I’m back, baby!

It’s been quite a while and I wanted to catch you all up to speed. This is going to be quite the post…

Last time you heard from me was on the 12th, immediately before heading back up to Chicago to venture out to Oprah’s Harpo Radio studio on the 16th. To sum up that experience: I had a great time with Rainn and think he did an absolutely brilliant job in the interview with Oprah for her Soul Series.

Oprah’s Soul Series is set up to be a more religious/spiritual show, with both a XM radio and podcast element, than her daily network show. She focuses on interviewing writers, preachers, and those interested in changing or flipping script on religious and spiritual beliefs structures. And because a member of her staff had heard from someone else – or something, I can’t completely recall the actual story so I won’t even try here – about how Rainn and friends were developing a site, Soul Pancake, exploring the artistic side to spirituality, religious belief, and “Life’s Big Questions” they booked him.

The radio show will air on XM radio, February 9th and be followed up, the same day I’m assuming, with the video podcast version to be found on her site (I’ve been told) and purchasable through iTunes. I couldn’t more highly recommend buying the video podcast through iTunes. The experience, as far as I’m concerned, really couldn’t be captured by audio alone. Not to mention that the interview lasted well over an hour (an hour and half or more, I believe), and I was able to see the level of interest in Oprah ramp up as time went on. She was engaged and interested and that was translated visually.

With that rather large chunk taken care of, it’s time to talk about work here. As I mentioned – I think I mentioned – a week or so ago, I’m down in Decatur, IL in an effort to finally, once and for all, finish my degree. I’ve been promised that the process, if my grades hold up and all that (pff), will only take the semester and I can move on with a diploma, to be filed away and never looked at again – my experience at Millikin, historically, has not been good, and I’ll just be happy, and my pride satisfied, to finally have this whole mess be over.

While I’m down here, I’ve been working on a few projects, one of which has been turned into an assignment for class. My novella writing professor has approved my writing of a rather dense, in scope and page length, graphic novel for the class. A graphic novel, I should note, that I have been excited about for the last year or so and the only one I have, cemented, an artist for.

Outside of that, I’m here. It’s just warming up, right around the 45 degree range, and I’ve opened my window a bit to let in some fresh air and sunlight. Oh, and I’m bored. I mean, I have these weekends with which to…sleep, I guess? Sleep, work, read, eat, sleep, watch a movie, and so forth.

So, that’s that. I’ll be attempting to closer eye on the site and keep you all alerted to news and new bits of information as time progresses. In the mean time, Soul Pancake will be launching in early February, I’m told, and will be bubbling over with content, questions, and contests. Keep your eyes here!