Backyard Sounds, Off-Ramp Spots & Razor Clams | Quiet Musings for Sleep

In Backyard Sounds, Off-Ramp Spots & Razor Clams, Marco welcomes guest Nidhi Khanna for a calm, outdoor conversation recorded in the backyard. Surrounded by the gentle ambience of outdoor sounds, the two drift through an easygoing discussion about razor clams and the famous Pismo clam, sharing small observations and curiosities about coastal life and seaside food traditions.
The conversation meanders in the relaxed style listeners know from The Insomnia Project, wandering through quiet backyard moments and small everyday details. As always, the goal isn’t to keep you wide awake — it’s simply to offer a gentle stream of conversation that might help quiet racing thoughts and guide you toward rest.
Hosted by Marco Timpano with guest Nidhi Khanna, this episode continues the show’s tradition of calm, mundane discussions designed to help listeners relax, unwind, and possibly drift off to sleep. If you don’t make it to the end because you’ve fallen asleep, we take that as the highest compliment.
The Insomnia Project is produced by Drumcast Productions and features the theme music “Bass Walker” by Kevin MacLeod.
For additional conversations and bonus content, visit patreon.com/theinsomniaproject.

​Backyard Sounds, Off-Ramp Spots & Razor Clams
(Original airdate: May 31, 2016)


Welcome to the Insomnia Project where we discuss the mundane

Marco:  Welcome to the Insomnia Project. Sit back, relax and listen as we have a conversation about the mundane. One thing we can promise you is that our conversation will be less than fascinating so that you can feel free to just lie back, sit back, lean against a nice wall and drift off and relax and enjoy it. We do want you to listen and sleep as well. Feel free to follow us on Twitter. Listen and sleep. I'm your host, Marco Timpano.

Nidhi:  And I'm, um, your co host, Nidhi Khanna.


Marco: I'd like our listeners to help identify this sound

Marco. We received some wonderful feedback from one of our listeners who emailed in to, um, say that they enjoyed the episode. Last episode, where we were recording from outside. Um, because of all the sounds. Yeah. The natural ambiance that they felt we were recording in.

Marco:  And so we're back outside.

Nidhi:  We're back outside. And this time we have a little friend. I'm gonna ask that we say silent for a moment.

Marco:  Um.

Nidhi:  Um, Marco. Because I'd like our listeners to help identify this sound. This sound.

Marco:  So it's not a donkey, is what I'll say. The sounds that you may have heard in the last episode are the rustling of the trees from a Norwegian maple I have in my backyard. My neighbor's air conditioner coming on, obviously, uh, planes overhead, a couple of the kids walking by having fun. Cars in the background as well, the odd person on the cell phone. Uh, and birds and birds.

Nidhi:  And so I'm guessing that this sound is coming from a bird.

Marco:  Yes.

Nidhi:  But if any of our listeners have any idea of what bird this may be.

Marco:  The squawking bird.

Nidhi:  We have the squawking bird. Yeah. I've never. I don't recall hearing this particular type of bird in the area before, so I'm intrigued.


Marco M. says Norwegian maple is an invasive species in Canada

Marco M. You have a beautiful. I think, uh, you mentioned it was a Norwegian wood.

Marco:  Yeah, it's Norwegian maple. And I know that because I called a arborist in to take a look at the tree because I felt like it was in need of some attention. You can see some of the branches don't have leaves on it.

Nidhi:  Yes.

Marco:  So this was a couple years back, and I was kind of like, I'm concerned about my maple. I love this maple in the fall. It's beautiful orange and red leaves, and I want to continue to care for it. So I had this arborist come in, and they said, oh, it's a Norwegian maple. And I was like, oh, great, a Norwegian maple.

Nidhi:  And then he said, very strong in Norwegian maple.

Marco:  You know, you think. And he's like, oh, it's an invasive, specific species of maple. And then I was like, what? And he's like, yeah, it's one of the maple trees that sort of, um, out. I don't know what the word is, but they sort of, like, grow faster than our sugar maples or other native species here. In Canada. And so they can be problematic because they can, uh, overcrowd areas where our native species of maple. So my love for the trees sort of, you know, waxed off a bit there when the arborist was kind of, like, talking about this particular beautiful tree that I love. It's, what would you say, like, easily, uh, 14ft high. Uh, but then I fell back in love with, uh, the Norwegian maple. Even though it is not a native species, it is quite majestic here with its leaves, and it provides a great deal of COVID uh, for us from the sun and the sound of the wind as it wrestles through, uh, the leaves. I don't think it's called wrestle through the leaves. It's a Russell, Russell, Russell. As, yeah, rustles through the leaves is always a beautiful sound that we have here in our postage stamp of a backyard in the city of Toronto, which we're very happy to have a little bit of space that you can just kind of sit back, relax, and record as we are right now.


What's the most exotic bird you've ever seen in the wild

Um, Nidhi, what birds are you a fan of? Or what's the most exotic bird you've ever seen in the wild?

Nidhi:  Oh, that's a good question. Um, I'm not a big connoisseur of birds, to be quite honest. I mean, I've seen the robins and the sparrows.

Marco:  Sure.

Nidhi:  Um, I've seen a hawk once.

Marco:  Okay.

Nidhi:  Like hawks? Yeah, very. Um, I'd love to see an eagle.

Marco:  Oh, I've seen eagles. I've seen bald eagles, too.

Nidhi:  They seem quite majestic.

Marco:  They're large, they're big. Yeah, they're very sort of like, they take up their space. They don't seem afraid, you know, I mean, they're very like, I'm an eagle

Nidhi:  and I know it cares. What about. What about parrots? Have you ever seen a parrot?

Marco:  Not in the wild, no. I wish I have. I've seen, um, I saw a peacock in the wild.

Nidhi:  Oh, yes. Uh, it's like peacocks in the wild, too.

Marco:  Kind of neat. There was about, like, nine peacock on the. On the roof of a house in Florida I saw once. They were just wild peacock. They're not native to Florida that I'm aware of, but I think someone had released a couple of peacock and they bred and there was all these peacocks on a roof top, and they're really like, their plumage is very beautiful. Beautiful and big. Right.

Nidhi:  I want to say that I've seen, um, a peacock in India before.

Marco:  Okay. But I think it's a. I think it's an Asian.

Nidhi:  Yeah, I think so. Too. So I think that makes sense. Um, and last time I was in London, I was, um, in Holland, uh, park. And there were peacocks roaming around the park, which makes me think that there's something to do with the royal family. I'm assuming the royal regal peacock.

Marco:  Well, yes, I would imagine, like, it's. It's such a majestic animal. So the peafowl include two Asiatic bird species. The blue or Indian peafowl, originally of India and Sri Lanka. Huh.

Nidhi:  There we go.

Marco:  And the green peafowl of Myanmar, Indochina and Java. And one African species, the Congo peafowl, native only to the Congo basin.

Nidhi:  Now, Marco, did you know that male peacocks are the ones that have the bright feathers?

Marco:  Yeah. The plumage that you see whenever you see a peacock. Even like the NBC peacock is a male peacock. Yeah. It's the male species of the animals that are brightly colored and have all the fancy detailing because they've got to attract their mate. Mate. And so, yeah, I did know that.

Nidhi:  That was the only fun fact I have.

Marco:  Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to slam that down. But I did. I did know that. That fun peacock fact. Um, I love seeing quail. They're cute little quail.

Nidhi:  Yeah.

Marco:  Cute little animals running around. I've never really. I've eaten quail. I have. I always feel a little bit bad. Just like ducks. I love. I love seeing waterfowl and ducks in particular. I love watching them. I think they're such a beautiful bird.


Marco's motorcycle license is about to expire, so he needs an expert

Nidhi:  Now, I did not know that swans were quite an aggressive species and that they, uh. If, uh. So here in Toronto, for example, if you go by the harbour front.

Marco:  Yes.

Nidhi:  A friend of mine lives by the harbour front, and he was saying that they will watch, uh, to make. Make sure there's not enough. There's not too many swans in the water because it signifies, um, that there's a big takeover that's about to happen.

Marco:  You've got to be careful with those swan.

Nidhi:  You know, they're so aggressive that they will kind of, um, take up all the food, uh, sources for the rest of the waterfowl. Waterfowl.

Marco:  You know, geese are supposedly one of the best guard animals you could have in your home. Really? Yes. They're very territorial and they're very aggressive, and they're very, um. They. They will not back off. If there's an intruder in your home and you have a goose or geese as your protectors, they will attack, make noise, and they will be aggressive and they will, like, shoo people out.

Nidhi:  I feel like that's what they do even when they're in the wild.

Marco:  Well, and imagine if you, if you train one and you have one as a pet and you know, and that guards your home. I would love to have geese as my protectors. Yeah. Really Walk around with a flock of geese that just kind of like protect you as you stroll.

Nidhi:  It's very badass.

Marco:  Dangerous parts, uh, of town, you know.

Nidhi:  Marco, have you ever had a motorcycle? Motorcycle?

Marco:  No. I have my m. Oh, it's interesting you should say that. I have my motorcycle license, but it's about to expire. I've got a check. When it expires, I need to get an expert. Yeah, I. It's a, uh, graduated, um, license system here in Ontario. So you get. You're right to the written test and then you get your. Then you do a driving test and you're allowed to have it for three to five years and then you have to do the next test. So I don't have a motorcycle license. I mean, I'm sorry. I do have a motorcycle license that I need to ensure doesn't expire. I don't have a motorcycle, but I drive a scooter with that motorcycle license because I need a motorcycle license to drive my scooter. I could drive a motorcycle because I was trained on a motorcycle.

Nidhi:  Like on a Harley motorcycle.

Marco:  Like a little Yamaha thing. Like, I don't even think it was Yamaha. It was like one of those makes you've never heard of, like mamaha. You're like, kind of looks like a Yamaha, but it's not. But, uh, yeah, so I. And I've never, um, I've never ridden a motorcycle, like on vacation. Like I've rented scooters and, uh, motorbikes, but never a proper motorcycle.

Nidhi:  I feel like the motorcycle lifestyle is

Marco:  almost

Nidhi:  like this unsaid cult that you become a part of. I don't mean cult in a bad way. I know there's a bad, like, connotation.

Marco:  More like a culture. Motorcycle culture. Sure.


Nidhi was driving home from Montreal on Highway 2

Nidhi:  Um, so when I was driving home from Montreal, I took the historical Highway

Marco:  2, which for our listeners as what

Nidhi:  exactly is the highway between Montreal and Toronto? So you could take the normal highway, which is the Highway 401, which is

Marco:  the expressway and it's a big sort of freeway.

Nidhi:  Yep.

Marco:  Multi lane.

Nidhi:  Multi lane.

Marco:  It's kind of boring, but it gets you there quick.

Nidhi:  Gets you there quick. That highway happened to be quite congested that day because I was coming home after holiday weekend.

Marco:  Okay.

Nidhi:  And so I took the scenic route, as they say, which is Highway 2. Highway 2. And it's along the water, um, of Lake Ontario. You go into all the little towns and townships. Townships. And it's quite pleasant and beautiful.

Marco:  Right.

Nidhi:  And the roads are very windy, so you can only really go 100 maximum, uh, kilometers an hour. And every so often, I would be behind, ah, a person in a motorcycle. On a motorcycle, right. And they would pass another person on a motorcycle and they would do a hand wave. And at first I couldn't figure out what they were doing, if it was like a secret gesture, because every single motorcyclist would signal to the other motorcyclist. However, after a few times of this happening, I realized that they were just waving to one another.

Marco:  Yeah, It's a sort of special sort of, like, signal that you give.

Nidhi:  Yeah.

Marco:  Like, you know.

Nidhi:  Yeah. Respect.

Marco:  Yeah. We're in the same, you know, we're in the same sort of, um, culture. We. We get it kind of thing. Right?

Nidhi:  Exactly.

Marco:  100 kilometers is about 62 miles for people who are listening from the U.S.

Nidhi:  oh, yes, that's right.

Marco:  So, um, I will say this, Nidhi, have you ever taken a road trip where you're in a different, say, province or state or, you know, part of the world, and you see signs that are things you've heard of, you've always heard of, and you're like, oh, it's here. I remember we were in California driving one time, and I saw a sign that said Pismo Beach. And I was like, I've heard of Pismo Beach. Like, I remember it in a song or something. So I was with a bunch of friends. I'm m. Like, we've got to pull over. Pull over on this, the next, you know, ramp that says to Pismo Beach. And so we went to Pismo beach, and they're like, what is it with you and Pismo Beach? And I think. I think it was a Bugs Bunny episode that takes Bugs to Pismo Beach. I can't recall 100, but we went to Pismo Beach. And, uh, Pismo beach is famous for the Pismo beach clam that I wasn't aware of before.

Nidhi:  Pismo Beach Clam.

Marco:  There's a particular, I guess, clam in Pismo Beach, California. And I got a chance to sort of take the off ramp to Bismo Beach. And, uh, you know, there's just so many places, like even, you know, um, when you're in New York and you've heard of all these different buildings and you finally walk by Rockefeller Plaza or, you know, um, just historic buildings, you're like, ah, that's where it is and seeing those things that you've either seen in books or on television, um, many, many times over and that have a sort of significance. And you're like, I'm here now. And it's always neat to sort of pull over. Dear McDonald's, your breakfast menu fire, uh, tens across the board. I could be happy with anything, even though I order the same thing every time. Thanks for not judging me. I'll try something new next time.

>> Speaker B: Maybe score a two for five dollar deal on a sausage McMuffin with egg and more. Limited time only. Price and participation may vary. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Single item at regular price.


To tip off this NBA season on FanDuel, you can choose your rewards

Nidhi:  Uh, uh, to tip off this NBA season on FanDuel, you can choose your own rewards, which means you can play your game any way you want.

Marco:  I get to choose my rewards?

Nidhi:  Yep.

Nidhi:  Great.

Marco:  Now excuse me while I lock in all customers.

Nidhi:  Choose your own reward right now in the FanDuel app. 21 in present in select states, 18 in Kentucky. Opt in Required rewards are non withdrawable. Restrictions apply including bonus and token expiration, leg requirement and max wager amount. See full [email protected] sportsbook gambling problem. Call 1-800-G GAMBLER

Nidhi:  I remember that feeling a couple of times. Uh, once when I first moved to London, England. And it was such a special experience and time in my life that every iconic landmark was very special to me. Whether it was Trafalgar Square or seeing Buckingham palace or the Tower of London. Even though they were very typical landmark and attractions, they were really special to me. I also remember standing in the Roman Forum in Rome for the first time ever and being very moved by the energy that I felt in those ruins.

Marco:  Sure.

Nidhi:  I don't know why. I don't know. And it was only the first time because the second time I went to Rome and stood again in the Colosseum and then the Roman Forum. Uh, I didn't have the same feeling, but the first time I did. So go figure.

Marco:  I should mention that the Pismo clam, also known as the Tavella stultorum, is a species of large edible saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusk in the Veneri D or the Venus clams. It's in that family of clams. Do you like clams, Nadine?

Nidhi:  Ah, I had razor clams recently.

Marco:  In Montreal?

Nidhi:  No, here in Toronto. Oh, that's right. In that restaurant that you always want me to go to and that I never go to. Um, what's the name of that restaurant?

Marco:  Restaurant. It's one of my favorite Restaurants. And it's called Bullion Bilk.

Nidhi:  That's right.

Marco:  And I've been imploring you to go for the last three or four years. And m. And the funny thing is, Niddy's always in Montreal. She's always heading to see, you know, her hometown. And I'm always like, you've got to go, please go, please go. And she's like, I'll go, I'll go. And she never goes.

Nidhi:  Well, it's funny, but, because when Marco, you first started telling me about Bouillon Bilk, it was sort ah, of just this random place that you had stumbled upon when you were in Montreal. And then a few years ago, I was telling my friend in Montreal that, oh, we need to go to Bouillon Bilk. My friend Marco keeps telling me about it and she was like, oh, you need to make reservations a few weeks in advance for that place. So I don't know if it's still the hottest place in town, but you clearly were ahead of the trend.

Marco:  There you go. See?


I had my first razor clams at Bar Isabel in Toronto

But before we got onto razor clams, right? Razor clams. Because that's where I had my razor clams.

Nidhi:  My first razor clams.

Marco:  And I loved them.

Nidhi:  They. So I had it at Bar Isabel here in Toronto and it was, they were fantastic. I didn't know what I was going to expect with the razor clams, but, um, it was just so, I mean, the texture, the flavor, everything was phenomenal.

Marco:  And do you know what a razor clam looks like? It doesn't look like a traditional clam. Do they serve it on the shell? On the half shell or was it

Nidhi:  just like it was on the half shell?

Marco:  Yes, they're a long, skinny shell. Um, razor clams look kind of like a, um, straight razor, I guess you would say, like, you know, the old time razors that they sort of like flip open and you can shave with. They're, they're a longer, thinner type of, uh, clam or shell for a clam. Yeah. I don't know how we got into clam.

Nidhi:  I don't know.


It's very important that we talk about New England clam soup or Manhattan clam soup

Marco:  So let me ask you this. If we're going to talk about clams, sure. It's very important that we talk about New England clam soup or Manhattan clam soup. Sorry. Chowder.

Nidhi:  Chowder.

Marco:  You made the big mistake.

Nidhi:  I called it, called it soup.

Marco:  I meant to say chowder.

Nidhi:  I, um, have to say New England.

Marco:  And why is that?

Nidhi:  Because it's, you know, the traditional, classic, creamy, um, chowder. It's, you know what, I'm actually thinking about it, but I can't even. I don't think I've even had Manhattan clam chowder before.

Marco:  Oh, you haven't? No.

Nidhi:  Well, I think I've only ever had New England clam chowder. What's the difference?

Marco:  Well, you know, first let me say, um, with regards to, um, clam chowders, I am a huge fan of New England clam chowders because not only do I love them, but my, my extended family, my wife's family is from New England, so they make a wicked awesome chowder, whether it be seafood or clam. But the New England clam chowder is my favorite. And, uh, the more clams and potatoes and creaminess you can have in there, the happier I am. And they put, um, traditionally you get, I think they're called oyster crackers to put on top of the chowder.

Nidhi:  So I know that in New England clam chowder you can't have tomatoes, but in the New York or the Manhattan clam chowder, you can. Um, yeah, it's because, Because I think the. So the. It's funny because In, I believe, 1939, there was a bill introduced into the Maine legislature that banned tomatoes in their

Marco:  clam chowder for New England.

Nidhi:  For, like, for New England. Um, but the, the Manhattan clam chowder had more of an Italian, um, root to it. And of course, um, the tomatoes became

Marco:  part of the Manhattan.

Nidhi:  The Manhattan clam chowder.

Marco:  Uh, they're both great. I have had Manhattan clam chowder. We'll have to. I'll, uh, have to take you out for some Manhattan clam chowder.

Nidhi:  I would like that.

Marco:  It's, it's. I find it more stewy, whereas that, uh, makes sense. The New England clam chowder, sometimes called the Boston clam chowder, is hearty and rich and creamy.

Nidhi:  Yeah, I love having my Boston clam chowder in a bread bowl.

Marco:  Oh, well, yes.

Nidhi:  So in San Francisco, if you go by the pier, right there is. I forgot the name of this famous.

Marco:  It's in a sourdough bowl. Yes, and I know, I know, exactly. And I've.

Nidhi:  Have you been there? Yes, we've all been there. But I don't remember the name.

Marco:  Oh, it will come to me. Probably after our episodes when we were just there. Uh, uh, it's got like a one word title. I can't think.

Nidhi:  But we'll find it. We'll find it.

Marco:  But you had some chowder there and the sourdough.

Nidhi:  Yes, and it was phenomenal. Phenomenal. I think clam chowder and chicken pot pie has to be Two of my favorite more North American type dishes. I love hearty chicken pot pie as well. Yeah, I mean, I guess chicken pot pie isn't necessarily North American. Um, but I particularly enjoy it.

Marco:  Sure. I, um, I do. Like, there's certain. Certain times of the year where I crave that. And, uh, you know, it's nice. It's nice when you have sort of a food dish that you can claim as your own or part of your heritage, and you're like, oh, that's a go to for me.


What is your go to dish for your Italian roots? It depends on the season

Nidhi:  What is your go to dish for your. For. From your Italian roots?

Marco:  Oh, um, that's a great question. I mean, for me, it depends on the season and what's. What's available during that season. So, for example, when tomatoes are in season, I. I will easily whip up a caprese salad with tomato and mozzarella and basil, especially if the basil is fresh from the garden.

Nidhi:  Oh, beautiful.

Marco:  Um, and I also love. I mean, I love so many dishes, but, like, you know, my go to's, I love gnocchi. I love, um, polenta. I love a bunch of different things that I. I would. I would call staples in my household that I make during different times of the year. Like, I like. I like polenta when it's cold outside. That's. That's. I always have, like, a polenta or arizalto when it's cold outside. And those, um, are a couple of my go to's. What about. What are your go to's in Indian cooking?

Nidhi:  Yes, I love, um, palak paneer, which is spinach and sort of an Indian cottage cheese. That's one of my favorite dishes. I also enjoy, um, a particular dal, like a sambar dal, which is a South Indian lentil, which is nice and spicy and very, um, hearty. And you usually have it with a dosa, which is a South Indian cream of wheat pancake. Really Yum. Um, it's very, very good. So I enjoy both of those. I enjoy a good chicken curry. Nothing beats a good chicken curry. I would have to say, though, if I was just ordering at a restaurant and they only gave me one choice, I would probably go for the palak paneer.


Nidhi: My go to would have to be poutine

Marco:  So, Nidhi, we mentioned both our ethnic background, the food that we go to. Let's talk about the Canadian item or food item that we would go to.

Nidhi:  Oh, Marco, that's an easy one for me because my go to would have to be poutine.

Marco:  Okay.

Nidhi:  Of course, whether it is a, uh, afternoon or evening fare, uh, that I would have as a treat or perhaps something at the end of a night at the bar. It's a good go to for our

Marco:  listeners who don't know what poutine is.

Nidhi:  Oh, yes, let me explain what it is. It is French fries with, um, cheese curds and gravy. And it's a specialty of Quebec. Really?

Marco:  And there you go. Mine, you know, I have a sweet tooth. So for me, it would be the butter tart.

Nidhi:  Ah, the butter tart.

Marco:  The butter tart. Flaky, crispy little tart that is, uh, filled with a delicious sweet goo. Sometimes you'll find raisins, sometimes you'll find pecans, and sometimes you won't find either of the two inside. And the restaurant in San Francisco that makes the chowder in the sourdough bowl is Boutin.

Nidhi:  Yes, it is. There you go.

Marco:  I knew it would come to me.

Nidhi:  Well, with that being said, Marco, as always, we want to thank our listeners for joining us. And you can tweet us listenandsleep from

Marco:  my backyard in Toronto. We wish you a pleasant day, afternoon or evening.