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ATC227: Review of The Jake Muller Adventures: Blood

feedback@audiotheatrecentral.com (Porchlight Family Media) — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Today, ATC contributor Michael Schroeder joins J.D. for an in-depth discussion and review of the second volume in the Jake Muller Adventures series titled Blood. This is a very high-quality, feature-length audio drama for older listeners. Before the review, J.D. shares a bunch of audio drama updates, including upcoming shows and recent releases. And to wrap up the episode, J.D. responds to feedback from Abi and Greyson.

Download Episode 227

Audio Drama Updates - 00:56

Send updates to us - pfm.link/atcnews

Voyage of Voices Cruise - October 17 - 22, 2026

The Encounter, Season 5

Subscribe to the Shepherd from HeartMatters has been released

HeartMatters app

Chester and Ralphie E3, "Leverage Lament," out now

EFP webstore

Listen on Dramafy

Listen on WindowSeat

Spy-ish, a spy comedy micro audio drama from LRT Media

Welcome to Hope Springs, Season 2 premieres May 18

Welcome to Hope Springs website

Season 2 Trailer

The Masque of the Red Death from Markiewitz Audioworks

The Masque of the Red Death CD Pre-order

Our Review of The Masque of the Red Death

Review - 09:11

The Jake Muller Adventures: Blood

The Jake Muller Adventures: Blood is produced by Tannhauser Gate Entertainment, in association with Armor of God Productions, and NewBirth Audio Productions.

Purchase CD or MP3 copy of Blood from the JMA website

Blood Study Guide

Additional Links:

Michael's website

Michael’s book: Darkened Eyes on Amazon

Darkened Eyes book trailer

Fastened Like Nails episode with Michael as guest - Apple Podcasts | SoundCloud

JMA1 on Dramafy

The Cultured Bumpkin (Actor Jake Phillips' Podcast)

A Witch’s Invitation by Carman - YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify

Oasis Audio’s Frankenstein

Bill Myers on the Bookworm Banquet podcast

Feedback - 1:31:39

Abi comments on Ranking All 43 Patch the Pirate Adventures

Greyson comments on ATC226: Review of Adventures in Odyssey #77 and asks about future AIO reviews

Record our show credits for a future episode.
Send us your recording of you reading the following and we'll use it in a future episode:
Script: "Hi! This is [YOUR NAME] from [YOUR CITY AND/OR STATE]. Audio Theatre Central is a production of Porchlight Family Media. The theme music was composed by Sam Avendaño. The show is produced and edited by J.D. Sutter. Find the website at audiotheatrecentral.com."
Email your recording to feedback@audiotheatrecentral.com.

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What are your thoughts on the topics we addressed in this episode? Send us your feedback! We’d love to hear what you think!

Leave a comment below this post, email us at feedback@audiotheatrecentral.com, or give us a call or text 623-688-2770.

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Review of The Masque of the Red Death from Markiewitz Audioworks

feedback@audiotheatrecentral.com (Porchlight Family Media) — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Edgar Allan Poe's famous metaphorical tale of death's inevitability is dramatically portrayed for the mind's stage by Markiewitz Audioworks. The symbolism of the story is brought to the forefront, and Prospero's hubris is the focus of this adaptation. This is not a "fun" or "enjoyable" story to hear, but it's not intended to be. Rather, it is a multi-layered allegorical work that tackles several sobering ideas that we as humans wrestle with.

Scriptwriter Jason Markiewitz's efforts to adapt this short story into the audio drama medium are quite admirable, considering that there is precious little dialogue in the original work. He takes the description-heavy prose and translates the themes and limited plot of Poe's work into an engaging script. Markiewitz manages to work a few near-verbatim lines and phrases from the original story into the dialogue of the script without becoming too expository, for the most part, and only briefly relies on narration.

In terms of production values, the sound design is quite good. There are only a few different environments represented in the production, and all of them feel fairly immersive and compelling. The music is serviceable and fitting as well. And while it does not affect the audio at all, I have to mention that the cover art by Jon Markiewitz is fantastic. In my opinion, some of the best cover art from an indie producer has come from this team, such as the art for Artaban and the Quest for the King and The Tell-Tale Heart, and this title continues the trend.

Actor Marc Biagi
Image Source: facebook.com/marcbiagiofficial

The performances of the cast, while not exceptional, are fairly good. The best showing is Marc Biagi as Death; he brings the perfect blend of sinister haughtiness and detached coolness to his portrayal. Writer and director Jason Markiewitz also takes on the actor role here and delivers a solid performance as the viceroy.

A successful adaptation, in my view, is one in which the original themes and intent of the source material are not lost under layers of the adapter's own ideas and interpolations, and can also stand on its own without the consumer having complete knowledge of the work on which it is based. I believe that this adaptation of The Masque of the Red Death achieves both of those.

Overall, Markiewitz Audioworks has taken this short gothic tale of only about 2400 words and limited dialogue, and produced a faithful audio dramatization that starkly exhibits the themes of Poe's cautionary tale in a compelling way. This half-hour audio drama is great for fans of Poe's work or anyone who is interested in deeply layered stories that tackle darker themes, even ones that might be uncomfortable to hear. While there is no strong language or explicit content in this show, we recommend it for older teens and up due to the themes addressed.

Cast & Crew:

Brennan Villados - Prospero
Jason Markiewitz - Viceroy
Jarod Wiggins - Magistrate
Marc Biagi - Mummer/Red Death
Arie Knyazev - Palace Guard / Party Guest
Tana Aivaz Colburn - Party Guest
Chad Eldridge - Party Guest
Deanne Farinha Eldridge - Party Guest
Lia Rose - Dancer Party Guest
Cover Art by Jon Markiewitz
Music Composed by Ross Bernhardt
Additional Music by Hayden Folker
Written/Sound Designed/Directed by Jason Markiewitz

The Masque of the Red Death releases on CD and MP3 on May 16, 2016. You can pre-order an autographed CD copy now for 20% off. Click here to order your copy through release day.

J.D. Sutter is the host and producer of the Audio Theatre Central podcast and editor of the blog. A lifelong fan of audio drama, he is an industry critic who has guest lectured and spoken at conferences on the subject. J.D. is also a voiceover artist, podcast consultant, and chair of the ATC Seneca Awards, the annual awards for the family-friendly audio drama industry.

ATC226: Review of Adventures in Odyssey #77: A New Perspective

feedback@audiotheatrecentral.com (Porchlight Family Media) — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000

We're back with another Adventures in Odyssey album review! Austin Peachey joins J.D. to do a deep dive into Adventures in Odyssey #77: A New Perspective, and they thoroughly discuss what they did and didn't like about these six episodes. J.D. also responds to feedback from William Chad Newsom and a Spotify user. But before all that, J.D. shares several exciting audio drama updates.

Download Episode 226

Intro

J.D. mentions how affiliate links help support ATC.

Audio Drama Updates - 02:44

Send updates to us - pfm.link/atcnews

Ben-Hur live audio drama by Tim Gregory

Sonic-Con Discount

June 30-July 2, 2026 - Use the coupon code ATC10, you will receive 10% off your pass until 4/1/26

The Clu Crew Membership

Ultimate List of Family-Friendly Superhero Audio Dramas

If you don't NOT know...! - Somewhat Significant Audio Productions’ AIO Trivia Show

The Church at Trestle Falls E2 “Pews Vs Chairs, Part 1” releasing March 7

Surround Bible: The True Story of Easter coming this April

Tally Light Broadcast Kickstarter

Review - 09:18

Adventures In Odyssey #77: A New Perspective

Episodes in this album

#988: “The Heavens Declare”

#989: “The Smouse Show”

#990: “Painted into a Corner”

#991: “Making Nice”

#992: “Unmanageable”

#993: “Facing the Music”

Purchase a copy of the album: Amazon CD | Amazon MP3 | ChristianBook | Apple Music

Additional Links:

Album 77 on the AIO Club

Feedback - 1:31:41

Zippy_Jams_Sometimes on Spotify commented on ATC225 about AIO art

Actor William Chad Newsom commented on ATC225 about AIO on stage

Join The ATC Insiders!

Subscribe to the show so you'll never miss an episode!

Ultimate List of Family-Friendly Superhero Audio Dramas

feedback@audiotheatrecentral.com (Porchlight Family Media) — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 18:49:00 +0000

Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's audio dramas!

Superheroes have been around for a long time. They've captured people's imagination in comic books, TV, and the silver screen. One medium that most wouldn't think about when it comes to this genre is audio drama. Believe it or not, there have been many productions featuring superheroes.

We've curated this list of family-friendly superhero audio dramas that you can listen to right now.

Please be aware that not every single one of the productions listed is intended for all ages to hear. As always, we recommend that parents preview each one to judge whether it is appropriate for their children's ages.

Are there some shows or episodes that didn't make it on this list? Leave us a comment with the titles of any you think we should add! We'll be updating this post as we find out about more productions.

Modern Audio Drama

HeartMatters

Super Distracted

The Adventures of Epsilon VII

The Return of Epsilon VII - Dramafy

Down Gilead Lane/Beyond Gilead

Corelopolis

Adventures in Odyssey

The Truth Be Told - Amazon | Apple Music

Three in One - Amazon | Apple Music

Wooton's Broken Pencil Show - Amazon | Apple Music

Push the Red Button - Amazon | Apple Music

Lifted Out of Context

The Way of the Comic Book

The Human Eel

How the Grimm Stole Easter - Amazon | Apple Music | Dramafy | WindowSeat

The Adventure Begins - Amazon | Apple Music | Dramafy | WindowSeat

Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth - Amazon | Apple Music | Dramafy | WindowSeat

MS Found in a Bauble - Amazon | Apple Music | Dramafy | WindowSeat

The False Prophet of Megapolis City - Amazon | Apple Music | Dramafy | WindowSeat

The Importance of Being Thankful - Amazon | Apple Music | WindowSeat

The Man Who Would Rule the World - Amazon | Apple Music | WindowSeat

The Good & the Bad of the Good & the Bad - Amazon | Apple Music | WindowSeat

Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men - Amazon | Apple Music | Dramafy | WindowSeat

Greystone, King of the Poodles - Amazon | Apple Music | WindowSeat

The Good, the Bad and the Even Badder - Amazon | Apple Music | WindowSeat

Austin Peachey

The League of Ordinary Heroes - Dramafy | WindowSeat

Base Camp Adventures

Red Zero

Stronger Together

First Acts Productions

Amplified Mortals - Dramafy | YouTube

Kids Corner - Liz and Friends

Facing Giants

Saturday Morning Theatre

The Adventures of The Thunder Crester - Podchaser

Old Time Radio

Superman - Internet Archive | OTR Downloads

Not Quite Audio Drama

Sargent Family Productions

Wayfarer - Amazon | Apple Books

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. ATC receives a small percentage of your purchase when you buy these products via our links. Thank you!

Austin Peachey is an audio drama fan through and through. A dedicated listener and critic of the medium, he also has produced several productions over the years. Austin is a member of the Audio Drama Alliance and currently holds the position of Audio Producer at HeartMatters. Austin enjoys being a guest contributor to Audio Theatre Central on the podcast and blog.

Audio Drama Industry Event, Sonic-Con, Returns This Summer

feedback@audiotheatrecentral.com (Porchlight Family Media) — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000

After a break of two years, the much-loved industry convention, Sonic-Con, will once again be held this summer. The 3-day event for established professionals in the family-friendly audio drama world, as well as aspiring creatives in the space, will take place on June 30-July 2, 2026.

With opportunities to learn from and network with some of the top actors, writers, and composers working in audio drama today, Sonic-Con offers a great experience through classes, Q&A sessions, and live audio drama performances. There is also an exhibition hall for existing show producers to promote their work.

Once again being hosted on the campus of Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, there are some additional options for Sonic-Con attendees this year. While you can still grab a day pass or event-only pass, there are also options to bundle your meals and/or lodging into your event pass as well. Chris Nelson, event director, says about these changes, "The biggest upside this year is the ability for people to stay on campus, eat on campus, and as a result, continue creative conversations throughout each day without having to leave to go to various hotels or eating establishments. I think the synergy of being around people will help increase that networking and relationship-building part of the event."

When you purchase any pass from 2/14 – 4/1 and use the coupon code ATC10, you will receive 10% off your pass. Note, the coupon code does not apply to merch. Remember, get your passes from Valentine’s Day to April Fools' Day to take advantage of the ATC discount.

Sonic-Con website

Direct Link to Purchase Event Passes

ATC225: New Adventures in Odyssey Art and Logo, AIO on the Stage

feedback@audiotheatrecentral.com (Porchlight Family Media) — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000

We're covering a whole lot of Adventures in Odyssey topics in today's episode. Our guest is the Production Manager of the Adventures in Odyssey Theater Pilot Project, Madaline Ware, and she's going to tell us all about her work to bring AIO to the stage and how you can get involved as well. J.D. also covers the recent AIO logo change, the new character artwork, and the news about the upcoming Odyssey movie. And in the feedback segment, J.D. responds to Michael C.'s question about how we'll handle AIO reviews going forward. But before all of that, we've got a bunch of audio drama updates to share.

Download Episode 225

Intro

Spreadsheet of the clips used in the segment transitions is linked on our About page

Audio Drama Updates - 01:29

Send updates to us - pfm.link/atcnews

Realm Makers Writer's Conference and Expo - June 24-27, 2026

Sonic-Con Uncut - June 30-July 2, 2026

Lamplighter Theatre Update

The Hardy Boys Update

New Audio Drama Alliance Website

Resurgence from Eternal Future Productions Is Out

Nick Guy & the Night at the Pop Opera Affair - Amazon | WindowSeat

Nick Guy & the Little Orphan Andy Affair - Amazon | Dramafy | WindowSeat

Nick Guy website

Welcome to Hope Springs S1 Releasing Now

Monologue (So Here’s What I’m Thinking) - 11:54

J.D. talks about the Adventures in Odyssey movie news, changes to the AIO logo, the new character designs, and more.

Information about the AIO movie
ATC210 in which J.D. covers the AIO distribution changes

Interview Segment - 30:01

Madaline Ware

Production Manager, Adventures in Odyssey Theater Pilot Project

Project Website

Instagram

Facebook

NOTE: The Theater Pilot Project is not an official Focus on the Family program, but is operating with their permission.

Feedback Segment - 50:01

Michael C emails about how we'll handle AIO reviews going forward.

Record our show credits for a future episode.
Send us your recording of you reading the following and we'll use it in a future episode:
Script: "Hi! This is [YOUR NAME] from [YOUR CITY AND/OR STATE]. Audio Theatre Central is a production of Porchlight Family Media. The theme music was composed by Sam Avendaño. The show is produced and edited by J.D. Sutter. Find the website at audiotheatrecentral.com."
Email your recording to feedback@audiotheatrecentral.com.

Credits for ATC225 recorded by Emily Cobb.

Join The ATC Insiders!

Subscribe to the show so you'll never miss an episode!

ATC224: Developing a New Series, Indie Audio Drama Trends & More with Christopher Green

feedback@audiotheatrecentral.com (Porchlight Family Media) — Sun, 11 Jan 2026 21:42:00 +0000

In our first episode of the new year, J.D. and ATC Contributor Christopher Green have a discussion about the challenges of developing a new audio drama show, some of the trends they're seeing in the industry currently, and some they'd like to see catch on more. They also share some talent to watch in the indie space, some of their favorite releases from 2025, and their most anticipated releases coming in 2026. J.D. also shares some audio drama updates and responds to feedback from Nate, Jonathan, and Austin.

Download Episode 224

Audio Drama Updates - 01:19

Send your audio drama updates to us - pfm.link/atcnews

The Cricket on the Hearth and The Haunted Man from Average Romp

The Lamb from SaltLight Media

The League of Ordinary Heroes from Austin Peachey

Dramafy

Windowseat

Upcoming Releases for 2026

Discussion (So Here’s What I’m Thinking) - 05:21

Christopher Green - Writer, Producer, Actor

Links from the conversation:

Christopher's website

The Potion of Power

Time Truck Chronicles

Quote Origin: If I Had More Time, I Would Have Written a Shorter Letter

One Day in Aspen Creek

Ben Kempf’s At His Bedside

Stand Firm

Average Romp’s The Cricket on the Hearth

HeartMatters’ Princess

HeartMatters’ Life: Time

Wednesday’s Weather

Feedback - 1:11:18

Email from Jonathan Morris, producer with Average Romp

Comment on ATC223 from Austin Peachey

Comment on FB from Nate Jones

Credits for ATC224 read by William Chad Newsom.

Join The ATC Insiders!

Subscribe to the show so you'll never miss an episode!

Audio Dramas Coming in 2026

feedback@audiotheatrecentral.com (Porchlight Family Media) — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 20:49:00 +0000

A new year is here. Welcome to 2026! It's a year full of new possibilities, experiences, and ... audio drama! Last year was jam-packed with releases, and 2026 looks like there will be plenty more. Here's a list of several productions that we're aware of and some tentative release times.

Please be aware that some release dates may change without notice.

Welcome to Hope Springs

If you've been wondering when a new audio drama made by Paul McCusker would see the light of day, you don't have to wait long! A new audio drama series called Welcome to Hope Springs premieres this month, and the first season of the show starts its rollout on podcast platforms on January 12. This series was written and directed by Paul McCusker. Some other familiar names in the crew are Nate Jones, Jared DePasquale, and Dominic Treis. (Hear our interview with Paul about this show in ATC223.)

Eternal Future Productions

After much delay, the long-awaited historical drama Resurgence is almost here. This stand-alone story will be released sometime this month.

A new episode from Chester and Ralphie called "Leverage Lament" is on the horizon. Frank Ulle will be composing music, with Jonathan Winstead doing sound design. No word on when it will be released, but it will likely be in the first half of 2026.

New episodes of Venture are planned to be released this year. As for release dates, that's still to be determined.

Lamplighter Theatre

After years of teases and delays, listeners will finally get to hear a stand-alone audio drama about Finnian Jones. Since the beginning of the series, Finnian's story has just been in the bookend segments. That will change when The Rescue of Finnian Jones releases. This story will give listeners a deeper look at his family life and history, with an exciting adventure as well. No release date has been announced, but is expected to release sometime in 2026.

HeartMatters

Four new audio dramas are coming from HeartMatters in 2026. The first one is set for release in March. Entitled "Subscribe to the Shepherd," this follow-up to "A Pig Tale" and "Red's Fall at Grand Mall" will give the classic fairy tale of The Boy Who Cried Wolf a comedic twist. This will be followed by a multi-part contemporary drama, an epic fantasy story, and the first installment of a sketch comedy show. Look for these in the next three quarters of 2026.

First Acts Audio Productions

Formerly known as First Acts Productions, Glenn Hascall's production company will have several projects released this year.

Range Drifters will see its second season released this year. The first episode, "The Takeover," is already available. On the first day of the next 5 months, a new episode will be released. A Christmas special for the series will be released on December 1.

The universe of Range Drifters will be expanding this summer. Starting in July 1, the first of a 3-episode spinoff called Dapper McBleat will be released. It's entitled "A Meadow by Any Other Name." The next two episodes will be released on the first of August and September, respectively.

Time to Listen, a micro audio drama series that launched in 2025, will be coming to an end this year. Seven episodes will be released in March, with the final five episodes releasing in the fall.

Dragnet: Biblical Investigations will return with two new episodes in the fall. Job Thursday will have a new partner for the police investigations. "Shipwreck, Snake Bit, Plus the Utter Rejection of the Letter D" will be released on October 1st. "Baffled, Belligerent and Babbling" will follow on November 1st.

A standalone Christmas story, a rom-com, called Oh So Merry Manuscript will be the last release for 2026. That comes out on November 26th.

Jake Muller Adventures

The fourth volume of the Jake Muller Adventures is coming this year! Engineered is the first international story in the series and one that will push the ongoing story arc into new areas. This album is set for an early 2026 release.

Adventures in Odyssey

It's going to be a year of changes for the long-running series from Focus on the Family. Along with a new logo and artwork, all new episodes going forward will be exclusive to the AIO Club with no CD/digital download/radio releases. Album 81's title is being voted on by fans, but it will start releasing later this month, starting on January 15. 1-2 episodes will be released per month in 2026. The first episode is entitled "Knox on Money."

NewBirth Audio Productions

Tracy van Dolder's Western drama, The Claim, is almost here! This audio drama about a pastor's son's struggles in the town of Clayton Creek has been long-awaited. It's expected to be released this April.

A writing collab between Tracy van Dolder and Micah Touchet called Now I See is also coming out this year. This adaptation of a story from the Gospels is tentatively scheduled for a late spring release.

Which productions are you most excited to hear this year! Let us know in the comments. Happy New Year!

Austin Peachey is an audio drama fan through and through. A dedicated listener and critic of the medium, he also has produced several productions over the years. Austin is a member of the Audio Drama Alliance and currently holds the position of Audio Content Producer at HeartMatters. Austin enjoys being a guest contributor to Audio Theatre Central on the podcast and blog.

New Christmas Audio Drama for 2025

feedback@audiotheatrecentral.com (Porchlight Family Media) — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 22:02:00 +0000

Is it almost Christmas again? Well, if you look at the number of new holiday audio dramas being released, it would seem it is indeed upon us! If you're looking for some new Christmas stories to add to your playlist, you'll find several to choose from in this roundup of audio dramas released for this season.

If you want to find many past Christmas productions, make sure to check out our Ultimate List of Christmas Audio Dramas.

Theodora's Locket
Markiewitz AudioWorks

In 1903 Montana, Theodora Prentice, a young orphan, whose brother is feared dead in the Klondike, and whose Aunt and cousins navigate challenges of their own, performs an act of true selflessness which results in a Christmas miracle. Inspired by the 1909 L.M. Montgomery story, "Christmas at Red Butte."

Official Webstore | YouTube | Dramafy

"The Real Story of Christmas" - Surround Bible

The Surround Bible presents The Real Story of Christmas — an immersive Audio Movie that places you at the heart of the most extraordinary moment in history. Told with verbatim scripture, brought to life by a cast of renowned voice actors, and enhanced by a cinematic score and world-class sound production, this is more than a listening experience — it's a spiritual journey.

Official Website

"O Come All Ye Thankful" - Tales from Cottonwood Trails

Christmas morning brings an unpleasant surprise for Mathilda, after she receives some terrible gifts from Morton! And upon arrival at Rob's treehouse, she discovers that she's not the only one unhappy with Morton's ghastly gift choices!

Official Website | Podcast link

Jimsy
First Acts Audio Productions

When two orphan boys arrive in Lindon just before Christmas they learn that snow can be white, some people don't like Christmas trees and one man needs to know the meaning of thump-walloper. Adapted and slightly reimagined from a book from the early 1900s this production comes with all the feels of a redemption story at Christmas. Who knows, you might just have a thump-walloper of a Christmas, too.

YouTube | Dramafy

The Cobbler, The Cabbage and The Christmas Cup
First Acts Audio Productions

Inspired by a short story in which a cobbler is promised a visit from the Christ child. Three guests came, but no Christ child - or was there? Just the right touch of seasonal inspiration and a feel good story for the entire family. Join in on a visit to the 1800s and one tiny Cobbler shop, the soup they shared and the cup of friendship.

YouTube | Dramafy | WindowSeat

"Christmas Conundrums" - Time to Listen
First Acts Audio Productions

Grandpa John and Ben are tracking down this year’s Christmas tree while Grandma, Levi and Deborah are making everything ready at home for the arrival of the tree. This episode reminds the grandchildren that as much fun as Christmas is for kids it is a celebration that isn’t just for kids in this Christmas conversation meets imagination.

YouTube | WindowSeat

"Merciful Megan" - The League of Ordinary Heroes

While on a Christmas road trip, Megan has to choose whether to rescue her obnoxious coworker.

Dramafy

"St. Nicholas" - The Saints
The Merry Beggars

The city of Patara, 280 A.D. A thriving Roman port on the Mediterranean Sea. But for Christians, life is difficult, marked by discrimination, and even persecution. Amidst this turmoil, a young wealthy man with a remarkably generous heart emerges. He touches the lives of Christians and pagans alike, teaching them about Jesus through his secret kindness. This is the story of Saint Nicholas.

Official Site

"The Smouse Family Christmas" - Adventures in Odyssey

There's tension and tinsel when Zoe joins Jay for a chaotic family gathering during the holidays.

Adventures in Odyssey Club

Season 35: Stranded - Discovery Mountain

Forced out of their home, Aria and her son Lian embark on a faith-testing cross-country move. In Discovery Mountain, the teens can't stop talking about an upcoming youth group event: a "polar bear" campout! Who's willing to brave the cold—and even scarier, speak up front? When a road mishap brings the two parties together, multiple journeys of trust intertwine, and the faith of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar sparks courage anew.

Official Website | Podcast link

"A Silent Night (Christmas Special)" - Unshackled

On the frozen fields of Flanders, 1914, war’s brutality silenced hope—until a single carol broke through. On Christmas Day, enemies became brothers, sharing songs and peace in No Man’s Land. But could this fragile truce withstand the dawn? Discover the miracle of courage, faith, and the light of hope all on the next Unshackled!

Unshackled Web App | Podcast Link

"A Base Camp Christmas" - Base Camp Adventures

It’s Christmastime at Base Camp! Mountain Man Jack and Joe return home to Texas for a difficult visit. Piper and Terrance are busy with two kids and preparation for a Christmas Eve service. Sven, Zoner, and Dazey decorate Base Camp and learn about the true meaning of Christmas. Gal struggles with the idea of spending Christmas on the moon.

Podcast Link | WindowSeat

The Cricket On The Hearth & The Haunted Man

Average Romp

Following the critically-acclaimed release of The Chimes in 2022, Average Romp presents two more full-cast adaptations of Charles Dickens’ Christmas stories; The Cricket on the Hearth and The Haunted Man.

The Haunted Man is a more sinister tale about a scientist called Redlaw who is visited by a spirit in the form of his own shadow and given the chance to forget his troubles. - (See our review.)

Official Website

The Lamb
SaltLight Media

Experience the timeless story of Christmas in a fresh and powerful way with The Lamb, a captivating dramatized monologue with music and full sound design. Available now as a digital download, this dramatic audio experience brings to life the awe-inspiring journey of a humble shepherd who witnesses the birth, life, and sacrifice of Jesus—the Lamb of God.

Through the shepherd's eyes, hear the breathtaking story of that first Christmas night in Bethlehem, when angels proclaimed the birth of the Savior. As he recalls the years that follow—from the prophecy of the Lamb to the devastating events of the cross—this moving narrative explores the profound significance of Jesus' life and mission. - (See our review.)

Official Website

Merry Christmas and happy listening!

Austin Peachey is an audio drama fan through and through. A dedicated listener and critic of the medium, he also has produced several productions over the years. Austin is a member of the Audio Drama Alliance and currently holds the position of Audio Content Producer at HeartMatters. Austin enjoys being a guest contributor to Audio Theatre Central on the podcast and blog.

SaltLight Media Releases Dramatized Monologue "The Lamb"

feedback@audiotheatrecentral.com (Porchlight Family Media) — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 19:05:00 +0000

Just in time for Christmas, SaltLight Media has released a new dramatic audio production called The Lamb. Produced in 2024, this 39-minute dramatized monologue is now available for purchase as a digital download. Joe Mueller, who wrote, performed, and produced the piece, says that this project is his "first foray into the sonic sphere."

Summary:

With rich soundscapes, stirring music, and a thought-provoking retelling, The Lamb invites listeners to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas: the birth of a Savior who came to take away the sins of the world. Perfect for personal reflection, holiday gatherings, or sharing with loved ones, this audio drama will deepen your understanding of the Christmas story like never before.

Though this project is not a full audio drama, the background sound effects and music support the dramatic reading of the monologue nicely. Mueller's performance is really solid, bringing just the right touches of emotion and wonder where called for as the narrative unfolds. This is a well-written, intriguing new take on the birth of Jesus that shows us the very reason for his coming. For a debut release, this production is quite well done.

You can listen to samples and purchase this program at the SaltLight Media website.

Review of The Cricket on the Hearth & The Haunted Man from Average Romp

feedback@audiotheatrecentral.com (Porchlight Family Media) — Sat, 20 Dec 2025 21:11:00 +0000

Two years ago, we learned about Average Romp, a new-to-us audio drama company from the UK, headed by producer and writer Jonathan Morris. They had produced an adaptation of Charles Dickens' The Chimes in 2022, and thanks to a distribution deal with Big Finish the following year, we found out about it and reviewed it. This year, Average Romp returns with two more holiday tales from the great writer, and no, it's not yet another version of A Christmas Carol! We love that story around here, of course, but I think it's been done enough, so I am quite pleased to see folks take an interest in producing some of Dickens' lesser-known works.

Average Romp has packaged together two stories, The Cricket on the Hearth and The Haunted Man, in this new release. Which is great for listeners because you get two fantastic stories with a total runtime of nearly 2 hours, for a great price. (And it's even a better deal if you bundle it with The Chimes!) But the only downside is that we only get one piece of cover art for these two stories, which is a bit of a shame because both the cover for The Chimes and for this release (which features a scene from The Haunted Man), are designed by Clayton Hickman and they're so good, I would have loved to have one for the third story as well.

Cover art woes aside, let's dig into these two productions. Though they are two completely unrelated stories with different casts, since they are only available as a set, I will review both in this post. As I've already mentioned, we have talked many times over the years about the numerous audio adaptations of A Christmas Carol, both in the podcast and on the blog. That book is far and away the most well-known of Dickens' holiday stories, and possibly the most recognizable of all his works overall for most people. These two stories have some similar themes and even some similar characters, but they are great tales in their own right that I think many listeners will enjoy.

The Cricket on the Hearth

Adapted from the 1845 Charles Dickens novella by Eddie Robson, Average Romp's audio dramatization of The Cricket on the Hearth comes in with a runtime of just over 55 minutes. The Dickens work has a subtitle of "A Fairy Tale of Home," which implies somewhat of a magical or fantastical element to the story, and though the producers have shortened the title, the production retains those elements from the original work. While not the first audio drama adaptation of this story (I am aware of two others: one by NBC in 1945 and one by Colonial Radio Theatre in 2011), this production by Average Romp levels up the quality in every regard. The script is paced nicely and is easy to follow, the acting is superb, and the sound design and music are spot on and support the performances well.

Summary:

The Cricket on the Hearth concerns a carrier called John Peerybingle who fears his wife Dot may be unfaithful to him due to their age difference. The story also features an ill-matched wedding between the imperious factory owner Tackleton and the free-spirited May. A supernatural element is provided by a talking cricket that speaks to John after a drunken night out.

From the opening seconds of this audio drama, this story pulled me right in. I have read the book on which it is based, but it has been quite a few years, and though I could remember some of the basic plot points, I could recall none of the specifics. What I do clearly remember thinking at the time was that this was not Dickens' best work. I couldn't quite articulate exactly what wasn't clicking for me with the story when I read it, but I will say that I did not have that issue at all with Robson's script. Apparently, he was able to pull out the essential elements of the source material, retaining that Dickensian charm, and elevate it for the audio medium in such a way that just worked for me. The dialogue was great, the flow of things moved along nicely, and I didn't feel as though there were any wasted minutes in the production.

As mentioned above, the story does have some similar themes to A Christmas Carol, namely that we have a well-to-do older man, Tackleton, who is not the most agreeable fellow and who also doesn't care all that much for Christmas. But while he may be like Scrooge in personality, the story itself differs quite a bit in other regards. The rest of the characters run the spectrum you might expect from a Dickens work, from sweet and demure to aloof and self-absorbed, and everything in between. These colorful characters populate a wintery story world and tell a tale that has both somber and sweet moments with touches of humor sprinkled here and there. One of my favorite lines, which was a Robson addition and not from the Dickens text, was when a character makes a comment referencing how Jane Austen's books were filling women's heads with romantic ideas, saying, "Miss Austen has a lot to answer for!"

Cast and Crew:

Graham Fellows as John Peerybingle

Jason Forbes as Edward

Geoff Leesley as Tackleton

Tony Marshall as Caleb

Bronté Barbé as Dot

Rosa Escoda as May

Katie Moore as Bertha

Producer - Jonathan Morris

Writer - Eddie Robson

Director - Lisa Bowerman

Sound designer/composer - Howard Carter

Cover artwork - Clayton Hickman

Recorded at the Soundhouse Studio, London

The cast and director: (L to R) Rosa Escoda, Tony Marshall, Bronté Barbé, Graham Fellows, Geoff Leesley, Jason Forbes, Lisa Bowerman, and Katie Moore

The cast was simply amazing. Every single actor gave a splendid performance and brought their respective characters to life in a believable way. They were a joy to listen to. I especially loved Bronté Barbé's portrayal of Dot; she had some great moments that really shone. As did Katie Moore as Bertha, who has a few tender moments that were played flawlessly. But as I said, the entire cast was fantastic. There's not a single performance to criticize here, which speaks not only to the acting chops on display, but also to the skill of the director in being able to tease out the perfect performances from these skilled actors.

The sound design of the production is also of very high quality. Though there are not really any explosive moments where the sound design is particularly obvious, that's because the story doesn't call for it, and every environment and situation that the characters find themselves in is designed expertly and mixed well so that the audience gets the immersion needed to visualize the scene. Likewise, the music, while minimal, also does its job well. Most scene transitions are fade out/fade in so there is not a lot of underscoring or cues between scenes happening in this show, but what is there is very complementary to the story and fits well.

As we wrap up with this audio drama, just a couple of quick content notes. While we would characterize this audio drama as clean and family-friendly, there is one instance of a mild swear when Tackleton becomes annoyed with the chirping of the titular cricket. There are also depictions of drunkenness and perceived marital infidelity. As is always the case with shows that contain these sorts of elements, we recommend parents listen first to gauge the appropriateness for their children.

Overall, The Cricket on the Hearth is very enjoyable to listen to. It's an absolutely delightful tale performed by a fabulous cast and accompanied by great soundscapes and music that come together in a high-quality audio drama production. The sweet, lighthearted story has bits of humor sprinkled throughout—a couple of the lines elicited a hearty chuckle while I listened—and I think its heartwarming conclusion will make it one that many will want to add to their annual Christmas lineup. It is one of my favorite releases of the year, and I think it's well worth checking out.

Extended Preview:

The Haunted Man

First published in 1848, The Haunted Man and the Ghost’s Bargain: A Fancy for Christmas-Time is the full title of the second Charles Dickens' novella that Average Romp has adapted in this collection. This one comes in at about an hour in duration and, in comparison to The Cricket on the Hearth, has a much darker tone. The script was written by Jonathan Morris, and this is my first exposure to this particular Dickens tale. After thoroughly enjoying the first entry in this pair of shows, I had high hopes for this one, and it did not disappoint. Once again, we have an excellent cast, a great script, and top-notch sound design and music coming together to result in a fabulous audio drama.

Summary:

The Haunted Man is a darker tale about a scientist called Redlaw who is consumed by regret. Visited by a spirit in the form of his own shadow, he is given the chance to forget his troubles. However, this gift manifests as an infection and when other characters lose their sorrows we see how they are changed for the worse.

As you can probably tell from both the summary and artwork above, this story is dealing with much bleaker and somber themes than The Cricket on the Hearth. This production is almost entirely opposite from that one tonally. While Cricket is overall light, warm, and humorous, The Haunted Man is dark, cold, and grim throughout. But the story doesn't leave us in the doldrums. There is a beautiful message contained in the dark path we tread alongside Redlaw on the way to the eventual light at the end of the tunnel when the story concludes. It's a nice contrast to pair the straightforward romcom-ish Cricket with the darker, deeper, and more symbolic storytelling in The Haunted Man.

Something about this audio adaptation that I really liked was how Morris uses the story framing device of Charles Dickens telling the story to the listener. There is even a reference to A Christmas Carol at the start. It's a nice way to set things up for the listener, and also allows for the occasional use of Dickens as a narrator as the tale unfolds. Like its partner in this set of stories, The Haunted Man also has elements reminiscent of A Christmas Carol, and in this case, it is the showing of possible future outcomes to our protagonist by a spirit. But again, the differences are greater than the similarities, and Morris does a fine job of bringing this melancholic tale to life for the ear. After scanning over the source material, I observed a few changes he made, such as simplifying some characters' names and condensing dialogue, that made the story flow much better in the medium of audio. He also added a line in the latter part of the story that I quite liked, which, as far as I know, is not from any of Dickens' work. It was something along the lines of, "grief is love by another name … you can't have one without the other." I think this might be a more recent concept/sentiment, and I have heard similar ideas pop up in other places before, but I thought it fit nicely here.

Cast and Crew:

Paterson Joseph as Redlaw

Jeff Rawle as Philip

Tim Speyer as William

Dan Starkey as Charles Dickens

Matthew Steer as Tetterby

Rosie Baker as Sophia

Tilly Vosburgh as Milly

Writer/producer - Jonathan Morris

Director - Lisa Bowerman

Sound designer/composer - Howard Carter

Cover artwork - Clayton Hickman

Recorded at the Soundhouse Studio, London

The cast: (L to R) Rosie Baker, Dan Starkey, Matthew Steer, Paterson Joseph, Jeff Rawle, Tim Speyer, Tilly Vosburgh

This audio drama features another splendid cast. Once again, every single role was played with perfection. I found nothing that I thought could have been improved on with this cast and their performances. Paterson Joseph was just fantastic as our POV character. His deep, sonorous voice fit the tormented Redlaw perfectly, and he brought a necessary gravity to the role through his portrayal. Conversely, the bright, chipper Milly Swidger was expertly played by Tilly Vosburgh, and she was a delight. These two stood out to me, but the entire cast was excellent. Perfect casting, directing, and acting again in this production.

The sound design for this show was really good. This story actually had some elements requiring the SFX to be a bit more at the forefront, and it was executed quite well. The effects used for the phantom/shadow were pretty great, as were the ones used for the little "magical" moments in the story, which I will not describe in more detail for spoiler reasons. But there was also a nice sound design moment in a scene where we have a perspective shift for the listener as we move back and forth between two characters who are speaking through a door. It was a small thing, but I really liked it and thought it was a nice touch. And there was also more music in this one compared to the other show, and it had some really cool moments in the score.

The one small negative with this audio drama was in the mixing. I thought there were a couple of moments where the pacing or timing in the editing was a little off and made for a slightly awkward flow. It was only at two or three points, and we're probably talking about microseconds here, but it was something that I noticed. I'd venture to guess that most listeners will not pick up on it, though.

Aside from the obvious note about the overall tone of this production being a little darker, there are not really any content issues to be aware of. There is no strong language, and the only other thing that might be a caution is that there is a scene in which a husband and wife have a heated argument that might feel a little too close to real life for folks who grew up in an environment that was like that, but the situation in this story is resolved quite quickly. But as with the first show, parents may want to listen first to see if this is one for younger ears.

In summary, The Haunted Man is another stellar production from Average Romp. While I didn't enjoy this story as much as The Cricket on the Hearth, that is no reflection of the production quality; that's just personal preference. This show has a great blending of compelling story, excellent acting, immersive sound design, and fitting music to result in an engaging audio experience with deep themes to ponder. And though it's not your typical, warm holiday tale, it's one worth checking out this Christmas if you enjoy stories that are more introspective and symbolic.

Extended Preview:

Conclusion

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to both The Cricket on the Hearth and The Haunted Man. Now, along with The Chimes, I've heard three excellent audio dramas from this production house, and I really hope to hear more. These are very well-produced audio dramas that are well worth the investment of a few bucks to get to enjoy them. You can purchase this set of two shows or bundle them with The Chimes at the Average Romp website. Their e-commerce system is set for British pounds, but you can use PayPal to purchase with US dollars or whatever your local currency is, and it will make the conversion for you.

Average Romp website

The Cricket On The Hearth & The Haunted Man

The Chimes

Double Dickens (All 3 for only 20 GBP!)

Average Romp Releases Two New Dickens' Christmas Stories

feedback@audiotheatrecentral.com (Porchlight Family Media) — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 23:08:00 +0000

From the same team who brought us an audio dramatization of The Chimes in 2022 comes two more of Charles Dickens' classic Christmas stories. Average Romp has produced audio adaptations of both The Cricket on the Hearth and The Haunted Man. Each production has a runtime of just under an hour and was recorded at The Soundhouse in London with a full cast of talented actors. They are adapted by Eddie Robson and Jonathan Morris, directed by Lisa Bowerman, and have sound design and music by Howard Carter.

The Cricket on the Hearth is a heartwarming and humorous tale about a parcel carrier called John Peerybingle who fears his wife Dot may be unfaithful to him due to their age difference, and the ill-matched wedding between the imperious factory owner Tackleton and the free-spirited May. The Haunted Man is a more sinister tale about a scientist called Redlaw who is visited by a spirit in the form of his own shadow and given the chance to forget his troubles.

Unlike A Christmas Carol, these shows may not be suitable for all ages, as they do cover some slightly more mature topics and darker themes; The Haunted Man in particular. ~~Full reviews are to follow soon.~~ EDIT: Reviews published now.

These two new audio dramas are available as a digital download set via the Average Romp website. The site also has extended previews to allow you to sample the shows before committing to a purchase. And you can also bundle them with Average Romp's production of The Chimes for a discount.

ATC223: AIR Theatre, AIO, and More with Writer Paul McCusker

feedback@audiotheatrecentral.com (Porchlight Family Media) — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 03:13:00 +0000

Renowned audio drama scriptwriter and director, Paul McCusker, joins the podcast today for an in-depth conversation with J.D. about Augustine Institute Radio Theatre and a new audio drama series he's working on. Also in the interview, they talk about Adventures in Odyssey, Focus on the Family Radio Theatre, and what a "providential conspiracy" is. You don't want to miss this information-packed chat with Paul. But before the conversation, J.D. shares several exciting audio drama updates. Join us for the final episode of 2025!

Download Episode 223

Audio Drama Updates - 01:01

Send your updates to us - pfm.link/atcnews

3rd Christmas Audio Drama Spectacular on 12/5

The Shepherds’ Prayer now available to stream for free

We reviewed this in ATC3

Brinkman Adventures, Season 11 is in the works

The Real Story of Christmas from Surround Bible

The Way of Blood from HeartMatters will be released on December 17

The Chronicles of Finnian T. Jones Vol. 4, is available for preorder now

LifeHouse Theater Bethlehem Marketplace Tour

Interview - 17:54

Paul McCusker, writer/director

Adventures in Odyssey, AIR Theatre, Welcome to Hope Springs

Paul's website

AIR Theatre
Our review of The Victory of Joan of Arc

Welcome to Hope Springs website

Welcome to Hope Springs podcast

J.D. and Paul at Sonic-Con 2023

Record our show credits for a future episode.

Send us your recording of you reading the following and we'll use it in a future episode:
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Credits for ATC223 read by Sarah Kramer.

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2025 Year-End Audio Drama Sales Roundup

feedback@audiotheatrecentral.com (Porchlight Family Media) — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 04:38:00 +0000

We here at Audio Theatre Central do our best to let you know about great audio dramas. And, per tradition, we let you know about great deals for audio drama this time of year. Lots of production companies are slashing prices on their products right now. This means it's a great time to do some Christmas shopping for that audio drama person in your life. If you're missing some productions in your library, now's your chance to fill those gaps.

It's important that listeners and fans support producers monetarily. That's how they're able to keep offering us content. If an organization is giving their audio dramas away for free, please consider sending them a donation so they can keep doing that.

Make sure to bookmark this post because we will be adding more sales to this list as more are posted. If you don't see your favorite show on this list, keep checking back! It may show up later.

If we missed any sales, please let us know about them in the comments. While you're at it, feel free to tell us which shows you're planning on purchasing.

Please be aware that pricing and dates may change without notice.

Pirateers, Robin Hood: Rising to Honor, and all EFP shows: ~~50% off digital downloads with coupon code: EFBLACKFRIDAY50 - 20% off CDs with coupon code EFBLACKFRIDAY20 - Good until 11/30/25~~ ~~30% off digital downloads with coupon code: EFCYBERMONDAY30 - 20% off CDs with coupon code EFCYBERMONDAY20 - Good until 12/1/25~~ 20% off digital downloads with coupon code: EFDECEMBERSALE20 - 10% off CDs with coupon code EFDECEMBERSALE10 - Good until 12/31/25

Jonathan Park: Up to 70% off all CDs and MP3s - Good until TBD

The Adventum: Up to 70% off all CDs and MP3s - Good until TBD

Mack Meets History: Up to 70% off all CDs and MP3s - Good until TBD

Your Story Hour: Up to 25% off CDs and MP3s - Good until 12/30/25

Patch the Pirate: ~~Up to 40% off CDs - Good until 12/3/25~~

Focus on the Family Radio Theatre: Up to 50% off MP3s - Good until TBD

Adventures in Odyssey: Up to 50% off MP3s - Good until TBD

Markiewitz Audioworks: ~~10% off MP3s - Good until 11/30/25~~

Graphic Audio - The Gospel of Mark: ~~50% off digital download - Good until 11/30/25~~

Jake Muller Adventures: 40% off CDs, MP3s, and merch with discount code HOLIDAY40 - Good until 12/25/25

Brinkman Adventures: ~~30% off CDs and MP3s with discount code THANKS - Good until 12/2/25~~

Down Gilead Lane/Red Rock Mysteries: ~~Up to 40% off CDs and MP3s - Good until 12/1/25~~ Up to 30% off CDs and MP3s - Good until 12/15/25

Lamplighter Theatre: ~~50% off digital downloads with discount code CMTHEATRE50. 35% off CDs with discount code CMTHEATRE35. Good until 12/1/25~~

Sargent Family Productions: 20% off digital downloads with discount code ATC2025 - Good until 12/31/25

WindowSeat: 25% off an annual subscription with discount code JOYFULNOISE - Good until TBD

ATC Merch: ~~30% off $70+ orders - Good until 12/1/25~~

Austin Peachey is an audio drama fan through and through. A dedicated listener and critic of the medium, he also has produced several productions over the years. Austin is a member of the Audio Drama Alliance and currently holds the position of Audio Content Producer at HeartMatters. Austin enjoys being a guest contributor to Audio Theatre Central on the podcast and blog.

ATC222: Interview with Voice and Stage Actor Ian Lahlum [Bonus Episode]

feedback@audiotheatrecentral.com (Porchlight Family Media) — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 10:00:00 +0000

In this bonus episode, Austin Peachey sits down with actor Ian Lahlum to talk about his work as an actor on the stage and behind the microphone. J.D. also shares a couple of audio drama updates and responds to some feedback from Jacob. He also mentions several released projects and a few coming soon, in which you can hear Ian as an actor, in case you're not familiar with his work.

Download Episode 222

Audio Drama Updates - 00:51

Send updates to us - pfm.link/atcnews

3rd Annual Christmas Audio Drama Spectacular

Our Black Friday Sales post is coming soon, so be on the lookout

Interview - 02:25

Ian Lahlum, actor

Ian’s IMDb

Show Links:

The Road to Kaeluma

The Saints: Franz Jagerstatter

Range Drifters

Time To Listen

Sandbox Audio "The Vermont Problem"

The Hardy Boys and the Tower Treasure

A Bit of Time Travel: "The Viking"

Ian Lahlum and Austin Peachey

Feedback - 30:35

Jacob commented about Airship Genesis
Airship Genesis website | Airship Genesis on Podchaser

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Send us your recording of you reading the following and we'll use it in a future episode:
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3rd Annual Christmas Audio Drama Spectacular | A Listening Party

feedback@audiotheatrecentral.com (Porchlight Family Media) — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 14:22:00 +0000

It’s the Third Annual Christmas Audio Drama Spectacular, brought to you by Odyssey Geek and Audio Theatre Central. Join us for a night of heartwarming and humorous holiday audio dramas! It’s your chance to listen to nearly 4 hours of Christmas stories that are fun for the whole family. Chat along with other listeners in real time about the productions as you enjoy these stories…together!

Featuring productions from:

Down Gilead Lane
Markiewitz AudioWorks
First Acts Productions
Paws and Tales
Porchlight Family Media
Tales from Cottonwood Trails
The Clu Crew
And more!

A secret gift giver, a wild and weird dream, some mysteries, holiday humor from comedians, a unique take on a popular literature classic, a couple of songs, and lots more will be found in these seasonal stories. An episode of a brand new audio drama series will be premiered during the event as well. Plus, hear some behind-the-scenes info and testimonials from cast and crew from the productions being played. These are segments you won’t be able to hear anywhere else! There will also be some special surprises in store. It’s a collection of audio productions that will get you in the holiday spirit and remind you what Christmas is all about.

You don’t want to miss a minute of this event! It will be livestreamed on the Odyssey Geek YouTube channel and broadcast simultaneously on Porchlight FM Radio.

Join us at 3:30 PM Pacific/4:30 PM Mountain/5:30 PM Central/6:30 PM Eastern on Friday, December 5, 2025.

Put it on your calendar today and kick off the Christmas season with a night of great holiday entertainment!

FB event page

PFM Station link

Odyssey Geek YouTube channel link

Full Event Playlist

Congrats to Micah B. for winning the Tales from Cottonwood Trails poster giveaway!

ATC221: Review of The Victory of Joan of Arc from AIR Theatre

feedback@audiotheatrecentral.com (Porchlight Family Media) — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Today, Michael and J.D. do a deep dive into the latest release from Augustine Institute Radio Theatre, The Victory of Joan of Arc. This 4 and a half hour production is a world-class audio drama and they discuss it in depth. Before the review, J.D. shares several exciting audio drama updates and also discusses audio drama trailers in the monologue segment. And to cap off the episode, J.D. responds to feedback from Jeff and Jeremy.

Download Episode 221

Audio Drama Updates - 01:04

Send updates to us - pfm.link/atcnews

Libro.fm ATC Playlist

3rd Annual Christmas Audio Drama Spectacular will be on December 5th

Content Creation Musings: 8 Tips for Your Audio Drama Demo Reel

Venture Episode 3: “It All Started with an Itch" is out now

EFP Website

Patch the Pirate: Switchersnatchers out now

Resurgence to be released in December

Resurgence preview

EFP website

One Day in Aspen Creek E4: Another Man's Treasure releasing soon

One Day In Aspen Creek

JD's Post Notification Email List

The Surround Bible presents The Real Story of Christmas

Monologue (So Here’s What I’m Thinking) - 20:22

Audio Drama Trailers - why are so few of them being made these days in this space? And even more importantly, why are so few really good ones being made? And what makes a good trailer anyway?

Allen Hurley's website
John Fornof's website

Review - 42:49

The Victory of Joan of Arc from Augustine Institute Radio Theatre

This 4 and a half hour production is a world-class audio drama starring Heather Forster as Jeanne d’ Arc, Harry Lloyd as Mouchard, and Finty Williams as The Interviewer.

Episode 1: The Siege of the Peasant

Episode 2: Chinon

Episode 3: Building an Army

Episode 4: The Way to Orléans

Episode 5: The Battle for Orléans

Episode 6: The Crown

Episode 7: The Quest for Paris

Episode 8: A Holy Prisoner

Episode 9: A Holy Suffering

Episode 10: A Holy Sacrifice

Listen to Joan on the Formed website

Listen to Joan on the Air Theatre site
Purchase Joan CD set

Purchase on Audible

ATC post about Jared DePasquale's score for Joan

Our interview with Jared in which we discuss the score

Feedback - 01:57:02

Jeff has a comment about the order of the show segments in ATC

Jeremy emails about what he's been listening to and asks about the Sugar Creek Gang

Our post about the Moody Audio shows

The Sugar Creek Gang on the Moody Audio site

Record our show credits for a future episode.
Send us your recording of you reading the following and we'll use it in a future episode:
Script: "Hi! This is [YOUR NAME] from [YOUR CITY AND/OR STATE]. Audio Theatre Central is a production of Porchlight Family Media. The theme music was composed by Sam Avendaño. The show is produced and edited by J.D. Sutter. Find the website at audiotheatrecentral.com."
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Credits for ATC221 read by Kenny Sargent.

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ATC220: Check-in with Kristie Jardot, Executive Producer at HeartMatters

feedback@audiotheatrecentral.com (Porchlight Family Media) — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Today's episode has everything: some exciting audio drama updates, feedback from listeners, a monologue, and a great interview! Our guest is the executive producer of the HeartMatters audio dramas, Kristie Jardot. J.D. recorded an on-location interview with her at their office in Oklahoma last month to talk about how audio drama is fitting into their work after 18 months, about what's ahead, and to get to know her just a bit more. There are some cool new releases that J.D. shares in the updates, and he continues the monologue from the last episode with a guest. To wrap up the episode, J.D. responds to feedback from Michael, Blake, and Jeremy.

Download Episode 220

Intro

ATC Backstage member emails to Yahoo email addresses are all being rejected

Audio Drama Updates - 02:10

Send updates to us - pfm.link/atcnews

3 Questions Survey for audio drama fans

75th Anniversary of Unshackled

World Audio Drama Day is October 30th

Realm Makers Expo 2026 will be June 24-27, 2026, in St Louis, MO, at Union Station

In the works from The Merry Beggars, Exodus: Journey Into Freedom

(Actors can audition here.)

Generations 2: The D.C. Gambit from Sargent Family Productions is out now

Sargent Family Productions website

(Use code "ATC2025" for 20% off anything in their Awesound store)

Kenny Sargent's last appearance on ATC

New episode of Witnesses, Sons and Strangers, released

The War Of The Worlds reproduction from Voices in the Wind Audio Theatre

The Return of Epsilon VII is a new superhero audio drama from Over the Hill Productions

HeartMatters is releasing a 3-episode miniseries called The Bullying Triangle

Get the HM app

The 3rd Jake Muller Adventure, Undead, is out now

Monologue (So Here’s What I’m Thinking) - 22:17

Follow-up to last episode’s monologue - essentially a Part 2 about the value of building relationships in creative endeavors, but this one is from a guest, ATC contributor Christopher Green

Interview - 32:54

Photo courtesy of HeartMatters, Inc.

Kristie Jardot, Lead Program Coordinator, Executive Producer of the audio dramas

HeartMatters, Inc.

Slideshow of photos from the interview

Previous appearance on the show: ATC196

HeartMatters website

HeartMatters app

Direct link to the HM donation page

Feedback - 1:02:15

Jeremy emails in about the Left Behind audio dramas

Left Behind #1 on Libro.fm

The full series on Audiobooks.com

Michael C and Blake both reach out about Lamplighter Theatre

Lamplighter webstore

Credits for ATC220 read by David Ababio.

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3 Questions for Audio Drama Fans

feedback@audiotheatrecentral.com (Porchlight Family Media) — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000

We know you are an avid consumer of quality audio drama; otherwise, you would not be on our website. Well, we'd like to ask you three questions about your likes and dislikes in audio drama. This is a completely anonymous questionnaire that should only take a few minutes.

Please help us learn about what fans of this amazing storytelling medium find compelling and what turns them off from a show. We'll use this information to help writers and producers in this industry to be informed about what you, the listeners, want to hear.

You may remember that we did this back in 2020. We want to do it again to follow how listener preferences may change, or stay the same, as time moves on. So even if you participated in the first survey, please take a few minutes to do it again and let your voice help shape the future of family-friendly audio drama!

SURVEY LINK

Thank you!

ATC219: Review of Robin Hood: Rising to Honor, Season 2

feedback@audiotheatrecentral.com (Porchlight Family Media) — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000

The audio drama updates are pretty event-heavy in this episode, but that's ok! Also in this episode, J.D. responds to feedback from Jane and Michael, he shares some thoughts about the value of building relationships in the audio drama industry, and he reviews Season 2 of Robin Hood: Rising to Honor. This is a unique, dramatic audio retelling of the Robin Hood legends from LRT Media and Eternal Future Productions. There is lots to enjoy in this episode that marks the 15th birthday of Audio Theatre Central.

Download Episode 219

Audio Drama Updates - 01:10

Send updates to us - pfm.link/atcnews

3-question survey for audio drama fans

Alpha Omega Con is September 20, 2025

Sonic-Con returns June 30 - July 2, 2026

Voyage of Voices Cruise

Making Great Audio Drama post by David Hilder

Our bonus episodes from the event

HeartMatters has released their first fantasy audio drama called The Potion of Power

HeartMatters App

Monologue (So Here’s What I’m Thinking) - 10:51

September 2025 marks 15 years of ATC, which got me thinking about how much building a solid network has benefited this show and our effectiveness in this industry.

Review - 23:18

Robin Hood: Rising to Honor, Season 2

Purchase your copy of S2 (and the soundtrack) on the EFP website

Robin Hood on Dramafy

Robin Hood on WindowSeat

Feedback - 56:28

Jane M asks about audio drama for adults
Michael J shares thoughts on AIO going club exclusive, our interview with Torry Martin, and a kids' audio drama called Airship Genesis - Our episode on the AIO changes | Our Torry Martin interview | Airship Genesis website | Airship Genesis on Podchaser

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Credits for ATC219 read by Zach Freeman.

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ATC217 & 218: Making Great Audio Drama 2025 Updates

feedback@audiotheatrecentral.com (Porchlight Family Media) — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 20:58:00 +0000

The first week of August 2025, J.D. and Austin attended the Making Great Audio Drama event put on by the Audio Drama Institute. While the plan had been to record daily updates like we've done in the past for Sonic-Con, that didn't end up working out. Nevertheless, two episodes were recorded on-site, and you can check them out below.

Update 1 - Thursday, August 7, 2025

J.D. and Austin share a few updates from the first few days of the week.

Update 2 - Friday, August 8, 2025

J.D. and Austin pick up where the last episode left off and share about the HeartMatters premiere and more.

Austin and J.D. record on Friday night

J.D. and Austin on Saturday morning

The camp attendees at Bear Trap Ranch
Photo credit: Larissa Loeffler

The camp teachers: John Fornof, Katie Leigh, J.D. Sutter, Kathy Buchanan, Phil Lollar, John Campbell, Todd Busteed
Photo credit: Larissa Loeffler

Audio Drama Institute website

HeartMatters app

"The Potion of Power"

The Surround Bible

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ATC216: The Signal-Man Review & OTR Is Still Worthwhile

feedback@audiotheatrecentral.com (Porchlight Family Media) — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 10:00:00 +0000

This is an abbreviated episode of the show, but J.D. still brings some audio drama updates, a monologue segment, and a review. After the updates, he shares some thoughts on the value of old-time radio, even in this era of modern audio drama. And then he reviews the latest release from Voices in the Wind Audio Theatre, an adaptation of the Charles Dickens' short story called The Signal-Man. Come join the fun!

Download Episode 216

Audio Drama Updates - 01:27

Send updates to us - pfm.link/atcnews

Nick Guy & the Pilgrim's Regress Affair is out now

Nick Guy & the Nursery Crime Affair is in post-production

Chapel & Squeak, Season 2 out now

Monologue (So Here’s What I’m Thinking) - 08:06

Old Time Radio is still worth checking out and I challenge you to give it a try.

Legacy Radio Theater - Old Time Radio Classics

Radio Archives

When Radio Was

J.D.'s recent appearance on Your Fellow Odyssians with Daniel Roth

Review Segment - 26:58

The Signal-Man from Voices in the Wind Audio Theatre

Released July 2025

Duration 33 Minutes

Purchase The Signal-Man from Voices in the Wind

J.D. mentioned Cinderella from VITW

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ATC215: Our Favorite Summertime/Road Trip Audio Dramas

feedback@audiotheatrecentral.com (Porchlight Family Media) — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Today, J.D. and the ATC team share some of their picks for great audio dramas to listen to in the summertime or just on a road trip in general. We also have a few listener submissions as well. There are lots of great recommendations for your summer getaway or next family vacation. Also in this episode, J.D. shares a bunch of great audio drama updates. There are several new releases that are worth checking out. Have a great summer!

Download Episode 215

Audio Drama Updates - 01:38

Send your audio drama updates to us - pfm.link/atcnews

J.D. was a guest on the Odyssey Geek podcast on 6/21/25

Top 7 Favorite Sound Design Moments

J.D. will be a guest on the Your Fellow Odyssians podcast on 7/18/25

YFO on Podchaser.com

Episode 2 of Venture "Adrift in Space" has now been released

Venture E2 on YouTube

Venture E2 on the EFP store

Reckoning of Cowards, the debut full-length audio drama from NewBirth Audio Productions, is now available on CD and digital download

The "He Vanished Below" miniseries has been released

He Vanished Below website

He Vanished Below episode playlist on YouTube

Red’s Fall at Grand Mall from HeartMatters is out now

HeartMatters app

Monologue/Discussion (Here's What I'm Thinking) - 11:51

Favorite Summertime/Road Trip audio dramas

ATC Post from 2012 - Essential Audio Entertainment for Road Trips

Michael Schroeder’s Picks

Bernard and Eugene Road Trip (Adventures in Odyssey)

List of eps in this arc on the AIOWiki

Darkness Before Dawn (Adventures in Odyssey)

Father Gilbert Mysteries (Focus on the Family Radio Theatre)

The Basket of Flowers (Lamplighter Theatre)

Our Review

Basket of Flowers CD

Basket of Flowers MP3

Sir Malcolm and the Missing Prince (Lamplighter Theatre)

Our Review

Sir Malcolm CD

Sir Malcolm MP3

Robert Thacker’s Pick

Aloha Oy! (Adventures in Odyssey)

The Ultimate Road Trip collection

Austin Peachey's Pick

The Cat of Bubastes

Our Review of The Cat of Bubastes

Purchase from Heirloom Audio

Joah Pearson’s Picks

The Chronicles of Narnia (Focus on the Family Radio Theatre)

The Collected Stories of Winnie-the-Pooh (Listening Library)

Winnie-the-Pooh on Amazon

Winnie-the-Pooh on Libro.fm

J.D.'s Picks

Under Drake’s Flag (The Extraordinary Adventures of GA Henty)

J.D.'s Review

Under Drake's Flag in the Heirloom Audio shop

At Home in Mitford (Focus on the Family Radio Theatre)

Mitford on Amazon

The Lord of the Rings (BBC Radio)

ATC co-host Andrew's Review

LOTR Complete CD Box Set

Book 1: The Fellowship of the Ring on Amazon

Book 2: The Two Towers on Amazon

Book 3: The Return of the King on Amazon

Book 1: The Fellowship of the Ring on Libro.fm

Book 2: The Two Towers on Libro.fm

Book 3: The Return of the King on Libro.fm

Light in the Shadows (Jonathan Park)

Our Review

Light in the Shadows on the JP store

A ‘Strordinary Little Maid (Lamplighter Theatre)

Our Review

Little Maid CD

Little Maid MP3

Bernard and Eugene Road Trip (Adventures in Odyssey)

List of eps in this arc on the AIOWiki

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Learn from Industry Experts at the Audio Drama Institute

feedback@audiotheatrecentral.com (Porchlight Family Media) — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 18:05:00 +0000

We know you're a fan of great audio drama since you're following ATC, but are you interested in making great audio drama yourself? What if there was a way you could learn how to make audio drama from the people who make the best productions? Good news, there is a way!

The Audio Drama Institute is hosting Making Great Audio Drama: The Colorado Camp Experience this summer. On August 3-9, 2025, you can be a part of a learning experience that you can't get anywhere else. It's your opportunity to be a part of classes where your teachers are people who have worked on Adventures in Odyssey, The Last Chance Detectives, and many more shows!

It all takes place at the scenic and historic Bear Trap Ranch in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The teachers include:

Phil Lollar (Iliad House, Jungle Jam and Friends)
Katie Leigh (The Adventum, Abide)
John Fornof (Lamplighter Theatre, Jonathan Park)
Todd Busteed (AIR Theatre, The Extraordinary Adventures of GA Henty)
John Campbell (Focus on the Family Radio Theatre, Paws and Tales)
Kathy Buchanan (The Clu Crew, Down Gilead Lane)
J.D. Sutter (Greenhorn Tales, One Day in Aspen Creek)

From these individuals, you'll learn about writing, acting, directing, sound design, music composition, as well as funding and distribution. All the things you need to know to produce a good audio drama.

Not only that, you'll get a chance to meet with teachers one-on-one to ask questions, eat and hang out with them and other audio drama fans, and enjoy the camp experience.

Make sure to register by June 30, 2025, to get the early bird discount! You can find pricing and all other details at the Audio Drama Institute website.

Austin Peachey is an audio drama fan through and through. A dedicated listener and critic of the medium, he also has produced several productions over the years. Austin is a member of the Audio Drama Alliance and currently holds the position of Audio Content Producer at HeartMatters. Austin enjoys being a guest contributor to Audio Theatre Central on the podcast and blog.

ATC214: Behind the Scenes of New Fantasy Audio Drama The Road to Kaeluma with Show Creators

feedback@audiotheatrecentral.com (Porchlight Family Media) — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0000

A new family-friendly, fantasy audio drama called The Road to Kaeluma was released today as a podcast, so we sit down with the show creators in this episode to chat about the project. Without getting into spoilers, J.D. talks with Perry Wilson and Landon Hawley about some of the inspirations for the show, the challenges they faced during production, working with John Fornof and John Campbell, and much more. Also in this episode, J.D. responds to feedback from Sara, Blake, and Jeremy.

Download Episode 214

Intro - 00:46

Send updates to us - pfm.link/atcnews

ATC Senecas Awards update

Making Great Audio Drama

The Road to Kaeluma trailer

Interview - 04:40

The Road To Kaeluma Launch Interview with Perry Wilson & Landon Hawley

Perry Wilson

Landon Hawley

The Road to Kaeluma website

The Road to Kaeluma on Podchaser

Post-Interview Thoughts - 56:51

Initial Reaction of E1 of The Road to Kaeluma is in ATC Backstage

“Always Have, Always Will” by Avalon from In a Different Light from 1999

Feedback - 1:01:43

Sara D. sends feedback on ATC198: Review of Adventures in Odyssey #74

Email from Jeremy L. on ATC212: Review of Adventures in Odyssey #76, the ADA Hardy Boys, and the ATC podcast segment transitions

Blake’s email in response to ATC210: Huge Changes to Adventures in Odyssey