TED Talks Daily: "How I Imitate Nature's Voices" | Snow Raven (Re-release)

Episode Date: April 3, 2026
Speaker: Snow Raven (with host Elise Hu)
Theme: Listening to Nature—Blending Indigenous Wisdom and Sonic Artistry

Episode Overview

This episode of TED Talks Daily features a re-release of a 2024 TED Next talk and performance by Snow Raven, an Arctic Siberian singer and sound artist of the Indigenous Saha people. Snow Raven shares her journey of listening deeply to the natural world and mimicking its voices—from owls to wolves—as a way to communicate with and honor nature. The episode highlights both her personal story and her belief in the transformative, connective power of listening.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Transformative Power of Listening

• Listening as Connection:
  Snow Raven opens by emphasizing the value of deep silence and listening, describing it as a “powerful gift the universe has given humans to connect with nature.”

  “The first thing I did when I arrived was drop into silence and listen. Listening is one of the powerful gifts the universe has given humans…” (03:55)

• Learning Nature’s Voices:
  She recalls from a young age “learning the language of the birds and the animals around her” (00:14), which became her lifelong practice.

2. The Art of Mimicry and Imagination

• Embodiment through Listening:
  Snow Raven explains that she not only imitates animal sounds, but also embodies their essence through imagination and movement.

  “I listen with my imagination and become an animal that I hear. I move like it moves. I seek what it seeks. I cry with its cry.” (04:44)

• Connecting with Specific Animals:
  She takes listeners through a poetic tour of her homeland's animals, describing their unique behaviors and symbolic meanings among the Saha people:
  • Owl (Kakan): Night vision, presence, and silent flight
  • Brown Kite (Alia): Announcing the arrival of summer with joy
  • Loon: Longing and parental love
  • Crane: Divine dancer—happiness for those who witness
  • Brown Bear (ehe): An imposing presence, yet eats little berries
  • Reindeer (Taba): Lords of the tundra, running great distances
  • Wolf: A hunter’s loneliness and yearning for freedom
  • This segment not only communicates sounds but also cultural lore and emotion (04:55–07:55).

3. Imagination as Superpower

• Intertwining Sound and Imagination:
  Snow Raven frames listening as a creative, imaginative act, not just passive reception:

  “The superpower of listening is that it leaves the room for imagination to dance with a sound.” (08:50)

4. Live Performance

• Demonstration:
  Snow Raven transitions from speaking into an evocative sound performance, mimicking the calls and cries of the animals she described.
  • (Performance begins at 09:01)
  • The host and audience react in awe at her ability to conjure the wild through her voice alone.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Greeting in Saha Language:

  “This is the way indigenous Saha people greet one another. This phrase has no exact English translation, but it means: I greet the universe in your person.” (03:55)

• Creativity in Listening:

  “Let’s listen, ignite our imagination, and summon our animal superpowers here and now.” (08:55)

• Host’s Introduction:

  “Those sounds you just heard were not a series of recorded bird sounds. That’s actually music producer and singer Snow Raven…” (00:14)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:14 — Host’s introduction to Snow Raven and her craft
• 03:55 — Snow Raven’s Saha greeting; opening reflections on listening
• 04:44–08:55 — Animal stories and cultural meanings interwoven with mimicry philosophy
• 09:01–10:46 — Live performance segment: imitating nature’s voices
• 11:34 — Host thanks Snow Raven, closes the main talk content

Tone & Language

• Snow Raven’s voice weaves tradition, poetic imagery, and passion for nature.
• Her language is reverent, imaginative, and celebratory—rooted in Indigenous ethos.
• The host, Elise Hu, maintains an atmosphere of curiosity and admiration.

Summary Takeaway

"How I Imitate Nature’s Voices" is a moving meditation on attentive listening as a bridge between humanity and nature. Snow Raven’s story and performance invite listeners to reclaim the simple, profound act of listening—to the land, to its creatures, and to ourselves. Her message, grounded in Indigenous wisdom and artistic expression, serves as a powerful reminder: by opening our senses and imaginations, we can rediscover ancient connections and spark new reverence for the natural world.