Thank you to everyone who took the time to listen and give feedback. The show is still in the R&D phase and I am not really a media pro so there is a learning curve. I never really aspired to go into media. I am doing this show out of love, necessity, and some frustration. Please allow me to unpack that a bit.
I am tired of everyone trying to be the next Art Bell when it is simply not possible. Art couldn't even be Art in the later years. My motivation to do the show comes from my love of the genre and the sadness I experience when so many hosts either try to mimic Art (or God forbid George) or become wrapped up with Hollywood aspirations and go full-on cult of personality, all the while forgetting about the unique level of fun, engagement, and fascination that can be shared in this community. I consider myself part of the community; the original "Night People," as we were called by the OG of overnight paranormal talk radio, Long John Nebel (Google him if you're a Zoomer).
Over the years, I have been in discussions with various television production companies who contact me looking to make shows from my work. I got close to signing with one, only because the producer was an East Coaster with true love and nostalgia for late-night radio. Still, I never saw any of it through because everything on these shows is too formulaic and my personal experience filming with Ancient Aliens was a real eye-opener for a number of reasons. I got disenchanted with all of it a few years ago and dropped off the scene to spend more time teaching. I wrote a textbook and got pulled into the mainstream again. I also got so tired of seeing (still seeing) my author and researcher friends doing and saying anything to get some dumb Travel Channel or Gaia show and turning something they started authentically into corporate BS. It just feels like everything underground got highjacked by corporations and narcissists and that the magic is lost.
I am not claiming to be able to bring any magic back. I can only say that what I plan to do comes from my heart and out of love and respect for the genre and its people. Why would I be so heartfelt regarding stupid woo shows and other such nonsense? Why would I take my own money and lease studio space for the next few years with zero plans to make this a profitable business or anything, especially when I may not have the skill or talent to produce a worthwhile show?
Because Art's work and its community of interesting, weird, like-minded people, carried me through from being a homeless teenager high school dropout to a professorship and published books. I can expand on that but rather than make this post longer than it already is, anyone interested in how I got into all of this can read the welcome message from my website:
https://www.drheatherlynn.com/intro/The short of it is that I literally dropped out of school at 15 years old and ran away from home. I lived in my car at 16 and traveled all around the country. The only "friends" I had during this time were the voices I heard on AM radio. Coast to Coast got me through a lot because it gave me a distraction and a feeling that I was not alone. Things came full circle for me when I found myself being interviewed on various show, an experience that was bittersweet. Here is what I said about it coming full circle in my website article I linked to above:
"
Being homeless and on the run can be very isolating. It is difficult to find comfort of any kind in a situation like that. The voices of late-night talk radio kept me company on those cold nights when worry and fear kept me from sleeping. I used to imagine how amazing it would be to have conversations with interesting, albeit eccentric people, musing on esoteric topics like aliens, time travel, or the nature of reality. Little could I have known, that over 20 years later, I’d find myself doing just that."
It is no small thing when I say this goofy genre saved my life or at least kept me sane with its insanity. I don't dare presume I can save it, but I feel a sense of indebtedness to pay homage and produce something authentic and hopefully both interesting and fun. Personally, I want to carve out a little something special that can fill the Art shaped hole I have in my heart.
Again, thank you for everyone taking the time. I will be working on solving post-production issues and brainstorming ways to make a better experience for everyone.
