Walkin' on the Wild Side

• Christmas without Chestnuts

  Welcome back to Walkin' on the Wild Side.  Happy Holidays from Gabrielle and I, and we are in the Holiday spirit!  This episode, we talk about one of the most recognizable songs and nut (actually more like a fruit), the chestnut.  Chestnuts and Christmas just seem to go together, but sadly, because of a blight, the once dominant and massive tree that produced delicious nuts for wildlife, people, and generations of  Christmas around the world was eliminated from the forests of eastern US in the blink of an eye (40 years).  We'll talk about how chestnuts went from a holiday staple to just a verse in a song.  What happened and can you still get chestnuts?  Join us as we sit around the fire pit on the back porch and reminisce about what used to be and the possibility that one day, the chestnut will once again, return to it's former glory.You can learn more about chestnuts from these websites:Chestnut blight:  https://tacf.org/history-american-chestnut/Chestnut research:  https://www.esf.edu/chestnut/index.phphttps://www.finedininglovers.com/explore/articles/chestnuts-z-26-things-about-chestnutsHow chestnuts are used in Italian cooking:  https://www.lacucinaitaliana.com/italian-food/how-to-cook/roasting-chestnuts-a-guide-to-the-cherished-italian-holiday-traditionThe Italian Chestnut Growers Consortium:  https://www.consorziocastanicoltori.it/ (in italian, so please get google to translate)Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event?  Email us below for more information!Email us at [email protected] us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general.  We will be posting our Yellowstone pics here:Nature Nook PhotographyWalkin' on the Wild SideYou can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback.  Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

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• Beautiful Things Called Waxwings

  It's that time again and for this episode, we are chatting about one of the most deceptively beautiful birds that come to our area in the Fall, the cedar waxwing.  These social birds are mostly seen invading fruit trees and flying from tree to tree in large flocks.  Upon a closer look, these brown blobs suddenly reveal an amazingly beautiful bird.  With beautiful coloration, a crest on its head, and a bold black mask, these birds reveal a ravenous appetite for fruit!  Join us and learn more about this bold, beautiful, and quite interesting fall migrant.Learn more about the cedar waxwing here:https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cedar_Waxwing/overviewhttps://www.aba.org/2020-bird-of-the-year-cedar-waxwing/https://www.inaturalist.org/posts/108090-fun-facts-about-the-cedar-waxwingInterested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event?  Email us below for more information!Email us at [email protected] us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general.  We will be posting our Yellowstone pics here:Nature Nook PhotographyWalkin' on the Wild SideYou can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback.  Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

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• When Plants Attack!

  After a little hiatus and celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary, we're back!  We had a great time celebrating with friends and family, but are happy to be back in the podcast studio!  This episode is about some strange plants that you may have seen, but maybe didn't know what they were.  We're talking about parasitic plants, but these plants aren't your run of the mill parasites, they are funky, spooky, and fascinating!  Join Gabrielle and I on the back porch as we talk about these "sapsuckers" and "nutrient vampires" right after Halloween!Here's some great websites to learn more:https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/conopholis_americana.shtmlhttps://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/traditional-forest-medicinal-plant-ghost-pipe-used-differently-todayhttps://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/pinesap.htmlhttps://www.scottarboretum.org/epifagus-virginiana/https://www.fws.gov/media/dodder-invasive-speciesPhotos on Facebook are found at the following websites:Pinesap:  https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/pinesap.htmlDodder:  https://homegarden.cahnr.uconn.edu/2025/09/01/dodder/Ghost Pipes:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/monotropa_uniflora.shtml American Cancer-root/Bear corn: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/59980-Conopholis-americanaInterested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event?  Email us below for more information!Email us at [email protected] us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general.  We will be posting our Yellowstone pics here:Nature Nook PhotographyWalkin' on the Wild SideYou can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback.  Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

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• Walkin' on the Wild Side - 2025 Bigfoot Festival

  Here's a bonus episode!  Since we were talking about local legends, we decided to podcast from the 2025 Bigfoot Festival in Marion, NC.  Join us as we walk around the festival, talk to a few vendors and bigfoot investigators, and even listen in on a Bigfoot calling contest!  We had a great time, met some great folks, and enjoyed a great festival.  Check out the links below for more info on the festival, our "interviewees", and more!SASQUATCH ODYSSEY:  https://paranormalworldproductions.com/sasquatch-odyssey-blogMY BIGFOOT LIFE:  https://www.mandmfilmproductions.co.uk/projects/mythicallegendsmybigfootlife CRYPTID CREW YOUTUBE:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6j16gfiJHTwB2ksnS1tL-gCRYPTID CREW PODCAST WITH MARK CHILDERS:  https://thecryptidcrewpodcast.podbean.com/YOU BIG APE HANDMADE BIGFOOT MERCH:  https://www.ubigape.com/BIGFOOT FESTIVAL IN MARION, NC:  https://marionbigfootfestival.wordpress.com/Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event?  Email us below for more information!Email us at [email protected] us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general.  We will be posting our Yellowstone pics here:Nature Nook PhotographyWalkin' on the Wild SideYou can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback.  Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

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• The Local Legends of South Carolina - Pt. 3 - The Legend of the Gray Man

  Hey everyone and welcome back to Walkin' on the Wild Side!  We finish up our three part series on the local legends of South Carolina with one of Gabrielle's favorite legends of the Lowcountry, the Gray Man.  This legend is a prognosticator of hurricanes and landfall, often protecting the person and property he reveals himself to.  The legend started in the 1800's in Pawley's Island, SC and has persisted to this day.  There are different versions, but all have a similar outcome.  A person sees a gray man in an overcoat and hat, he warns them to flee the impending storm, and their homes are spared, even when everything around them is devastated.  Join Gabrielle and I in Pawley's Island, close to where the legend was born, and then join us for dinner as we talk to a local young man, Chandler, who happened to be our waiter at the amazing Rustic Table restaurant.  We hope you enjoy this episode and here's a few websites to learn more about this legend of the Lowcountry:https://wkml.com/2024/08/21/the-mysterious-legend-of-the-gray-man-ghost-in-south-carolina/https://pawleysvacationrentals.com/the-grey-man/https://southcarolinaparks.com/huntington-beachhttps://hammockshops.com/Awesome restaurant featuring our waiter, Chandler!https://www.rustictable.com/Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event?  Email us below for more information!Email us at [email protected] us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general.  We will be posting our Yellowstone pics here:Nature Nook PhotographyWalkin' on the Wild SideYou can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback.  Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

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