Outside/In

To the American birder, spotting the Tamaulipas Crow is potentially a once-in-a-lifetime event. The crow's range is mostly in Mexico and extends ever so slightly into Texas, specifically in and around a dump called the Brownsville Landfill. Spotting the Tamaulipas — north of the border — means being able to check it off your American Bird Association Checklist.

So just how far will die-hard birders go to see this bird?

In this episode producer (and first-time birder) Michaela Elias sets out to the southern border with a group of experienced birder friends to find out. Together with her "wingmen" Michaela braves the Texas heat, crawls through brush and over slippery rocks, and risks getting attacked by dogs — to find out whether collecting bird sightings as if they're Pokémon is a meaningful way to engage with the natural world.

Featuring Jake Glassman, Joe Hack, and Joel Glassman.

Produced by Michaela Elias. For full credits and transcript, visit outsideinradio.org.

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LINKS

Check out the eBird app, a crowdsourced database of bird observations that lets you log all the birds you’ve seen and where you’ve seen them.
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Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America. It may also be the most hated. Tennis and basketball players are complaining about losing court space because of an “invasion” of pickleballers. Residents are losing sleep because of the incessant noise. Fights over pickleball have led to a slew of petitions, calls to the police, and even lawsuits.

So why do pickleball players love this sport so much? Just how annoying is it to everyone else? And what will it take for everyone to just get along? 

Producer Felix Poon visits one of the most popular courts in Boston to see how the drama is unfolding there.

This episode was originally reported in 2025.

Featuring Kemardo Henry, Martha Merson, Soren Whited, and Zariyah Cherise.

For a transcript and full list of credits, go to outsideinradio.org. 
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If you’ve ever met someone with an interesting job and wished you could ask them a hundred questions about what they really do all day, this is a show to check out. What It’s Like to Be... is a podcast hosted by bestselling author Dan Heath that explores the world of work one profession at a time. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

If you’ve ever met someone with an interesting job and wished you could ask them a hundred questions about what they really do all day, this is a show to check out. What It’s Like to Be... is a podcast hosted by bestselling author Dan Heath that explores the world of work one profession at a time. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

A listener recently asked, “Has the entire surface of earth at some point or another been covered in poop?” Turns out, there are some questions that even we can’t answer. 

In this installment of our regular mailbag segment, the Outside/Inbox, we do our best to take on your zany inquiries, or find experts who can. Here are this week’s questions:


Why was there a sudden spike in “dangerous carbon monoxide levels” during a snowstorm in New Hampshire?


Is there any official recognition for hiking the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail?


Why are live scorpions allowed in the mail?


Why do kids (and adults) chant “Do it! Do it! Do it!” and other chants?


Do all predators have forward-facing eyes?

Featuring Kathleen Simmons, Carlos Santibanez-Lopez, and Barb Lake.

Produced by Felix Poon, Marina Henke, and Nate Hegyi. For full credits and transcript, visit outsideinradio.org.
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