Wiscobirder: From Hip Hop to Birding—Dexter Patterson’s Wild Journey
Passion Pod Episode 175: Wiscobirder (Dexter Patterson) | Birds, Hip Hop, & Building a Life by Passion
Meet Dexter Patterson, better known as @WiscoBirder: professor at UW-Madison, co-founder of the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, and a passionate advocate for nature and diversity. In this episode, Dexter shares his unique journey from shaping Wisconsin’s hip hop scene to becoming a leading voice in birding and outdoor accessibility.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
Dexter’s early days in music: dropping out of college, starting a rap crew, and building the local hip hop community
Discovering a love for birds and nature after a mind-blowing osprey video
Navigating career changes: factory jobs, pandemic layoffs, and going back to school as a working parent
Becoming a professor at UW-Madison
Founding the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin and writing his first book
Promoting diversity and accessibility in the birding community
Unique bird facts, the importance of green spaces, and life lessons on following your passions
And much more!
About Wiscobirder:
Dexter’s story is all about reinvention, resilience, and the power of pursuing what truly excites you. From hip hop to ornithology, his journey inspires others to embrace change and create a life built on passion.
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Timestamps:
0:00 – Intro
3:00 – Hip hop roots & college dropout story
10:30 – Discovering birding & nature
16:00 – Career pivots, factory work, and pandemic layoffs
22:15 – Returning to school and becoming a professor
28:00 – Starting the BIPOC Birding Club
34:40 – Writing a book & promoting diversity
40:00 – Bird facts, green spaces, and life lessons
48:00 – Closing thoughts
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