Scott Thybony Commentaries

Sharing food with strangers is among the oldest human customs. It can serve as an act of kindness, unity, or ritual, and can help us hold on to traditions. In Scott Thybony’s latest Canyon Commentary, he explores the idea of sharing food through the framework of his world travels. 

The Southwest has been in the grips of an intense heatwave this summer, breaking records and setting new ones for high temperatures and lack of rain. In mid-August, the highest temperature ever reliably recorded on Earth was in Death Valley, California at 131 degrees. KNAU Commentator Scott Thybony had to see for himself what that kind of heat was like. So, he headed out to the hottest place on Earth and has this Canyon Commentary for us.

Visitors to the Southwest and the Colorado Plateau often comment on the stunning, and sometimes strange, light effects they encounter. Commentator Scott Thybony has found that what lies beyond the visual experience can have an even greater impact. Here is his latest Canyon Commentary, A Scattering of Light. 

The United States is reckoning with a painful history of slavery, genocide and systemic racism. Protests continue across the country, bringing awareness to the impact that history continues to have on people of color. Today, commentator Scott Thybony brings us the story of his experience attending a ceremony in Texas to honor the ancestors of Black Seminole Indians. He was working on a story for Smithsonian magazine at the time. The Black Seminoles escaped from southern rice plantations in the 18th century, and by the late 1700’s, were building their own settlements in Florida, fighting a series of wars to keep from being enslaved. In his latest Canyon Commentary, Scott recounts the memorial gathering he attended to honor their bravery. 

KNAU commentator Scott Thybony always spends a lot of time outdoors, but that’s been especially true of the last 6 weeks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Scott’s been walking canyon rims, volcano craters and hollowed-out cliffs filled with rock art images. In between hikes, he’s been writing. And in this week’s Canyon Commentary, Scott reflects on his recovery from encephalitis many years ago, drawing some parallels to the current situation. He says being able to connect with others was part of the healing process.