What Were the Producers Thinking?

What were the producers thinking when they gave me my own Internet radio show? I haven't the slightest idea. But I'm happy to do it, even though I'm an author ("Enslaved by Ducks," "Fowl Weather") and not a big media star, like, I don't know, Buster Keaton? (I'm a little out of touch with the big media.)

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the first episode of What Were You Thinking? Let me rephrase that. I hope you can hear the first episode over the chatter of our birds.

There’s Howard the dove… African grey parrot Dusty… African grey parrot Bella… and parakeets Harvey and Sheila.

At various times you might also hear a few outdoor birds trying to get onto the show, plus assorted traffic noises, the furnace or air conditioner, hail, thunder, raging blizzards, and, of course, the telephone.

That’s because Linda and I said NO to the offer of doing What Were You Thinking? from a state-of-the-art studio for a seven figure salary and YES to doing the show from our dining room at no salary whatsoever.

On our first show, we talk a little bit about how I became a pet person, thanks to Linda. And we also mull over a very few of the animals we’ve had over the years: crabby bunny Binky, dictatorial 'pocket parrot' Ollie, and others.

You'll also hear what we hope to do on future episodes of What Were You Thinking? (if the producers don't cancel my contract immediately) and how you can be on the show. Linda has lots of ways that you can contribute.

We Want to Hear from You

Mainly, we want to hear about your 'exotic' pets. That includes just about anything but cats and dogs. I especially want to hear from snake and insect owners or folks with exotic mammals, at least to start with. That's because I know a lot of people with ducks, chickens, parrots, and the whole range of birds, and less folks with more genuinely 'exotic' animals. But I definitely want to hear from bird people, too.

Got an interesting animal? Got stories about your pet? Drop me a line at bob@petliferadio.com, and you might get on the show!

Finally, on my first show, Linda and I talk about one of our pets, a type of pet bird that is generally overlooked when people think about getting a pet bird. He is our ring-neck dove, Howard, he’s around 17 years old at the moment -- and he’s a wonderful bird. Hear why doves make great pets by listening to the show.

- Bob Tarte