In celebration of Earth Day today, we’d like to invite you to revisit several past episodes of Page Count. Enjoy!
The Great Environmental Awakening with Douglas Brinkley
In a conversation that includes topics as diverse as the burning Cuyahoga River, the conservation policies of past American presidents, environmental activism, Rachel Carson, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, and the Great Environmental Awakening, Brinkley sheds light on the history of U.S. environmentalism while offering hope for the future.
Global Weirding with Allegra Hyde
To celebrate the publication of her new story collection, The Last Catastrophe, Allegra Hyde discusses climate fiction, the concept of “global weirding,” the inspiration behind her speculative premises, the value of literary magazine publication, her revision process, what it was like to appear on a late-night show to discuss her debut novel, literary agents for short fiction writers, her writing process for novels vs. stories, creating art at the end of the world, and more.
Page Count Live: Trash & Delight with Ross Gay & Alison Stine
In a live episode recorded at the Lit Youngstown Fall Literary Festival, Ross Gay and Alison Stine discuss joy, trash, the art of writing quickly and without pressure, novel drafting, revision, writerly obsessions, creating art in a burning world, and, of course, why we must bring each other French fries.
Taking a Hike with Michelle Houts & Erica Magnus
Michelle Houts, the author of the picture book When Grandma Gatewood Took a Hike, and Erica Magnus, the book’s illustrator, discuss the life and adventures of Emma “Grandma” Gatewood, the first woman to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. Houts and Magnus share Gatewood’s incredible story while discussing the power of perseverance, the art of picture books, tips for aspiring authors, finding inspiration in nature, and more.
In addition to the books mentioned in our podcast episodes, you may also enjoy reading…
Resurrection of the Wild: Meditations on Ohio’s Natural Landscape by Deborah Fleming
Winner of the 2020 PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay. From the judges’ citation: “… a collection of essays about the nature and natural history of her native Ohio: on its indigenous inhabitants and their fate; on the settlers who displaced them, or who, like John Chapman—’Johnny Appleseed’—tried to protect their way of life; on the early ecologists, like Aldo Leopold and Louis Bromfield, who raised an unheeded alarm against the ‘desecration’ of the land by industry and development. Towards the end of the book, Fleming writes: ‘Like careless children who waste their inheritance, we do not deserve the planet we have been given.’”
Malabar Farm by Louis Bromfield
“As an early proponent of sustainability, [Bromfield] urged farmers to regard the land as a long-term treasure to be nurtured rather than a disposable resource to be exploited. Malabar Farm is an excellent source of information on soil improvement, erosion management, organic versus chemical fertilization, range development for cattle, waterway management, gardening, and animal husbandry. This seminal work on organic, sustainable agriculture is today more relevant than ever; even in this digital age it shines as a beacon for aspiring farmers, conservationists, and environmentalists worldwide.” – From the book jacket
Wild Ohio: The Best of Our Natural Heritage by James S. McCormac and Gary Meszaros
A photographic documentation of the most outstanding natural habitats in Ohio.
The authors feature approximately forty sites, encompassing nearly every type of habitat found in the state and representing all regions of Ohio. Naturalist Jim McCormac’s descriptive text provides an overview of each site and tips for visitors. Gary Meszaros’s stunning photographs highlight the visual beauty of each area’s flora, fauna, and landscape. Every section includes a description of the physiographic province and a map of the sites. (from the publisher)