We’re looking forward to introducing you to Mr. Calvin Lester. Check out our conversation below.
Calvin, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day for me balances my role as a Puppet Specialist at Walt Disney World Resorts with my work as the creator of Bird Call. At Disney, I maintain shows while supporting performers to keep each character consistent and alive for audiences. I also teach puppetry workshops for up and coming puppeteers. We’re often in rehearsals for one of our many world-class shows like Finding Nemo or The Little Mermaid bringing in new talent to add to our casts.
On days away from Disney, I use downtime and evenings to shift focus to refining storylines, developing new arcs, and brainstorming ways to expand Bird Call and its characters. Carrying a notebook keeps ideas flowing and fuels my creativity. Each day blends technical precision with imaginative storytelling, keeping me inspired to both preserve existing magic and build new worlds of my own.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Calvin Lester, a puppeteer, writer, and creator best known as the mind behind Bird Call, a world of colorful bird characters brought to life through puppetry, music, and comedy. I perform many of the roles myself, including Luckl-Duckl Bird and Bingo Flamingo. The Bird Call cast includes a group of brilliant performers: Scott Huhn, Kelsey Brady, Luke Gerdes, Tyler Campbell, Shane McNeal, Braden Clapp, and Chris Faulkenberry who bring the feathery flock to life.
I first created Bird Call in 2002 at 15 years old growing up in a small coal-mining town in West Virginia. What began as sketches and small performances has grown into a brand that mixes humor, heart, and classic puppetry in a way that feels both nostalgic and new.
Beyond Bird Call, I’ve performed and taught puppetry with The Muppets, Disney Parks, Disney Cruise Line, SeaWorld Parks, and more. My credits also include television work on 9 Years to Neptune, Blippi’s Treehouse, along with voice-over performances.
Currently, we’re working on a new season of the podcast series “Bird Call: On the Air”, an untitled project featuring my original character Flobby Red, and a live stage show titled “Herman & The Flea”.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I was a kid in a small coal-mining town in West Virginia who dreamed bigger than the mountains around me. Even back then, I imagined myself in every corner of the entertainment world an actor, animator, singer, and creator. I filled notebooks with characters, jokes, and sketches for variety shows my friends and I did in school. It was in the spirit of SNL, but in my head it already felt like it belonged on a stage or screen.
Growing up, I played sports and socialized with friends in and out of school. But I was truly trying to figure out who I was in a place where creativity wasn’t always the obvious career path. Friendships meant everything to me, and I was lucky to have a tight circle who made those years brighter. My little brother Cory and my close friends helped shape me more than they know. They taught me the value of loyalty, humor, and determination. Those things became the foundation for the work I do today.
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was simply dreaming and waiting to be heard. My drive to imagine and create kept going until those dreams came true.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
A time I almost gave up was when Bird Call was shelved just as it was about to begin production for a pilot episode. It felt like defeat but I was able to reacquire the rights, which gave me the chance to start fresh and explore new ways to build the show.
In 2014, we staged the first full production of “Bird Call the Musical”, a two-act stage show that was a true success. It gave me renewed confidence in the project. A little over a year later, we attempted a short theater residency with an updated version of the stage show. It was a disaster. The manager at the time was dishonest and unhelpful, and we ended up performing to nearly empty houses due to some constraints from the theater’s management. After that run, I was ready to throw in the towel.
But even in that failure, something good came out of it: we found a new group of fans who believed in the show. That was the reminder I needed. I couldn’t let one terrible experience define the future of Bird Call. Instead, we chose to learn from it and it made our productions and experiences stronger, our team tougher, and our passion more focused than ever before.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would probably say what really matters to me is loyalty, creativity, and connection. I care deeply about the people in my life. My family and the friends who’ve stuck by me through every stage of this journey have really kept me going. I’ve always believed relationships and collaboration mean more than any single success.
They’d also tell you I’m driven by creativity. Whether it’s writing or building worlds like Bird Call, I’m constantly looking for ways to tell stories that make people laugh, feel, and connect. And underneath all of it, they’d say I care about keeping puppetry alive for audiences who still want that sense of wonder.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
The story I hope people tell about me is that I never stopped chasing my dreams, no matter how impossible they seemed. I grew up in a small town where big dreams often felt out of reach. I believed in creating worlds, telling stories, and bringing characters to life. I want people to remember that I cared deeply about the people around me and that those relationships shaped everything I created.
I hope they say that through Bird Call and the other projects I poured my heart into, I gave people laughter, comfort, and connection that felt real.
Most of all, I hope they tell the story of someone who stayed true to himself, who never gave up on the little worlds he dreamed up as a teenager into adulthood, and who used those dreams to connect with others even after my time here.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.birdcallradi.com
- Instagram: @birdcallradio
- Twitter: @birdcallradio
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/BirdCallRadio
- Youtube: https://YouTube.com/BirdCallRadio
- Other: Bird Call: On the Air Podcast Series is available wherever you get your podcasts!
Bird Call the Musical Album available on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, and more!
Image Credits
Allison Goolsby
Taylor Williams
Ryan Kirsch
Dean Ray
