The Thing with Feathers: birds and hope with Courtney Ellis

Ryan Hamm is the Global Head of Content for Open Doors International, an organization that cares for persecuted Christians around the world.
He joined me live at Lakeside Chautauqua to chat about his fear of birds (yes, really), where he’s finding hope in the midst of a world that’s burning, and why ducks are the friendliest of all avian sorts.
Plus: how we might support Christians around the world who fear for their livelihoods or even their lives.
Many thanks to Ryan for joining me for this special episode, and to Lakeside for the invitation to speak during Birding’s Biggest Week. My heart is full, and this episode is both wrenching and joyful. I can’t wait to share it with you.


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Kim Knowle-Zeller is a Lutheran minister as well as the author, most recently, of Small Steps: Blessings to Lift Your Soul on the Pilgrimage of Life. Small Steps comes out May 5 with Morehouse Publishing, and it is such a beautiful and important book.
Kim stopped by the show to talk about what a blessing is, how might we bless one another, and the power of a simple blessing to encourage and hearten us all.
As a pastor, I enjoyed reflecting on the influence our words and prayers can have when they are used to lift others up. As a parent, she inspired me to find gentle ways to bless my children. As a birder, I give a wholehearted amen to Kim’s reminder that framing the little joys and graces in our lives as God’s blessings can help remind us of the source of our delight.
Plus: we chat about Red-winged Blackbirds, the joy of a Midwestern spring, the Peace Corps, and why in God’s economy nothing is wasted.



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Liv Ross is a monastic poet based in Missouri. Her most recent epic poem, The Blackbird Ballad, is a festival of mystery and intrigue interspersed, as is true of most good poems, with the ordinary things of life. It comes out this Eastertide with Solum Literary Press.
Today on the show, Liv joins us to talk about faithfulness, backyard birds, writing poetry, the goodness of God, and so much more. I enjoyed everything about this conversation, and I just know that you will, too.
Find out more about Liv at The Abbey of Curiosity, read more of her work with Solum Literary Press here and check out The Blackbird Ballad!



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Professor, ornithologist, and wildlife ecologist Tim O’Connell joins us on the show today to chat about birds, spring migration, the Wilson Ornithological Society, and what he’s seeing in Oklahoma this time of year.
Tim is a great storyteller, from a random birder he picked up one day on the side of the road (and lived to tell the tale!) to interactions with his students, his professional societies, and the little delights birding brings him.
Check out his YouTube where he puts together educational birdy videos or follow him over on Twitter where he is just as delightful.
PLUS: one more hilarious story about why the Louisiana Waterthrush is the pinnacle of avian evolution. (Or is it?)



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I could have talked to Ragan Sutterfield all day long. An Episcopal priest by trade, he is also a reviewer for e-Bird in Arkansas.
Ragan is a wealth of wisdom, kindness, and birdy-knowledge. He wrote the fabulous new book, Watch and Wonder: Birding as a Spiritual Practice, with Broadleaf Press.
Ragan’s perspective on birds, birding, and God is deep and wide and welcoming and filled with delight. The way he weaves together faith, nature, neighborliness, and the liturgical year is profoundly beautiful.
I’m excited to share this conversation with you, and I hope you’ll give Ragan’s fantastic new book a look. It’s a gem. Watch and Wonder comes out next week, but you can preorder it today anywhere books are sold.



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