In this podcast, we’ll explore the sonic environments of our planet. When we listen with attention to the sounds around us—those in nature and also the ones humans create, we can unlock a deeper understanding of our world. These sounds tell us stories…not just about themselves, but also about us.
Hosted and curated by Mary Beth Toole, each episode is a unique sonic experience with some of the great sonic thinkers of our time and really cool soundscapes. Better living through listening.
If you’re enjoying the podcast, and would like to support this work, thank you!
buymeacoffee.com/sonicearth
On the morning of November 7th, 2020, after a tense waiting period following the Nov. 3rd Presidential Election, the race was finally called for Biden/Harris. In New York City, people took to the streets in spontaneous and exuberant celebrations. This is some of the raw audio from locations on the Upper West Side and in Times Square from that morning.
26 Oct 2025
"No Kings" 10.18.2025 Soundwalk
This is a soundwalk of the peaceful No Kings march in NYC that took place on 10.28.20205.
1 Jan 2024
Bonus Episode-Field Recordings from Morocco
Field Recordings from Morocco
Imsouane Surf
Djembe
Tangier Port at Night
Darija Lesson
Tetouan Birdsong
Marrakech Rooftop Evening Call to Prayer
Fes Dawn Chorus
1 Jan 2022
Sonic Thinking with Bruce Odland
Joining Mary Beth this time is Bruce Odland, a sonic thinker, creator and composer. Bruce creates sound installations in collaboration with Sam Auinger that transform the sounds of cities into music. He’s the founder of the Tank Center for Sonic Arts in Colorado and most recently, he collaborated with renowned actor and playwright Wallace Shawn to reinvent two of his plays as a podcast.
http://bruceodland.net/
1 Jan 2022
A Field Day For Hams
Mary Beth visits the St. Petersburg Amateur Radio Club on Field Day, a nationwide training exercise for emergency communications. It's also a contest, hosted by the American Radio Relay League. We explore the sounds of radio and even learn a little Morse code.
The St. Petersburg Amateur Radio Club website: https://www.sparc-club.org/
Music from the episode can be purchased at https://cosmicpiano.bandcamp.com/
1 Jun 2021
Welcome to Sonic Earth Expeditions
In this podcast, we'll explore the sonic environments of our planet. When we listen with attention to the sounds around us—those in nature and also the ones humans create, we can unlock a deeper understanding of our world. These sounds tell us stories…not just about themselves, but also about us.
Hosted and curated by Mary Beth Toole, each episode is a unique sonic experience with some of the great sonic thinkers of our time and really cool soundscapes. Better living through listening.
8 Apr 2021
Glen Velez: Founder of the Modern Frame Drum Movement
Glen Velez, legendary percussionist, composer, innovator and educator talks with Mary Beth about his experiences discovering and revitalizing the frame drum.
Glen is world-renowned for his work on the frame drum—a four-time Grammy winner, he incorporated his classical training and his studies from various drum cultures, to create his own style of drumming and teaching.
Glen has played with Steve Reich, Paul Winter, Suzanne Vega, and Pat Metheny to name just a few. He currently collaborates with virtuoso rhythmic vocalist Loire Cotler, to whom he is married.
Glen's influence cannot be overstated—His tireless efforts have expanded the popularity of the frame drum around the world. You can find out more at www.glenvelez.com.
26 Mar 2021
Hula Halau: Revitalizing Hawaiian Language
Kekoa and Pele Harman join Mary Beth to discuss their work teaching Hawaiian language and hula and how speaking the language of their ancestors connects them to the past, to the land and to their children. They're part of a movement to revitalize Hawaiian language, which is one of the languages considered by UNESCO to be critically endangered.
Kekoa and Pele can be reached via the school's email address: halauikaleoola@gmail.com
11 Mar 2021
Sonic Tea and Zen with Wu De
Wu De joins Mary Beth to talk about tea…how infusing water with the leaves of camellia sinensis can be a ritual of reverence and mindfulness and how it can connect us to our natural environment.
Wu De is the Zen name of Aaron Fisher, a philosopher and writer from Ohio, now based in Taiwan, who has dedicated his life to the study of Zen and tea. He’s the founder of the Global Tea Hut, a community of tea enthusiasts and he’s the author of the book The Way of Tea.
26 Feb 2021
Ear Training with Lisa Rainsong
Mary Beth is joined by Lisa Rainsong, a composer, naturalist and educator to discuss ear training, both in the context of music and in nature. Lisa is on the faculty of the Cleveland Institute of Music and is also a certified naturalist, who records the sounds of nature.
Lisa's blog:
http://listeninginnature.blogspot.com/
Her singing insect field guide page:
http://listeningtoinsects.com/
12 Feb 2021
Ocean of Sound feat. Dr. Chris Clark
Mary Beth talks with Dr. Christopher Clark about our sonic seas and the issue of ocean noise pollution. He's the former director of the bioacoustics research program at Cornell University and a faculty member in the department of neurobiology and behavior. Dr. Clark has spent his career raising awareness about the noise that humans are adding to the symphony in the ocean.
Dr. Clark's bio page: https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/staff/christopher-clark/
We discuss this Ted talk during the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdHW77blulg
28 Jan 2021
Song of the Wolf
Maggie Howell, biologist and Executive Director of the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem, NY, joins Mary Beth to talk about a place where the song of the wolf is being restored and preserved.
https://nywolf.org/
28 Jan 2021
The Quest for Quiet Places
Gordon Hempton and Matt Mikkelsen from Quiet Parks International talk with Mary Beth about meaning of quiet and why the world needs more quiet places.
Gordon Hempton is the co-founder of Quiet Parks International, a non-profit organization committed to the preservation of quiet places. He’s recorded natural soundscapes around the world; his work has been used in film and documentaries and he is the author of the book One Square Inch of Silence.
Matt Mikkelsen is a Sound recordist and documentary filmmaker and the executive director of Wilderness Quiet Parks at Quiet Parks international.
They have generously shared their beautiful sound recordings with us for this podcast…and their stories about sounds and listening.
https://www.quietparks.org/
https://www.soundtracker.com/
https://www.sprucetonefilms.com/
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4.9 / 5
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