"Am I Old Yet?" A coming of age screwball comedy with a difference

Episode 3 finds Zeus and Hera visiting London for the first time (that we know of). Helen arrives home from her holiday and Suzie is up to something.

This week's cast is:

Wendy Lap - Hera, Moira McGinty, Child 2.
Ira Seidenstein - Zeus
Sarah Golding - Darlene the lady on the bus, Child 1, Mina the homeless lady
Flloyd Kennedy - Helen, Jennifer, Susie

Music is from John T La Barbera's album, "In the Labyrinth".

SFX - Freesound.org
75526__robinhood76__01153-great-wings-in-motion
539954__douglasbrucelookca__roll-aboard-suitcase-rolling-on-hard-surface
"Ambience, Children Playing, Distant, A.wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk)
stilleto footsteps - koraci stikle.aif

All other SFX recorded by Flloyd Kennedy.

• Please donate to our crowdfunding campaign, so that we can pay the performers and upgrade recording equiment. https://fnd.us/AmIOldYet?ref=sh_1DCqMf
• Transcripts are available at the dedicated podcast website if your podcast app doesn't provide them.
• You can leave a comment or review at www.amIoldyet.com/reviews,
• @AmIOldYet2
• The music featured in Seasons 6, 7, 8 and 9 is from "In The Labyrinth" by John T LaBarbera, available on Bandcamp.
• https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1708289
• Thanks for listening. Stay safe.

Helen takes the goddess Demeter to task for providing her with superpowers without any idea how to use them, and the goddess/nymph Cyllene seems to support her. Helen's  on a mission to get it right next time. 
Please take a look at our crowdfunding campaign, to pay the actors (because they're worth it) and buy new equipment.  https://fnd.us/AmIOldYet?ref=sh_1DCqMf
Cast:
Cyllene - Sarah Golding
Dr Calumn Shrodinger - Christopher McDougall
Helen, Demeter, Janey, Susie - Flloyd Kennedy

Music - from "In the Labyrinth", composed and performed by John T La Barbera

Written and directed by, editing and sound design - Flloyd Kennedy

SFX: - Freesound.org
437462__arpeggio1980__outside-quiet-cafe-restaurant-crockery-stereo-atmos-atmosphere-wildtrack-ambience
326235__blu_150058__in-car-ambiance
635058__sillygrizzlies__walking-footsteps-on-wood
361165__funwithsound__door-open-and-close

• Please donate to our crowdfunding campaign, so that we can pay the performers and upgrade recording equiment. https://fnd.us/AmIOldYet?ref=sh_1DCqMf
• Transcripts are available at the dedicated podcast website if your podcast app doesn't provide them.
• You can leave a comment or review at www.amIoldyet.com/reviews,
• @AmIOldYet2
• The music featured in Seasons 6, 7, 8 and 9 is from "In The Labyrinth" by John T LaBarbera, available on Bandcamp.
• https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1708289
• Thanks for listening. Stay safe.

Season 9 already!  And Helen is getting back to 'normal' life, performing a poem live at a meeting of the Good and Deadly Poetry Society of South London. But those pesky Greek Gods can't leave her alone for long.

The cast is:
Henry - Tayo Aluko
Raven - Frances Broudie Oldridge
Helen - Flloyd Kennedy
Cyllene - Sarah Golding.

Music courtesy of John T La Barbera, from his album "In the Labyrinth".
Editing, sound design and production by Flloyd Kennedy.

SFX: Freesound.org
268628__gordonjcowan__cafe-20150326-edit
324190__kwahmah_02__applause-13

Please support our fund-raising campaign at the campaign website https://fnd.us/AmIOldYet?ref=sh_1DCqMf
You'll also find us at
https://facebook.com/amIoldyetpodcast
https://instagram.com/am_I_Old_yet
https://twitter.com/amIoldyet2

• Please donate to our crowdfunding campaign, so that we can pay the performers and upgrade recording equiment. https://fnd.us/AmIOldYet?ref=sh_1DCqMf
• Transcripts are available at the dedicated podcast website if your podcast app doesn't provide them.
• You can leave a comment or review at www.amIoldyet.com/reviews,
• @AmIOldYet2
• The music featured in Seasons 6, 7, 8 and 9 is from "In The Labyrinth" by John T LaBarbera, available on Bandcamp.
• https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1708289
• Thanks for listening. Stay safe.

Well, Helen certainly does.  Here she is, taking no prisoners when the dental receptionist seems to question her ability to keep up with modern technology.  The podcast Helen is following "Somewhere On Earth Podcast" is an actual podcast (just like this one) only it focuses on developments in modern technology, and how they affect communities literally all over the world. And here is the link to find it. https://somewhereonearth.buzzsprout.com/.  I love it, so of course Helen does too!
The music is from "In the Labyrinth", composed and performed by John T LaBarbera.

Season 9 of "Am I Old Yet" has now been written, and recording is due to start next week.  It will take at least a couple of  weeks to get the first episodes designed and edited, but believe me, it won't be long now!  

Meantime, if you would like to support me in my efforts to create a truly professional and entertaining podcast, with fully paid professional voice actors,  here is our crowd-funding page:  https://fnd.us/AmIOldYet?ref=sh_1DCqMf

• Please donate to our crowdfunding campaign, so that we can pay the performers and upgrade recording equiment. https://fnd.us/AmIOldYet?ref=sh_1DCqMf
• Transcripts are available at the dedicated podcast website if your podcast app doesn't provide them.
• You can leave a comment or review at www.amIoldyet.com/reviews,
• @AmIOldYet2
• The music featured in Seasons 6, 7, 8 and 9 is from "In The Labyrinth" by John T LaBarbera, available on Bandcamp.
• https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1708289
• Thanks for listening. Stay safe.

Bonus episode: Welcome to this personal tribute to my very dear friend Allana Noyes, who sadly passed away recently after a short illness.   This is a compilation of the episodes in which Allana played Helen's Great Niece Georgie, and Georgie's mother Flora.  For those of you who knew Allana, I hope you enjoy hearing her again, and for those who didn't, I trust you will enjoy her remarkable talent and joyous energy.  She is sadly missed.

• Please donate to our crowdfunding campaign, so that we can pay the performers and upgrade recording equiment. https://fnd.us/AmIOldYet?ref=sh_1DCqMf
• Transcripts are available at the dedicated podcast website if your podcast app doesn't provide them.
• You can leave a comment or review at www.amIoldyet.com/reviews,
• @AmIOldYet2
• The music featured in Seasons 6, 7, 8 and 9 is from "In The Labyrinth" by John T LaBarbera, available on Bandcamp.
• https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1708289
• Thanks for listening. Stay safe.

Bonus Ep: Helen gets a lesson in Scots Gaelic over a cup of tea and a piece of Ilse's wonderful chocolate at the Cheese Shop Cafe.  

This bonus episode features my sister-in-law, Mabel Macarthur as the Gaelic lady, and was recorded on her dining table on the Isle of Tiree, in the Inner Hebrides during my recent mini break.

• Please donate to our crowdfunding campaign, so that we can pay the performers and upgrade recording equiment. https://fnd.us/AmIOldYet?ref=sh_1DCqMf
• Transcripts are available at the dedicated podcast website if your podcast app doesn't provide them.
• You can leave a comment or review at www.amIoldyet.com/reviews,
• @AmIOldYet2
• The music featured in Seasons 6, 7, 8 and 9 is from "In The Labyrinth" by John T LaBarbera, available on Bandcamp.
• https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1708289
• Thanks for listening. Stay safe.

BONUS EPISODE: Linda Wilton, Argentine Tango specialist,  has been dancing and teaching dance for most of her life. She trained in Argentine Tango with Juan Carlos Copez. Linda shares some of her story with Flloyd Kennedy, and also her thoughts about the process of ageing, and how she is adapting  so that she may continue dancing for many years to come. In the cover image, Linda (centre) is being honoured at the 2023  La Feria festival in Liverpool, by Francisco  Carrasco (right), Director of Luma Creations, for her work, including  bringing the wonderful Argentine Tango singer  Martin Alvarado (on the left) to Liverpool.

• Please donate to our crowdfunding campaign, so that we can pay the performers and upgrade recording equiment. https://fnd.us/AmIOldYet?ref=sh_1DCqMf
• Transcripts are available at the dedicated podcast website if your podcast app doesn't provide them.
• You can leave a comment or review at www.amIoldyet.com/reviews,
• @AmIOldYet2
• The music featured in Seasons 6, 7, 8 and 9 is from "In The Labyrinth" by John T LaBarbera, available on Bandcamp.
• https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1708289
• Thanks for listening. Stay safe.

Episode 8 brings Season 8 to a conclusion with the Epilogue. Zeus reads the riot act to his disobedient children Artemis and Hermes, and his granddaughter Persephone. Helen gets good news on the political front from Serena (Jonas Scillily's secretary) and Rene's acting career is launched. Featuring Ira Seidenstein as Zeus, Christopher McDougall as Hermes, Rene,  and as Rene playing David Balfour, Frankii Phoenix as Serena and John Warner returning as Helen's son-in-law, Jonathan. The theme music for the fictional TV adaptation of "Kidnapped" is "The Bonny Braes of Elcho", written and performed by Julian Goodacre, from his CD "Some of Me Tunes, Some of Me Pipes". The episode theme music is "In the Labyrinth", and the music in the family room is "Mandrugada (Dawn)" both from John T LaBarbera's album "In the Labyrinth".

Pixabay:
Footsteps on Gravel: https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=6133
Brakes  065421_nissan-skyline-gtr-brakes-38471^
Car braking -110065^
sliding-door-69282 

Freesound:
73730__galarne__cadillac-stop
352744__rosebugg__car-stopping
276602__alfrodou__dishes-crashing-2-platos-rotos-2

• Please donate to our crowdfunding campaign, so that we can pay the performers and upgrade recording equiment. https://fnd.us/AmIOldYet?ref=sh_1DCqMf
• Transcripts are available at the dedicated podcast website if your podcast app doesn't provide them.
• You can leave a comment or review at www.amIoldyet.com/reviews,
• @AmIOldYet2
• The music featured in Seasons 6, 7, 8 and 9 is from "In The Labyrinth" by John T LaBarbera, available on Bandcamp.
• https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1708289
• Thanks for listening. Stay safe.

Ep 7 and Helen finds herself delivered to wherever it is that the Trickster Gods (Anansi, Loki and Hermes) have arranged to meet up with the Minister for Talking Garbage to 'do a deal'.  Now the tricky business really kicks off.

With Christopher McDougall as Hermes, Roy J Carruthers as Loki, Tayo Aluko as Anansi and Matthew Field as silly Jonas.

Music: John T LaBarbera
In the Labyrinth (Season theme)
Dance of the Ancient Spider

SFX - Freesound.org
75526__robinhood76__01153-great-wings-in-motion^
341779__klankbeeld__manwalk-emptymall-indoors-01-160327_00

• Please donate to our crowdfunding campaign, so that we can pay the performers and upgrade recording equiment. https://fnd.us/AmIOldYet?ref=sh_1DCqMf
• Transcripts are available at the dedicated podcast website if your podcast app doesn't provide them.
• You can leave a comment or review at www.amIoldyet.com/reviews,
• @AmIOldYet2
• The music featured in Seasons 6, 7, 8 and 9 is from "In The Labyrinth" by John T LaBarbera, available on Bandcamp.
• https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1708289
• Thanks for listening. Stay safe.

Ep 6 finds René's acting career taking off, while Artemis and Persephone persuade Helen that her super hero journey is in need of a lift, and they are just the beings to give it to her. Christopher McDougall plays René, Matthew Field plays Tom Maximan. I do the others.

SFX - free sound.org
75526__robinhood76__01153-great-wings-in-motion 

Music - John T Labarbera
In the Labyrinth
Song of the Goddess Diana

• Please donate to our crowdfunding campaign, so that we can pay the performers and upgrade recording equiment. https://fnd.us/AmIOldYet?ref=sh_1DCqMf
• Transcripts are available at the dedicated podcast website if your podcast app doesn't provide them.
• You can leave a comment or review at www.amIoldyet.com/reviews,
• @AmIOldYet2
• The music featured in Seasons 6, 7, 8 and 9 is from "In The Labyrinth" by John T LaBarbera, available on Bandcamp.
• https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1708289
• Thanks for listening. Stay safe.

Helen's granddaughter Susie is impatient for some action on cleaning up the planet, but Helen is still reluctant to use her 'super' powers.  Meanwhile, the Trickster Gods of the world are holding a gathering, which could be a bit dodgy. With Roy Carruthers as Loki, Tayo Aluko as Anansi and Christopher McDougall  as Hermes. Also featuring a cameo appearance from Chloe the cat.

If you'd like to hear the rest of the season in advance of the weekly releases, sign up to be a Patron at https://patreon.com/amIoldyet with either a small donation, or a regular subscription.  I'm going to need some major crowdfunding support to keep going beyond this season. Thanks for listening. Stay safe.

SFX
"Cat, Screaming, A.wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org

• Please donate to our crowdfunding campaign, so that we can pay the performers and upgrade recording equiment. https://fnd.us/AmIOldYet?ref=sh_1DCqMf
• Transcripts are available at the dedicated podcast website if your podcast app doesn't provide them.
• You can leave a comment or review at www.amIoldyet.com/reviews,
• @AmIOldYet2
• The music featured in Seasons 6, 7, 8 and 9 is from "In The Labyrinth" by John T LaBarbera, available on Bandcamp.
• https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1708289
• Thanks for listening. Stay safe.

There's trouble on Mt Olympus, when Zeus (Ira Seidenstein) arrives home to find out what his favourite child Hermes (Christopher McDonald) has been up to. Rene (also Christopher McDonald)  gets the result from his audition for "Kidnapped", and Helen is called to a meeting in the park with Demeter and Seffi. Lots going on as the adventure continues...

Our Patreon patrons can join in the fun  by suggesting a name for a new character (in Season 9), or by asking a question of any of the characters so far.  I'm going to put them all into a bonus episode, especially available for Patrons over at Patreon.com/amIoldyet, as a thank you for your very kind and generous support.

Freesound.org:
191814__denis-chapon__big-wooden-door-open-close
519447__softdistortionfx__wood-footsteps-1       
 364903__tieswijnen__cooking-boiling          
 380828__axiologus__pot-of-water-boiling

All other sound fx recorded by me.

• Please donate to our crowdfunding campaign, so that we can pay the performers and upgrade recording equiment. https://fnd.us/AmIOldYet?ref=sh_1DCqMf
• Transcripts are available at the dedicated podcast website if your podcast app doesn't provide them.
• You can leave a comment or review at www.amIoldyet.com/reviews,
• @AmIOldYet2
• The music featured in Seasons 6, 7, 8 and 9 is from "In The Labyrinth" by John T LaBarbera, available on Bandcamp.
• https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1708289
• Thanks for listening. Stay safe.

S8 Ep3 brings Helen some comfort from her friend Joey, but it comes with a challenge to up her game. Meantime the dastardly Minister for the Environment and Food Production (played by the wonderful Mr Matthew Field)  is definitely up to something. His new secretary (the gorgeous Ms Frankii Phoenix) is quick to spot it. 
You can support the production with a donation via https://patreon.com/amIoldyet. Your patronage brings you early access to the full series, as well as other perks - check them out on the website.

• Please donate to our crowdfunding campaign, so that we can pay the performers and upgrade recording equiment. https://fnd.us/AmIOldYet?ref=sh_1DCqMf
• Transcripts are available at the dedicated podcast website if your podcast app doesn't provide them.
• You can leave a comment or review at www.amIoldyet.com/reviews,
• @AmIOldYet2
• The music featured in Seasons 6, 7, 8 and 9 is from "In The Labyrinth" by John T LaBarbera, available on Bandcamp.
• https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1708289
• Thanks for listening. Stay safe.

Helen's young friend Rene, played by Christopher McDougall, is lodging with her at the moment, and offers to treat her to lunch at her favourite Cheese Shop Cafe, where there's fresh wait staff  (Lucy Wareing). Demeter and her daughter Persephone enjoy a nice flight and some privacy to discuss developments in Helen's campaign to get political change with regard to cleaning up the planet. Meanwhile, a senior politician (played by Matthew Field) is dilly dallying with his new secretary (Frankii Phoenix) - at least, that's what he would like to think.

SFX: Freesound.org
Robinhood76__01153-great-wings-in-motion
"Wind, Synthesized, A.wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk)
PriesJensen - people talking at cafe ambience

• Please donate to our crowdfunding campaign, so that we can pay the performers and upgrade recording equiment. https://fnd.us/AmIOldYet?ref=sh_1DCqMf
• Transcripts are available at the dedicated podcast website if your podcast app doesn't provide them.
• You can leave a comment or review at www.amIoldyet.com/reviews,
• @AmIOldYet2
• The music featured in Seasons 6, 7, 8 and 9 is from "In The Labyrinth" by John T LaBarbera, available on Bandcamp.
• https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1708289
• Thanks for listening. Stay safe.

Helen is trying to figure out who, what, where and why, talking to herself out loud, as usual. But how to deal with acquiring superpowers in her late 70s? Isn't the Chosen One supposed to be a teenager? Can one old woman save the planet? Her daughter Janey is worrie about her, but there's nothing new in that. Granddaughter Susie thinks Gran should be allowed to go out without her phone occasionally.

• Please donate to our crowdfunding campaign, so that we can pay the performers and upgrade recording equiment. https://fnd.us/AmIOldYet?ref=sh_1DCqMf
• Transcripts are available at the dedicated podcast website if your podcast app doesn't provide them.
• You can leave a comment or review at www.amIoldyet.com/reviews,
• @AmIOldYet2
• The music featured in Seasons 6, 7, 8 and 9 is from "In The Labyrinth" by John T LaBarbera, available on Bandcamp.
• https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1708289
• Thanks for listening. Stay safe.

BONUS EPISODE: This week, I invited Liverpool based poet Colin Watts to chat about his background, and experience of helping to set up the Dead Good Poets Society of Liverpool. The Dead Goods meet on the third Thursday of the month (except for August) in the MerseyMade Cafe, Paradise Street.

The theme music for this episode is my song "Where the Old Folk Go", my version and Mark Bunyan's orchestrated version.

Thanks for listening. Stay safe

• Please donate to our crowdfunding campaign, so that we can pay the performers and upgrade recording equiment. https://fnd.us/AmIOldYet?ref=sh_1DCqMf
• Transcripts are available at the dedicated podcast website if your podcast app doesn't provide them.
• You can leave a comment or review at www.amIoldyet.com/reviews,
• @AmIOldYet2
• The music featured in Seasons 6, 7, 8 and 9 is from "In The Labyrinth" by John T LaBarbera, available on Bandcamp.
• https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1708289
• Thanks for listening. Stay safe.

BONUS EPISODE: Second in this occasional series of interviews/conversations. My guest is singer and activist Frankie Armstrong, still singing and demonstrating in her 80s. Frankie was part of the British Folk Song Revival in the 1960s, has performed with the National Theatre, runs workshops for RCCSD graduate students and she is the founder of the Natural Voice Network.  We've been friends since 1967, and our conversations ranges from reminiscences, and the ageing process to singing styles and back again. 

Full transcript is available here: https://flloydkennedy.com/are-you-old-yet/

• Please donate to our crowdfunding campaign, so that we can pay the performers and upgrade recording equiment. https://fnd.us/AmIOldYet?ref=sh_1DCqMf
• Transcripts are available at the dedicated podcast website if your podcast app doesn't provide them.
• You can leave a comment or review at www.amIoldyet.com/reviews,
• @AmIOldYet2
• The music featured in Seasons 6, 7, 8 and 9 is from "In The Labyrinth" by John T LaBarbera, available on Bandcamp.
• https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1708289
• Thanks for listening. Stay safe.

First in a series of interviews/conversations with some friends and colleagues, all of whom have experienced their 70th birthdays. This one features Australian theatre-maker, performer, writer, collaborative mentor and arts supervisor, Margi Brown Ash.  We share some memories, ideas, thoughts on politics, elderhood and teaching pedagogies - among other things.  Full TRANSCRIPT is available here. https://flloydkennedy.com/are-you-old-yet/

Books recommended by Margi:
The Stolen Focus—Why You Can't Pay Attention, and How to Think Deeply Again,  by Johann Hart
The Biology of Belief, by Bruce Lipton

• Please donate to our crowdfunding campaign, so that we can pay the performers and upgrade recording equiment. https://fnd.us/AmIOldYet?ref=sh_1DCqMf
• Transcripts are available at the dedicated podcast website if your podcast app doesn't provide them.
• You can leave a comment or review at www.amIoldyet.com/reviews,
• @AmIOldYet2
• The music featured in Seasons 6, 7, 8 and 9 is from "In The Labyrinth" by John T LaBarbera, available on Bandcamp.
• https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1708289
• Thanks for listening. Stay safe.

Here are all the episodes of Season 7 (or Part 2 of Helen's adventures as The Chosen One).  Binge to your heart's content, or just hit the pause button whenever you feel like it. 
Cast
Frances Broudie Oldridge - Marta Polensky, Josie Harkins
Christopher McDougall - Hermes, Rene
Ira Seidenstein - Mischa 
Georgie - Allana Noyes
Lord Peter Grey - Mike Rimmer
Jonathan - John Warner
Deja Gomez - Tayo Aluko
Flloyd Kennedy - everybody else.

• Please donate to our crowdfunding campaign, so that we can pay the performers and upgrade recording equiment. https://fnd.us/AmIOldYet?ref=sh_1DCqMf
• Transcripts are available at the dedicated podcast website if your podcast app doesn't provide them.
• You can leave a comment or review at www.amIoldyet.com/reviews,
• @AmIOldYet2
• The music featured in Seasons 6, 7, 8 and 9 is from "In The Labyrinth" by John T LaBarbera, available on Bandcamp.
• https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1708289
• Thanks for listening. Stay safe.

Flloyd with another update. The script is complete, and I've managed to meet some other podcasters not a 100 miles away. 

And by the way, do check out Carousel Radio,  "a show and a podcast that is planned and presented by our learning disabled DJs and radio presenters. It’s one of the only places on the radio where you can hear spoken word exclusively by learning disabled artists." Impressive, and fun.

• Please donate to our crowdfunding campaign, so that we can pay the performers and upgrade recording equiment. https://fnd.us/AmIOldYet?ref=sh_1DCqMf
• Transcripts are available at the dedicated podcast website if your podcast app doesn't provide them.
• You can leave a comment or review at www.amIoldyet.com/reviews,
• @AmIOldYet2
• The music featured in Seasons 6, 7, 8 and 9 is from "In The Labyrinth" by John T LaBarbera, available on Bandcamp.
• https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1708289
• Thanks for listening. Stay safe.