Dirt - An Audio Drama

Kris here, with another recommendation for a terrific audio drama that I recently binged from start to finish titled Sorry About the Murder.

Sorry About the Murder bills itself as a very Canadian murder mystery fiction podcast, and it doesn’t take very long to find out why. Set in the nice little town of Beavermount, Ontario, the story revolves around a friendly Zamboni driver who’s falsely accused of committing a heinous homicide involving said Zamboni. (And real quick, in case you don’t know what a Zamboni is, you really need to watch more hockey. A Zamboni is the vehicle that’s used to smooth out the ice for a hockey match or for ice skating.)

Hockey is a major theme in the podcast, because Canada, but also because the local hockey rink—and its nightly matches between teams of townsfolk—is the epicenter of the nice little town of Beavermount, Ontario. Which is why it’s so important for the Zamboni driver, a very endearing character named Frenchie, to try to clear his name by nightfall, so he can ready the ice in time for that night’s big match.

Sorry About the Murder is a drama, yes, expertly narrated over eight very bingeable episodes, but it’s really a small-town comedy full of quirky characters and deadpan humor. Think of it as a cross between Prairie Home Companion, Murder She Wrote, and the TV show Northern Exposure. This is reportedly just the first of several seasons that Frenchie will have to get himself out of a bind, so now’s your chance to get in early and digest all of the goodness that is Sorry About the Murder.

Here, for your enjoyment, is episode 1, titled Bonjour Beavermount. 

Sorry About the Murder and Dirt - An Audio Drama are both part of the Fable & Folly Network.

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Hi everyone, Kris here with another recommendation for a wonderful show that is also part of the Fable & Folly network, called Desert Skies.

Desert Skies takes place at cosmic pit stop between this world and the next, where people who have recently left the physical plane show up to gather fuel and supplies to prepare for their journey through the celestial spheres. The station is staffed by three workers—an attendant named Tendy, a mechanic named Mac, and a sentient cash register named CASH, whose jobs are ostensibly to supply those who stop in with what they need for the road ahead. But what their job really seems to be about is getting to the root of issues that are keeping their visitors from venturing onward, whether it’s unresolved anguish from the lives they just left, regrets, or being separated from a loved one.

Desert Skies hits that sweet spot between weighty emotions and comic relief, and its simple, funky, homespun feel is totally endearing. Yet what starts out as a slice of life story following new arrivals to the station quickly grows into an epic tale, where the stakes get higher and higher.

I’m personally a fan of the show—and of the array of frozen burritos that the station keeps on hand for its hungry guests. The sitcom-ish presentation and banter, the genuine goodness of the characters, and even the music, including a hilarious rock montage by sung Mac in episode 3—all add up to a show you’ll want to binge. Fortunately for you, there’s an entire first season to do just that, and second season is currently underway.

You can find to Desert Skies on your favorite podcast player or by clicking here. And best of all, you can hear the very first episode right here, right now, titled The Flavor of Life, Here it comes, and our sincerest thanks to Desert Skies for its support. 

Desert Skies and Dirt are both part of the Fable & Folly Network.

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A quick progress report on Dirt Season 4 production. TLDR: We're making it! Happy metal detecting.

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Kris here, creator of Dirt an Audio Drama. If you’re eagerly awaiting Season 4 of Dirt, which will be Dirt’s final season, here’s a great conversation that UK podcast critic Kevin Wann recently had with me, on his new podcast Tea in the Sahara.

The interview is a brisk 19 minutes long and we get into different things ranging from when Season 4 of Dirt might release to more general topics like casting, favorite recent audio dramas, what might come after Dirt, and more.

You can find Tea in the Sahara on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or of course wherever you listen to your shows. And you should subscribe or follow Kevin's show while you’re at it. You can also listen to our conversation right here after this brief intro, as Kevin has kindly allowed us to run the interview in our feed also.

Lastly, be sure to check out Kevin’s written work at teainthesahara.com. There you’ll find plenty of fiction podcast reviews, as well as insightful interviews with creators. It’s a great website with lots of personality and worth the visit.

So, without further ado, here is the latest episode of the podcast Tea in the Sahara. Take it away Kev.

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Hello Dirt listeners, Kris here with another recommendation for an audio drama that I have been a huge fan of since it launched in 2020.

Visionaries is a magnificent fantasy set in the year 2185, yet in many ways it feels like a Shakespeare play or Roman epic. Future humanity has definitely not lost its appetite for political drama, rebellion, steamy romance, family conflict, backstabbing, and more—all of which make Visionaries a juicy listen, but there’s a whole lot more to it than that.

In this futuristic world, humanity is distinguished by two races: The Visionaries and the Dead-Eyes. The Visionaries are the next step in human evolution, gifted with unique eyes that give them superhuman powers like the ability to see into the future. The Dead-Eyes have no such abilities, and their ordinary eyes lead them to suffer at the hands of the Visionaries, who enslave them to keep them powerless. But there is a revolution afoot, and at the heart of the conflict are two brothers whose rivalry could take down the entire system.

New York-based series showrunner Richard Seneque has created not only a thrilling, multilayered world, but an alluring soundscape. His background effects are beautifully subtle, and the acting is as good as it gets.

There are now two full seasons of Visionaries, so you can binge to your heart’s content. And you can learn more about the plot and the cast and crew, and see some wonderful show art, at visionariesaudiodrama.com.

But for now, sit back, relax, and put those headphones on for a wonderfully immersive experience, which I've personally binged from start to finish. Here now is the first episode of Visionaries, titled Eye for an Eye.

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Here's another recommendation for a great audio drama that is also in the Fable & Folly network called Strange Air.

Strange Air begins with a live broadcast of a Los Angeles radio show about the paranormal, hosted by a man named Malcom Smith. But the narrative soon transitions to Malcom’s daughter, Chase Smith, a USC film student who, it turns out, is working on a documentary about her dad that tries to piece together why and how Malcom mysteriously vanished without a trace one night, in the middle of his show.

Chase spends her days and nights tracking down every possible lead as she searches for the truth about her dad’s disappearance, meeting plenty of intriguing characters along the way. Understandably, her quest becomes highly personal to the point of taking over her life, and even pushing her closest relationships to the limit.

Strange Air is a terrific sci-fi mystery that weaves elements of the hyper-real, the supernatural, religion, technology, family issues, and artificial intelligence. But at its heart, it’s a father-daughter story about grief and longing.

And if the voice of Malcom Smith sounds familiar, it’s because the character is played by Patrick Fabian, who played lawyer Harry Hamlin on the awesome TV show "Better Call Saul."

You can binge all 20 episodes of Strange Air from start to finish wherever you get your podcasts, of course, or at strangeairpodcast.com. Here, now, is the first episode for your listening enjoyment, titled "The Impossible."

Dirt - An Audio Drama and Strange Air are part of the Fable & Folly Network.

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Here's another terrific show we've binged from start to finish and highly recommend: Derelict.

Derelict is a highly immersive sci-fi podcast whose first season, Fathom, will literally leave you breathless. It follows a crew of underwater scientists and engineers who are exploring a mysterious, ancient artifact resembling a giant door, at the bottom of Earth’s ocean. To study it and find out what secrets it holds, the galaxy’s most powerful corporation has built a massive research base surrounding it, which happens to be operated by an equally powerful and vulnerable AI program.

The acting in Derelict is very convincing, especially in the direst of moments. The character interactions are tense and tender, often all at once. And the sound effects…well, you really will feel like you’ve been transported to the bottom of the ocean, and feel what the characters feel, as they venture into the unknown and struggle against unknown forces.

If you love Alien, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and The Martian, you’ll hang on every moment in Derelict. The entire first season is available to binge right now, and Season 2 is underway. Our heartfelt thanks for Derelict for its support.

Learn more about Derelict here: https://www.derelictpodcast.com

And listen to all Derelict episodes here: https://pod.link/1473460202

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Updated Nov 2, 2023. Dirt is an immersive audio mystery with many plot twists and turns. We don't want to give too much away, but we hope this short teaser gives you a taste of what's to come--and inspires you to binge the whole thing! Three full seasons are currently available, with Season 4 coming mid to late 2024.

For the very best audio experience, please listen with headphones.

Dirt is a proud member of the Fable & Folly Network.

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Here's another recommendation for a great show to binge that is also in the Fable & Folly network: Mockery Manor.

Mockery Manor is a feast for the ears in every sense of the word. It’s a murder mystery set in a British theme park in the 1980s that has a deliriously dark comedic edge. Everything about Mockery Manor is superb, from its realistic sound design to its fantastic musical score to its wonderfully cheesy carnival antics and sound effects. But especially, its brilliant acting. The performances are all top notch, but Hayley Evenett is particularly fantastic. She plays not one but TWO main characters who are twins, and who happen to have very different personalities.

Mockery Manor was nominated for Best Fiction at the British Podcast Awards in 2020. There are two full seasons to binge, and the third season is underway. You’ll love every episode.

You can find Mockery Manor wherever you get your podcasts, of course. But you can hear the very first episode right here, right now. Presenting Season 1 Episode 1: “Where Childhood Never Dies.”

To learn more about Mockery Manor, visit https://www.longcatmedia.com/mockery-manor.

Dirt - An Audio Drama and Mockery Manor are part of the Fable & Folly Network.

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Here's another recommendation for a great show to binge that is also in the Fable & Folly network called The Road of Shadows.

The Road of Shadows is a mystery and suspense drama set in a small mountain town way back in 1984. It follows Daniel Knox, a loner on a motorcycle who has spent his entire life on the run as he tries to evade mysterious, human-devouring creatures that he calls shadows. The shadows disguise themselves as people, but for reasons tied to Daniel's past, only he is able to see and sense their true nature. But even though Daniel wants to stay on the move, he gets caught up in the quest of another traveler who happens to be in the same town, investigating the mysterious disappearance of her sister.

The '80s are all over this fantastic production, from the pulsing synth music to the edgy eighties-noir narration, even to the small-town bully. The show feels a bit like a cross between a grown-up version of The Karate Kid, minus the karate, and The Lost Boys.

The Road of Shadows is produced in Australia by the same team that makes The Strata. Both shows regularly appear in the top 10 charts for science fiction on Apple Podcasts. Here is episode 1, titled Misty Pines, for your enjoyment.

Content warning: A bit more language than you might be used to with Dirt. But hey, it's the '80s!

To learn more about The Road of Shadows, visit https://www.theroadofshadows.com.

Dirt - An Audio Drama and The Road of Shadows are part of the Fable & Folly Network.

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