Magic & Mountains

Let us never forget that our choices matter, and our lives matter.

During a particularly hard time in her own childhood, Dr. Doyin Atewologun kept a journal. She wrote the story of her life, and it helped her to remember where she came from… and where she longed to go. In this episode, she tells us about how she walked the trail from growing up in Lagos, Nigeria to now being the Dean of Rhodes Scholars at Oxford University in Eng...

Perseverance — a quality essential to success.

In this episode, T.A. talks with Kate Williams, CEO of a unique environmental group called 1% for the Planet, about the true meaning of perseverance — and how core values can lift an entire organization.

Our world today faces huge environmental challenges. But only a tiny sliver of total philanthropic giving goes to environmental causes. Kate’s organization is on a mission to chang...

A leader brings the weather, and in this episode, President and CEO of American Rivers, Tom Kiernan, gives us a warm summer day (with a cool breeze) and a ton of enthusiasm.

T. A. and Tom K. discuss how nature has the capacity to hold us in times of stress, loss, and deep personal struggles. We hear the heartbreaking and uplifting story of how Tom Kiernan has become a devoted protector of open spaces and wild places. And we reflect...

Leave no book unsigned. And leave no bowl of homemade soup uneaten.

In this episode, T. A. shares some of his favorite adventures from three decades of touring the world on his book tours. We travel from a small town in Alaska, to the top of the Washington Monument, to the island of Shikoku, Japan. From an early book event where no one showed up and even the host left for coffee, to filling bookstores and speaking to thousands at...

How do you bring a character’s voice to life in a way that is authentic? How does one get started in audio book narration?

In this episode, we learn about the art of voice-acting and audio-book narration from two very different voices in the industry.

John Lee, the brilliant narrator of the audio book version of T. A. Barron’s

Jill Santopolo is an author, publisher, mother, and born storyteller. She gracefully weaves big moral questions, dilemmas, and choices into all of her books.

In this episode, T. A. and Jill illuminate their creative process in working together as author and editor. They discuss how to add layers of richness and depth into books. They share why stories make us feel less alone, how to see a place as a friend, and what guides us throu...

Are we willing to walk with our characters? Are we willing to go far enough? Are we willing to let go to find transcendence?

This episode’s special guest is former Editor in Chief of Philomel Books, Patricia Lee Gauch. Patti (as she’s known by her friends) was T. A. Barron’s editor for over 30 years – editing 27 of his 32 books.

T. A. and Patti speak passionately about finding the core values of your story, then protecting and nurt...

Stories emerge from the darkness… characters walk out of a mist… no map, no directions, just a candle and an invitation to muse.

This is how Isabel Allende writes – with transcendence, vulnerability, and magic.

In this wonderfully candid and soulful conversation, Isabel shares with us the heartbreaking story of how she lost her beloved daughter Paula, which inspired the...

The spectacular journey of light continues.

How has the metaphor of light inspired T. A. Barron throughout his life and writings? Gather round to hear… and also to help Tamwyn, the wilderness guide of Avalon, re-light the stars.

Join us around this magical fire to hear more readings from T. A. Barron’s books, a musical performance by co-host Carolyn Hunter, and even… a love poem written by ...

As Buddha said, “Make of your life a light.” What does that really mean? And how do we make our life, our gift of time, a candle flame that can light even the darkest places?

In this episode, T. A. Barron takes us on a beautiful journey of inspiration and light. He reads passages from his books Heartlight and ...

Join T. A. Barron in an intimate and soulful conversation with the bright light that is Dr. Jane Goodall. What is her deepest wish for the world? And what is her next great adventure?

T. A. and Dr. Jane, who is now almost 90 years old, consider our troubled world, the indomitable human spirit, and the importance of giving ...

In season 2 of Magic & Mountains, we journey far and wide to the minds of courageous and visionary leaders like Jane Goodall and Isabel Allende, guided by the uplifting wisdom of T. A. Barron. We explore the wonders and inspiration of nature (as well as the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss) and the power of young people to make a positive difference in our world. Plus, you’ll hear T. A.’s amazing stories from his ...

How did one eight-year-old girl protect endangered rainforest in Costa Rica and all the songbirds living there? How did a bold middle schooler rally an entire community in Montana to install solar panels?

Today we welcome on to the show two more outstanding young heroes.

Phebe Meyers founded a group called Change the World Kids that has helped tropical songbirds throughout Central America.

Claire Vlases did everything possible to g...

How did one 11-year-old girl ultimately touch the lives thousands of young people in Africa? How did one teenage boy in New York City change an abandoned lot into a garden… while also changing the lives of many in his community?

Today we meet Ashley Carter & Shawn Henry, two inspiring young people who have won the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes.

Ashley founded a nonprofit group called Africaid that supports education and entr...

What is the difference between a hero and a celebrity? What does it mean to be a real-life hero? And why do heroes really matter?

T. A. and Carolyn discuss why we need heroes now more than ever.

T. A. describes meeting a deeply cynical girl in Ohio who inspired him to write the non-fiction book The Hero’s Trail. Hear the amazing story of a courageous girl named Wilma Rudolph. And learn about the origins of the Gloria Barron Prize f...

What is a resplendent quetzal? And how can magnificent creatures like this enlighten and inspire us… and give us the courage to protect the world’s most wondrous ecosystems?

In this episode, T. A. welcomes onto the show his friend and hiking companion, Carter Roberts, the President and CEO of the World Wildlife Fund in the USA.

Carter shares with us his first magical experience in nature. He tells us how he finds time to get out in...

How does Rue, founder of Outdoor Afro, retain her sense of joy? And how has she kept her childlike sense of wonder through all the challenges of life?

We are so thrilled to welcome to the show one of T. A.’s most favorite people in the whole world, Rue Mapp. She is the founder and CEO of Outdoor Afro, an important organization and network that celebrates and inspires Black leadership and connections in nature.

We learn about what i...

Why does nature have such great power to heal, transform, and inspire? Walk with us in the enchanted forest of nature, full of wonder and mystery.

T. A. Barron shares the story of how he first came to know the enduring power of nature. He walks us through his journey from a nature writer to a fantasy writer and why the magic of nature infuses all his stories.

Carolyn and T. A. discuss the dangers that nature is facing in the 21st c...

Why is it essential to follow your dreams? What part of your soul would you sacrifice if you never tried? What can we learn from life’s rejections and failures?

In today’s episode, T. A. invites you to see your own life as a story. A story of which YOU are the author.

He shares some of the most bizarre and surprising (and funny!) turns in his own life story…  including the 32 rejections of his first novel! He also shares the laugh-...