When exploring a branch of highly evolved animal consciousness that evolved
in parallel (and completely separate) from our own, Sy Montgomery is sure
of one thing: “If I have a soul, an octopus does too.” If you want even the
tiniest dose of confirmation, try to keep your eyes dry while watching this
octopus thank its rescuer in a two-minute video that has garnered 11
million views and counting: releasing a stranded octopus. (If you have more
time, Amazing Octopus: Most Intelligent Animal on Earth is a must-watch
too!) 

I am over-the-moon to bring you this week's interview with Sy, who became
an instant soul-friend the moment we started talking. I'm in awe of her
career as a naturalist writing about and befriending pigs, tigers,
dolphins, hyenas, and now octopuses (not octopi as many assume for
plural form!) around the world. I love her passion for animals, and the
heart with which she shares their beautiful stories and spirits. 

Sy has been described by the Boston Globe as "Part Emily Dickinson, part
Indiana Jones.” Researching articles, films, and her 26 books for adults
and children, she has been chased by an angry silverback gorilla in Rwanda,
hunted by a tiger in India, and swum with piranhas, electric eels and pink
dolphins in the Amazon. Her work has taken her from the cloud forest of
Papua New Guinea (for a book on tree kangaroos) to the Altai Mountains of
the Gobi (for another on snow leopards.) 

For her recent book (the one that inspired me to reach out), The Soul of an
Octopus, a National Book Award finalist, Sy befriended octopuses at the New
England aquarium and scuba dived and snorkeled with wild octopuses in
Mexico and French Polynesia. We also talk in detail about The Good, Good
Pig: The Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood (2006), a memoir about
her 14-year relationship with her pig who grew to be 750 pounds, famous
within her town of Hancock, and beloved by all who met him. 

At the end, we briefly dive into her routines for such prolific writing
while traveling, and her practice of reflecting beyond the details of what
happened to "what that day showed me."