Podcasts · Science

The Seán Chorus

HeadStuff Podcasts

10 episodes

Hosted by Cork-born ornithologist and wildlife sound recordist Seán Ronayne, The Seán Chorus brings the beauty of the natural world directly to your ears.Following a five-year journey to record all of Ireland's birds, Seán has built an extraordinary archive of over 40,000 recordings. From farting seals to vibrating leafhoppers, and of course plenty of birdsong, if it's natural and makes a sound, Seán has it.Now, with his new podcast, Seán has found the perfect way to bring these sounds to life and tell the personal stories and adventures behind them.A sanctuary of calm from the madness of daily life, the show blends unscripted field audio, studio reflections, and conversations with nature lovers.

More about the show

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Episodes

  1. Rare Thrills

    · 1 h 00 min

    Seán returns with a late October walkabout at Knockadoon, East Cork, in search of rare autumn migrants. Take an audible adventure through this peninsula and discover why it's a magnet for visiting birds, encounters…

  2. A Moonlit Listen

    · 46 min

    In this episode, Seán records through the night at Ballynamona Strand in East Cork, capturing golden plover wing beats overhead, a bat buzzing past his microphone, and the underwater sounds of fish and prawns beneath…

  3. From the Heart

    · 53 min

    In this episode, Seán recalls his beginnings and how a Catalan woman walked into a Cork city bar and changed the trajectory of his life forever. Interwoven with more sound recordings, Seán details his move to…

  4. The Sounds of Autumn

    · 48 min

    This episode is a celebration of autumn bird migration — the great movements of birds that arrive on Irish shores each year from Scandinavia, Siberia, and beyond. With field recordings of yellow-browed warblers,…

  5. Barefoot in East Cork

    · 42 min

    Originally recorded Summer 2026 This very special episode is an immersive field audio essay, recorded live in two of Sean's favourite local spots in East Cork — a rewilding quarry he has known since childhood and the…

  6. The Sounds of Summer

    · 45 min

    Originally recorded June 2026 This episode of The Sean Chorus podcast is an immersive celebration of the sounds of the Irish summer, from birdsong and buzzing insects to coastal wildlife. With more recordings from…

  7. A Tribute to Manchán Magan

    · 51 min

    This episode of The Sean Chorus podcast is Sean Ronayne's personal tribute to his friend and mentor Manchán Magan, the acclaimed Irish author and broadcaster who died last October at age 55. Sean traveled to the Hill…

  8. The Sound of a New Home

    · 44 min

    This week on The Seán Chorus, Seán Ronayne provides a small update along with more sounds and moments that have made his new home feel familiar. From the call of the curlew echoing through the balcony door, to…

  9. An Introduction: Becoming "Nature Boy"

    · 41 min

    Welcome to the very first episode of The Seán Chorus! This week, our host Seán Ronayne introduces himself and shares the deeply personal journey that shaped his life and career. From childhood memories and surviving…

  10. The Seán Chorus is Coming Soon!

    · 1:00 · Trailer

    Episode one of The Seán Chorus is out Thursday the 27th of August! Hosted by Cork-born ornithologist and wildlife sound recordist Seán Ronayne, The Seán Chorus brings the beauty of the natural world directly to your…

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