Would you rather have your skeleton on the inside or outside of your body? Would you rather catch your dinner with your feet or your hands? These are just some of the questions Harris Center naturalists Susie Spikol and Karen Rent explore in Wild at Home — a new podcast from New Hampshire Public Radio and the Harris Center that makes learning about nature feel more like recess than science class.
Curious Minds of All Ages Welcome
(design by Michelle Aldredge for the Harris Center)
Created for “curious kids, families, and young-at-heart adventurers,” Wild at Home blends a dash of expert know-how with a dollop of kids’ unfiltered opinions and a healthy sprinkling of corny jokes that are so bad they’re good. While it’s a fun listen for kids during a ride to school or a relaxing Sunday morning with the family, its wit and bite-sized natural history lessons can be enjoyed by listeners of any age.
Over the course of 12 short episodes, hosts Susie and Karen explore the wild neighbors all around us, from insects, spiders, and mushrooms to squirrels, turkeys, owls, and porcupines. The first episode, “What’s the Buzz on Insects?,” features Harris Center teacher-naturalist Jenna Spear.
“Wild at Home isn’t just us talking about nature,” explains Susie, who has been developing the project with Karen for many years. “What makes this podcast really special is hearing kids’ voices as they share what they know and think about the natural world. To hear their thoughts and ideas about nature inspires and informs us throughout the podcast.”
Each installment is accompanied by a useful list of recommended books, videos, and hands-on activities that keep the discoveries going long after the listening ends. (The show notes alone are an excellent resource for teachers, parents, and nature lovers!)
“We’re really excited to partner with the Harris Center, an organization widely respected for connecting the dots between nature and education here in New Hampshire,” says Emily Quirk, NHPR Program Director. “This collaboration allows us to deepen our community connections, and explore new programming for young listeners, families, and educators. Also, the theme song is absolutely amazing.”
Harris Center teacher-naturalists Karen Rent (left) and Susie Spikol (right), hosts of the Wild at Home podcast (photo © Ben Conant)
Behind the Microphone
The show was brought to life by a team of talented collaborators, including NHPR. Wild at Home’s irresistible original theme song was produced by Adam Arnone of Echo Finch, a New Hampshire musician, composer, and recording artist whose career has spanned more than two decades. Musician and audio engineer Ben Rogers of Loud Sun Studio is the show’s mixer and sound editor. Ben, whose studio is based in Jaffrey, weaves together the voices of the hosts and guest experts with kids from the Harris Center’s homeschool program, who are never shy about sharing their opinions on “icky” insects and other creature features. The podcast artwork was created by designer Michelle Aldredge, who is the Harris Center’s communications director.
How to Listen to Wild at Home
Wild at Home airs on NHPR every other Sunday at 9:35 a.m. during Weekend Edition Sunday. You can listen anytime, and explore the accompanying resources, on NHPR’s website, or subscribe through Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms. Also, be sure to check out the short interview about the podcast with Susie, Karen, and NHPR host Julia Barnett.
Your Gift Makes a Difference
Thanks to our incredible community of supporters, the Harris Center continues to protect wild places, educate people of all ages, and run vital community science programs like the Salamander Crossing Brigade program. Your generosity makes everything we do possible — from preserving habitat for bobcats and birds to inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards.
We invite you to make a gift today to help sustain this important work. On behalf of the turtles, trees, wildflowers, salamanders, and butterflies — and the people who cherish them and our wild places — thank you!
