Science, Magic, and Puppetry with Randel McGee

In today’s episode of the “Helping Families be Happy” podcast, host Dr. Carla Marie Manly, a practicing Clinical Psychologist, Wellness Advocate, and Author based in Sonoma County, California talks with Randel McGee, a Ventriloquist, Storyteller, Illustrator, and an Author. He shares his upcoming book ‘Zhang Heng’. This book tells the story of Zhang Heng and how he created the first seismometer in ancient China. 

 

Episode Highlights

• 01:22 – Randel shares, this is his first picture book for young audiences.
• 02:35 – It’s about the story of Zhang Heng who was the actual inventor/creator and created this earthquake detector device.
• 03:40 – Dr. Carla enquires, how accurate was the earthquake detector?
• 04:14 – Randel shares, the age range for his book would be from 6 to 12. He has illustrated it to look like a Chinese Shadow Play. 
• 06:26 – The host asks, can you tell us a little bit about what happened in his life that makes him a meaningful character other than being the creator of this wonderful device?
• 08:02 – Randel states, Zhang was highly favoured of the emperor, which unfortunately caused a little bit of jealousy among the other members of the court. 
• 09:44 - Some scenes portray a humorous side to the story and he too has been very impressed with the familiarise ideals that they want to promote, says Randel.
• 11:47 – Dr. Carla asks that when Randel looks at what has made him, who he is and what he is proudest of in life?
• 13:23 – It sounds like you also carry that energy i.e. perseverance, dedication, fortitude, indomitable spirit, into your relationship with your wife and your family to make it what it is, asks Dr. Carla.
• 14:10 – Dr. Carla mentions that sometimes we gravitate toward an entity that has familiar energy to us.
• 16:07 – Randel states, publishers thought it was a story that was worth telling, too. 
• 17:03 – He came up with an interesting presentation because earthquakes in California are a big subject in the schools of studies, mentions Randel.

Three Key Points

1. This book is about the story of Zhang Hang, who lived almost 2000 years ago in China. He was assigned by the emperor to create some way of detecting where and when an earthquake hit, so he created this device which was able to show which direction the earthquake came from and when it hit.
2. Dr. Carla shares that this book is a wonderful inspiration for people of all ages not only from the scientific level but also from a creative level. Being inspired by a dream and then taking us into the world of creativity and the way that tiny shadow puppets are done. It sounds beautiful. 
3. Randel highlights that this story is not only good for science, history, and culture but also to discuss what it takes to persevere to keep going when people are against you and yet you have something good to give to the world.

Tweetable Quotes

• “I took a little artistic license and added a dream sequence but everything else is a true story.” – Randel McGee
• “It's a book that can be read together through the generations and talked about.’ – Randel McGee
• “It's coming out just before the Chinese New Year’s so it will be I think, a special edition, too.” – Randel McGee
• “He refined an odometer that would count the distance that they would travel and he was able to create different devices to chart the movement of the stars and the planets.” – Randel McGee
• “The fact that the emperor liked him too much made him a threat to the people didn't feel quite as loved, sounds like family dynamics.’ - Dr. Carla Marie Manly 
• “My greatest accomplishment is my relationship with my wife and family.” - Randel McGee
• “It seems like maybe you gravitated toward that character towards that person, Zhang Heng.” - Dr. Carla Marie Manly 
• “The book was inspired by a program I had been commissioned to produce on earthquakes.” – Randel McGee

Resources Mentioned

• Helping Families be Happy Podcast Apple
• Dr. Carla Marie Manly Website LinkedIn Twitter   Instagram
• Randel McGee:  Website
• Podcast Editing