Flies in the Kitchen

A Show about Creators and their Stories. What's Yours?

Episode 26: BJ Leiderman 05/18/2023

Episode 26: BJ Leiderman “Our theme music was composed by BJ Leiderman.” If you’ve tuned in to NPR over the last 44 years, the likelihood is pretty great that you have heard this on-air credit. It’s because when BJ sold his themes to NPR, he made it a part of his contract that he would receive spoken recognition for his work. Little did he know he’d become one of the most recognizable names on the network. BJ’s NPR credits include Morning Edition, Weekend Edition, Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me, Marketplace, Car Talk, and Science Friday. BJ has been in the music making business his entire life, and it encompasses much more than 30 second jingles (although he is damn good at them). In 2017, BJ released his debut album of original songs, entitled “BJ”, although that wasn’t his first choice. “Natural Public Leiderman” didn’t sit all that well with NPR’s lawyers, so he went with the more eponymous title. So much to share with all of you good folks! If you click on the album above (the NPR-approved version), you’ll be directed to his website where not only can you purchase this fine collection, he also has shared multiple fantastic videos of his songs, including a funky animated interpretation of “Walking Down The Street”, a boppy, upbeat song about getting dumped by his girlfriend and subsequently making his way to the top of the Empire State Building and jumping off the observation deck, plus all the adventures and observations on the way down. Yep, boppy. We talk at length about the album, the personal investment in the songwriting, where they come from, and what they draw their life from. We also talk about the purpose of music in "moving the needle", so to speak. Good, good stuff. He really is a deeply thoughtful and intentional songwriter and you know right away where he stands when you hear it. If you're an Ashvillian, check out the that we chatted about. He's hoping to get the ball rolling for an in-person meet up -- mostly so he can get out from behind a computer screen and into the real world with real people! Oh, and if you are still unsure if you’ve heard his music on the radio, enjoy this video he put together a few years back. The most creative self promotional media I believe I’ve ever seen! [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4xr_i3aRxU] /episode/index/show/fitkpod/id/26882508

Special Episode: Poetry Share! 12/10/2022

Special Episode: Poetry Share! Some of you may remember a few years back when I uploaded a reading of "The Velveteen Rabbit." That was a recording I had made for librivox.org, an online archive of literary works in the public domain, recorded by volunteers all over the world. Recently I recorded a few poems for an anthology they were putting together and I thought I'd share them with you. I hope you enjoy them! I've included the text below. The Indian Burying Ground - Philip Freneau In spite of all the learned have said, I still my old opinion keep; The posture, that we give the dead, Points out the soul's eternal sleep. Not so the ancients of these lands— The Indian, when from life released, Again is seated with his friends, And shares again the joyous feast. His imaged birds, and painted bowl, And venison, for a journey dressed, Bespeak the nature of the soul, Activity, that knows no rest. His bow, for action ready bent, And arrows, with a head of stone, Can only mean that life is spent, And not the old ideas gone. Thou, stranger, that shalt come this way, No fraud upon the dead commit— Observe the swelling turf, and say They do not lie, but here they sit. Here still a lofty rock remains, On which the curious eye may trace (Now wasted, half, by wearing rains) The fancies of a ruder race. Here still an aged elm aspires, Beneath whose far-projecting shade (And which the shepherd still admires) The children of the forest played! There oft a restless Indian queen (Pale Shebah, with her braided hair) And many a barbarous form is seen To chide the man that lingers there. By midnight moons, o'er moistening dews; In habit for the chase arrayed, The hunter still the deer pursues, The hunter and the deer, a shade! And long shall timorous fancy see The painted chief, and pointed spear, And Reason's self shall bow the knee To shadows and delusions here. Miracles - Walt Whitman Why, who makes much of a miracle? As to me I know of nothing else but miracles, Whether I walk the streets of Manhattan, Or dart my sight over the roofs of houses toward the sky, Or wade with naked feet along the beach just in the edge of the water, Or stand under trees in the woods, Or talk by day with any one I love, or sleep in the bed at night with any one I love, Or sit at table at dinner with the rest, Or look at strangers opposite me riding in the car, Or watch honey-bees busy around the hive of a summer forenoon, Or animals feeding in the fields, Or birds, or the wonderfulness of insects in the air, Or the wonderfulness of the sundown, or of stars shining so quiet and bright, Or the exquisite delicate thin curve of the new moon in spring; These with the rest, one and all, are to me miracles, The whole referring, yet each distinct and in its place. To me every hour of the light and dark is a miracle, Every cubic inch of space is a miracle, Every square yard of the surface of the earth is spread with the same, Every foot of the interior swarms with the same. To me the sea is a continual miracle, The fishes that swim—the rocks—the motion of the waves—the ships with men in them, What stranger miracles are there?( as well as ) Little Orphant Annie - James Whitcomb Riley Little Orphant Annie’s come to our house to stay, An’ wash the cups an’ saucers up, an’ brush the crumbs away, An’ shoo the chickens off the porch, an’ dust the hearth, an’ sweep, An’ make the fire, an’ bake the bread, an’ earn her board-an’-keep; An’ all us other childern, when the supper things is done, We set around the kitchen fire an’ has the mostest fun A-list’nin’ to the witch-tales ‘at Annie tells about, An’ the Gobble-uns ‘at gits you Ef you Don’t Watch Out! Onc’t they was a little boy wouldn’t say his prayers,— So when he went to bed at night, away up stairs, His Mammy heerd him holler, an’ his Daddy heerd him bawl, An’ when they turn’t the kivvers down, he wasn’t there at all! An’ they seeked him in the rafter-room, an’ cubby-hole, an’ press, An’ seeked him up the chimbly-flue, an’ ever’wheres, I guess; But all they ever found was thist his pants an' roundabout-- An’ the Gobble-uns’ll git you Ef you Don’t Watch Out! An’ one time a little girl ‘ud allus laugh an’ grin, An’ make fun of ever’one, an’ all her blood an’ kin; An’ onc’t, when they was “company,” an’ ole folks was there, She mocked ‘em an’ shocked ‘em, an’ said she didn’t care! An’ thist as she kicked her heels, an’ turn’t to run an’ hide, They was two great big Black Things a-standin’ by her side, An’ they snatched her through the ceilin’ ‘fore she knowed what she’s about! An’ the Gobble-uns’ll git you Ef you Don’t Watch Out!An’ little Orphant Annie says when the blaze is blue, An’ the lamp-wick sputters, an’ the wind goes woo-oo! An’ you hear the crickets quit, an’ the moon is gray, An’ the lightnin’-bugs in dew is all squenched away,-- You better mind yer parents, an’ yer teachers fond an’ dear, An’ churish them ‘at loves you, an’ dry the orphant’s tear, An’ he’p the pore an’ needy ones ‘at clusters all about, Er the Gobble-uns’ll git you Ef you Don’t Watch Out! Music for this episode by Kevin MacLeod, public domain. /episode/index/show/fitkpod/id/25285326

Episode 25: David Wilcox 09/27/2022

Episode 24: Paisha Thomas 08/30/2022

Episode 23: Eric Ahlteen 06/06/2022

Episode 22: Dre Peace 02/16/2022

Episode 22: Dre Peace My first impression of Dre Peace was a wall of sound that almost knocked me over.. Which would have been embarrassing since I was sharing a stage with him at an event called Music in the Round. I had to know more about this guy just from the music and poetry coming from his mouth. Afterwards I learned a bit more about his story that locked it in for me. I had to get this guy on the show. So I am beyond excited to share this conversation with you. Here is a link to the Facebook Live video that Dre's manager was able to capture of his performance of "Change", which we chat a lot about. I had a few issues including it on this page, so feel free to follow the link to watch it. There was a lot of reverb in that room, so it was hard to hear all the words, so I've included the lyrics below, along with a version performed by Dre and Liquid Crystal Project. (Along with a couple other videos you will enjoy!) I had a great time chatting with Dre, and man, does he tell a good story. The hits don't stop coming either, even while I'm finishing up the editing of this episode, and you'll understand what I mean if you listen to the end! [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGhZi_aj7Uk] "Change" Written by: Dre Peace 2019 I felt my brother's pain today. He left his good intentions and loving nature, at the side of his youngest brother's body; at the corner of systemic racism and generational poverty. As I recall the words of my former world religion instructor, and how much "I wanted to believe that we were all the same." No matter which creeds have divided us or somehow hidden their agenda to bring us together. If there's no difference there's no change. Things will stay the same. And still the media will say there's no rain and we're all wet. No matter what they say. Whatever comes your way, just makes you stronger for today. You're not alone, cuz we're all wet. Or if he is alone. Yelling to a sky of white stars and black backdrops. Where they are the forefront and we are the endless, massive void striving for the revenge of our ancestors' work. Where his mother worries if he may not return from that trip to the corner store. Where high foreclosures and CPD are more important than FICO scores and IRAs. I said I wonder if the regression is truly neutral? Is our experience so isolated? But it feels so big. But it feels so deep and wide and present, and empty and low and negligent, and selfish and repetitive, and out of control. How could this happen? And you mean to tell me he's not getting sentenced and my baby! And she was a good person and he had a daughter, and that was his youngest brother. And today we call upon the prayer warriors, the soldiers, the lovers, the army, the unknown, the peacemakers to rise up and defend our existence with light. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRcFuV67v0w] [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82CulAz5P8c] /episode/index/show/fitkpod/id/22113956