What do hawks have to do with language, myth, and medieval manuscripts?

In this debut episode of A Gather of Gatherings, we take flight with a fun collective noun—a kettle of hawks—and explore the stories it stirs up.

Join host Kellie Raines as she metaphorically skydives into the world of hawks (and the archives), blending rich storytelling, language, history, and real-life falconry with imagination and curiosity.

🦅 You’ll hear from Kate Marden, master falconer and founder of West Coast Falconry, who shares her journey from childhood wonder to working with real-life raptors.

📖 You'll also meet Dame Juliana Berners (sort of…), a 15th-century nun, in a fictional time-traveling interview about birds, books, and who gets to write history.

🎧 And yes—there will be soundscapes, bird trivia, falconry terms, and one or two winged metaphors that might surprise you.

This isn’t just a podcast about grammar—it’s a journey through language, nature, culture, and imagination, all launched from the odd and wondrous world of collective nouns.

Show Notes
Host, Producer, Editor, Writer: Kellie Raines

Interviewees
Kate Marden, Founder and Owner of West Coast Falconry
Dame Julianna Berners, portrayed by Kelley Ogden (fictional interview)
Shawn B O'Neal

If I Were a Hawk Writers/Voices (in order of appearance)
Each person below wrote and voiced their own “If I Were a Hawk…” content
Jessica Laskey, Leah Daugherty, Filipe da Cruz (French), Elizabeth Sosner, Emma Young da Cruz (German), Olivia Raines, Shawn B O'Neal, Ruby Sketchley

Special Thanks
David, Shawn, Colleen, Rose, Agnes, Olivia, Alice, Shannon, and the Witches

Music
Music courtesy of Melodie Music.
Melodie Music Subscription: Pro Plan, Lifetime

Title: Acoustic Minor Swing Artist: Bill Palmer; Composers: Palmer William John
https://melod.ie/track-details/1647-acoustic-minor-swing

Title: The Battle Of The Boyne Artist: Vincent Russo Composers: Russo John
https://melod.ie/track-details/2296-the-battle-of-the-boyne

Title: Dappled Light Artist: Karl Steven Composers: Steven Karl Solve https://melod.ie/track-details/1588-dappled-light

Title: Distant Galaxies Artist: Patrick Rydman Composers: Rydman Patrick Finn
https://melod.ie/track-details/4817-distant-galaxies

Title: Trials And Tribulations Artist: Sam Lipman Composers: Lipman Samuel Mark
https://melod.ie/track-details/903-trials-and-tribulations

Sound Effects
LibriVox (free public domain audiobooks)
SoundSnap (pro subscription)

Excerpt from Il pleure dans mon cœur by Paul Verlaine (1874)
From Romances sans paroles (1874)
Public domain. Courtesy of LibraVox performed by Alexandre Ivan Kard
LibriVox

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Why is it a murder of crows? A dazzle of zebras? A rhumba of rattlesnakes?
Welcome to A Gather of Gatherings, a poetic, playful, and story-rich podcast exploring the curious world of collective nouns—and the surprising stories they unlock.

In this introductory episode, host Kellie Raines invites you into the heart of the show: where grammar meets folklore, where language spirals into wonder, and where imagination is very much encouraged.

You’ll hear how a single odd phrase—like a kettle of hawks or a mob of meerkats—can become a launching point into nature, culture, creative nonfiction, fictional interviews, sound-rich storytelling, and more.

Whether you're a word nerd, a nature lover, a history buff, or simply curious about how we name and narrate the world—we’re so glad you’ve gathered here.

Show Notes

Host, Producer, Writer: Kellie Raines

Interviewees

Kate Marden, Founder and Owner of West Coast Falconry
Dame Julianna Berners, portrayed by Kelley Ogden (fictional interview)

If I Were a Hawk Writers/Voices (in order of appearance)
Each person below wrote and voiced their own “If I Were a Hawk…” content

Leah Daugherty

Music

Music courtesy of Melodie Music.

Melodie Music Subscription: Pro Plan, Lifetime

Title: Acoustic Minor Swing Artist: Bill Palmer; Composers: Palmer William John (APRA: 00536259538) 100% Publisher: Melodie Music Pty Ltd (APRA: 865412820) 100% CAT ID MEL331_03_1 ISRC AU-NZK-20-01874 Release year: 2020
https://melod.ie/track-details/1647-acoustic-minor-swing

Sound Effects
SoundSnap (pro subscription)

Referenced Resources or Links

Special Thanks
David, Alice, Colleen, Rose, Shawn, Agnes, Olivia, Shannon, and the Witches

I'm listening!

Support the show