Everyday Naturalist with Rebecca Lexa

Send us Fan Mail Everyday Naturalist with Rebecca Lexa  In this episode of Book Science, host Tripp Collins sits down with tour guide, educator, and naturalist Rebecca Lexa to discuss her book, Everyday Naturalist: How to Identify Animals, Plants, and Fungi Wherever You Go. This is a guide to how to get started as a naturalist including tools and resources. We also explore why learning the names of our living neighbors deepens our connection to the broader community of life.  Key Highlights:  Why Everyday Naturalist is designed to teach you how to use field guides rather than replace them. The collaborative design process with Colombian artist Ricardo Macía Lalinde and Ten Speed Press. Shifting perspective from nature as an extractive backdrop to seeing individual species as neighbors. The history of natural science classification, from Aristotle and medieval bestiaries to Linnaean taxonomy. Practical guidance on identification apps like iNaturalist, critical thinking in the field, and avoiding dangerous foraging mistakes. Chapters:   00:00:00 - Introduction and announcements: D-Day video recap and the new Field Notes format 00:01:03 - Introducing Rebecca Lexa and Everyday Naturalist 00:02:55 - Rebecca's journey from the Ozarks to the Pacific Northwest and the origins of the book 00:05:34 - Audience: From complete nature novices to experienced naturalists branching into new kingdoms 00:07:13 - Daily writing routines on the Washington coast and managing deep research days 00:09:51 - Working with illustrator Ricardo Macía Lalinde and the art design process 00:14:15 - Crafting sidebar text boxes to highlight animal behavior and field ethics 00:15:39 - Linnaean taxonomy vs modern cladistics: The utility and limitations of binomial nomenclature 00:18:48 - Connecting with nature: Naming species, overcoming plant blindness, and seeing living neighbors 00:25:57 - Ecopsychology, Mary Oliver's Wild Geese, and reconnecting with the rest of nature 00:32:02 - The history of natural science: Aristotle, medieval bestiaries, and early empirical classification 00:39:02 - The joy of species identification, dopamine rewards, and E.O. Wilson's biophilia 00:43:41 - Technology in the field: How to use iNaturalist safely and why apps cannot replace critical thinking 00:49:06 - Engaging respectfully with indigenous knowledge without romanticizing or appropriating 00:52:26 - Scientific literacy, daily curiosity, and getting comfortable with not knowing everything 00:56:21 - Recommended reading, writing inspirations, and where to find Rebecca's work  00:59:43 - Shoutout to Kristin Hugo, writing groups, and episode wrap-up   Rebecca's Links and Resources: Visit Rebecca Lexa's Official Website for tours, classes, and resources Explore the full Everyday Naturalist Bibliography Follow Rebecca on Instagram and Bluesky Connect with Rebecca's projects via Linktree See artwork by illustrator Ricardo Macía Lalinde on Instagram Book Science Links: Pick up Everyday Naturalist on Bookshop.org or explore the Book Science Season Collection Read full transcripts and show notes on TrippCollins.com Watch video episodes on YouTube Follow Book Science on Instagram Connect with Book Science on Bluesky Support the show