Welcome to Second Nature, Living with Ecological Grief. In today's episode, host Ashlee Cunsolo interviews Dr. Bernie Krause, a pioneer in soundscape ecology, about his 50-year journey documenting natural sounds. Comparing these soundscapes to the richness, diversity, and importance of the  Library of Alexandria, Dr. Krause reveals a distressing decline of natural soundscapes due to climate change and human activity. He emphasizes the emotional and cultural importance of natural sounds, sharing personal anecdotes, including a story about beaver grief and the devastating impact of the 2017 California wildfires on his life. 

Dr. Krause insists on the emotional capacity of animals and the necessity of proactive listening for environmental awareness. Through his work, such as "The Great Animal Orchestra," Dr. Krause combines science and art to evoke public response to ecological issues. Ashlee and Dr. Krause stress the urgency of reconnecting with nature to address broader environmental crises, leaving listeners with a call to face ecological loss with courage and awareness.

Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/SFUA9bKExdk 

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Welcome to Second Nature, a podcast about living with ecological grief. In each episode, Dr. Ashlee Cunsolo takes us on a deeply personal journey about planetary loss, and what we love, what we have lost, and how we move forward. Through a series of engaging, thought-provoking, and moving conversations with incredible guests from around the world, Second Nature is an invitation to come together to share stories of loss, love, despair, and joy, as we learn how to live with – and embrace – ecological grief and mourning.