A Rhumba of Rattlesnakes: Collective Nouns, Stories, and Shedding Skins in Sound & Language

Wrangling My Rendezvous with Rattlesnakes and Collective Nouns

Some episodes don’t slither out all at once. They coil, they wait. They demand patience. A Rhumba of Rattlesnakes is one of those episodes. It’s been slowly molting behind the scenes — layer by layer — until now, when it’s finally ready to shed its last skin and step into the world. At last, my creative and curious exploration of rattlesnakes and collective nouns has slithered in.

And what a skin it is. A little glossy, a little scarred. But unmistakably mine.

This second episode of A Gather of Gatherings was momentous: my absolute thrill at meeting my very first rattlesnake, Tesoro — in a safe and controlled environment, I promise. (Thank you, Amy Brumbaugh and Save the Snakes!) There’s something primal and electrifying about being in the presence of such an iconic creature. It felt like a whisper from a part of the world that knows more than I ever will, a flick of the tail that echoed with myth, warning, beauty, and misunderstood power. That moment slithered straight into my bones and set the rhythm for this entire episode.

Holding my first snake at Save the Snakes!

I also got to hold a non-venomous snake that day and found a new appreciation for these beautiful creatures. But let me be clear: I’m very keen on keeping the venomous ones at a distance. Admire the fang from afar, I say.

But this episode didn’t just shake my tail feathers. It shook my assumptions, too.

A Rhumba of Rattlesnakes is not just about the shiver of the serpent. It’s a layered look at language, culture, and creativity. It’s also about curiosity. About honoring what we learn when we slow down and truly look. I went digging into the history of the word "rhumba" — and found a fascinating musical and cultural history. This episode makes space to honor Afro-Cuban origins and cultural brilliance that too often go uncredited. It’s my way of saying: thank you, and I see you. Names matter. Credit matters. Stories matter.

And speaking of stories, this episode is full of them. Rattlesnakes to rhumbas.

Amy Brumbaugh and Tesoro the rattlesnake at Save the Snakes

You’ll hear from venomous snake coordinator Amy Brumbaugh of Save the Snakes, who opens the door to understanding these incredible reptiles beyond their reputation. She was incredibly gracious with her time on a rainy day. I’m forever grateful to her. And of course, our recurring guest Dame Juliana Berners (yes, she’s fictional and yes, she’s fabulous) returns with her flair for the dramatic and the delightful.

Woven through it all is my own poetic strand — my signature creative element, "When I Shed My Skin..." These interludes are personal, metaphorical, and sometimes a little raw. In this episode, they dance beside the rattlesnake’s shake, asking: what do we need to shed? What do I need? I even convinced my mother to voice one of them for me. She’s a badass and I’m so touched she agreed. Writing credit note: Drew penned his own shedding skin vignette, and I thank him for his talent and creativity! 

And because some stories have trails that lead to even more fascinating places, I'm launching two new ways for you to go deeper with the show. Think of them as bonus tracks and artistic remixes.

Gatherlings

These are my bonus bites — extended interviews, deeper dives, and moments that didn’t fit the main episode but absolutely deserve their own space. The first Gatherling features the full, uncut tour of Save the Snakes, where I met other mesmerizing serpents — Orlando, Athena, Osma, and more. The main episode is rattlesnake-centric, but I didn’t want these lovely creatures to go unnoticed! It’s a journey into awe and education, and it’s available now wherever you listen and linger with the show.

GatherStrands

If Gatherlings are the extras, GatherStrands are the artsy journeys. These are short, creative narratives built entirely from the creative elements I weave throughout each episode. The first GatherStrand, “When I Shed My Skin: A Parable of Love and Sheddings" (working title!) explores themes of connection, love, allure, and that intangible, primal thing we all ache for (or at least I do, often, embarrassingly so). I like to think of them as audio spells: lyrical, emotional, imagined, but rooted in something deeply true. 

One of the snakes at Save the Snakes

This episode took time. It took research, rewriting, and a whole lot of personal shedding. Because creating something new while balancing a life, arthritis, and a full-time job can feel like a constant rattle of doubt and responsibility. Ask my rattling knees! Some weeks, the only thing I could manage was to whisper to myself: Just keep trying. It turns out the snakes (and my knees!) weren't the only ones rattling. We persevere because that's what creativity asks of us: not just to show the polished surface, but to peel back the layers. Let the old skin go. Let the new story emerge. No shame. Only story.

So here it is: A Rhumba of Rattlesnakes. May it rattle something loose in you.

🎧 Listen to the episode now at Buzzsprout.

🐍 Explore bonus content with the Gatherlings

🖋️ Step into story with the first GatherStrands...coming soon

Tesoro the rattlesnake at Save the Snakes