Episodes

  • It's that time of year and Christmas is just around the corner! One of the symbols of Christmas is mistletoe and it is actually a fascinating plant and it's pretty interesting how it became a symbol of Christmas. Join Marvin and Gabrielle as they usher in the holidays and spread Christmas cheer with some interesting facts about this amazing little plant.

    Here's some websites for further reading:
    https://blog.nwf.org/2012/12/12-things-to-know-about-mistletoe/
    https://fwbg.org/newsletter-2/before-stealing-a-kiss-learn-the-mythology-and-history-of-mistletoe/
    https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/biology-mistletoe-180976601/

    Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event? Email us below for more information!

    Email us at [email protected]
    Follow us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general:
    Nature Nook Photography
    Walkin' on the Wild Side

    You can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!
    Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!
    We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback. Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!

    We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

  • It's time for another episode of Walkin' on the Wild Side! This time, Gabrielle and I are talking about the successful reintroduction of Elk in the Southeast. Hunted into extinction in the 1700's and 1800's, this second largest member of the deer family has been reintroduced to North Carolina in the 2000's, but not without headaches and issues. Join us as we chat about the successes, challenges, and essential collaborations that made the reintroduction of a majestic animal into a drastically changed ecosystem a success that now adds yet another facet to the gems of our national parks, refuges, and wild areas!

    Here's some more information about the reintroduction of elk and where you can see them:

    https://wildlifemanagement.institute/outdoor-news-bulletin/march-2019/returning-elk-southeast-20-year-retrospective

    https://www.biltmorebeacon.com/outdoor/dna-study-yields-new-estimate-of-smoky-mountain-elk-population/article_38a073e4-2f45-11ef-8fe6-1b27dce98991.html

    https://ncwf.org/wildlife/elk/

    Where to see them:
    https://www.greatsmokies.com/elk-watching/

    https://visithaywood.com/blog/elk-watching-101/

    https://visitcherokeenc.com/blog/elk-viewing-101-your-guide-to-americas-historic-mammal/

    Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event? Email us below for more information!

    Email us at [email protected]
    Follow us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general:
    Nature Nook Photography
    Walkin' on the Wild Side

    You can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!
    Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!
    We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback. Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!

    We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

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  • Our final two days in Iceland are packed adventures and experiences as we go from Selfloss to Keflavik. We went through a National Park, experienced a few more waterfalls, geysers, and interesting history. We also baked bread in volcanic soil, took in a few more spas, and got up close and personal at the historic fissure and lava eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula. What a great trip and once in a lifetime experience Walkin' on the Wild Side!

    Here's some great information:
    The Yoda Cave - https://guidetoiceland.is/travel-iceland/drive/yoda-cave
    Gullfoss Waterfall - https://gullfoss.is/
    Geysir - https://guidetoiceland.is/travel-iceland/drive/strokkur
    The Yerts! https://valhallayurts.com/
    Minniborgir Restaurant - https://www.is-southerniceland.com/en/property/minniborgir-cottages-restaurant.html
    Laugervatn Spa and Bread Baking Experience - https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/iceland-hot-springs-bread
    Blue Lagoon - https://www.bluelagoon.com/topics/retreat-lagoon
    Lava Flows Over Road - https://icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/news/2024/06/08/lava_has_reached_grindavikurvegur_road_and_the_blue/
    Froken Restaurants - https://www.frokenselfoss.is/
    Rain Restaurant - https://rain.is/

    Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event? Email us below for more information!

    Email us at [email protected]
    Follow us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general:
    Nature Nook Photography
    Walkin' on the Wild Side

    You can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!
    Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!
    We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback. Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!

    We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

  • Welcome back to Walkin' on the Wild Side! We continue our adventure on the Ring Road in Iceland, from the northern area of Husavik to the southeastern town of Hofn. We go from snowy fields to glaciers, icebergs, and volcanic beaches. Join us to learn more about this beautiful country that truly is the land of ice and fire! From hot geothermal fields, volcanic lava fields, and lava caves, to icy lagoons, glaciers, and icebergs. Awesome geothermal spas, delicious ice cream, the amazing Iceland hotdog (trust me), and incredible views of northern lights. Quite the diversity of land forms and experiences, but unbelievable trips around this great country from north to west, and more!

    Here's some websites for more information:
    https://www.northiceland.is/en/destinations/towns/
    husavik
    Awesome Geothermal Spa: https://www.geosea.is/
    Naustid Restaurant in Husavik: https://icelandicfood.is/naustid/
    Lava fields near Lake Myvatn: https://perlan.is/articles/dimmuborgir-lava-rock-formations-iceland
    Hotdogs, really?: https://guidetoiceland.is/best-of-iceland/what-to-eat-in-iceland-the-ultimate-guide-to-the-famous-icelandic-hot-dogs
    Best ice cream: https://handpickediceland.is/tour/skutais-ice-cream/
    https://icelandtravelguide.is/locations/the-diamond-beach/
    https://fjallsarlon.is/

    Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event? Email us below for more information!

    Email us at [email protected]
    Follow us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general:
    Nature Nook Photography
    Walkin' on the Wild Side

    You can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!
    Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!
    We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback. Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!

    We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

  • We took a vacation and are back to share our adventures with you. Gabrielle and I travelled to Iceland, the land of Fire and Ice! Join us along our trip as we travel the Ring Road and experience the vast, rugged, and beautiful land with mountains, waterfalls, geysers, glaciers, and more. Part one takes to the western coast all the way up to the northern-most part of Iceland. This section was filled with sorcery, witchcraft, trolls, sheep and more!

    Here's a little info on the places we visited:

    Ring Road - https://www.visiticeland.com/article/the-ring-road
    Holmavik - https://guidetoiceland.is/travel-iceland/drive/holmavik
    Laugarholl Hotell - https://www.laugarholl.is/
    Sheep! - https://guidetoiceland.is/best-of-iceland/icelandic-sheep-the-ultimate-guide
    Sorcery and Witchcraft museum - https://www.westfjords.is/en/service/the-icelandic-sorcery-and-witchcraft-museum
    Restaurant at Sorcery and Witchcraft Museum/Galdur - https://galdrasyning.is/en/galdur-restaurant2/

    Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event? Email us below for more information!

    Email us at [email protected]
    Follow us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general:
    Nature Nook Photography
    Walkin' on the Wild Side

    You can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!
    Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!
    We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback. Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!

    We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

  • It's time for a little different episode of Walkin' on the Wild Side! Join Marvin and Gabrielle for a foraging adventure to harvest, cook, and have Gabrielle try stinging nettle, a choice wild edible. This nutritious wild plant needs to be harvested with care and positive identification, but once you do, you'll have a tasty green for the table! We talk about harvesting this plant, how to handle, and then, off to the "WWS Culinary Institute" (our kitchen, lol) and we show you how to clean it, cook it, and then on to the back porch for Gabrielle's first taste. Don't worry, she survives and will make it to the next episode!

    Health Benefits:
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9253158/#:~:text=Aids%20in%20skin%20and%20bone,magnesium%2C%20potassium%2C%20and%20zinc.
    Cooking:
    https://www.thespruceeats.com/sauteed-stinging-nettles-2217561#:~:text=Nettles%20need%20to%20be%20thoroughly,down%20in%20one%20fell%20swoop.
    Positive Identification:
    https://www.wildedible.com/wild-food-guide/stinging-nettle

    If you're ever in Saluda, NC, please check out this amazing gallery called Earthly Minds Gallery. Such a great store and co-owned by Sabrina Romero, a wonderful artist! Check out this webpage, learn about this great gallery, and if you're up that way, stop in and support them!
    https://earthlymindsgallery.com/

    Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event? Email us below for more information!

    Email us at [email protected]
    Follow us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general:
    Nature Nook Photography
    Walkin' on the Wild Side

    You can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!
    Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!
    We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback. Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!

    We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

  • We're back for another episode of Walkin' on the Wild Side! It's the time of year that we are starting to get hints of Fall and many animal behaviors are starting to change with the seasons. Birds are migrating, squirrels are getting busy, but I always thing of the industrious beaver this time of year! The careful observer who has beavers in the area will notice more activity from these semi-aquatic mammals as they start caching twigs, branches, and other food for the winter. But beavers get a bad rap because of their ability to change their habitat and are much maligned in many areas. But it's this ability that creates habitat, improves water quality, and can be beneficial to our environment if we can just find a way to get along with this neat critter. Join Marvin and Gabrielle as we seek to instill some appreciation for beavers and hopefully inspire more folks to get along with this amazing architect. Diverse habitats, water conservation, and stormwater management is all a possibility if we just "leave it to beavers"!

    Here's some more information on beavers:
    https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/62316/11-fascinating-facts-about-beavers
    https://facts.net/beaver-facts/
    https://www.newmouth.com/resources/beaver-teeth-facts/
    https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/beavers-climate-change-conservation-news

    Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event? Email us below for more information!

    Email us at [email protected]
    Follow us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general:
    Nature Nook Photography
    Walkin' on the Wild Side

    You can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!
    Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!
    We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback. Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!

    We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

  • Hi and welcome back to Walkin' on the Wild Side! This episode, we're going to the coast (figuratively) and talking about one of the rarest marine mammals, the northern right whale. Taken to the brink of extinction by the whaling industry, this slow moving, surface dwelling whale faces an uncertain future as population numbers compromised during whaling continue to decline due to modern day vessel strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, and demands for the ocean's resources. Join Marvin and Gabrielle to learn more about this incredible marine mammal, it's stuggles, and continued efforts to save a whale who's very survival is in the hands of the human race.

    For more information, here are a few websites for you to check out:
    https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/north-atlantic-right-whale
    https://www.mmc.gov/priority-topics/species-of-concern/north-atlantic-right-whale/
    https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/north-atlantic-right-whale
    https://www.nrdc.org/bio/francine-kershaw/final-north-atlantic-right-whale-and-offshore-wind-strategy-released

    Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event? Email us below for more information!

    Email us at [email protected]
    Follow us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general:
    Nature Nook Photography
    Walkin' on the Wild Side

    You can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!
    Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!
    We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback. Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!

    We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

    We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

  • It's time for another episode of Walkin' on the Wild Side! We have had a lot of rain lately and while sitting on the back porch during a heavy thunderstorm, Gabrielle and I thought back to 2021 for our episode on box turtles. With all the rain we've been having, box turtles are once again on the move, and that means they are crossing roads and in danger of getting hit. To remind all our listeners to be on the lookout for box turtles crossing the road, instead of doing another podcast about box turtles, why not bring back a blast from the past and once again, share "Bodacious Box Turtles"! Thank you for listening and please keep an eye out for box turtles as you drive around!

    For more information, here are a few websites for you to check out:

    Savannah River Ecology Lab -https://srelherp.uga.edu/turtles
    Chattanooga Nature Center - https://www.chattnaturecenter.org
    Citizen Science Initiatives - https://wildlife.org/citizen-scientists-track-declining-box-turtle-populations, https://theherpproject.uncg.edu

    Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event? Email us below for more information!

    Email us at [email protected]
    Follow us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general:
    Nature Nook Photography
    Walkin' on the Wild Side

    You can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!
    Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!
    We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback. Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!

    We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

  • It's time for another episode of Walkin' on the Wild Side and this time, we're talking about a really cool snake that deserves an Oscar for it's unique defensive abilities. We're talking about the hognose snake! Join Marvin and Gabrielle on the back porch on a hot and humid evening chatting about this amazing little snake that has very specialized feeding habits, but it's their defensive behavior that most everyone is familiar with. A frog and toad eating master, this little snake can imitate a cobra, but its ability to play dead will put many Hollywood actors to shame!

    Here's some great websites for learning more about the hognose snake:
    https://herpsofnc.org/eastern-hognose-snake/
    https://herpsofnc.org/southern-hognose-snake/
    https://reptileexplorer.com/reptile-spotlights/snakes/hognose-snakes-unique-defence/
    https://www.wiltonpreserve.org/conservation/eastern-hognose-snake#:~:text=Eastern%20hognose%20snakes%20eat%20a,which%20makes%20swallowing%20them%20easier.

    Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event? Email us below for more information!

    Email us at [email protected]
    Follow us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general:
    Nature Nook Photography
    Walkin' on the Wild Side

    You can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!
    Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!
    We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback. Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!

    We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

  • It's time for another episode of Walkin' on the Wild Side! Join Gabrielle and Marvin on the back porch as we talk about that master of mimicry, the northern mockingbird. Join us and learn more about this "prolific polyglot" and hopefully develop a little appreciation and fondness for this tenacious, territorial, bold, and vociferous bird of backyards, neighborhoods, parks, and urban settings!

    https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Mockingbird/id#
    https://www.audubon.org/news/10-fun-facts-about-northern-mockingbird
    https://abcbirds.org/bird/northern-mockingbird/#:~:text=While%20foraging%2C%20the%20Northern%20Mockingbird%20sometimes%20quickly%20snaps,also%20be%20related%20to%20territorial%20and%2For%20defensive%20behaviors.
    Check out this beautiful blog about the mockingbird in Chicago by Dan Lory: https://www.chicagobirder.org/blog/2019/8/22/dans-feathursday-feature-northern-mockingbird

    Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event? Email us below for more information!

    Email us at [email protected]
    Follow us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general:
    Nature Nook Photography
    Walkin' on the Wild Side

    You can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!
    Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!
    We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback. Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!

    We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

    We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

  • It's time for another episode of Walkin' on the Wild Side and this episode literally fell from the sky for Gabrielle and I! We are fortunate to have a family of Red-shouldered hawks living in our woods and they put on a show recently, literally waking Gabrielle up with their loud shrieking. So we figured, why not dedicate an episode to these awesome birds? Join us out on the back porch as we talk a little more about these smaller raptors, biology, interesting facts, and how to identify them with both your eyes and ears.

    Here's some more information on red-shouldered hawks:
    https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk/overview#
    https://www.chattnaturecenter.org/visit/experience/wildlife/animal-facts/red-shouldered-hawk/
    https://hawkwatch.org/raptor-id/raptor-id-fact-sheets/red-shouldered-hawk/
    https://natureformysoul.com/2015/03/ten-things-you-didnt-know-about-red-shouldered-hawks/

    Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event? Email us below for more information!

    Email us at [email protected]
    Follow us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general:
    Nature Nook Photography
    Walkin' on the Wild Side

    You can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!
    Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!
    We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback. Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!

    We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

  • Hey everyone, it's time for another episode of Walkin' on the Wild Side! This time, tragedy at with our screech owl family prompted us an opportunity to talk about the sometimes seemingly "cruel" side of Mother Nature. Join Marvin and Gabrielle on the back porch to talk about the often misidentified, misunderstood, and sometimes just plain despised eastern rat snakes. They have gone through numerous name changes, but they are the same ol' amazing climbing, constricting, and quite large members of the Colubridae family of snakes. Learn about how to identify them, as well as their habits, hangouts, and hunting prowess. Nothing gets your heart pumping in either a good way or bad way like these powerful yet polarizing reptiles!

    Here's some more information about eastern rat snakes:

    https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Reptiles/Black-Rat-Snake
    https://www.chattnaturecenter.org/visit/experience/wildlife/animal-facts/black-rat-snake/
    https://thesnakeguide.com/eastern-rat-snake/

    Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event? Email us below for more information!

    Email us at [email protected]
    Follow us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general:
    Nature Nook Photography
    Walkin' on the Wild Side

    You can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!
    Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!
    We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback. Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!

    We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

  • Hey Everyone! I know we've done a podcast on cicadas earlier, but I couldn't help myself, I had to focus on the magical periodic cicadas. I'm flying solo for this episode, so join me on the back porch "studio" for a "magical" episode. The 13 year cicadas are emerging and making a lot of noise, so tune in and learn about these amazing arthropods and what is the reason behind such a weird life cycle and just how much we still have to learn from these insects.

    Here's some more information about these unique insects:
    https://cicadas.uconn.edu/
    https://naturalhistory.si.edu/education/teaching-resources/life-science/periodical-cicadas
    Cicada Emergence Map: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cicadas-2024-maps-will-emerge-in-the-u-s-this-spring-mid-may-where-to-see-cicada/
    Recipes for the bold!
    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/eating-cicadas-recipes/
    https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/how-to-cook-cicadas
    https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/commercial-fruit-and-vegetable-growers/2024-02-20-considering-eating-periodical-cicada

    Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event? Email us below for more information!

    Email us at [email protected]
    Follow us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general:
    Nature Nook Photography
    Walkin' on the Wild Side

    You can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!
    Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!
    We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback. Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!

    We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

  • Hey everyone! Join us for a podcast on location during an "impromptu" trip to San Antonio! Join Marvin and Gabrielle as they chat about the beautiful city of San Antonio, Texas. Over a weekend, we found ourselves right smack in the middle of the largest festival of the year and during our time, make some startling discoveries, catch a few breaks, and experience some amazing food, culture, and history along the way. San Antonio is more than just the Alamo, but history surrounds us along with some incredibly friendly folks, the delight of puffy tacos, and of course, a cruise along the famous riverwalk!

    Here's some great websites about our visit to San Antonio:

    Fiesta - https://fiestasanantonio.org/
    Flambeau Parade - https://www.sacurrent.com/sanantonio/fun-and-colorful-moments-from-the-2016-fiesta-flambeau-parade/Slideshow/34409074
    More about the Rey Feo - https://reyfeoconsejo.org/about-us/
    Rey Feo #73, Augie Cortez - https://sanantonioreport.org/rey-feo-augie-cortez-takes-earthy-approach-to-royal-role/
    His Amazing Restaurant - https://augiesbbq.com/
    More about the Mission Trail - https://www.sanantonio.gov/Mission-Trails/Home
    The Alamo - https://www.thealamo.org/visit/whats-at-the-alamo
    Phil Collins Alamo Collection - https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/alamo-artifacts-phil-collins-17805641.php
    The Pearl Brewery and Region - https://atpearl.com/
    More about the River Walk - https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/san-antonio-river-walk/
    The Japanese Tea Garden - https://saparks.org/japanese-tea-garden/

    Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event? Email us below for more information!

    Email us at [email protected]
    Follow us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general:
    Nature Nook Photography
    Walkin' on the Wild Side

    You can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!
    Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!
    We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback. Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!

    We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

  • Gabrielle is back in the podcast chair and this time, we're talking about my favorite owl, the Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio). These little owls may be small, but they are fierce and formidable predators that keep our rodent and insect population in check! Join us on our back porch "podcast studio" and learn more about our travels this spring, interesting facts and new information about the amazing little screech owl, and listen for our updates on our nesting pair in our backyard, Otis and Gracie!

    Here's more information about screech owls:

    https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Screech-Owl/id
    Relationship with Texas Blind Snakes: https://www.audubon.org/news/what-would-screech-owl-want-blind-snake
    Fluorescing Feathers: https://www.birdnote.org/listen/shows/glowing-feathers
    Tetrachromacy and the importance to birds: https://www.arcadiabird.com/advice/the-importance-of-uva-lighting-to-birds/

    Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event? Email us below for more information!

    Email us at [email protected]
    Follow us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general:
    Nature Nook Photography
    Walkin' on the Wild Side

    You can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!
    Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!
    We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback. Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!

    We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

  • Well, with Gabrielle traveling, I had to do this podcast on my own, but I'm not flying solo, I have a special guest! Join Dr. Steve Fields and I on location from the Museum of York County for a fabulous exhibit and discussion about the Pleistocene Epoch in the Carolinas. It's hard to believe that there were mammoths, terror birds, cheetahs, giant porcupine, ground sloths and more, but there were! Listen as Dr. Steve discusses what this unbelievable epoch would've looked like, from the climate, vegetation, all the way to the incredible diversity and amazing size of the unique animals that would've roamed the Carolina countryside.

    Here's some more information on the Pleistocene Epoch:
    https://www.thefossilforum.com/blogs/entry/265-the-early-pleistocene-marine-fauna-of-the-southeastern-united-states/
    https://www.britannica.com/science/Pleistocene-Epoch
    https://www.georgiasfossils.com/20-the-ice-ages-pleistocene--holocene-epochs.html
    https://www.livescience.com/40311-pleistocene-epoch.html

    Want to Visit the Museum of York County and other York County museums?
    Featured in this podcast: https://chmuseums.org/myco/
    Additional museums of York County: https://chmuseums.org/


    Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event? Email us below for more information!

    Email us at [email protected]
    Follow us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general:
    Nature Nook Photography
    Walkin' on the Wild Side

    You can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!
    Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!
    We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback. Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!

    We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

  • We're back! After a little "hiatus" due to technical issues (love today's technology), we're kicking off 2024 with a new podcast on the fantastic frozen frog. Wood frogs are small little frogs with some incredible adaptations to allow them a competitive advantage, such as explosive breeding, early mating periods, and the amazing ability to be frozen solid. Yep, that's right...FROZEN SOLID. Join Marvin and Gabrielle at their new "studio" (also known as the back porch, lol), as they discuss the fantastic frozen frog and share some insights on the potential for studying this little frog...

    Here's some additional information:
    https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Amphibians/Wood-Frog
    https://wildexplained.com/animal-encyclopedia/the-amazing-adaptations-of-the-wood-frog/
    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1096495922000355
    https://www.nps.gov/gaar/learn/nature/wood-frog-page-2.htm

    Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event? Email us below for more information!

    Email us at [email protected]
    Follow us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general:
    Nature Nook Photography
    Walkin' on the Wild Side

    You can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!
    Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!
    We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback. Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!

    We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

  • It's time for another episode, this time from our new podcast studio, aka, our new back porch! After traipsing for truffles, we go back to all things nature and explore the incredible acrobatic and speed demons, the falcons. Join Marvin and Gabrielle to learn more about these incredibly specialized birds of prey, falconry, and the bioinspirations and biomimicry that lead to jumps in technology by studying these amazing raptors.

    Here's some more information about falcons, raptor centers, and more:
    https://sites.udel.edu/bioinspiredpire/biomimicry/
    Peregrines and jet engines: https://www.pbs.org/video/peregrine-falcons-are-feathered-fighter-jets-basically-tulkgi/#:~:text=At%20high%20speed%2C%20the%20air,the%20same%20kind%20of%20thing.
    Jet Engine Inspiration: https://zackandscottkarmachameleons.wordpress.com/2016/04/08/jet-engine-evolution-inspired-by-the-peregrine-falcon/
    https://birdwatchinghq.com/falcons-in-the-united-states/
    https://wildlifeflorida.org/species-spotlight-southeastern-american-kestrel
    Hunting Techniques of Peregrine Falcons

    Local Raptor Centers:
    https://carolinaraptorcenter.org/
    https://thecenterforbirdsofprey.org/center-for-birds-of-prey/
    Renaissance Festival Raptor Show - Wildlife Revealed

    Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event? Email us below for more information!

    Email us at [email protected]
    Follow us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general:
    Nature Nook Photography
    Walkin' on the Wild Side

    You can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!
    Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!
    We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback. Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!

    We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

  • Join Marvin and Gabrielle for a Walk on the Wild Side in the hills of Tuscany! For this episode, the Bouknights took to the hills to indulge in the tradition of truffle hunting. We joined an amazing organization to learn about truffles, and how they are traditionally harvested using good ol' fashioned hard work. Traipsing through the hillside with a trusty and well trained 4-legged companion in search of one of the most sought after culinary products in the world, we joined a seasoned truffle hunter and were mesmerized by the keen eye, nose, and stamina required for finding, digging, and harvesting the amazing fungi known as truffles. Join us and learn not just about truffles, but about the bond between man and canine, tradition, and a love and passion for nature!

    Here are some websites to learn more about this region of Italy:
    Truffle capital of Tuscany - San Miniato - https://www.visittuscany.com/en/towns-and-villages/san-miniato/
    https://www.to-tuscany.com/travel-guide/travelling-to-tuscany/life-in-tuscany/hunting-truffles-in-tuscany-italy/
    -AND-
    Our AMAZING truffle experience provided by:
    https://www.selektiatartufi.it/en/

    Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event? Email us below for more information!

    Email us at [email protected]
    Follow us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general:
    Nature Nook Photography
    Walkin' on the Wild Side

    You can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!
    Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!
    We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback. Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!

    We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!