Dr. Steven Shepard
354 episodes listed below
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I photograph, record, and write about the natural world. I see, I listen, I write. I fundamentally believe that curiosity can save the world—so I publish stories to make people curious. Ultimately, curiosity leads to discovery, discovery leads to knowledge, knowledge leads to insight, and insight leads to understanding. Please enjoy!
Based on 6 episodes we listened to · September 2026
Steve Shepard turns conversations about field recording, accessibility, science communication, and AI responsibility into a record of changing work and knowledge.
Steve Shepard builds episodes around conversations with people whose work, tools, and choices reveal how knowledge is made and passed along. Field recording provides a recurring center: Darren Wassom describes attentive listening as both a personal practice and a response to…
A parabolic mic and an AI ethics argument can both make your ears perk up here.
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Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
Russ Willis argues that AI responsibility begins when deployment turns plans into real decisions.
AI is treated here as a test of responsibility rather than a marvel in itself. In conversation with Steve, Russ Willis frames the central problem around what organizations do once AI is no longer just a plan, but a tool shaping real decisions.
A grounded field-recording conversation about disability, agency, and the patient work of learning to do hard things.
Blindness begins the conversation with Jerry Barrier, but the episode is really about attention: to field recording, adaptive tools, and the quiet assumptions people carry into conversations about disability.
A quiet, thoughtful look at how abandoned buildings can preserve local ties, memory, and everyday community life.
The Natural Curiosity Project approaches abandoned places as history that has not fully gone quiet. Marie de Rozier gives the episode a useful center with her idea of the "study of abandonment," and the most vivid moments come from small domestic traces: teacups still in…
A plainspoken look at writing, publishing, and why genre boundaries matter less than they seem.
Steve Shepard treats listener questions as a chance to think out loud about what writing a book actually asks of a person. He moves from Russet, his first science fiction novel, to a plain argument: writing comes before publishing, and the hard part is getting from an idea to a…
Spanish-language narrative journalism from across Latin America and Latino life.
This episode features an interview with field recordist Jared Blake, discussing his recent expedition to the American Southwest and his approach to capturing nature's sounds.
Steve Shepard discusses his new sci-fi novel 'Russet' and answers common questions about writing a book, sharing his 38-year journey with 'Duncan' and emphasizing that storytelling, not genre, is key.
This episode explores the historical rubber monopoly controlled by the British Empire in the 1920s, which threatened American industries like automobiles.
Steve Shepard interviews Russ Willis on The Natural Curiosity Project about AI and the Crisis of Control, How Leaders Can Reclaim Responsibility in the Age of AI.
The host discusses why Earth should be called Planet Ocean, sharing facts about ocean coverage, unexplored areas, the Mid-Oceanic Ridge, and the ocean's role in oxygen production.
Jerry Barrier says blindness has "many challenges" but "has not given me any special skills," and that line frames the whole interview.
An interview with an expert on navigating dangerous geopolitical regions, discussing survival strategies against environmental and political threats.
The host reflects on nostalgic sounds from technology's past, including AOL's 'You've got mail' and his original Macintosh, inviting listeners to identify mystery sounds.
Steve Shepherd found Marie Desrosiers through Abandoned Vermont and New Hampshire, then talked with her about the “study of abandonment” and the photos she makes of old houses.
The Natural Curiosity Project's Episode 262 features science comedian Brian Malow explaining how neutrino jokes, science-fiction references, and everyday metaphors can make scientific ideas approachable.
The host introduces the show and shares his discovery of author Ivan Doig, recommending his books and the Acoustic Atlas sound archive.
The host interviews Joe Cohane about his book on the benefits of talking to strangers, exploring how his upbringing in a family of funeral directors fostered a love for connecting with people.
The host introduces a journey following bird migration from Europe to the Arctic and Africa, featuring guests who undertook the trip.
The Natural Curiosity Project’s Episode 224 features Ryan McCarty, CEO and co-founder of Culture of Good, discussing how personal history can shape service, leadership, and business culture.
The host interviews Thomas Meinzen about his thesis on confronting the human-nature divide through sound, exploring the intersection of sound studies and the natural world.
Host Steve interviews Brad Borkin about his books on decision-making and leadership, exploring stories of extraordinary accomplishment.
The Natural Curiosity Project's Episode 208 features Darren Wassom, who left a 25-year cybersecurity and risk-management career after his position was eliminated in February 2022.