From the Vault: The Queerness of Nature, with Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian

In this Vault episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, host Robert Lamb speaks with Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian, author of Forest Euphoria: The Abounding Queerness of Nature, a groundbreaking exploration of queer ecology. The conversation delves into how scientific understanding of nature has been shaped by cultural biases, particularly the Western tendency to impose binary, heteronormative frameworks on biology. Kaishian, a mycologist and PhD researcher, reveals how fungi, insects, eels, and cassowaries exhibit inherently non-binary reproductive strategies and complex social systems that challenge human-centric definitions of 'normal.' She argues that queer ecology is not a political imposition on science, but a corrective to historical subjectivity in scientific inquiry—exemplified by Carl Linnaeus's derogatory labeling of fungi and Sigmund Freud's failed attempts to force eels into binary sex categories. The discussion also highlights the importance of practices like the 'sit spot'—a meditative, regular engagement with a natural place—as a way to cultivate belonging, attention, and ecological stewardship in an age of crisis. Kaishian emphasizes that embracing queerness in nature fosters a deeper, more inclusive understanding of life and our place within it.