Tina Leary: Veterans Day

In this poignant episode of "Tina Leary," psychic Tina Leary meets Mr. Griffin, an elderly, decorated veteran. Griffin, a West Point commissioned officer who served in conflicts from Vietnam to Afghanistan, is nearing the end of his life and seeks guidance to put the pieces of his long, isolated career together.

Tina, after an initial reading that reveals a lack of deep emotional connection in his mind, reveals her secret tool: a U.S. Government-issued Philco radio, a device inherited from her Navy Intelligence mother, which can contact the decease.

Griffin decides to "fire it up" to find his father, Steven Griffin, who was killed in WWII at Okinawa. The contact is immediate and shocking—not only does he speak to his father, Steven, but also to Tina's mother, Martha, who turns out to be his old flame from Angola. The dramatic, often funny, reunion with Martha uncovers old grudges and "things left unsaid". Steven, Mr. Griffin's father, confirms his pride in his son and, knowing about Mr. Griffin's terminal cancer diagnosis, offers timeless advice on appreciating the little time he has left. The episode ends with Mr. Griffin finding a new perspective: to "stop and smell the roses" and take comfort in the knowledge that his father is always with him.

Major Themes

• Service and Sacrifice: The episode explores the heavy toll of a lifetime of military service, from Mr. Griffin's decades spent in "every theater"  (war zones) to the tragic, early death of his father in WWII.
• Legacy and Regret: Mr. Griffin struggles with feeling he left "no legacy" and questions the worth of his life. His father's perspective encourages him to recognize that you "never know how you affect people".
• The Power of Connection: The story contrasts Mr. Griffin's emotionally isolated life with the unexpected re-ignition of connection through the radio, allowing him to reconnect with a lost love and finally hear his father's affirmation.
• Mortality and Time: Given his terminal diagnosis 24, Mr. Griffin's perspective shifts from dwelling on the past to accepting that life is a "blink of an eye" and finding meaning in appreciating the short time he has left.

Way of the Iguana

A young man named Luis struggles to find his place in the world, torn between his past and an uncertain future. This audio drama, written by Rick Regan, explores the lives of a Mexican family through their dreams, struggles, and the harsh realities of poverty and sacrifice.

Listen as Luis grapples with the allegorical wisdom of his father, Jose, who uses tales of donkeys and iguanas to teach him about work and ambition. The "way of the iguana" represents a choice of laziness and a meaningless existence, while the hardworking "donkey" symbolizes a life of labor without personal purpose.

The story unfolds across three distinct time periods, revealing the fate of Luis and his family. The first scene introduces Luis and his father, Jose, working at a construction site in "el Norte," where they toil to send money back to their family in Paraiso, Tabasco. Six years later, Luis finds himself in Mexico, lost and in a destructive relationship, haunted by the memories of his family and their sacrifices. The final scene finds Luis alone in the desert, at the end of his journey, reflecting on his life and the choices he has made.

Themes explored in the play include:

• The meaning of work and labor: The script contrasts the physical, donkey-like labor of survival with the purposeful, heartfelt work that gives life meaning.

• Family sacrifice: The play highlights the sacrifices made by parents, like Jose and his wife, for the sake of their children's future.

• Poverty and survival: The characters navigate a world where poverty is a constant threat, forcing them into difficult situations and desperate choices.

• The struggle for self-identity: Luis's journey is a quest to define himself outside of the roles of "donkey" or "iguana" and to understand his own purpose in a world that seems determined to crush him.

• Faith and despair: The story touches on the role of faith in a world of suffering, and the belief in something greater than oneself, even when hope seems lost.

"Summon the Dead," explores generational trauma, family secrets, and the quest for healing. We follow Tina Leary, a psychic who uses a shortwave radio to communicate with the deceased. The radio, once used by her CIA spy mother, Martha, becomes the conduit for a client, Maria Columbo, to seek answers from the other side.

Maria is troubled by her past and the state of her family, including a daughter she calls a "whore" and a son a "lazy bastard". She wonders where her life "went wrong" and whether it was her fault. Through Tina’s psychic reading, Maria learns of a "dark energy" between her deceased younger sister, Emma, and their father.

The drama escalates when Tina helps Maria use the radio to confront her deceased mother, Cecilia "Chili" Columbo. Maria discovers a shocking family history involving abuse and secrets that reveal the source of her family's long-standing dysfunction. The play delves into how buried truths can impact lives for decades and the difficult journey of confronting them to find closure. The episode raises questions about accountability, motherhood, and the price of silence.

The major themes are generational trauma, family secrets, and the search for truth and healing.

Generational Trauma

The play explores how trauma, particularly abuse, is passed down through generations. Maria's own struggles with her children and husband mirror the dysfunctional family dynamic she grew up in. She believes her life "went wrong" because of a single past event, and the revelations about her father's abuse of her sister and herself show the deep-seated impact of her family's history. Maria's mother, Chili, also alludes to her own difficult past and the pressure to please men. The play suggests that the cycle of abuse and unhappiness continues until someone, like Maria, confronts the painful truth to find a "new way to think about" her own kids.

Family Secrets and the Past
A significant theme is the weight of buried family secrets. Both Tina and Maria work to uncover a past that has been hidden and ignored. Maria herself admits she "didn't want to look" and "couldn't face it" when she suspected something was wrong6. Tina's use of her psychic abilities and the radio allows the characters to confront these secrets head-on. The radio serves as a literal and metaphorical tool for connecting with the past to gain clarity on the present. The play emphasizes that understanding the past is crucial for moving forward, even if the truth is painful.

The Search for Truth and Healing

Maria's journey is a quest for truth and, ultimately, healing. She seeks answers to a central question: "When did I get screwed? Was it really my fault?"10. Her initial session with Tina reveals the "dark energy" and the possibility of abuse. The subsequent communication with her mother, Chili, confirms her suspicions, however painful the conversation is. Despite the terrible revelations, Maria expresses gratitude because now she knows the truth and can begin to "unpack it all". The play suggests that while the truth may not be easy, it is a necessary first step toward breaking free from the past and finding a path to healing.

"Smarty Marty, the Talkin' Mule!," is a short, humorous story about a farmer, Tommy, who is trying to find a new companion for his horse, MacGuire, after the death of his old horse, MacDougal. The story is set in rural Ireland and follows Tommy as he visits a market in Corofin.

In the first scene, Tommy is at his barn, talking to MacGuire about the loss of MacDougal and how he plans to find a new horse for him. He reminisces about MacDougal's playful nature, including a time the two horses were "throwin' peat at each other, sideways-like".

At the market, Tommy runs into his friend, Jimmy, who he hasn't seen in nearly a year. The two friends catch up, and Tommy explains that he is at the market to find a new companion for MacGuire. Jimmy points to a mule for sale named Marty, and warns Tommy to "steer clear of this fella" because he is a "bad mule". Jimmy reveals he tried to teach Marty to talk using a book from the internet, and to his surprise, the mule learned. The problem is, Marty won't stop talking about his obsession with early-2000s celebrities like Scarlett Johansson and Kate Blanchett, and he keeps asking for hot dogs.

Despite Jimmy's warnings, Tommy decides to buy the talking mule. He plans to use Marty's bizarre conversational skills to create content for a YouTube channel. The play ends as Tommy leads Marty away, with the mule continuing his strange comments about celebrities.

Themes

• Grief and companionship: The story starts with the theme of grief and loneliness after the death of a beloved animal. Both Tommy and his horse MacGuire are still mourning the loss of MacDougal.
• The absurdity of modern life: A central theme is the hilarious and unexpected clash between traditional rural life and modern technology and pop culture. The idea of a talking mule obsessed with early-2000s film stars and wanting a YouTube channel is the main driver of the comedy.
• Finding a purpose: Tommy's journey evolves from simply finding a new horse to an entrepreneurial idea to monetize his new talking mule. He sees Marty not just as a companion for MacGuire, but as a way to "make a few of them memes... on the YouTube".

In "Over Needles," a seemingly routine commuter flight from Orange County, California, to Las Vegas, Nevada, takes an unexpected and alarming turn. Aboard Canada Air flight 301, a cantankerous investor blogger named Orville and his wife, Wendy, are on a multi-stop journey to North Dakota. The flight is hijacked remotely and forced to land at a deserted airstrip in Needles, California. As armed men board the plane to seize Orville, he cries out that the incident is related to his work exposing corruption in the gold market. The flight crew and passengers are caught in the middle of a mysterious plot, leaving everyone to question who they can trust.

Major Themes

• Conspiracy and Paranoia: A central theme is the idea of a large-scale conspiracy. Orville's belief that a shadowy group is manipulating the gold market and their attempt to capture him validates his paranoid worldview.

• Trust and Deception: The script explores who can be trusted. The flight's diversion is a mystery, and characters' true allegiances are revealed, particularly the flight attendant, Helen, whose actions suggest she is involved in the conspiracy despite her claims of innocence. The Captain's initial trust in his crew is shattered when he suspects Helen's involvement.

• The Individual vs. Powerful Forces: Orville, an ordinary man, believes he is fighting against powerful and corrupt individuals, possibly government or financial entities. His attempt to "shine the light" and "tell the truth" puts him in direct conflict with these forces.

• The Mundane vs. The Extraordinary: The story begins with the mundane annoyances of air travel—complaints about cramped seats and unpleasant smells—which are abruptly disrupted by a shocking and extraordinary event, highlighting how a normal day can be upended by hidden forces.

• The Fragility of Modern Life and Technology: The plot hinges on the remote hijacking of the aircraft's autopilot system, a technology-driven act that subverts the captain's control. This demonstrates how reliance on technology can make people vulnerable. The pilot mentions this technology was developed in "I-raq," suggesting a military origin.

"Hang 'em!"
In this chilling political satire, three political staffers—John, Mark, and Matt—meet in a conference room to brainstorm policy ideas for an incumbent US President's potential second term. The conversation, which starts with a vague desire to "take it to the next level," quickly devolves into a disturbingly casual discussion about making capital punishment for murder a policy priority.

Mark proposes a radical and horrifying idea: using a newly approved law for capital punishment in all 50 states to prosecute and execute any woman who has had an abortion, which the men repeatedly define as "murder". As the meeting progresses, the trio debates the finer points of this proposal, including making the punishments public, displaying the bodies for seven days, and using recyclable aluminum poles and stainless steel screws. They even consider adding electronic signs with details of the "crime" and selling ad space or obituaries.

The plan becomes more outlandish as they consider retroactive punishment, possibly targeting every woman who has had a legal abortion since Roe v. Wade. They calculate this could affect millions of women, casually throwing out numbers like "thirty seven, call it forty, million women". The episode concludes with John instructing Mark and Matt to draft a policy document on the abortion idea, while tabling an even more extreme suggestion from Mark about revisiting the "three-fifths-of-a-person issue" from the Constitution.

Themes of the Story

The script explores several dark themes:

• Dehumanization and Casual Cruelty: The most striking theme is how the characters discuss monstrous ideas with a frighteningly detached and business-like demeanor. They talk about hanging, displaying bodies, and executing millions of women as if they are discussing any other mundane policy detail, complete with jokes and laughter. The use of terms like "moral hazard," "transparency," and "states rights" highlights how political jargon can be used to sanitize and justify horrific acts.

• The Slippery Slope of Political Extremism: The story illustrates how seemingly small steps can lead to extreme and violent outcomes. The men begin with a broad discussion about "priorities" and "taking it to the next level" before quickly escalating to capital punishment for abortion, public hangings, and the idea of retroactive application. The final conversation about the three-fifths compromise serves as a final jolt, showing that their capacity for extreme thought is not limited to a single issue.

• The Perversion of Justice and Language: The script repeatedly uses the phrase "abortion is murder" to justify their plans, demonstrating how a simple, repeated statement can become the foundation for a radical and violent policy. The characters twist concepts like "justice," "transparency," and "fairness" to rationalize their proposed acts of mass execution. Their lack of concern for legal processes, such as trials, further underscores a complete disregard for due process in the pursuit of their goals.

"Short Skirts Make the Money" is a one-woman show written by Rick Regan.
In this performance, Widow Sinclair tells the audience a series of stories about her life, including her upbringing in the "New South," her college years in England, her marriage to her late husband Clark, and her current life as a widow. The show is set in a studio apartment.

The story is a mix of wry and sardonic humor, with moments of genuine sadness. Widow Sinclair's delivery to the audience is direct and conversational. She makes witty observations about serious topics, such as the "Male Gaze" in theater and the expectations placed on women. Her recounting of her college years in England and the "Labia Days" comment is both wry and self-aware. Her description of her late husband's quirks, like the Jello mold of his penis, and her friend's reaction to finding it in the freezer, is an example of the script's sardonic humor. She also uses self-deprecating humor, calling herself a "husband-seeking missile, Rambo in a cocktail dress" when she transferred to college to find a husband. 

Themes

• The Male Gaze and the Female Body: Widow Sinclair frequently touches on how women's bodies are perceived and used by society. She discusses the academic concept of the "Male Gaze" in theater, where a woman's presence on stage often leads to violence or sex in the story. She also mentions seeing a group of talented female dancers who bent over in silver shorts while singing about respecting women, noting how their talent was put aside for an "artistic vision" that reduced them to "sex objects"6. This theme is encapsulated by a producer's quote to her: "Honey, short skirts make the money".
• Female Identity and Autonomy: The script explores how women, including Widow Sinclair, navigate their own identities within societal expectations. She discusses how her boyfriend's mother was a victim of change as her family farm turned into "faceless-farming". She also reflects on how she felt like an "imposter" in her marriage, pretending to be someone she wasn't and getting further away from who she was and what she wanted. The play concludes with her finding a new sense of purpose through writing after shedding the trappings of her married life, such as the big house and fancy cars.
• The "Loaded Gun" Metaphor: A recurring metaphor in the show is Chekov's Gun, a dramatic principle that states if a gun is introduced in the first act, it must be fired by the third. Widow Sinclair applies this to women's lives, suggesting that when a woman appears on "stage"—whether in a play or in life—something must be "done with her" by the end. She applies this to characters like Juliet and real-life figures like Princess Diana, who was "the loaded gun in the first act at the wedding". She even relates it to herself, noting that she was a "husband-seeking missile, Rambo in a cocktail dress" when she transferred colleges.

In a small Russian village caught in the throes of a civil war, the Baker's Wife has a stable, if not perfect, life. She bakes and sells bread, navigating daily tensions with her estranged husband, the Miller, and her own complicated family drama. But when her husband, the Baker, suddenly returns home with the Imperial Army on his heels, her life of simple routine is shattered.

Tensions escalate as she and the Miller's Daughter are forced to confront the violence of both the Czar's men and a new, more radical threat from the Red Army. The episode culminates in a brutal showdown that reveals the true cost of war on ordinary people and forces the Baker's Wife to confront the very definition of love, loyalty, and survival.

Themes:
The audio drama "The Baker's Wife" explores several powerful themes against the backdrop of a Russian civil war. The story delves into the complexities of love and betrayal, as the Baker's Wife grapples with her husband's infidelity, only to later find herself protecting him and mourning his death. The narrative also examines the theme of survival in the face of political turmoil, highlighting how ordinary people like the Baker's Wife, the Miller, and their families are caught between two warring forces—the Czar's Imperial Army and the Red Army.

The script touches on the brutal reality of war and its impact on innocence, shown through the violent events that unfold in the Baker's home and the transformation of a schoolboy into a soldier. Another key theme is identity and purpose, as characters define themselves through their daily work and their relationships, even when those relationships are complicated or strained. The story ultimately suggests that human connections and simple, honest work, like baking bread, can provide meaning and stability amidst a chaotic and violent world.

"Tears into Wine"
When Olivia's husband, Xander, is diagnosed with a severe illness, their family is thrown into turmoil. As Olivia and her sister Agatha pray for a miracle, they are unexpectedly visited by a young woman named Ginnie, who reveals herself to be Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. Aphrodite offers to heal Xander, but at a terrible price: a sacrifice is required. What begins as a desperate plea for divine intervention becomes a harrowing test of faith, love, and the true cost of a miracle. This is a story of a family on the brink, forced to confront impossible choices and the startling reality that their prayers have been answered—just not in the way they expected.

Themes
The script explores several profound themes:
 * Faith vs. Doubt: The story contrasts the Christian faith of Olivia and Agatha with the reality of a Greek goddess, Aphrodite, who answers their prayers. It challenges traditional beliefs and explores how people react when their understanding of the divine is upended. Agatha, a devout Christian, struggles to reconcile her prayers to Jesus with the tangible intervention of a different deity, questioning her own faith and the nature of miracles.
 * The Nature of Sacrifice: Olivia is initially willing to sacrifice herself for her husband, but the test of her love comes when she is asked to sacrifice her son, Tony, instead. The play examines what people are truly willing to give up for the ones they love and introduces the idea that a willing, and perhaps more meaningful, sacrifice can come from an unexpected source, as Tony chooses to give up his own life for his father.
 * Maternal Love and Letting Go: Olivia's deep love for her family is a central theme. She is faced with the impossible choice between her husband's life and her son's freedom. The script highlights the struggle of a mother to let go of her child as he becomes an adult, making his own choices, even when she disagrees with them.
 * Mortality and Immortality: The play contrasts the human condition of sickness, death, and suffering with the promises of immortality and divine protection offered by Aphrodite. It forces the characters, particularly Tony, to confront the value of their mortal lives and the potential allure of an eternal existence.

U-Bahn '89

In the summer of 1989, a group of ambitious friends in West Berlin gathers for cocktails, their lives defined by art, desire, and the ever-present shadow of the Wall. Karl-Heinz is a quiet intellectual, Tawny a sensitive artist, Gregor a ruthless opportunist, Friederike a glamorous model, and Kiki a radical artist whose identity is hidden behind a burlap sack.

But when the world changes overnight on November 9th, their personal lives are thrown into chaos. The fall of the Berlin Wall isn't just a historical footnote; it's a catalyst that shatters their careers, reshapes their relationships, and forces them to confront who they really are. As freedom brings unforeseen consequences, ambition turns to exploitation, art loses its meaning, and love is tested by tragedy.

U-Bahn '89 is a three-act audio drama that captures a pivotal moment in history through the intimate lens of five friends whose futures are irrevocably forged in the rubble of the old world.

Themes Explored

• The Intersection of the Personal and the Political: The play masterfully illustrates how massive historical events like the fall of the Berlin Wall directly impact the intimate lives of ordinary people. Career paths are destroyed and created, relationships are tested and broken, and personal identities are forced to adapt to a new reality.
• The Nature of Freedom: The characters experience the arrival of freedom not as a simple victory, but as a complex and destabilizing force. For Gregor, it is the freedom to pursue ruthless capitalist ambition. For Friederike, it brings economic insecurity that forces her to find a new path. For Kiki, it erases the purpose of her political art and espionage, leaving her irrelevant.
• Art, Protest, and Authenticity: The play questions the role and meaning of art. Tawny's art is a personal search for spirit and feeling , while Kiki's is a public, political performance that is ultimately revealed to be a cover for espionage. The story explores whether art can effect real change or if it is just a "make-believe" act in the face of larger forces.
• Love, Transaction, and Exploitation: The relationships range from the genuine love between Karl-Heinz and Tawny to the deeply transactional and exploitative dynamics involving Gregor. Gregor's relationships with both Kiki and Friederike are built on power, control, and what he can gain from them, whether it is sexual gratification or a sense of dominance.
• Grief and Memory: In the final act, the grand sweep of history takes a backseat to the profound and personal theme of grief. Karl-Heinz's loss of Tawny is the most enduring event for him, showing that personal tragedies can overshadow even world-changing political moments. The appearance of Tawny's ghost suggests that love and memory persist beyond death.