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🔭 Where to Find Mark
Website: https://authormarkbenson.com
Instagram: @waysidewriter

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What happens when grief meets the cosmos?
In this episode of Wildly Unplug, I sit down with author and NASA Solar System Ambassador Mark Benson to explore space, storytelling, healing, and human connection.
We dive into his novel, Isaac and the Sky—a story that blends astronomy, loss, and identity—and unpack how looking at something as vast as the universe can help us process something as intimate as grief.
But this conversation goes far beyond the book…

We talk about:
How stargazing and nature can help us reconnect with ourselves
The surprising ways creative tools (like telescopes, sketchbooks, and writing) help us heal
What it’s really like to be a NASA ambassador
The truth about light pollution—and how it affects wildlife, humans, and our ability to see the stars
Why space is actually an extension of nature itself
Behind-the-scenes insights into Project Hail Mary and what science fiction gets right (and wrong)

We also explore a powerful idea:
That we often live as side characters in other people’s stories…
…and how we can step into being the main character of our own life.
If you’ve ever felt the pull to slow down, look up, and reconnect with something bigger, this episode is for you.

Key Takeaways
Healing doesn’t always come from looking inward—it can come from looking outward
You don’t need a grand adventure to reconnect with nature—just step outside and look up
Creativity and curiosity are powerful tools for processing life’s hardest moments

🎧 About Wildly Unplug
Wildly Unplug shares stories of nature, conservation, creativity, and human connection—helping you rediscover what develops when you unplug and step outdoors.

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