Nearly halfway through the National Podcast Posting Month (NaPodPoMo) challenge, Holly B. skips the chit-chat to give a shout-out to fellow podcasters, then reads a listener-submitted poem: “Ode to Babas O’Rum, aka Bas” by Beth Shekinah Terrence.

The poem follows a rescue dog who becomes a protector, a “loving brother to a lonely, only child,” and the loyal companion who stays by a mother’s side through divorce, illness, and loss. It’s a tribute to unconditional love, and to the pets who hold a family together.

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Holly B. is collecting heartfelt letters and anecdotes from dog and cat lovers (and other animal lovers, too). Send yours in for a future episode.

Holly B. is in the city, staying with her son, and shares a fresh reflection from an evening walk: what it’s like to be a small-town person in a big city. She talks about the quiet disconnect of walking past people who don’t look back, the challenge of making friends in 30- and 50-story buildings, and the culture shock of city driving. She turns the question over to the audience: how do you connect with people in the city?

She also shares how the city has become a retreat for her, a place to write for hours, sit in coffee shops, and reconnect with herself. The episode closes with a heartfelt listener submission from author Christiane called “So Very Sad,” a story about patience, aging pets, and treasuring the messy, loving moments while they last.

In today’s episode, Holly B. shares her first experience at the Indie Book Fusion Con in the Toronto area, then reads a heartfelt story from her friend and past podcast guest Spann Cordle about his late service dog, Finn.

Holly shares what it was like to vend at a first-annual, larger-than-usual author event. She talks about the emotional rush of walking the room before doors opened, surrounded by creative energy and beautifully designed book displays. She also describes the compliment that made her day: a reader who found her online beforehand and arrived at her table ready to buy, no pitch needed. Holly reflects on why she feels more at home at farmers' markets, vendor markets, and small-town shows, and on the costs of big events: money, time, and emotional energy. She also celebrates the friendship she made with her table partner, Larissa.

Holly reads a true story from Spann Cordle, an advocate for people with disabilities and a speaker. One ordinary morning, his service dog Finn refused to go out the French doors, no matter what Span tried. Spann eventually realized he had forgotten a step in their routine, and Finn had noticed. The two shared twelve years together, from 2005 to 2017. Have tissues ready.

Listen next: Holly’s earlier interview with Span Cordle

Season 1, Episode 63 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtBCmKAB5BM&t=3s.

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