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What makes your jaw drop? A celestial event? A powerful piece of music?

In this episode, explore awe in its many forms, from a total solar eclipse to the psychology of wonder.

Psychologist Dacher Keltner breaks down the science of awe, cellist Yumi Kendall shares how music transports us, and Audacious listeners share their most treasured moments of awe.

This episode originally aired on March 14, 2025.

GUESTS: 
Mara Suttmann-Lea, Joseph Dickerson, and Stefan Keller: Awestruck with Chion in Vermont during the April 8, 2024 total eclipse. Click here to watch a video of the experience
Dacher Keltner: Professor of Psychology at UC Berkeley and faculty director of the Greater Good Science Center. He hosts The Science of Happiness podcast, and he’s the author of many scientific articles and several books, including Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life 
Yumi Kendall: Assistant Principal Cellist at the Philadelphia Orchestra. She founded and co-hosts the Tacet No More podcast  
Awestruck Audacious listeners who sent in voice memos (in order of appearance): Brenton Graveley, Carissa Teff, Levi Lomasky, Vinny Camire, Khaleel Rahman, Anne Mercer, Michelle Horsley, Erin Shapland, Pamela Morrison-Wolf, Maria Raviele, Carl Delmolino, Paul Gladis, Jane Carroll, Nell Codner, Catherine Shen, Maggie Downie, Brian Foley, Allison Durham, Jennifer LaRue, Lisa Sanchez Gonzalez

What makes your jaw drop? A celestial event? A powerful piece of music?
In this episode, explore awe in its many forms, from a total solar eclipse to the psychology of wonder.
Psychologist Dacher Keltner breaks down the science of awe, cellist Yumi Kendall shares how music transports us, and Audacious listeners share their most treasured moments of awe.
This episode originally aired on March 14, 2025.
GUESTS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Mara Suttmann-Lea, Joseph Dickerson, and Stefan Keller:&nbsp;Awestruck with Chion in Vermont during the April 8, 2024 total eclipse.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HXqyGfTcLRw">Click here to watch a video of the experience</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.dacherkeltner.com/">Dacher Keltner</a>:&nbsp;Professor of Psychology at UC Berkeley and faculty director of the&nbsp;<a href="https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/">Greater Good Science Center</a>. He hosts&nbsp;<a href="https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/podcasts/series/the_science_of_happiness">The Science of Happiness</a>&nbsp;podcast, and he&rsquo;s the author of many scientific articles and several books, including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Awe-Science-Everyday-Wonder-Transform/dp/1984879685">Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li>Yumi Kendall:&nbsp;Assistant Principal Cellist at the Philadelphia Orchestra. She founded and co-hosts the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tacetnomore.com/">Tacet No More</a>&nbsp;podcast&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Awestruck Audacious listeners who sent in voice memos (in order of appearance): Brenton Graveley, Carissa Teff, Levi Lomasky, Vinny Camire, Khaleel Rahman, Anne Mercer, Michelle Horsley, Erin Shapland, Pamela Morrison-Wolf, Maria Raviele, Carl Delmolino, Paul Gladis, Jane Carroll, Nell Codner, Catherine Shen, Maggie Downie, Brian Foley, Allison Durham, Jennifer LaRue, Lisa Sanchez Gonzalez</li>
</ul>

Audacious with Chion Wolf spotlights the stories of people whose experiences, professions, or conditions defy convention or are often misunderstood. Guided by deep curiosity and genuine compassion, the team behind Audacious creates space for the kinds of stories that rarely get told - and the kinds of questions we're often afraid to ask. From those speaking publicly for the very first time to voices already known around the world, every guest is met with care, and every story is honored as both deeply personal and profoundly human.

For more: ctpublic.org/audacious

Audacious with Chion Wolf spotlights the stories of people whose experiences, professions, or conditions defy convention or are often misunderstood. Guided by deep curiosity and genuine compassion, the team behind Audacious creates space for the kinds of stories that rarely get told - and the kinds of questions we're often afraid to ask. From those speaking publicly for the very first time to voices already known around the world, every guest is met with care, and every story is honored as both deeply personal and profoundly human.
For more: <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf">ctpublic.org/audacious</a>

Audacious with Chion Wolf spotlights the stories of people whose experiences, professions, or conditions defy convention or are often misunderstood. 

Audacious with Chion Wolf

Audacious with Chion Wolf spotlights the stories of people whose experiences, professions, or conditions defy convention or are often misunderstood.

Guided by deep curiosity and genuine compassion, the team behind Audacious creates space for the kinds of stories that rarely get told - and the kinds of questions we’re often afraid to ask. From those speaking publicly for the very first time to voices already known around the world, every guest is met with care, and every story is honored as both deeply personal and profoundly human.

Listen at ctpublic.org/audacious

Support is provided by a generous contribution from Suzanne Hopgood, in Memory of Frank Lord.

Audacious with Chion Wolf spotlights the stories of people whose experiences, professions, or conditions defy convention or are often misunderstood.
Guided by deep curiosity and genuine compassion, the team behind Audacious creates space for the kinds of stories that rarely get told - and the kinds of questions we&rsquo;re often afraid to ask. From those speaking publicly for the very first time to voices already known around the world, every guest is met with care, and every story is honored as both deeply personal and profoundly human.
Listen at <a href="http://ctpublic.org/audacious">ctpublic.org/audacious</a>
Support is provided by a generous contribution from Suzanne Hopgood, in Memory of Frank Lord.

Awe yeah! Exploring the magic of mind-blowing moments

A wise woman once said, “You can tell the ocean anything, but it has to be the truth.“ 

Chion Wolf boards the MSC Meraviglia expecting a week of small talk and sunscreen. But the farther she gets from land, the more people become willing to hang out in the deep end to talk about love, loss, faith, sobriety and stories they’ve been holding onto for years.

When they speak, the ocean listens. And in this hour, so do you.

Listen to a BONUS track featuring more voices from the ship: Latisha from the Bronx; Vincent Ferrito and Lauren Englemann from Brooklyn, NY; Brittney and Jeana Lockhart from New Bedford, MA; Henry Armbrister, Barbara Williams, Dellie Maycock, and Giovanni Ferguson from Nassau, Bahamas.

Suggested episodes:
The Big E: What it takes to create 17 days of magic
Life advice, one Audacious guest at a time
It's A Brand Nude Day! 
Discovering delight - and despair - in dumpster diving
Welcome to the Punderdome! We're entering NYC's punniest pun competition
SOLD! Audacious Auctioneers

Plus, Advice on Amtrak’s Southwest Chief, a project Chion did interviewing passengers on a 48-hour train ride

GUESTS: 
A segment: Keith Miller from Long Island, NY; Kevin Luong from New York, NY; Vin Panday from Ontario, Canada; Jessica Struble from Holly, PA; Ruby Selver from Turks and Caicos; and Marty and Mary Pasternak from Buffalo, NY
B segment: Mike Turner from Levittown, PA; Brian Martignetti from El Paso, TX; Darrell Floyd from New Haven, CT; and Randy Deveaux and Sylvia Wilson from Nassau, Bahamas
C segment: Joe and Valerie Leone from Blue Bell, PA; Tommy and Cindy Lazarz from Ware, MA; John and Ada Sue Siler from Richmond, VA; and Javier and Angela Mahon from Brooklyn, NY

A wise woman once said, &ldquo;You can tell the ocean anything, but it has to be the truth.&ldquo;&nbsp;
Chion Wolf boards the MSC Meraviglia expecting a week of small talk and sunscreen. But the farther she gets from land, the more people become willing to hang out in the deep end to talk about love, loss, faith, sobriety and stories they&rsquo;ve been holding onto for years.
When they speak, the ocean listens. And in this hour, so do you.
<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/audacious-with-chion-wolf/bonus-more-stories-from-the-cruise-ship">Listen to a BONUS track</a> featuring more voices from the ship: Latisha from the Bronx; Vincent Ferrito and Lauren Englemann from Brooklyn, NY; Brittney and Jeana Lockhart from New Bedford, MA; Henry Armbrister, Barbara Williams, Dellie Maycock, and Giovanni Ferguson from Nassau, Bahamas.
Suggested episodes:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2025-10-03/the-big-e-what-it-takes-to-create-17-days-of-magic">The Big E: What it takes to create 17 days of magic</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2025-01-10/life-advice-one-audacious-guest-at-a-time">Life advice, one Audacious guest at a time</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/mental-health/2020-07-03/its-a-brand-nude-day">It's A Brand Nude Day!</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2022-02-17/discovering-delight-and-despair-in-dumpster-diving">Discovering delight - and despair - in dumpster diving</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2023-09-22/welcome-to-the-punderdome-were-entering-nycs-punniest-pun-competition">Welcome to the Punderdome! We're entering NYC's punniest pun competition</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2021-07-29/sold-audacious-auctioneers">SOLD! Audacious Auctioneers</a></li>
</ul>
Plus, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoAxOJHPoDA">Advice on Amtrak&rsquo;s Southwest Chief</a>, a project Chion did interviewing passengers on a 48-hour train ride
GUESTS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">A segment: Keith Miller from Long Island, NY; Kevin Luong from New York, NY; Vin Panday from Ontario, Canada; Jessica Struble from Holly, PA; Ruby Selver from Turks and Caicos; and Marty and Mary Pasternak from Buffalo, NY</li>
<li aria-level="1">B segment: Mike Turner from Levittown, PA; Brian Martignetti from El Paso, TX; Darrell Floyd from New Haven, CT; and Randy Deveaux and Sylvia Wilson from Nassau, Bahamas</li>
<li aria-level="1">C segment: Joe and Valerie Leone from Blue Bell, PA; Tommy and Cindy Lazarz from Ware, MA; John and Ada Sue Siler from Richmond, VA; and Javier and Angela Mahon from Brooklyn, NY</li>
</ul>

Audacious at sea: Wisdom from strangers on a cruise ship

Ahoy! Here’s a little bonus treasure from our episode, Audacious at Sea: Wisdom from Strangers on a Cruise Ship. 

Chion spends a blissful vacation week aboard the MSC Meraviglia with about 5,000 fellow humans, sailing from Brooklyn to the Bahamas and back. And because we couldn’t fit everyone she talks with into the on-air version, this bonus gives you even more of their voices and stories.

Somewhere in between sunrise coffees and late-night pizza buffets, Chion asks passengers - and a few locals in Nassau, Bahamas - to share their favorite piece of life advice.

That opens the door to conversations that go way beyond advice, and into the values that people have carried with them much of their lives.  

GUESTS:


Latisha from the Bronx


Vincent Ferrito and Lauren Englemann from Brooklyn, NY


Brittney and Jeana Lockhart from New Bedford, MA


Henry Armbrister, Barbara Williams, Dellie Maycock, and Giovanni Ferguson from Nassau, Bahamas

Ahoy! Here&rsquo;s a little bonus treasure from our episode, <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/audacious-with-chion-wolf/audacious-at-sea-wisdom-from-strangers-on-a-cruise-ship">Audacious at Sea: Wisdom from Strangers on a Cruise Ship</a>.&nbsp;
Chion spends a blissful vacation week aboard the MSC Meraviglia with about 5,000 fellow humans, sailing from Brooklyn to the Bahamas and back. And because we couldn&rsquo;t fit everyone she talks with into the on-air version, this bonus gives you even more of their voices and stories.
Somewhere in between sunrise coffees and late-night pizza buffets, Chion asks passengers - and a few locals in Nassau, Bahamas - to share their favorite piece of life advice.
That opens the door to conversations that go way beyond advice, and into the values that people have carried with them much of their lives.&nbsp;&nbsp;
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
Latisha from the Bronx
</li>
<li>
Vincent Ferrito and Lauren Englemann from Brooklyn, NY
</li>
<li>
Brittney and Jeana Lockhart from New Bedford, MA
</li>
<li>
Henry Armbrister, Barbara Williams, Dellie Maycock, and Giovanni Ferguson from Nassau, Bahamas
</li>
</ul>

BONUS: More stories from the cruise ship

Would you leave your family, friends, home, and job to move over a thousand miles away to take care of a pet squirrel? Meet two people who did just that for 8 year-old Thumbelina.

Then, meet a birdkeeper at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute who was chosen by an endangered crane to be her life partner for almost 20 years.

This episode originally aired on September 13, 2024.

Listen to an updated conversation with Chris Crowe, including his experience getting his first tattoo - a giant portrait of Walnut.

Suggested episodes:
Wings, pouches, and snouts: The world of uncommon emotional support animals
Birdwatching legend Peter Kaestner's journey to 10,000 birds
Audacious kids: Stories of courage, conservation, and compassion

GUESTS: 
Christina and Michael Reyes: The human parents of Thumbelina, an eight-year-old squirrel who has more than two million followers on social media
Chris Crowe: Birdkeeper at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute’s campus in Front Royal, Virginia, and caretaker of Walnut, an endangered white-naped crane from 2004 until her death in January 2024

Would you leave your family, friends, home, and job to move over a thousand miles away to take care of a pet squirrel? Meet two people who did just that for 8 year-old Thumbelina.
Then, meet a birdkeeper at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute who was chosen by an endangered crane to be her life partner for almost 20 years.
This episode originally aired on September 13, 2024.
Listen to an updated conversation with Chris Crowe, including his experience getting his first tattoo - a giant portrait of Walnut.
Suggested episodes:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2023-05-26/wings-pouches-and-snouts-the-world-of-uncommon-emotional-support-animals">Wings, pouches, and snouts: The world of uncommon emotional support animals</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2024-08-23/birdwatching-legend-peter-kaestners-journey-to-10-000-birds">Birdwatching legend Peter Kaestner's journey to 10,000 birds</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2023-12-08/audacious-kids-stories-of-courage-conservation-and-compassion">Audacious kids: Stories of courage, conservation, and compassion</a></li>
</ul>
GUESTS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Christina and Michael Reyes:&nbsp;The human parents of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@little_thumbelina_girl">Thumbelina</a>, an eight-year-old squirrel who has more than two million followers on social media</li>
<li>Chris Crowe:&nbsp;Birdkeeper at the&nbsp;<a href="https://nationalzoo.si.edu/">Smithsonian&rsquo;s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute</a>&rsquo;s campus in Front Royal, Virginia, and caretaker of Walnut, an endangered white-naped crane from 2004 until her death in January 2024</li>
</ul>

Awe yeah! Exploring the magic of mind-blowing moments

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