Shows
The Goat American NovelSeason 2 Episode 12: The Last ChapterThe Final Episode of the Goat American Novel, in which all threads are tied up. We hope.
Our heart overflows with gratitude to all the actors, musicians, foley artists, organizers, pie bakers, technicians, and friends who made The Goat American Novel possible. The Goat American Novel was written, produced and performed by Hilde Festerling, but she could never have done it without her cast.
Our faithful home cast: Johnny Buker as Scott and Elmer, Gabriel Alden as Millicent and The Tiger, Caleb Alden as Sawer and Matteo the alpaca, Ursula Buker as Layla and Cohost, Er...
2025-10-3158 minThe Goat American NovelBonus! Zipnog: Legend, Trickster, RecipeA little bonus episode while you wait for the final chapter. I tell the absolutely true(!) story of the squirrel who became a legend by trashing our house.... and the Recipe she inspired. Perhaps you will enjoy a little cozy autumnal baking, as we did.
You can see the recipe and the Zipnog bars here.
(Scroll down to the bottom of the story for the recipe and images)
And yes, this story also stars another inspirational character from the Goat American Novel.... Arcturix I mean Felix I mean Billy Joel III
2025-10-2514 minThe Goat American NovelS 2 Episode 11: To Trap a TigerThe Penultimate Episode! In which our little heroes go eye to eye with the tiger!
Featuring the incredible music of the PS22 Chorus, check out the full video of their performance here
2025-10-1143 minThe Goat American NovelS 2 Episode 10: Free Them AllThe Ante-penultimate episode of the Goat American Novel, in which we all experience vicarious liberation through multiple instances and styles of setting-free.
This episode owes a heavy debt of gratitude to Limoncello band, and their magnificent cover of Sweet Dreams. We also thank our guest stars, Barn O'Brine, Brian Laughtland, and at long last..... Felix Buker.
2025-09-2648 minThe Goat American NovelS2 Episode 9: The Cart, The Cage, The Pulley, and The RampThe Cart, The Cage, The Pulley, and The Ramp, in which Arcturix, Clover the sheep, and the goat herd prepare to take this tiger situation into their own hooves. And Layla just really needs to focus on this garage sale right now.
The Goat American Novel is written and produced by Hilde Festerling. Guest voice actors this week were Blair Tothill and Miku Alden. Thanks as always to our incredible cast: Caleb Alden, Gabriel Alden, Johnny Buker, Ursula Buker, Erin Alden.
Thanks to the Steam Brass Band for our beautiful theme song, and to t...
2025-09-1242 min
The Urban Farm Podcast with Greg Peterson892: Goat Voices: A Storytelling Podcast with Hilde FesterlingBarnyard Gothic, Hilde's Goat Adventures.In This Podcast: Greg speaks with Hilde Festerling, a storyteller and small holder goat farmer, about her unique podcast, the Goat American Novel. The podcast is a Barnyard Gothic series inspired by Hilde's experiences with her goat herd and farming community. Hilde shares a compelling story about a challenging kidding event that led her to create the podcast. The conversation delves into the artistic and familial collaboration behind the podcast, the importance of storytelling, and the fascinating dynamics of goats. Hilde also discusses how her work aims to reconnect urban audiences with...
2025-07-1135 minThe Goat American NovelS2 Episode 8: The Russian RevolutionIn which Mama Chichi finds some of her kids, Sawyer loses one of his, the pigs take leave of their senses or perhaps find all their marbles for the first time in their lives, and the farm is visited by a mysterious stranger from Goatko Ono's past...
Special thanks this week to the real FM, June Heggarty, and the channeled ghost of Thunder the Saanen billy goat.
2025-07-0748 minThe Goat American NovelSeason 2 Episode Seven: Clover's Big NightIn which Clover the boss sheep shows up, Queen to Queen, we learn about 19th century patent medicine, and there is a gruesome but satisfying resolution to a neighborhood pest problem.
2025-06-1942 minThe Goat American NovelS2 Episode Six: I'm Still Not Sure How This Restraining Order Thing WorksIn which the Sawyer continues his attempts to contain the nanny goats, who continue their attempt to find the bottom of a barrel of cherry brandy,
And, FM deepens her acquaintance with her new vegan karaoke friends
And, Grazzo pulls Layla back into the rainy night for yet another spooky supernatural mission.... into the Westerly barn.
Come see our live show! June 07, 2pm, Village Books Fairhaven. It's an all-ages entertainment in the style of an old Radio play... Reserve your seat here!
2025-06-0343 minThe Goat American NovelLive Show and Interview and Knott, a PodcastAnnouncing our first Live Podcast Show! at Village Books in Bellingham June 07, pm. A free entertainment for families in the style of an old time Radio play... Reserve your seats here!
Also, this special episode contains our interview with friend-of-the-show Ben West, in which we get into the hows and whos and whys of The Goat American Novel.
Also: Check out our story about dolls on Knott, A Podcast. Andrew Knott is a very funny, very honest writer who speaks the humbling truth about being a writer/dad, and the tiny moments of everyday life...
2025-05-261h 00The Goat American NovelEpisode 5: Chores for GhostsIn which Grazzo is compelled- by the ghost to ghost hotline- to return to the earthly realm to do some very important farm chores.
Thank you as always to our amazing cast, Ursula Buker Johnny Buker Gabriel Alden Caleb Alden, to the musicians of the electric unicorn studio session, and to you, the listener.
2025-04-2551 minThe Goat American NovelS2 Episode 4: You Will Contain the GoatsYou Will Contain the Goats: In which everyone seems to be on an ill-fated mission, and we see how the kids up in the barn are faring after their battle with the tiger.
2025-03-2346 min
Knott, A PodcastImaginative Play and Storytelling with Hilde Festerling (Knott, A Podcast: Episode 6)Welcome to Knott, A Podcast. It’s a lot like Knott, A Newsletter but it’s a podcast!This is Episode 6 featuring a special appearance by the fantastic writer and podcaster Hilde Festerling.Hilde is a writer and storyteller for alternative family audiences. She is the creator of The Goat American Novel, an all-ages barnyard gothic podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts. You can also find her on Medium, where she writes about parenting and making art for, and with, children.This episode also features an old story from my archives about the...
2025-03-1115 minThe Goat American NovelS2 Episode 3: Why Rams Great Till They Gotta Be Great?In which the Milk and Wool Producing Society Convenes, Layla films the greatest Yousnap video of all time, and the wider world is lured into the drama unfolding in the four farms neighborhood.
2025-03-0146 minThe Goat American NovelBonus Episode: Marie Vinson, The World's Greatest DaredevilIn this bonus episode we hear the story of Marie Vinson, a Happy Meal doll who becomes the World's Greatest Daredevil. Regular Episodes of The Goat American Novel will return next week!
2025-02-2226 minThe Goat American NovelS2 Episode Two: Eggplant CroquantIn which we catch up with the goats in the barn, and also check in at Millicent's house, where some goats may or may not be hidden in a blanket fort, and a man may or may not be screaming.
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Thanks as always to Ursula Buker, Gabriel Alden, Caleb Alden, Johnny Buker, Erin Alden, Courtney Lyons, Amanda Laughtland aka Myra Grass, the musicians of the Electric Unicorn sessions, and the Steam Brass Band for their ongoing excellent contributions!
Where to find me:
The Goat American Novel website: https://goatamericannovel.podbean...
2025-02-0850 minThe Goat American NovelS2 Episode 1: Take the Dog Out for Her ExorcismWe're back! The nanny goats rally around a plan to recover their missing kids by performing an exorcism on the farm dog. But are great love poems really capable of releasing the demon inside the dog?
Hilde's article on podcasting with her whole family
About the music of the Goat American Novel
Thanks as always to Ursula Buker, Gabriel Alden, Caleb Alden, Johnny Buker, Erin Alden, Courtney Lyons, the musicians of the Electric Unicorn sessions, and the Steam Brass Band for their ongoing excellent contributions!
Where to find me:
...
2025-01-2453 minThe Goat American NovelIntroducing The Goat American NovelIntroducing the Goat American Novel, a gothic barnyard audio drama by subversive family storyteller Hilde Festerling.
2024-10-0802 minThe Goat American NovelEpisode 12: The Ascendance of ArcturixIn this Season Finale, the existing high caprine drama collides with the imagination and practical skills of a little brother on the move.
Will all the rising action be wrapped up? No, listeners, we are still in the middle of our saga, but this double episode will settle some questions and hopefully, leave you in bleeting eagerness for Season Two.
It's a long one! Double length, listen as you please at your own pace. Thanks for being our listeners.
Thanks as always to Ursula Buker, Gabriel Alden, Caleb Alden, Johnny Buker, Erin Alden, C...
2024-07-291h 15The Goat American NovelEpisode 11: Everybody Loves Farmer BoyIn which some go totally Crackergoat, and some tell our Farmer Boy how they really feel.
Featuring an epic showdown between Sawyer, champion of the underdog, and Scott, the guy who can't be fussed to pick the soul of the underdog out of the cracks in his $900 sneakers.
Thanks as always to Ursula Buker, Gabriel Alden, Caleb Alden, Johnny Buker, Erin Alden, Courtney Lyons, the musicians of the Electric Unicorn sessions, and the Steam Brass Band for their ongoing excellent contributions!
Where to find me:
The Goat American Novel website: https://g...
2024-07-0346 minThe Goat American NovelEpisode 10: There's a Gate In The FloorIn which the dangers lurking in the barn begin to reveal themselves. And family dinner gets heated when the new neighbor drops by to borrow some hay.
Thanks as always to Ursula Buker, Gabriel Alden, Caleb Alden, Johnny Buker, Erin Alden, Courtney Lyons, the musicians of the Electric Unicorn sessions, and the Steam Brass Band for their ongoing excellent contributions!
Where to find me:
The Goat American Novel website: https://goatamericannovel.podbean.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goatamericannovel/
Email us with questions and queries at goatamericannovel@g...
2024-06-1541 minThe Goat American NovelEpisode 9: Smash it, Silver. Smash it GoodIn which an unlikely trio of young goats find an old, high, cracked window, and they smash it good. Goatko Ono shares her wisdom, and her wisdom is kinda gross.
Thanks as always to Ursula Buker, Gabriel Alden, Caleb Alden, Johnny Buker, Erin Alden, Courtney Lyons, the musicians of the Electric Unicorn sessions, and the Steam Brass Band for their ongoing excellent contributions!
Today's crashing smashing waves pounding sounds were made possible by Foley artists animationisac, sclolex, goldendiaphragm, freqman, previsionary, fresco, breviceps, bevildevil, zxaudio, and justkiddink
Where to find me:
The Go...
2024-05-3150 minThe Goat American NovelEpisode 8: Who, Exactly, Has Got The Power?In which a meeting of the Milk and Wool Producing Animals Society collides with a daisy chain, and the yearlings' Demonic Possession theory collides with the awesome force of Squirrel Power. But who, really, has got the power?
Thanks as always to Ursula Buker, Gabriel Alden, Caleb Alden, Johnny Buker, Erin Alden, Courtney Lyons, the musicians of the Electric Unicorn sessions, and the Steam Brass Band for their ongoing excellent contributions!
Where to find me:
The Goat American Novel website: https://goatamericannovel.podbean.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goatamericannovel/
2024-05-1745 minThe Goat American NovelEpisode 7: Sawyer Does the Chores. With Literature.It's time for Sawyer to do the first round of morning chores. But will he be able to do it without striking terror and/or inciting revolution in the hearts of the animals? How will Zipnog cope with no regular supply of The Brown? And what is Goatina up to?
Thanks as always to Ursula Buker, Gabriel Alden, Caleb Alden, Johnny Buker, Erin Alden, Courtney Lyons, the musicians of the Electric Unicorn sessions, and the Steam Brass Band for their ongoing excellent contributions!
This week leaned heavily on Foley artists Fun with Audio (b...
2024-03-2241 minThe Goat American NovelEpisode 6: Tings In Te Barn
In which ouija boards- one regular, one made out of an accursed farm sign- are consulted regarding the supernatural business on the farm. How many ghosts are in this episode? It's not an exact science, but Ruby One Horn is surely here, and at least one haunted cat....
Special thanks this episode to Cora Lyons Smoker, guest starring at the Baker's Daughter. Featured also this week is the foley soundwork of plingavator, kyle'scountry, Rutger Miller, Bevibevel design, and stevious, and Clifford Brown's historic recording of Stardust.
Where to find me:
T...
2024-03-081h 00The Goat American NovelEpisode 5: Roars, Thunderbutts, Rattling enginesAs FM makes her last preparations to drive away and leave Pearl and Sawyer in charge, two of the kids break out in search of apples. Or is it prize-winning pumpkins? Or is it fear itself they'll wind up chasing?
CW: There is one scary moment! We forgot to warn in the intro! Kids, Mangoat and Silver will be fine!
We have a map of the farms and list of characters up! View the Map and Character Guide Here. Feel free to consult the character list freely (we confess, it's a story with a lot...
2024-02-2441 minThe Goat American NovelEpisode 4: The Corn Brings the Chickens, The Chickens Bring the NoiseIn which FM reaches out to her neighbors- the familiar and the frightening, the sensible and the strange, for help with her animals while she takes The Seaside Cure. But first, a squirrel.
We have a map of the farms and list of characters up! View the Map and Character Guide Here. Feel free to consult the character list freely (we confess, it's a story with a lot of characters) and, the map is designed to be colored or painted, please feel free to color the map and send us a picture of your work!
Y...
2024-02-0936 minThe Goat American NovelEpisode 3: The Ballad of Ruby One-HornIn which the big sister yearling goats tell the kids a terrifying rural legend about the one-horned goat, and FM receives an unexpected visitor, crossing the borders in dreamland to deliver a message...
Special thanks this week to Courtney Lyons for filling in!
Follow us!
Instagram for behind the scenes fun (and goat videos): https://www.instagram.com/goatamericannovel/
The Goat American Novel website, we'll have some fun resources coming there soon: https://goatamericannovel.podbean.com/
If you are liking this story, please consider supporting me through my ko-fi...
2024-01-2643 minThe Goat American NovelEpisode 2: The Milk and Wool Producing Animals’ Neighborhood SocietyIn this episode, we meet the whole herd, and their neighbors, and we see the goats try- and mainly succeed- to boss all the other animals around. But do the goats, sheep, alpacas, or their respective humans, yet scent the danger wafting from the 100 year old barn?
Where to find me:
The Goat American Novel website: https://goatamericannovel.podbean.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goatamericannovel/
If you are liking this story, please consider supporting me through my ko-fi page: https://www.ko-fi.com/goatamericannovel
2024-01-1233 minThe Goat American NovelEpisode 1: It Was Not Any Barn She KnewThe start of our journey, in which we meet the farmer and the four kids of the herd, and we listen in on their conversations, their wild goatly imaginings, their dreams...
Discussed: Haunted Barns(?), Spiders are building things with their butts, and FM radio- an old time machine, invisible but all around you.
Where to find me:
The Goat American Novel website: https://goatamericannovel.podbean.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goatamericannovel/
Email us with questions and queries at goatamericannovel@gmail.com- Hilde is available for storytelling a...
2024-01-1237 min