So, podcasts are a Big Thing nowadays. I have not been immune to this development. Have a look at my profile and you will see I have a tiny, very simple, podcast where I put my poems out into the ether to see if they can survive on their own. More on that in another post still brewing.
Aside…I listen to podcasts early in the morning. Parkinson’s means your muscles can go rigid and your body tenses up. I often wake about 5am but I take my first dose of meds at about 630am. Podcasts are how I get thru that period until I can be released from this invisible box. They literally save me.
Today I tried a new one (for me) . Here it is. It is called Seriously and is a BBC podcast showcasing documentaries on basically everything and anything. This week they looked at the pricing of art and the fact that female artists’ work is typically priced at 10% of their male counterparts’ work. Read that again. 10%. Yup. Wow.
To give you an insight into my world, I thought I’d list out what my brain then proceeded to churn out. This is what happens almost every morning when I listen to podcasts. My mind goes into overdrive and a long, diverse and complicated chain of thoughts develops. Think Kerouac hunched over his typewriter bashing out a stream of consciousness….well this is the same but in.side my head. Normally my meds are not working well enough for me to write or type any of this up and it’s too early to start dictating - perhaps one of the most frustrating things about Parkinson’s. Literally, a gag. Anyway, here’s how it goes….
‘Wow. 10% that’s amazing. //“Because I’m worth it…”// This podcast should have been sponsored by L’Oréal//…haha that was funny//…maybe I should be a standup//….Parkinson’s people do standup//…must check Parkinson’s uk website for that//….but my work is crap//…well, is it or not?// Some people like it//…how shall I get it out there//….what would a real artist do?//…what about a gallery?// Nobody will want to look//….can I submit stuff remotely//…look it up//….what about selling online//shall I just sell all my back catalogue?//…how is my Etsy site?// What is my Etsy shop called?//is this subscription still live?// Just checking it’s ok//…needs new face//…colour palette change//…ooo I like that colour…//oh no, I’m getting it all fussy//…go back to basics//…PBR palette//… where are my brutalist pictures of the barbican//….shapes and horizons are interesting//…how can I use them?// What is my plan for the current work I’ve done//…nobody will buy it//…everyone says they like it//…how can I sell it? //And really, 10%?!# etc etc etc
And all of this in a couple of minutes. My mind is hopping around even though my body is still steadfastly ignoring me. It makes me want to have a lie down. Except I already am.
And so podcasts are my solution and recommendation. Just make sure you choose one that is not aspirational. The goal is enjoyable distraction, not self improvement. My top tip is this podcast. My partner quite often thinks I am having a fit because I burst into gaffawl with no warning. But that’s for another post I think. Have a good day. I am off to have a rest and listen to another episode of Seriously. And to write my stand up routine. You have been warned…