{"id":696,"date":"2019-09-13T19:10:42","date_gmt":"2019-09-13T19:10:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jasminearch.com\/?p=696"},"modified":"2020-01-28T21:19:37","modified_gmt":"2020-01-28T21:19:37","slug":"a-trip-aboard-the-flying-castle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jasminearch.com\/index.php\/2019\/09\/13\/a-trip-aboard-the-flying-castle\/","title":{"rendered":"A Trip Aboard the Flying Castle"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a><\/p>\n

As a child, I read all the time. Literally. I remember one Christmas, at my uncle’s house. A book-shaped parcel lay under the tree and I just knew it was meant for me. Asking to open the gifts would only result in a longer wait so I bit my tongue and politely ate a dinner I no longer remember. Dessert was probably ice cream cake. But all I could do was count down the minutes until presents would be handed out.<\/p>\n

It was another Roald Dahl book. My second, after Matilda. By the time we drove home, I’d finished the book. As I grew up, college took away a lot of reading time, though I persisted in reading on my daily one hour train commute. I could always study later. This girl had her priorities straight.<\/p>\n

But then life got even busier. With work, a growing collection of pets, and now an ambitious renovation project, not to mention my own writing endeavours, reading began to feel more and more like a luxury. An indulgence. Something to feel guilty for.<\/p>\n

Then I had an epiphany.<\/p>\n

For a few months now, I’ve been reclaiming my reading time in little stolen moments here and there. I read while biking to work. While walking through the grocery store. While shoveling shit (ah, the glamorous joys of horse ownership). But I read with my ears.<\/p>\n

Podcastle became my second podcast addiction since discovering the joys of audio content.<\/p>\n

Podcastle one of four siblings in the Escape Artists podcasts, and they encompass the fantasy aspect of the speculative spectrum. They prefer a clean, sober narration style, and they go to the stars and beyond to find the voice and accent that fits the story each and every time.<\/p>\n

What’s more, this dedicated group of volunteers are constantly pushing to promote diversity and inclusivity on all fronts. They value their staff as well as their contributors and audience, and they are a constant, positive and encouraging presence on social media. Be sure to give them a follow on Twitter @Podcastle_org.<\/p>\n

For the new listener, they have over a decade of backcatalogue to navigate, so you’ll have no shortage of awesome stories. On their website, you can find a beginner’s guide to the castle<\/a>, but I have compiled a little list of my own with my favourite pieces of theirs.<\/p>\n