Podcasts about blackbirds

The Light Gate Welcomes GUESTS: researchers Michael Schratt & James C. Goodall Date: April 28, 2025 Time: 5-7 pm pacific / 8-10 pm eastern Episode 195 Discussion: UFOs, Black Projects, Reverse-Engineering, Current Events in Ufology Tonight, “The Light Gate,” welcomes back two guests: Michael Schratt & James Goodall for Part Two of a unique roundtable discussion about secret advanced aircraft and UFOs. Michael Schratt is private pilot, military aerospace historian, longtime UFO researcher, lecturer, draftsman, an expert on classified ‘black projects,” UFO crash/retrievals, the government UFO coverup and more. He is the author of “DARK FILES: A Pictorial History of Lost, Forgotten and Obscure UFO Encounters.” He is a frequent guest on radio shows and podcasts. He has appeared on Coast to Coast and many other major podcasts, and regularly speaks at UFO conferences including, Contact in the Desert. His book, DARK FILES, presents 61 fully illustrated UFO encounters from around the world. These cases were obtained from real world "boots on the ground" research by gaining access to university archives, multiple UFO research centers, and private collections. All cases presented contain references so that the reader can verify them on their own. Every effort was taken to portray these cases accurately from eyewitness accounts and reports, thereby preserving an important part of our global history. This publication contains never before seen illustrations which make these historically significant UFO cases "come alive.” James C. Goodall is a published author with 27 books in print. He is a former Docent at Kitt Peak National Observatory, former Associate Curator at Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, former Restoration Manager on the MoFs deHavilland Comet Mk 4C at The Museum of Flight, and a former Master sergeant at United States Air Force. He studied Business marketing at University of Minnesota. He is a recognized authority both on low-observable aircraft, such as the F-117, B-2A, the Lockheed ‘twins' (F-22 and F-35) and the Lockheed Skunk Works family of Blackbirds, and the US Navy's fleet of modern-day fast attack and ballistic missile submarines. He has been photographing and writing about ‘spooky' military aircraft, naval ships and submarines for the past 35 years, and his last book, 75 years of the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, was published by Osprey in 2021. LINKS FOR MICHAEL SCHRATT: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1627000252 projectblueroom.com/michael-schratt bit.ly/SchrattDarkFiles twitter.com/SchrattOfficial https://www.youtube.com/@michaelschrattofficial LINKS FOR JAMES C. GOODALL: https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/author/james-c-goodall/ https://www.facebook.com/jim.goodall.71

Lindsay watches red-winged blackbirds.

This episode looks at the song Hares on the Mountain aka Blackbirds and Thrushes aka If All the Young Women aka Nancy Lay Sleeping aka The Knife in the Window aka Pretty Polly aka Shepherd So Bold aka Sally My Dear aka Lightning and Thunder aka Crawling and Creeping aka Ain't Gonna Do It No More aka Roll Yer Leg Over Tracklist Shirley Collins and Davy Graham – Hares on the Mountain Harry List – Knife on the Window AL Lloyd – Pretty Polly Harry Cox – Knife in the Window Belinda Kempster and Fran Foote – Knife in the Window The Three ‘Baccer Tags – Ain't Gonna Do It No More Jim Garland – Crawling and Creeping Dan Tate – Lightning and Thunder Oscar Brand – Roll Your Leg Over Fine & Bawdy Wenches – Roll Yer Leg Over Seamus Ennis – Blackbirds and Thrushes Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy – Hares on the Mountain Frankie Armstrong with Maddy Prior – Hares on the Mountain (feat. Maddy Prior) Radie Peat and Daragh Lynch – Hares on the Mountain Shirley Collins – Hares on the Mountain https://campsite.bio/firedrawnear Picture shows Jack Bernard of Bridgwater Somerset. From https://cecilsharpspeople.org.uk - thank Ellie!

Preorder THE STAIRCASE IN THE WOODSFive friends go into the woods, four come out.I've been reading Chuck Wendig books since the early 2010s, when he had back to back releases of BLACKBIRDS and MOCKINGBIRD, the first two books in the Miriam Black series of (six) books. Since then, I've read piles of his stories adding up to thousands of pages. Psychics, AI, Jedis, Pandemics, Serial Killers… he's covered a lot of ground. But there's something about this story. Something more than it appears. Something beneath the surface.This is a story that is best read unspoiled, so our main conversation avoids anything that would taint the read. Even so, we talk about friendship, parenting, trauma, and of all things Homestar Runner. It is a captivating talk! But that's not all!Let's Get SpoiledIt's not even hard for me to say that this is my favorite book of Chuck's. THE STAIRCASE IN THE WOODS is an impressive achievement. So much so that I felt compelled to get Chuck to do an episode of The After Party, the spoiler-rich series that is available exclusively on this site. So once you've read the book, be sure to check out the Chuck Wendig episode of The After Party!Buy lots of Chuck Wendig booksFor the YouTube folks out there: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thearcparty.com/subscribe

What if a writing partnership could transform skepticism into a creative powerhouse? Marcia Hutchinson and Kate Griffin, the dynamic duo behind the pen name Lila Cain, join me to share their compelling journey into co-writing their novel The Blackbirds of St Giles.  Marcia and Kate open up about overcoming initial doubts and embracing their identities as writers, despite starting with established careers elsewhere. Their candid discussion on imposter syndrome offers valuable insights for any aspiring author battling self-doubt.We reflect on the creative processes that shape our writing journeys. Marcia and Kate stress the importance of mental peace and personal experiences in crafting authentic stories. Whether sharing anecdotes about navigating writer's block or discussing the emotional layers of their characters, this episode is packed with reflective moments and practical advice. Join us for a memorable exchange that promises to resonate with writers and history enthusiasts alike.The Blackbirds of St GilesSome things are earned. Some things are worth fighting for… It's 1782, Daniel and his sister Pearl arrive in London with the world at their feet and their future assured. Having escaped a Jamaican sugar plantation, Daniel fought for the British in the American War of Independence and was rewarded with freedom and an inheritance.   But the city is not a place for men like Daniel and he is callously tricked and finds himself, along with his sister Pearl, in the rookeries of St Giles – a warren of dark and menacing alleyways, filled with violence and poverty.   The underworld labyrinth is run by Elias, a man whose cruelty knows no bounds. But under his dangerous rule is a brotherhood of Black men, the Blackbirds of St Giles, whose intention is to set their people free.   Can Daniel use his strength, wit and the fellowship of the other Blackbirds to overthrow Elias and truly find the freedom he fought for…? Follow Lila CainBuy The Kill List (InspectSend us a textSupport the show"Enjoying 'The Conversation'? Support the podcast by buying me a cup of coffee ☕️! Every contribution helps keep the show going.https://ko-fi.com/nadinemathesonDon't forget to subscribe, download and review. You can purchase books by the authors featured in our conversations through my affiliate shop on Bookshop.org. By using this link, you'll be supporting independent bookstores, and I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Follow Me:www.nadinematheson.com BlueSky: @nadinematheson.com Substack: @nadinemathesontalks Instagram: @queennadsThreads: @nadinematheson Facebook: nadinemathesonbooksTikTok: @writer_nadinematheson

The Light Gate welcomes guest: researcher and author, James C. Goodall Date: December 30, 2024 Time: 5-7pm pacific / 8-10pm eastern Episode: 088 Discussion: UFOs, advanced aircraft, Skunk Works, the UFO coverup James C. Goodall is a published author with 27 books in print. He is a former Docent at Kitt Peak National Observatory, former Associate Curator at Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, former Restoration Manager on the MoFs deHavilland Comet Mk 4C at The Museum of Flight, and a former Master sergeant at United States Air Force. He studied Business marketing at University of Minnesota. He is a recognized authority both on low-observable aircraft, such as the F-117, B-2A, the Lockheed ‘twins' (F-22 and F-35) and the Lockheed Skunk Works family of Blackbirds, and the US Navy's fleet of modern-day fast attack and ballistic missile submarines. He has been photographing and writing about ‘spooky' military aircraft, naval ships and submarines for the past 35 years, and his last book, 75 years of the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, was published by Osprey in 2021. LINKS: https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/author/james-c-goodall/ https://www.facebook.com/jim.goodall.71

European blackbirds demonstrate remarkable characteristics that allow them to survive harsh winters. They can even lower their body temperature at night to conserve energy, enabling them to endure extreme cold. These sophisticated features reflect intelligent design and point to the wisdom of our Creator. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1232/29

European blackbirds demonstrate remarkable characteristics that allow them to survive harsh winters. They can even lower their body temperature at night to conserve energy, enabling them to endure extreme cold. These sophisticated features reflect intelligent design and point to the wisdom of our Creator. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1232/29

If you've been to a big grocery store in the last month or looked up at a power line then you've noticed tons of blackbirds all around you. So, what are these birds, and why are they taking over?! Host Raheel Ramzanali spoke to Rice University professor Cin-Ty Lee last year about this annual fall phenomena, so we're playing back our conversation to answer all your blackbird questions..  This episode originally aired Nov. 27, 2023. Learn more about the sponsors of this November 21st episode here: Classic Christmas Inprint A.D Players Theater Downtown Houston+ Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston  Follow us on Instagram  @CityCastHouston Don't have social media? Then leave us a voicemail or text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts! Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know!  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let's Talk! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I have a tradition of recording for the week around Summer Solstice every year. The long days and extended twilights draw out the liveliest and most expressive Dawn Choruses of the season. This year I'm in Sinlahekin Valley in Washington State's Okanogan High Country. It's a deep, long scar on the ground gouged and left behind by retreating arms of the Cordilleran Ice Sheets of the last several glaciated ice ages. Arid steppes on one side, fir-covered mountains on the other, the Valley draws a line that separates two of the major ecological regions in our State. Running much of the length of the Valley is Sinlahekin Creek, a meandering, beaver-controlled system that sustains a narrow strip of wetlands and riparian borders favored by passing migratory birds. Deep enough to not sustain strong wind, the Valley is a valuable shelter, sometimes for passing birds to rest, sometimes to stay. One of those birds is the Yellow-breasted Chat, a laconic-yet-vociferous songbird with a voice both louder and deeper than belies its small size. One of the more enigmatic songbirds of North America, the Yellow-breasted Chat is widespread across the continent but rarely found in dense numbers. It skulks about in dense riparian thickets and other shrubby habitats, nesting deep within and singing from a barely-exposed perch. More often heard than seen in late Spring and early Summer, when males produce long soliloquies in search for a mate (or sometimes two), they have a brief but explosively creative burst of song every year, only to remain silent for the rest of it. Recorded on Summer Solstice, 2024, this particular singer was a surprise. I had been hiking around one of my favorite valley campgrounds, enjoying the recent explosion of late-Spring songbirds, when I noticed a thicket that was particularly favored by local Lazuli Buntings. Nice Bunting recordings being a goal of this trip, I quickly set up a lightweight hiking recorder with a pair of small mics to leave overnight in hopes that Buntings could have time to sing as they saw fit. Imagine my surprise when listening back to the recordings and found more than an hours' worth of a Yellow-breasted Chat singing close by, as if I'd set these microphones up just for him! Our Chat wakes up early in Nautical Twilight with a burst of whistles to rattle the neighborhood. After a brief rest, he begins his soliloquy of repeated grunts, rattles, beeps, and whistles. Soon, less than a minute later, the first distant songs of the next Chat over can be heard in the background. They space themselves out along the riparian border of Sinlahekin Creek just close enough to still be heard, far enough away to give each other space. While most birds sleep in and wait for more light, including Robins and Blackbirds, Nautical Twilight is their moment to sing. For most of the next two hours this little bird will sing from the same perch, only occasionally shifting directions as if he wants to be sure everyone has an equal chance to hear his voice. His voice grows louder and softer as he turns toward or away from the microphones. He's so close the early reflections off the leaves of the thicket scatter his voice back to us loud and clear even when he faces away. With almost mechanical precision he continues his steady chanting song. As other birds awaken with the slowly breaking mountain dawn, the air fills with songs loud and soft behind — but never interfering with — the Chat. Soon there are cawing Crows, Black-capped Chickadees sweetly calling, “Phoee-be”, and Lazuli Buntings working out their unique and recently “crystalized” songs. A Veery sounds like a mournful flute the next hedge over. A Ruffed Grouse beats its wings with an almost too-low-to-hear “flah-thump”. Yellow Warblers, Red-eyed Vireos, Common Yellowthroats, and Spotted Towhees circle the neighborhood, calling from one tree, singing from another, never satisfied, at least not until Sunrise when everyone will disperse to live out their day foraging for meals and nesting material. Filling out the soundscape are Cedar Waxwings, Olive-sided Flycatchers, Pied-billed Grebes, Pine Siskins, rowdy gangs of teenaged Red-winged Blackbirds, and more. After Sunrise the avian community slowly disperses. The Dawn Chorus is no more, replaced in whole by daily activities. Song continues as part of that organizing behavior, but the Dawn pronouncements are over after nearly 2 hours of upwelling joy. Our chat slowly moves farther and farther from his perch, allowing daring Buntings and Towhees the chance to take over the job of songmeister. If we were to keep listening throughout the day, we'd hear the Yellow Chat come and go, ensuring his perch and his home remain his and his alone. At night he will reverse the process, singing from Sunset to Astronomical Twilight, no so much fading away but just stopping when it's time to fall asleep, to gain back some of that spent energy to do it all again tomorrow. Recorded by Andy Martin in Okanogan High Country, USA

It's often easy to overlook what we see every day, or at least regularly. Perhaps that's why we overlook our humble garden birds in favour of majestic eagles or mischievous ravens as our favourite birds. Yet the commonality of these small, yet often noisy, birds explains why there is a comparative dearth of folklore about them. Compared to other birds, there's a plethora to choose from. Death omens, cheeky tricksters in myth, and stars of nursery rhymes - these birds do it all! Let's find out more about the folklore of blackbirds, sparrows, wrens, and robins in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore! Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/garden-birds/ Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/ Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595 Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7 Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick 'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/ Find Icy on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social Tweet Icy at https://x.com/IcySedgwick

Ever picked up a book solely because its cover was too captivating to resist? Join us in this episode of Cover Story as we dive into the world of eye-catching book covers that made us swipe our library cards without a second thought. From stunning designs to irresistible artwork, we'll share our favorite cover-driven picks. Tune in for a fun discussion on the books we picked just for the look! Titles mentioned in this episode: Andrea's Titles:  Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard  Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco  In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters  Katie's Titles:  The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket  The Return by Rachel Harrison  Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin   Marissa's Titles:  Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come by Jessica Pan  From Crook to Cook by Snoop Dogg  The Suite Spot by Trish Doller  Emma's Titles:  Haunted by Meg Cabot (original cover)  Wilder Girls by Rory Power   A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson   Joe's Titles:  Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo (following Katie's lead!!)  The Wig in the Window by Kristen Kittscher  Witchlight by Jessi Zabarsky  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today's episode in Libby. Library friends can shop these titles in OverDrive Marketplace. Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog! We hope you enjoy this episode of the Professional Book Nerds podcast. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can follow the Professional Book Nerds on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok @ProBookNerds. Want to reach out? Send an email to professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: https://plotthreadsshop.com/! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A conversation with Sam Eckholm '18 about his unique path and work to inspire the next generation of military leaders through social media and content creation.----more---- SUMMARY In this edition of Long Blue Leadership, host Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz '99, is talking with Sam about his journey from the three times he landed on the “footprints” on in-processing day through the challenges he faced as he learned to lead his peers, side-stepping career advice that might have left him in obscurity, his relentless perseverance pursuing his dreams, graduation in 2018, the history he's making now and Sam's continuing support of the Air Force Academy.     SOME OF OUR FAVORITE QUOTES "Putting yourself in other people's shoes is big." "If you have an end goal in mind, it's not going to be easy to get there. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it." "What you see as a finished polished video, the behind the scenes is crazy." "Don't lose sight of that end goal." "Dig deep down and realize what you want. And just relentlessly go after that."   SHARE THIS EPISODE FACEBOOK  |  TWITTER  |   LINKEDIN    CHAPTERS 00:00 - Putting Yourself in Other People's Shoes 21:13 - The Terrazzo Gap: Challenges and Perceptions 23:49 - Finding Passion in Clubs and Sports 27:40 - From Photography to Public Affairs 30:05 - Inspired by the F-22 Demo Team 31:00 - Pursuing a Career in Public Affairs 32:24 - Learning and Growing as a Young Lieutenant 33:22 - Challenges and Rewards of Public Affairs 34:22 - Maintaining Motivation and Finding Balance 35:44 - Leading Others and Finding Personal Outlets 38:41 - Transitioning to Entrepreneurship 41:49 - Impactful Moments and Inspiring Others 46:49 - Overcoming Challenges and Pursuing Dreams 53:31 - Supporting the Academy and Creating Impactful Content 56:19 - Final Thoughts and Message to Listeners   TAKEAWAYS  - Putting yourself in other people's shoes is important for effective leadership  - The Terrazzo Gap between intercollegiate athletes and non-athletes at the Academy is a unique challenge  - Being involved in clubs and sports at the Academy provides valuable experiences and friendships  - Passion for photography and social media can lead to a career in public affairs.  - Don't lose sight of your end goal and relentlessly pursue it.  - Advocate for yourself and trust in your own decisions.  - Creating meaningful impact requires hard work and dedication.  - Inspire others by sharing your journey and experiences.  - The Academy Blueprint program helps level the playing field for aspiring cadets.  - Expand your knowledge and learn from various sources of inspiration.  - Don't be discouraged by challenges and setbacks; they can lead to growth and success.   ABOUT SAM Deep down, Sam Eckholm always knew the Air Force Academy was where he belonged. As the son of an Air Force pilot and Academy graduate, he was brought up on the blue and silver. After graduating high school in Dallas, Texas, he followed in his dad's footsteps, attending the U.S. Air Force Academy as a member of the class of 2018. Following graduation, Sam was selected as a member of the F-22 Raptor Demonstration team, where he traveled the world as a Public Affairs Officer, documenting the 5th generation stealth fighter jet at air shows across the globe. After separating from active duty in 2022, Sam's passion for military service has not changed, but his ability to share that passion with an even larger audience has. His videos have accumulated over 100 million views online, with over 1 million followers across his social media platforms. Attending the Air Force Academy is what started it all, and Sam's goal is to help others achieve their dreams of throwing their hat in the air and graduating from the Academy. The Air Force Academy Blueprint is the culmination of almost two years of pouring his heart and soul into a singular project, and he can't wait to bring it to you. - Image and copy courtesy of Sam Eckholm CONNECT WITH SAM LINKEDIN  |  INSTAGRAM  |  FACEBOOK  |  TWITTER   LINKS WE MENTIONED ACADEMY BLUEPRINT SAM'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL     ABOUT LONG BLUE LEADERSHIP Long Blue Leadership drops every two weeks on Tuesdays and is available on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn + Alexa, Spotify and all your favorite podcast platforms. Search @AirForceGrads on your favorite social channels for Long Blue Leadership news and updates!          SAM'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL     TRANSCRIPT OUR SPEAKERS:   Guest:  Sam Eckholm '18  |  Host:  t. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz '99   Sam Eckholm Putting yourself in other people's shoes is big. It's kind of hard to remember that because you're getting information from your leader, right, your boss, they're telling you one thing, it's hard for them to see kind of two layers down how that's going to impact everyone else. So, I mean, I would always just try to put myself in other people's shoes. Okay, if I do this, what's that gonna… how's that going to make this person feel?   Naviere Walkewicz My guest today is Sam Eckholm, USAFA class of 2018 and Air Force captain turned full-time entrepreneur and storyteller, the third in his family's Long Blue Line. Sam is the son of a 1989 graduate and the nephew of a 1993 graduate. All three hail from Cadet Squadron 28, the Blackbirds. We'll talk with Sam about his Dallas roots to the day he stood on the footprints at the Academy. We'll ask him about how he made his way from the wing to the F-22 Raptor demonstration team, then public affairs, out of the Air Force in '23, and now an entrepreneur, content creator and social media influencer. Sam's father and uncle were his main sources of inspiration for becoming a member of the profession of arms. And he has stayed close to the Air Force and the Academy ever since. He leads hopefuls to reach for their dreams and shares his passion for all things Air Force with the world. As we move through the conversation, we'll talk about lessons he's learned in being a leader, and what advice he would give to those aspiring to become leaders and leaders who want to be better. Sam, I'm really looking forward to this conversation. Welcome to Long Blue Leadership and thank you for being here today.   Sam Eckholm Naviere, it's always great to see you. It's always great to be back at the best school in the world.   Naviere Walkewicz Yes, it is. And I mean, I think what's so great about your story, Sam, and what's so unique for our listeners is they feel like they know you because you have such an incredible presence. But today, they're really going to get a chance to understand how you got here. And I think that's what's so fascinating for people.   Sam Eckholm Yeah, that means a lot. It's always fun to sit down and kind of talk a little bit more in depth. You know, with the videos I do, I'm trying to focus on highlights and showing some action and keeping the viewer's attention. But this is just kind of laid back.    Naviere Walkewicz  Let's talk and relive some fun, exciting , you know, stories from the Academy and beyond. Yes, this is about you now. So, you get to be the spotlight and I'm really excited to take everyone on this journey. So, let's roll it back a little bit. We'll start with a journey of Sam as a little boy, you know.  I know you shared you kind of grew up in Dallas after third grade. We had a little bit of a chat, but you did some bouncing around before that. Let's hear about your childhood.   Sam Eckholm Yeah, so my dad, an '89 grad, like you said went off to pilot training ended up flying KC-135s. So I was actually born at McConnell Air Force Base, right, and so Wichita, Kansas. Fun fact: little full-circle moment for me, I'm gonna' be headed out there in two weeks to do a KC-46 video with the unit there and first time I'll have been back since I was born. So that'll be really fun to see. But yeah, growing up I mean, I don't consider myself an Air Force brat because my dad did separate when I was young, but we bounced around every two years but Dyess McConnell, it was fun. Definitely have some early memories of him and his flight suit walking out on the flight line. And that probably sparked the initial interest in wanting to serve. I think I shoved that to a side for a little bit until I was a bit more mature and could realize what that actually meant. Kind of around the second or third grade, he got out, transitioned to the airline world settled on American Airlines, and moved to Dallas, Texas. And that's really where I call my home. That's where I grew up. And as you know, Dallas is a super not just for Academy athletes and future cadets. It's just seems like a hot hub, right, for a lot of people move there. So, I had a great experience. When it came time to applying to the Academy I knew I was going to have to have my ducks in a line because it's competitive. There's a lot of people trying to get in. But looking back I mean, I've been all over the world now at this point, but Texas always feels like home.   Naviere Walkewicz I love that you have your roots. So talk about what you were like as a kid. Were you really active in sports? Where are you — you kind of have the social media side, so, are you really interested in some of the dramatic arts? Like, tell me about what that looked like?   Sam Eckholm Yes, sports were always a big part of my family. My dad was actually a basketball player here at the Air Force Academy. My uncle played on the football team as well. So, they were huge athletes. I was always, growing up, I was playing tennis, basketball, golf with my dad, my brothers. I have two other brothers as well. We're all super competitive. Probably, I think what also helped me just realize the Academy was a great school because you know, what other college do you go into where everyone's so competitive and athletic, and sports are built into the curriculum? So yeah, I mean, I would say that was an important part of growing up. My dad especially instilled a lot of values he learned at the Academy in serving. And it's just so cool looking back now, because I didn't realize at the time what those were, and then you go through four years here, you go through five years active duty, and you're like, “OK,” that's why he was the way that he was. When I was actually here at the Academy, I had this mental checklist of stories, he told me, and I will try to like check them off as I also accomplished them. So, you know, his basic training experience, right? Him jumping off the 10-meter board and water survival; him going through survival training and getting some of that experience and jumping out of an airplane. It's really fun for me to experience those as well because those were the stories I had grown up with back home in Texas.   Naviere Walkewicz Wow. So, a house of three boys. Where were you in the lineup?   Sam Eckholm I was a middle child.   Naviere Walkewicz And so did your other brothers want to go to the Academy as well or that wasn't...   Sam Eckholm So my older brother Ben, he originally was interested. In fact, you know, he's only a year and a half older. So, we were only one grade apart. And I remember he went to one of those service academy, congressional just learn more about it, right. And he went with a couple of his buddies, and I think they turned him off from it, because they came back and said, “Oh, I ain't doing that. We're going to Texas A&M. We're gonna' have fun.” But I remember he came back and had this pamphlet he got from it. And I stole it from his bedroom. And then I started looking at it. And I was like, “OK, if he's not going to do that, I think this is something I want to do.” And we can talk more about that, obviously, but my brother did end up going a different route. He went to Texas A&M, not in the core there, just kind of a normal student. Little brother, he's like seven years younger than me. He was always interested in the academies, but you know, as he grew up, I think he navigated a little bit more towards another route as well. So, to answer your question, I was the only one who ended up going into an academy and serving, but they're still incredibly close to me. And I actually have this hilarious photo of my older brother. He came to visit during Parents Weekend. I was like a junior. And during Parents Weekend here at the Academy, my family would actually like stay at the Academy because all the other kids and their parents would go to Boulder, go to Garden of the Gods or the Broadmoor, whatever. And so, the Academy was completely empty. And so, it was kind of like this country club for my family. So, like, we would go down... And then you got like the golf course to yourself. You got these beautiful greens…   Naviere Walkewicz I could see you've got your stretch view…   Sam Eckholm Right, exactly. So, we would go down to like the athletic facilities and play tennis and just hang out and have fun. Anyway, there's this funny photo of my older brother. I gave him my PT uniform, the ringer tee and the shorts. And he like blended in as a cadet for the weekend. And it was really funny one day because retreat played and he was saluting. I'm like, “Well, they're gonna' think you're a cadet.” So, everyone's super close to me and the Academy, and they loved coming to visit. And I think in an alternate world, they would have all tried to come here too. But yeah, very close with the family.   Naviere Walkewicz That is outstanding. We love, hearing about the dynamics of kind of what your support network was like, what those influences were like in your life. You mentioned something about your dad sharing stories. What were those initial nuggets? I know you talked about the experiences they had, but what was he instilling with you and your brothers at that time when you were in those impressionable years?   Sam Eckholm Well, my dad is just one of the most like regimented individuals I know. He's very, very focused, you know. And now looking back, I think I just attribute so much from the Academy, and especially back in the '80s, you know, the way things were run and like how he did it, but you don't know that when you're a kid, right? Like, I heard the stories of the Academy. And I don't know, I think when I was young, I didn't think they were cool. And then as you get a little older, they are kind of cool, but you don't want to tell him they're cool, kind of like shove that in the back of your head. And then now I'm like, “Wow, that was really, really cool.” So yeah, I remember there was this photo we had in our house. I don't know if it was above our piano are just on some dresser and it was him in pilot training and his flight suit standing next to T-38. And I thought that was the coolest thing growing up. I mean, he looked like Tom Cruise from Top Gun. And so I literally to go to my room, I would walk past that every single day. And that photo is just like, I don't know, it's cemented in my mind of, “Wow, that was so cool.” And, you know, at the time, I did think “Hey, I'm going to be a pilot. I'm going to do this,” and learned obviously down the road there's so many opportunities to serve in the Air Force. But yeah, I mean, it was just such a cool thing to be able to say, “My dad went to the Academy. My dad's a pilot,” you know? Other people's parents, whatever they did, you know, still interesting. But to be able to say that was always so cool. I just wanted to be able to experience that, wanted to be able to do something different from my friends in high school, being able to have my dad actually, which I know a lot of applicants don't have someone who served in the Army. I'm trying to change that with the work I do to make everyone feel like they understand what they're getting into. But that was huge for me. And it was fun. I still remember I would text him through every milestone we had at the Academy, whether it was Recognition or Ring Dance or commitment. And he would kind of share where he was back then or a photo he had. And yeah, it was cool.   Naviere Walkewicz That's really beautiful. And, and it makes me think about how we capture now, and I think this might have been, this was happening during your class as well, but we had WebGuy, the WebGuy team actually capturing moments. And so, it's probably neat that he actually sees some of those while you're texting him. And those you know, those listening, the texting ability is not something we had back in the day when I was there. We just had the red phone booth to try to get your like five minutes to call.   Sam Eckholm I can't imagine that.   Naviere Walkewicz Yeah, it's wonderful. I think we preserve so much of the experience for our cadets.   Sam Eckholm Yeah, there's still a bit now where the family almost gets to feel a little bit of that assurance with us. Why are they still writing like letters home?  Pen to paper. Yeah, and you know, stamp. And yeah, WebGuy, I think was my mom's like, saving grace during basic as many moms out there. Yeah, shout out, Mom. I know you liked WebGuy. I always tried to smile when I saw a camera. So, she knew I was I could see how I was doing even though I sometimes was not that I was like, yeah.   Naviere Walkewicz So let's talk about life at the Academy. So, you were direct entry. Were you an intercollegiate recruit or just kind of in and started?   Sam Eckholm No, yeah, I was direct entry. I was very, very fortunate to get the principal nomination from my congressman who did that method out of Dallas. It was an incredibly competitive area. I mean, there were like 60 kids just from my area trying to get in and oh man, I was so stressed going in because I knew how bad I wanted it. I knew I looked great on paper. But the problem was 60 other kids also look really good on paper. So, the interviewer really helped me out there. I was able to talk about family experiences got the principal nomination, so I knew I was going to have my shot. So yeah, direct entry got here. And it's kind of funny because having a dad and uncle who went here, I thought I knew everything right? I had probably watched every single video and read every article, looked at everything on the Academy, I was obsessed. The second I got here, day one or Day Zero as they call it, like the bus ride here.   Naviere Walkewicz Tell me about your experience on the bus.   Sam Eckholm Oh, man, this is a lot different. Well, the bus is, I mean, I knew what was coming. I'd seen every single video, but it hits you different when you're there and they're screaming in your face. The footprints was really rough for me. I've told this story before, because then — I don't know what they do now — but they broke it up by your basic flights and your squadron. So, Cobras is what I was in. And so, all my future flight members were with me and we're on the footprints. And an upperclassman is — [there's a] crazy photo; I can send it to you guys — but just someone screaming at me, right? And I don't know what happened. But I think they lost track of me. So [I'm on the] footprints when the rest of my squadron was sent up the ramp to begin their in-processing, I got sent to the back of the footprints line to kind of do it again.   Naviere Walkewicz Really?   Sam Eckholm Yeah. And so, they did that for a few cadets. So, I got sent to do it again. And the crazy part is I went through that, I got sent a third time. But, and this is like the whole footprint spiel again. The whole “Get on attention.” So, I had like triple the footprints experience and then for the rest of the day because my squadron had already in process, I was so far behind. It was now like, “Are you lost, basic!” Like, I was that guy the whole time in the morning. So, it's just when I finally got there, at the end of the day, like to my squadron, I was already known and had the reputation, like the lost basic. You know it was for next six weeks, which turned into the next year, I was trying to get rid of that reputation that I was the lost basic, but hopefully now I've gotten rid of that.   Naviere Walkewicz All right. We'll leave that one alone. That's a fantastic story. Yeah. Wow. All right. So, let's talk about your life at the Academy. I know where you graduate from Squadron 28, legacy squadron, right? Let's talk about some of your experiences, both from the cadet perspective — athletics, academics, wherever you'd like to take us — but also let's weave in a little bit of some lessons you've learned about yourself during that time in leadership.   Sam Eckholm Yeah, I started out in CES-14 Baby Cobra. I don't know, I think what they're now doing like one and then three years. One and three. Yeah. I always knew that's what I wanted to do. Because like, literally, even when I was growing up, my dad had his A-jacket, and I saw the Blackbirds patch. And that was really cool. But yeah, I mean, my first two years were definitely different from my last two years, I always tell people, the first two years, I was discovering who I was both as a person but as a cadet, right? Like, you come in thinking you're going to do something and have a path and major in this and do this when you graduate. But it was so much information coming at me of here's what you can do, here are all the opportunities. And that's one thing, I'm really proud of myself for that — I didn't feel like I had to follow a certain path. You know, when I came in, I thought I was gonna' fly, I was gonna' be an engineer, I'm gonna' do this. And that's amazing for all the cadets who want to do that and are excited about it. But I knew I was excited about other stuff, too. You know, you mentioned kind of social media photography, that sort of stuff. I had that kind of in the back of my head, I just had to figure out a way how to make that work in the Air Force, right? Because I had no idea when I came in that was something you could kind of do. So the first two years were a lot of discovery, right? I did not, and this was kind of strategically, do any clubs or anything the first two years. I kind of regret that looking back, but I thought I just needed to be in the squadron with my flight. Versus now, I always encourage people at the Academy take advantage of the clubs, take advantage of the extracurricular stuff, because, I mean, you've formed so many friendships there.   Naviere Walkewicz I don't know if you agree, because you did a lot, right? And I definitely agree, I was not a recruited athlete. And so, I think I explored a lot of different lanes. But you know, one of the things that when you were talking, I was thinking about this, because when people see you and hear you now, you just have so much confidence. Did you always have that? Or is there a time when maybe that was not the case as a cadet?   Sam Eckholm Yeah, in high school, you know how it goes, right, you're at the top of the top in high school, especially someone going into the Academy. To go to the Academy., most students are presidents of their classes, or whatever. And so, you go from the top, and then you're dropped very quickly and humbled when you get to the Academy. So, I think I definitely lost a little bit of that. But then I built it back up. And I think that's kind of the goal of the Academy, right? They're trying to build back up leaders; you start as a follower. So, by the time I left, we can get to that, I was a squadron commander of CES-28. And that is, to this day, one of the most rewarding experiences. I learned the most about myself and talk about confidence. Getting up there every morning, talking to over 100 of your peers as their quote-unquote, cadet leader. I mean, that right there to this day, I'm like, if I can do that, and be able to tell other students my age, what they have to be doing, I can do anything.   Naviere Walkewicz Peer leadership is definitely a challenging type of leadership. What did you learn about yourself in that? Can you share a story where you're like, well, am I really cut out for this?   Sam Eckholm Well, it's hard because you have all different types of cadets, all different types of classes. Everyone has their thing that interests them. And let's be real, I mean, you're up here, right? You're not in the real Air Force, yet. You've been appointed this position. And so, some cadets are like, OK, come on. I mean, literally, two weeks ago, he was just, you know, Sam, and now he's like, oh, cadet first class at home squadron commander, cadet lieutenant colonel. So, with the younger classes, it's easier, because the rank structure, they kind of understand, but to your senior class, it's your peers. So, my mentality for that is that I was just going to try to be someone that everyone could relate to, that had everyone's best interest in mind. So, I would take so long for any decision or working with my AOC, just trying to advocate for what everyone wanted. I didn't see myself as higher, better, above anyone. It was just, I'm going to be the spokesperson for everyone. And I'm gonna' work as hard as I can to make sure everyone's happy. And I think there's a lot of lessons you can take from that approach. Of course, not every leadership position, you have the ability to do that. But at the Academy, I don't know, I think that was just a really cool opportunity to kind of explore and find out how that works. And I learned a lot from that. And because I've had opportunities to lead in my Air Force career and beyond, I still pull from those experiences. I'm like, “Well, this would maybe work here.” But yeah, I don't know. Did you have any opportunities to do the leadership stuff, the higher level here? It's so unique, there's nothing else like that.   Naviere Walkewicz No, it really is unique. And I think one of the things that, when our listeners are always looking for are those little nuggets. So you learn so much, you know. What is one takeaway from a pure leadership perspective that you could say, “I've leaned back into multiple times?” What would that be? Putting yourself in other people's shoes is big.   Sam Eckholm It's kind of hard to remember that because you're getting information in from your leader, usually from your leader, right, your boss, they're telling you one thing, it's hard for them to see two layers down how that's going to impact everyone else. So I would always just try to put myself in other people's shoes. “OK, if I do this,  how's that going to make this person feel?” But the other thing is you can never make everyone happy. And I had to come to grips with that. And that's hard for me because I'm the type of person — it like messes me up if I know someone's mad at me or upset or doesn't think I'm doing the right thing. But you learn real quickly, you grow up really quickly and realize that if 90% is good, I mean, that might even be because that might be the best 99 whatever number you want. 15 a year and I'm like, well, this is working. You can't make everyone happy. And I still struggle with that, because you want everyone to be happy, especially with what I'm doing now on social media, when there's millions of people watching what I'm doing, and you look at comments, and you're kinda' like, “Man, I tried so hard on this, and I could have done it differently.” But then if you change it for one person, and someone else isn't gonna' be happy… so thick skin, that's the biggest thing I had to realize I wouldn't be where I am today if I let that bother me. And I remind myself that that's better to be where I am today and have thick skin then be hiding in the corner because I was scared. I couldn't make everyone happy.   Naviere Walkewicz So that is a great lesson. Thank you for sharing that. So, the Academy was great. You had some wonderful leadership experiences. Can you share maybe one of your favorite things about the Academy while you were a cadet?   Sam Eckholm Yeah, well, you asked about clubs. Oh, and I mentioned I didn't do anything really the first two years, which is true. That completely changed. When I switched squadrons, I got super involved, still within the squadron, but also within the Academy. I was on the mock trial team. That was so fun. Gave me an opportunity to travel on the weekends. I ended up being a legal studies major because of that and really enjoyed just everything that came from that. You know, I love talking. I don't know if you knew that I love speaking and talking with other people, communicating. And in mock trial and legal studies, our exams were literally us standing at a podium delivering a fake appellate speech or like you're talking to a judge and that was really cool. And then being able to compete and travel by talking and being a lawyer was fun. And then I also had the opportunity to be on the women's basketball practice team, the scout team. So I was a basketball player in high school, not at the level they play at the Academy. But I was like, “Well, how can I continue doing this?” And so someone, one of my classmates, is like, well, the women's team they look for former high school players to come into rugby, the scout team, run their upcoming opponents' defensive and offensive plays against them. And I tried out for that and made it and that was such a blast. I never knew we do that. And I had a schedule. I was able to go down there — we got the merch, the swag bag. It was fun. So, I tell everyone I was on the women's basketball team. Some kind of laugh, but it was the most amazing opportunity I had. And there's so many things like that at the Academy. By the time I was a firstie — people ask if I had any experience with photography, video, social media while here. One answer I say is “I started the CS 28 Blackbirds Instagram account,” which is still running strong, right? But then I actually worked with my then-physics instructor to start a photography class for the Academy. So as part of the Fine Arts Department, is the first time it was ran. And it was an elective I was able to sign up for when I was a first-year. And yeah, I mean, we literally had like 30 cadets take this course and raised enough money that we were able to get everyone a camera. Our professor, Col. Maddox at the time, she's still in, but she was amazing. She taught us and instructed us because she had her own business doing wedding photography and stuff like that. And that was so cool. I remember going to class, it felt like I was at a normal school. I was taking a photography class. And so that was when I was graduating going into public affairs, as my career, realized that I'm going to keep this up. And it was just cool to be able to do something like that, that you don't think the Academy has. We've got some cool classes that you might not expect.   Naviere Walkewicz No, that's wonderful. And I think our listeners are really excited to hear that too. And before we go on to your career in the Air Force and that transition, I wanted to go back to a little bit about the intercollegiate experience because I think you have a really unique perspective, right? You are not a recruited athlete, but you experienced really diving into the Academy from that aspect. And then you got to have the schedule and understand the rigors of what our intercollegiate athletes experience and you will hear this term: “Teezo Gap.” What's your perspective on that? You know, for people that are just listening, I think that's a fascinating topic that we haven't really explored.   Sam Eckholm Yeah, was a cadet for the first two years not being an intercollegiate athlete, the Teezo Gap, as you mentioned, it's a completely different perspective. And I'll be honest, sometimes you buy into it, you're like, I mean, these athletes are having an easier — they get to go do this and travel and wear civilian clothes as freshmen with their team, you know, miss all the mandatory squadron events and the training sessions and so I'll be honest, you do have some of that perception. Now flashing forward, that completely changed when I got a taste of it. And this was a small taste of it. I mean, I was a scout team player. And it wasn't every day, I had to go down half the week because we had two different teams that did it. But even then, I can't imagine what they have to go through. Because you go down there, your schedule is modified to where you don't have afternoon classes. So, after lunch, you're kind of going down there. And then it is practice meetings, dinner, sometimes meetings again, and then homework, and then rinse and repeat. And at the same time, sure, maybe they're missing some squadron stuff, but you know what, they're not missing anything academically, that's the same. So I have so much appreciation for all of the intercollegiate athletes at the Academy and experiencing that gave me more of an appreciation. And I just, again, it's something you can't fully appreciate until you have done it yourself. But for those students that can be so successful on the field and then still graduate from this. I mean, I know I couldn't do it. I couldn't do it. So, to answer your question, it is something that I think people who aren't aware, or who are listening and you know, might have that perception that it exists. I think we need to work to change that a little bit. Because these people are incredible.   Naviere Walkewicz And again, it's just I mean, you can probably share more. So, you went through that. Like, it's fascinating. I really appreciate you sharing that. Yeah. I think that's a wonderful thing for people to hear. You know, some of the perceptions versus realities. So, let's talk about when you were in the military. So, you graduated the Academy, what AFSC did you get? Yeah, so public affairs?   Sam Eckholm Yes. 35P1. When I was a firstie, I kind of knew I was going to not do the pilot thing. Multiple reasons. People asked me why. Couple: I wasn't even fully medically qualified at the time. I had some color vision stuff. Probably could have gotten a waiver for that eventually. But you know, there was a long process. So that's where I first started to think, “Hey, maybe there's something else I can do, too. I just loved being on the ground talking to people, there was more I wanted to do than just fly. And so, I was trying to find a career field that allowed me to still be around aircraft, still be bebop and buzzing around and doing my thing but also having an impact. So, after my sophomore year, when we went on ops Air Force, I went to Travis Air Force Base and part of that trip, I got to shadow the public affairs career field. And while I was there, I still remember the feeling of like walking through the doors at the PA building, which was right by the wing staff,. They had like a full suite of Apple MacBook computers, airmen on Lightroom and Photoshop and editing videos. The San Francisco 49ers were in town to do a base visit and PA was out there escorting them. I got to interview the commander who was about to PCS and write a story on him. This was all in the span of like three days. And I was like, “What other career field is there where you can do all of this?” It's like kind of a jack-of-all-trades job. And so that visit, I was like, “Wow, this is really, really cool. I want to do this!” Now the next part was like, “Well, how do I do this?” So, I came to find out there was only five slots. Since I've graduated, I've heard some years they have had no slots, some years a couple slots. So, I don't really know how it works anymore. But I would go up to Harmon Hall, literally every day the first semester of my first year, second of my two-degree year, and I would just talk with, then at the time Lt. Col. Allen Herritage, who is the PA director. Now it'd be like, “Sir, how can I learn more about this job?” I was like, “How can you help me? How can you help me get this?” It's all about connections. And regardless of whether or not that actually did help, I know two things are true. I went up there every day and I talked. And then I also got public affairs. So, I just, I worked really hard, though. I mean, I worked so hard in school, and I had a good class ranking. And that definitely helped me and just networking as much as I could to let a FPC know that this is something that I want. So yeah, I dropped public affairs. I was so excited. I remember our squadron put on this awesome AFSC drop release with Nerf guns and blindfold maze stuff. And when I saw that, I was like, “This is gonna' be fun five years, or longer.” Yeah, I didn't know looking back. I mean, you know, we can get into that too. But it's a career field that is fun for life and I'm so glad I got it.   Naviere Walkewicz Wonderful. So let's talk about that. And let's talk about that career field and some of your experiences both from the experience perspective, but maybe where there was some leadership lessons you took as a public affairs officer.   Sam Eckholm Yeah, well, I was kind of thrust right into it. So, I got stationed at Langley Air Force Base. I was, I think the only one from my class, maybe one other who even got sent there. So, it's not like pilot training or a lot. You know, if you got your buddies, it's kind of like a little reunion and you run it back for the next couple years. I was off on my own, so to learn quickly what life was like, to be just Sam as an officer, as a lieutenant, it's like the first week when I was out there we were doing unit PT with my PA shop, running around the base track, which those who have been to Langley, it's a beautiful ride on the coast on the running ground. It's amazing running the flightline. And out of nowhere an F-22 took off just full-burner. But it wasn't a normal takeoff. It started doing maneuvers and rolls and just putting on this spectacle of a show. I mean, my ears were like, “Oh my gosh,” and I turned to my boss at the time. I was like, “What is going on right now?” She's like, “Oh, Sam, that's the F-22 demo team. They travel the air shows around the world just like the Thunderbirds, and they put on shows and help recruit and they actually take one PA person from our office to travel with them each year.” It was at that second I knew that's what I want to do. That right there, is what I want to do. And flash forward a few months, the opening came up. I was completely inexperienced at the time, but I pitched myself and sold myself and the commander at the time, Lt. Col. “Loco” Lopez, who's now out in Hawaii, is the squadron commander for the F-22 unit. And he's been a big inspiration to me. I interviewed with him and I was showing him a YouTube channel. “Look, I can edit, see, like, I can take photos, look at my Instagram.” And he hired me in for the next two years. And every year I was like, “What is real life?” I mean, we were at shows all over the world. I went to Dubai, Singapore, Chile, Hawaii, I mean, Alaska, pretty much every base here in the U.S. got to meet my classmates who were stationed there, got to run all the social media, do all the videos for the team, the coolest jet in the world. It's the F-22 — blew up their social media, just made it my goal to do what I called “no life.” Literally, for two years it's all I did was live, breathe F-22 demo team, and just really wanted to give it my all. And that was so fun. Now to go back to the leadership side of things: Imagine being a butter bar, a second lieutenant now thrust on a team, which has national-media-level attention. I remember I was at a show in Chicago andI just got called in to do an interview because our pilot wasn't available. And I'm literally in front of thousands and thousands of people having to just talk about the Air Force mission and these high-level questions that I was like,”Oh my gosh,” so back to your question of being confident. Like, that's probably where it came from. I just had to learn and had to fake it ‘till I made it. But what a fun experience for a young lieutenant and just something I'll never forget.   Naviere Walkewicz Wow. Well, I think something I took from what you said as well as you identify very quickly, when there's something that you really want to do and you make a path to get there. And I think in your relentless pursuit, in a way that is really convincing. And I think that's a lesson right? You have to put in the work, you obviously can't just only be talk, you have to be able to show like, you can put some cred behind it. And I think that's a lesson where you're able to share with folks, “Hey, if you're really interested in something, go all in for it.” And to your point, “and then live it.” Yeah, do that. soak it all in. So I think that's really inspirational. Were there any tough times you had as a public affairs officer?   Sam Eckholm Tons. PA, it's not always the good side of things, too, right? We really exist for the most part for the crisis communication, right? When something bad happens, to communicate that as well. And so, it doesn't matter if it's the highs or the lows, you still gotta' get out there and talk to people and make things happen. So, luckily, when I was on the team, you know, we didn't have anything catastrophic, any mishaps like that, but I know people who have right I mean, [I've] had mentors, PA world or former Thunderbird PAs when they've had crashes and there's a lot that goes on there. So, we always have to be prepared for that. And even though I didn't have to necessarily be thrust in that environment, that's still on your mind, you just have to be prepared. Now, the other thing was just tough with being in this lifestyle for two years is that when you're constantly gone, so we are TDY I mean, like, literally 300 days a year. And so, it's hard to continue to have the same motivation every single day when it's just the same show, monotonous, like doing everything day in and day out. And I think that's a lesson anyone can learn in the Air Force or beyond, you know, because a lot of the times it, it is repetitive. So, I would always look for ways to make it not repetitive. And for me if we're going to a different show, as a photographer, videographer making content, I would always try to do something different. I would always try to focus in on a different element of the story. So instead of just focusing on the pilot in the jet every time, I would tell behind-the-scenes stories of our maintainers, of our aircrew flight equipment specialists, of the fans who came and traveled across the country to watch and, doing tours with them and I would arrange a ton of school visits and talk to Civil Air Patrol units in JROTC and really just focus on the community relations and the recruiting side of things. And there's a lot I had to work with and that was really fun for me to mix and match and that was the way I just stayed motivated and still had fun with it. And even to this day, I'm always trying to one-up the last thing I did and branch out and evolve and just make everything interesting. And I think the viewers kind of understand that and appreciate it. And that's always my goal is for no one to ever click on a video of mine or see what I'm doing and be like, “Oh, that's kind of the same thing.” I want it to always be exciting.   Naviere Walkewicz I can absolutely appreciate that. And it seems like that kind of pace is, I mean, how do you maintain that? So maybe my question would be for you, Sam, what is your outlet? Because if you live, breathe as a leader, right, if you you expect a lot from your people, and you always want the best and you want something new, how do you maintain that level of give? And so, what's your outlet?   Sam Eckholm Yeah, well, kind of the first part of what you asked, I also had to realize that just because I'm this way doesn't mean everyone's this way, right? So, if you're a leader, and you are 100% committed and want it to be your entire life, that doesn't mean everyone's going to be that way. And I had to realize that because at times that can be frustrating, if you're leading a team and you're gung-ho about it, but like, OK, maybe they aren't, well, that's OK, you know, you need to, again, put yourself in their shoes and see what motivates them. And I learned that lesson as well, even back to when I was a squadron commander, I'd pitch an idea and I was so excited. And I can tell him that everyone's [not] gonna' be as excited as you, Sam. But yeah, my outlet, I mean, a lot of different stuff at the time, you know, I was just so excited about doing what I was doing. So as weird as it sounds, my outlet was my work. And that's something not everyone understands. But I actually felt depressed if I wasn't continuing to work, because I knew there was a time limit on how long I would have this opportunity. So, I was like, “Well, I'm going to keep working hard now.” And as I've moved on, I have found a healthy balance between work and other things. So, you know, friendships are incredibly important, especially other people in the space with what I'm doing, being able to talk with them and how they are handling stress levels. Because not everyone can relate especially to what I was doing and am doing. So other people in the space, in the industry, we're all dealing with the same things. So that's something I tell people all the time is, “Other people who are in your world — those are some awesome friendships you can have, because they understand what you're going through. Not everyone does.” That's a classic example of when people talk about the Academy, you go home on a winter break, none of your friends understand what you're going through. It's really, really hard, you know? Who does? Your classmates at the Academy. You go through that with them. And so that has been a huge thing for me: other people who have gone through what I have, like, we're in it together. And those are some times when I really feel like I can sit back, relax, and the stress is taken off.   Naviere Walkewicz Now that's really helpful. And I think I did chuckle in my head a little bit when you said, you know, “Actually, my outlet is my work.” But I think when you're doing your thing that you're wired to do and your passion, that makes sense.   Sam Eckholm Yeah, it's both fulfilling and exhausting. I mean, I love to travel to like, I do normal things as well. But in some way, even then I battled the whole, like, well, what can I be doing, especially when you're a full-time, have your own company entrepreneur. That was a huge adjustment for me. Because it's not like you have a salary job where there is some end at some point to kind of go home. It's like, well, you could always be doing more, right? You could always be working. And I've had to struggle with that sometimes, because it's like, I could keep working, keep working. So that's something I've learned and doing better at still to this day. But yeah, it's interesting.   Naviere Walkewicz So, let's talk about that transition. You know, you knew there was a time period on that F-22 demo team, and the PA role. But when did, you know, “I think I'm going to be moving out of this into my own kind of work.”   Sam Eckholm Yeah, so once I finished the F-22 team, I had to move on with my career. They don't let you do something in the Air Force forever, totally understood that. But I wasn't done personally inspiring, making content. I had developed kind of a following along the way of people who were just interested in what I was doing. So, I would kind of take my free time. I always made it my goal — I was like, I'm going to stay focused on the PA job. I never want anyone to be able to look at lieutenant at home and be like, “He's not locked in on this PA job. He's not focused. He's interested in these other things.” So, I would make that my goal. But my free time, my leave, my time on the weekends, instead of normal hobbies people do, I would make videos. That was my thing. And so, my next assignment, I went to Scott Air Force Base, I was 375 Air Mobility Wing, and that was a demanding and fun job. And I kind of still had this thing going on the side. It got up to the point where it's at the end of my Academy commitment, and I had a tough decision to make, right? I loved being in the Air Force. I was a captain at the time. I was excited. But as you rank up, you get more responsibilities, understandably, and I knew that I did not want to let that lack if I was going to stay in the Air Force. I did not want my airmen — I did not want people to think I was distracted doing something else. But I loved this other thing as well. So really, what I had to decide is, “Where am I having the biggest impact in the Air Force?” And as weird as it sounds, right, because you think of serving — most of the time people think like, in uniform active duty. Well, I think of service in many different ways, right. And I actually felt, and I know this is true, that I could serve the Air Force, the military, our country, better on the outside, continuing to inspire people by doing these videos, making this content, showing people what life was like, inspiring all these kids on the outside, being able to go at that with 100% of my time. And luckily, that wasn't just a personal decision I made. I was having conversation with like, the highest levels of leaders in Air Force recruiting and public affairs explaining this as well. And that's just what I decided I wanted to do. And it was scary. It's very scary going from a job, one that I had worked since I was a freshman in high school to get to in the Air Force, to now kind of giving that up to do this other thing. But we're really helping the viewers, it wasn't giving it up to me, it was just doing it in a different way. I would say I'm still connected now more than I was even when I'm in with what I'm doing. I'm not in uniform, you know, I don't have my CAT card anymore. But I am serving more than I ever thought I would be around the units traveling to bases every single week filming what I'm doing. So that's kind of what helped me make that decision. And it was the right decision. And to this day, the comments I see from kids, the people I've been able to help and resonate with, it's crazy. And it's something that probably wouldn't have been able to happen if I stayed in just with the amount of you know, stuff I would have had to do on the normal job side. Right?   Naviere Walkewicz Wow. So, you talked about impact. And that was really important to you. What's one of years or maybe a couple of your most favorite, impactful moments that you've had since moving into the entrepreneurial side of things?   Sam Eckholm Yeah, I mean, it's hard sometimes when you're like a video creator, because what you see is numbers on a screen, right? You see views, you see comments, which can be really inspiring too. But sometimes, you know, you miss the in-person interactions because you're traveling and it's the videos people see. But I always, even to this day, a couple times a year, I do like in-person events, I just went out to an airshow and was in San Antonio and I did a couple of these previous years. And it's a different feeling when you're out there. And there's tens, dozens of people, who are like literally waiting in line just to say hi, to take a photo to tell me that like, hey, these videos are the reason they want to join or have joined or have inspired them. It's crazy. And that to me keeps me going. And that was so, so impactful. And you know, I have a folder on my computer. On my phone I have like screenshots of all the messages I've gotten, because when I'm having a hard day or when I'm like, “Man, this is tough,” I can look back at those and be like, “Well, this is why it's all worth it. And this is why I do the things that I do.” And yeah, it's cool being a creator who's not just in it for themselves. And I try to tell people that really what I'm doing is to inspire other people. It's tough. It probably looks really cool when you see all the things I'm doing. And that is fun. But it is a lot. But I know the impact that's possible. I remember when I was a freshman in high school looking for content online, and there wasn't too much of it. And I wanted to change that. And I know Naviere, we've worked so much together and you've seen the stuff I've done and you know how much it means to me. So just being able to see and hear from people, it means everything.   Naviere Walkewicz Yeah, so what's your, is there a story, a video that you've done that just, it just kind of sits right into your heart like this one is just so special? I mean, we probably have so many, but is there one that you just feel has really resonated with, you know, youth or just that level of impact? Is there one you can speak to?   Sam Eckholm Yeah, well, I'll give, I'll give kind of two. So, one that is incredibly special to me in a personal way. I actually got to go back and do a video on the KC-135 and I brought my dad out there for that. Yeah, that was something I always wanted to do. And he's great. I was a little nervous. I was like, “How is he going to be on camera?” But he knocked it out of the park to the point where some comments were like, “He needs to come to every video like that. You need to take over the channel at this point. Everyone loves you so much.” But it was so fun. I mean, he studied for weeks on the facts of the aircraft. He was an instructor for the instructors at the schoolhouse. It took him a few minutes, but literally after half an hour, he knew his way around that aircraft so well and was teaching the current pilots out there some things that they didn't know. Anyway, so I look back — that video is like a full-circle moment for me. And that resonated with a lot of people too, who just enjoyed seeing my inspiration and have some people who look at me as their inspiration. Like it's just really, really cool to see outside of that. I mean, I would say a really personal project of mine was when I actually got to come out here to the Academy and do a complete tour of the grounds and the campus and facilities. With the audience I've been able to build, a lot of people know me as an Academy grad. And so they reached out asking me questions about the Air Force Academy. “What it's like to apply?” How they can get in. And it's hard to answer all of those questions because that's all I'd be doing if I did it. So, I was like, “Well, what's a way I can put this message out to everyone?” And so, you know, I worked with your team, worked with the Academy team, and we came out here for a week and filmed what I think is the most beautiful school ever. And I just wanted to show that and that video to this day is, I don't know, 1.2-something million views. And you go scroll through those comments, the amount of people who didn't know it exists — which probably sounds crazy to us, right? — that now know and can see all of these cool things you would have access to and can do if you're cadet, I mean, I think that video is going to have returns and just inspire people for years to come. That was such a big project I wanted to do to get back to my school and to show other people, “This school did this for me. You guys need to understand what it can do for you, too.” So, I'm really proud of that one. I have a lot of people reaching out to me about that still to this day. Every single week, you know, “Hey, Sam, I want to go here. I watched this video. How can I do it?” And I'm like, “Alright, well, let's talk. Here's what you need to start doing. You need to do this.”   Naviere Walkewicz I love that. So, it's really unique, your journey, right? Because you have been a leader of peers, of people, of airmen, etc. You've also been, I think, a leader of yourself, and you know, in part of how you navigate that. One of the ways I think our listeners really feel connected with our guests is, you know, life is pretty imperfect. What are some challenges you've experienced along the way in your life, just in your professional and personal life, that you have has felt as evolved you as an influencer as a leader, as someone who inspires you to share any with a group that makes them feel like, okay, Sam, I'm in? You know, I'm kind of like, Sam, you know, in some way, what would that be?   Sam Eckholm Yeah, I mean, like I said, it's one of the things I sometimes struggle with when you have an online presence is you kind of gravitate towards only showing the highlights. And that's just how the business works, right? I mean, I don't want to be putting out negative content all day. But then, you know, you're right. I mean, some people kind of see like, “Oh, everything seems to be going well.” I mean, that's not the case. Absolutely not, especially with what I was doing. There's a reason it's very hard to get into this space, especially being in the Air Force. I made some decisions that some might have said would hurt my career, right? Even going back to the demo team, that was a job that typically you don't do as a lieutenant, right. And I was told, “Hey, this might hurt your career going forward.” But I also knew that this was something I wanted to do. And I had goals in mind. And I was young and I just hated the idea that a decision I made when I was 23 years old would ruin my career. I was like, “There's no way that can be true. I'm so young, I've got so much opportunity.” And so, I'm glad I kind of listened to myself. And that was a big decision. But even along the way, making videos while being in the Air Force, I was writing the rules, because there weren't regulations for what you can and can't do. And I was having a lot of tough conversations with people. I'm like, “I'm trying to do the right thing here. You guys gotta help me, I see a lot of potential in this.” So that kind of lesson can be applied to, I think, anyone. A lot of people, I feel, want to do certain things or have dreams and goals. And neither one get talked out of it. To talk themselves out of it. Three, you just look at the negatives, and it gets in your head. And it makes it hard for people to kind of pull the trigger and do it. And I completely understand that. “Comfortable rut” — I kind of use that phrase — you get comfortable in thing and it's hard to break away from that. And so, I don't know, for me, that's the biggest advice I give people: If you have an end goal in mind, it's not going to be easy to get there. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it, right? I mean, especially being an entrepreneur. It's hard, it's a gamble, it's a risk. And you've got to prepare yourself. I never say, “Hey, just go take this without any plan or backup plan.” And I always had that in place. But you know, I guess I kind of am a risk taker in some world. And I know I have good intentions at heart. And I know what I'm trying to do. And I think that was really important is just having the backup plans, having a good background, having things set in place to where I'm able to do this and — I don't know, coming across as a good person has been huge. So, people hopefully watch my stuff and, like, “Sam's good. He's doing the right thing.”   Naviere Walkewicz So, I don't know, it's hard. If you have any specific advice on that, because you've done so much. But when people look at your stuff, hopefully you can kind of resonate and don't think it's all good all the time. But I think you'll come across as very approachable. I think it's lovely for them to hear in your own words some of the struggles that you have when you're thinking about your content when you're thinking about the delivery of it. They maybe don't get that glimpse, right? They just see the final product. I think it's good for listeners to hear that you've kind of had to advocate for yourself, trust in yourself. And I think you've shown a path of what belief and grit and, going back to your core of, “My intention is to create meaningful impact and do great things for our Air Force and for the future leaders,” right? I think you can always hang your hat on that with pride.   Sam Eckholm Yeah, and I always tell people like what you see as a finished polished video — like, the behind the scenes is crazy. It's like, cameras everywhere, months and months of coordination for the shots and for these approvals. We plan videos — like I'm planning now that you will see six months from now. That's how long it takes. And things change. When I first started out, and it was fun, it was a hobby, it was just what I was doing. And then now when it becomes like, a full-time job, and you have a team now I've got employees who rely on me, like things kind of changed with that. And, you know, definitely the advocating for yourself is something that sometimes hard to do. But it's, it's necessary. And so yeah, it's a lot of lessons I've learned, and I'm still learning. But I'm not going anywhere. I'm gonna' keep going hard.     Naviere Walkewicz So, love that. So, your dad and uncle were inspirations to kind of get you into the profession of arms, the Air Force Academy, who inspires you now? Do you listen to any particular leaders? Are there books you read when you have time? You know, what, what kind of fills your inspiration bucket, Sam?   Sam Eckholm Yeah. You know, it's crazy. It sounds, there's not necessarily like a, like a one specific person who inspires me. And that's just because I try to consume so much different stuff and take the best from all of those. So yeah, I'm constantly learning, right? If I'm not creating content, I'm watching other content for inspiration, listening to a ton of podcasts, like this one here. So yeah, there's so much we can take from different people and different leaders. It is hard a little bit in my case to find someone who's exactly done what I've done. But there's a lot of people who have done other things and kind of made it, like Col. Kim Campbell, I've been listening to her actually, like what she's been doing with her Air Force career and then afterward and like, I've actually never met her.     Naviere Walkewicz You feel like you've met her, right?   Sam Eckholm I actually tried to. Same thing with Michelle Karen-Mace. You know, she's not Academy grad, but she's all over the world. And we did similar things in our careers. And so, she's been awesome to talk to as well, in pretty much any Academy grad. And that's something that I really enjoy. Being a member of the Long Blue Line, we come from the same roots. And everyone's very intelligent and understands things. And I've just been able to have so much support with what I've been doing through the grad network, especially when I go out to different bases and units like grads, like, “Hey, Sam, what's up? I'd love to work with you.” And that's been really cool. So, yeah, I mean, a ton of different inspiration from a lot of different people. And, you know, hopefully, I can eventually be that inspiration for someone else who wants to do something similar to what I'm doing. That's exciting to draw inspiration not just from people, but experiences. And what you see, just you're constantly looking for, yes, kind of pieces.   Naviere Walkewicz That's pretty special. So, you know, let's talk about right now what is, you know, how are you in support of the Academy through what you're doing? Maybe kind of share with our listeners what that looks like.     Sam Eckholm I'm always trying to further the Academy mission with literally every video I produce. I'm always doing something else. So I had the awesome opportunity to partner with Air Force recruiting and we did a six-video series exploring different aircraft, different career fields, — one of my favorite videos we did is actually went down and experienced Air Force Special Tactics officer training for a week in Hurlburt. And I was literally hands and feet behind my back bobbing through the pool like going through selection that normal people train for years for, I had like a week of advance to go out there and do that. So I tried to put myself in uncomfortable situations to show other people what that's like. It was extremely brutal. And I think there's more of that coming down the road as well. As you know, one of the huge goals was to give back to people trying to go to the Academy and honestly level the playing field in my mind with people who maybe don't have graduates or parents who went to the Academy and worked extremely hard work with you guys on the Air Force Academy blueprint program to just have a resource out there where anyone can navigate the Academy application can know what they need to be doing in high school, and to know what to expect once they actually get to the Academy too, and that's been incredibly successful. I mean, we have over 300 atudents enrolled — over two dozen who've been accepted this past class.   Naviere Walkewicz I was going to ask: Have you seen any of those come through?   Sam Eckholm Yeah, we have. Well, this will be the first year. so they haven't entered yet because we launched last August, right? So yeah, I'm excited. There will be a little mafia of Blueprint students here at the Academy as well. And like I said, that was something — you get so man

Angela “A.G.” Slatter is the author of the gothic fantasy novels All the Murmuring Bones, The Path of Thorns, and The Briar Book of the Dead (Titan Books); the supernatural crime novels Vigil, Corpselight and Restoration (Jo Fletcher Books); twelve short story collections, including The Bitterwood Bible and Other Recountings; the novellas Of Sorrow and Such, Ripper and The Bone Lantern; and a Hellboy Universe collaboration with Mike Mignola, Castle Full of Blackbirds. She's won a World Fantasy Award, a British Fantasy Award, a Shirley Jackson Award, three Australian Shadows Awards and eight Aurealis Awards, and been shortlisted for the QLA Courier Mail Book of the Year Award. Her work has been translated into Bulgarian, Dutch, Chinese, Russian, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Polish, Czechoslovakian, Hungarian, Turkish, French and Romanian. angelaslatter.comThis story originally appeared in Dark Discoveries #35, 2016.Narrated by: Monica Pierce and Rikki LaCoste.Monica Pierce is a nerd. A nerd with a background in both sci-fi and musical theatre; she is also a wicked Dungeon Master and the newest member of The Seanachai Group—a motley gang of storytellers from Toronto Canada, founded by Rikki LaCoste, who is both a veteran narrator for StarShipSofa and an unrepentant nerd himself. And as far as we can tell, Rikki may not, in fact, be made of tin.(The narrators would like to apologise to all English speakers of the UK for our use of the Toronto British dialect - a Canadian/Harry Potter hybrid. However, we are all quite convinced that this would be the Received Pronunciation spoken in the south of England by the 2200s CE.)With many winks,Rikki LaCostemSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/starshipsofa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another special episode where I play one half (one full side) of outstanding and influential albums, regardless of sub-genre. In this episode, hear Armored Saint, Blackbirds, Deep Purple (MK3), Flied Egg, Limelight (UK), Magnum, Public Foot The Roman, Rio (UK), Solution (NE), Ten Wheel Drive. Do you enjoy Prog-Scure? If so, perhaps you might consider […]

Today's show features music performed by The Blackbirds of Paradise and Frank Sinatra

Whats the Tea this week?? Well on this week's episode we chat briefly about the DC Cheerleaders, the American Gymnastics team and the unfortunate events plaguing booktok. BUT! Exciting news, Emily Henry's Happy Place and Brynne Weavers Butcher and Blackbirds will soon be coming to our screens! We have the lovely Miranda, who you may know as probablyoffreading on both Tiktok and Instagram join us for this weeks episode! We chat all books, romantasy and stuff your kindle days! Here are a list of books mentioned in the podcast: Breaking Hailey - by I A Dice Saving Hailey by I A Dice Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage Thorns of Desire by Eva Winners Play Along by Liz Tomforde The Pucking Coaches Daughter by S Massery Did you enjoy this episode? Want to see more? You can find me on Instagram, Tiktok and youtube  @v.e.e.r.e.a.d.s 

If you spend time around marshes during the summer months you are likely to become familiar with the yellow-headed blackbird. The name of this bird is quite descriptive, but it is occasionally referred to (with tongue firmly in cheek) as a “black bodied yellow bird.”

A week away from winter – Everybody feels that – especially the birds in your garden.   Food is becoming scarce, unless you've planted a heap of trees and shrubs that provide nectar and honeydew to keep the nectivores happy.   Some species of Eucalypts are flowering right now; so do Tagasaste, some puriri and Banksia. Mexican Orange blossom does its best too, judging from the silvereyes that descend on those flowers.   Nectivores are often attracted by sugar water, delivered in all sorts of ways: bottle feeders are available in garden centres and can be filled with dilutions of that sugar water. Do NOT use honey water as that may spread bee diseases from hive to hive.    Be aware that we have heaps of Native Nectivores in Aotearoa: tui, bellbird, silvereyes to name a few.   A lot of people feed birds dodgy supplements such as stale bread and food scraps; yes – sparrows and starlings (as well as mynahs and the odd blackbird) might initially seem to appreciate your gestures, but so do rats and mice (who are also looking for fodder). A Bread meal is often quite detrimental to birds – if they drink water afterwards, the swelling of the bread can rupture their stomachs.   A number of bird species enjoy some seeds: sparrows greenfinches, gold finches and such introduced creatures; blackbirds don't mind some seeds covered in fruity stuff.   Julie has a different view on the matter: “Blackbirds are there to rip the mulch off the garden”, whether or not they want to catch worms or any other invertebrates…   Another point we need to consider about feeding birds in your garden is that you'll need to keep going till spring; Your generosity is something the birds rely on and when you stop, there will be consequences for the artificially-high populations created by extra feeding!   I tend to target nectar feeders in winter. The afore-mentioned Tui, bellbird and silver-eyes are beneficial species!  Silver-eyes are particularly useful insect eaters, specialising in scale insects, mealybugs, aphids, psyllids, whitefly and a heap more of those quite damaging garden pests.   I hate spraying systemic insecticides, so birds' help is always welcome.   And this is how I attract them to my garden from June onwards:   Lard blocks made from dripping and contained in an old onion bag or in a small, metal “cage” where the birds can hang from. This last contraption feeds a wide range of birds that over-winter in my garden.   Replenish frequently and remember to place the feeders in a spot out of reach from neighbourhood cats.    A source of water might also be handy as – even in winter – birds need water   My goal is to get the largest flocks of silver-eyes on the lard blocks and sugar-water stations throughout winter and right into spring, when the silver-eyes start to disperse to go breeding.  You might think you will have “lost” them from the garden... they are getting very secretive around nesting time, but they will remember your place as a heaven full of food, so...   In spring and summer they'll come and do the pest control business for you by scouting the scale insects and aphids from your plants, to feed their kids.   Tui and Bellbird will probably do a significant job of pollination in your garden.   What's not to like?  LISTEN ABOVE. Silvereyes on MeatballSilvereyes on lard blockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A common natural occurrence was poetic to me

This weeks show features the super talented lead guitarist Bill Leverty of FIREHOUSE (band) in to talk about the band and their upcoming performance at Peoples Bank Theatre! Also on the show is an EXTENDED CUT interview starring the awesome Jake Dunn of Jake Dunn & The Blackbirds. Jake shares THREE acoustic songs and tells all you want to know about his life, his music and his love for Columbus Soccer.

Brandon and Eric once again hop in the way back machine and stop off in 1950. The boys comb through the Toledo area bird report and discuss all the things that have changed in the last 70 plus years. Learn about car crushing blackbirds and get a recommendation for your next purchase of Irish whiskey.

Tuesday is the last day of National Poetry Month, and Minnesota Now marked the occasion by talking to the state's very own Poet Laureate, Professor Gwen Westerman. She was appointed by Governor Walz in 2021, and is the third poet to hold the title in Minnesota.Preceding her was Joyce Sutphen, appointed in 2011, and Robert Bly, who started things off in 2008. Westerman teaches English and Humanities at Minnesota State University Mankato, and she's published two poetry collections, “Songs, Blood Deep,” and “Follow the Blackbirds.”

Episode 51: Pasadena Now's Managing Editor Andre Coleman, joins the podcast to share his journey growing up in Altadena and how Watergate inspired him to pursue a career in journalism. During this engaging conversation, Andre discusses the current state of local news and his responsibility to the community as a trusted source of information. In addition to being a journalist and columnist, Andre is an accomplished playwright and storyteller. He penned Blackbirds Volume 1, an audiobook series released in 2021 that follows a family struggling with race and justice in the Jim Crow era. To subscribe to Pasadena Now's essential daily newsletter, please visit www.pasadenanow.com. For more information and links to Andre's Blackbirds audio series, please visit https://blackbirdsaudio.com/. The featured music on the podcast is courtesy of Pasadena's own The Nextdoors. Please visit nextdoorsmusic.com and follow them on social media for more information on their next live shows. The Crown City Podcast is produced in partnership with Pasadena Media. For more information about this incredible non-profit serving the Pasadena community, please visit www.pasadenamedia.org. For more information and to support The Crown City Podcast, please visit us at www.thecrowncitypodcast.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Red-winged Blackbirds and Meadowlarks are both very vocal, both migratory in my area, and both members of the Icteridae family.  In this episode we'll learn more about these heralds of Spring!   Check out our Patreon page: patreon.com/dispatchesfromtheforest   Also our merch store:  cafepress.com/dispatchesfromtheforest   Send an email, donate via PayPal:  dispatchesfromtheforest@gmail.com

Máirtín Ó Muilleoir is the publisher of the Andersonstown News in Belfast and the Irish Echo in New York. In this episode, we talk about: Why he has a blackbird on his business card How he was able to buy a business with no money The future of the newspaper industry Growing up in Andytown during the sixties Challenges facing the media sector The symbiotic relationship between Ireland/America Life lessons from a Buddhist Chaplain And dealing with the chaos of modern life Check it out. https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/mairtin-o-muilleoir-andersonstown-news

Dzidzoli Quist is an experienced strategic partner manager with a proven track record of fostering impactful collaborations in the dynamic tech landscape. Currently serving as a Strategic Partner Manager at Meta, he specializes in cultivating and nurturing partnerships that drive product growth, innovation and business growth. Key Achievements:Successfully led key initiatives resulting in content and product partnerships with Live Nation, Billboard, Complex, including creating the first ever product that tracked real time song conversation on Twitter. He also led Meta becoming the official AR partner of Coachella.DZ is the former leader of Twitter's Blackbirds employee resource group. As a Blackbirds lead, he focused on diversity recruiting and community outreach by creating internal support and structure for hiring members of the African diaspora at Twitter.

On this episode of For the Birds, Chip and Anson talk to you about Red-winged Blackbirds, Red-shouldered Hawk, and American Woodcocks!Red-winged Blackbird eBirdRed-shouldered Hawk eBirdAmerican Woodcock eBird

Click to listen to episode (9:16). Sections below are the following:Transcript of AudioAudio Notes and AcknowledgmentsImageSourcesRelated Water Radio EpisodesFor Virginia Teachers (Relevant SOLs, etc.)Unless otherwise noted, all Web addresses mentioned were functional as of 2-1-24. TRANSCRIPT OF AUDIO From the Cumberland Gap to the Atlantic Ocean, this is Virginia Water Radio for the weeks of February 5 and February 12, 2024. MUSIC – ~35 sec – lyrics: “We are on a ship, a great big ship.  It takes all of us to take of it.  And we can use the stars to navigate our trip.  We are riding on a ship.” That's the closing of “On a Ship,” by Blacksburg, Va., singer-songwriter Kat Mills.  Since January 2010, Virginia Water Radio has been bringing you sounds, music, and information about the watery nature of the good ship Earth, particularly the waters of the Commonwealth of Virginia.  With the recent passage of Water Radio's 14th anniversary, this will be the show's last regularly scheduled episode.  Water Radio may return from time to time with special-project episodes; if so, I hope you'll be able to have a listen. To mark the transition away from regular episodes, I've invited several guests to call out the range of topics that Water Radio has aimed to explore.  Have a listen for about 45 seconds to their voices, interspersed with some favorite sounds, of birds, the spokesman for traditional fishing boat singers, children, a rolling river, and rumbling thunder. VOICES AND SOUNDS - ~41 sec VOICE 1 - Water in the biology of humans, birds, frogs, plants, and other living things.  SOUND 1 - Little Blue Heron fishing, plus sounds of Red-winged Blackbirds.       VOICE 2 - Water-related history and cultural expression.  SOUND 2 – Spokesman for Northern Neck Chantey Singers saying, “We are the Northern Neck Chantey Singers.” VOICE 3 - Water laws and policies, management and uses, and people.  SOUND 3 – Group of children and adults calling out “Take a kid to a park!” VOICE - Groundwater, surface water, and watersheds.  SOUND 4 – South Fork Roanoke River in Montgomery County, Va.     VOICE - Water science, water research, and weather.  SOUND 5 – Thunderstorm. Along with its focus on water-related sounds, much of Water Radio's vitality has come from music about water, with either the music or the musicians having a Virginia connection.  Several groups and individuals have graciously allowed frequent use of their songs.  Those include Kat Mills, whose song “On a Ship” you heard earlier; Ben Cosgrove and Stewart Scales, whose versions of “Shenandoah” and “Cripple Creek,” respectively, open and close alternating episodes; and the following artists, whom you'll hear in an upcoming medley: the late Madeline MacNeil, with “New Spring Waltz”;Timothy Seaman, with “Bass Fisherman's Reel”;Torrin Hallett, with “Tropical Tantrum”;Andrew and Noah VanNorstrand, with “Samuel Mason.”Chamomile and Whiskey, with “Dirty Sea”;The Steel Wheels, with “Valley”;No Strings Attached, with “Kartune”; andBob Gramann, with “Rappahannock Running Free.” Have a listen for a little over three minutes. MUSIC - ~3 min./15 sec. “New Spring Waltz.” - ~ 23 sec – instrumental. “Bass Fisherman's Reel - ~20 sec – instrumental. “Tropical Tantrum” - ~27 sec – instrumental. “Samuel Mason” - ~24 sec – lyrics: “Samuel Mason, that is my name.  I left Fort Henry seeking fortune and fame.  I came from Virginia a long time ago, but now I am a pirate along the Ohio.” “Dirty Sea” - ~18 sec – instrumental. “Valley” - ~41 sec – lyrics: “These mountains have been here for centuries.  There's stories in the water, something if you're listening; what kind of stories do you wanna see?  ‘Cause I wanna go where the wind don't blow; take me down to the valley.  I wanna go where the wind don't blow; take me out tonight.” “Kartune” - ~19 sec – instrumental. “Rappahannock Running Free” - ~23 sec – lyrics: “I love the Rappahannock, and its water running free; in the rapids of this river, that's where I want to be.   I love the Rappahannock, and its waters running free; in the rapids of this river, that's where I'll always be.” Thanks to all the musicians, sounds sources, and collaborators who contributed to this episode and to the previous 673 episodes.  Thanks also to radio stations WEHC at Emory and Henry College, and WVRU at Radford University, for carrying the show on air each week. We close Water Radio's regular-episode era with one more musical selection.  Here's about 1 minute/20 seconds of John McCutcheon's “Water from Another Time,” a song rich in water imagery, fine music, and valuable words.  Here's to that. MUSIC - ~77 sec – lyrics: “New-born cry in the morning air, the past and the future are wedded there; in this wellspring of my sons and daughters, the bone and blood of living water.  And of Grandpa's hands have gone to dust, like Grandma's pump reduced to rust.  Their stories quench my soul and mind, like water from another time.  You don't take much but you gotta have some; the old ways help, the new ways come; just leave a little extra for the next in line, they're gonna need a little water from another time.  You don't take much but you gotta have some; the old ways help, the new ways come; just leave a little extra for the next in line, they're gonna need a little water from another time.  Gonna need a little water, need a little water, need a little water, gonna need a little water from another time.” SHIP'S BELL Virginia Water Radio is produced by the Virginia Water Resources Research Center, part of Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment.  For more Virginia water sounds, music, or information, visit us online at virginiawaterradio.org, or call the Water Center at (540) 231-5624.  Thanks to Stewart Scales for his banjo version of “Cripple Creek” to open and close this episode.  In Blacksburg, I'm Alan Raflo, thanking you for listening, and wishing you health, wisdom, and good water. AUDIO NOTES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thanks to Patrick Fay for helping create Virginia Water Radio in 2010. The guest voices in this episode were recorded by Virginia Water Radio in Blacksburg, Va., during the last week of January 2024.  Thanks to the those five people for lending their voices to this episode. The sounds heard in this episode were as follows. Sound 1: Little Blue Heron fishing, plus Red-winged Blackbirds.  These sounds were from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library, online at http://digitalmedia.fws.gov/cdm/; this recording specifically is online at https://digitalmedia.fws.gov/digital/collection/audio/id/55/rec/56.  These sounds were used previously in Episode 478, 6-24-19, on the Little Blue Heron. Sound 2: Spokesman introducing the Northern Neck Chantey Singers.  This audio was taken from from a video of the group's September 11, 2011, performance at the Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Showcase in Charlottesville, Va.; used with permission of Virginia Humanities (formerly the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities), located in Charlottesville and online at https://virginiahumanities.org/.  The full performance video is available online at https://www.virginiafolklife.org/sights-sounds/northern-neck-chantey-singers-and-lewis-r-blackwell-jr/.  Additional information from Virginia Humanities about the Northern Neck Chantey Singers and the Northern Neck of Virginia is available in the January 2024 article, “From Generation to Generation: Reedville Fishermen's Museum.”  These sounds were used previously in Episode 635, 8-29-22, on Virginia Menhaden fishing. Sound 3: Group of children and adults calling out “Take a kid to a park!”  This was recorded by Virginia Water Radio in Blacksburg, Va., on May 12, 2013.  This sound was used previously in Episode 655, 5-15-23, on Virginia state parks. Sound 4: South Fork Roanoke River near Elliston, Va. (Montgomery County).  This was recorded by Virginia Water Radio on August 23, 2012.  This sound was used previously in Episode 363, 4-10-17, on stream insects. Sound 5: Thunderstorm.  This was recorded by Virginia Water Radio in Blacksburg, Va., on April 20, 2015, 9 p.m.  This sound was used previously in Episode 568, 3-15-21, on Virginia's annual springtime tornado drill. The musicians and music heard in this episode were as follows (in the order heard); all music used with permission.  For each song, the most recent previous Virginia Water Radio episode using the music are listed; many of the songs have been used previously several times, and other music be each of the artists has been featured in many Water Radio episodes. Kat Mills, “On a Ship,” from the 2015 album “Silver.”  More information about Kat Mills is available online at http://www.katmills.com/.  This music was used previously in Episode 651, 3-20-23. Madeline MacNeil, “New Spring Waltz, ” from the 2002 album “Songs of Earth & Sea.”  More information about the late Madeline MacNeil is available from Janita Baker's “Blue Lion Dulcimers & Guitars” Web site, online at https://www.bluelioninstruments.com/Maddie.html.  This music was used previously in Episode 627, 5-9-22, on spring songbirds nesting near water. Timothy Seaman, “Bass Fisherman's Reel,” from the 2004 album “Virginia Wildlife.”  More information about Timothy Seaman is available online at https://timothyseaman.com/en/.  This music was used previously in Episode 590, 8-16-21, on the rescue of an osprey caught in fishing line. Torrin Hallett, “Tropical Tantrum,” composed in 2017.  More information about Torrin Hallett is available online at https://www.facebook.com/torrin.hallett.  Thanks very much to Torrin for composing the piece especially for Virginia Water Radio.  This music was used previously in Episode 656, 5-29-23, a preview of the 2023 Atlantic tropical cyclone season. Andrew and Noah VanNorstrand, “Samuel Mason,” from the 2010 album “All the Good Summers.”  More information about Andrew and Noah VanNorstrand is available online at https://andrewandnoah.bandcamp.com/.  This music was used previously in Episode 491, 9-23-19, on Samuel Mason and on piracy historically and in modern times. Chamomile and Whiskey, “Dirty Sea,” from the 2013 album “Wandering Boots.”  More information about Chamomile and Whiskey is available online at http://www.chamomileandwhiskey.com/.  This music was used previously in Episode 584, 7-5-21, on Operation Dry Water. The Steel Wheels, “Valley,” from the 2010 album “Red Wing.”  More information about The Steel Wheels is available online at http://www.thesteelwheels.com/.  This music was used previously in Episode 355, 2-13-17, on Abraham Lincoln's family roots in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. No Strings Attached, “Kartune,” from the 1992 album “Blue Roses.”  More information about No Strings Attached—a long-time Blacksburg- and Roanoke-based band which is no longer performing—is available online at http://www.enessay.com/index.html.  This music was used previously in Episode 555, 12-14-20, on water-related jokes. Bob Gramann, “Rappahannock Running Free,” from the 2008 album, “Mostly Live.”  More information about Bob Gramann is available online at http://www.bobgramann.com/.  This music was used previously in Episode 589, 8-9-21. John McCutcheon, “Water from Another Time,” from the 1987 album “Gonna Rise Again.”  More information on John McCutcheon is available online at http://www.folkmusic.com/.  This music was used previously in Episode 142, 12-31-12. Click here if you'd like to hear the full version (1 min./11 sec.) of the “Cripple Creek” arrangement/performance by Stewart Scales that opens and closes this episode.  More information about Mr. Scales and the group New Standard, with which Mr. Scales plays, is available online at http://newstandardbluegrass.com. IMAGE Diagram of the water cycle (also called the hydrologic cycle), from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), “Water Science School/Water Cycle Diagrams,” online at https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/water-cycle-diagrams, 2-7-24. SOURCES Please see the show notes for individual episodes of Virginia Water Radio for sources of information on many water-related topics. RELATED VIRGINIA WATER RADIO EPISODES All Water Radio episodes are listed by category at the Index link above (http://www.virginiawaterradio.org/p/index.html). Links are provided above in the Acknowledgments section to previous episodes using the sounds or music heard in this current episode. Following are links to some milestone episodes.

"I'm a bad liar. So I'm just like, I'm really good at telling the truth.”  - Brandy ColbertGoing down internet rabbit holes and discovering everything there is to know about random subjects is a relaxing way to spend an evening, according to Brandy Colbert. This passion for research is part of the secret sauce that helps her build such deep and believable characters in her fiction work. In her nonfiction writing, Brandy's ability to bring humanity to the real “characters” in the story is what brings history to life. Brandy is a true acolyte of the writing craft. She spent her youth creating stories of her own and occasionally borrowing and reinterpreting tales from TV. After studying journalism in college she spent the early stages of her career contributing to niche magazines, where she honed her research prowess.Today, Brandy brings all those skills together to write gripping, detail-oriented, character-driven fiction and nonfiction stories. Brandy Colbert is known for works such as "Little & Lion," which won the Stonewall Book Award, "The Only Black Girls in Town," and "Pointe". Meanwhile, her nonfiction book about the Tulsa Race Massacre, "Black Birds in the Sky" won the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award.In this episode, she tells us where she developed and honed her research skills, how she brings characters to life, and why a character by any other name is just…. not the same character.***Connect with Jordan and The Reading Culture @thereadingculturepod and subscribe to our newsletter at thereadingculturepod.com/newsletter. ***In Brandy's reading challenge, "Powerful Nonfiction" she challenges us to read a list of nonfiction books that she says will, “open minds, challenge assumptions, and highlight the power of historical truth.”  You can find her list and all past reading challenges at thereadingculturepod.com.Today's Beanstack Featured Librarian is Cindy Philbeck, Teacher-Librarian at Wando High School in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. She told us a heartwarming story about a student's discovery of Sabaa Tahir's All My Rage.ContentsChapter 1 - Reading in the Ozarks (1:47)Chapter 2 - Early heartbreaks (5:54)Chapter 3 - A Midwestern college experience (11:57)Chapter 4 - A Humanist View (14:00)Chapter 5 - Women's muscles (17:43)Chapter 6 - Rejections (19:58)Chapter 7 - Write what you know research (23:55)Chapter 8 - A bad liar (27:37)Chapter 9 - Black Jewish Lesbians (exist) (30:19)Chapter 10 - Powerful Nonfiction (36:55)Chapter 11 - Beanstack Featured Librarian (37:44)LinksThe Reading CultureThe Reading Culture Newsletter SignupBrandy ColbertBrandy Colbert (@brandycolbert) • Instagram photos and videosTRANSCRIBED as PUBLIC SERVICE Toni Morrison at Portland State, May 30, 1975 Transcribed by Keisha E. McKenzieThe Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)Beanstack resources to build your community's reading cultureHost: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducer: Jackie Lamport and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

Terry Flanagan brings us news of a pair of Blackbirds in his own garden who have already started the construction of their nest, a rather unexpected occurrence in the month of January.

Derek is joined by Éanna Ní Lamhna, Richard Collins, Terry Flanagan, Jim Wilson, Niall Hatch, Josh Davis and Rob Gandola. Topics up for discussion include; giant penguins, Blackbirds, Bullfinch, The Great Big Garden Bird Watch and Living Classrooms.

Blackbird songs have a strange music. The Red-winged Blackbird can be heard in nearly every marsh on the continent — bold, brassy, and piercing. The songs may not seem musical, but they definitely get your attention. Brewer's Blackbirds, which live in open habitats like farms and grasslands, make a wet, slap-in-the-face sound. The combined voices of Tricolored Blackbirds — like this one in a California marsh — sound like a snarling catfight. Another Western bird, the Yellow-headed Blackbird, makes raucous growls, wails, and whistles.More info and transcript at BirdNote.org. Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.  

In this episode of the SCBWI Podcast, we are joined by Brandy Colbert!Brandy Colbert is the award-winning author of several books for children and teens, including Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, which was the winner of the 2022 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award for Nonfiction and a finalist for the American Library Association's Excellence in Young Adult Nonfiction Award. Her other acclaimed books include Pointe, The Only Black Girls in Town, and Stonewall Book Award winner Little & Lion. Her writing has been published in the New York Times, and her short stories and essays have appeared in several critically acclaimed anthologies for young people. She is on faculty at Hamline University's MFA program in writing for children, and lives in Los Angeles.https://www.brandycolbert.com/Buy The Blackwoods here:https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-blackwoods-brandy-colbert/19646205?ean=9780063091597and check out the rest of her books here:https://bookshop.org/contributors/brandy-colbertRegister for the 2024 In-Person Conference Here: https://www.scbwi.org/events/scbwi-in-person-winter-conference-2024SCBWI on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scbwi/SCBWI on Twitter: https://twitter.com/scbwiBecome an SCBWI member today: https://www.scbwi.org/join-scbwi/Shop the SCBWI Bookshop.org page: https://bookshop.org/shop/SCBWISupport the show

It's Monday and it's time for another special Perfect 10 featuring some of our favourite questions from the past year.Brand new episodes of Perfect 10 will be coming soon, but for this week we will be back on Wednesday and Friday with two more compilations.10 questions. 10 points. 10 minutes.See you again on Wednesday for our next compilation show.Join the Perfect 10 family on social media for even more bonus content and questions.Facebook

In this episode of the Agri-Biz Show, Rusty Halvorson shares news from the National Sunflower Association's annual Research Forum with NSA executive director John Sandbakken, research developments with Page Klug of the USDA APHIS National Wildlife Research Center using drones to battle blackbirds, and NDSU PhD student Zachary Ittel's research in sunflower rust. Northarvest Bean Growers Association Executive Director Mitch Coulter has a preview of largest annual Dry Bean conference in the U.S. – Bean Day – coming Friday, January 19th at the Holiday Inn of Fargo.  Construction continues at the North Dakota Soybean Processors soybean crush facility in Casselton.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Summary: How often do you look for female birds? Join Kiersten and Cheryl as they talk about Female Bird Day and why it's important.    For our hearing-impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.   Show Notes: Kenn Kaufman Article: https://www.audubon.org/news.i-became-better-birder-when-i-stopped-focusing-males Female Bird Day Blog: https://femalebirdday.wordpress.com   Transcript   Kiersten: Intro: This episode is about Female Bird Day. In 2024 Female Bird Day will be May 25-27. We going to talk about why this is a day. Why do we need a Female Bird Day.   Cheryl: In 2018, Kenn Kaufman wrote an article for Audubon Magazine titled, “I Became a Better Birder When I Stopped Focusing on the Males.” For those of you who don't know who Kenn Kaufman is, he is the author of some of the most well-known Bird ID guides used in North America. Quoting from his article, Kenn says “…an unconscious bias against female birds is widespread in birding.” He is correct! If you look at the names of birds that describe what sexually dimorphic birds look like, they always describe the male's coloration not the female. For example, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird describes the red-colored gular feathers that the male possesses. The Cinnamon Teal, a species of duck, describes the male's coloration during breeding season. Red-winged Blackbirds describes the wing bars seen on adult males during breeding season.             Furthermore, the names of birds used to honor well-known ornithologists is always named after a man. Audubon's Warbler, Harris's Hawk, Abert's Towhee, Allen's Hummingbird. They are all named after men. You can count on one hand how many of the 10,000 identified bird species in the world are named after women. Lucy's Warbler is just one example and this bird was named after the daughter of a well-known male ornithologist.             Kiersten: It doesn't stop with just the names of birds. We all but ignore the fact that females also sing. For many years, most of the history of ornithology actually, male bird songs have been the only ones studied and recorded, even after we discovered that females sing. The first few scientists that discovered this wrote it off as just an anomaly and didn't put it in any reports. In 2014, a study focusing on avian song worldwide revealed that female bird song is both common and critical in evolution. 2014! We've been studying birds since the written word was developed.             A study published in 2019 recorded two female Cerulean Warblers singing a different song than the males.  Of course, this is also one of those birds that is named for the male's blue color. The scientists that heard the females sing were surprised to say the least. But they documented their findings which is one step toward us truly understanding the purpose of bird song. Since we have based all our hypotheses and theories on only half the population, could we have misinterpreted why birds sing?   Cheryl: Female Bird Day is a challenge started by five amazing women interested in birds. Three work for various levels of Audubon: Brooke Bateman, Stephanie Beilke, and Martha Harbison. Joanna Wu is another ornithologist with UCLA and Purbita Saha is the editor of Popular Science. During the Covid lockdown days, these women issued a challenge to birders all over North America to focus on female birds. This challenge continues this year. In 2024, May 25 through May 27 is Female Bird Day. So, all you birders out there mark your calendars and focus on female bird identification and bird song on these days. To report your findings, you can go to femalebirdday.wordpress.com and fill out the google forms that will be delivered directly to The Galbatross Project.   Kiersten: And keep it up all year long. Don't just focus on the female birds on those days only. Do it all year long. In his Audubon article Kenn Kaufman states that when he included female birds in his searching repertoire he became a better birder and, quoting directly, “…there's a whole world of birds out there, and it just wouldn't make sense to ignore half of them.”            

Jared Murphy Self-experimenter and field researcher of ancient technologies and lost history, Jared Murphy has traveled the world searching for evidence of advanced ancestors and high technology. Jim Goodall is a published author with 27 books in print. He is a recognized authority both on low-observable aircraft, such as the F-117, B-2A, the Lockheed 'twins' (F-22 and F-35) and the Lockheed Skunk Works family of Blackbirds, and the US Navy's fleet of modern-day fast attack and ballistic missile submarines.

If you've been to a big grocery store in the last month or so then you've noticed the thousands of black birds all around you. So, what are these black birds and why are they taking over?! Rice professor Cin-Ty Lee joins host Raheel Ramzanali to answer all of our questions about those loud black birds we see everywhere across Houston.  Learn more about Professor Lee Learn more about grackles  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let's Talk! Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston  Follow us on Instagram  Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know! or leave us a voicemail/text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts, we love hearing from you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Time for one of your special lessons! The bookclub is back this month to celebrate spooky times with an episode that is packed to the brim! Enjoy a brief chat with Kevin Nowlan, a big ol' listener feedback section, our Halloween watch list and our discussion of "Castle Full of Blackbirds!" Bookclub member, you are a very special bookclub member...yes, very special... Thank you Billy Hynes for the intro!  10:33 - A Brief Chat with Kevin Nowlan 26:59 - Listener Feedback 1:02:11 - Whaddya See, Whaddya Say? 1:12:26 - Castle Full of Blackbirds Thank you Kevin Nowlan and Bedrock City Comics! Follow Kevin Nowlan! https://twitter.com/kevinnowlan?lang=en, https://www.instagram.com/kevin.nowlan/?hl=en Bedrock City Live shows every Wednesday! https://www.facebook.com/groups/bedrocklive  Check out Billy Hynes on Comic Art Fans! https://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryDetail.asp?GCat=93411 Check out Ryan Uhl on Comic Art Fans! https://www.comicartfans.com/gallerydetail.asp?gcat=105569 Julian Xamo Hellboy Reading Order!  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1g_6LwKE4T73xoIKnCj0X3d_b1aDRnzdLNun8gDqXOPs/edit#gid=0  Right Hand of Doom Book Club on Dischord!  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1L4cLFgka8u75rRb3bIohWaBHlET5Fgs5YFjA_F0i_is/edit  Check out Hayden Orr at Last Book on The Shelf podcast!  https://www.buzzsprout.com/1917765  https://open.spotify.com/show/2LWwFOS47xNUmQA8S2NNmK  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/last-book-on-the-shelf/id1604416407  Gosh Comics https://goshlondon.com/ Follow Mathieu Bablet! https://www.instagram.com/mathieubablet/ Follow Zach Howard! https://www.instagram.com/spacefriend_z/?hl=en, https://www.zachhoward.com/ Check out Project Monarch by Michael Oeming! https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/731023/project-monarch-by-written-and-illustrated-by-michael-avon-oeming/ Wylie Beckert on Patreon and YouTube! https://www.patreon.com/wyliebeckert, https://www.youtube.com/c/wyliebeckert Check out and like Ross Radke's Webtoon "SpandEX"  https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/spandex/list?title_no=785312  Agent Provocateur "Red Tape," used for educational purposes only.   Bach "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor," used for spooky purposes only opening and closing theme by https://onlybeast.com/ 

The forest is quiet save for a single blackbird who's call echoes through the trees. While this sound may be enjoyed on its own, it may be best enjoyed in the mixer with your other favorite sounds. Spotify listener? Lose the intros by becoming a subscriber! https://anchor.fm/tmsoft/subscribe Learn more about the White Noise App Download the White Noise app for free! Download this sound to White Noise for free!

What got EC Comics into trouble? We'll discuss that and more in this week's Major Spoilers Podcast. We tak Marvel delays, and new unions, too. We review Hunt for the Skinwalker #1, Birds of Prey #1, and Al Capone! strong>Show your thanks to Major Spoilers for this episode by becoming a Major Spoilers Patron at http://patreon.com/MajorSpoilers. It will help ensure the Major Spoilers Podcast continues far into the future! Join our Discord server and chat with fellow Spoilerites! (https://discord.gg/jWF9BbF) NEWS https://variety.com/2023/artisans/news/walt-disney-pictures-vfx-workers-union-1235706136 https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/marvel-release-dates-agatha-x-men-97-echo-what-if-1235711234 REVIEWS STEPHEN HUNT FOR THE SKINWALKER #1 Writer: Zac Thompson Artist: Valeria Burzo Publisher: BOOM! Studios Cover Price: $4.99 Release Date: September 6, 2023 Unidentified flying objects. Animal mutilation. Terrifying otherworldly cryptids. Countless strange phenomena. For more than 50 years, a remote ranch in the Uinta Basin has been the most significant nexus for the paranormal. Inspired by one family's confrontation with the unexplainable and terrifying… and what happened when they invited the largest scientific investigation of the paranormal to their ranch. Based on the 2005 groundbreaking, electrifying nonfiction book by Dr. Colm Kelleher and veteran investigative journalist George Knapp that revealed the captivating true history of Gorman Ranch for the first time, seizing mainstream imagination and inspiring high profile investigations, documentaries, and genre fiction in various media. Now, working hand-in-hand with Kelleher and Knapp, and incorporating never-before-seen new revelations, writer Zac Thompson (X-Men Unlimited, Undone By Blood) with Valeria Burzo (Castle Full of Blackbirds) adapts the category-defying tale in a series perfect for fans of I Hate This Place and The Low, Low Woods! [rating:1/5] You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/3PmQCGx MATTHEW BIRDS OF PREY #1 Writer: Kelly Thompson Artist: Leonardo Romero Publisher: DC Comics Cover Price: $3.99 Release Date: September 5, 2023 BREAKING HEARTS AND FACES--THE BIRDS OF PREY ARE BACK! Every mission matters. Every life saved is a miracle. But this time, it's personal. Dinah Lance is one of the DCU's most elite fighters, and combined with her sonic scream, she's a fearsome foe in any scenario...but sometimes even the Black Canary needs help. Faced with a personal mission brought to her by a mysterious new ally, and up against near-impossible odds, she re-forms the Birds of Prey with an unrivaled group of badasses--Cassandra Cain, Big Barda, Zealot, and Harley Quinn--and only one goal: extraction without bloodshed. What could possibly go wrong? [rating:4/5] You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/3PpGblI RODRIGO AL CAPONE Writer: Swann Meralli Artist: PF Radice Publisher: Black Panel Press Cover Price: $29.99 Release Date: September 13, 2023 Al Capone. Family man, community leader, industrious smuggler, or vicious killer? You decide. Born into a poor Italian family in Brooklyn in 1899, little Alfonso didn't have a lot of options, so he'd have to get creative in order to make a name for himself. A bit of cards, some enforcing, maybe a little protection are a great start. A man's gotta provide for his family, capisce? But, when prohibition starts up in 1920, Al Capone will discover his golden ticket to untold fame and fortune. Now, nobody'll ever forget the name Capone. [rating: 4/5] You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/486wi3N DISCUSSION THE EC ARCHIVES: CRIME SUSPENSTORIES VOLUME 4 Writer: Al Feldstein, William Gaines Artist: Jack Davis, Johnny Craig Publisher: Dark Horse Books Release Date: August 27, 2019 This Deluxe Hardcover Volume collects classic tales from Crime SuspenStories issues #19-27, from the hands of legendary creators Al Feldstein, Harvey Kurtzman, Johnny Craig, Jack Davis, Joe Orlando, and more! CLOSE Contact us at podcast@majorspoilers.com Call the Major Spoilers Hotline at (785) 727-1939. A big Thank You goes out to everyone who downloads, subscribes, listens, and supports this show. We really appreciate you taking the time to listen to our ramblings each week. Tell your friends!

What got EC Comics into trouble? We'll discuss that and more in this week's Major Spoilers Podcast. We tak Marvel delays, and new unions, too. We review Hunt for the Skinwalker #1, Birds of Prey #1, and Al Capone! strong>Show your thanks to Major Spoilers for this episode by becoming a Major Spoilers Patron at http://patreon.com/MajorSpoilers. It will help ensure the Major Spoilers Podcast continues far into the future! Join our Discord server and chat with fellow Spoilerites! (https://discord.gg/jWF9BbF) NEWS https://variety.com/2023/artisans/news/walt-disney-pictures-vfx-workers-union-1235706136 https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/marvel-release-dates-agatha-x-men-97-echo-what-if-1235711234 REVIEWS STEPHEN HUNT FOR THE SKINWALKER #1 Writer: Zac Thompson Artist: Valeria Burzo Publisher: BOOM! Studios Cover Price: $4.99 Release Date: September 6, 2023 Unidentified flying objects. Animal mutilation. Terrifying otherworldly cryptids. Countless strange phenomena. For more than 50 years, a remote ranch in the Uinta Basin has been the most significant nexus for the paranormal. Inspired by one family's confrontation with the unexplainable and terrifying… and what happened when they invited the largest scientific investigation of the paranormal to their ranch. Based on the 2005 groundbreaking, electrifying nonfiction book by Dr. Colm Kelleher and veteran investigative journalist George Knapp that revealed the captivating true history of Gorman Ranch for the first time, seizing mainstream imagination and inspiring high profile investigations, documentaries, and genre fiction in various media. Now, working hand-in-hand with Kelleher and Knapp, and incorporating never-before-seen new revelations, writer Zac Thompson (X-Men Unlimited, Undone By Blood) with Valeria Burzo (Castle Full of Blackbirds) adapts the category-defying tale in a series perfect for fans of I Hate This Place and The Low, Low Woods! [rating:1/5] You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/3PmQCGx MATTHEW BIRDS OF PREY #1 Writer: Kelly Thompson Artist: Leonardo Romero Publisher: DC Comics Cover Price: $3.99 Release Date: September 5, 2023 BREAKING HEARTS AND FACES--THE BIRDS OF PREY ARE BACK! Every mission matters. Every life saved is a miracle. But this time, it's personal. Dinah Lance is one of the DCU's most elite fighters, and combined with her sonic scream, she's a fearsome foe in any scenario...but sometimes even the Black Canary needs help. Faced with a personal mission brought to her by a mysterious new ally, and up against near-impossible odds, she re-forms the Birds of Prey with an unrivaled group of badasses--Cassandra Cain, Big Barda, Zealot, and Harley Quinn--and only one goal: extraction without bloodshed. What could possibly go wrong? [rating:4/5] You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/3PpGblI RODRIGO AL CAPONE Writer: Swann Meralli Artist: PF Radice Publisher: Black Panel Press Cover Price: $29.99 Release Date: September 13, 2023 Al Capone. Family man, community leader, industrious smuggler, or vicious killer? You decide. Born into a poor Italian family in Brooklyn in 1899, little Alfonso didn't have a lot of options, so he'd have to get creative in order to make a name for himself. A bit of cards, some enforcing, maybe a little protection are a great start. A man's gotta provide for his family, capisce? But, when prohibition starts up in 1920, Al Capone will discover his golden ticket to untold fame and fortune. Now, nobody'll ever forget the name Capone. [rating: 4/5] You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/486wi3N DISCUSSION THE EC ARCHIVES: CRIME SUSPENSTORIES VOLUME 4 Writer: Al Feldstein, William Gaines Artist: Jack Davis, Johnny Craig Publisher: Dark Horse Books Release Date: August 27, 2019 This Deluxe Hardcover Volume collects classic tales from Crime SuspenStories issues #19-27, from the hands of legendary creators Al Feldstein, Harvey Kurtzman, Johnny Craig, Jack Davis, Joe Orlando, and more! CLOSE Contact us at podcast@majorspoilers.com Call the Major Spoilers Hotline at (785) 727-1939. A big Thank You goes out to everyone who downloads, subscribes, listens, and supports this show. We really appreciate you taking the time to listen to our ramblings each week. Tell your friends!

On the show this time, it's El Sonido Amazonico with Peruvian psych-cumbia legends - Los Mirlos. Since 1973, Los Mirlos (that's The Blackbirds in English) have been playing magnificent, energetic dance music - Peruvian music, the sound of the Amazon. It's impossible to overstate the importance of this band - they originate a sound. They are pioneers of psychedelic cumbia and all cumbia music has changed - or more properly all music has changed because of them. The lineup has also changed, but the group is still going. Like a family, they straddle generations. There are more than 30 albums available on vinyl through Infopesa Records, and on streaming services. Recorded 03/17/2023. Sonido Amazonico La Danza De Los Mirlos El Sonido De Los Mirlos El Poder Verde Lamento En La Selva El Milagro Verde El Escape Llanto En La Selva Un Traguito De Ayahuasca Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, it's El Sonido Amazonico with Peruvian psych-cumbia legends - Los Mirlos. Since 1973, Los Mirlos (that's The Blackbirds in English) have been playing magnificent, energetic dance music - Peruvian music, the sound of the Amazon. It's impossible to overstate the importance of this band - they originate a sound. They are pioneers of psychedelic cumbia and all cumbia music has changed - or more properly all music has changed because of them. The lineup has also changed, but the group is still going. Like a family, they straddle generations. There are more than 30 albums available on vinyl through Infopesa Records, and on streaming services. Recorded 03/17/2023. Sonido Amazonico La Danza De Los Mirlos El Sonido De Los Mirlos El Poder Verde Lamento En La Selva El Milagro Verde El Escape Llanto En La Selva Un Traguito De Ayahuasca Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the rural Southeast, roadside ditches – known as “bar ditches” – carry on for miles. The term bar ditch probably comes from their construction, when dirt was "borrowed" to build up the road. The ditches are full of water and full of life, these narrow wetlands. Herons stalk the shallow water, stabbing at minnows. Common Gallinules, like this one, swim on the surface. Reeds and bulrushes provide cover for secretive marsh birds like King Rails. Red-winged Blackbirds flash crimson epaulets as they sing, and Boat-tailed Grackles offer their own rough music.More info and transcript at BirdNote.org. Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.

Paul Walter Hauser won the Golden Globe for his portrayal of alleged serial killer Larry Hall in the AppleTV series, “Black Bird.” Larry is suspected of killing 50 girls in the Mid-West between 1981-1994, yet was never convicted of murder! John and Jamie from True Crimecast return to break down the real-life case of Larry Hall, and offer more details about how Jimmy Keene was recruited by the FBI to help keep the alleged serial killer behind bars. They also discuss the numerous victims, explain why Larry's confessions never amounted to a murder conviction, and what specifics Larry shared with Jimmy about Jessica Roach and Tricia Reitler's murders that resulted in Larry's continued imprisonment and Jimmy's freedom. They also compare the TV series and characters to the real-life case and people, explain what was spot-on, and what was added for dramatic effect, and how the project's long development ultimately changed the casting for the better. Thank you for supporting our sponsors!Gametime – Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use the promo code JERICHO to get $20 off.Factor – visit https://factormeals.com/TIJ50 and use code TIJ50 to get 50% off your first boxeBay Motors: get the right parts, the right fit, and the right prices. https://ebaymotors.comMetro By T-Mobile: Switch and get unlimited 5G starting at $25 a month per line for 4 lines, and a FREE 5G phone.Toyota: Visit https://toyota.com/GRFamily to find your perfect Toyota!Bosch Tools: learn more at https://www.boschtools.com/us/en/SlingTV: check out https://www.sling.com/ for special offers  STAY CONNECTED:TikTok: @TalkIsJerichoInstagram: @talkisjericho @chrisjerichofozzy Twitter: @TalkIsJericho @IAmJerichoYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ChrisJerichoFozzyWebsite: https://www.webisjericho.com/

Today, we continue our exploration of the century long love affair between fashion and the showgirl. Recommended Reading and Viewing: Es-pranza Humphrey's article “Fashioning the Black Chorus Girl" Elspeth Brown's Work! A Queer History of Modeling Marcel Sauvage's Les Mémoires de Joséphine Baker Baker's 1931 Casino de Paris performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86HqDSY9l9A Robin Givhan's The Battle of Versaiiles: The Night American Fashion Stumbled into the Spotlight and Made History See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the fall, Rusty Blackbirds get new feathers with reddish-gold highlights that have a unique and subtle beauty. Their complex little song might sound like a door hinge that needs some grease. Though once common, Rusty Blackbirds have lost over 90 percent of their population since 1966 – one of the steepest declines of any North American bird species.More info and transcript at BirdNote.org. Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.