Sounds of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Gentle Waves on the Beach at Sunset Artwork

Nature is my Jam

I love the sounds of nature. The dawn chorus, wind moving through the trees, coyotes calling in the dark. For me, those sounds bring calm, curiosity, and a real connection to the world around us.

Nature Is My Jam is a podcast of soundscapes recorded in the quiet corners of Northern Michigan and beyond. I'm Darrin, a field recordist. Each episode is a natural soundscape, shared as it was heard. It's a brief pause from the noise of everyday life and a reminder to listen more closely.

Subscribe, put on some headphones, and take a listen.

All Episodes

Nature is my Jam

Sounds of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Gentle Waves on the Beach at Sunset

August 11, 2022 • Darrin Wassom • Season 1 • Episode 10

0:00 | 30:50

Send us Fan Mail

I would like to thank everyone that has donated or otherwise supported Nature is my Jam by liking, following, sharing and/or subscribing to the podcast. Your support goes directly to creating future episodes and allows this podcast to be ad-free and 100% listener supported. Your kindness means the world to me and I hope you might feel inspired to explore the natural areas where you live.

Welcome to the 10th episode of the Nature is my Jam Podcast! The weather has been a mix of rain and wind for days and life has been hectic, so I welcomed the promise of a beach sunset to reset my soul. The Peterson Road Beach at Sleeping Bear Dunes in one of my favorite beaches, so without hesitation, I loaded up my gear and made the 45 minute drive to my secret parking spot. I love beaches but hate walking on sand with a backpack, so found a spur trail that avoids most of the sand and gets me to a spot that is usually void of people.

Except for a family gathering about a half mile away, I had the entire stretch of beach to myself. I brought the Zoom F6 and the Audio Technica BP 4025 to record the waves as they rolled in to the shore. It was a far cry from the week before where I witnessed 4-6’ waves crashing the beach and sand stinging my exposed skin. I also brought the Zoom F3 and the Lom Geofón microphone to experiment with recording the seismic activity of the wave motion. I stayed at the beach until midnight and loved every minute. As the sun went down, the waves also settled down and fell into a gentle rhythm.

I know I say this every week, but I think this is one of my favorite recordings. The full recording is 3 hours, but this episode captures the character of the evening spent on the beach in just 30 minutes. This is great for headphones, as you can hear the subtle differences between the left and right channels and the individual sounds as the water hits the sand. It’s mesmerizing and, if I dare say, a perfect way to fall asleep. Let me know your thoughts and if you’d like me to upload the entire recording.

Recording Summary: