. Episode 297-The Real Mister Bojangles

    OCT 14

    Episode 297-The Real Mister Bojangles

    I was listening to music the other day while driving to and from the dump, and one of my favorites came on: Mr. Bojangles, by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Like most of the songs that rise to the top of my favorites list, Mr. Bojangles has the best qualities of storytelling. But as I listened, I started thinking, something that always gets me in trouble. And, it did. I wanted to know: Who was Mr. Bojangles? Was he real? Well, it turns out that yeah, he was, but there’s a lot more to the story than a single person.

    8 min
  2. Episode 296-More Thoughts on Writing

    OCT 14

    Episode 296-More Thoughts on Writing

    Some additional thoughts on the craft of writing.

    9 min
  3. Episode 295-The Most Complicated Machine Ever Built

    OCT 3

    Episode 295-The Most Complicated Machine Ever Built

    Episode 295-The Most Complicated Machine Ever Built by Dr. Steven Shepard

    19 min
  4. Episode 294-Serendipity and Curiosity in Monterey

    OCT 3

    Episode 294-Serendipity and Curiosity in Monterey

    I spent a great deal of my life in Monterey, California, most of it under the water while teaching SCUBA diving. I recently discovered a Monterey story that held me spellbound. It begins like this: A marine biologist, a mythologist, and a novelist walk into a bar...

    11 min
  5. Episode 293-Homage to Greatness Revisited

    OCT 3

    Episode 293-Homage to Greatness Revisited

    An homage to Jane Goodall and others like her. This is a repost from 2021.

    15 min
  6. Episode 292-The Lessons of History

    JUL 24

    Episode 292-The Lessons of History

    This essay contains an important story for the ages. Given current events, and the absolute truth that history does repeat, the lesson is plain, and chilling. 1492 and the years leading up to it in Medieval Spain, were times that should not be repeated. And yet…

    14 min
  7. Episode 291-The Dance of Curiosity, Awe and Wonder

    JUL 24

    Episode 291-The Dance of Curiosity, Awe and Wonder

    Sometimes, curiosity, awe and wonder are the only tools we have. But when it comes to the majesty and magnitude of the night sky, of all the things about it we can’t possibly comprehend, they’re actually the best tools we can have. In this episode we talk about the magic and wonder that happens late at night, when it’d just you, the sky, and pure awe.

    23 min
  8. Episode 290-The Research Myth

    JUL 24

    Episode 290-The Research Myth

    I recently had a conversation about technology’s impact on research today. It’s an argument I could make myself—that technology has resulted in access to more data and information. For example, before the invention of moveable type and the printing press, the only books that were available were chained to reading tables in Europe’s great cathedrals—they were that rare and that valuable. BUT: Does technology give me access to BETTER data and information? I believe the answer to that is no, for a very specific reason: It leaves out the all-important human element in the knowledge molecule, the element that makes sense of the data and then converts it to information. Have a listen.

    8 min
See All (328)

4.9
out of 5
33 Ratings

About

I photograph, record, and write about the natural world. I see, I listen, I write. I fundamentally believe that curiosity can save the world—so I publish stories to make people curious. Ultimately, curiosity leads to discovery, discovery leads to knowledge, knowledge leads to insight, and insight leads to understanding. Please enjoy!

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Steven Shepard
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2025
  • Episodes
    328
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    The Natural Curiosity Project

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