Even the one that’s in Artemis 1’s rear view mirror up there, as much of a mess as it is – I even like that one. All my favorite people live there. And all my favorite cats. I’m particularly fond of the dogs, horses, and hippos there as well.
Speaking of either horses or water horses, I’m putting the cart before them and getting ahead of myself. Let’s start from the beginning.
There are two podcasts out there that I count as my absolute, can’t-miss favorites. One is Planetary Radio, the official podcast of the Planetary Society, and the other is Mission Log. I guess it’s probably a good measure of how much of a Mission Log superfan I was that I now edit every episode of Mission Log. (Good thing it’s on the can’t-miss list, right? That would be an embarrassing week if I missed one.) The Planetary Society is currently looking for a new editor for Planetary Radio, to go along with the new host they recently promoted from within. (I did put in for the host gig over the summer, because I have cast a pod here or there with space as the topic from time to time, but obviously I didn’t get the job.) The editor job opening reads like this:
Freelance Audio Editor (Contract)
Are you an experienced radio or podcast audio producer who would delight in handling the post-production needs for one of the world’s most popular space science audio programs?
The Planetary Society, the world’s largest and most influential space advocacy organization, seeks a talented Audio Editor to support the post-production needs of Planetary Radio, a renowned weekly radio show and podcast about space exploration, astronomy, and science celebrating its 20th year in production and Planetary Radio: Space Policy Edition, a monthly podcast focused on the politics of space exploration.
Each podcast episode centers around a feature interview with a leading space scientist, engineer, or other luminary in the space science community. Episodes occasionally include features recorded on location or special “Planetary Radio Live” events recorded in front of audiences. The Planetary Radio and Planetary Radio: Space Policy Edition podcasts runs around 60 minutes in length and the broadcast version of Planetary Radio has a duration of 28:50. The shows achieve a combined 2.5 million downloads per year and the weekly show is heard on more than 100 public radio stations.
Well, if that doesn’t sound like an Earl-shaped job opening, I don’t know what such a job opening looks like. And really, the editing gig may be what is more beneficial to me at the moment; the hosting gig was something that would have run a very real risk of me having to give up my Mission Log and Sci-Fi 5 podcasting duties, which I would only do very reluctantly. But editing an extra one-hour podcast a week? That’s doable, without giving up what I’m doing at Roddenberry. I might just be able to turn the casting of pods into my full-time occupation at that point, with two weekly shows making it a pretty steady full-time occupation, and with those two very steady shows in two separate baskets. So there’s the job security angle of it.
And I like to entertain the illusion, at least for my own mental state, that it’s something I do reasonably well. Asked to provide examples of past work, I just pointed them toward the Mission Log feed and told them: the latest show? That’s the best one. And it has to be. If it’s not the best one yet, why was it released? Or did it just escape? If I told them something like “oh, the best one? That was about eight shows back,” why on Earth would anyone hire a candidate who just told you they peaked a while ago and it’s all downhill from here? I do tend to obsess over the quality of what I put out into the world, whether it’s someone else’s show or one of mine. The truth is, after many years of short-term contract gigs to which I was perhaps not ideally suited, but tried to take on anyway because things like food and shelter and heat aren’t free, I just count myself damn lucky to have a steady gig at all, especially one that I originally stumbled into a few years back when Mission Log Live suddenly vanished and then the hosts took to social media asking if anyone in their audience had live TV production experience.
But there’s more to it than my ego and there’s more to it than job security. There’s even more to it than me trying to become part of podcasts that I’ve admired for a long time, though I’m keen to increase my batting average in that department. So what’s it really about?
I have outlived my mother by eight years now. I may not match my father’s 86 years. There’s a number in between there with my name on it, and I don’t know what that number is. It’d be neat if I could spend the time I have remaining putting as much good out there into the universe as I can.
The ongoing work with Roddenberry, which I hope to continue doing for as long as they can put up with me, has a lot to do with humanistic values – compassion, inclusiveness, social justice, hope – that I hold near and dear to my heart. Being able to do the same kind of work with the Planetary Society would add wide-eyed curiosity, awe, wonder, ecological responsibility, scientific literacy, and yes, some more hope. If I can be at the epicenter of both of those positive messages radiating out into the universe, that would be neat. That might just give some meaning to everything that came before this point. That might just wind up being my legacy. You start thinking about that sort of thing by the time you reach…well, a certain age.
I don’t know what I expect to happen from this blog post, other than that I’m just unloading it and putting it on the table, staring at it sternly a bit, and then waiting for the phone to ring. Leaving a breadcrumb here for the future so I remember – or my kids can know – what was on my mind at this point in time. I don’t need anyone starting any social media campaigns on my behalf; I already submitted the prerequisite cover letter and CV. I just hope they look at it and see that the skills and experience and reliability match up with what they’re looking for.
I just want to put my best sets of skills to use in putting something positive out there related to these areas in which I’m madly interested. Hopefully it’s not too much to ask. Just being associated with Mission Log has put me in a position to help with the annual Hollywood Food Coalition TrekTalks event, and that in turn has led to an interesting collaboration for another good cause, which I can’t say much about just yet, except to say… watch this space after the first of the year. Particularly at a point in history when we seem to be creating new means of communication just to blast vitriol into everyone’s heads, using those same channels to help uplift others is kind of addictive.
And hey, it really is all about planets when you think about it. All of it. Planets all the way down.
What do you want to do when you grow up?
+ There are no comments
Add yours