In this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Kelly Sue O'Connor, creator of the mental-health and birding project Birder Brain.

After recently returning home to Nova Scotia from Ontario, Kelly Sue shares the unexpected spark that ignited her birding journey by rescuing a domestic canary, lovingly nicknamed Banana Bird, on a Toronto street. From that moment, birding became not just a hobby but a grounding practice.

Links & Resources from This Episode

⭐ Explore Kelly Sue's work on her website: 👉 https://www.birderbrain.org/

📸 Follow Kelly Sue's personal birding journey on Instagram @birder_ks

🌿 Connect with the Birder Brain community on Instagram @birderbrain

Birding reminds us we're never truly alone. Just as birds flock together, we can reach out for connection when things feel heavy. Whether through birding, community, or conversation, reaching out is a sign of strength.

💬 If you ever feel isolated, know there's always someone to listen. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available anytime. For more information and resources, visit the 988 Lifeline website.

🍁 For listeners in Canada, compassionate support is available. You're part of a larger community that cares. For Canadian suicide prevention support and resources, visit the Government of Canada.

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this episode of the Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally sit down with Isabelle Groc, a photojournalist, author, and documentary filmmaker based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Isabelle specializes in wildlife, marine ecosystems, and the relationships between people and the natural world.

Isabelle shares how her lifelong passion for conservation began with a moment of devastation. Growing up in France, she learned about the massive Amoco Cadiz oil spill and saw the heartbreaking images of seabirds coated in oil. A spark that ignited her desire to tell stories, protect species, and shine a light on environmental crises.

Links & Resources from This Episode

🌊 Learn more about Sandpipers' Last Supper on the film's website.

🎥 Watch the full documentary on CBC's Nature of Things YouTube channel.

📷 Explore Isabelle's photography and projects on her website.

📚 Browse her books, including A Hummingbird on My Balcony here.

🛒 Order A Hummingbird on My Balcony directly from Orca Book Publishers.

📸 Follow Isabelle on Instagram.

💼 Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Ivan Phillipsen, creator and host of The Science of Birds podcast and co-owner of Wild Latitudes worldwide nature tours.

Ivan shares how a seemingly ordinary moment with his friend led him to his spark bird, the California Towhee. Ivan also shares his journey shifting from academia to science communication, the joy of returning to a more holistic view of the natural world, and the importance of scientific literacy in an age of misinformation.

Links & Resources from This Episode

🐦 Explore more of Ivan's work and listen to his podcast on The Science of Birds website.

🌍 Discover global birding adventures by visiting Wild Latitudes, the tour company Ivan co-owns.

🎧 Revisit the episode "How to Find Birds" from The Science of Birds, which they discussed in this week's episode.

🔍 Build your field ID skills with Ivan's episode, "How to Identify Birds in the Field."

📸 Follow Ivan on Instagram for bird science, naturalist insights, and behind-the-scenes snapshots on his work.

▶️ Watch more from The Science of Birds on Ivan's YouTube channel.

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Seunguk Shin, Assistant Professor at the University of Missouri's School of Natural Resources.

Seunguk shares how a Northern Cardinal became his spark bird. A moment of connection that still fuels his research, teaching, and creativity today. From developing bird and insect education projects for children to exploring how time in nature restores our attention.

Links & Resources from This Episode

📘 Read the article discussed in this episode here to learn more about Seunguk's collaborative research on birding and environmental education.

🌍 Visit the Human-Bird Interactions Project website at human-bird-interactions.nres.illinois.edu to explore videos and ongoing research related to the study.

🎧 Check out The Field Guides Podcast episode, "Put a Ring on It: All About Bird Banding", mentioned in this week's conversation.

🎬 Watch the "Bird in the Hand" video on YouTube to see the mist-netting project at Nature Day Camp 2022, a collaboration between the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the Urbana Park District.

🧠 Learn more about Dr. Seunguk Shin's research and background on his University of Missouri faculty page.

💼 Connect with Seunguk on LinkedIn to follow his latest projects and publications.

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

This week on The Spark Bird Podcast, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally are joined by Rosy Tucker, Program Manager at Hog Island Audubon Camp. Rosy shares how a Red Knot first ignited her love for birds and how that moment eventually led to a career as a teacher and environmental educator. From memorable classroom moments to the Atlantic Puffin Restoration Project, she reminds us that nature isn't far away, it's right in our own backyards.

Links & Resources from This Episode

🌐 Learn more about Hog Island and explore upcoming programs at hogisland.audubon.org/programs/camp.

📸 Follow Hog Island on Instagram @hogislandaudubon for stunning bird photos, updates, and camp highlights.

🪶 Discover the island's history, volunteer opportunities, and ways to get involved at hogisland.audubon.org.

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this week's episode, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome Sarah T. Dubb, a novelist whose love for birding inspired her debut book, BIRDING WITH BENEFITS. Sarah shares her journey from growing up in Tucson, Arizona, to becoming a passionate birder and writer. She discusses her process of writing and publishing her debut novel, and its adaptation into a Hallmark Plus movie, Adventures in Love & Birding.

Links & Resources from This Episode

🌐 Visit Sarah's website at www.sarahtdubb.com to learn more about her work and updates on her next novel, Honey Bee Mine, coming February 2026.

📸 Follow Sarah on Instagram @sarahtdubbwrites for updates on her work and creative inspiration.

🎬 Watch Adventures in Love & Birding now streaming on Hallmark+, or gain with the Hallmark+ BingePass!

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this week's episode, hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally welcome writer, educator, and professional rock climber Pedro Hoffmeister. What began as a remembrance trip for a friend's grandfather turned into an unexpected spark bird story. Despite setbacks, Pedro embraced the adventure! He shares how spending time in nature, along with meditation and cognitive therapy, helped him slow down, observe more birds, and heal after a traumatic brain injury.

Resources & Links from This Episode

📸 You can follow Pedro to catch snapshots of him rock climbing, his daily life, and writing updates on Instagram at @pedro_hoffmeister.

🎬 He also shares videos and creative work on TikTok at @pedro_hoffmeister.

📖 To connect with him on Facebook, visit Pedro Casapardo Hoffmeister.

🌐 Learn more about Pedro and explore his books and projects on his website, pedrohoffmeister.com.

🎙️ Pedro's newest project, the American Afterlife Podcast, launches this October! Find it and follow for new episodes this Fall on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeart.

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski

In this week's episode of The Spark Bird Podcast, our hosts Jenn Lodi-Smith and Janet McNally meet with Christina Baal, a birder and artist whose story began not with a sighting, but with the quest to find a 'dandelion-colored' Yellow Warbler.

That golden spark launched a lifetime of birding and the dreams she's been chasing ever since. Inspired by Ken Kaufman's memoir, she set herself the goal of painting 10,000 birds, saying, "Ken Kaufman can do it. So can I." Today, Christina blends art and birding in joyful, unexpected ways.

Left: Christina's stunning painting of an Osprey in flight. Right: A snapshot from Christina's bird-inspired wedding, featuring her in-laws dressed as Trogons.

Resources & Links from This Episode

🖌️ Visit Christina's Website to learn more about her art and birding adventures.

🎨 Check out Christina's Art to see her whimsical paintings and bird illustrations.

💌 Support Christina on Patreon and gain access to her bird trading cards and exclusive artwork.

📚 Read Kenn Kaufman's Memoir Kingbird Highway: The Biggest Year in the Life of an Extreme Birder, the book that inspired Christina's birding journey.

Show Notes by Kayla Gajewski