Earth Day 2025
Crossing the high Himalayas. Image courtesy of George Schaller, shown second from left.
On listening, learning, and the power of primary source stories
Listening for change.
From the far reaches of the globe to familiar ground, renowned scientists, writers, naturalists, and environmentalists share their lived experiences with SPI, offering insights that deepen our connection to the natural world.
Kay Schaller, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. Image courtesy of George Schaller.
Among those in the SPI Earth and Environment collection who have shared their story are:
David Gruber, founder of Project CETI, is working to decode the communication of sperm whales, inviting us to rethink what it means to share the planet with other intelligent life.
Environmental chemist Dr. Sherri Mason has led groundbreaking research on microplastics in freshwater systems, bringing to light the pervasive presence of plastic pollution and its impact on ecosystems and human health.
Biologist and author Merlin Sheldrake explores the hidden world of fungi and the complex interconnections that shape life on Earth, reminding us that even what lies beneath our feet is alive with communication, cooperation, and mystery.
And legendary field biologist George Schaller shares stories from a lifetime spent observing some of the world’s most endangered species—from mountain gorillas to snow leopards—reminding us of the patience, presence, and humility required to truly know the natural world.
These are individuals who speak not just about the Earth—but for it.
Stories can shift the way we think. They can spark curiosity, understanding, and move us toward stewardship.
Mycologist Merlin Sheldrake conducting fieldwork in Chile’s temperate rainforest. Photo by Tomás Munita. Used with permission.
This Earth Day, we invite you to take a moment to listen—deeply. Let a voice in our collection guide you through a forest, under the sea, or into the sky. Let stories do what they do best: open a door to your heart and mind.
Listen to a voice in the Story Preservation collection—someone who studies the ocean, the sky, or the creatures in between. What did you learn from their perspective? How did their story change the way you think about the natural world?
Step outside. Find a quiet spot in nature—your backyard, a park, a sidewalk garden—and observe. What do you see, hear, or feel that you haven’t noticed before? Write about what the Earth might be trying to tell you.
Imagine you could speak on behalf of one part of nature—a forest, a river, a bee, a monarch butterfly. What would you say to the people reading your words? What story would you want them to hear?
About Story Preservation
Agroforestry in the Peruvian Amazon. Image courtesy of Robin Van Loon, Camino Verde.
Our Mission: Story Preservation Initiative believes in the transformative power of story to connect people around our common humanity and create a better future.
Our Work: We are a leading producer and online distributor of original, content-rich audio-based narratives for K-12 students. SPI stories are the raw materials of history, roadmaps to scientific discovery, and windows to the minds of artists and skilled tradesmen and women.
What We Achieve: SPI brings listeners into personal contact with extraordinary people whose stories engage their hearts and minds, imparting content knowledge and fostering curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking as they open doors to possible career paths in professions associated with the arts, sciences, humanities, and skilled trades. We are fully open-source.
When educating the minds of our youth, we must not forget to educate their hearts.
Please consider making a tax-free donation to SPI. We are an open-source educational nonprofit dependent upon the generosity of contributors. Every bit helps us keep the stories and projects coming.
Visit us here www.storypreservation.org