Crying. That was one of the things I REALLY didn’t expect to happen when recording the audiobook for Return on Humanity.

Or be one of the reasons for stopping the recording.

But when I got to the story of the home evictions during the World Cup in Brazil, it put me over the edge. I had to take a proper break so that I could see again as my eyes were full of water and my glasses got fogged up. It took me totally by surprise.

A few other reasons we needed to stop:
🎙️ there was a fly we couldn’t catch but kept flying past the microphone

🎙️ I started to either make up words or say words or letters that weren’t even there. So grateful to Priscila Campos for her help catching those slip ups

🎙️ my stomach!! There is nothing more powerful to break the ice of a new friendship or working relationship than being in a recording studio for 6 hours, with a microphone. Literally any sound – it’s captured. 🥴 My digestion on day 2 was tricky. Thank you to Adriano and Priscila for their patience.

And a massive plus from the experience was getting to be at the studio with my friends from Academia de Berlinda at the same time as they were recording their next album. Two years of hard work, and their album launched last week!! I got to hear the muffled music through the walls when on a break, and it sounds fantastic!

The Return on Humanity audiobook will be ready soon. We finished recording on Thursday, and it sounds like it should be available just before Christmas. I’ll let you know more when I know more. I’m so excited to get this version out into the world. 🥳

But there was one person I thought about a lot while recording it – my friend Ines, who is sorely missed.

A few months ago, Ines’ daughter, Lorena Vogeler, asked me if I’d ever thought about recording the audiobook.

Well, that was the nudge I needed. And here we are.

I never met Ines in person, but I knew her voice so well. I would often wake up to WhatsApp messages starting with, “Hi Philippa, it’s Ines.”

She was there from the very beginning of Return on Humanity, helping me turn a rather muddy collection of ideas into the book it became. I truly don’t think Return on Humanity would have evolved in the way it did without her.

And now, I’m grateful to her daughter for being the one to ensure it happened.  

Ines, this one’s for you. 🧡