Voices In My Head Podcast Episode 342: Randall Goodgame and the New Slugs and Bugs Show

This is Rick Lee James, and the music you are hearing is from my new album, Thunder. The title track, Thunder, is a never-before-released song by the late Rich Mullins. There are also 12 other tracks made up of original music, hymns, and readings to guide the listener on a journey. You can buy Thunder today on clear vinyl and CD, or stream it on Spotify, Apple Music, and almost every other music streaming service. Thunder, hear it today at rickleejames.com. Today's podcast is brought to you by Audible. Get a free audiobook download and 30-day free trial at audibletrial.com/voicesinmyhead. That's audibletrial.com/voicesinmyhead. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle, or MP3 player. That's audibletrial.com/voicesinmyhead. Give it a try today! Welcome to Voices in My Head, the official podcast of me, Rick Lee James. I'm a recording artist, a singer, a songwriter, an author, a worship leader, and an ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene. The Voices in My Head podcast is where I discuss music, movies, books, pop culture, theology, and more with friends, colleagues, and sometimes just by myself. Now make sure to let me know what you think of today's episode by leaving me a review on iTunes or by tweeting at me @RickLeeJames on Twitter. And please join my mailing list at RickLeeJames.com where you can receive an email every time a new episode is released. By the way, in case you're interested in a daily dose of kindness and encouragement beyond this podcast, I also run the Twitter account @MrRogersSay. Where I post daily quotes from Fred Rogers, one of the voices in my head. Well, I guess that's it for the intro, so sit back, relax, and listen to the latest episode of Voices in My Head.

Slugs and Bugs creates music and stories full of faith and silliness for the whole family to delight in and sing for years to come. They believe Slugs and Bugs kids would find it natural to remember Jesus in their homework in their friendships, and one day, in the parenting of their grandchildren. Slugs and Bugs began with the premise that songs are one of God's powerful tools for building strong relationships. When songs inspire laughter or deep spiritual thought, they can transform a routine car ride into a sweet family experience. Over time, that kind of influence can profoundly impact the culture of a family. Slugs and Bugs have a brand new TV show which encourages families to sing together, laugh together and think deeply together about the meaning of life and the nature of God. Randall Goodgame is the heart and soul and creator behind Slugs and Bugs, and he's here with us today to tell us the latest and the greatest news. Randall Goodgame, welcome back to Voices in My Head.

Thank you, Rick. It's so great to be here with you, man.

Well, I am always so glad to get to talk to you, and I still feel terrible because last time we had scheduled an interview, I think it's been like a year or a half ago now, and I was in Nashville running to about 17 different meetings while I was there, and I completely, I completely missed ours when we were supposed to get together, and I still feel terrible about that. But thank you for coming back on the show and talking about some of this new and exciting stuff in your life.

Oh man, it's super fun, and it always makes me feel great whenever anybody ever stands me up. I've made that mistake so many times, it just helps me to feel like we're all, we're all in this human being experience together.

Certainly. Well, you know, and you're kind of among an elite club because I think, I think we're up to like 340. Let's see, I think, I think this episode is actually going to be episode number 342, and I think I've only made that mistake maybe twice or three times. So you're kind of in like an elite club of people that I've stood up. So, you know, I don't know if that makes you feel special or not, but I— totally unintentional, but I'm so glad that we, we have the chance to be back together today. Um, there— the new Slugs and Bugs show is so much fun. And as we get started here today, uh, I wanted to share a message for you from my son that he just recorded before school this morning because he really, really loves the, the Slugs and Bugs show, but he also really just loves Doug the Slug. That's like, I think his new hero. And normally he will talk your leg off, but this morning when I told him, you know, I'm gonna be talking to Mr. Randall later today, and it was as if I was gonna be interviewing Bono. I mean, it was just, and he kind of got all silly. You'll hear on the message here this morning, he didn't talk as much as he usually does, and he kind of got starstruck and he's giggling, and he's usually much more like verbose than this. But here we go. If you want to hear, I'm gonna try to play it across the microphone for our listeners and everybody to hear, okay? This is what he said. So Alex, would you like to tell Mr. Randall anything about slugs and bugs? Doug is slugy! Doug is slugy?!

What do you like—

that's funny! What do you like about Doug? He eats sweets! He eats sweets? And what's your favorite song that Doug sings? Cheese pizza, cheese pizza, ta-ta-ta...

Cheese dip, cheese dip, cheese dip.

So he got a little shy then, but around our house we're singing that cheese dip, cheese dip Mexican Rhapsody song all the time. It's like non-stop.

Oh, sweet Alex Alexander, what a, what a sweetheart. Please, thank you for sending me the message.

I will, and I will definitely play your message for him for sure because he will just love that. But we are, are big fans of, of slugs and bugs around here. We've loved your music for a long time, and now you've got books, and the new television show is just amazing. So let's talk about it a bit today. You know, the Cheese Dip song is something we've already talked about, but you have a number of songs that are just incredibly catchy. And this whole thing really started back with your first album back, I think it was in 2008. And, uh, it was, I believe, Slugs and Bugs and Lullabies was the first album that you and Andrew Peterson did together. I wonder if you could just take us on a little bit of a journey starting from that starting point and kind of leading to the present on some of the exciting things that have just been happening over the years with Slugs and Bugs.

Sure, a little trip through memory lane with this Slugs and Bugs universe. Well, so It started, um, actually it was 2006 when Andrew and I recorded, uh, Slugs and Bugs and Lullabies.

Oh, okay.

Um, at Andrew Osenga's house, who you just had on recently.

Yes.

Uh, yeah, our mutual friend. Um, I— Andrew and I had been writing songs for our kids and kind of about our kids for years and just decided to make a record, um, for fun of those songs. So we put it together. One of the, one of the songs, one of the ones that I wrote, had this lyric in it that said, God made slugs and bugs and rats and bats, etc. Um, so we called— we titled the record Slugs and Bugs and Lullabies because it had some lullabies on it. And that was it. We made it in 2006, came out in 2007. Um, and that was— there was no big plan. It was just something fun to have. And then VeggieTales got a hold of it and called us and invited us to come write silly songs for Bob and Larry. So, which we were so pumped about, and had— we had raised our kids on VeggieTales. So we did that for a couple years. And Rick, that was kind of, for me, a big turning point because the making of the first record was just for fun.

Yeah.

And writing for my— for our kids. And then once, um, writing for VeggieTales helped me realize how much I loved thinking about families when I was being creative and thinking about how I could impact them and what I might have to offer to say through my gifts and experience. It was just more motivating and exciting and challenging and felt like just kind of the opportunity that I didn't know that I had been looking for my whole life. Um, and so that's— and that was in— that was right around 2007, 2008. So that by the time 2009 rolled around, I had decided to, uh, do a tour, a concert tour of the songs that I had written for that new for that old CD. And really very quickly realized I want to keep doing this. So I did my first Slugs and Bugs show in 2010. And then that winter and Christmas made the Slugs and Bugs Christmas record. And then the next year made Slugs and Bugs Underwear, which has the Mexican Rhapsody song on it. You referenced. Um, and, uh, then we were homeschooling our kids for a couple years during that time, and part of my job was to teach the kids music and Bible. So part of Bible was scripture memory, and I was doing such a bad job getting them to memorize scripture until I started writing melodies for the messages that I wanted them to memorize. It worked so well for them, and it was honestly so fun and enriching for me that I thought, well, maybe the different Slugs and Bugs fan families out there might enjoy it and benefit from it. So that's the very first Sing the Bible CD, um, thinking that maybe that would— I would just do that and then do another silly song record after that. But it was again another bit of a turning point for me because It was so meaningful to me to make the record and to think deeply about how to present those songs that I knew even while I was making the first one that I was going to want to do another one. And then it proved to be a resource for so many of our families that listened to the music that I just kept going. So I made 4 of those Sing the Bible CDs in a row. Over the last couple years, uh, have started writing children's books. And then, yeah, now this past spring we did the TV show.

Wow, that's amazing. And what a, what a wonderful thing to see. I mean, it's so obvious that you're gifted in this area, and it's not an easy thing, I wouldn't think, to write songs for children in the first place, but then to write songs that I think are just as much fun for adults as they are for kids, um, is really an amazing thing. And, uh, I, I think we have used, uh, every one of your Slugs and Bugs, uh, CDs at some point over the years in our house. But I know we've also used them in Bible schools for different songs and scripture memorization. And you have such a gifting, and I'm so glad that God is blessing the things that you're doing in this area. Because there just isn't a ton of— there aren't a ton of people doing this really at the level and the quality that you're doing it at. So we're very grateful for you, for sure.

Thank you so much, Rick. It's really a blessing to get to do it. I love it so much. I always tell people I can't believe I get to do it.

Well, and that is very clear that you're enjoying yourself, and that comes through a lot on the new show as well. And I want to talk about that. Because we really do in our house. It's only been out for what, maybe a month or two now, the new show, I think?

Um, barely a month if that. I mean, maybe 3 or 4 weeks.

Okay, so it is brand new. I knew it hasn't been very long, but when we showed it to my son who's 6, it was like right away he wanted to— can we watch another one? You know, he was so involved with it. He's been bringing it with— I've been teaching a study on Sunday nights at our church kind of a limited series that we're doing, and he wants to go early with me so he can use the DVD player at church and watch Slugs and Bugs before everybody gets there. And then when everybody comes in for the study, he wants me to keep it playing so he can tell them about different stories and different songs that are happening on the show. So that tells you, I mean, at least in my mind, that's really connecting, you know, for a 6-year-old who has a lot of other things. I mean, And this is a 6-year-old that, you know, he likes Avengers and he likes everything else that, you know, is being aimed at him in that age group. But the fact that he chooses Slugs and Bugs over a lot of those things now, it really makes my heart feel really good. And I'm so glad for that.

Wow.

So let's talk a bit. You know, you have really created like a family around this and a whole Slugs and Bugs universe, I guess I should say, with characters. And I love seeing the guest shows. And you know, you already mentioned Andrew O'Shea. Senga. I was so surprised. We were, we were watching the episode the other night and I was like, hey, that's Andrew! He was just on my show last week, you know. And, uh, you know, I'm seeing these people that I know and love and they, and they're doing such a great job. Tell us a little bit about what is involved in making these shows and some of the people that are, that are helping you create this together, this sort of family of slugs and bugs.

Well, first of all, let me say it is such a sweet, um, uh, perk of doing something like this to be able to invite your friends to come and be a part of it. I mean, it's just like being at the playground because, um, I've never done anything like this before. I've never, never been in TV or, you know, shot a commercial or done anything. Like this. So, um, as we were putting together the, the plan for what this show was going to be like, very quickly it was very inspiring to consider having guest, guest stars for every episode. I mean, a lot like The Muppet Show did. But to know that in Nashville so many of my friends are people that I would want to introduce the world to if I had the opportunity So, um, so to get to invite Andrew, uh, both Andrews, and, um, like Thomas McKenzie and Sally Lloyd-Jones and Linda Sutton and Russell Moore, and so many of the people that I, I get to bring into the Slugs and Bugs universe are people that I'm so proud to know. And, uh, it's a wonderful privilege to get to introduce them to anyone that's watching. Um, as far as getting the the, you know, figuring out what the show was going to be like. Um, I sat down with Chris Wall, the producer, and, um, we had started to kind of dream about what, what kind of show we wanted to make. And, uh, for me, I knew that I wanted— the overarching goal of the show is to model discipleship. Um, it's what I've always wanted to try to present through CDs is this picture of what it looks like and feels like to try to walk through the world as like belonging to Jesus. And so since— anyway, yeah, I talked— I could easily get off track talking about that.

No, please feel free. This is great.

Well, the The fact that Jesus, you know, I talk a lot in concert about how in 3 out of 4 gospels Jesus is talked about saying how you can't come into the kingdom unless you come like a child. So I'm always trying to remember that for myself and help adults to remember it and to affirm kids in that, like, you are, you are our models for how to come to the Lord, um, in all of your earnestness and your messiness. Um, and, uh, when, um, and, and, and their silliness.

Yeah.

So, um, part of, uh, building a world where we can, um, part of the gift of doing things in, with, in children's ministry is that you're like ground zero is be like a child. So, right, already you're starting in the place where Jesus wants you to be. So, um, so if we're going to build a show around that, then, um, what, what do kids love? And what, what about the Slugs and Bugs universe, um, can play into that that's already kind of created? Oh, I remember what I was going to say. Chris Wall, the producer, he and his family, they're longtime Slugs and Bugs fans. And he at one point early on said to me that his family, his kids, feel like they already know the Slugs and Bugs world. They kind of imagine it, like some of the characters. I don't know how familiar you are. I guess you said you're familiar with the records. So like the society, the Extraordinary Raccoon Society, and, you know, the monsters and this world that has sort of started to evolve. And underneath the songs, they kind of imagined already. So we, we started to just flesh out characters, who they might be, what, what we wanted, the kinds of characters we wanted and what they would represent. And so eventually, we landed on a slug and a bug, Doug and Sparky, and, and then a couple of the raccoons from the Society of Extraordinary Raccoon Society. And they represent the kids. In the workshop. So we get to kind of talk to them, and then the children that are watching hopefully absorb the way that we interact, realizing that it's all for them.

Hmm, that's amazing. And, you know, just for people that may not have seen the show yet because it is so new, the show is really set up each episode in in this workshop. And when you go into the workshop, it almost has a feel of— I guess I would say almost a— you already mentioned the Muppets because there are puppets in the workshop that represent the children, you know, really the characters, the slugs, the bugs, the raccoons, things like that. And then there's guests that stop by, which almost has an element of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood to it in some ways where, you know, the people stop over for a visit, or they'll play music and share different talents and skills. And, and there's an episode that, you know, has to do with different cultures and food and things like that. And then it really has almost a— if you blend those things together with some of the humor and the good-natured silliness of like VeggieTales too, as you've already referred to, it's kind of like this— it doesn't feel derivative of any of those things, but it kind of is a perfect blending of some of those things that have come before, and, and the way it is pulled off is so well done. I'm, I'm curious about some of your, your puppeteers and some of the voices behind it. What goes into getting that all together and kind of, you know, setting up those scenes like that?

Yes. Wow. Well, Rick Lee James, let me just respond to— I mean, that is so wonderful. Thank you for the gift of that expression of how you've received it, because it's just so, so rewarding to, to hear that that's how you and your family are, are seeing it. Because all those different shows did influence us, those and more. Um, and of course, every time you make something, you, you do, you want it to feel like something new. Um, uh, but I was so influenced by The Muppet Show and so many of— and Mr. Rogers and the different programs that you mentioned. Um, so to be, to be, uh, even in the same ballpark is a great encouragement.

Um, in my opinion, you have joined the pantheon for sure. You're there.

Well, and the puppeteers are a huge piece of why I feel like that things work so well, because they're so gifted. So talented people. And I didn't realize, and I know most people probably don't realize how, how a puppeteer, a great puppeteer, is like a great actor.

Yeah.

The, the— see, the artists, the puppeteers that play Sparky and Doug are both guys that worked with Jim Henson and work on Sesame Street. Just really savvy, subtle, actors with their puppets. And we auditioned a bunch of different puppeteers. They send in videos of their performances. And it is amazing how you can kind of tell where one puppet totally captivates you and brings you in and you just can't even— you don't even— you forget that it's felt. Whereas another puppet, you you can't quite forget it because they aren't quite as captivating in how they— just a little tilt of the head here. One of the puppeteers, Ricky Boyd, who plays Doug the Slug, he mentioned that a big part of playing a puppet is listening. Because so many puppeteers, when they're not talking, they're just sort of there. But what helps you to what helps to draw you in and for the situation that you're watching to become real is that you see the puppet that's not talking listening. By looking around at other people that are in the room and by tilting their head and how they think about what is being said like a real actor would in a scene. So, um, working with them was just fascinating. I should say their names, so Alyssa Honeycutt from California plays Maggie. James Kemp from up in Kentucky plays Sparky. John Kennedy down in Florida plays Morty. And Ricky Boyd, who I mentioned, plays Doug the Slug. And James actually made the two raccoon puppets.

Wow.

And John Kennedy, he constructed Doug and Sparky. So lots of giftedness happening in with those, those four helping bring this every scene to life.

Well, that's, that's really neat to hear. And I hadn't actually thought of it quite in that way before, but you've given me something new to think about because you're right. As I think about the show, the puppets are being attentive and, and, and the detail in them is amazing. It's The first time I saw Doug blink, I thought, wow, that is like, how did they do that? You know, because it's obviously a very well-made and I would think, you know, very intricate puppet to make. And it's one thing to, you know, have, you know, we mentioned Mr. Rogers, his puppets were not very elaborate. You know, they're basically just dolls on your hands. The mouths didn't move or anything like that. But yours, you know, they really are like Muppets in the sense that they're moving around. I mean, you can almost hear them breathing, you know, like the movements they have, the eye blinks and the way they do it. You're right, it really is something that they get lost in. I wonder what it is about puppets when they're really done well. I'm sure you have experienced this with children and adults as well, but as you just said, we tend to forget that it's a puppet and start thinking of it as a real person. And I've seen this, you know, when I'm standing next to a child and the puppeteer is plainly seen and their mouth is moving and they're talking to you, you know. But children especially will get lost in that puppet being real and talking to them, and they'll tell things to that puppet. They'll just kind of open up sometimes. And it's fascinating to me the way that the puppets connect. And I'm really glad to see that the puppets are practical and not CGI in any way. There's a little bit of animation in the show, but, but it's really fun to see like actual real like practical effects when it comes to those type things.

Yes. Yeah. And I, I gotta tell you, Rick, there was— there were many times when I would be in a scene with a puppet, and I totally forget that they're not the person talking to me. I think the puppeteers, they're so fun and sneaky. Um, they would all the time be trying to get me to, to sort of reveal how I'm— I've forgotten that Maggie, the, the girl that was Alyssa playing Maggie, she would always talk to me, or very often, between, between takes. With Maggie, as if she's a performer. So I would be— there was one, this one couple scenes where she's actually lying down underneath the set and her arm is coming up through a hole. And we're sitting down next to each other. And, you know, we do a scene and they say cut. And you just kind of like exhale to get ready for the next scene and Maggie the raccoon turns her little head towards me and says, um, I don't know, I think, I think we might have got that one. What do you think? And I turn towards her and start talking like, I don't know, I think I might need a— and then realize, Alyssa, you know, I've totally forgotten that I'm, that I'm looking right in the face of puppet. That's, that's who's talking to me. So It was— it's astounding being around them, and honestly, a, like, a childhood dream come true. Just growing up, watch— watching, uh, you know, Bert and Ernie and Kermit the Frog and, and, uh, Fozzie the Bear, and imagining being around them and what that might be like. And then to have Doug and Sparky and Morty and Maggie all kind of around my you know, up just walking around me was— it was like being a little kid.

That's awesome. That is so cool. Well, I'm curious, what are the, the plans now that the production is done on it and DVDs are starting to go out? And I know you've been selling those and sending them to people who bought them. Are there any plans in the future for like getting the show on Netflix or Amazon Prime or any sort of streaming services or things like that?

Well, you know, it's on RightNow Media, and that, that they were, they helped us make it.

Okay.

That was a huge part of even being able to, you know, have a budget for the show.

Sure.

And I'm sure that as we, as things grow, The producers, Brock Starnes from, um, Brentwood Studios, and Chris Wall, they have, you know, big dreams and designs on, on, and ambitions for things in the future. But honestly, I, um, this is also new. This whole world is so new, and I think it's healthy for me to just feel like it's just all gravy. That's what, for for your northerner listeners, maybe that's something my family used to always say. It's like, I have no— I had no expectations for it. And as a result, no, everything that happens for it is just a big bonus. I'm still making records and I'm still doing shows and I'm still, you know, now that I'm writing books, I'm writing a few more of those. Um, and there may be a, a place for it to grow in the future. I think we are talking about doing season 2.

That's great.

Um, and but that's not really my lane as far as knowing how to grow those kinds of things. I can tell you I'm, I'm super excited about having the opportunity to be in, in the television medium just because it allows me to, um to expand on the themes that previously I've only had, you know, between 2 and 4 minutes to expand on. Um, so when you're writing songs, you— if you're writing a song about, you know, faith, uh, or doubt, um, or adoption, or, um, yeah, any kind of, uh, or Mexican food, you've only got you've only got, you know, a couple of minutes to say what you want to say. And with the TV show, we're allowed to— we have the time and some, you know, you can breathe into issues and the opportunity to speak, um, to model it, uh, faith. So you're— and to speak directly to a kid, well, to a puppet that's playing a kid, and know that children are watching Yeah, um, that is a— it is a really exciting opportunity. Um, you know, a part of what drives me and motivates me is it took me till my, you know, late 20s really, um, to start digging into what it means to be the Lord's and to walk around in the world knowing that I am his and he is mine. And that's not just something you sing in a song, but it's the beat of my heart and it's what moves me through the day and keeps me from despair and all the traps that are set by self-absorption and fear and self-concern. The gospel sets us free from all of that. And so, and as a kid, I was confused about that. And I don't think it's because of— I mean, my parents were believers. I grew up in the church. And there's an element to growing as a believer that just takes time and maturity. But part of what drives me is wanting to help kids as early as they can to begin to wrestle with the reality that we have this life, this where we have a body and our heart beats and we walk around in this world that's been made and we are material. But in order to really live in this life, we, we have a spirit and a soul that we get to engage with the power that swings the stars. And as we do remember him and find our life in him, that's where real joy is found. And that's where real life and freedom from anxiety and freedom from anger— that's where all that stuff is found. And it's what I pray for, for my kids. Um, and so it's what drives the the messaging and the spirit of everything I do with the books and the music and the TV show. All of it is sort of, you know, flowing hopefully towards whoever comes across it, bringing a great revelation and realization to what in the world we're doing here on this planet and why we matter.

Yeah, yeah, you're helping disciples to be made, and I'm so grateful for that. It's such a valuable thing. And it's not just— again, before we run out of time together today, Randall, I know you have a couple of new books related to this too that are— I think at the time that this episode's released, they'll just be coming out— the Society of Extraordinary Raccoon Society books.

Yes, yes.

And you have some other books that have already released before, but these are some brand new ones that are coming out. Coming out through B&H Publishing, I believe. Do you have anything you want to share with us about that before our time runs out today?

Yes, the Society of Extraordinary Raccoon Society now exists in book form. Those were some of the most fun tracks to record on Sing the Bible Volume 2 and 3, getting buddies to come in and play raccoons. And of course Sally Lloyd-Jones comes in and plays ping pong. And it was exciting to get to put them on a book. And my buddy Joe Sutphin, who illustrated the new Wingfeather, the series of Wingfeather novels for Andrew Peterson's Wingfeather Saga, he illustrated these two books. And the two books are inspired by the songs from the record. And for people that don't know and have no experience with what in the world is a Society of Extraordinary Raccoon Society. It is a society of extraordinary raccoons who are in the process of reforming. So they, they— raccoons have a bad rap in the world, scavenging and stealing, and the society of Extraordinary Raccoon Society is built to to help raccoon kind to grow and reform and become more civilized. And they only have— they have varying degrees of success at that. And in these two books, Maggie and Morty Raccoon, who are from now in the show, they, in the first book, they enter into the society of Extraordinary Raccoon Society for the first time, or they find out about it and are introduced to it. And then in the second book, they have become members. And we get to watch them wrestle with the new expectations of what it means to be a— in the society of Extraordinary Raccoon Society. And what I wanted to do was make it Uh, you know, as Christians, that one of the easiest mistakes for us to make is to think that it's about how we behave. Yeah. And that if we can just behave better, then we— that is how we can mark our growth as Christians. If we behave better, then we're doing better. But of course, that's not the case. It's our, our, our status as believers only is rooted in our acceptance in Christ and the blood he shed for us. So how we communicate that in the Extraordinary Raccoon Society is by showing how rather than our motivation being, let's do better and then watch ourselves— sorry, watch ourselves to grow and get better as we try to be better. Instead, the more it's— the more that we are able to see how loved we are and how accepted we are, that transforms us from within so that then we begin to act differently. Because as we are growing into this new family, as the raccoons are settling into being loved and, and not shamed when they do mess up, they begin to want to change as their hearts change from inside. So that's the, the spirit of the books, but they're really fun and really silly, and they're, they're books number 3 and 4 of the 4 Slugs and Bugs stories that we released this year.

Well, that's terrific. And you mentioned Joe Sutphin too, and I actually have the B&H Publishing Group website on right now, just kind of looking through some of the illustrations that they give you some previews of. And, and I have several mutual friends with Joe, and, and I have never met him myself, but I believe he just lives down the road from me here in Columbus, Ohio, not too far away. Or he did it one time.

Yes, that's right.

And he does— you're right, he does a wonderful job illustrating these books, and I've been a fan of his art for a while. He's somebody I ought to have on the show sometime just so we we can talk about his work. But he really has done a great job. I haven't read the books yet, but just from looking at the way that he's telling the story through pictures, as you're doing it through the writing, it's really beautiful. They're very well done. So I'm excited for you on this. This is excellent.

Thank you. Yeah, it's been really fun. I didn't— yeah, I didn't see this chapter of writing children's books coming so soon, but, but it's been a very exciting opportunity. So Next year, there's a book that I wrote for, for the Good Book Company coming out in, I think it's in April. And that's going to have it. So it's going to have been 5 books in a matter of about like 14 months.

Wow. That's a lot.

Which I don't recommend. It was stressful. But, but also, I just, you know, super grateful and excited about it. And hopefully that people will find them fun and engaging and, and enriching.

Well, I am so excited for you, as I know all of our listeners are as well. And I want to let everybody know who's listening that we're going to have links to all these things in the show notes at voicesinmyheadpodcast.com. But I also want to let people know that they can go to slugsandbugs.com, and if you just do a Google search of slugs and bugs, you're sure to find a lot about them. And I do want to make sure our listeners head to those places 'cause these are really good things to invest in, I think. And our children are great treasures. And I don't just buy everything that comes along for our son, you know. I really want it to be something that hopefully is good quality. And I do love that this is a help in the journey of making disciples in our homes. And so I really appreciate what you've done. Let me ask one more question today before our time is done. And I don't know if you'll even be able to answer this. But you are a person who is now wearing a lot of different hats. You know, you're a songwriter, you're a singer, now with the show you're an actor. You know, in some ways you've been really helping to run this show, and you're an author. Are there any of those hats that you're wearing that you say you just really love the best, or is it sort of like you're just enjoying them all as they come?

Hahaha, that is a good question. Well, I can tell you that when you said actor, I kind of just like shook my head to myself because I'm the one person on the show that just gets to play myself. So I'm not— I am a terrible actor when I'm trying to be anybody else. So, uh, so, uh, I wanted to make sure I, uh, said that. But, um, you know, I think the one thing that I, I do love to do and would continue to do even if, um, if, you know, it was— we were in a post-apocalyptic world, uh, would be— I, I love to write music. I love to write songs. Um, and I, and I also love to think about the gospel. Uh, when I used to— when I first started Slugs and Bugs, I articulated really for myself first what, what were the most important things for me about what was driving what I do and maybe making it different and important to me. And it was, I love the gospel, and I, I— it's important to me to be able to articulate it for families to help them grow in the gospel together with their kids. And I love um, to be— to create things with excellence. So I, I just get inspired by beauty and things that are really, really well done. So I'm always trying to set the bar higher than I can reach to make things beautiful. Um, and children deserve that with the things that we give them. Um, and then I, I love to be silly. I love to have the opportunity to not take myself seriously because in so much of life, so often I forget and I do take myself seriously. So to have part of my job be stop taking yourself too seriously, it's like, it's great medicine for me. So with those three things, to be able to articulate the gospel to families, to be able to try to make something excellent, excellently, and to get to have fun and be silly while I do it. Those three things, they can, they can fall into all those categories that you mentioned, whether it's TV or writing books or making music. That's so— as long as I get to keep doing those, doing those three things in whatever medium, then I'm, I'm a happy guy.

Yeah, that's true.

Terrific.

You know, I told you that was going to probably be my last question, but I do have one more because I know you're going to be on the road doing some Slugs and Bugs concerts and events along the way. What can people expect? I personally have never had a chance to see it live. What can people expect when they come to one of your concerts?

Oh, so yes, we do— I do concerts all over the country and in and out of the country. And they're super fun. I— it's me up on stage usually. There's a few people that get up on stage with me, um, and I switch off different instruments and we play some animated videos up behind me so people can see words and sing along. And there's some funny characters up there. But, uh, the, the, the thrust of the, of the concert is it's an opportunity for parents and kids to have fun together so that Parents are sitting by their children, they're doing hand motions, they're being silly, they're dancing around and singing scripture together, um, and just in general having a, having a big old time. So that it's happening in the context of the gospel. So we're talking about Jesus and we're talking about, um, God's love for us and his promises, but then we're also talking about Mexican food and trying not to get eaten by bears and Uh, so it's an opportunity to hopefully reflect to kids, um, in a musical kind of way what life is like. Like, it's— you just get to walk in, walk through the world, and everything that happens in the context of a believer, all of it finds its context in, in Jesus. And we can celebrate and we can have fun and um, even be a little sad now and then. Um, I don't get too sad in concerts because that would— but, uh, but so yeah, there's a lot of standing up and sitting down and waving your hands and, and, um, drinking from a cup and making bear claws. Yeah, get kids up on the stage. So yeah, we just have a big old time.

Well, good. Well, again, I encourage our listeners to go and check that all out, but because chances are you'll be coming to a neighborhood near them in the near future. So if they all go to slugsandbugs.com, they can find out all that information. And I expect the way things are going, we're going to have slugs and bugs on ice very soon. You know, it's something like that.

I'm not a figure skater.

Oh man. Well, Randall, this has been a wonderful conversation. I want to thank you again for just taking time to come share. I'm very proud of you and everybody really who has been involved over the years with these Slugs and Bugs projects in all of their various forms. And it's just so good to see the good things that God is doing and the way that you are being so careful, I believe, in trying to follow God where he leads with this. And it's, it's just a wonderful thing. It's so good to see God blessing. So as I say to my guests each week on this show, Randall Goodgame, thank you for being one of the Voices in My Head.

Thank you, Rick. It is such a, such a sweet privilege and pleasure to sit and talk with you. I love the work that you do and how you're pouring out your gifts for the kingdom over there in Ohio. So I'm honored. Thanks for having, having me on.

Well, thank you very much.

Thank you. Thank you for joining me here this week on Voices in My Head. I hope you'll visit me on my website at rickleejames.com, where you can find out more about me, get my music on vinyl and CD, follow my blog, and even schedule me for a concert or a speaking engagement. Better yet, even a book signing in your neighborhood. You can find all that and more at rickleejames.com. Also, it would mean a great deal to me if you could write a review of this podcast on iTunes. The more positive reviews The more reviews that we receive, the more visible this podcast will be online. And now for the benediction: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. God bless you, and thank you for listening to Voices in My Head.