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Listeners, have you ever experienced a moment of transcendent awe? Perhaps walking in nature inspires heart-opening beauty that takes your breath away, or being in the presence of a beloved friend or witnessing the birth of a baby. How do you feel during and after these moments? Do they only happen when you’re alone, or do you experience awe among friends and even strangers at a concert or a sports event? Professor of psychology at UC Berkeley, Dacher Keltner, joins me to discuss his fascinating book, Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life. Why has awe been essential to our human existence from the beginning of time? Can an experience of awe contribute to our health and well being? How can we experience more awe in our daily lives? Listen and be surprisingly inspired. www.dacherkeltner.com and greatergood.berkeley.edu

A sensitive interview with Jacinta Hart Kehoe, author of Mountain Lion Rises, who is joined in the studio by her husband Philip Kehoe. We explore personal tragedy that is unimaginable and ultimately transformative after the death in a car crash of Jacinta’s beloved teenage son, Raymond, a devastating crash that also killed her first husband, Jon, and somehow spared her daughter Elizabeth. Severely injured herself, Jacinta began to write and journal as memories surfaced and Mountain Lion Rises is a testament to her perseverance and also to her gift as an artist. The beautiful book cover is her work. Jacinta’s slow recovery in mind, body and spirit is matched by the joy Philip brought her and we also touch his own healing journey and the power of the natural world and animals that nourish their lives.Mountain Lion Rises: A Memoir of Healing. Published by Pen Women Press. Jacinta will be reading at Eldorado’s Vista Grande Library at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, March 1st.

A privilege to interview one of this country’s most decorated distance runners of all time. Lauren Fleshman joins me to discuss her groundbreaking book, Good For A Girl: A Woman Running in A Man’s World. Even if you’re not an athlete yourself you probably know someone who is or who is a parent, teacher or coach of young girls and women. Lauren’s important and insightful book is for all us to learn from, opening up the inequality and injustices in the world of sports designed by and for men. Yet this is not a male-bashing book, it is a call for action rather than knee-jerk reaction and Lauren guides the reader and today’s interview listener through her story in a way that is intimate, personal and wonderfully encouraging. Good For A Girl. www.laurenfleshman.com

A return visit by wild earth poet, Timothy McLaughlin, whose life and work have taken him into tracts of wilderness unknown to many of us. Listen as Timothy recites pieces from his observations and heightened perception deep in forests and inspires exploration of the close relationship between our human selves and the natural world. On Saturday, February 4th Timothy, his wife singer Madi Sato, and cellist Nelson Denman offer a spoken word concert, Untracked: A Journey into Wildness at Unity Santa Fe. Doors open at 5:30, details at unitysantafe.org Connect with Timothy at timothypmclaughlin.comAlso today, exciting news of an essay writing contest for New Mexico students in 6th through 12th grade. Contest details at leopoldwritingprogram.org

A joy to welcome Santa Fe poet, musician, and former music critic, Wayne Lee, back into the studio ahead of his workshop The Music of Poetry. Wayne’s innate sensitivity takes listeners deep into the rhythms of poetry and lyrics and the perceptive range of the human voice that through poetry bridges cultures often divided. Beginning with a poem honoring his beloved Nana, who lived to 100 and inspired then-four-year-old Wayne’s love of music, this interview is rich with emotion and rare wisdom. Connect with Wayne at wayneleepoet.com

A personal delight to interview award-winning poet Sarah Newfeld-Green who, you may guess, is related to me. In fact, my own dear twin sister. Winner of this year’s Golden Quill award for poetry in California’s Central Coast where she lives, Sarah dips into the personal and the political, including a timely comment “on the effluvia of the media.” Her observations on family, death and aging, on nature’s magnificence and subtlety glimpse a mind and heart that “summon’s memory and savor’s love” as her work has been described. Her 2019 collection Rainbows is available directly from her, best to contact me at thelastword@ksfr.org and I will send your request on to her. A new collection hopefully coming next year.

A return visit to The Last Word by children’s author Wade Bergner with his new book in the Emotional Agility Matters series, The Mirror Box. Designed for children between ages 5 to about 9, Wade explores the sensitive terrain talking with youngsters about the death of a loved one, a close relative or perhaps a beloved family pet, crafting a story about a boy called Christopher learning about his Grandpapa’s passing. For listeners who may be writers themselves planning on self publishing, we also discuss the sometimes scary issue of publicity, something that Wade has taken on by the horns, so to speak, despite being a formerly shy and naturally sensitive person. A jewel of advice is that you’re not “self promoting,” you’re representing the book.The Mirror Box bergnerbooks.com

Journey with us to the Louisiana coast to discover the beauty, history and possible future of the sentient beings known as live oaks with award-winning photographer and essayist William Guion. His gorgeous new book Return to Heartwood: A Search for the Heart of Live Oak Country reveals the hidden and vibrant ecology of these ancient trees and their environment. Bill Guion’s short essays that accompany each photograph are like prose poetry that elicits yearning and love and a deep, instinctive peace. Close your eyes as you hear the author read. williamguion.com and returntoheartwood.com

Ease gently into the new year with award-winning poet Mary Gilliland reading from her new collection, The Devil’s Fools. Mary begins by honoring her brother who’s work in New Mexico brought new awareness for educators and long-needed recognition of the needs of our children. Mary’s poems are deeply rooted in her reverence for all of nature’s creatures and our environment. Her perception of the human condition, yours and mine, is illuminating. Discover all of Mary‘s works and delightful insights into her life at www.marygilliland.com

Today, a beautiful interview with two of Santa Fe’s performing art treasures and the co-founders of Praising Earth. Madi Sato holds the songs of many cultures including her Irish and Japanese Ainu roots. She shares her Irish heritage with her husband, wild earth poet and ceremonialist Timothy McLaughlin. Together they bring their wisdom and wonderful voices to the KSFR studio ahead of Saturday’s Winter Solstice Celebration where they will be joined by several other beloved local musicians. The concert begins at 4:00 pm in the Railyard Performance Center, December 17th. To attend please email info@praisingearth.org attendance by donation to the work of Praising Earth. www.praisingearth.org