Episode Details

What happens when we stop expecting other species to communicate on human terms?

In this episode of Listening with China Blue, I talk with Jim Nollman, interspecies musician and creator of "Orcas Greatest Hits", about music, orcas, and listening across species.

We explore what happens when music becomes a meeting place between species: how Jim Nollman improvises with orcas, how he recognizes when an animal is responding, and what decades of listening have taught him about communication, intelligence, agency, and consciousness.

Our conversation asks us to consider whether meaningful communication with other species begins when we stop expecting them to communicate on human terms, and whether listening itself can become a form of relationship.

If you’re curious about what animals can teach us about listening, this episode is for you.