Hi! I Think You're Nice!

Cynthia Lair wrote a cookbook all about sourdough bread! It’s called Sourdough on the Rise. (Named for pun reasons.) There is so much to know about yeast and those “friendly, loving bacteria” (as Cynthia puts it).

Welcome to a new season of “Hi! I Think You’re Nice!” with this delicious and interesting episode.

As you may have heard with Writing Musicals with Elaine!, Elaine Pechacek is a talented musician and composer. Near the end of our interview (around 12:30am), we decided to write some songs. Instead, we improvised a couple of songs from suggestions we got live from Facebook!

Get ready for a very silly, funny, and, I dare say, delightful bonus episode. We had fun. I hope you do, too!

In this bonus episode, Sarah Whittemore and I share a very fine nerd-out session!

During our original recording of Singing with Sarah!, Sarah shared that she LOVES Pokemon Go. Yes, she is an outstanding singer and performs with Voctave and Disney’s Voices of Liberty. Plus! She’s always on the look-out for Pikachu. Pokemon Go brings her ever so much joy!

Then, when Sarah asked me about my favorite fantasy power metal band, Gloryhammer, it was all I could do to keep recording and not stop everything to play “Unicorn Invasion of Dundee” or “Angus McFife.” I highly recommend checking those songs out.

Everyone has something they geek out about. What is it for you?

Enjoy this fun bonus episode!

Elaine Pechacek writes musicals! She is also an outstanding singer, vocal coach, musician, teacher, and business owner. To produce your own musical, you have to wear a lot of hats (often, all at the same time)!

Elaine started writing the occasional song every now again. Over time, her interest and passion grew. She has now written and co-written full blown musicals! Listen as Elaine speaks about the gift of music and creativity. Get ready for a journey!

Added bonus! Elaine sent me never before published rehearsal tracks to share with you! This is a Hi! I Think You’re Nice! exclusive!

• Track 1) “Don’t Take For Granted”

  • Sung by Elaine Pechacek

  • From SEASONS by Katie Hammond and Elaine Pechacek

• Track 2) “Damaged Cargo”

  • Sung by Joshian Morales

  • From THE LADY JULIANA by Elaine Pechacek

• Track 3) “The Night”

  • Sung by Tiana Akers, Brittany Cheek, Kayla Kelsey Morales, Beki Herrbach

  • From THE LADY JULIANA by Elaine Pechacek

My friend Thom Mesrobian works at the Florida Aquarium! There are a lot of interesting creatures to learn about! Thom is a gameshow host, a storyteller, and occasionally he sees penguins walk by his dressing room. You know, usual job stuff.

From sharks and octopuses (*not octopi), to polyps and leafy sea dragons, we cover a lot of fascinating underwater creatures.

Bonus! Thom wrote adorable songs for his underwater coworkers! They’re called Aquatunes and they are super clever and catchy. Sing along! I did!

Sarah Whittemore sings like an angel. Like. An. Angel. She is an accomplished vocalist who sings professionally with Walt Disney World’s Voices of Liberty and the incredible a cappella group, Voctave.

Sarah shares her journey with singing and generously sings a few refrains. From Bjork to jingles, this episode has a lot of merry musical moments.

Enjoy and sing along!

John Gracey visited Gatorland when he was a kid and has been going back ever since. He’s the one who introduced Gatorland to me! Gatorland is a 70 year old institution and it’s an ever changing, ever evolving place that celebrates one of Florida’s most plentiful and fascinating creatures, alligators.

However! There is a whole lot more to Gatorland than just alligators. They have a lot of interesting animals and unique, thrilling shows such as the Gator Jumparoo. (The Gator Jumparoo is to Gatorland as Hamilton is to Broadway.)

The fine folks at Gatorland also rescue alligators and teach the public about alligator safety. There is so much to learn and enjoy!

Please have fun as we walk through one of Florida’s most cherished and iconic theme parks.

Meghan Moroney is no stranger to costumes and character work. She has been a professional actor for a long time! She works at Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, various regional theaters and has a Broadway credit to her name. Suffice it to say, Meghan enjoys embodying different characters.

Meghan is also a self proclaimed and celebrated geek! With all of her powers combined, she truly enjoys cosplay and participating at Dragon Con (and other conventions).

What is cosplay? Listen to find out! What goes on at Dragon Con? Listen to find out!

It’s all in good fun! Meghan and I had the most lovely of chats and I think you’ll enjoy it, too!

Thanks for being here and have a nice time!

Eric Pinder has two primary passions in life. Hockey and opera. Today, we’re going to hear all about opera! (We’ll get to hockey next time.)

The stories told in opera are beautiful, breathtaking, epic, and suuuuuuuper sad. Though the plots of operas aren’t always “nice” persay, talking and learning about opera is very nice, indeed!

Please enjoy this spirited episode where Eric shares so much! Including where the blonde braided opera lady with the horned helmet comes from!

Have fun and thanks for being here!

Ryan Gigliotti is quite the dinosaur enthusiast. He knows his stuff and is excited to share it! Ryan has been on a paleontologist dig site, he’s a guide at Dinosaur World, and he has a few dinosaur news bombshells to drop on ya. (Or at least it was big news to me!)

Plus, he’s nice and has interesting things to share about dinosaurs and otherwise!

Enjoy and thanks for being here. You’re great!