[NOTE: this was recorded when the show was named "The Lunar Podcast." It is now "Dark Sky Twelve"]

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Greetings to all! Now I've had two actual church officials on The Lunar Podcast: who knew?

Beth Sullivan is the Associate Pastor of Burk's United Methodist Church in Hixson, Tennessee. She is a Hixson native and an Elder in the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church. Beth has an undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She attended Candler School of Theology and received her Masters of Divinity in 2012.

Beth called in to the Moon Studio in March of 2020, and we proceeded to discuss all manner of things under the moon happening during these odd and trying times. 

Stay safe out there, wherever you are.

[NOTE: this was recorded when the show was named "The Lunar Podcast." It is now "Dark Sky Twelve"]

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Animal Wonders was founded by Jessi Knudsen Castañeda and Augusto Castañeda in August 2008 to fulfill their dream of sharing the wonders of wildlife with the public. The animal center is nestled in the forest outside of Missoula, Montana. The animals who are currently residing at Animal Wonders share the breathtaking scenery and natural surroundings of Western Montana. Most of the animal residents were displaced from their homes and adopted by Animal Wonders. Some were donated by zoos, and others were illegally owned and needed to be placed with Animal Wonders.

The Animal Wonders YouTube channel is growing, and Jessi could be considered a YouTuber by most any metric. 200k+ subscribers with some videos having more than 2.5m views. 

I was pleased to have Jessi call into the Moon Studios on the February's Full Moon to discuss what she is up to, how big YouTube is to their mission, and of course...

Kemosabe!

Animal Wonders web page: www.animalwonders.org

YouTube page: Animal Wonders Montana at https://www.youtube.com/user/Anmlwndrs

[NOTE: this was recorded when the show was named "The Lunar Podcast." It is now "Dark Sky Twelve"]

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Andrew is the English Department Head and UC Foundation Professor of English at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He is a Shakespearean, Skateboarder, and all-around fascinating person. I was pleased to speak with him in his office about subjects such as why college students should major in English, some realities of pursuing the career goal of tenured University Professor, assigning the creative works of artists with problematic behavior, social media, Hemingway, if Hamlet is over-assigned, and much more.

[NOTE: this was recorded when the show was named "The Lunar Podcast." It is now "Dark Sky Twelve"]

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A solo-cast behind-the-scenes look back on the 16 episodes in 2019 and a preview of what's to come in 2020. Basically, one new episode a month with some bonuses here and there. It's going to be great!

So come out into the night and check out this episode...The Lunar Podcast will return in early 2020. Happy Holidays and New Year from yours truly!

[NOTE: this was recorded when the show was named "The Lunar Podcast." It is now "Dark Sky Twelve"]

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Ben Loory is the author of Tales of Falling and Flying (Penguin, 2017) and Stories for Nighttime and Some for the Day (Penguin, 2011), as well as a picture book for children, The Baseball Player and the Walrus (Dial Books for Young Readers, 2015). His fables and tales have appeared in The New Yorker, Tin House, Electric Literature, and The Sewanee Review, been anthologized in The New Voices of Fantasy and Year’s Best Weird Fiction, and been heard on This American Life and Selected Shorts. They have also been translated into many languages—including Arabic, Farsi, Japanese, and Indonesian—and adapted to short film, live theater, chamber music, and dance.

Loory is a graduate of Harvard University and holds an MFA in Screenwriting from the American Film Institute. He lives in Los Angeles and teaches short story writing at the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program.

The Lunar Podcast will return in early 2020! 

[NOTE: this was recorded when the show was named "The Lunar Podcast." It is now "Dark Sky Twelve"]

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It very well might be the case that this guest is the very epitome of the perfect guest for this podcast. As atypical as can be, Rushad is a Grammy nominated American cellist, composer, and performer, who has toured extensively in 49 states and 15+ countries. Eggleston is known for inventing words, and for his imaginative world called The Land of Sneth. 

He went to Berklee College of Music in Boston, and you might know him from Fiddlers 4, Darol Anger's Republic of Strings, or Crooked Still. After leaving Crooked Still, he began plying a more experimental path with The Wild Band of Snee, Tornado Rider, and, over the past few recent years, solo work. He maintains an active YouTube channel with hundreds of thousands of views. 

But beyond all that, just check out this episode. Rushad defies categorization or description, in my opinion. I have been a true fan of his work since the Crooked Still days. It was a high rare honor to have Rushad as a guest. 

All opinions belong to me and the guest; no one else. 

 music featured in this episode:

fol the noabin o -Rushad Eggleston

defend the gaté -Rushad Eggleston

blowin around -Rushad Eggleston

Rushad's band camp page: https://rushad.bandcamp.com/

[NOTE: this was recorded when the show was named "The Lunar Podcast." It is now "Dark Sky Twelve"]

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Stephen Johnson, owner of Sourdough Cuppa Joe [a coffee shop/bakery/frozen custard shop in Chattanooga, Tennessee) joins me tonight to discuss entrepreneurship. Many students are at UTC with a goal of starting their own business. Stephen takes us through the ups and downs, the risks and rewards of going-your-own-way in our Capitalistic machine which offers the real promise of both reward and ruin. Starting a business is not for the faint of heart; my guest tonight takes us into that world. 

Visit his business at 6707 Hixson Pike, Hixson, TN, 37343 or online at www.sourdoughcuppajoe.coffee

As always, opinions are my own. 

May the Moon be with you. 

[NOTE: this was recorded when the show was named "The Lunar Podcast." It is now "Dark Sky Twelve"]

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Kevin Gray works for the United Methodist Church and is currently in Seminary studying to become a pastor. I am a bit of an organized-religion skeptic and am currently into Meadow Strolling. It was really amazing to talk with him about this and many other topics. I appreciated having this session of civilized discourse between two people coming from different perspectives.

So now, with episode 13, we turn our attention toward metaphysics, organized religion and God...the good stuff!

[NOTE: this was recorded when the show was named "The Lunar Podcast." It is now "Dark Sky Twelve"]

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Currently in South Chattanooga, over 5,000 properties in eight neighborhoods possibly  have lead-contaminated soil. The problem has been known for several years, and a number of public Hamilton County Schools in these neighborhoods have yet to have their soil tested. Local activists are concerned about this and are speaking out.  Environmentalist, Biologist, and UTC teacher and administrator Dr. Dawn Ford joins me on this special episode to tell us all about it...and much more!

[NOTE: this was recorded when the show was named "The Lunar Podcast." It is now "Dark Sky Twelve"]

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Dacre Stoker is the Great Grandnephew of Bram Stoker, the author of the 1897 Dracula. Dacre is an international best-selling author and a Bram Stoker authority. He  joins me for this episode via phone. For over an hour we discuss Bram Stoker, Dracula, Vlad the Impaler, the vampire scares of the 1700s,  the hubris of the western world, Dacre’s familial connection with Bram Stoker, the contemporary interest in vampires, Van Helsing/Myth vs. Seward/Science, late Victorian anxieties, Spiritualism, blood transfusions in the 1890s, education, modern pentathlon, the 1980 Olympic boycott, Dracula’s 101 missing pages, and more.  

All opinions are mine and the guest's!