Switching Title: Recent Episodes
Reid May
Using field recordings, voice memos, and prerecorded sound and music, Switching Title is a freeform-style podcast that includes thoughts and discussions about many topics; including sound, nature, movies, and social issues. For now. Who knows what might come up? Hosted by Reid May.
I embark my first attempt at riding the entirety of the C&O (Chesapeake and Ohio) Canal Towpath from Cumberland, Maryland to Georgetown, Washington D.C. This episode includes plenty of bird, stamina, distance, and other experience reports. Special appearance: P-Touch, and a few other melodies come through. Wrap it up, Reid.
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On a bike ride out to Manassas I came across a Bluebird box that the first Tree Sparrows I spotted of the year were possibly making a home out of. It took them a few minutes to return to the box after I walked far away. Then I found out there was a firing range not too far away!
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Another dream bird. Heading out to check my misery index by doing one night bikepacking on the C&O Canal Trail in preparation for doing the entire trail. As usual, I pay a lot of attention to birds and other wildlife. I also remind myself what I forgot to bring, and what I don’t need to bring.
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I took an excellent trip with my mom this past March to Cape May, New Jersey. The two locations in this episode are, first, from the balcony of our beachfront hotel room; and second, from the Cape May National Wildlife Refuge beach.
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I start off by rambling about how a previous take was better than the one in the recording. Then you hear this chunk of music I've been working on and thinking about. Finally there's about 15 minutes of bird thoughts. Classic.
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The last place I recorded on my trip to Iceland in the new year was at Tjornin Lake in Reykjavik. There's light early-morning land and air traffic, but mostly some good Greylag Goose and Whooper Swan squabbling! I took the long way around to get to my bus that took me away from this beautiful country, and this recording makes me wish I was back there again.
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Okay - yes, more bird and nature thoughts, but they are some good ones! I went to the movies a few times during this go around and saw Immaculate, Late Night With The Devil, and The First Omen. I sneak in some sound bites and a dream ditty at the end.
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Here's another hotel window recording from my time in Iceland early this year. This one is in the very international capitol city Reykjavik . I think I was on the third or fourth floor listening down to quite a busy street. While I was winding down for bed, you can hear people walking by not speaking English, various flying and rolling vehicles passing, and even a cover band at a nearby bar after a little while. Roxanne!
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This episode is full of thoughts about birds and humans as I walk around my neighborhood, and of course some hiking out in the Washington Jefferson National Forest. I'm also trying hard to get into the Dune films.
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This recording was made at a place called Adventure Hotel Geirland in the southern region of Iceland at the beginning of the year. I woke up at some point in the middle of the night, stuck my recorder out the window, and let it rip until the batteries died, I think. I slept pretty well there!
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This is a fun one, mostly from ideas wandering down what’s becoming a pretty regular walking/birding path in my neighborhood. Lot’s of bird observations and listening to calls. I built a little bit of a musical moment around one of the segments where I get close to the humming water treatment plant. New segment ideas?
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This recording is in my mom’s backyard in Colorado on the day after last Christmas. There was some crazy wind going on. I love the high-pitched whipping sounds. There are some plasticy sounding clicks - I think that’s my recorder’s material freezing. You can hear a distant wind chime, I think. A goose flies over and honks at one point.
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Starting this one off with a musical recording project. Then there’s a bunch of bird observations and theories I come up with while walking around. They might not be correct. Then another little ditty. Watch out - I sing out another dream song idea from a hospital/karaoke venue. More bird stuff, watching movie previews, and I.S.S. movie review.
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The title pretty much says it all. I recorded the ambience at night while inside my tent. Hopefully you wont hear any snoring. The wind in the pines made me want to record. You might be able to convince yourself you hear the ocean waves crashing on the beach in the distance.
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Name that sound bite! Gull Goals, and getting back in touch with other bird calls. First 2024 Bird Report! Plans for Season 3. Movie Reports: Dude… Barbie. Jesus, Barbie. Dream ideas, and the brain power they require to capture them.
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Happy New Year and New Season! I went looking for inspiration on a walk one night last October. While walking, in my mind I saw myself standing at a certain familiar edge of this pond. I took myself there with my recorder, started recording, looked at stars, and took some pictures. If I ever get around to officially releasing the music from Season 01, this is where when the cover art revealed itself. Insects and frogs, jets and cars - suburban wash. The recording ends when my batteries died.
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This bird is talking to me. Off to the movies and back on my bike - Meg 2 finally! New bike trail talk. Other films discussed are The Last Voyage of the Demeter and Renfield, and the Jaws’s of course. A sick TMNT soundbite. Naming bike routes and promoting strangers’ business. Putting a bow on ST Season Two while heading back to the theaters to see They Live.
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This recording is from the final weekend that the pool at my apartment complex was open. My recorder was poolside while I took a dip and relaxed, as I love to do. My microphone picked up some interference from cellular transmission.
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One day I’ll remember to not put my cell phone next to my recorder, especially up in Shenandoah where the cell phones try really hard to communicate. Sound Bytes. Down to The Gulf via Nashville, and Shirley Jackson. Watching movie previews, getting into William Friedkin, and a pit-stop.
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This sixth of the Places series is at Gravelly Point, which is a park just to the north of Reagan International Airport. There you can watch and listen to planes taking off or landing, have a picnic, or start a bike ride along the Mount Vernon Trail. I've been wanting to record the planes flying over here for years, so I'm glad I finally did it!
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Another jump back to August, 2017. I've had this recording of me wandering around and talking to people about the 2017 total solar eclipse event, and what better time to share it on Switching Title than a week prior to the occurrence of the October 14th, 2023 annular solar eclipse. Maybe I'll get a new recording on that day too, and post it later.
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Imagine six thirty-six a.m. from a third-story balcony of condo across the street from the beach in the Gulf of Mexico. Water is dripping from the roof from last night’s rain. You have to pack and leave, and end your vacation, but you’ll have just one more cup of coffee and this time to yourself to look out over the south-western horizon.
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On my way to the movies, and I run down some ratings. I love the Goldfinch. Being a month ahead; we’ll see if I can keep it up. You have to sit through me rolling in late, and also some of the end credits - I swear I talk eventually! I sneak in a little track.
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This fourth Places sub-episode was recorded at Weston Pass Campgrounds on night two of a backpacking trip I went on in The Rockies this last July. Great bird song and intense squirrels are all over this recording. You can also hear me and my brother in the distance making and eating breakfast. Luckily the animals and nearby South Fork South Platte River obscured most of what we were saying!
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Not much talking on this one; more listening, and more eavesdropping. Spruce Knob trails and towers. Driving noise descriptions (because you can’t really hear them). Bugs, dogs, and bros at Antietam Creek Campground. Sounds of waves from probably the last time I was at Chincoteague. Hanging out at a bar called The Pinch in DC waiting for bands to play. Mixing the soundscape at Lake Accotink.
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Out in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests resides one of my favorite escapes from the city and burbs: The Elizabeth Furnace Family Campground. I go out there to reset myself after long, grueling periods of work. There are excellent opportunities for recreation and experiencing wildlife there. Here, I wake up, build a fire, try to stay dry, and listen to birds.
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I found some rambling recordings of me in nature (surprise, surprise) from August 2017. This podcast idea has now been shown to be at least a six year old idea. It’s apparent then that six years ago I didn’t know anything about birds. This one is from Seneca Rocks and Seneca Shadows Campground in West Virginia. Pre Fitbit heart and footstep rate checks. The mix of the environment. I’m a passing-hiker eavesdropper. And an anytime else eavesdropper. Always pick the camp host’s brain.
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This is the second of my new sub-show Places. This recording is up in a spot I find tranquil called Mudhole Gap, which you can reach by hiking up West on the fire road from the Elizabeth Furnace Family Campground. You can hear Little Passage Creek nearby, and it was lightly snowing at the time, which was one of the few times I remember seeing snow around here this winter.
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Travel Logs. Baltimore to New York City on the train. Asteroid City movie review and other Wes Anderson thoughts. For the approximately final 25 minutes I combine an attempt of a recap of a trip from within Denver’s airport and a soundscape recording at Buffalo Meadows where I took a break on a recent backpacking adventure. In there you’ll hear hints of how to find my Spotify Only episode playlists and production ideas. I went with the other idea.
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This is the first installment of an idea I've been holding on to for a while. Tentatively called Places, I'm recording around 30 minutes of audio at different places and posting them. Looks like I'm providing an introduction to them. For now. This one is just from my apartment window on a day that I thought was pretty nice. The recording data says February 9th around 9p. Can that be right?
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Bikepacking on the C&O Canal Towpath and repeat challenges. I can’t remember the things I forgot. Still fan-boying about Indigo Buntings, and other bird observations. Night Visitors and Protectors at camp. Being social on the trails and following through on plans made, like the brutal Maryland Heights hike. Developing the Slimer route, Morbid Angel Rulez, Basic Instinct film review, and you can hear that my bicycle needs maintenance.
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Dream Song. Human sounds and which birds benefit or are hindered? Plenty of other Nature Ambiences. A White-Throated Sparrow inspired riff. Movie Samples. Metal festival thoughts at Hell in the Harbor and on the trail, featuring Goatwhore. Also on the trail: Tick paranoia and birding literally saves my life! Plans for the second season of Switching Title.
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Not much to say, except I think it's done. I reflect while hiking in the snow, and predict the new questions that will challenge me.
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Spring peepers in winter! A potentially final new recording segment to include with the rest of the bunch. I review a preliminary order of all nine tracks. What are their names? I do a second pass and try to talk myself out of some ideas. Recording as an exercise.
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A couple of new music ideas appear! I’ll keep this brief because I want to get this episode published, and move on. I talk about my creation process and ideas. I also come clean about my current influences and blatant ripping-off.
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Just when I thought I was done - more music around the same themes. Back in a favorite birding spot and recording in stereo - wow! Stalking overhead airplanes, contemplating formats, and distracted by birds. A little serendipity and I try out a few ideas. “How Do We Make Sounds?” And rebooting a radio show maybe.
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Force-fed previews on streaming platforms - and they almost got me! Citizen science year in reviews: Seek, iNaturalist, eBird, Merlin Bird ID, and Google Maps. Binging on my recordings that you’ve already heard, but in a sequence. Talking about the creative process and leaving in a bad idea.
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Bullet Points, trying new things, and new music (with a super long fade out - don’t worry!). A new recording technique. Brand new year and goals, despite tardiness. Naming my bike route: Suburban, or Spaghetti? Or both? More weird poetry and me trying to interpret it down family lineages, and boy is it rough going! Numerology and a sparrow face. ST Archives: Green Room.
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Tolerating below zero temperatures in Colorado and footstep sounds in the snow. Flight preferences and the magic of the window seat, so you get a recitation of some writing and deep thoughts. Gateway Pond (or is it?), Poudre Trail, The Swetsville Zoo, and birding updates with tragedies. Despite my intentions, I published late. Finally, a distant hymn from and campfire at Sunset Reef.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/switchingtitle/message
Ambient Bookend Number Three. Back in San Francisco in 2018 talking about Yerba Buena Park, fountains, and touring the Trans Bay Terminal. Old friends - R.I.P. Allison Sparrow. Talking with some birders in 2018 Cleveland that turned me on to the birding apps. Cacophony at the Exxon. ST Archives: Bronze as a God. Speaking of Allison - here’s a track we made titled “Ghosts”.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/switchingtitle/message
I think it’s the second of these ambience intros. Drive and Talk of an early December 2019 Bird and Hike Report in Shenandoah. Suburban cycling on the first day of winter vacation. Music love for The Tenth Sub Level Of Suicide by Leviathan, and All that has Never been True by Ultha. ST Archives: A Day In The Life. “We’ll See” story ideas before a 2018 trip to San Francisco. Children - keep your cats!
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A new audio composition from my Tascam DR-40 Dump Project. Working on podcast episodes for the future. Another dive into my personal recording and music history: Side B.S. Appalachian Trail Sound Walk with Commentary and Sniffles. The many recording versions, being a pre-hipster, and the Pearl Building Era.
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Introducing the show again and the Henry Rollins, Henry Miller, Jack London, and Jack Kerouac connection. Exorcising more Idea Demons and Library Book Binding rabbit holes. From the Archives: I’ve been stewing on this podcast idea for at least three years; Sound-walks, more Oblivious, and Y.W.I.
The Prairie Winds of Colorado. I’m creating, producing, and searching. From the 2012 Archives: Big Trucks, Low Morale, and High Speed Limits - dealing with visiting your hometown. Cleaning out the closet; what have you. From the 2019 Archives (never published): Inclusion via Exclusion - dealing with explaining a previous music recording method, and the first recording of my song Oblivious.
Cheating on 31 Days of Halloween Movies and all of the ratings proves I’m a necro-student. Brilliant insomniac hiking ideas and Dark Throne. Dark, plus thick fog, plus leaves makes Reid a timid driver. There’s a killer on the road, psychedelic dreams on a mountain, and wtf is that bird? Sugarloaf Loop in Shenandoah. Coltrane music video concepts. Audio Blog Archive entry.
Doing chores. Practice 5k. Starting a splinter podcast episode? Unpacking some fan-boy merch. Cracking eggs. Halloween hike birding. I guess I won’t edit a long birding segment, even if it might be boring.
That’s a good beet! I can’t recap Survivor. Holding still, peak leaf peeping on the Overall Run Falls in Shenandoah. Oh! There’s a buck! Spooky forest hiking sounds and sights. I watch too many movies - like The Edge. Bird Update: Nuthatch City, and I got a Hairy one. Birding Haikus and music ideas. Roadkill and the fall. Spooky squirrels and Robert E. Howard.
Current Halloween franchise marathon. Prepping for a 5K. I have a terrible memory. To theater, or not to theater? I’m a weather-guy fan-boy. Sorry Matthew Cappucci, I haven’t read your book yet. A few other movie ratings and I keep talking about how tired I am.
Describing the descriptions. It’s the most wonderful time of the year - fall that is. Hurricane Ian has arrived and review of the movie Smile. Do I have enough to talk about and stage fright. Introducing episode art! Give me feedback on the podcast using Instagram @reidmaynot - for now, and check out my weird videos and music. Survivor super fan on Season 43, Episode 3. Up on Buzzard Rocks with gnarly crackling bark. Reid vs. Kentucky Waterfall.
I’m not dead yet. Shenandoah hiking and camping. Google gets angry. A dad joke about bees. Shower thoughts. More proof that I have friends. Remembering to capture ambience and thoughts when I travel. Why do I sound serious whenever it’s raining? Book review: Black Coffee Blues by Henry Rollins. That’s a jackhammer. Talking in theaters while watching trailers and credits. Fountain Head Regional Park mountain biking trails. Cross County Trail and Ox Road Challenge update. Movie Reviews: Barbarian and Pearl. Beer Smuggler. After I say “Easter egg” - SPOILER ALERT!
Resisting using music for transitions, nature is awesome, my voice is cracking, and other reflections at the pool. Talking in traffic. Fairfax County Parkway and Ox Road Trail Challenge update. Movie reviews: Nope and Prey. Glamping at Elizabeth Furnace Site Number 9, bugscapes, Strasburg Reservoir, and taking it slow. “It just popped in there.” The majestic Cardinal Flower and elusive Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Dying words?
I’m a nosey neighbor. Excuses, excuses. Checking out protesting. Frogs and dreams. How much closer are you to silence? Tracking time, and the Fairfax County Parkway challenge. Quietude and movie reviews and titles. I have friends, I swear!
California and Virginia greenery. Hunt for the Great Crested Flycatcher. Life Bird Report: Updated. Burke Lake, Government Center, and my Google Local Guide Ratings. Brain vs. Tongue. It just "popped in there". Daytime storms. Dedicated to my Aunt Annette. Plane movie ratings. Podcast production advice from a pro. That's about it.
Explanation and origins of the show. Introducing myself. Binging podcasts in the pandemic. Current hobbies: birds, nature, plaques. Local exploration. Basic granola (is that a new podcast idea?) Virginia springtime. Challenges. Northman vs. Batman. Spontaneous segments: Archived Sounds. Will I even tell anybody I did this?