Skip to main content

Third Years A Charm

In this episode, Third Years A Charm . . .



Welcome to Episode 207 of On the Fly. You may not believe this, but we went live on the Anchor platform (Spotify for Podcasters) three years ago today!


Lately, people ask, "So, how many listeners do you have?"


"Honestly, I'm not sure; I don't pay attention to the numbers."


"Why not?"


Well, On the Fly is a creative adventure. I'm committed to developing my artistic ability, imaginative writing, music education, and digital editing skills. When this all started, I challenged myself; I said, "Self, what do you think? Can you merge the skills you've developed and deliver an entertaining weekly program? And offer educational content for an audience?"

You see, creativity is about developing a habit of taking what seems - at the time - to be a wild idea and experimenting with ways to deliver a story through the medium of on-demand audio. We've dabbled with video, but as you may recall from the 200th episode - Earl Nightingale - my model is the 1950s radio program Our Changing World. I'm proud to say; that this podcast is the "vehicle to the future" to share my experiences and document my adventures; maybe we should call it My Changing World.


Yes, I can deliver! You be the judge - we're approaching over 12,000 downloads. And I've discovered it's possible to produce a podcast without an entire studio. If you missed it - check out The Bakersfield Sound and Yosemite Stories, two episodes written, recorded, and creatively produced during our October vacation to Yosemite National Park.


Is it fun? Absolutely! Preparing a weekly production keeps me experimenting, learning, and growing and encourages me to explore who I'm becoming. Yet another example is last week's episode, My First Piano, a new musical venture.

  

My listening friends, I challenge you to go back and troll the many archived episodes. One of my favorites is Episode 14, Captain Fantastic; what's yours? The easiest way to do that is to follow me on Spotify, then select the option - "play unplayed episodes." You will be enlightened and inspired to begin your creative journey. If I can do it, so can you.


On the Fly is entirely free of those annoying Ads!


I'm Patrick Ball; thanks for listening. I'll see you in the next episode. 

Comments

Most Popular of All Time

Back to School (Without the Triple Lindy)

I hadn’t set foot inside a public library in over thirty years. Last Saturday, when I walked through the sliding doors of the modern County of San Diego branch on Eucalyptus Avenue in Vista, my eyes instinctively scanned the floor for the familiar, comforting sight of varnished oak cabinets and brass pull-handles. Nothing . No card catalog. No little wooden drawers. No rows of index cards typed by someone who presumably had beautiful penmanship and a pension. I walked up to the front desk, looked the librarian dead in the eye, and asked with complete earnestness: "Where’s the card catalog?" She didn’t laugh, though she had every right to. Instead, she offered a warm, dry smile: "We magically had the computer digest it." And just like that, I was enrolled. Not the Rodney Dangerfield kind of back-to-school. No diving board, no loud blazer, no campus party, and thankfully, no need to convince anyone I belonged there. Just an overdue reminder that while I was busy with ...

From Mailbox to Microphone

In this episode, catching up with Sierra . What happens when you combine a little imagination, modern digital tools, and the willingness to make a glorious, muddy mess? You get our guest’s latest project. I’m Patrick Ball. Welcome back to On the Fly . Today, we are diving into the world of native plants and guerrilla gardening with twelve-year-old creator Sierra. After watching her impressive, self-produced tutorial on how to make ‘Seed Balls,’ I had to know how she did it. It’s incredibly inspiring to watch Sierra evolve from a young artist wielding crayons and stationery into a savvy digital creator. She’s writing scripts, mastering voiceovers, and editing—all to make a positive, green impact on her local community. “She shoots, she scores, and she’s here to tell us all about it.” Please welcome Sierra to On the Fly ! Let’s get into it. Audio interview . . . For more blog posts showcasing Sierra’s talents, see: The Mailbox Surprise . . . and The Summer Surprise I’m Patrick Ball. Sta...

The Rhythm of the Woodpecker

The morning in Vista often begins under a heavy, gray marine layer that rolls in from the coast, pressing a damp, muffled stillness over the neighborhood. At 4:30 a.m., the driveways are still full. The local commuters are either blissfully unconscious or stumbling blindly toward their showers, clinging desperately to their last shred of peace before the nine-to-five grind claims them for the day. I, on the other hand, am voluntarily wide awake in the dark. When your agenda consists of absolutely nothing, it is critical to get an early start. Inside the house, the quiet is profound, broken only by the sharp, mechanical click of the kettle as it reaches a rolling boil. I stand at the counter, watching the dark ground coffee bloom as hot water hits the French press's stainless steel. The smell is sudden and heavy—a deep, roasted-earth aroma that cuts through the morning fog. I push against the plunger’s gritty resistance, pouring a cup that radiates dark, stinging heat against my pal...

Vintage Vinyl

In this episode - Vintage Vinyl . . . Turntables are making a big comeback; why? Listening to music should be a multi-sensory experience. Harmony, rhythm, and the deep expression of emotion. Like a warm, gentle rain in the springtime cascading around you the room is filled with a resonant, rich, melodic sound. My emotions welled up, and tears come to my eyes. Ok, I get it, we need to step back to get some perspective here. Recently a visit to Lou's Records in Encinitas, California, inspired me to dig out my Vintage vinyl LP record collection. I selected the Carpenters Singles 1969- 1973 . This musical duo reigned from 1969-to 1982 with the rich, full melodic voice of Karen Carpenter. They were one of the biggest-selling groups of the 1970s. "No fewer than ten of their singles went on to become million-sellers, and by 2005 combined worldwide sales of albums and singles well exceeded 100 million units." The tactile sensory experience of music begins with the album cover it...