Reflections from an LOE Intern

Hello Living on Earth listeners!

It’s Jade here. You may remember me from a September newsletter introducing myself as an LOE intern. Believe it or not, my time with LOE has come to an end. But before I officially sign off, I want to share some of my favorite parts of my experience with the team.

While at LOE, I got to produce a variety of stories and speak with a plethora of interesting and enthusiastic individuals who energized my people-focused brain. If you want to hear one of my favorite stories I produced this season, definitely check out this piece on Stingless Bees with Teresa Tomassoni. Tomassoni is a brilliant speaker and exceptional writer and a journalist with our partner Inside Climate News. In this segment, she recalls her journey climbing Amazonian mountains and traveling to meet indigenous Peruvian communities in order to learn what it means for a bee to earn legal rights.

I also had the pleasure of reading a bunch of books, helping decide which authors to bring on the show. I’m a fiction girl at heart, but I leaned into the opportunity to read nonfiction with the team, knowing that I had to be blown away by some of the books. I was not disappointed.

One book I recently finished was titled Nature and the Mind: The Science of How Nature Improves Cognitive, Physical, and Social Well-Being by Dr. Marc Berman. The book discusses environmental neuroscience — a term coined and popularized by Berman. I was fascinated by his studies, some of which offered intriguing evidence for helping restore our ability to focus. Most of my work revolves around sitting in front of a computer screen. Our brains are simply not wired to stay focused through hours of analytical and critical thinking — what Berman calls directed-attention. It’s easy to binge a tv show for hours on end, but it’s a different kind of attention that doesn’t require the same mental load. So, how can we better stay focused on work? We all take breaks to some degree, whether scrolling on social media, getting a cup of coffee, or stopping to stretch. But, Berman argues that taking a break by walking in nature has more benefits than we may know. 

But I don’t want to give it all away. The LOE team will speak with Dr. Berman come the new year, and you’ll have the opportunity to hear about his exciting findings.

As I write this, I’m at home in New Jersey, sitting in my dining room by the radiator, looking out the window at nearly 5 inches of snow. Although snow is rather angelic when falling, once it’s frozen on the ground, I become less of a fan. It makes the sidewalks mushy, and don’t get me started with black ice. Going outside during the winter isn’t an easy feat — at least for me. Yes, I suppose I could suit up and venture onto the snowy sidewalks, but I’d rather snuggle up with my dachshund with a cup of tea and a fluffy blanket. And of course, a good book. Which brings me back to Dr. Berman.

Getting out in nature in the way Berman’s book recommends is particularly hard at this time of year. But that doesn’t mean I can’t “naturalize” my environment, as Berman says in his book. I can rejuvenate previously wilting outdoor plants by bringing them inside. Yes, Berman says having plants in your space, even faux ones, can be beneficial to our cognitive health. 

And yes, maybe I can get off my couch and get outside — and even bring my dog, Howie, with me. He’s only 13 pounds, but he’ll gladly run through the snow, biting at it like his own puppy popsicle. 

One last thing, before I say goodbye to LOE, I want to express my gratitude to the LOE team for their support, camaraderie, and creativity these past few months. And thanks to everyone who’s reading the newsletter and tuning into the shows. From being a listener to being an intern, this full circle experience with radio has only deepened my love for the craft of audio storytelling. 

I wish everyone peaceful reflection and warmth as the new year arrives. To new adventures and more storytelling in 2026.

Jade Poli

Editorial Intern