Thank you for joining us for episode 411 of Live Happy Now.

We know that getting out in nature is good for us, but this week's guest understands it better than most.

I'm your host, Paula Phelps, and this week I'm sitting down with Maya Rose Craig, a 20-year-old birdwatcher, environmentalist, and diversity activist.

Maya Rose formed the Black to Nature organization at the age of just 14 to engage other

teenagers of color with nature. She has already been awarded an honorary doctorate by Bristol

University for her pioneering work in this area and her memoir, Bird Girl,

looking to the skies in search of a better future, looks at the power of nature and birds,

as well as the important role they have played in dealing with her mother's mental illness.

She's here today to share her compelling story about what she's learned from nature.

Let's have a listen.

Maya Rose, thank you so much for coming on Live Happy Now.

Hi, no, thank you for having me.

You have written a fantastic book that we're going to talk about today.

So unique, and I think it's something our listeners are just going to love hearing about.

And I think I want to start your memoir is named Birdgirl.

So can we start by talking about how you earned that nickname?

Yeah.

I think the funny thing, because I started calling myself Birdgirl when I was about 11.

Oh, no, possibly slightly younger.

And at the time, it was because I had just set up a blog,

because that was in 2013, that was the thing that people did

when they wanted to socialize.

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