Constant Wonder

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River Rising: Jeremy Jones, His Old Farmhouse, and Hurricane Helene

August 05, 2026

Jeremy Jones has loved exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains since childhood, and despite his world travels, his identity as a "mountain person" always brought him home. His family has lived in Henderson County for five generations—so when Hurricane Helene sent the river rising toward his old farmhouse, it threatened more than a house. In this episode of Constant Wonder, Jeremy joins host Marcus Smith to share what it took to rebuild, and how the experience reconnected him to his neighbors, his ...

Shark Lover: Advocating for "Scary" Creatures

July 29, 2026

Snakes. Scorpions. Sharks. From a young age, Rachel Graham has always been interested in marginalized, "scary" animals. In this episode of Constant Wonder, she and host Marcus Smith discuss how she embarked on her quest to change people’s mindsets about sharks—fascinating and threatened creatures that regularly fill her with awe. From being surrounded by a real-life sharknado to swimming alongside curious whale sharks, Rachel has had many peaceful, once-in-a-lifetime encounters with these me...

Fiddling with the Heart: Gaelynn Lea's Fearless Sound

July 22, 2026

Gaelynn Lea plays the violin like a cello — a technique she discovered almost by accident, one that would eventually carry her from a small-town orchestra to NPR's Tiny Desk Concert and, later, to composing the original music for Broadway's revival of Macbeth, starring Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga. In this episode of Constant Wonder, she talks with Marcus Smith about her unconventional technique, the unexpected opportunities it opened up, and how her songwriting continues to evolve. Gaelynn L...