Episode #1 Aired: 9/06/2005

This week we kick off the festivities with a little soul searching. Are we alone? Or does God have control over everything? Shall we leave it in his hands, or take actions ourselves. In my own writings I've often considered exactly what part the celestial plays in the affairs of humanity. David Koenigsberg's continuing series "The Soul Patrol" answers that question in a mixture of rye humour and dramatic tension. Later we'll have a conversation with Mr. Koenigsberg about creating radio drama, and begin our weekly serial from DreamRealm Enterprises- Robots of the Company.

The Soul Patrol
Dream Realm Enterprises

Episode 33: Aired 4/18/06

Our regular broadcast through our radio affiliates this week has ended with Archibald MacLeigh's "The Fall of the City" a triumphant distopic view of a society in distress. Because of various contract requirements, we're unable to present this show for our podcasting audience. If you wish to listen to the Fall of the City, please tune in to one of our affiliate stations or download the archives from the CKDU website.
In its place I'd like to present a special show available only through our podcast- Texas Radio Theater's "The Snowman". A Hans Christian Anderson tale adapted by our member in good standing Richard Frolich.
 
This is our final meeting of this season's Sonic Society, and there's so much to be done. I want to thank all of our contributors and urge any of our more quiet members to send us your works or your thoughts for season 2.
Afterwards, a chat with next season's host Andrew Dorfman and a surprise call-in guest, as they reminisce over the first season and give some hints as to what will be in store for Society Members next season. We then conclude this very successful first season with part 2 of Shadowlands Theatre's "Ghosts of the Present".

Texas Radio Theatre
Spaceship Radio
Dream Realm Enterprises
Audio Addicts
Decoder Ring Theatre
Shadowlands Theatre

Episode 32: Aired 4/11/06

This week's meeting completes our voyage into Hell. Not some travelogue by Dante but rather a ghoulish vision of the Abyss on Earth. A play on words like "Aftermath" in which the authors of Ollin Productions look at how humanity would fair with Hell superimposed upon it. This idea, the brainchild of Joseph Medina works on many levels, not the least of which is mythic/psychological. As I've mentioned on previous episodes, I find when you explore religious icons and myths in tales you provide an excellent opportunity to look at the human condition. Maybe it's because myths deal with such stark archetypes it's easier to explore the human heart, truth, belief, love, good and evil. I think the use of anthology stories, while incredibly popular in past radio dramas has been underutilized today. Now, I love a good continuous story where we can get to know and explore characters, but it's in the anthology format that I find we can especially focus on themes and concepts. We continue with "Dark Descent", then finish our interview with the "After Hell" crew.

We close out this meeting with a very special treat from Shadowlands Theatre. A sobering lesson on the consequences of greed is taught to the crew of a cargo holder soon to be lost in what appears to be deep space. From the Deadly Sins Scripts we present to you part 1 of "Greed: Ghosts of the Present".

Afterhell
Dismay Promo
Consortium Comics
Shadowlands Theatre

Episode 31 Aired: 4/4/06

The Sonic Society

The series "AfterHell" arrived in my mail and once again I feel like a kid waking up on Christmas morning- or perhaps in this case Hallowe'en Morn. The episode "Dark Descent" has everything in it I love about good audio cinema. A strong narrative, powerful actors, great music, and attention to one of the most important details- an understanding of the medium. I've spoken before about the brilliance of the very first known radio drama that explored the millieu through a tale of miners sealed off in the darkness. To tell a really good radio drama, you can't simply do a movie without pictures. The best audio stories use sound as a plot device. When you're left in darkness in a mining shaft, sound is your world. When you spend most of your time on the telephone trying to elicit help, sound is your savior- or your damnation.
The folks at Ollin Productions recognise this and use sound to drive their story forward.
After our feature we'll have an interview with the good folks from Ollin Productions about the After Hell project, then finish up with a final set of Wasted Tape.

Ollin Productions
Spaceship Radio
Shrink Rap Radio
Dream Realm Enterprises
Wasted Tape