📖6.17 Anthropos Podcast: How do I prepare for my episodes?
Reflecting on how I met and invited my podcast guests, the process felt both organic and thoughtful. I first connected with Peng through a conversation about bird collision prevention, as he had been seeking my advice on measures for a park he managed, Hongshi Park. After our discussion, we decided to collaborate on monitoring bird collision data for the park, installing bird-friendly measures, and offering guided tours to visitors. Additionally, my “Bird Friendly Community Development Project” is conducting a bird census in the areas Peng manages. The data we collect will help his team identify which park areas are favored by species, and these areas will serve as a model for redesigning low-biodiversity zones. I also birdwatch with him. I chose to invite Peng to my podcast because of his balanced perspective on the intersection of human needs and animal welfare, with an emphasis on finding solutions that benefit both. His approach, which focuses on incremental changes and ecological balance, is necessary for navigating the complexities of the Anthropocene without falling into extremes of optimism or hopelessness.
I have known Archie since my time at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology last summer, where I worked as a photo annotator and extern at the Macaulay Library. We became colleagues and birdwatching friends on weekends. I invited him to the podcast because of his unique perspective on how technology, often seen as contradictory to nature, can actually help protect wildlife.
When approaching both Peng and Archie, I explained the podcast’s focus on the Anthropocene, the platform it would be displayed on, and provided them with key questions ahead of time, such as: “As cities keep expanding, are we getting closer to nature or further away?” and “In the age of AI, big data, and machine learning, how can these technologies help us navigate the challenges of the Anthropocene, especially in conservation efforts with birds as an indicator species?” These questions helped them reflect, but they were unable to write or memorize a full script for the podcast, which allowed the discussions to stay natural.
Before the conversations, I only had a general outline based on a past, present, and future structure (e.g., 1. self-introduction, 2. zoo, 3. park for the first episode) to guide the flow, but I hadn’t prepared specific questions. While asking questions on the spot was challenging, it made the episodes more interactive and allowed me to learn more about my guests in real time by listening carefully and staying focused. It was a fun experience, and I’m excited to continue this series with more experts, including panda researchers.
The equipment used for the episode recordings included a Fuji X-T4 camera, Zoom, and a DJI microphone.