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For Kindred Spirits

From Paul Messing | 00:51:10

 Credit:
This is a beautiful audio production about the more profound nature of our relationships with animals and the natural world. Hosted by NY Times bestselling author Susan Chernak McElroy (Animals as Teachers and Healers), it features her stories and guest interviews, music, and phoned-in messages - real stories from real people. This show comes in two parts. Search terms: animal-human bond, human-animal bond, nature, relationships, pets, dogs, cats, animals

If you love animals and nature, you will find this to be an unusually powerful program and mix of audio elements: stories and interviews with Susan, phoned-in messages from real people, and a great use of carefully selected music.

For Kindred Spirits was made to foster a heightened awareness, sense of wonder and respect for life in all forms - to explore, celebrate and remember the shared connections we have with all living things, and the powerful emotional, physical and spiritual benefits of these relationships, many of which are just beginning to be understood and acknowledged.

Note from Producer, Paul Messing:

I've been working with Susan on this project over the past 6 years as a labor of love, even though we are a thousand miles apart and had no funding or sponsorship of any kind. The audio was originally designed as a short demo for a series we'd like to create. As years went by, the demo became longer, and has been crafted into its current shape.

I believe there is a large audience for this program in all markets, and am eager to get listener response.

In addition to Susan's inspiring stories, contributors in this pilot episode include Carol Buckley, founder of The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, author Joanne Lauck, who speaks about her book "The Voice of the Infinite in the Small: Re-visioning the Human-Insect Connection," and contributions from animal communicators Penelope Smith and David Louis. The real phoned-in stories woven throughout the pilot reveal a never-ending cast of kindred spirits. The musical features emphasize that this show is as much about emotions and feelings as it is about knowledge and intellect.

For Kindred Spirits provides a place for people to come together to share thoughts and stories, and an elegant and engaging hour of radio. The overall tone of the show is informative, emotive and thought provoking, staying away from negative content and commentary, but not to the exclusion of profoundly poignant content. It is suitable listening for all ages.

For Kindred Spirits is an ongoing celebration of the magic and intelligence of animals and nature, and an exploration into the fascinating and mysterious ways we are all connected.

Note to stations:
The pilot comes with suggested live copy to introduce the program, as well as suggested copy to encourage audience response when the show is over.

Part one is also available with a pre-recorded 27 second introduction.

There is a break at about 24 minutes, with a :40 music bed option for live-announce station IDs, show identification, and any other messages you may wish to insert before going back to Part Two.

Our website address will eventually contain additional audio files and links as well as information on how listeners can phone in messages for future episodes. Feel free to contact me with any questions.

FINAL NOTE:
We hope that listener response to this pilot will somehow make it possible for us to find sponsorship, so that we can make this program into the series it was intended to be. This pilot just scratches the surface of the program potential.
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Public Radio Consultant and Marketing Specialist KEN MILLS:

"I am listening to the 'For Kindred Spirits' CD as I write this e-mail. You've done a wonderful, remarkable, job on this demo. It is knock-out good! I got the 'Kindred Spirits' concept from the moment I heard the opening words. Your choice of music is outstanding and the mix is oh-so good. The phone voices are riveting. The story about Homer the Cat touched me deeply. I guess that is the reaction I have about the whole program -- touches me deeply. The elephant story made me cry. This is quite incredible radio."

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ABOUT SUSAN CHERNAK MCELROY:
In 1996 author, cancer survivor and speaker Susan Chernak McElroy wrote her first book, "Animals as Teachers and Healers." Citing indigenous wisdom and philosophy, Susan speaks to the deep healing wisdom offered by our relationships with animals and the natural world. "Animals as Teachers and Healers" is full of real stories from real people. It quickly became a New York Times bestseller, and today is considered a classic work. Now this same world comes to radio audiences for the first time in this engaging new audio program, For Kindred Spirits.

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If you love animals and nature, you will find this to be an unusually powerful program and mix of audio elements: stories and interviews with Susan, phoned-in messages from real people, and a great use of carefully selected music.

For Kindred Spirits was made to foster a heightened awareness, sense of wonder and respect for life in all forms - to explore, celebrate and remember the shared connections we have with all living things, and the powerful emotional, physical and spiritual benefits of these relationships, many of which are just beginning to be understood and acknowledged.

Note from Producer, Paul Messing:

I've been w...
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6 Comments

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Review of For Kindred Spirits

I really enjoyed this program. It was way too short. It is an amazing program, very interesting and uplifting. One doesn't have to be an animal lover to appreciate the stories, but I think it helps. If I could hear it on local NPR stations I would certainly make every effort to catch it or tape it if possible. Thanks for allowing me to hear this wonderful program.

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Review of For Kindred Spirits

What a very lovely compilation of stories about animals, feeling and being connected in this world. We hear about everything from elephants to porcupines, along with lots of cat and dog tales, of course. We love our pets, yes, but this program encourages us to embrace, or at least respect a wider circle of life. The opening moments remind us that our ancestors felt respectful kinship with all of creation -- rocks, plants, insects, fish, birds, mammals considered as full of living spirit as two-legged beings. That's a fine thing to remember.

Though many of the stories were phoned in to the Kindred Spirits program, the quality is bearable and the insights and comments will move and amuse even the most hard-hearted of souls. To me, some of the music was just right, but certain choices came across as distractingly sappy. The stories stand strong with no need for emotion-tugging music. Refreshing, restorative, and recommended as something different from the usual fare. Would be great for a Sunday, or any evening.

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Review of For Kindred Spirits

This is a wonderful, much needed program which reaches to the spiritual connection between we humans and all species on this planet, from insects to elephants.

I absolutely loved the music, story presentations, and commentaries by animal communicators.

I pray that this program finds sponsors and continues.

Ellen Kindstedt
PetLuvBracelets

Broadcast History

This is a debut piece.

Transcript

See attached Document
Read the full transcript

Timing and Cues

pending

Musical Works

Title Artist Album Label Year Running Time
Ly-O-Lay Ale Loya Sacred Spirit Wolves. Silver Wave Records, 1999. 00:45
Fast Russian Dance Paul Messing N/A. Messing Music (ASCAP Publisher), 2007. 00:18
Ondiek Ayub Ogada I Dreamed Of Africa. Varese Sarabande, 2000. 01:45
Cast Away Alan Silvestri Cast Away. Varese Sarabande, 2000. 01:11
Apache Jorgen Ingmann Apache/Many Guitars of Jorgen Ingmann. Collectables, 1961. 00:47
Ly-O-Lay Ale Loya Sacred Spirit Wolves. Silver Wave Records, 1999. 00:45
Jazz Groove Paul Messing N/A. Messing Music (ASCAP Publisher), 2007. 00:07
Main Title Elmer Bernstein To Kill a Mockingbird. Varese Sarabande, 1997. 00:30
Floating On Air Cliff Eidelman A Simple Twist of Fate. Varese Sarabande, 1994. 01:50
This is a Tale... Nigel Westlake Babe. Varese Sarabande, 1995. 01:00
Death of a Legend Michel Cusson Wolves. Silver Wave Records, 1999. 00:48
Ascension/Nature Boy Craig Armstrong Moulin Rouge 2. Interscope Records, 2002. 00:30
Fragile Sting The Living Sea. A & M Records, 1995. 02:15
The Land That Might Have Been Patrick Doyle Gosford Park. Decca (USA), 2002. 00:55
Main Theme Randy Newman Ragtime. Electra/WEA, 1981. 00:55
Come What May David Baerwald Moulin Rouge 2. Interscope Records, 2001. 00:00
Nature Boy Nat King Cole Unforgettable. Capitol Records, 2000. 00:35
Nature Boy Craig Armstrong Moulin Rouge. Interscope Records, 2001. 00:17

Additional Files