The MOP

28/04/2022

To help simplify my life a little, I am moving all podcast updates to the account for my primary podcast The Skylark Bell - There you will find information about the Grab a Blanket and A Carefully Built Pretend podcasts. Be sure to go give The Skylark Bell a follow so you don't miss out! See you there! -Melissa

26/03/2022

Out now on podcast - Chapter 11 of Wingspan!

16/03/2022

A couple of the illustrations from the original story Is Your Name Camilla? Written nearly 20 years ago and avail for the first time on A Carefully Built Pretend podcast. The full set of illustrations is available on Patreon (see link in bio).

16/03/2022

Available now on A Carefully Built Pretend children’s podcast, a sweet guessing game story called Is Your Name Camilla? Link in bio to listen.

16/03/2022

Coming to The Skylark Bell podcast this Friday: Chapter 10 of Wingspan - Night Magic - where Magpie and Lucas hear some of the folklore surrounding Carnifex House from Manon and Alfred.

05/03/2022

New episode Of Grab a Blanket with Annie Enneking of is out now!

01/03/2022

Coming this Friday to A Carefully Built Pretend podcast - A funny story with an important lesson called That Time I Didn’t Listen.

01/03/2022

Coming to podcast this Friday - chapter 8 of Wingspan, where Magpie and Lucas finally reach their destination: Carnifex House.

28/02/2022

26/02/2022

I’ve had these characters (inspired by myself and my husband) in my back pocket for a long time. Perhaps they’ll make an appearance on A Carefully Built Pretend podcast sometime 🙂🙃

25/02/2022

Out now on podcast - Chapter 7 of Wingspan, in which Magpie and Lucas finally land in the remote village of Pòcaid on the Isle of Skye, but the welcome is not as warm as they had hoped…

25/02/2022

Out now on A Carefully Built Pretend podcast - a silly story called “Wrong Answers Only”.

“I’ll need your help for this story to work. I’m going to read it to you, but every time I pause, I want you to answer the question – but here’s the tricky part, I don’t want you to give me the right answer, you have to make up a silly answer of your own! Then I’ll include my silly answer too. I promise we’re all going to have a lot of fun!”

25/02/2022

I had the tremendous pleasure of being a guest on The Brian Oake Show today to chat about The Skylark Bell, music, and unsettling, spooky, creative things… Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1zw9A6Q22ZqQiw9RNkq8Gc?si=V1IZYY3pR2GkHkpxZxIsVw&utm_source=copy-link

21/02/2022

Coming this Friday to A Carefully Built Pretend children’s podcast, a hilarious interactive episode called Wrong Answers Only!

19/02/2022

My newest podcast has reached its first 100 downloads! A Carefully Built Pretend is a collection of stories for children (young and old!). The episodes alternate between silly or funny stories, and more serious stories with deeper meaning. It’s the perfect addition to your bedtime or story time routine! Find it on all major platforms or by clicking the link in my bio. PS - the intro music is one of my favourite song compositions to date! 🎶

18/02/2022

Out now on A Carefully Built Pretend podcast, a story about fear, love, hope, and home for children of all ages and for dog lovers. Available on all major podcast platforms and at melissaoliveri.com (see link in bio). If you enjoy this story, please consider making a donation to Mutt Mutt Engine or your preferred animal rescue.

11/02/2022

New episode of the Grab a Blanket podcast featuring Cyn Collins from KFAI's Spin with Cyn comes out at midnight! Listen on your favourite podcast platform or here: http://www.melissaoliveri.com/other-podcasts

08/02/2022

If you haven’t listened to last week’s episode of Grab a Blanket featuring Tony Oliveri, I suggest you do like the other whopping 500+ (!!) people who have! It’s a fun conversation that spans golf, Italian food, pets, family traditions, and of course, a blanket 🙂

08/02/2022

This week on podcast, Wingspan chapter 5, The Clawfoot Gallery. In this episode Magpie and Lucas attend Mrs Phaeton’s art exhibit grand opening where a spooky uninvited guest makes a brief appearance…

08/02/2022

This week on A Carefully Built Pretend - A funny story about conflict, and eventual friendship, between a cat named Miss Mallory, and a fish named Mr Pebbles.

07/02/2022

Prpud to announce that podcast is an official selection of the Swedish International Film Festival! 🎉 🥂
music sweden

07/02/2022

Very flattered and honoured to be the featured guest artist at the Jimmy Wilson Gallery! A big Thank You to Jimmy for the tireless work he does supporting artists. Please take the time to check out his virtual gallery, Jimmy is a phenomenal photographer, and be sure to visit his Guest Artists page for a fantastic lineup of creatives.

06/02/2022

Congratulations to on being a FINALIST in the Multi Dimension Independent Film Festival 🎉 🥂 💜

05/02/2022

Brand new story coming to A Carefully Built Pretend podcast next week!

05/02/2022

Out TONIGHT on A Carefully Built Pretend podcast, a touching, nostalgic story about friendship, love, loss, and change called The Moonlight Parade. This story first appeared as a Thanksgiving special episode of The Skylark Bell - Podcast last year, and has been adapted for A Carefully Built Pretend's younger target audience. Find it on all major podcast platforms or go to http://www.melissaoliveri.com - If you enjoy the fabulous intro music be sure go give Cannelle a follow!

04/02/2022

Congratulations to for being an official nomination at the Multi Dimension Independent Film Festival 🎉🥂👏

04/02/2022

Dropping at midnight this Friday on podcast, Chapter 4 of Wingspan (book/season 2), The End is the Beginning is the End (yes this chapter title was inspired by the song!). We get some MAJOR clues as to what this season has in store… don’t miss it!

03/02/2022

I had the tremendous honour of sitting in for Ken Volante as guest-host of the Something - rather than nothing - Podcast for an "ALL MINNESOTA" episode where I interviewed my dear friend Sally Mars. Give it a listen here: https://somethingratherthannothing.podbean.com/e/episode-133-sally-mars-with-guest-host-melissa-oliveri/?fbclid=IwAR2o0r_UiITMq7bg9P2lh1t03KH-0HM0T5Xu3ljc2sNvntDki1lYw46kLUE

In this special episode, Melissa Oliveri guest hosts an All-Minnesota episode of Something (rather than nothing) with guest Sally Mars! Sally Mars is a writer and photographer based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her work appears in numerous journals including...

01/02/2022

Congratulations to on reaching a milestone 1000+ downloads last month! 🎉 🥂

28/01/2022

The next chapter of Wingspan, season 2 of podcast, is available now on all major platforms and at theskylarkbell.com 💜