Who Let The Animals Out?

These last few months I've spotted animals, and pets, everywhere! And audio trend didn't expect. Scroll down for an Audio Flux Circuit 3 share thread...please post yours there too!

What is the right kind of series to listen to that will not break the illusion that summer doesn’t go on forever, but also push me to a new place, open new doors, and fire new synapses in my brain? Because, if I’m going to commit 5-8 hours to listen to a series, there’s gotta be something in there for me on a bigger level.

And then I noticed that animals began to arrive…everywhere

I figure this began in February when I interviewed John DeLore and Julie Shapiro about their upcoming callout for Audio Flux, Circuit 3. Their theme was Pet Sounds.

And then, it continued. One of my favourite narrators, Nicky Woolf, released a new show with Project Brazen called Fur & Loathing. (One of these days, Nicky, you will solve a mystery…The Mystery Of Havana Syndrome slipped you by, but I believe in you). Meanwhile, I enjoyed the true crime-ish reveal of Fur & Loating, which does a series investigative look at a chlorine gas attack at Midweek Furfest, the world’s largest convention and gathering for the furry fandom, a subculture of humans who identify with, and sometimes as, animals.

Then, who could forget the gay penguins roaming around Times Square, when A Field Guide to Gay Animals was launched at Tribeca? Move over Darwin, there’s some new ideas about the animal kingdom that we need to pay attention to.

Have you been seeing the animals too?

Given all this, I was not surprised when The New York Times released a new series, simply titled Animal. By this point, it was the obvious conclusion.

I was skeptical about this series, at first

I should say that I was delighted, but surprised, that The NYTimes supported a 6-part series about a non-serious exploration of the animal kingdom, told through an elaborate multi-continental odyssey. I assumed they had made this giant investment to expand their audience and skew younger with their demographic.

The tone, the concept, and the cover art seemed to be rather kid-forward. But was it a series that was actually suitable for children? The host and narrator, Sam Anderson, speaks calmly and slowly, like you’re his kid and he’s pulled you in close to hear an important lesson.

The series begins with an ode to his dog, Walnut, who we learn is “a very deliberate replacement” for his first dog, Moby, whom he mourned for a long time before he found a new kind of love, for Walnut.

I enjoyed the first episode, but I was not convinced by this premise. It was cute. I noticed that it forced me to feel a bit calmer, and softer, while I listened. But then I wondered if I loved this because I also love my dog, Willis, whom I had just made a short piece about, for Audio Flux [which I will share with you below].

As owners and lovers of pets, we all have to reckon with their inevitable deaths at some point, so I wasn’t too worried when old Moby passed away in Anderson’s story. I anticipated that. And Walnut did seem really, really cute.

But then the next episode was about puffins, who sometimes die as they fledge, and then an episode about the manatee, who are gravely in danger and live an odd life floating around various waters in Florida. But then, all this talk about mortality and death seemed to take over the series. At the end of the series, Anderson equates his fear of bats with his late father. It all began to make me feel my age: middle-aged, which brings with it the unavoidable baggage of morbidity. But I was still stuck on this idea that it was a series made for kids. Was it really?

So I did some research. I sent the episodes to a friend who has young kids and was going on a long road trip. Could she play this in the car and report back? Did this series capture them? Did they like the animals he chose? Did they relax and get into the story?

Here’s what Summer said: “The stories were interesting, but they all had this sad element, and it turned off the whole family,” my friend reported. The puffins hit the cliff; the wolves were murdered by humans and there’s a frank discussion about the death of his father. “The writing is good, but not enough to take us into the sad place too,” she concluded: “Not really for the kids.”

So why this series, and why now?

I guess the New York Times had a plan all along. Perhaps they realized that the world might take some of the whacky turns this summer, and it might just be nice to have something to relax with. Sort of like watching the thunderstorm roll in, or watching a bird build its nest. Let us talk about serious stuff, but let’s first wrap it up in a snuggly blanket.

Where I live in Canada, summer is startlingly brief. There are a short number of weeks between the early summer night sky filled with fireflies before the grass grows long and the crickets take hold in August.

This is a time to embrace. I prefer to spend long hours staring at the water, watch the clouds float by. Or ride a bicycle through the humid city, put my feet up and read a good novel.

This series allows for a detour, without much fluff. It offers a bit of a break, something to relax and enjoy, where you don’t have to think so much. By the end, it felt good; I felt good. For those middle-aged folks out there…this series still lets you air all that dark stuff that’s on your mind. But in this space, it has a gentle on-ramp through the animal kingdom. But it’s no Disney experience.

Audio Flux Circuit 3, work by Samantha Hodder

Meet Willis, my sidekick. He is always glued to my feet as I work, unless he’s chasing a sliver of sunlight, or clearing the backyard of squirrels.

Willis, the Boston Terrier, suntanning

He’s the one who inspired my pet sounds. He’s the one who’s always there for me…except when I’m not there for him.

Willis Hates Suitcases:

If you have a moment to listen to the Audio Flux Circuit 3, it’s sure to brighten your day. You can see discover how a dog can connect you with your neighbours with The Pittie Dialogues (Mark Pagán, US), or find a new way to process your grief, with Christine and Simon (Mira Burt-Wintonick, Canada). Or if you’re not really a pet person, find OJ the Scaredy Cat (KalaLea, US), or roosters kind of creep you out, find feathers (Jules Bradley, US)…or maybe small rodents are more your speed, find Bon Voyage, Mr. Buttons (Lina Prestwood, UK).

Next week, Audio Flux Circuit Four, so make sure to get on their email list to find out.

Lastly, if you also worked on an Audio Flux Pet Sounds that was not selected and you still want to share it, please share a link in the comments below. I’d love to listen to them all!

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Summer Reading List

My shortened and divided attention yields a smaller stack now. This summer I’m devouring All Fours, by Miranda July, and then to escape reality, I reach for The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, by Victoria Schwab.

Need another non-human short break, audio format? Found one!

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