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Transcript

"Wild in Seattle" is Published! · Street Smart Naturalist

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  SPEAKER_00: Greetings,
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  SPEAKER_00: this is David B.
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  SPEAKER_00: Williams and the podcast of my newsletter,
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  SPEAKER_00: The Street Smart Naturalist,
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  SPEAKER_00: Explorations of the Urban Kind.
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  Every week I share my observations and adventures with the
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  human and natural world
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  SPEAKER_00: around Seattle,
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  SPEAKER_00: Puget Sound,
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  SPEAKER_00: and the Pacific Northwest.
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  Today's episode celebrates the release of my new book based on
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  this newsletter,
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  SPEAKER_00: Wild in Seattle,
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  SPEAKER_00: Stories at the Crossroads of People and Place.
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  SPEAKER_00: To learn more about my work, please go to my website, geologywriter.com.
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  You will also find a link to my Substack newsletter and to my
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  previous four years
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  SPEAKER_00: of newsletters,
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  SPEAKER_00: as well as images tied to this week's episode.
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  SPEAKER_00: Thanks again for joining me on this adventure,
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  SPEAKER_00: and welcome to Podcast 18 of the Street Smart Naturalist.
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  SPEAKER_00: Wild in Seattle is published April 3, 2025.
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  SPEAKER_00: I'm excited to announce that Wild in Seattle,
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  Stories at the Crossroads of People and Nature is now on sale
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  in bookstores.
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  My first thanks goes to Mountaineer Books for all of their hard
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  work in creating
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  SPEAKER_00: this beautiful book.
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  My second goes to artist Elizabeth Person for her wonderful,
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  whimsical watercolors.
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  SPEAKER_00: The book is worth buying simply for her illustrations.
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  Wild in Seattle is an outgrowth of my first three years of the
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  Street Smart
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  SPEAKER_00: Naturalist newsletter.
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  It brings together 48 of my favorite essays about natural
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  history in Seattle and
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  SPEAKER_00: her surroundings.
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  They include classics such as Dead Trees Tell No Lies,
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  Birding at 60 Miles Per Hour,
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  SPEAKER_00: the memory of a tree, and hope is a baby orca.
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  SPEAKER_00: Divide it into three sections, geology, fauna, and flora and habitat.
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  SPEAKER_00: The essays illustrate many of my passions,
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  SPEAKER_00: curious facts,
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  SPEAKER_00: attention to detail,
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  SPEAKER_00: connections to place,
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  SPEAKER_00: wordplay,
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  SPEAKER_00: bad attempts at humor,
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  SPEAKER_00: and celebration of the nature of place.
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  SPEAKER_00: As with all of my books,
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  my main goals are to encourage people to get outside and
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  explore the world around
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  SPEAKER_00: them and to develop stronger connections to home.
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  SPEAKER_00: Here are some of the cool things that excite me from the book.
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  SPEAKER_00: Stalactites at light rail stations,
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  SPEAKER_00: Coast Salish woolly dogs,
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  SPEAKER_00: voracious Torito clams,
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  SPEAKER_00: 3.5 billion year old building stone,
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  SPEAKER_00: a big old erratic,
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  SPEAKER_00: Seattle super blooms,
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  SPEAKER_00: hope,
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  SPEAKER_00: humor,
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  SPEAKER_00: and inspiration,
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  SPEAKER_00: a convivial list of local terms of place,
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  SPEAKER_00: a wonderful illustration of our dog Taylor,
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  SPEAKER_00: the science of otter poop,
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  SPEAKER_00: aka sprints.
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  In many ways,
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  Wild in Seattle is my paean to the singular natural world of my hometown.
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  I'm continuously amazed by the life that I find and the stories
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  that I learn,
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  SPEAKER_00: whether in downtown Seattle,
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  SPEAKER_00: on a neighborhood stroll,
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  SPEAKER_00: or in our backyard.
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  SPEAKER_00: We are truly blessed by this place.
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  SPEAKER_00: Although focused on Seattle,
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  I like to think that the essays will provide inspiration to
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  people living in other areas.
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  Stories are all around us if we take the time to slow down,
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  pay attention,
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  and observe.
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  SPEAKER_00: I have a favor to ask.
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  I'm trying to spread the word about Wild in Seattle as hoping
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  you might be willing
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  SPEAKER_00: to share this newsletter with your community via email,
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  SPEAKER_00: social media,
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  SPEAKER_00: semaphore,
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  SPEAKER_00: a letter writing campaign,
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  SPEAKER_00: or however you like.
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  SPEAKER_00: Thanks.
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  SPEAKER_00: And in case you're interested in purchasing the book directly from me,
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  SPEAKER_00: there's a link on my website.
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  SPEAKER_00: Cost is $28, which includes shipping, taxes, and my signature.
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  SPEAKER_00: Once again,
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  SPEAKER_00: this is David B.
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  SPEAKER_00: Williams,
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  SPEAKER_00: author and voice of The Street Smart Naturalist,
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  SPEAKER_00: Explorations of the Urban Kind,
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  a weekly newsletter and podcast focusing on the human and
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  natural world around Seattle,
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  SPEAKER_00: Puget Sound,
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  SPEAKER_00: and the Pacific Northwest.
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  SPEAKER_00: If you'd like more information about my books,
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  SPEAKER_00: walks,
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  SPEAKER_00: and talks,
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  SPEAKER_00: and a link to sign up for my newsletter and podcast,
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  SPEAKER_00: check out my website,
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  SPEAKER_00: geologywriter.com.
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  There's also detailed information about readings associated
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  with Wild in Seattle.
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  And don't forget to slow down,
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  pay attention,
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  and enjoy the world around you.