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    • Discovering connections between ancient sites and the night skyShopping at Kroger offers everyday experiences and opportunities for savings through digital coupons and fuel rewards, while also inspiring connections between everyday life and the natural world

      Shopping at Kroger offers not only a vast selection of delicious meal options with everyday low prices, but also opportunities for extra savings and inspirational experiences. For instance, photographer Babak Tafreshi, who discovered his passion for astronomy as a teenager, found profound connections between ancient sites and the night sky. His life-changing encounter with the moon through a telescope mirrored the rising of the constellation Leo during the Persian celebration of Nowruz, which took place at the ancient site of Persepolis. This astronomical event was depicted in bas-reliefs at the site, revealing a deep connection between the ancient world and the night sky. Similarly, shopping at Kroger provides everyday experiences that can excite and inspire, while also offering opportunities for additional savings through digital coupons and fuel rewards.

    • The connection between our passions and heritageSharing passions and traditions can deepen our experiences and bring us closer to loved ones.

      The connection between our passions and our heritage can deeply enrich our experiences and bring us closer to our loved ones. This was exemplified in the story of Babak Tafreshi, a photojournalist whose passion for astronomy led him to share the wonders of the night sky with the world, and in the celebration of Nowruz, a holiday rooted in ancient Persian traditions that brings families and communities together. The poem "Song of Spring" by Hafez encapsulates the renewal and rebirth that comes with the arrival of spring and the new year. For Babak and others, the traditions surrounding Nowruz, such as the Hafseen table with its seven symbols of spring, serve as a reminder of the past while also connecting them to the present and future. As Andi Mitchell and Sabrina Colberg, co-hosts of the Pop Culture Moms podcast, shared, the fictional moms we love to watch on TV and movies can also teach us valuable lessons about motherhood, family, and the importance of holding on to our traditions.

    • Nowruz: A Spring Holiday Connecting People and SymbolsNowruz is a secular Persian holiday celebrating spring, bringing people together with diverse symbols, including religious texts and secular poetry. Its astronomical significance and enduring appeal make it unique.

      The Nowruz tradition, a secular Persian holiday celebrating the start of spring, brings people together regardless of their religious or cultural backgrounds. The table, or "Haft Sin," which is a central part of the celebration, can include diverse symbols, from religious texts like the Quran to secular ones like Hafez's poetry. The connection between Nowruz and poetry, particularly Persian poetry, runs deep, with figures like Hafez and Omar Khayyam being celebrated for their poetic and scientific contributions. The holiday's astronomical significance is also noteworthy, as ancient civilizations relied on astronomers to create accurate calendars, which were essential for both religious and practical reasons. Nowruz's universal appeal and its connection to a specific moment in time make it a unique and enduring tradition.

    • Appreciating the connection between the natural world and the night skyThe night sky and its constellations have inspired human connection and appreciation for nature and our place in the universe throughout history

      The night sky has been a source of fascination and connection for civilizations throughout history, including our ancestors a thousand years ago. By looking up at the stars, we can find common ground with the past and gain a deeper appreciation for our place in the universe. For example, during the spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, the constellation Leo, with its reverse question mark-shaped head and bright heart star, symbolizes the arrival of spring. This connection between the natural world and the night sky has inspired artists, poets, and explorers throughout history, including photographer Babak Tafreshi, who has dedicated his work to capturing the beauty of ancient sites beneath the stars. Through his photography, Babak emphasizes the unity of earth and sky, and encourages us to appreciate the transient nature of human civilization in contrast to the eternal beauty of the cosmos.

    • Reconnecting with the Night SkyExplore the night sky's beauty through photography, connect with the universe, and overcome light pollution to regain a sense of wonder and awe.

      Reconnecting with the night sky is a profoundly human experience that can help bridge the disconnection many people feel due to light pollution. Babak's project, The World at Night, showcases the beauty of the night sky through the images of dedicated nightscape photographers. These photographs transport viewers to a place where they feel connected to both Earth and the universe. Unfortunately, more than two-thirds of the human population live in areas affected by major light pollution, preventing them from experiencing the night sky in its full glory. To resolve this disconnection, it's essential to send people to places with darker skies and encourage them to reconnect with the darkness and the stars that emerge from it. Nighttime photography is a life-changing experience that allows photographers to connect with the stars and discover the celestial sphere above them. While it can be technically challenging, with the right equipment and planning, anyone can try it at home using smartphone applications to help identify constellations and plan their shots. Overall, reconnecting with the night sky is an essential experience that can bring a unique sense of connection to the natural world.

    • Exploring the night sky through various means deepens our connection to the universeExploring the night sky through apps, photography, ancient sites, science, archaeology, and art inspires wonder and curiosity about the world beyond our reach, bridging the gap between everyday life and complex concepts.

      Exploring the night sky through planetarium apps, photography, and ancient sites can bring us a deeper connection to the universe and inspire a sense of wonder and curiosity about the world beyond our reach. The night sky, represented by the iconic Mount Damavand in Iran, serves as a reminder of our roots and our place in the universe. Science, archaeology, astronomy, and photography can help bridge the gap between everyday life and complex scientific concepts, making them more accessible and inspiring to the general public. The connection between art and science can serve as a powerful bridge, as seen in Babak's photograph of the star trails above the ancient ruins of Persepolis. Through these experiences, we can be transported back in time and appreciate the awe-inspiring beauty of the night sky, just as ancient astronomers and poets like Omar Khayyam did.

    • Celebrating Nowruz: A Time for Reflection and ConnectionNowruz, the ancient Persian new year celebration, encourages us to reconnect with our cultural heritage, appreciate the natural world, and deepen our connection to it through unique experiences and sounds.

      The ancient practice of celebrating the new year during Nowruz not only connects us to our cultural heritage and the natural world, but also encourages us to appreciate the beauty and transience of life. This was exemplified by the speaker's personal experiences of visiting Mount Damavand and celebrating the Persian new year with his family. Furthermore, the introduction of the new segment "SoundBank" on Overheard offers listeners a unique way to immerse themselves in the audible Earth, revealing the wonders of our world through the sounds of National Geographic explorers and photographers. By tuning in to Soundbank, we can broaden our understanding of the natural world and deepen our connection to it. Additionally, the speaker encouraged listeners to learn more about Iran's rich poetic tradition and the efforts of organizations like the International Dark Sky Association to protect the night sky from light pollution. Overall, Nowruz serves as a reminder to reconnect with the past, appreciate the present, and look forward to the future.

    • Exploring the Effectiveness of Half Scene TablesHalf scene tables can help visualize and organize complex information, with inspiring examples provided in a podcast episode featuring a team of dedicated professionals.

      Creating a half scene table can be an effective tool for visualizing and organizing complex information. This method was discussed in detail during the podcast episode, featuring inspiring examples for those looking to create their own. The production of this podcast involved a team of dedicated individuals, including producers, editors, fact checkers, sound designers, and composers. The podcast is a production of National Geographic Partners, with Whitney Johnson as the director of visuals and immersive experiences and David Brinley as the interim editor in chief. I'm Dawah Ardelon, the executive director of audio, and I encourage you to check out the show notes in your podcast app for more resources related to this topic.

    Recent Episodes from Overheard at National Geographic

    Trapped in the icy waters of the Northwest Passage

    Trapped in the icy waters of the Northwest Passage
    For centuries, the Northwest Passage, the long-sought sea route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through northern Canada, was a holy grail of Arctic exploration. Even now, sailing through it isn’t guaranteed. Mark Synnott, a National Geographic Explorer, writer, and adventurer, attempted to sail his own boat through the Northwest Passage to retrace the doomed 1845 expedition of British explorer Sir John Franklin. None of the Franklin expedition’s 129 men made it home, but what exactly happened remains a mystery.   For more information on this episode, visit natgeo.com/overheard. Want more? Get the inside scoop on Mark’s Northwest Passage voyage and see gorgeous photos in the August issue of National Geographic. Watch Explorer: Lost in the Arctic, premiering August 24 on National Geographic and streaming the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. And to go even deeper, Mark will tell the full story in his book Into the Ice, coming fall 2024 from Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group. Also explore: On paper, Sir John Franklin’s expedition seemed to lack for little. There were ironclad ships, steam engines, libraries totaling 2,900 books, and even animal companions—two dogs and a monkey. Here’s how it all went wrong. Explore another polar expedition gone wrong—Shackleton’s expedition to Antarctica aboard Endurance—in the Overheard episode “What the Ice Gets, the Ice Keeps.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Playback: Modern Lives, Ancient Caves

    Playback: Modern Lives, Ancient Caves
    There’s a lost continent waiting to be explored, and it’s right below our feet. We’ll dig into the deep human relationship to the underground—and why we understand it from an instinctive point of view, but not so much from a physical one. (Hint: We’re afraid of the dark.) In an episode originally published November 2021, National Geographic photographer Tamara Merino will take us subterranean in Utah, Australia, and Spain, where modern-day cave dwellers teach us how to escape the heat. For more information on this episode, visit natgeo.com/overheard. Want more? Go below ground with National Geographic Explorer Tamara Merino to see how these communities have been living—quite comfortably—for a very long time. In Vietnam photojournalist and National Geographic Explorer Martin Edström created 360 images of the world’s largest cave, Son Doong. It’s so big that a forest grows inside of it. Ever zip-line to a remote island? Cartographers did, 30 miles west of San Francisco. What did they see when they mapped the hard-to-reach landform known as the Farallon Islands? Caves. China is home to some of the most intricate cave systems on the planet. These explorers used a laser scanner to capture never before seen images of undocumented caves. Also explore: South Dakota is famous among cavers for its web of cave mazes. Take a look at what they’ve found under the Black Hills. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Playback: This Indigenous Practice Fights Fire with Fire

    Playback: This Indigenous Practice Fights Fire with Fire
    For decades, the U.S. government evangelized fire suppression, most famously through Smokey Bear’s wildfire prevention campaign. But as climate change continues to exacerbate wildfire seasons and a growing body of scientific research supports using fire to fight fire, Indigenous groups in the Klamath Basin are reviving cultural burning practices that effectively controlled forest fires for centuries. In an episode originally published June 2022, National Geographic photographer Kiliii Yüyan introduces us to people bringing back this cultural practice and teaching the next generation how to use fire. For more information on this episode, visit natgeo.com/overheard. Want more? If you want to hear more from Kiliii, you can also listen to a previous Overheard episode where he shares stories from the many weeks he spent camping on sea ice with Native Alaskan whale hunters. And if you’re dying to see his photography, check out his website to see portraits of Indigenous people, Arctic wildlife, and more. Also explore: To learn more about Margo Robbins and her efforts to revive cultural burns, check out our article on the subject. The practice of cultural burning is just one of many subjects that Kiliii and writer Charles Mann covered about the ways Indigenous groups are trying to reclaim sovereignty. Read that cover story here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Playback: Rooting, from Into the Depths

    Playback: Rooting, from Into the Depths
    National Geographic Explorer Tara Roberts is inspired by the stories of the Clotilda, a ship that illegally arrived in Mobile, Alabama, in 1860, and of Africatown, created by those on the vessel—a community that still exists today. The archaeologists and divers leading the search for the Clotilda lay out the steps it took to find it. In this last episode of the Into the Depths podcast, which published in March 2022, Tara talks to the living descendants of those aboard the ship. She admires their enormous pride in knowing their ancestry, and wonders if she can trace her own ancestors back to a ship. She hires a genealogist and visits her family’s small hometown in North Carolina. The surprising results bring a sense of belonging to a place that she never could have imagined. Want more? Check out our Into the Depths hub to listen to all six episodes, learn more about Tara’s journey following Black scuba divers, find previous Nat Geo coverage on the search for slave shipwrecks, and read the March 2022 cover story. And download a tool kit for hosting an Into the Depths listening party to spark conversation and journey deeper into the material. Also explore:  Dive into more of National Geographic’s coverage of the Clotilda with articles looking at scientists’ ongoing archaeological work, the story that broke the discovery of the ship, and the documentary Clotilda: Last American Slave Ship. Meet more of the descendants of the Africans trafficked to the U.S. aboard the Clotilda, and find out what they’re doing to save Mobile’s Africatown community in the face of difficult economic and environmental challenges.  Read the story of Kossola, who later received the name Cudjo Lewis, in the book Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo,” by author and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston. Learn more about the life of abolitionist Harriet Jacobs, author of “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl,” who escaped Edenton, N.C., through the Maritime Underground Railroad. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Playback: Ancient Orchestra

    Playback: Ancient Orchestra
    Sound on! From conch shells to bone flutes, humans have been making musical instruments for tens of thousands of years. What did prehistoric music sound like? In an episode originally published in November 2021, follow us on a journey to find the oldest musical instruments and combine them into one big orchestra of human history. For more information on this episode, visit natgeo.com/overheard. Want More? A conch is more than just a musical instrument. A mollusk lives in that shell, and it’s a staple food in the Bahamas—so much so that overfishing is threatening their existence, but a few simple solutions may solve the problem. The oldest musical instrument was once thought to be a cave bear bone flute made by Neanderthals, but recent evidence suggests that the holes were made by animals rather than tools. More information about each instrument: The organization First Sounds found and brought to life the recordings of Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville. Head to their website to learn more about that project. Bettina Joy de Guzman travels the world, composing and performing music on ancient instruments. You can read more about her work on her website. More information about the bells of Bronze Age China can be found at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art. Check out a virtual version of their collection.  The conch shell sounds you heard were research recordings of the approximately 3,000-year-old Titanostrombus galeatus conch shell horn—excavated in 2018 by John Rick and a team from the UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site Chavín de Huántar, in Perú. You can read more about that research at the Chavín de Huántar Archaeological Acoustics project website. National Geographic Explorer Jahawi Bertolli is collecting the sounds of rock gongs from all over the African continent. Learn more about his rock project on Jahawi’s website. Flutist Anna Potengowski specializes in recreating the sounds of ancient flutes. You can hear more of her work on her Spotify page. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Playback: A Skeptic's Guide to Loving Bats

    Playback: A Skeptic's Guide to Loving Bats
    Blood-sucking villains. Spooky specters of the night. Our views of bats are often based more on fiction than fact. Enter National Geographic Explorer at Large Rodrigo Medellín, aka the Bat Man of Mexico. For decades, he’s waged a charm offensive to show the world how much we need bats, from the clothes we wear to a sip of tequila at the end of a long day. The COVID-19 pandemic caused even more harmful bat myths and gave Medellín the biggest challenge of his career. In this episode originally published in 2021, learn why the world must once again realize that bats may not be the hero everyone wants—but they’re the hero we need. For more information on this episode, visit natgeo.com/overheard. Want more? See how Rodrigo uses a multi-pronged approach—involving field research, conservation, and tequila—to help protect bats.  In a Nat Geo short film, Rodrigo ventures into an ancient Mayan ruin to find two rare species of vampire bat. Curious about the connection between bats and Covid-19? Explore why it’s so tricky to trace the disease’s origins.   Also explore: Learn more about bats: They can be found nearly everywhere on Earth and range in size from lighter than a penny to a six-foot wingspan.    Why do bats get a bad rap? See how Spanish conquistadors and Dracula convinced us bats are more fright than friend.  Bat myths have real-world consequences. In Mauritius, a government campaign culled tens of thousands of endangered fruit bats.  For more bat info, follow Rodrigo on Instagram @batmanmedellin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    How queer identity shapes Nat Geo Explorers

    How queer identity shapes Nat Geo Explorers
    Why would a scientist brave the stench of a car full of rotting meat on a 120-degree day? What can a unique whistling language teach us about humans’ connection to the natural world? And how does queer identity shape the research of National Geographic Explorers? In this episode celebrating Pride, we hand the mic to two Explorers: Christine Wilkinson, who studies hyenas and other large carnivores and created the TikTok series “Queer is Natural,” and Rüdiger Ortiz-Álvarez, whose soundscapes from the Canary Islands encourage us to slow down and listen to the world around us. For more information on this episode, visit natgeo.com/overheard. Want more? Why do some people prefer LGBTQIA+ instead of LGBT? See how society’s understanding of diverse sexual identities and gender expressions has grown more inclusive—and so has the acronym used to describe them. Before the Nazis rose to power, a German institute cemented itself as gay liberation’s epicenter. Discover the great hunt for the world's first LGBTQ archive. Although a large group of LGBTQ people celebrating their sexual orientation in public had been unthinkable just a few years before, the first Pride parades began in 1970 as marches commemorating the 1969 Stonewall uprising. See more National Geographic coverage of Pride at natgeo.com/Pride.  Also explore: Learn more about spotted hyenas, which live in female-led clans of up to 80 individuals. Practice your whistling and head to La Gomera in the Canary Islands, home to the Silbo Gomero whistling language and Garajonay National Park. Find Christine Wilkinson’s “Queer is Natural” series on her TikTok, @scrappynaturalist. And follow along with Rüdiger Ortiz-Álvarez on his Instagram, @rudigerortiz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    A Mexican Wolf Pup’s Journey into the Wild

    A Mexican Wolf Pup’s Journey into the Wild
    For centuries, Mexican gray wolves roamed the Southwest. But as cattle ranches spread, wolves became enemy number one, and by the 1970s the subspecies was nearly extinct. But after the Endangered Species Act was passed, the U.S. embarked on an ambitious plan to save the iconic predators. We’ll meet the Texas trapper who switched from killing wolves to catching them to breed. And we’ll follow a team of biologists into the Gila Wilderness to introduce captive-born wolf pups into the wild. For more information on this episode, visit natgeo.com/overheard. Want more? Check out Peter Gwin's feature article on the Gila wilderness. Thinking of visiting the Gila yourself? We've put together a travel guide for you. Also Explore In 2021, a Mexican wolf named Mr. Goodbar crossed the border from Mexico into the United States, raising questions about how the border wall will affect animal migration. The Gila wilderness is also famous for one of the only venomous lizards in the world, the Gila monster. But climate change and human activity is threatening this charismatic reptile. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Playback: Deep Inside the First Wilderness

    Playback: Deep Inside the First Wilderness
    On assignment in the canyons of the Gila Wilderness, Nat Geo photographer Katie Orlinsky has a fireside chat with Overheard host Peter Gwin about telling stories through pictures. She chronicles how she found her way—from growing up in New York City to covering workers' rights in rural Mexico to the world’s most grueling dogsled race in Alaska.  For more information on this episode, visit nationalgeographic.com/overheard. Want more? To see some of Katie's photos from the Gila, take a look at Peter Gwin's article How to visit the Gila Wilderness. In her work on the Yukon Quest sled dog race, you can see what it looks like to cross 1,000 miles of Alaska on dog power. On Katie’s personal website, you can see more images, including from her time in Juárez. Also explore: And magazine subscribers can see Katie’s photos in our recent story about thawing permafrost. Sometimes that thaw creates pockets of methane under frozen lakes that scientists test by setting on fire. That story was also featured in our podcast episode about how beavers are changing the Arctic. If you like what you hear and want to support more content like this, please consider a National Geographic subscription. Go to natgeo.com/exploremore to subscribe today.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    She Sails the Seas Without Maps or Compasses

    She Sails the Seas Without Maps or Compasses
    For nearly 50 years, a group of Hawaiians have been sailing on traditional voyaging canoes using the methods that early Polynesian explorers relied on to navigate the Pacific Ocean—without maps and modern instruments, and relying on the stars, ocean waves, birds, and other natural elements to guide them. We meet National Geographic Explorer Lehua Kamalu, the first woman to captain a long-distance voyage on Hōkūleʻa, a double-hulled Polynesian canoe that was built in Hawaii in the 1970s. She describes what it’s like to navigate in incredibly rough waters, what it means to keep Polynesian navigation alive in the 21st century, and about her next big adventure: a four-year circumnavigation of the Pacific Ocean. For more information on this episode, visit natgeo.com/overheard. Want more? Learn about the Polynesian Voyaging Society and their upcoming voyage, Moananuiākea, a 47-month circumnavigation of the Pacific.  Read about Hōkūleʻa’s 2022 journey to Tahiti, which involved traveling 3,000 miles over three weeks.  Also explore:  A small number of people speak ‘ōlelo, Hawaii’s native language, which teetered on extinction during the mid-20th century. Learn about how some young Hawaiians are using TikTok and Instagram to make the language more accessible.  Hear Nat Geo Explorer Keolu Fox on a previous Overheard episode share how he’s working with Polynesian and Indigenous communities to study how their genomes have been shaped by history and colonialism, and how that data can help them reclaim land and improve health outcomes for their communities.  Visit National Geographic for more stories throughout Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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