In this episode, I talk to Palmer McIntyre and Hollis Oberlies about their book, Trails and Treats – A Hiker and Runner’s Guide to Great Trails and Good Eats in North Carolina. Written by a female hiker and runner duo, the guide is designed for both seasoned hikers and trail runners, as well as first-time explorers. A recipient of the Southeast Non-Fiction award from the National Indie Excellence Awards, this wonderful trail guide combines their passion for the outdoors and good food by offering a collection of exceptional trails alongside a curated selection of delicious local eats, the guide also includes historical, cultural, and geological highlights. We hear about their process of creating the book, what they learned from it, and what has inspired their love and passion for the outdoors.

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Ken Bridle, who’s been a professional botanist for over four decades, and who has focused on plant physiology. His expansive career includes working as a natural heritage and watershed inventory biologist, a field ecologist, science museum exhibits director, and environmental consultant. He talks about how he came to be a naturalist and scientist, and his involvement with protecting the precious natural resources of the Piedmont region of North Carolina and beyond.

In this episode, we hear from Emily Sutton, Haw Riverkeeper and the new Executive Director for the Haw River Assembly, a citizen-fueled nonprofit located in Chatham County, North Carolina. We learn what it means to be a riverkeeper, environmental nonprofit leader, nature educator, and advocate for protecting our watersheds and natural resources.

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Nadja Cech, who is a Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, and a leader in the field of medicinal plant research. In addition to being a scientist, she’s a writer, mother, teacher, mentor, community builder, and manager of an urban community garden. We talk about all of these things, and the power of connection, wonder, and inspiration that a community can bring to an urban setting.