The Understory: Life Beneath the Forest Floor
"The first time I heard anyone speak of the "wood wide web," more than a decade ago now, I was trying not to cry. A beloved friend was dying too young and too quickly. I had gone to see him for what I took to be the last time. He was tired by pain and drugs. We sat together, talked. My friend was a woodsman. Trees grew through his life and thought. His grandfather's surname was Wood, he lived in a... posted on Oct 11 2019, 12,290 reads

Ian Chillag: Everything Is Alive
Ian Chillag is the host and creator of the original podcast 'Everything is Alive,' in which inanimate objects are interviewed. The inventive, funny and frequently poignant series is almost entirely improvised. "We cast actors, and I have a running list of objects. When we find someone we like, and we have a couple objects that we've vetted through some research, we give them a couple to choose fro... posted on Oct 10 2019, 2,114 reads

How the Sound of a Space Influences Our Mood
"Step into the underground concourses of New York's Penn Station and you might just feel an uneasy sense of claustrophobia that's hard to explain. Stroll across the hardwood floors at the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC and a sense of calmness might descend on you. Why? Each of these buildings has its own unique voice --the way sound behaves in the structure. Think of the way whispers tra... posted on Oct 09 2019, 2,209 reads

The Land Where Swans and Giraffes Are Made of Tires
The human spirit cannot be quieted. Through the cracks of ordered Soviet structure has blossomed the artsy jungle of Bishkek. The people of this city in Kyrgyzstan have created beautiful art out of the used tires and car parts that littered the streets of this major transit hub. Out of chaos arises a new form of beauty.... posted on Oct 08 2019, 2,663 reads

Holy Envy: The Key to Appreciating World Religions
"From an early age, Barbara Brown Taylor knew that she wanted to live a spiritual life."It started early in my life," she says, "a hunger for the beyond, for the transcendent, for the light within the light, the glow within the grass, the sparkle within the water."Taylor went on to become an ordained Episcopal priest, working as rector of a church. But she later left her job with the church and be... posted on Oct 07 2019, 4,239 reads

Hannah Shaw: Professional Kitten Rescuer
"Hannah Shaw's job title is "professional kitten rescuer." Known on YouTube and Instagram as the Kitten Lady, Shaw has rescued hundreds of neonatal kittens, often orphaned and unweaned, who are too small and vulnerable to be in an animal shelter. Kittens are a highly euthanized population in shelters because they require a level of care that most shelters cannot provide. That's where Shaw steps in... posted on Oct 06 2019, 3,936 reads

What Is Your Hearth of Hearths?
"Where--or what--is your hearth of hearths? Where is the place you feel most alive or connected? What is the thing that reminds you who you are and to what (or whom) you belong? In all the world, what do you call home? These are some of the questions that Annick Smith and Susan O'Connor pondered as they edited Hearth: A Global Conversation on Identity, Community, and Place. In the preface, they de... posted on Oct 05 2019, 4,932 reads

What Does it Mean to Love Someone?
What does it mean to love someone? In this heartwarming animated short film produced by Cecilia Baeriswyl and directed by Julio Pot, the dynamics of relationships are explored through an ordinary couple as they learn about the power of giving and receiving. Selected in more than 100 international festivals, this film is at once lighthearted and insightful.... posted on Oct 04 2019, 5,366 reads

Why Busyness is Actually Modern Laziness
"Action addiction is an advanced sort of laziness. It keeps us busily occupied with tasks. The busier we keep ourselves, the more we avoid being confronted with questions of life and death. As we keep ourselves occupied with tasks, important or not, we avoid facing life. We keep a safe and comfortable distance to the issues that are sometimes hard to look at. Have we chosen the right career? Are w... posted on Oct 03 2019, 12,046 reads

A Video Game to Cope with Grief
When Amy Green's young son was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor, her undeniable grief was paired with immeasurable hope, resulting in the creation of a video game, "That Dragon, Cancer." In this Ted Talk, Amy shares how through tuning into moments of play and joy throughout her son's journey, she was able to find a way to acknowledge her pain without denying herself the mystery of grace. Click pl... posted on Oct 02 2019, 2,287 reads