Marker 01

Marker 02

What if it wasn’t spiders, heights, or flying… but grass, buttons, or your own reflection that made your hands clammy and your heart race?

Meet Bettina, a romantic comedy author who avoids lawns at all costs; Marcos, who dreads reflections and shaves in the shower to escape the mirror; and Mark, who hasn’t worn a shirt with buttons since he was a kid.

Connecticut psychologist Dr. David Tolin helps us understand how these fears develop, how they affect daily life, and why some people choose to confront their fears, while others simply adapt.

Suggested episodes:
Full house: The line between collecting, clutter, and hoarding disorder
Are you very superstitious or just a little 'stitious'?
Snakes in their mouths and venom in their veins: Why two snake pioneers do what they do

GUESTS: 
Dr. David Tolin: Founder and Director of the Anxiety Disorders Center at The Institute of Living in Hartford, CT. He is also Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine
Bettina Hunt: a romantic comedy author based in the UK, who has a phobia of grass
Marcos: a 24-year-old man from the Chicago area, who has a phobia of reflections
Mark Cardia: a man based in Portugal, who has a phobia of buttons

What if it wasn&rsquo;t spiders, heights, or flying&hellip; but grass, buttons, or your own reflection that made your hands clammy and your heart race?
Meet Bettina, a romantic comedy author who avoids lawns at all costs; Marcos, who dreads reflections and shaves in the shower to escape the mirror; and Mark, who hasn&rsquo;t worn a shirt with buttons since he was a kid.
Connecticut psychologist Dr. David Tolin helps us understand how these fears develop, how they affect daily life, and why some people choose to confront their fears, while others simply adapt.
Suggested episodes:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2023-01-26/full-house-the-line-between-collecting-clutter-and-hoarding-disorder" data-cms-ai="0">Full house: The line between collecting, clutter, and hoarding disorder</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2021-11-16/are-you-very-superstitious-or-a-little-stitious" data-cms-ai="0">Are you very superstitious or just a little 'stitious'?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2025-01-17/snakes-in-their-mouths-and-venom-in-their-veins-why-two-snake-pioneers-do-what-they-do" data-cms-ai="0">Snakes in their mouths and venom in their veins: Why two snake pioneers do what they do</a></li>
</ul>
GUESTS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://drtolin.com/" data-cms-ai="0">Dr. David Tolin</a>:&nbsp;Founder and Director of the&nbsp;<a href="https://instituteofliving.org/programs-services/anxiety-disorders-center" data-cms-ai="0">Anxiety Disorders Center</a>&nbsp;at The Institute of Living in Hartford, CT. He is also Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine</li>
<li>Bettina Hunt:&nbsp;a romantic comedy author based in the UK, who has a phobia of grass</li>
<li>Marcos: a 24-year-old man from the Chicago area, who has a phobia of reflections</li>
<li>Mark Cardia: a man based in Portugal, who has a phobia of buttons</li>
</ul>

Audacious with Chion Wolf will highlight the uncommon experiences of everyday people – asking the hardest, most uncomfortable questions. With curiosity and compassion, Connecticut Public producer and host Chion Wolf digs deeper, encouraging listeners to ask hard questions in their own lives.

Find out more at https://www.ctpublic.org/audacious

Audacious with Chion Wolf will highlight the uncommon experiences of everyday people – asking the hardest, most uncomfortable questions. With curiosity and compassion, Connecticut Public producer and host Chion Wolf digs deeper, encouraging listeners to ask hard questions in their own lives.
Find out more at https://www.ctpublic.org/audacious

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.

Common objects, uncommon phobias: Grass, reflections, and buttons

You know how sometimes you look outside, see a bird, and think, “Oh, hey! A cardinal! A blue jay! A robin!“

Happens all the time.

Now imagine what your life would be like if you traveled the world as part of a lifelong quest to become the first person to see 10,000 bird species.

Get to know Peter Kaestner. He shares the surprising story of how he came excruciatingly close to missing that once-in-a-lifetime shot. And find out why he believes there are a million ways to be a birder.

This episode originally aired August 23, 2024.

Resources:
eBird online database of bird observations, a project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
IOC World Bird List, an open-access resource maintained by the International Ornithological Committee
Merlin bird ID app by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, a free global bird guide with photos, sounds, and maps

Suggested episodes:
Wings, pouches, and snouts: The world of uncommon emotional support animals
We, The Dog

GUEST: 
Peter Kaestner: First person to catalog 10,000 bird species, discoverer of the Cundinamarca antpitta, is an ambassador for the American Bird Conservancy, and leads tours with Rockjumper Birding Adventures

You know how sometimes you look outside, see a bird, and think, &ldquo;Oh, hey! A cardinal! A blue jay! A robin!&ldquo;
Happens all the time.
Now imagine what your life would be like if you traveled the world as part of a lifelong quest to become the first person to see 10,000 bird species.
Get to know Peter Kaestner. He shares the surprising story of how he came excruciatingly close to missing that once-in-a-lifetime shot. And find out why he believes there are a million ways to be a birder.
This episode originally aired August 23, 2024.
Resources:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://ebird.org/home" data-cms-ai="0">eBird</a>&nbsp;online database of bird observations, a project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology</li>
<li><a href="https://www.worldbirdnames.org/new/" data-cms-ai="0">IOC World Bird List</a>, an open-access resource maintained by the International Ornithological Committee</li>
<li><a href="https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/" data-cms-ai="0">Merlin</a>&nbsp;bird ID app by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, a free global bird guide with photos, sounds, and maps</li>
</ul>
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" data-cms-ai="0">Wings, pouches, and snouts: The world of uncommon emotional support animals</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/environment/2021-01-29/we-the-dog" data-cms-ai="0">We, The Dog</a></li>
</ul>
GUEST:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Peter Kaestner:&nbsp;First person to catalog 10,000 bird species, discoverer of the Cundinamarca antpitta, is an ambassador for the&nbsp;<a href="https://abcbirds.org/" data-cms-ai="0">American Bird Conservancy</a>, and leads tours with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rockjumperbirding.com/about/tour-leaders/tour-leader-details/?tour_leader_id=81" data-cms-ai="0">Rockjumper Birding Adventures</a></li>
</ul>

Birdwatching Legend Peter Kaestner's Journey to 10,000 Birds

When you hear “philanthropy,” you might think of millionaires, black-tie galas, or buildings named after donors. But what if you could be a philanthropist without being wealthy?

In this episode, you’ll meet people who donate small amounts to hundreds of places, hand out cash on city streets, and send money directly to people in poverty, no strings attached.

Explore the power of small, consistent giving, and how even modest acts of generosity can spark massive ripple effects.

Suggested episodes:
GOOD NEWS! That’s how we celebrate 100 episodes of Audacious
Social media, the algorithm, and the state of our hearts
"Negativity be gone!": Artists igniting joy on social media

GUESTS: 
Rabbi Jeff & Mindy Glickman: creators of the “Giving Locally Everywhere” (GLeE) initiative, through which they donated to every NPR station and United Way branch in the country, as well as other organizations they value. Jeff serves as rabbi at Temple Beth Hillel in South Windsor, CT, and Mindy is a community leader and Hebrew instructor
Peter Bond: a social media creator best known for his TikTok and Instagram accounts, @bondgives, where he documents acts of kindness and helps people in need across New York City. Since 2021, he has been using his platforms to inspire others to give back and make a positive impact in their communities
Caroline Teti: a Vice President at GiveDirectly with decades of experience in almost all areas of the development sector, including the world’s largest and longest study on universal basic income. Her belief in direct cash as the most effective tool to end extreme poverty is also rooted in her upbringing in rural Kenya

When you hear &ldquo;philanthropy,&rdquo; you might think of millionaires, black-tie galas, or buildings named after donors. But what if you could be a philanthropist without being wealthy?
In this episode, you&rsquo;ll meet people who donate small amounts to hundreds of places, hand out cash on city streets, and send money directly to people in poverty, no strings attached.
Explore the power of small, consistent giving, and how even modest acts of generosity can spark massive ripple effects.
Suggested episodes:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2022-09-15/good-news-thats-how-we-celebrate-100-episodes-of-audacious" data-cms-ai="0">GOOD NEWS! That&rsquo;s how we celebrate 100 episodes of Audacious</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2023-01-06/social-media-the-algorithm-and-the-state-of-our-hearts" data-cms-ai="0">Social media, the algorithm, and the state of our hearts</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2024-02-29/negativity-be-gone-artists-igniting-joy-on-social-media" data-cms-ai="0">"Negativity be gone!": Artists igniting joy on social media</a></li>
</ul>
GUESTS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.turntothewonderful.com/" data-cms-ai="0">Rabbi Jeff &amp; Mindy Glickman</a>: creators of the &ldquo;Giving Locally Everywhere&rdquo; (GLeE) initiative, through which they donated to every NPR station and United Way branch in the country, as well as other organizations they value. Jeff serves as rabbi at Temple Beth Hillel in South Windsor, CT, and Mindy is a community leader and Hebrew instructor</li>
<li>Peter Bond: a social media creator best known for his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@bondgives" data-cms-ai="0">TikTok</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/bondgives?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&amp;igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==" data-cms-ai="0">Instagram accounts</a>, @bondgives, where he documents acts of kindness and helps people in need across New York City. Since 2021, he has been using his platforms to inspire others to give back and make a positive impact in their communities</li>
<li>Caroline Teti: a Vice President at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.givedirectly.org/" data-cms-ai="0">GiveDirectly</a>&nbsp;with decades of experience in almost all areas of the development sector, including the world&rsquo;s largest and longest study on universal basic income. Her belief in direct cash as the most effective tool to end extreme poverty is also rooted in her upbringing in rural Kenya</li>
</ul>

It all adds up: The joy of micro-philanthropy

Some rituals are spiritual. Some are silly. Some are inherited, and some are self-made.

Casper ter Kuile, author of The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities into Soulful Practices, walks us through how we create all sorts of meaningful, grounding rituals.

And you'll hear clips from past two years of Audacious guests who have shared the rituals that matter most to them, from morning journaling and bedtime affirmations to pre-show sign-slapping.

Whether you've already got your rituals down pat, or are still developing your own special routine, this episode shows you how to honor the sacred in the everyday.

Suggested episodes:
Forgiveness: How we define it and how it defines us 
Life advice, one Audacious guest at a time
Kitchen objects with a story. Listen at your own whisk
Why you so salty? The anger episode
Change Of Art: Stories About Tattoo Coverups
Awe yeah! Exploring the magic of mind-blowing moments

GUESTS: 
Casper ter Kuile: author of The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities into Soulful Practices. He holds Master's degrees in Divinity and Public Policy from Harvard University, and is a co-founder of Sacred Design Lab. He also co-hosts the podcast, Harry Potter and the Sacred Text
Audacious guests who shared their personal rituals (in order of appearance): Dean Edwards, Jessica Jin, Kristen Geez, Anna Holland, Lena Khalal Tuffaha, Chris Crowe, Bruce W Brackett, Moon Ribas, Azie Dungey, Pony Tromper, Mary Elizabeth Kelly, Paul Marcarelli, Brad White, Begoña Gómez Urzaiz, Dr. Gale Ridge, Mehdi Hasan, Stephanie Courtney, Rosanna Ramos, Sonya Horton, Greg Viloria, Ronnie “Woo Woo” Wickers, Zarna Garg, Jada Star, Luis Mojica, RoseMarie Wallace, Mindy Glickman, David Roche, Paul Gladis, and Arwen, Aidan, and Willow Gladis Perez-Sauquillo     

Some rituals are spiritual. Some are silly. Some are inherited, and some are self-made.
Casper ter Kuile, author of&nbsp;The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities into Soulful Practices, walks us through how we create all sorts of meaningful, grounding rituals.
And you'll hear clips from past two years of Audacious guests who have shared the rituals that matter most to them, from morning journaling and bedtime affirmations to pre-show sign-slapping.
Whether you've already got your rituals down pat, or are still developing your own special routine, this episode shows you how to honor the sacred in the everyday.
Suggested episodes:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2022-03-24/forgiveness-how-we-define-it-and-how-it-defines-us" data-cms-ai="0">Forgiveness: How we define it and how it defines us</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2025-01-10/life-advice-one-audacious-guest-at-a-time" data-cms-ai="0">Life advice, one Audacious guest at a time</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2022-03-03/kitchen-objects-with-a-story-listen-at-your-own-whisk" data-cms-ai="0">Kitchen objects with a story. Listen at your own whisk</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2022-01-13/why-you-so-salty-the-anger-episode" data-cms-ai="0">Why you so salty? The anger episode</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/arts-and-culture/2020-08-28/change-of-art-stories-about-tattoo-coverups" data-cms-ai="0">Change Of Art: Stories About Tattoo Coverups</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2025-03-14/awe-yeah-exploring-the-magic-of-mind-blowing-moments" data-cms-ai="0">Awe yeah! Exploring the magic of mind-blowing moments</a></li>
</ul>
GUESTS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.caspertk.com/" data-cms-ai="0">Casper ter Kuile</a>: author of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Power-Ritual-Everyday-Activities-Practices/dp/0062881825/ref=sr_1_1?crid=33STCM39FU628&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.OqrX-rFuis0HocWEXy4-NnkrighaYFk5wGFDZEfKiweRIyuJGLKWaQv22Bjx8uwoAjstcibhDLIBlH3gTpqUT7VHu99txdXLtIgBF16nTK2jrt37SGnpqsTYw-m81IwPxueEuVya1Zc7Vv_-6BdGPQ.lTfGs4SnxavbD3d6wvVqmeGcLzEGhkzeTH6oFTg13_w&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=casper+ter+kuile&amp;qid=1744741426&amp;s=books&amp;sprefix=casper+ter+kuile%2Cstripbooks%2C74&amp;sr=1-1" data-cms-ai="0">The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities into Soulful Practices</a>.&nbsp;He holds Master's degrees in Divinity and Public Policy from Harvard University, and is a co-founder of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sacred.design/" data-cms-ai="0">Sacred Design Lab</a>. He also co-hosts the podcast,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.harrypottersacredtext.com/about/our-story" data-cms-ai="0">Harry Potter and the Sacred Text</a></li>
<li>Audacious guests who shared their personal rituals (in order of appearance): Dean Edwards, Jessica Jin, Kristen Geez, Anna Holland, Lena Khalal Tuffaha, Chris Crowe, Bruce W Brackett, Moon Ribas, Azie Dungey, Pony Tromper, Mary Elizabeth Kelly, Paul Marcarelli, Brad White, Bego&ntilde;a G&oacute;mez Urzaiz, Dr. Gale Ridge, Mehdi Hasan, Stephanie Courtney, Rosanna Ramos, Sonya Horton, Greg Viloria, Ronnie &ldquo;Woo Woo&rdquo; Wickers, Zarna Garg, Jada Star, Luis Mojica, RoseMarie Wallace, Mindy Glickman, David Roche, Paul Gladis, and Arwen, Aidan, and Willow Gladis Perez-Sauquillo&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Common objects, uncommon phobias: Grass, reflections, and buttons

In 1 playlist(s)

Audacious with Chion Wolf

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips