Finding Wonder: The Urgency of Dark Skies
Manage episode 489974097 series 3347839
When was the last time you really saw the stars? Not just a few twinkles—but the Milky Way stretching overhead like a cosmic river?
Caroline “Siffy” Torkildson—geographer, explorer, and author of the new book “My Home Is Where My Trunk Is”—has spent a lifetime chasing eclipses, hiking sacred landscapes, and advocating for the night sky.
We dig into light pollution—the silent invader erasing our stars, disrupting wildlife, and throwing off our circadian rhythms. But we also explore solutions: from Dark Sky Parks to smarter lighting, from rural stargazing to astrotourism that restores our connection to night.
This is more than a conversation about stars. It’s a call to look up, to slow down, and to remember we belong to something vast and mysterious. We don’t look to the night sky for answers—we look to feel part of something greater than ourselves.
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Please Note: The views expressed by our guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the podcaster.
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Chapters
1. Introduction to Dark Skies Crisis (00:00:00)
2. Understanding Light Pollution (00:05:28)
3. Chasing Eclipses and Wonder (00:14:35)
4. Health Impacts of Light Pollution (00:17:47)
5. Annie Peck: Mountaineer and Inspiration (00:22:36)
6. Dark Sky Tourism and Conservation (00:25:56)
7. Global Efforts Against Light Pollution (00:30:26)
8. Closing Thoughts on Preserving Darkness (00:34:30)
106 episodes