1300 – Dreamboat Birdsong | On Location | Science of Happiness Crossover

Crossover

 

Lisa Frank

https://www.ripleys.com/stories/lisa-franks-dulled-dreamland

https://www.jezebel.com/inside-the-rainbow-gulag-the-technicolor-rise-and-fall-1179495705

https://www.tucsonweekly.com/TheRange/archives/2013/12/13/the-real-story-behind-lisa-frank

 

Science of Happiness Birdsong

https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/podcasts/item/how_birdsong_can_help_your_mental_health_the_science_of_happiness_podcast

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0hx17vm

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-birdsong-can-help-your-mental-health/id1340505607?i=1000655045401

 

A link to the bird sounds

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfhFEU2-pKEHviAGBSgYkR7irf2zttkG2gr3GOk5sIV79wcyg/viewform

 

Duck, Duck, Goose

https://allthewhyser.wordpress.com/2021/01/05/duck-duck-goose/

https://www.thecrimsonconnection.com/7645/opinions/duck-duck-what/

https://www.connectsavannah.com/extras/how-did-minnesota-diverge-linguistically-from-duck-duck-goose-to-duck-duck-gray-duck-6476780

 

Large Bird Flight

https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/303-how-birds-fly

https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/birds/how-do-birds-fly

https://journeynorth.org/tm/FlightLesson.html

 

DOWN TO BUSINESS

A mildly entertaining distraction

I am slightly foggy while recording

I’m not tired whereas I’m a bit tired

This is the 3rd episode I’ve recorded in my twin bed in my parents’ guest room

Our average consumption is 126% of an episode

 

PLUGS

Science of Happiness; Bird Sounds / SWM Word Randomizer; Sleep With Me Plus; SleepPhones; Rusty Biscuit Links; Emily Tat Artwork; NAPAWF; Anti-Racism Resources; Ukraine Relief; Crisis Textline

 

SPONSORS

Helix Sleep; Zocdoc; Progressive; Lumen; Uncommon Goods

 

INTRO

Thinking thoughts

I think tired is a feeling, too

Or I guess it’s a physical sensation

Have I used the word “fraught” before here?

The more I say “fraught” the less power it has

Listeners are holding space for you

I don’t like to be welcomed, I get it

We relate to the Deep Dark Night

Fraught is a frozen ought

Is a frould a Frozen should?

Serving up some frozen candied oughts

A scoop of fraught and a scoop of frould

Sand in your hand

A 3D image from the 90s

Inspirational Quotes and Mystical Dolphins

The QR of their day

3D QR codes must be a thing, right?

The BoreFriend 4 Eva / Girls 5 Eva crossover

Man, I really got lost there

The time I was too intimidated to talk to Busy Phillips and Catherine O’Hara

The ad-supported, linear version is how most people listen

I don’t even know how many shows I’ve made? 1600? 1200?

I made eye contact with Ron Livingston at that same event

I was way too intimidated to talk with anyone

I wasn’t even comfortable talking with my peers

Peer-Based Situation (PBS)

 

STORY

I’m in a kayak

This is a crossover with Science of Happiness

In search of birdsongs

Hopefully this can work as a public episode

I’m not far off from Lake Terry

I’m gonna head into the wind

I’m in a swampy part of the river

Let’s do some birding

How birdsong impacts you

It stirs something like nostalgia

Wow, there’s a yellow bird up there

I’ve been eager to use these binoculars for some episodes

The wind is moving me out of the swamp

Are those ducklings in the distance?

It seems to be a family of ducks

5 Youth and 1 Adult

Purple flowers growing up from these lily pads

I don’t think it’s warm enough for dragonflies

A perfect day for kayaking

I recently went in search of a Beaver Dam

I’m going against the wind to start

There’s been bald eagles around here before

The river is a nice chocolatey cover

A cup of coffee between my legs

Kayak Cruising off to Dreamland

This episode is for my Mom

The Dream Boat

My mom was a big lover of birds

She’s doing some birding where there’s all sorts of birds

There’s a great blue heron really far off

I’d call that the Great Great Blue Heron

This is also turning into a Behind the Scenes episode

Why I use the name Dearest Scooter

I didn’t tell anyone I started the show

My mom needed some surprise care and had trouble sleeping

So I told her about it then

And then recently my Dad started using it, too

Ooh, a dragonfly just landed on the boat

Wow, that heron really blends in

It’s wingtips are very blue

A certain warmth facilitates certain birds

I was in Florida a lot this year

In May/June, there were so many morning birds!

Heading towards where the heron was

We’re on the edge of a tributary / side swamp

Cattail Style

A really steep bank with really tall trees

What color are those flowers? Let’s get our binocs

Brilliantly Pinkish Magenta

Paddlin’ and Talkin’

I’ve never seen the impact on the podcast more

Listening for birds but not seeing them

Oh, there are some high tweeters

Sending a telegraph about me

An SAT question about birds

I could do this while leaf peeping too

Somewhere out there, I’m birding and thinking of you

Listening to birds

Why are you talking about Snorlax and Squirtle?

Once a bird catches you pretending to listen, you gotta move on

Wow, there’s striped yellow friends in the flowers, too

Tens of thousands of lily pads

I gotta pause and take a little break

It was drizzling earlier

Processing my G-R-I-E-F and L-O-S-S

Let’s see if we can down another lane

I just saw something splash off a lily pad

Are frogs nocturnal?

An intentional break day

Other smaller stuff has come up lately

I’m trying to figure out how to keep this sustainable right now

A very still part of the river

Right now, it's not too humid

We’re in Birders’ Lane

I don’t think I’ve ever done a bird-centric episode

No wind and no swamp grass right here

I don’t what that constant tweeter noise is

That bird is soaring on thermals

It eats aftermarket foods, like a vulture

I’m really glad to have the podcast

I’m actually seeing frogs and fishy-poos now

My nephew said they saw turtles yesterday

I’ll see if I can rechristen this to Frog Lane

I think I put the garbage out on the wrong night

Now there’s road noise to the left

These are all single lane roads

Did we just hear a morning dove?

That’s my favorite bird sound

The birds are giving us a symphony now

I can’t have too long of a pause or people will wake up and send frowny faced emails

A puppy-poo is barking

Down to this next bend

Boat motor sounds

Asking the birds for directions

Should I just stay in my lane?

A bird on a lily pad!

Sometimes I miss the birds for the reeds

Sporadic Drops making circles in the water

Guessing the plot of Princess and the Frog

Duck Solo, is that you?

The Power of the River to Carry Sounds

I hope it doesn’t sound like I’m deflecting 

I promise I have access to helpful resources

A turning point year for the podcast

Changing how they measured podcast listeners

2020 was the last boom year

Our ceiling is much lower now

Processing and Paddling do go together

Let’s just keep paddling

Maybe I’ll get back in time to take the trash out

Are these birds playing Duck, Duck, Goose?

Wow, there is a train

I’m gonna pause to be polite and say to this boat

Ok, I’m parking the kayak and on to the rest of my day

I have to shave today

I lost my bar of soap while bathing in the lake

I really appreciate your listening and support

 

SUMMARY:

Episode: 1300

Title: Dreamboat Birdsong | On Location | Science of Happiness Crossover

Plugs: Science of Happiness; Bird Sounds / SWM Word Randomizer; Sleep With Me Plus; SleepPhones; Rusty Biscuit Links; Emily Tat Artwork; NAPAWF; Anti-Racism Resources; Ukraine Relief; Crisis Textline

Sponsors: Helix Sleep; Zocdoc; Progressive; Lumen; Uncommon Goods

Notable Language:

• Fraught
• Frould
• A scoop of fraught and a scoop of frould
• Peer-Based Situation (PBS)
• Great Great Blue Heron
• Cattail Style
• Paddlin’ and Talkin’
• B-U-G-S
• G-R-I-E-F
• L-O-S-S
• Birders’ Lane
• Bird-Centric Episode
• Sporadic Drops
• Duck Solo
• The Power of the River to Carry Sounds
• Processing and Paddling

 

Notable Culture:

• • Magic Eye Pictures
  • Lisa Frank
  • QR codes

• Girls 5 Eva

• • Busy Phillips
  • Catherine O’Hara
  • Ron Livingston

• Science of Happiness podcast

• • Lake Ontario
  • Birding
  • SAT
  • Feivel / An American Tale
  • Pokemon
  • Cheetos

• The Princess and the Frog

• Duck, Duck, Goose

 

Notable Talking Points:

• Thinking thoughts
• I think tired is a feeling, too
• Or I guess it’s a physical sensation
• Have I used the word “fraught” before here?
• The more I say “fraught” the less power it has
• Listeners are holding space for you
• I don’t like to be welcomed, I get it
• We relate to the Deep Dark Night
• Fraught is a frozen ought
• Is a frould a Frozen should?
• Serving up some frozen candied oughts
• A scoop of fraught and a scoop of frould
• Sand in your hand
• A 3D image from the 90s
• Inspirational Quotes and Mystical Dolphins
• The QR of their day
• 3D QR codes must be a thing, right?
• The BoreFriend 4 Eva / Girls 5 Eva crossover
• Man, I really got lost there
• The time I was too intimidated to talk to Busy Phillips and Catherine O’Hara
• The ad-supported, linear version is how most people listen
• I don’t even know how many shows I’ve made? 1600? 1200?
• I made eye contact with Ron Livingston at that same event
• I was way too intimidated to talk with anyone
• I wasn’t even comfortable talking with my peers
• Peer-Based Situation (PBS)
• I’m in a kayak
• This is a crossover with Science of Happiness
• In search of birdsongs
• Hopefully this can work as a public episode
• I’m not far off from Lake Terry
• I’m gonna head into the wind
• I’m in a swampy part of the river
• Let’s do some birding
• How birdsong impacts you
• It stirs something like nostalgia
• Wow, there’s a yellow bird up there
• I’ve been eager to use these binoculars for some episodes
• The wind is moving me out of the swamp
• Are those ducklings in the distance?
• It seems to be a family of ducks
• 5 Youth and 1 Adult
• Purple flowers growing up from these lily pads
• I don’t think it’s warm enough for dragonflies
• A perfect day for kayaking
• I recently went in search of a Beaver Dam
• I’m going against the wind to start
• There’s been bald eagles around here before
• The river is a nice chocolatey cover
• A cup of coffee between my legs
• Kayak Cruising off to Dreamland
• This episode is for my Mom
• The Dream Boat
• My mom was a big lover of birds
• She’s doing some birding where there’s all sorts of birds
• There’s a great blue heron really far off
• I’d call that the Great Great Blue Heron
• This is also turning into a Behind the Scenes episode
• Why I use the name Dearest Scooter
• I didn’t tell anyone I started the show
• My mom needed some surprise care and had trouble sleeping
• So I told her about it then
• And then recently my Dad started using it, too
• Ooh, a dragonfly just landed on the boat
• Wow, that heron really blends in
• It’s wingtips are very blue
• A certain warmth facilitates certain birds
• I was in Florida a lot this year
• In May/June, there were so many morning birds!
• Heading towards where the heron was
• We’re on the edge of a tributary / side swamp
• Cattail Style
• A really steep bank with really tall trees
• What color are those flowers? Let’s get our binocs
• Brilliantly Pinkish Magenta
• Paddlin’ and Talkin’
• I’ve never seen the impact on the podcast more
• Listening for birds but not seeing them
• Oh, there are some high tweeters
• Sending a telegraph about me
• An SAT question about birds
• I could do this while leaf peeping too
• Somewhere out there, I’m birding and thinking of you
• Listening to birds
• Why are you talking about Snorlax and Squirtle?
• Once a bird catches you pretending to listen, you gotta move on
• Wow, there’s striped yellow friends in the flowers, too
• Tens of thousands of lily pads
• I gotta pause and take a little break
• It was drizzling earlier
• Processing my G-R-I-E-F and L-O-S-S
• Let’s see if we can down another lane
• I just saw something splash off a lily pad
• Are frogs nocturnal?
• An intentional break day
• Other smaller stuff has come up lately
• I’m trying to figure out how to keep this sustainable right now
• A very still part of the river
• Right now, it's not too humid
• We’re in Birders’ Lane
• I don’t think I’ve ever done a bird-centric episode
• No wind and no swamp grass right here
• I don’t what that constant tweeter noise is
• That bird is soaring on thermals
• It eats aftermarket foods, like a vulture
• I’m really glad to have the podcast
• I’m actually seeing frogs and fishy-poos now
• My nephew said they saw turtles yesterday
• I’ll see if I can rechristen this to Frog Lane
• I think I put the garbage out on the wrong night
• Now there’s road noise to the left
• These are all single lane roads
• Did we just hear a morning dove?
• That’s my favorite bird sound
• The birds are giving us a symphony now
• I can’t have too long of a pause or people will wake up and send frowny faced emails
• A puppy-poo is barking
• Down to this next bend
• Boat motor sounds
• Asking the birds for directions
• Should I just stay in my lane?
• A bird on a lily pad!
• Sometimes I miss the birds for the reeds
• Sporadic Drops making circles in the water
• Guessing the plot of Princess and the Frog
• Duck Solo, is that you?
• The Power of the River to Carry Sounds
• I hope it doesn’t sound like I’m deflecting 
• I promise I have access to helpful resources
• A turning point year for the podcast
• Changing how they measured podcast listeners
• 2020 was the last boom year
• Our ceiling is much lower now
• Processing and Paddling do go together
• Let’s just keep paddling
• Maybe I’ll get back in time to take the trash out
• Are these birds playing Duck, Duck, Goose?
• Wow, there is a train
• I’m gonna pause to be polite and say to this boat
• Ok, I’m parking the kayak and on to the rest of my day
• I have to shave today
• I lost my bar of soap while bathing in the lake
• I really appreciate your listening and support

Episode 1300 – Dreamboat Birdsong | On Location | Science of Happiness Crossover

 

[START OF RECORDING]

 

SCOOTER: Friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it’s time for the podcaster who’s here to keep you company and take your mind off of stuff, to be your friend in the deep, dark night, and be a mild distraction, a mildly entertaining distraction, and to…normally I’m not slightly tired when I record episodes, but I’m…this might be a good episode for me to record, 'cause I’m slightly foggy. I’m not really tired as I am a bit tired. You know what I’m saying? Yeah, I’m not sleepy; I’m tired, I guess, which we’ve all been and we all will be. I’m smiling when I say it 'cause it’s true. Yeah, I’m not sleepy. I’m tired, man. If you’ve been tired at bedtime but not sleepy, you’re actually in the right place, and that’s kinda why I’m laughing.

 

I’m here to keep you company and take your mind off of stuff for when you’re tired but not sleepy or you’re sleepy but you’re not tired and you need something to take your mind off of stuff, distract you, or keep you company while you fall asleep. That’s what Sleep With Me is for. It’s a different show. Give it a few tries if you’re new, and I’ll kinda explain coming up in a few minutes why and how it works and stuff like that. But I’m just here to be your bore-friend, your bore-bud, and that does take some getting used to. But I’m really glad you’re here. Regular listeners, how are you all doing? It’s so good to be with you. This is the third or fourth episode I’m recording in my twin bed in my parents’ guest room here. I’m kicked back. I’m tired but not sleepy. It’s not bedtime, anyway. I am comfortable right now.

 

So, I’m glad you’re here. If you’re a new or regular listener…you’re wondering, what’s coming up, what’s coming up? Is the sponsor support. Our sponsors are direct response, so the listeners who support the sponsors and the listeners who support the show enable us for people that want to listen for free to this version, which is cool. Then after the support, totally separate from the support, a show within a show, is our intro made to ease you into bedtime. If you prefer a show without intros, check out Bedtime Stories from Sleep With Me. That’s just the bedtime stories from the show. Then after that will be a long, meandering…oh no, that’s the long, meandering intro. Then there will be support and then a bedtime story. I’m not even sure what kind of bedtime story we’ll be telling later. Then there will be…yeah, that’s it. That’s the structure of the show, I think.

 

So, yeah, I’m really glad you’re here. Thanks everybody who supports the show, thanks everybody who listens silently, the silent majority of listeners who enjoy this main version of the podcast. Thanks for coming back time after time and time. I don't know if you knew this, but every episode of Sleep With Me gets listened to on average more than a hundred…or 100% of the time, so that means that a lot of people listen to shows more than once. Our average consumption is 126% of an episode, and there’s a lot of people that only listen to 1% or 2% percent because they say, adios, bub. But yeah, so, that’s just a cool thing that I’m really proud of, and that’s been the case over the years. So, yeah, I’m glad you’re here and we all work really hard, and here’s a couple of ways we’re able to do it, and thanks to the people who support the show on Sleep With Me+.

 

Intro: Hey, are you up all night tossing, turning, mind racing? Trouble getting to sleep? Trouble staying asleep? Well, welcome. This is Sleep With Me, the podcast that puts you to sleep. We do it with a bedtime story. Alls you need to do is get in bed, turn out the lights, and press Play. I’m gonna do the rest. What I’m going to attempt to do is create a safe place where you could set aside whatever’s keeping you awake. It could be thoughts on your mind, things you’re thinking about, thoughts about the past, the present, the future…so, thinking thoughts, it could be feelings, anything coming up for you emotionally that you’re feeling, feelings about the thoughts, feelings that are just there, you could be tired and you say, I think that’s a feeling, too. It could be physical sensations.

 

Maybe ‘tired’ is a physical sensation. It could be changes in time, temperature, routine, you could be going through something, you could have something coming up, you could work a different schedule…whatever it is. The reason I kinda go through that…go through those things is so you know you’re not alone or that you share…that we share something here, and what we share here is a sense of like, bedtime is not as easy for us as other people. It can be…actually, I don't know if I’ve used this word on the podcast before, but…‘fraught’, which is…I don't know if I’ve even said…I’m sure I’ve said ‘fraught’ on the podcast. It seems like when you say it, it takes away some of its power, maybe 'cause I’m using the word incorrectly, as well. But you know what I mean?

 

At bedtime it’s not easy for a lot of us, even if you’re just going through something temporary. The reason I list some of that stuff is so you get a sense…maybe you’re not alone. Now, I’m guessing there’s a pretty good chance…I guess I’m not guessing or assuming. I’m confident there’s a pretty good chance I can relate to some of your feelings at bedtime even if I’m not experiencing the same thing. But you might say, no, you’re not familiar with these feelings. I’d say, okay, the good thing is there’s enough people listening right now around the world that there is someone listening somewhere in the world right now who can relate to how you feel, who’s been through something very similar, and they are sitting up in bed before they get to drift off, and they’re really holding a place for you.

 

I don't know if you can imagine what their body language is saying, what their face is saying and how soft it is and kind and loving, but there is another listener right now doing that for you if you’re new or if you’re a regular listener and you’re going through it. They’re kinda saying, yeah, I’m really glad you’re here. This show worked for me when nothing else did. This show…I tried all this other stuff. I didn’t know this show would work, and this podcast helps me out. One day, those listeners that are doing that right now, holding this space for you…and really happy and saying, I really hope this podcast can help you out 'cause it’s helped me out, they also hope that one day you’re doing that for a new listener, too. You’re welcoming them in, because I know you could feel that welcomeness, and maybe there’s parties…I mean, I don't like to be welcomed, so I can relate if you’re like, nah, nah, nah.

 

But you get what I mean? That’s one part of the show, is we relate to the deep, dark night, or…someone just sent me an e-mail today, the daytime-version of that, 'cause she was dealing with something during the day and needed to get some rest and a distraction. So, there’s that part. The other part is you deserve a bedtime where you could get the rest you need so your life is more manageable, where you can have a bedtime you don’t dread, a bedtime you can feel neutral about or at least…well, at least feel neutral about, maybe even look forward to, a bedtime with less rigmarole, a bedtime that’s less fraught…‘fraught’ is such a…it’s one of those words that once you start saying it, it’s like, huh, it’s a lot different than I thought it was. I’m just trying to think of desserts. It’s like a frozen ought. Like, what’s a frozen should?

 

A frould? ‘Cause people always say I should, myself. But a frozen…a frought is a frozen…'cause I guess for me there’s a lot of oughts at bedtime; you ought to do this, you ought to be that, you ought to have done that, you ought to do this tomorrow. I feel like ‘fraught’ is in the same category. But let’s just pretend we’re serving up some frozen oughts, froughts. Oh boy, could I have a candied frought? Sure. What topping would you like? Well, I’ll have a double. Can I have a frought and a frould? Oh yeah, of course. That’s a…I don't know what it…we call it a banana split here, but it’s actually…yeah, we get…you get a scoop of frought and a scoop of frould, and then you…yeah, it’s pretty good. It works at bedtime. What was I trying to say?

 

Oh, that you deserve a place where you could get some rest, the rest you need so your life is more manageable, ideally the rest you need so that you’re flourishing, because if your world’s a better place, our whole world is a better place, and that is important to me. The way this show works is I send my voice across the deep, dark night. I’m gonna use lulling, soothing, creaky, dulcet tones, pointless meanders, and superfluous tangents. So, that means I’m gonna go off topic, I’m gonna get mixed up, I’m gonna forget what I was talking about, then I’ll double back, then I’ll reverse, then I’ll…I’ll say, wait a second, what was I talking about? Oh boy, I forgot what I was talking about. You know, stuff like that. All that is to keep you company and take your mind off of stuff.

 

My voice is not traditionally soothing, so when you get here, you may be skeptical or doubtful. You’ll be like, when is this show ever…when is the sleepy stuff gonna start? When is it…? This doesn't make any sense. How could this possibly put me to sleep? Alls I could tell you is what hundreds and hundreds of thousands…maybe a million people have told me; it took two or three tries to get used to the show, because it wasn’t what I expected. It was bedtime, I was searching for something or somebody told me about your show, I was already in a bit of not-a-great mood because I wanted to get some sleep, and then you started going on and on about froulds and froughts and frandies. What’s a frandy? A frozen…I don't know.

 

But yeah, you’re right, I was going on about that stuff…and the podcast never felt like it was going anywhere. It never got started. But on the third try I said, oh, okay, now I get it. So, it does take some tries to get used to, but if for some reason you’re 100% certain you don’t like me or the show and that you never will, check out sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou. There’s a bunch of other stuff on there like sleepy stuff, like other sleep podcasts, other sleepy audio, so that you could find something that does work for you. What else do you need to know?

 

This podcast is kind of a podcast that you just barely listen to or you kinda listen to it, kinda like background noise or a TV on in the other room, sand in your hand, a out-of-focus picture, one of those 3D images from the nineties from the…that you would stare at and then eventually it’d make…were…I don't remember. They used to be everywhere. Sometimes they’d have inspirational quotes, and it’d just be mystical dolphins. I think that was what most of them were, maybe. They’re kinda like the QR…they didn’t relay any information, so I don't know why I want to call them the QR code of their day, but they…I mean, here’s a thing; if you’re a genius, also please pay me…I would take 51% of all proceeds. 3D QR…3D-image QR codes.

 

I’m pretty sure that’s possible and I’d like to lock that down, but I don't follow through on much except for…I like to pitch wild ideas. But I’m pretty sure that’s…I mean, I’d say, that’s not possible, just because…I say, oh, okay, well, I bet you it is possible in my imagination. It’s very successful, actually. It’s a billion-dollar idea in my imagination. Doll hairs, though, but…what was I talking about? Oh, people not like…oh no, no, people…being a podcast you just barely listen to, kinda like background noise. So, see how it goes. You can listen to me but you don’t need to listen to me, like calling a boring friend. This is also a podcast that doesn't put you to sleep. I’ve been making a sleep podcast eleven years, about, and this is a sleep podcast that doesn't put you to sleep.

 

I’m here to keep you company while you fall asleep. There is no pressure to fall asleep with this podcast. That’s the reason the show is over an hour. That’s the reason we work so hard to consistently put out multiple episodes a week. We have over 1,600 episodes. There’s over 600 episodes available in this free, ad-supported feed right now so that you could find what you like, what works for you, or you just have something different to listen to every single night for free. Over two years you could listen to a different episode every night, and that’s because this show isn't really here to put you to sleep. It’s here to keep you company while you fall asleep. I’m here to be your bore-friend, your bore-bae, your bore-sib, your bore-bud, your bore-bestie, your neigh-bore, your Borbie, your bores…what else we got?

 

Bore-bud, bore-bruh, your best bore-friend f’eva, and…I wish we could get a crossover with Girls5eva. Or is it 4eva? I get it mixed up already. My brain is going blank. But where was I? I don't know. I got lost. Where was I? You know where I was in my head? I had a regret 'cause there was one time I was doing a live event and I was in the…I’ve talked about this before. Busy Philipps was in the room I was in, and Catherine O'Hara, and I was too intimidated even though I had…we have common podcasting overlay, I probably could have talked to Busy Philipps and said hi, but I was too intimidated. My own issue; not her issue. Then Catherine O'Hara asked me where the bathroom was, and I told her, and that was my brush with fame. Pretty good brush with fame. Then I just said, I’m just a introvert.

 

I’m just gonna keep to myself here. But so, what was…what did that have to do…a thing? I’m here to be your bore-friend forever, your best bore-friend…a imperfect bore-friend to keep you company while you fall asleep, not to put you to sleep, because there’s people who are listening who need a break during the day or who can't sleep at all, and I’m here to keep them company just like I’m here to keep you company. It’s kinda weird. I’m here to put you to sleep and help you stay asleep if you need it or fall asleep in the middle of the night whether you’re listening or not. Yeah, so, I’m here to the very end. The other things you need to know is about the structure of the show. The show’s structured in a very specific way.

 

It’s got more and more ways that you could adapt it if you wish, but this is the way, as I said earlier, that most people like to listen to the show. This ad-supported, linear version is how most people listen. It doesn't mean that’s the right or wrong way. So, there are ways to change it up. But the show starts off with a greeting; friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. That’s so you feel seen and welcomed in. You say, okay, I might check that podcast out. Then there’s support so paying for the show is optional. If you prefer something without ads, you can get that on Sleep With Me+ or through our referral program if you can't…if you’re in a position where you can't afford Sleep With Me+. Then after that is a long, meandering intro meant to ease you into bedtime.

 

It’s about fifteen to twenty minutes long where I explain what the podcast is unsuccessfully every single time and for ten-plus years, over 1,600 tries or 1,700 tries at this point, and…or maybe not. Maybe 1,200? I don't even know how many shows I’ve made, honestly. Have we made 1,600 or 12…? I guess 1,200. Maybe not, though. I don't know. That’s funny. I have no idea how many…I don't know if the podcast…huh, that’s funny. I don't know if I’ve had 12…maybe that’s 12…maybe we’ve only made 1,100 episodes. My brain’s already making…yeah, 'cause I guess that’d be closer to 2,000 episodes. That’s probably not possible. Anyway, not that important, either. What was I saying? See? I got mixed up. Oh, so, structurally…why does the intro go on and on and on and why is it different every time?

 

Why is it a show within a show separate from the support? Because it’s made to ease you into bedtime. It’s made to be familiar every time so you get a sense your bore-bud’s here to keep you company f’eva, and then that I’m imperfect, I’m a little bit silly, I’m definitely more than a little bit awkward. I mean, I’m not even kidding. You know who else was there, was Ron Livingston. We made eye contact and he looked at me like, do I know you from somewhere? But I said, well, I’m not talk…like, I’m not…that’s too much…I’m not kidding; this was my chance to talk to people, and I didn’t talk to…I talked to the people that worked there 'cause they felt bad for me. It’s just the truth.

 

But looking back at it, I don't really have any regrets, 'cause I still…even now that I’m more mature…'cause this probably happened five years ago with the podcast. I wouldn't be able to do it even now. I’d say, if…I’d like to think I’ve changed a lot and grown a lot of qualities, but talking to people who, in this case, were my peers…I don't…this was a peer-based situation. But they were my peers. Like, if we were in a high school of like, 4,000 people, right, they were the peers sitting at those tables, and I was like, hello, I have my mashed-potato sandwich here. So, anyway…and there’s no reason for me to be intimidated still.

 

These are all very…I think they’d be…I mean, when Catherine O'Hara asked me where the bathroom was, she was very polite and nice about it and said thank you, so…I just said…I knew where the bathroom was, so that was…I was able to convey that information, but no more information, like, oh, you’re one of my heroines. So, anyway, where was I? Where was I? I petered out. This petered out. Oh, so…oh, that’s why the intro goes on and on and on. We come up with stuff like this we can relate over. But most people are listening to the intro while they’re getting ready for bed, they’re doing a wind-down activity, or they’re in bed getting comfortable. Only a small percentage of people fall asleep during the intro, and that’s just because of…having a wind down and a buffer from the day has been shown to be important.

 

So, having something to ease you into bedtime…what else? Oh, then after…oh, yeah, so, the intro goes on and…oh, if you prefer a show without intros, we have Bedtime Stories from Sleep With Me set up, so you could listen to that, but try the show with the intros first. It’s just what most people like. Believe it or not, people pay just to listen to intro-exclusive episodes that have like, five or six intros. So, I don't know, everybody’s taste is a little bit different. I’m just here to keep you company, and the great thing is putting out so much variety allows you to kinda find what works for you. [Nature sounds] Then after the intro will be support, then it’ll be a bedtime story.

 

I’m not 100% what the bedtime story is 'cause I’m trying to be flexible 'cause I’m out of town and I’m trying to make sure we stay on recording schedule, so I’m gonna double-check the schedule. It could be one of two or three things, so that’s cool. I think that’s it. I’m really glad you’re here. I work really hard on the show. A team of people work really hard on the show, and we all yearn and strive, we all really want to help you fall asleep. So, thanks again for coming by, and here’s a couple ways I’m able to do this for you for free twice a week.

 

Alright everybody, this is Scoots here, and I’m in a kayak. This is a on-location episode, and I’m hoping this is gonna work for the main public feed that is supported by our sponsors and the people that support the show directly. This is a crossover with a Science of Happiness episode they did about birdsong. So, here’s what I’m thinking…I know I recorded a intro for this in a different location. Right now I’m in Upstate New York and I’m gonna see if we’re able to record a episode — if not, it’ll be a bonus episode on Sleep With Me+ — in search of bird sounds, which we’re already hearing some good ones. Now, I have my trusty binoculars with me. There is a breeze, so that could impact things.

 

But yeah, we’re gonna just enjoy the bird sounds, and if you want to listen to the Science of Happiness episode on birdsong, there’ll be a link in the show notes, and there will also be a link in the show notes to get some bird sounds…of just the bird sounds I recorded in Florida earlier this year. But yeah, I’m in a kayak. Oh, where am I? I’m in…I’m not far off of Lake Terry. I’m in a tributary of the Salmon River. It is a cloudy day, more breezy than I expected. It’s 10:00 a.m. or 9:30 a.m. Not exactly sure. I know birds are gonna be out early. That’s what I hear. The wind is really moving us. So, I’m gonna head into the wind and we’re gonna see how it sounds. But yeah, just listen.

 

Ooh, maybe I can use my binoculars. I wish I had…maybe I could…actually what I’ll do here is I’m gonna kinda get my boat caught in some of the swamp grass, lily pads and stuff like that, and take out my binoculars, 'cause there is a good amount of bird activity you can hear here right on the edge of a swamp. I’m in a swampy part of the river. Now the front of my boat is in some swamp grass and I’m taking my binoculars out. Let’s do some birding. We’re listening to birds, we’re hearing birds, I’ve seen birds, but now I’m gonna see them close up. Looking for birds in these trees…so, we’re talking…if you listen to the episode…oh, there’s some purple flowers. Already distracted is the sleep podcaster. Wow, those are nice…of like how bird…listening to birdsong impacts you, and it definitely impacts me.

 

I mean, not necessarily when a dude is rambling over it. But yeah, listen to that. It’s nice, and it’s evocative. It transports me. It stirs something like nostalgia. Oh, there’s a bird. Okay, so, top of that tree is a bird. Oh my goodness, there’s a yellow bird up there. It’s pretty far away so I can't get any other details on it. I’ve been big into trying to use binoculars for some episodes. This may be the second episode. I did a bonus episode from a balcony with binoculars because I really think they…well, they’re fun to use and I think they definitely add the ability to get good things. I mean, I wouldn't have known that bird was yellow. We are getting moved…the wind is moving me out of the swamp, which is fine. I mean, come on, wind, can't we work together? Also, it must be garbage day.

 

You can hear the garbage truck going up the road that goes alongside the…okay, I’m gonna relocate because the wind…oh, wait a second, no, we may have some ducks straight ahead at a distance, or ducklings. Let’s get a look at them. Oh yeah, pretty far off, but they’re swimming. Seems to be a family of ducks. 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 duck, 4:00, 5:00, 6:00 duck. Oh, and there’s another duck. They’re probably getting their breakfast. Oh yeah, there’s five youth and one adult. Okay…and yeah, we have purple flowers growing up from these lily pads. I don't know if those are purple lilies. I’m not…to be here for the bird facts or the swamp facts. We got…we’ve had many good episodes about water striders. Don’t think it’s warm enough this particular day for dragonflies. Got a lot of water striders, though, and that’s always nice.

 

Got a nice cup of coffee. I’m hoping that the coffee slowly goes through, that I don't have to rush home and use the WC, and that we can get a nice, full-length episode done here, but we will see with that. It’s really a perfect day for kayaking. I think the way the breeze is going, it’ll make it easy for me to get home, so it means I can expend my effort heading out. What I’m gonna try to do is head in…head upriver, upstream, and then there’s another tributary that I think on a bonus episode — or maybe it was a full-sized episode we did a while ago — I went in search of a beaver dam. Huh, there is a episode called Kayak Cruise from a while ago. It may be in the archives on Sleep With Me+ or we may have re-released it. A lot of the on-location episodes are very fast and loose.

 

We’ve gone through them all, and there’d be the…they’re not releaseable to the public. There’s…the ducks are off to my left, and yeah, they’re definitely fishing. There’s also a family fishing from a boat not far off from me. The wind is…it will only help me, I think, briefly on the return. It’s making a bit of work, but it’s not too strong. I guess it’s just a breeze, 'cause if it was the wind, I would have already been like, man, this isn't gonna work. But…oh, wait, we’re supposed…so, we do hear more bird sounds. We have a lot of trees, so if I can get a good spot…and actually, this is the location that I’ve seen bald eagles before, and that’s pretty amazing. I don't know where they nest. I actually haven't seen any this year, but I haven't been out on the river, and not really here for vacation this year.

 

But today I’m trying to take a little mini-vacation. Yeah, I can hear those bird sounds, hear me paddling. The river’s a nice, rusty, chocolatey color. It’s got serious ripples on it. No waves, but that’s from the breeze across the surface. I have a cup of coffee between my legs. Man, life is good. We’re out here cruising, cruising you off into dreamland. Now, the funny thing is…I did not realize the irony of this, and this episode is also for my mom. I’m in her kayak and it’s called the Dream Boat. It was named the Dream Boat before the podcast even existed. My mom was a big lover of birds, and this episode’s for my mom. She’s probably joining us on this cruise.

 

She’s doing some birding where there’s all the birds, and I’m glad that she’s in a place where she can bird all she wants to with every kind of bird, and she can cruise on a kayak called the Dream Boat. But there really wouldn't be a Sleep With Me…particularly right now, this has just been this year, and…with a lot of changes in podcasting and lots behind the scenes. When I first started the podcast and I was not sure…it was just a experiment, right? I was like, well, should I keep doing this thing? I hadn't told anybody. There was only a few people listening to it. But it was an experiment…but it was a lot of work even when it was just a new experiment and the episodes were only twenty or thirty minutes. My mom…and I guess this will be a little bit of grown-up talk, but I’ll try to put it sleepy as I can.

 

But my mom has dealt with a lot of visiting that place with the red cross. Not run by the Red Cross, but a place where they provide…they take good care of you sometimes when it’s unexpected good care. She had had…oh, speaking of my mom, there’s a great blue heron really far off. I’m gonna stop and get my binocs. It is on a branch about eight feet over the river, off the ground. Wow, and that thing is a great…I’d call it the great, gray blue heron. I’m gonna put my safety thing over my binoculars…over around my neck. Yeah, it’s just kinda standing there majestically. That’s one of my mom’s favorite birds. Especially up here, you could see a lot of them. But yeah, so, this is kind of a behind-the-scenes episode, too.

 

So, when I started the podcast, the only reason I used the name Dearest Scooter was that I don't…I didn’t have any performance experience and I have a strong self-critic and a strong sense of…I don't know. So, I was like, well, it’d be too embarrassing even though nobody was gonna…I wasn’t gonna tell anybody about the podcast or anything. So, I used the pseudonym and I didn’t tell anybody in my family or anybody I knew that I started the show. But at some point what happened was my mom went in for some surprise care and she was telling me how terrible her sleep was, and I told her about the podcast. I said, well, why don’t you try to see if it’ll help you sleep? Because I know it’s really hard to sleep in those places. Then she started listening to the podcast and she became a regular listener.

 

Then in the past couple years has dealt with other things. My dad’s…who didn’t really listen to the podcast, his sleep was more and more affected, and so, then he started listening to the podcast. He kinda traded off. My mom, she would still listen from time to time, but…and my dad started listening. So, it’s kinda like in the midst of all that…ooh, there’s a dragonfly. It just landed on the front of the boat. Our editor, Carl, earlier this year…oh, there goes the heron. It’s flying. Ooh, it just landed again. Alright, let’s…this is pretty good. This is working. I’m able to go on tangents. Wow, it really blends in, 'cause I can't see it anymore, but I know where it landed. Wow. So, the great blue herons…oh, it just took off again. Wow, its wing tips are very blue. Wow, how does it fly? Like, it’s so big, and it’s flying far.

 

I’m not even gonna be able…I’m pretty far turned. Yeah, it flew…it’s still going. It’s still going. It’s going down another tributary to the river. Oh no, now it landed. Oh no, it looked like it was gonna land. Now it’s gone behind me where I can't see it. So, we’re gonna keep heading towards where I saw the heron, but you can kinda hear we got some good bird sounds. I don't know if it’s warmer if we hear more birds or less. I know it’s certain warmth…I’ve been in Florida a lot this year, and when I was there in May or June, there was a lot of birds in the morning. Then when I was there in July and August, there wasn’t so many birds in the mornings. There was still some, but in May, June, the amount of birds was…in the morning…I mean, I don't get up…I’m not a early-morning person, so at 8:00 a.m., I guess…it was pretty cool.

 

Now we have some white lilies or white swamp flowers, and actually some baby swamp flowers. We’re really getting good use of the kayak 'cause we’re in…you can hear the swampy stuff around us. It’s gonna take some work. Talk about white noise. I don't see any other birds, is the thing. But this will be good, and this is where…there’s the heron. Yeah, my paddles have a lot of…okay, wait a second, there’s a submerged something. Let’s get around that. Don’t want to get stuck out here. Alright, so, we’re going a little deeper. So, there’s a lot of trees. So, we’re at the edge of this tributary of the river or, whatever, side swamp. To my left and directly ahead is tall swamp grass with…I think cat’s tail style, even taller, like ten feet tall.

 

Then to my right is some of that on the shore, and you can see actually the cat’s tails. Then there’s a pretty steep bank with really tall trees, twenty, thirty-foot trees, all along the bank, and you can't see beyond them. Beyond that’s a road but up at the top of the bank, and then there’s trees that have fallen and fallen into the river here, some of which have been here so long there’s a set of…I know what color the flowers…let’s get our binocs and check; you’re right. Thanks, Scoots…with plants growing out of the tree. Wow, yeah, brilliantly pinkish, magenta flowers. A lot of flowering going on even though it’s…is that one…? I always thought spring flowers, but…so yeah, let’s keep paddling and talking and listening to the bird sounds. I guess this is kinda a episode I had to make.

 

Maybe this will be along a milestone episode with the other ones. So yeah, I’ve kinda been in this weird place of like, I’ve never seen the impact…I’ve never…I haven't slept worse in a long time, and then I’ve never seen the impact of the podcast more in a long time in my personal life of like, somebody really needing sleep as they’re going through something, and then somebody else that used to listen to the podcast a lot going through something, and then hearing from listeners who really love the show but aren't in a position to support the show. You know, that kind of stuff. I talk about it at the top of the show a lot. So, it’s a tough time. It reminds me of the early days of the podcast.

 

It’s like, oh yeah, this…it’s really important to make the show and put it out there, and it really helps people that I’ve never met before and people in my personal life, but how do we do that? How do we keep doing that, or can…what if we…what happens if we can't keep doing that, you know? Okay, it looks like this tributary ends. I thought maybe there was gonna be a path along the canal, but…or along the shore, but there’s not. So, we’re kinda not that far off the shore, and we’re getting some good bird sounds. I don't know if the birds are just deeper in the woods. I can hear them but I can't see them. But yeah, hear that? It’s nice.

 

There’s a little bit of a breeze and then other summer…maybe summer…maybe it’s just the breeze in the trees, but sometimes you hear that other buzz of whatever, but I think that’s only when it’s a little bit warmer out. Okay, I’m checking the treetops. This is like…I guess this is good 'cause we’re listening to birds but we’re not seeing them. Those are high tweeters. I don't know…oh yeah…no, yeah, I was talking about you. Yeah, no, I realize I’ve done episodes with…listening to B-U-Gs, but not about listening to all of you. What are you doing, a high-pitched imitation of Daffy Duck? Daffy Duck, yeah. Sounds kinda like you’re sending a telegraph. Probably about me, huh? Oh, another thing? I’m gonna take a sip of coffee. Do you mind? Okay.

 

I tell you what; I gotta move on to try to listen to some other birds, 'cause we were talking about how bird songs are comforting. Well, not all birds…there’s a SAT question; if birds…if…I don't know what it would be, though, but it would be a logic question about bird…some bird songs are comforting; are all bird songs comforting? Do all birds hum for comfort? Alright, so, we’re moving here, and I’m gonna have to go all the way back around. That’s alright, though. No birds, eh? Huh, this kinda covers up the bird songs, but this is a birding adventure. I wonder what this would be like…I think you could do this…the peeping of leaves. Okay, wait a second, once we started moving…okay, we’re hearing another…we’re still hearing the bird that sounds like it’s going on…that somebody stepped on its beak or took its lunch.

 

Huh. Hey, you? Yeah, me? No, yeah, I’m right here. Yeah, we can hear the whine of a distant road, yeah. Oh yeah, there we go. Now we’re getting some bird songs. Sometimes it’s just a matter of knowing they’re out there and listening. Yeah, somewhere out there, you’re birding and I’m listening, too, and someone’s thinking of you. Yeah, just like Fievel. Yeah? Okay? And then…? This is like the form of listening on Sleep With Me. We could pretend we’re listening to birds. Okay? Freddy…and then what happened? Cheetos? Freddy had Cheetos? Cheetos…no, I got that part. That’s the end of the story? I’m gonna try listening to this other bird. Chu, chu, chu…I heard the stuff about Freddy. I was trying to listen to another bird. [Birds singing] Squirtle? Is that…? That’s a Pokemon. Pokemon, yeah.

 

I know Snorlax and Squirtle. I think those are the only two I know. No? Okay. Sometimes you just pretend. Uh-huh. Alright, yeah, that sounds…wow, yeah. Wait, can you tell me…what was that like for you? They knew I was…alright, we better move on. Once a bird catches you pretending to listen…wow, that sounds really tough. They’re like, going down…I was telling you about how I ate Freddy’s Cheetos, and they were delicious. I mean, the Cheetos sounded tough, right? No, I told you; they were mushy. That’s why I ate them all. Oh, yeah. Okay, I’m just gonna paddle away, then. Don’t remember this stretch of…wow, there’s even striped, yellow friends in the flowers out here. We’re really…did we come in a different way?

 

This is a serious workout. I guess I went in that way over there where it’s slightly more…opening, but we’re going through it. There’s tens of thousands of lily pads, and these are the big ones. There’s tiny, little flowers growing up from the water, white with yellow centers, that are nice. Yeah, I am exerting myself. Yes, I am. Then there’s some smaller lily pads. I gotta pause and take a little break and get some coffee here. I can see the opening in the trees and the river. I can't quite see the mouth of the river, but the bend towards the mouth of the river to Lake Terry. Can't hear her today. She’s pretty calm even though it’s kind of an overcast day. It was drizzling earlier. Now we’re gonna move on. But yeah, I guess I’m struck by the strangeness of this for me, right?

 

It’s like a podcaster…I mean, I’m processing my G-R-I-E-F. I tried to say that on the downlow. I don't want the birds to hear it. But I did not realize we’d be in my mom’s kayak and out and see her favorite bird and stuff like that and I’d be talking to everybody about it. I knew it’d come up. Maybe it comes up way before this episode comes out, but it’s something…L-O-S-S is something we all experience, and it’s…definitely impacts being able to sleep, and also giving of care, even…or helping a giver of care impacts that. Alright, we’re in the…not quite open water, but the water’s opening up. I see another break up here, so I’m gonna take a right and see if we can go down this next lane, then I’ll check our time. I haven't heard any frogs. I guess…are frogs nocturnal? I just saw somebody splash off the pad.

 

We’re gliding. The boat will come to a…this boat will come to a full and complete stop if I don't keep paddling in the swampy grassy-poo. So, we’re out here together trying to watch birds, trying to seek a little bit of comfort on a day that is a break day from everything in my family I have going on, and it’s kinda like an intentional break day…or what my plan was to use it as…but an intentional break to do some work, 'cause I have not really been able to work, and that’s okay because we’ve prepared for it. The show…we’ve always worked two or three months ahead because other smaller stuff has come up, and maybe we’ll even fall behind.

 

Part of the way we’ve been trying to make sure the podcast stays sustainable is to run some repeats in the summertime just because it saves a lot of the resources the show…we’re trying to figure out. So, that also gave us a little bit of a break. Right now, the part of the river I’m in, though, is very still 'cause we’re blocked by all the ten-foot-high grasses. So, it is reflective of the sky, a cloudy sky, but different kinds of clouds. I don't know, it’s not a super humid day…clouds…but these clouds you could also see on one of those hot and humid days where it’s just keeping the heat and humidity in, but right now it’s not bad. It’s in the seventies, and while there is some humidity, it’s not stifling humidity. Alright, we’re gonna…[bird tweeting] oh boy, we got some good bird sounds there. That was…I appreciate that.

 

Thank you, bird. Oh, there goes a bird. If I can see where it lands…nope, it flew away. I’m gonna try to get…oh, and there’s another one. Alright, we’re in Bird Lane. Birders Lane, as they now call this part, and…okay, Water Strider Lane, too. Don't worry, water strider, I’ve done episodes about you. I haven't done, to my knowledge, any episodes…I mean, I’ve done bird-related episodes, but I don't necessarily know that we’ve done a bird-centric episode. Sorry, just moving my feet around in the kayak. That beautiful garbage truck…but that’s another sound. Okay, this is…I don't know if you can tell, but we got some nice…there’s no wind and no swamp grass here, so we’re really…we’re running…smooth running. Okay, so we have that noise, which I don't know if that’s a bird, the constant tweeter.

 

But you’re like our under…if this was…if we were making music or beats, you’d be the constant. Holy cow, there’s also a bird high in the sky. This could be a bald eagle. Holy cow, it’s definitely some kind of…don’t think it’s a bald eagle, but it’s some sort of soaring bird and it’s looking for something to snack on. Wow, it’s got giant wings spread. I think it’s soaring on the thermals. I think it’s more of…it eats after-market foods, like a vulture versus a raptor. Alright, so we’re paddling again. We’ve got more open lane. Yeah, I’m really glad to have the podcast, to be of service…and to pour my creativity into and know it impacts people and knowing it impacts people in my life, but then it sometimes causes me…of like…not a sense of obligation.

 

Sometimes people e-mail me about that, but it’s more like, how can I do my best to keep this show going? I get strong feelings about…I guess it just…the fantasy I have for the show would be that it would just have an abundance of funding so that I wouldn't have to…that’s just a spot I personally…and I mean, it…probably my own…partially my own issue, but it’s like, part of it is other stuff and then part of it is like…yeah. Well, I guess you get what I’m saying. Yeah, I’m trying to listen…I came out to listen to the birds; I ended up talking about myself, and I think that’s what birdsong kinda offers. Yeah. Can I praise or encourage? You’re really laying down the sounds I needed to just express where I was at with the listeners, which I don't want to do in some video or announcement. So, I appreciate it.

 

Yeah, so, we’re in this nice, little lane here, and I’m just kinda letting us float, 'cause I think if we keep going, we might end up…it looks like there’s two new homes, and…closer to the road. Oh, there goes a little bird. I think 'cause the birds aren't stopping…I guess in Bird Lane they don’t stop; they go by, right? We’re getting some frogs — I’m actually seeing frogs — or fishy-poos moving. I haven't actually spotted anything. My nephew said they saw turtles yesterday as well. Now, on…when they were walking along the side of the river, so…but yeah. Oh, there’s some…that probably was a turtle. That was somewhat of a…okay, you’re wanting to recreate this to Frog Lane? Not hearing you now. Hearing some birds tweeting. I’ll keep paddling. I’ll keep paddling for three or four minutes here on Birdy Lane.

 

There’s the garbage truck. I think I put the garbage out on the wrong night, and so, then the garbage can got put back. Oh, boy. Well, those things happen, you know? Okay, so, we’re listening…it’s a little bit different of a Sleep With Me episode, so there will be a little bit more gaps. You know what would be great? If we did see a bald eagle. I wonder if I ever recorded a bonus episode where I saw one. Oh, there goes another bird. You’re doing great, though. I don't need a bald eagle. I got all of you. Okay, so, we have that constant tweeting noise which is now to my left, and we have some road noise to our right, which is actually somewhat nice. Oh, now we have road noise to our left.

 

That sounds maybe more of a engine noise. Then straight ahead we have a little bit of road noise, but these are all single-lane roads or single…on each side. So, their noise is less…maybe that’s a airplane noise. Wait, did we just hear a mourning dove? Is that in my imagination? That’s my favorite bird sound. It is the most evocative sound for me, and evoking something intangible and beyond words, just kinda like this thing we’re on this paddle about anyway. Okay, now we’re hearing a new flavor of winged-being noise or a high hopping noise. Oh, the birds are really giving us a symphony now.

 

I’m almost sad I have to talk over it, but I do have to keep talking because I’ve been doing the show long enough to know if there’s a super-long pause, I’ll wake people up, and then I get a lot of e-mails about it, and I don't want…I don't need a lot of frowny-face e-mails about it, you know? I don't want to wake people up. So, we’re gonna keep paddling and keep listening and say, hey, come on out already. We’re waiting for you. There’s a dog…puppy-poo barking. We still got that nice, underlying noise. Maybe I’ll go down to this next bend. I’d stop paddling for a while, but…and then we’ll turn around there and start to head back. [Paddling sounds] Yeah, we got some nice sounds. Yeah, you’re doing good. I like that tweeting. Yeah, thank you, thanks.

 

Yeah, I believe…I think the same about you, if that was a compliment or if it wasn’t. Yeah, I’m just heading down to this bend to see what’s going on. I could just spend the rest of the episode pretending I’m talking to you all. You know, talk…yeah, talking to you and…I don't know, are you friends with the other birds? I guess that’s a answer of itself. What are you…what’s your…do you have any favorite water striders or water B-U-Gs? Yeah, that’s a boat motor. It’s right on the other side of where we are. Oh, do you know if I could take a left here and get back to where I’m going? Or, with the wind, would it be easier for me to just stay in this lane? Should I just stay in my lane? A lot of people say that to me, actually. Or, years ago, they did. They still like to say something, basically, even if it’s just about the podcast.

 

That’s actually one of the ones that really…oh boy, I got a bird on a lily pad. I think we just lucked out where we are here. Okay, can I take a look at you, buddy, without you flying off? I mean, I’m pretty far away, so…nope, you flew away. Okay, I get it. Camera shy. Okay, is some of that now rain that’s appearing? I think it is. Okay, we’ll make a U-turn. [Paddling sounds] This is a really beautiful place, and sometimes I kinda miss the birds for the reeds or whatever. This is picturesque. I think sometimes there’s certain things…some people are swamp people and certain people are lake people. I guess I’m more of a lake person. But if I see a swamp on TV or someone that I aspire to be in a swamp, I say, wow. But I mean, I’m surrounded by purple and magenta flowers and white lilies, great bird sounds, and birds doing their best.

 

Coffee is still warm. There’s small drips of rain, but just barely dripping. Just…I mean, not even…I don't even know how it’s…by the way, rain, I don't know if I could pander to you, too. But it’s like, how is it possible that these are just sporadic drops every few seconds, like, five, six, seven feet apart? They’re creating these wonderful circles on the water because they’re so sporadic. You get different-size circles. That doesn’t get put on video very often. I don't know if a phone could capture it, but I can't do it because I’m recording, too. But yeah, pretty impressive. Yeah, I’m just out here on a kayak cruise. I just saw something surface. Oh, there’s something else. I don't know if that’s a frog or a fishy. I think a frog. Maybe…oh, maybe having its breakfast on, huh, in the frog world? I hope that wasn’t Stridey.

 

Boy, circle-of-life stuff. I mean, knowing…there’s the Princess and the Frog, right? Tianna, but I don't actually recall the plot of that movie. So, I don't know if the frog…what was my point? Oh, circle…I don't think it’s a circle-of-life story. I would guess it’s about Tianna growing up. But, I mean, that’s another kind of circle of life, right? With the new attraction, Tianna’s a businessperson and she’s running a food company. Now we’re cruising, and now we’re out for…ooh, oh boy, I got a duck, solo duck. Duck Solo? Is that you, Duck Solo? You’re the only duck. Wow. It’s like, you taught…I guess…I’m not trying to give you a complex 'cause it’s like, we’re moving behind it and it’s moving its head like, is that dude following me? Is he talking about me on a sleep podcast? I may be. Oh, interesting; a bird sound behind us, too.

 

I haven't heard that one. [Bird calls] The duck is like…it’s one suspicious duck. I guess it’s…maybe it’s a Daffy Duck fan, so it’s trying to figure out who was doing that Daffy Duck impersonation. It’s like, I’m gonna shut that down. Maybe that’s who was…oh no, that duck’s not wet, so it wasn’t under the water. Now it’s picking up pace. I don't know if it was chasing after something 'cause it’s…we’re not very close to it. That’s the good thing about having the binoculars, so we don’t have to get as close. So, the binoculars…my eyesight without glasses is not great anymore, so binocs help with that. It does seem like we could be in for a little stormy storm here. I don't know, it feels a little bit darker than when I set out. But we ended up…by the time we get back, we’ll have more than enough time of an episode, I believe.

 

The last time I did a time check…oh yeah, we’re in great shape. Now we have that nice baseline. So, these are the same flowers, and they have different shades of purple and lavender. It’s really impressive. I don't know…so, let’s see, I hear that boat engine, so I’m just trying to figure out…[boat engine]…hopefully that’s going somewhere away from us, otherwise I guess I’ll start to wind stuff up now. Oh no, that’s far away carrying across the river. That might even be on land somewhere. It’s just the power of the river to carry sound. The power of the river to carry sound. Alright, so, we’re headed out of Bird Lane, Birdsong Lane. Living on Birdsong Lane…and I hope it doesn't feel like I’m deflecting or not talking about stuff.

 

I know sometimes people…as I’ve been going through this process, I have many, many resources, including professional resources, that I utilize. So, this isn't a episode of me comforting myself by non…and this has been a process that we’ve gone through this year. So, I appreciate those people that might be thinking that, because…that this part of the process is like…sometimes you talk about something totally unrelated and stuff like that, but that’s…this is an intentional episode I was recording, and then I realized I was in my mom’s kayak and it’s called the Dream Boat, and that’s pretty much a cue to me that’s it’s more of like, not talking about something like that and seeing a great blue heron, realizing that this is a kind of turning-point year for the podcast as far as my belief in the purpose of the podcast being so strong and the podcast business changing so much just this past eighteen months.

 

A lot has changed. Just ways they measured how many people listen to the show drastically changed and drastically impacted the podcast, and then kinda the willingness of both business and as individuals. It’s not just in podcasting; it’s happening everywhere. So…but podcasting, I think it was this double thing because the change in the measurement meant that all of a sudden the ceiling we would shoot for…so, if there was…I mean, the last time there was a boom year was at…was maybe 2020, but when your…then your ceiling of your boom year is like, okay, that’ll help us. Now our ceiling is kinda just…it’s much lower. I don't know, that doesn't make a lot of sense, but it’s to put you to sleep anyway. I’m just talking and processing as I…processing and paddling. I guess they do go together.

 

Alright, there’s a boat there on our way, so let me figure out my strategy here. I think we’re at right around time, so let’s just keep paddling, listen to a couple more birds. Maybe I’ll get back in time to put the trash out, unless…I don't know if they already passed the trash pickup point. But yeah, we’re…I’m listening. Thank you for saying hello to us. Yeah, duck…yeah, you counting ducks? Are you playing Duck, Duck, Goose? You’re by yourself, though, so…I didn’t know birds could play Duck, Duck, Goose and that they could play it by themselves. Yeah, we’re just paddling. Oh, so, yeah, the river…the wind actually changed since we set out, so that’s also interesting. There’s still a slight breeze, but it’s much less. You can see on the surface of the water that it’s much less, and…huh, there’s…is that a…?

 

That…oh, there is a train. That’s not…I mean, that’s much further away than I thought we could be able to hear that, too, but that was definitely a train, and it’s pretty cool. So, what I’m gonna do is I might have to take a break to say hello to these people that are fishing in the boat to be polite, and then…you won't know the difference, but I’m just telling you 'cause…that I tell myself that I need to be polite, you know, and say hello and not ignore people. It’s funny 'cause it’s a dad and then a four-year-old girl in a pink swim cap out fishing. Alright, I had a nice greeting and interchange with everybody. I had a nice ride with all of you. We’re headed back in to park this kayak and start the rest of my day today.

 

Looks like it’s probably gonna be kinda overcast and cloudy all day, which means it’s not hot and humid. If it doesn't rain, it means we could probably still swim. I will be taking my…I gotta shave today to get ready for all of our things I’m gonna get dressed up for, and…so, otherwise I would…I can't shave in the lake. One, 'cause that’s gross. I mean, not…it doesn't bother my face. I mean for other people, but also too cold, so…but I have been washing myself in the lake. I lost my bar of soap, though, yesterday. I searched for it. It wasn’t the kind of soap that would float, so…alright, there’s other people on the riverbank here, so I’m gonna say goodnight to everybody.

 

I really appreciate all of you listening and support of the podcast, and your…letting me go on this kind of personal…I don't think it’s an indulgence, but, I don't know, when I go off about the…my processing of…my processing about one thing instead of the other, you know, I appreciate it. The birds are gonna greet us. So, I’m gonna fade out, and this time I will leave…oh no, I can't leave a fade out 'cause there’s posts, but…yeah, definitely check out the link in the show notes for Science of Happiness podcast and for whatever recordings of bird songs I put in there. There will be a link to get it somehow. Yeah, thanks so much.

 

[END OF RECORDING]

(Transcription performed by LeahTranscribes)