David’s guest is Dr. Bryan Watts, a conservation biologist and professor at William and Mary, where he serves as the Director of the Center for Conservation Biology. He holds a BS in biology from Virginia Tech, an MA in biology from William and Mary, and a PhD in ecology from the University of Georgia. Since founding the Center in 1992, he has led over 1000 avian research projects focusing on ecological principles and habitat conservation in the Mid-Atlantic region. His recent work includes s...

Jim Duffy began his storytelling journey as a cub reporter for a small newspaper near Chicago and eventually made his way to Baltimore. He transitioned into magazine writing and editing, contributing to publications like Baltimore Magazine, Chesapeake Bay Magazine, and City Paper, before embarking on a freelance writing career centered on the arts, urban development, and healthcare. Currently, Jim focuses on capturing the culture and character of the Delmarva Peninsula. He founded “Secrets of...

Our next guest on Sharing the Mic with David Phillips (January 1st) is the esteemed Katy Clune, who serves as Virginia’s state Folklorist and is the innovative Director of the Virginia Folklife Program at Virginia Humanities. With a profound commitment to preserving and promoting the rich tapestry of diverse cultures and traditions throughout the state, Katy's work is vital in fostering community pride and cultural heritage. She holds a master’s degree in Folklore from the prestigious Univers...

Award-winning writer and author Tom Horton, a native of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, has written about the environment for the Baltimore Sun for over three decades. His lifelong interest in the Chesapeake Bay Region has found expression in a number of writings, including his memoir of life on Smith Island in the book An Island Out of Time (1996), as well as Bay Country, The Great Marsh, Turning the Tide, and Water's Way. Tom’s articles have also been featured in National Geographic. Tom has...

Cullen Strawn, PhD, Executive Director for the Arts at Old Dominion University has also overseen an art exhibition honoring the life and work of Eastern Shore artist and pastor Mary Elizabeth "MAMA-Girl" Onley (1953 - 2018). The exhibition is free and open to the public and will remain on view through May 10, 2025, at the Baron and Ellin Gordon Art Galleries at Old Dominion University.Folks are invited to explore a diverse collection of some 150 artworks and objects from MAMA-G...

On this month’s episode of “Sharing the Mic,” host David Phillips sits down with Eastern Shore native Barry Mears. Author of the 2023 book Living Shoreborn: A Glimpse into Life on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, Barry captures the power of community – not only in the book, but also in his daily life.

David Phillips chats with 3 former BIC Margaret Jane Dickinson interns. Tune in on September 1st to find out what Max Patten, Destin Rodgers, and Anna Hart have been up to since their respective summers in Machipongo!

Our guest is Blake Tullos, BIC's Margaret Jane Dickinson Intern for the Summer of 2024. A native of Magnolia, TX, Blake's collegiate undergraduate studies brought him to Virginia – first to Hampden-Sydney College and then to James Madison University, where he's a rising senior. At James Madison University, he is pursuing a B.A. in International Affairs and a minor in history.

Our guest is David Goodrich, author, retired United Nations climatologist, former head of the UN Global Climate Observing System, and helmsman on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather ship. Goodrich is the author of two non-fiction books that combine the science of climate change with distance cycling travel logs. His first book, A Hole in the Wind, captures Goodrich’s bicycle journey across the United States as he speaks with Americans from all political persuasions abo...

Jon Wehner of Chatham Vineyards - Chatham Vineyards is owned and operated by the Wehner family at historic Chatham Farm, a working farm for four centuries.Jon Wehner is a second-generation winegrower on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. He learned about grape growing from his parents, who operated Great Falls Vineyard in Great Falls, Virginia, for over thirty years. He and his wife, Mills, and their three children own and operate the vineyard and winery.