LilDRAGON

22/05/2024

The Telly Awards has recognized excellence and innovation in video and television since 1979! This year, they received over 13,000 entries from all over the world. Of those 13,000, we weren't just recognized – we were awarded two Silver Tellys for History and Education & Discovery!
Truly, we are honored (and thrilled!!!) to be counted among those who have helped shape the future of television! Today, we share in celebration with you, our fans! We've loved Reconnecting Roots for years – it is a privilege and a joy to experience others loving it too.

26/04/2024

We've been working on developing a feature film for a few years now with writer Steve Sherman. We recently submitted the film to Angel Studios and it is currently in the judging process. If you are an angel studios guild member, want to become one, or know someone who is, please tell them to support our film. It's a worthy story speaking to the dignity of those with special needs. Let's shape the culture with better stories!

P.S. The process requires that you use the angel app on your phone.

Enjoy this exclusive, one-time use invitation to watch a Torch from the Angel Guild!

26/04/2024

Please keep our longtime friend and cinematographer Jeremy Gonzales in your heart and mind. He continues to struggle against early onset Parkinson's disease. You can read his latest updates here.

In October 2020, Jeremy, only in his 40’s, was diagnosed with Early Onset … Gabe McCauley needs your support for Help the Gonzales' in their Parkinson's fight

26/04/2024

PBS, American Public Television (APT) and National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) received 10 nominations for shows airing across PBS stations.

19/04/2024

Today, after many years of hard work, sweat, and tears, our PBS TV series Reconnecting Roots was nominated for 2 daytime Emmy's: Outstanding Original Song & Outstanding Writing Team. https://theemmys.tv/day-51st-nominations/

I'm incredibly proud of this show and our team that produces it. Congratulations Gabe McCauley Dave Boyd Laryssa Alexa Julian R. Vaca Ryan Estabrooks Nick Nichols MixMasterMandy Dillon Hodges Heidi Feek Emma King Josh Childs, Ben Oddo, Wesley Vis, Jeremy Gonzales Lee Lannom, Kelli & Bella Coyne and many others - here's to many more!

The Emmy Nominated! theme song "We're Home" can be seen and heard here: https://open.spotify.com/track/3F8lZQAK2yVLaByHtNYb2C?si=4d72838c93294b05

https://youtu.be/mKGLmAAvCPQ?feature=shared

www.reconnectingroots.com

06/09/2023

Over the past few years, we've been fortunate enough to work on the PBS docuseries "The Food Principle", which looks at the many different ways food connects us all.

It was recently chosen as a finalist for the Regenerative Travel Impact Awards Storyteller of the Year! If you want to see more uplifting stories that engage people, connect cultures, and catalyze meaningful change through the lens of food, go to https://www.regenerativetravel.com/impact-awards-2023/ and vote for The Food Principle as People’s Choice. Voting closes today.

The Regenerative Travel Impact Awards celebrate people and projects that embody the spirit of regeneration

11/05/2023

Freedom, government control, and craftsmanship were distilled together thanks to a uniquely American spirit - bourbon! More than just a mere drink, this concoction at one point affected just about every American’s lives.

Gabe hikes the bourbon trail to learn how this special blend both changed America and was changed by it. We visit Maker's Mark and Log Still to get up close to the process of making one of our nation's signature drinks.

Click below to watch the episode now!

Gabe hikes the bourbon trail to learn how bourbon changed America and was changed by it.

09/05/2023

The gifts of private individuals have long benefited America’s public well-being. But is it possible for our country to become too dependent on them? What happens when spreading the wealth is a little more complicated than simply writing a check? We dive into all that - and more!

Click here to watch the episode now!

What happens when spreading the wealth gets complicated?

24/04/2023

The "Working" episode of "Reconnecting Roots" is now streaming!

While early Americans worked the land to survive, the job market of today allows greater freedom of choice. But is it harder to find purpose in our work now? And are we any happier than before?

We chat with special guest Mike Rowe to get a better look at the sheer diversity of jobs offered today, along with pointing out which sectors might be overlooked.

Click on the link to watch the episode for free now!

Mike Rowe helps Gabe figure out if working hard is worth all the hard work.

17/04/2023

The "Dollar" episode of "Reconnecting Roots" is now streaming!

The U.S. dollar conquered the world economy, then turned plastic and went digital. So what does a "dollar" even mean these days? We wanted to find out - so we went to visit Ben Stein to help make “cents” out of our money. We also look at the history of how our concept of "money" has changed shape time and time again, often quite literally.

Click on the link to watch the episode for free now!

Gabe visits Ben Stein to help make “cents” out of our money.

13/04/2023

Have you watched Season 3 of our show "Reconnecting Roots" yet?!

The first 2 episodes about "Space" and "Energy" are playing on PBS stations all across the nation! And the good news is, you can stream it any time you want for free. Just head on over to
https://www.pbs.org/show/reconnecting-roots/episodes/season/3/
to start watching. Or use the PBS app on your favorite device!

Let us know what you think. And be sure to stay on the lookout for new episodes premiering every Monday online

29/11/2022

Our friends at Urban Promise Nashville have a Giving Tuesday campaign today. I know there are many good causes out there, so if you're looking for a good one that is local, check them out.

02/11/2022

If you've been following lilDRAGON over the years, you've undoubtedly heard the name Jeremy Gonzales and seen his work. He's served as Director of Photography pretty much from the inception of lilDRAGON and has filmed an incredible number of projects with us, including all 3 seasons of "Reconnecting Roots". He's been so generous with giving us his talent - and now, it's our chance to give back.

In October 2020, Jeremy, only in his 40’s, was diagnosed with Early Onset Parkinson’s Disease. Combined with a severe injury last year, medical bills piled up as the long days demanded by film work became harder to do. There's an upcoming clinical trial using alternative therapies that have proven effective - but it's NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE.

This is why we contributed to Jeremy and his family and hope you will too. Please visit the link to donate to Jeremy's GoFundMe and learn more about his story. If you haven't met Jeremy before, he is one of the kindest people you'll ever come across, period, and deserves all the love we can send.

In October 2020, Jeremy, only in his 40’s, was diagnosed with Early Onset… Gabe McCauley needs your support for Help the Gonzales' in their Parkinson's fight

19/05/2022

Angelman Syndrome affects 1 out of 15,000 children - and yet, it seems like it’s not talked about enough. This is why lilDRAGON is proud to be a premier sponsor for the Angelman Syndrome Foundation Walk happening this weekend! Watch the video we made to learn more about the event.

Angelman Syndrome is a neurogenetic disorder that can cause developmental delays, speech impairment, and even seizures. It’s often underdiagnosed because these symptoms are similar to those with autism and/or cerebral palsy. This is why we think it’s very important to have events like this to raise awareness and really get the word out about Angelman Syndrome. The more parents know about this disorder, the better prepared they can be for their children.

The ASF Walk is happening all across America this Saturday, May 21st 2022. You can go to https://www.angelman.org/walk/ to find a participating city near you. If you happen to live close to us here in the Nashville area, our local ASF Walk is being held at Fannie Mae Dees Park (2400 Blakemore Avenue). Registration starts at 9:30 am with the walk beginning at 10:30 am. We hope to see you there!

18/04/2022

21/03/2022

With First Honey, a family of beekeepers in New Zealand worked with scientists to figure out how to use the healing powers of manuka honey in everything from medical bandages to healing cream. Instead of trying to create new completely synthetic and artificial treatments, they looked closer at what nature has to offer us. When First Honey wanted a commercial to spread the word about their unique way to approach healing supplies, we knew we wanted to help.

We were very interested in this project because it speaks to one of our guiding philosophies, which is to take a closer look at what the Earth has to offer before trying to reinvent the wheel. Finding new ways to utilize what’s right in front of us. People have been using honey for its healing properties for thousands of years; First Honey figured out how to combine that with modern products that people use. The blending of the “old” (which never really went away) and the “new” is something we’re constantly on the lookout for.

For this commercial, we wanted to highlight both sides of First Honey: those who use the products and those who make them. Cuts, scrapes, boo-boos…whatever you call them, they’re unavoidable in life. We highlighted one of the most common incidents that just about everyone experiences - the bike accident you have as a kid. Then we take you to the other side of the world where First Honey cultivates manuka honey and creates its first-aid products with it.

Give it a watch and let us know if you’ve tried any of First Honey’s products yet. If so, what did you think?