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Imagine a world where walking out the door inspires adventure and a love of nature, from tiny bugs on the sidewalk to giant redwoods standing sentinel. Could it be that these adventures can inspire systemic change? On Episode 152 of the Adventures in Learning podcast, author Meg Fleming chats with Dr. Diane about the power of sparking wonder, curiosity, and connection to the natural world.

Known for weaving musicality with storytelling, Meg is the author of such books as I Heart You, Sometimes Rain, Sounds Like School Spirit, Rock That Vote, Wondering Around, and I Live in a Tree Trunk. Her latest book, The Everything Trail is a lyrical nature inspired narrative that captures the ability of kids to transform simple hikes and outings into major adventures of discovery (and the illustrations by Chuck Groenink elevate the reader into the redwood forest).

This week, Meg and I are traveling with CBCC (Children's Book Creators for Conservation). Meg shares some of her transformative experiences from her first trip to South Africa with Wild Tomorrow, highlighting the profound connection between humanity, habitats, and wildlife.

We invite you to join us on our adventure! If you have any questions about the wildlife, conservation efforts, or community connections, please leave them in the comments. We’ll do our best to answer them or find answers while we’re there.

Timestamps

01:09 - Writing Lyrical Children's Books, The Adventures in Learning of Author Meg Fleming

04:49 - Nature's Wonder: The Inspiration Behind The Everything Trail

09:59 - Connecting to nature in big and small ways for engaged learning

14:10 - Using school visits to spark curiosity, wonder, and connection to the planet

16:21 - Conservation, Connection, and Returning to South Africa with CBCC and Wild Tomorrow

0:34:15 - Inspiring Hope Through Nature and Children

Links

Meg Fleming's Official Website

Follow Meg, Dr. Diane, and CBCC on Instagram

Purchase The Everything Trail

Support the show

Subscribe & Follow: Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

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Step into a world where humor and horror dance together in perfect harmony. Join the award-winning author/illustrator duo of Aaron Reynolds and Peter Brown as we dive into the eerie yet delightful tale behind their new book for older readers -- Troubling Tonsils. Maturing fans of the Creepy Carrots, Creepy Pair of Underwear, and Creepy Crayon picture books will love this new chapter book series that evokes the nostalgic chills of "The Twilight Zone" while offering elementary readers a safe and thrilling haven to face their fears. (This reader dreamt of globs and glands after staying up late to finish the book!)

Chapters:

1:03: A Delightfully Creepy Collaboration

5:10: Safe Darkness: Mixing Creepy Themes and Nostalgic Call Backs for a Fun Reading Experience

10:09: Picking the Distinctive Color Palattes for the Creepy Books

14:05: Expanding and Growing the Creepy Picture Books Into a Chapter Book Series for Older Readers

20:14: Sneak Peek at Unsettling Salad and Yarn Is Everything, plus the recently published Wild Robot On The Island picture book and why Aaron is currently in full creepy mode

27:56: Hope in writing for kids and unlocking the human imagination

Links:

Explore more about Aaron Reynolds and Peter Brown

Order Troubling Tonsils and preorder Unsettling Salad

Order Creepy Carrots, Creepy Pair of Underwear, and Creepy Crayon

Subscribe for more enchanting discussions and creative insights. If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review and share it with fellow book lovers. And let us know what you think about this creepy read!

Support the show

Subscribe & Follow: Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

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Imagine a world where every voice is heard, where empathy leads to genuine dialogue, and where personal transformation fuels leadership growth. How can we harness the power of our voice to inspire change and empowerment in ourselves and others?

Join us in this compelling episode as we sit down with Tricia Brouk, an award-winning director, producer, author, and speaker, who transitioned from a successful dance career to a powerful advocate for amplifying voices. Through her Big Talk Academy, Tricia has become a thought leader in communication, championing the importance of empathy and the courage needed for authentic conversations.

Tricia's new book, Being Smart Is Stupid: Why Embracing the Wisdom of Your Buddha Nature is the Secret to Great Leadership, explores the question: What if everything you've been told about leadership is wrong?

We delve into Tricia's latest entrepreneural venture, The Wise Leopard, focusing on empowering women in midlife. In our current troubled environment, we talk frankly about how choosing love over fear and speaking out can lead to transformative change.

Chapters with Timestamps:

• 00:03: The Power of Your Voice
• 07:43: Being Smart Is Stupid
• 10:39: Empowering Women in Midlife
• 25:03: Choose Love, Speak Out, Have Courage

Links:

Preorder Being Smart Is Stupid: Why Embracing the Wisdom of Your Buddha Nature is the Secret to Great Leadership

Connect with Tricia Brouk on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

Listen to The Big Talk With Tricia Brouk

Learn more about:

• The Big Talk Academy
• The Wise Leopard
• Tricia Brouk's website

Don't forget to subscribe to the Adventures in Learning podcast and leave a review! Your voice matters, and we'd love to hear from you. Thanks for celebrating three years of storytelling with us!

Support the show

Subscribe & Follow: Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.