Spreading the Word

I’ve been told to keep advertising my new Podcast on social media to build an audience and I have posted several reminders. But it struck me that it would be much more powerful if others started talking about it. And so I wrote this letter to send to folks on my various mailing lists. Might as well include it here and hope it may bear some fruit with you all, my blog readers. Thanks!

 

Hello friends, 

 

First and foremost, hopes this finds you healthy and finding some rest, comfort and communion at this Holiday time, however you may (or may not) celebrate it. We need each other as much as—and perhaps more than— ever,  so let’s make every effort to stay connected, to support each other, to appreciate it each other and— dare I suggest?— to love each other. 

 

In that spirit, I need your help. I’m doing everything I can to work through just about every medium available—books, articles, a blog, Facebook comments, a film, a recording and now a Podcast— to get the good news out. The truth that we all are better than we’ve been told we are, have the capacity for beauty, joy, kindness, justice and more, but need constant reminders and alerts as to all the forces trying to shut us down, ignore us, marginalize us, deplore us. I don’t know how I can manage to keep the flame of hope burning in the face of the hurricane winds trying to blow it out, but a large part is because of the people I actually know—you all, the children I teach, the teachers I teach and more. 

 

The effort I put into all the writing and speaking and teaching and volunteer singing times at schools and piano playing at Senior Homes is constant and considerable, but hardly ever a chore or exhausting. It is simple what I need to do and what gives so much back in renewed energy and sparks of happiness. On some level, simply doing it is enough. 

 

But I also do it on behalf of the people whose voices are rarely considered—the children, first and foremost and then the teachers and then anyone who believes that kindness is strength and takes courage far greater than just about any other human endeavor. In that light, I am hungry for more, for larger audiences and more exposure. What is somewhat exhausting is the constant apparent tooting of my own horn to get the word out there about all these projects—particularly this latest one, the Podcast. (First off, I don’t actually play trumpet and my wind is less than it has been!) But I think of it as tooting our horn. None of this is for my personal gain— literally, as I don’t get paid a penny for the podcast or film or blog or school/ senior home visits or even my books, on which I mostly break even. 

 

In short, all of this is not just for me, but for us. The children, as mentioned, but if you’re a teacher reading this, I hope you’ve felt my work as advocating for all teachers in all subjects, highlighting our dignity, our worth, our hard, hard work in the service of a brighter future. If you’re a nice, intelligent and caring person, I hope you’ve felt my voice reminding us that these are valued qualities. 

 

So in that spirit, I humbly ask that if you like what you’ve read of my writing (particularly the last book Jazz, Joy & Justice), that if you liked what you saw in the Secret Song film, that if you tried out a Podcast and found it interesting, that you tell people about it. Other teachers, other podcast listeners, friends and family. Give it a shout-out on social media, bring it up at school staff meetings, review it for any publications, choose one of the books for your book group, mention it at the next gathering of friends as your sharing what you’re watching, reading and listening to. I think it will carry more weight if others recommend it than if I keep posting. Yes?

 

As the inmates prepare to take over the asylum yet again, it is more important than ever that voices of hope, sanity, compassion be heard by any means necessary. I’m doing my part to try to keep these needed conversations going and I would deeply appreciate any help you can give. Links to all of the above can be found in one place, my Website: www.douggoodkiin.com

Thanks in advance and Happy Holidays!

 

Much love,

 

Doug