A pencil is just a pencil… unless it's a Blackwing. Welcome to the Birds & Nerds podcast. In each episode, we explore a random topic — today, we're all in on the best pencil EVER made — and, as always, we find the connection to birds. The legendary Blackwing 602 pencil was first manufactured in the 1930s and was favored by the likes of John Steinbeck, Chuck Jones, Steven Sondheim, Quincy Jones and so many more writers, musicians, and artists. A broken piece of machinery brought a half-century of production to a halt until 15 years ago when California Cedar Products revived the brand, recreating the celebrated tactile feel of its specially-formulated graphite against paper, and spawning a new generation of Blackwing devotees. The incense cedar wood used to make the Blackwing pencils is the product of sustainable forestry in California and Oregon, which promotes conservation, biodiversity, and supports birds in their crucial role in our ecosystem. Blackwing CEO Charles Berolzheimer joins me to discuss his lifetime connections to birds and how his family has always celebrated and protected our feathered friends. He talks about his favorite bird, the Osprey. Charles also explains how the simple act of using a pencil and paper can help people find balance in a fast-paced digital world, and how his Blackwing Foundation is funding and developing K-12 music and arts education programs and introducing that new generation to the joys of creating. In this episode, you'll learn a lot about the history of the Blackwing pencil, pencil making in general, conservation, and birds. You'll also hear a couple of really good haikus inspired by birds and the Blackwing. Devotion to a pencil may seem a bit much, but as a decades-long fan myself I guarantee that once you try the Blackwing you will understand. https://blackwing602.com/ https://blackwingfoundation.org Visit the Birds & Nerds website and subscribe to notifications: https://www.birdsandnerdspodcast.com/ Who am I? I am an award-winning journalist and storyteller curious about everything! Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramonaschindelheim/  

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