What if the wildest adventure isn’t in a faraway forest or on a mountaintop, but right outside your door?

In this episode, I talk with Susie Spikol, an award-winning naturalist, author, and environmental educator who has spent over thirty-five years helping people rediscover their sense of wonder. From exploring the sidewalks of Brooklyn to teaching families in rural New Hampshire, Susie reminds us that connection begins with curiosity.

Her book The Animal Adventurer’s Guide invites families to explore the world of “everyday animals” like ladybugs, crickets, worms, and frogs. She believes that holding a creature in your hand is a kind of “skin-to-skin connection” that deepens our bond with the natural world. In Forest Magic for Kids, she inspires children and adults to create fairy homes, secret forts, and tiny worlds using natural materials. Her upcoming Book of Fairies blends science and imagination, showing that nature can be both magical and real.

We talk about how unstructured play is disappearing from childhood and what happens when we reclaim it as adults, the beauty of imaginative play, and how domestic animals like backyard chickens can bring us closer to the wild. Susie also shares her passion for place-based education and how truly knowing where we live helps us feel rooted and alive.

Takeaways:

• Everyday nature can rekindle your curiosity
• Play matters for both kids and adults
• Domestic animals connect us to the wild
• Imagination deepens our bond with the Earth

Connect with Susie Spikol:

• Website: susiespikol.com
• Instagram: @susiespikol

Books:

• The Animal Adventurer’s Guide
• Forest Magic for Kids
• The Book of Fairies

Susie’s work reminds us that we don’t have to go far to find magic. The wild is already here, inviting us to look closer, play more, and remember that we are part of it all.

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