Dog Days of Podcasting Challenge

https://www.bathtubmermaid.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/TBM-2512-07-DDOA-Wander.mp3 Description: Welcome to the Dog Days of Advent. I made a list of prompts, and wrote a bite-sized story for each one. They don’t live in the same universe, but they’re all a little off-kilter from what you might expect from holiday fare. And if you pay attention, you’ll notice that the last line of each story becomes the first line of the next. Today’s prompt is  Wander Excerpt: One by one, they step into the starlit desert. Their glow grows brighter as they move away, pale lights bobbing like will-o'-wisps across the dunes. She watches until they're only a constellation of tiny sparks at the edge of sight. Episode Cast: Melissa A. Bartell Links and References Transcript: Wander Dog Days of Advent Credits: The Bathtub Mermaid: Tales from the Tub is written and produced by Melissa A. Bartell, and is recorded and produced using Audacity. Bathtub Mermaid blog header art was created by Rebecca Moran of Moran Media Sound Effects and Music are from Freesound and UppBeat Contact: BlueSky: @melysse.bsky.social Facebook: MissMelysse Instagram: @Melysse Mastodon: @Melysse Email: missmelysse@gmail.com Or, leave a comment on this page.  

Smoothy, Chili and Snoopy the Dogg by The Great Luke Ski https://thefump.com/music/song/snoopy-the-dogg

https://www.bathtubmermaid.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/TBM-2512-06-DDOA-Ember-Spark.mp3 Description: Welcome to the Dog Days of Advent. I made a list of prompts, and wrote a bite-sized story for each one. They don’t live in the same universe, but they’re all a little off-kilter from what you might expect from holiday fare. And if you pay attention, you’ll notice that the last line of each story becomes the first line of the next. Today’s prompt is  Ember/Spark Excerpt: The circle widens, ripples spreading, and the two species drift into a shared rhythm — some with hands, some with arms, all with joy. In their mingled glow, something ancient rises, older than language or gravity: the understanding that warmth is not bound to flame, and family not bound to form. Episode Cast: Melissa A. Bartell Links and References Transcript: Ember/Spark Dog Days of Advent Credits: The Bathtub Mermaid: Tales from the Tub is written and produced by Melissa A. Bartell, and is recorded and produced using Audacity. Bathtub Mermaid blog header art was created by Rebecca Moran of Moran Media Sound Effects and Music are from Freesound and UppBeat Contact: BlueSky: @melysse.bsky.social Facebook: MissMelysse Instagram: @Melysse Mastodon: @Melysse Email: missmelysse@gmail.com Or, leave a comment on this page.  

https://www.bathtubmermaid.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/TBM-2512-05-DDOA-Frost.mp3 Description: Welcome to the Dog Days of Advent. I made a list of prompts, and wrote a bite-sized story for each one. They don’t live in the same universe, but they’re all a little off-kilter from what you might expect from holiday fare. And if you pay attention, you’ll notice that the last line of each story becomes the first line of the next. Today’s prompt is Snowglobe. Excerpt: The lights above them pulse, soft as breathing. She remembers that first storm — the fear of the power failing, the scramble to secure the greenhouse domes, the way they'd worked side by side in the cold until dawn. That was when it began, really: not the flirtation or the laughter, but the quiet respect that came from surviving something together. Episode Cast: Mark, the Encaffeinated One Melissa A. Bartell Links and References Transcript: Frost Dog Days of Advent Credits: The Bathtub Mermaid: Tales from the Tub is written and produced by Melissa A. Bartell, and is recorded and produced using Audacity. Bathtub Mermaid blog header art was created by Rebecca Moran of Moran Media Sound Effects and Music are from Freesound and UppBeat Contact: BlueSky: @melysse.bsky.social Facebook: MissMelysse Instagram: @Melysse Mastodon: @Melysse Email: missmelysse@gmail.com Or, leave a comment on this page.  

Today's NPC Prompts were:Historical Setting, Rat-like, Doctor, Outlaw, Chaotic Good, Intelligence, Distracted, AgelessThe balance of scientific curiosity and morality is a delicate one. Most physicians will take choose science for the "greater good", but Doc Wyrmstitch asked, good for whom. Donning his rat-like masks in the plague ridden alleys, the destitute know that "The Rat Doctor" is there to help, not to scrounge around for test subjects. Though his thoughts process faster than his namesake can scurry, he greets each patient with gentle kindness, respect, and compassion. His outspoken advocacy for the human rights of the poor and the sanctity of the deceased have sent him out of society in disgrace. As a result, he takes whatever supplies he can find, and damn the wanted posters that call for his arrest or death. It has been 80 years, and yet, somehow, The Rat Doctor continues to help those in need Want to make a suggestion? Submit a form here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://forms.gle/oSMMhMWpvZcLdGPK7⁠⁠⁠⁠Reach out at ⁠⁠⁠Resonantmoon.com/npc-matchmaker⁠⁠⁠This project is for the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Dog Days of Advent 2025⁠⁠⁠⁠.Music is "Air Prelude" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

https://www.bathtubmermaid.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/TBM-2512-04-DDOA-Snowglobe.mp3 Description: Welcome to the Dog Days of Advent. I made a list of prompts, and wrote a bite-sized story for each one. They don’t live in the same universe, but they’re all a little off-kilter from what you might expect from holiday fare. And if you pay attention, you’ll notice that the last line of each story becomes the first line of the next. Today’s prompt is Snowglobe. Excerpt: The lights above them pulse, soft as breathing. She remembers that first storm — the fear of the power failing, the scramble to secure the greenhouse domes, the way they'd worked side by side in the cold until dawn. That was when it began, really: not the flirtation or the laughter, but the quiet respect that came from surviving something together. Episode Cast: Melissa A. Bartell Links and References Transcript: Snowglobe Dog Days of Advent Credits: The Bathtub Mermaid: Tales from the Tub is written and produced by Melissa A. Bartell, and is recorded and produced using Audacity. Bathtub Mermaid blog header art was created by Rebecca Moran of Moran Media Sound Effects and Music are from Freesound and UppBeat Contact: BlueSky: @melysse.bsky.social Facebook: MissMelysse Instagram: @Melysse Mastodon: @Melysse Email: missmelysse@gmail.com Or, leave a comment on this page.  

Woke up to find my MailCow instance wasn't running. - After several hours got it working Midnight the cat decided to come inside Song: [Decide! (Cat Song) by Joe J Thomas](https://thefump.com/music/song/decide-cat-song)

Today's NPC Prompts were:Cyberpunk, Faun, Chaotic Evil, Brewer, Awesome Style, Menacing Aura, Trading Background, SleepwalkerPan is an intimidating cyborg. A tragic accident took their legs and left them severely scarred, so they decided to use their savings from their trading experience to get more effective, faun-like prosthetic legs, giving them a more other-worldly aesthetic. Their hobby of brewing took off with the locals and Pan took the name Barleymedes as a marketing stunt. However, when they sleep, the cerebral network that allows Pan to use their integrated prosthetics takes over, continuing to bottle their brews... and perhaps adding a little something extra... like nano bots. Perhaps that explains the cult like following of their brew. Want to make a suggestion? Submit a form here: ⁠⁠⁠https://forms.gle/oSMMhMWpvZcLdGPK7⁠⁠⁠Reach out at ⁠⁠Resonantmoon.com/npc-matchmaker⁠⁠This project is for the ⁠⁠⁠Dog Days of Advent 2025⁠⁠⁠.Music is "Air Prelude" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

https://www.bathtubmermaid.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/TBM2512-03-DDOA-Orbit.mp3 Description: Welcome to the Dog Days of Advent. I made a list of prompts, and wrote a bite-sized story for each one. They don’t live in the same universe, but they’re all a little off-kilter from what you might expect from holiday fare. And if you pay attention, you’ll notice that the last line of each story becomes the first line of the next. Today’s prompt is orbit. Excerpt: Below her, ribbons of green and violet curl across the poles, shimmering like breath against the night. It's not the first aurora she's seen from orbit, but this one feels different — brighter, alive. She thinks of the Christmas lights her father used to hang along the eaves of their house, blinking patterns that never quite synced. He'd laugh every year and say, “Perfection's overrated, sweetheart. Just make it shine.” Episode Cast: Melissa A. Bartell Links and References Transcript: Orbit Dog Days of Advent Credits: The Bathtub Mermaid: Tales from the Tub is written and produced by Melissa A. Bartell, and is recorded and produced using Audacity. Bathtub Mermaid blog header art was created by Rebecca Moran of Moran Media Sound Effects and Music are from Freesound and UppBeat Contact: BlueSky: @melysse.bsky.social Facebook: MissMelysse Instagram: @Melysse Mastodon: @Melysse Email: missmelysse@gmail.com Or, leave a comment on this page.  

Today I talk about why there was no episode yesterday, why the 1st episode came out on the second. Song: Where Have All The Tacos Gone? by Moneyshot Cosmonauts https://thefump.com/music/song/where-have-all-the-tacos-gone

Today's NPC Prompts were:Barista, Lawful Good, Performer Background, Good at Chess, Charming, No Sense of Time.Inspired by a poem by "The Bathtub Mermaid" - If you happen to be at the cafe just before close, you will likely catch Celina Softshoe, dancing around the machines, making them gleam effortlessly as she sets the shop up for the next day. She is more willing to talk about the people that she sees each day than herself, but that attentiveness is part of her charm. If you want to get any information from her, ask her to a game of chess. Just don't plan to be anywhere for a few hours. It's very easy to lose track of time with her. Want to make a suggestion? Submit a form here: ⁠⁠https://forms.gle/oSMMhMWpvZcLdGPK7⁠⁠Reach out at ⁠Resonantmoon.com/npc-matchmaker⁠This project is for the ⁠⁠Dog Days of Advent 2025⁠⁠.Music is "Air Prelude" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

https://www.bathtubmermaid.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/TBM2512-02-DDOA-Hearth.mp3 Description: Welcome to the Dog Days of Advent. I made a list of prompts, and wrote a bite-sized story for each one. They don’t live in the same universe, but they’re all a little off-kilter from what you might expect from holiday fare. And if you pay attention, you’ll notice that the last line of each story becomes the first line of the next. Today’s prompt is hearth. Excerpt: Outside, the church bells strike midnight — exactly on time. Inside the café, the world softens around the edges. The espresso machine has gone quiet, its metal belly releasing one last sigh of steam. She wipes down the counter in slow, practiced circles. When she finishes, she pours herself a small mug from what remains in the pot — lukewarm, but still comforting — and brings it with her as she turns. Episode Cast: Melissa A. Bartell Links and References Transcript: Hearth Dog Days of Advent Credits: The Bathtub Mermaid: Tales from the Tub is written and produced by Melissa A. Bartell, and is recorded and produced using Audacity. Bathtub Mermaid blog header art was created by Rebecca Moran of Moran Media Sound Effects and Music are from Freesound and UppBeat Contact: BlueSky: @melysse.bsky.social Facebook: MissMelysse Instagram: @Melysse Mastodon: @Melysse Email: missmelysse@gmail.com Or, leave a comment on this page.  

Today's NPC Prompts were:Horror Campaign, Dragonborn, Fibermancer, Chaotic Good, Funny, Slovenly, No Sense of SmellKardash "Hooks" Hookclaw sets up in any corner that will have them. A tavern or fighting hall is preferred. They have a raucous laugh and a twinkle of mischief in their eyes as manage to keep spirits high around them with a well said joke, or a light hearted prank. They will always make a crocheted present for the target of the joke. Though their clothing is always a bit shabby and stained, they never let it get to them. Sadly, they also have no sense of smell and often have to be told when it is time for them to bathe.⁠⁠Want to make a suggestion? Submit a form here: ⁠https://forms.gle/oSMMhMWpvZcLdGPK7⁠Reach out at Resonantmoon.com/npc-matchmakerThis project is for the ⁠Dog Days of Advent 2025⁠.Music is "Air Prelude" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

https://www.bathtubmermaid.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/TBM-2512-01-Advent-Clock.mp3 Description: Welcome to the Dog Days of Advent. I made a list of prompts, and wrote a bite-sized story for each one. They don’t live in the same universe, but they’re all a little off-kilter from what you might expect from holiday fare. And if you pay attention, you’ll notice that the last line of each story becomes the first line of the next. Today’s prompt is “clock.” Excerpt: Time, for her, is elastic. Sometimes it stretches, gossamer-thin, like taffy pulled too far, and she can walk its length to touch the moment when her mother bent to kiss her scraped knee, or the instant she first realized she'd fallen in love. Other times it snaps tight and whips her forward, years ahead, where she sees a conversation that hasn't happened yet, the face of a friend she hasn't met. Episode Cast: Melissa A. Bartell Links and References Transcript: Clock  Credits: The Bathtub Mermaid: Tales from the Tub is written and produced by Melissa A. Bartell, and is recorded and produced using Audacity. Bathtub Mermaid blog header art was created by Rebecca Moran of Moran Media Sound Effects are from Freesound and UppBeat Contact: BlueSky: @melysse.bsky.social Facebook: MissMelysse Instagram: @Melysse Mastodon: @Melysse Email: missmelysse@gmail.com Or, leave a comment on this page.  

This is an episode to introduce the Dog Days of Advent 2025, and to detail plans for the month. There’s trivia and moving as major themes. Feedback Welcome. idjitcastpodcast@gmail.com The post Is This Thing On? DDOA25 and More appeared first on NIMLAS Studios.

Covering Friday afternoon through Monday evening. Sorry about the Auphonic gaps. The theme song for Amy Talks About Stuff is “Wandering,” by Lee Rosevere, from the album Music for Podcasts 2. This song is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license and is available via freemusicarchive.org. The post DDoP 2025 Ep28: Amy Talks About Stuff 286: The Rest of Dragon Con appeared first on Amy Bowen's Creative Endeavors.

Last day of DDoP, and I am talking about comfort. Paint the movie, Golden Curry, and finishing my lego set. Welcome to dog days of podcasting for 2025, where podcasters from around the world do a podcast a day for the … Continue reading → The post Dinner & a Movie: Paint appeared first on NIMLAS Studios.

Paul takes a last look at the last 31 days of trivia podcasting. He offers some ideas rolling around in his brain for the Dog Days of Advent. Then he tells a little bit of his family adventure at the … Continue reading → The post One Idjit's Thoughts on 30 Days of Trivia, The 2025 Minnesota State Fair, and Live Trivia Tonight appeared first on NIMLAS Studios.

Let me tell you about our last full day in South Carolina, and how my family is super sneaky and blindsided me with a mini surprise party. Welcome to dog days of podcasting for 2025, where podcasters from around the world … Continue reading → The post Retrocast: Surprise Party appeared first on NIMLAS Studios.

PKMR 31 – Creature Comforts Bidets, beignets, friend recommendations, international punk rock and metal. All this and more, ya just gotta listen!  […] The post PKMR 31 – Creature Comforts first appeared on The Rock and Roll Geek Show.

Here is the last Retrocast from our trip to South Carolina and it spans two days. Getting home was not fun and I don’t want to do that again. Still, I think I learned a few things on this trip. … Continue reading → The post Retrocast: Are we home yet? appeared first on NIMLAS Studios.

You think mermaids just sit on rocks all day looking glamorous? Please. This ocean doesn't run itself.

We watched Venom 3 The Last Dance tonight, and well it kinda tells you everything in the title doesn’t it? I used the art from the original storyboards for the show art today because they are pretty cool. Welcome to dog … Continue reading → The post Dinner and a Movie: Venom 3 The Last Dance appeared first on NIMLAS Studios.

In which I talk about the challenge of making sure I sound the same when I'm not me, in various bodies. Continue reading →

But here's the thing: thirty-one days is the challenge, and I showed up with twenty-nine shiny splashes of podcast sass. And in mermaid math, that still counts as a win.

Wrapping up my last day of Dog Days of Podcasting and DragonCon.

It's Day 31 of the Dog Days of Podcasting Challenge/Dog Days of Trivia, Paul is pre-recorded by a few days once more as he travels to the Great Minnesota Get-Together this weekend. He intends to probably do a bonus episode … Continue reading → The post One Idjit's Thoughts on The Dog Days of Trivia 2025 Day 31 appeared first on NIMLAS Studios.

This is day 30 of the Dog Days of Podcasting.   On this episode , Dino Zanilinnin calls in with a memory […] The post Dead Rockstars – Scott “Top Ten” Kempner first appeared on The Rock and Roll Geek Show.

In which I think about the fallacy and strength of age bands. Continue reading →

Because clearly the best way to honor the movie that made half the world afraid to swim is to make the shark literally jump out of the screen at you.

Not a reboot, not a sequel, but a show where in the show Matlock is an old TV show. It’s a law show with a twist, and I love Kathy Bates, this is a fun one to watch. Welcome to dog … Continue reading → The post Dinner and a Movie: Matlock appeared first on NIMLAS Studios.

Let’s talk about the Wedding, and the Monsoon. Welcome to dog days of podcasting for 2025, where podcasters from around the world do a podcast a day for the month of august. I really suggest you listen to the main RSS … Continue reading → The post Retrocast: The Wedding appeared first on NIMLAS Studios.

I’m calling this a Retrocast, this is when I recorded a podcast and it is being posted out of order or very late, or I am talking about something that happened in the past and posting it now, and not … Continue reading → The post Retrocast: Meet & Greet appeared first on NIMLAS Studios.

It's Day 30 of the Dog Days of Podcasting Challenge/Dog Days of Trivia, Paul is pre-recorded by a few days as he is traveling down to the Minnesota State fair with his family. Today as this releases, if all has … Continue reading → The post One Idjit's Thoughts on The Dog Days of Trivia 2025 Day 30 appeared first on NIMLAS Studios.

I watched the Thunderbolts on the plane and it wasn’t as bad as people are saying. I think the problem is it needed more screen time, like a TV show. It should have been a mini series instead. Welcome to dog … Continue reading → The post Dinner and a Movie: Thunderbolts appeared first on NIMLAS Studios.

It's been a long Friday at DragonCon. Done with day job work (I think) for this vacation.

In which I espouse my interest in the coming spooky season... Continue reading →

And flossing? Seaweed works fine, but we prefer jelly strands — extra slippery, biodegradable, and if you're lucky, bioluminescent. Nothing says “fresh breath” like a glow-in-the-dark smile.

This is day 29 of the Dog Days of Podcasting.   On this episode , Friend of the show and friend of […] The post Dead Rockstars – Greg Kihn first appeared on The Rock and Roll Geek Show.