There are a great many concepts that human beings cherish in this life. For instance, we are beings that believe deeply in the power of love and connection and that drives us to find a romantic partner that fills a special spot in our soul and friends that fill in the rest. Plus, we also cherish children and make sure we protect them and guide them in the hopes of having their generation lead us to a better tomorrow. But above all, what we cherish the most in this life, is tradition. Because every family out there and our species as a whole, harbors little quirks or big quirks that we pass down from generation to generation to keep alive memories and keep alive notions that would in fact, fade without such work, and we cherish these so much… that there are people out there that will push for them to stay alive and be passed down, even when they are negative in nature. 
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Which means that sadly… there is a dark side to the things that we cherish. Since we cherish love and relationships so much in this life that we will surround ourselves with the wrong people to be feel whole. And there are those who feel so pressured to be part of giving rise to the next generation, they’ll have a kid when they’re not ready or never wanted one in the first place and make life hard for that innocent kid and yes… there are traditions we take part in that are toxic and negative in nature and should stop, but don’t. But what’s truly fascinating and unfortunate about the darker side to the elements of life that we cherish, is that some of them have combined and given rise to subconscious traditions that cause more harm than good. Such as generational trauma. Where a child that grows up enduring unique abuse or is constantly exposed to negative emotions and toxic behaviors… imparts those same ugly elements upon their own children when they become a parent. 

Because sadly… those behaviors are all we know and we trust our parents to do the right thing and guide us the right way, so we accept that toxicity and treat it as a different kind of gospel and well… this is a concept we are only now really beginning to dive into and explore and understand from a scientific standpoint. Which means for countless generations this has existed and we’ve all taken part in it in some form or fashion and that does leave all of us wondering actively now… how do we break this cycle and this tradition so that we can start to remove the ugliest parts of humanity and really grow as a species. Well as it turns out, science is now working on that, and there are creative minds pondering upon how we remove it from our lives and believe it or not, Apple TV+ is host to a series that takes the time to explore how we can shatter Generational Trauma, and that makes Drops of God a supremely important series. 

For this is a story that really takes the time to explore every aspect of this problem. Since it establishes how it comes to life since we watch our main characters be subjected to it, and struggle with it as they grow older and try to get over it… only to fail when it returns to the forefront of their lives through the death of Alexandre Léger. For he makes sure to impart more trauma from beyond the grave upon Camille and Issei, and Issei even suffers from fresh bouts of it from his own parents. And while this aspect of the series does a phenomenal job of backing up the reality that this is something we accept and practice because it is all we know, it doesn’t take long for this story to really shine by pointing out how wrong this is and the pain and confusion it causes children and how it isn’t something parents can resort to. Instead, they need to be better, they need give their children the world and well… the show points out that the first step in breaking this cycle at any level is to recognize that echoing what our parents imparted upon us… is wrong. 

But it is more than just recognition that breaks the cycle, as evidenced by Camille and Issei’s journey. Since they take the time to confront their traumas and stand in front of them and acknowledge the pain it caused them… and resolve it. Resolve it in this instance by besting their father’s challenges and proving him wrong every step of the way, but that speaks as an allegory for how the rest of us can break the cycle. In that we too… should confront it, and heal from it, preferably with the help of a medical professional… but that we also most… carve a better path for ourselves mentally. One that separates us from the toxic past we know so we can embrace what could be. Which could involve cutting toxic family from our lives or it could involve forging our own path in life and ignoring our legacy and the nonsense that can sometimes come with that. But the important thing is… we recognize and change and embrace our agency over anything else. 

If anything, all of these elements make for a powerful journey. One that really does teach us plenty about generational trauma and offers some sound and simple ways to escape it, and it doesn’t hurt… that these lessons are buried beneath a story that ponders upon the wonder of wine and the majesty of finding our own path in life. Since that allows for the lesson to never be overwhelming, and that’s a big deal. since this is subject matter that can be quite heavy at times. But make no mistake about it, the message is never diluted, just handled with grace, and that only adds to the wonder of this series. One that speaks to a topic that remains taboo and offers us a great deal of powerful and uplifting messages as well. Such as how important it is to never let our past define us and to live in the present over anything else and enjoy that moment, because it will never come again, and you simply cannot go wrong with a story that takes the time to offer up those messages and offer us guidance regarding a problem that continues to plague humanity, when it shouldn’t. For with some effort… we could let go of our shadows and embrace our better angels and build that better tomorrow through kindness and understanding for the children we cherish.   

​Trauma is something that fascinates me and I feel the need to write about it as of late. You can blame a rewatch of Steven Universe: The Movie for this! So, snuggle in, grab some chocolate covered blueberries (they’re the literal best thing on the planet!), and take my hand as we go down this rabbit hole. Also, a standard warning as some of these topics can be triggering for anyone who’s been through trauma. If you’re also like me and kind of sensitive for certain topics, please give a look at DoesTheDogDie.com where you can search all media types for certain triggers. This site is amazing and helpful, and I highly recommend it as I use it quite often.

So for those of you who don’t know about Steven Universe, you should definitely look it up and give it a watch. The movie has so many in-depth looks into abuse and abandonment and so much more. In that I wanted to focus on two key things today: Pink Diamond and the continuation of the abusive cycle, and Spinel’s toxicity. In the series we finally get to learn a lot about Pink Diamond and what she experienced from the other Diamonds. Pink was seen and treated as a child and even given a playmate to keep her out of Blue, Yellow, and White’s business. Pink is often left locked in a room after misbehaving, seen throwing tantrums, and even punches a mirror and cracks it. Pink is treated like an annoyance and an outcast by her fellow Diamonds just by being herself. Because of this blatant mistreatment, Pink is hyper aware of their disappointment to a detrimental level. Eventually White Diamond even takes away Pink’s Pearl and gives her own in return as well as a new friend, Spinel. Here’s where things get messed up. Yes, Pink is essentially abused by her family, and instead of breaking the cycle of abuse, she instead perpetuates it. Pink straight up abandons Spinel, goes to Earth, starts a rebellion and fakes her own death to start a full out war with her own family. In the meantime, she lies to those closest to her, leads Pearl on, and continuously hurts her. She allows Pearl the illusion of them being equals and yet continues to undermine that at every turn. And then, when it suits her, she leaves them all, leaving her son to pick up the pieces of all her unresolved issues. Pink manipulates and abuses those closest to her, much like the other Diamonds did to her.

This cycle of abuse is only broken by Steven when he does the literal opposite of his mother. Steven is kind and empathetic instead of apathetic and cold. He genuinely cares for those around him and tries to make friends with everyone he comes across, even swaying enemies. And then you have Pink who quite literally threw her best friend away the second Spinel was inconvenient for her. Pink also did this to Bismuth as well. Only she went as far as to tell their mutual friends that Bismuth died in the war. Pink was just as selfish and cruel as the other Diamonds, and in some ways, she was a lot worse.

In the flip side, you have Spinel. A character who is broken when we first meet her. A character who literally couldn’t cope with what happened and instead became just as toxic as the person who broke her. Spinel is quite toxic in many parts of the film. She even admits to wanting to kill Steven because she came to know him more. Her volatile attitude and actions are the product of the abuse and abandonment she endured. While many don’t see abandonment as a form of abuse, it absolutely is. Long lasting effects of abandonment bleed into the everyday lives of those who experience it. Sometimes it’s so detrimental it causes extreme mood swings, violent outbursts, and verbal abuse. All of which Spinel exhibits in the movie. She’s easily reverted back into that negative headspace and so anxious about being abandoned that she violently attacks Steven. The thought of being left again is so terrifying that she’d rather hurt him before he can hurt her. As far-fetched as this all is, these are things that happen in real life and to many people. Spinel not only reminded me a lot of myself, but she reminded me of one friend I had in particular. This friend was so damaged by her upbringing that she’d often project her own issues out onto me, and similar to Spinel, was quick to assume I was going to stop being her friend the second I’d ever stand up for myself. These are incredibly toxic behaviors, even if the person isn’t aware of that. I think at one point we’ve all been that toxic person in someone’s life and it’s okay to admit that. Nobody is perfect and a lot of times we often view toxic behaviors as normal when they’re not. It’s one thing if a toxic person realizes their unhealthy behavior and works to change it. It’s another entirely if they know they’re being toxic and they continue to do so.

Similarly, I think Pink is extremely relatable to many as we’ve all had a person like her in our lives. Pink is a horrible person for a number of reasons, but she’s the worst because she never changes her behavior or sees that there is even anything wrong with it. Pink is the epitome of a toxic person and one who thinks their behavior is completely acceptable.

The duality of these two within the show speaks to how complex issues create even more complex issues. Pink perpetuated her family’s behavior into others, never once changing it. While in the end Spinel breaks the cycle and moves to get better instead of worse. Spinel could have easily lived in what Pink left her in. She could have easily chosen to live in the toxic dysfunction. But she chose to move on and get better. Because while it never feels like it at the time, there is an out. It does get better. Spinel makes the choice to get better. While Pink made the choice to run and stay as she was. Growing and changing are a part of everyone’s lives. While we may never undo the traumas that have been done to us, we can move past them. They will always be a part of who we are, but they do not have to define us. I have had my own version of Pink Diamond in my life, and I have been all parts of Spinel. Having something in media that can connect with someone the way that I have connected to this show is really powerful. It’s nice to see this on the screen, speaking to people on a personal level.

It really is quite amazing how far the podcast has come. For this type of show was once nothing more than fireside chats and unique shows you couldn’t find on the radio. But now… it is an entertainment juggernaut. The kind that has launched the careers of so many and given countless creatives a new outlet in which to grow and tell stories. To the point where even the biggest of names are getting into the game now to create and tell the tales they’ve always wanted to and well, it just so happens that another genre legend is about to create another incredible tale in the world of the podcast.
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For earlier today, Audible announced that it will be bringing the sci-fi/comedy, Third Eye, to its network as an Audible Original later this year… one from the mind of actor, producer, writer and streamer and overall geek legend, Felicia Day, and well… that is quite the epic and exciting announcement. Since Felicia always delivers and her latest story boats an incredible cast and an incredible plot and to give you an idea of how epic this story is going to be, and why it needs to be on our radar, here are all the details on Third Eye, courtesy of Audible.

‘Audible, Inc., the leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling, today announced a new scripted science-fiction comedy Third Eye, written and created by actor, producer, writer and streamer, Felicia Day (The Guild, Geek & Sundry) and featuring author Neil Gaiman (The Sandman) as The Narrator. Set to premiere on October 5, the Audible Original produced alongside Clamor, stars Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings), LilyPichu (Offline TV), Wil Wheaton (Ready Player One), London Hughes (The Netflix Afterparty), Danny Pudi (Mythic Quest, Community), Alan Tudyk (Resident Alien), Hudson Yang (Fresh off the Boat), and Christopher Judge (God of War). Post-production for the Audible Original will be handled by Mumble Media, a worker-owned podcast production cooperative.

Third Eye tells the story of Laurel (Felicia Day), a “Chosen One” wizard still grappling with the fallout of failing a decade earlier in her fight with the ultimate evil Tybus (Christopher Judge). Day will write and star in the project, as our heroine is forced to overcome her tattered reputation and self-loathing in order to save her friends, eventually uncovering shocking secrets on the way toward re-confronting old enemies. The series takes listeners on a comedic ride, with one-of-a-kind characters including Kate Chen (LilyPichu), a quirky, teenage human girl on a quest for knowledge about the supernatural world; Frank Fletcher (Sean Astin), a cranky, stubborn vampire; Robigus (Wil Wheaton), the local San Francisco enforcer for Tybus the Terrible and a constant thorn in the side for Laurel; and Sybil (London Hughes), an exiled Faerie princess in her 20s who exemplifies “hot mess.” With a storyline written as a love letter to the fantasy genre, listeners can expect an abundance of iconic geek and gaming culture Easter eggs cleverly woven throughout the series.

“As my biggest passion project since ‘The Guild’, I am thrilled that Audible has allowed me to bring Third Eye to life in the exact way I've been imagining for years,” said Felicia Day. “I can't wait for fans to listen and fall in love with these characters as much as I have.”

“Third Eye is a testament to Felicia Day’s unparalleled creativity, transporting listeners to a genre-bending universe of science-fiction blended with comedy,” said Zola Mashariki, Head of Audible Studios. “With a uniquely imaginative performance, Neil Gaiman headlines an outstanding cast comprised of genre royalty. Third Eye is sure to captivate audiences worldwide, and we're thrilled to add yet another exciting show to our growing collection of Audible originals.”

This upcoming Audible Original joins an entertaining slate of original audio sci-fi and fantasy titles including Impact Winter, the fan-favorite post-apocalyptic drama created by Travis Beacham, that is set to launch two new installments, the #1 New York Times best-selling audio fiction The Sandman from Neil Gaiman, performed by James McAvoy, Kat Dennings, Michael Sheen and a full cast and its highly anticipated sequels The Sandman: Act II; and The Sandman: Act III; Middlespace: The Rebels Attack, And Then The Other Side Attacks As Well, a quirky tale from Paul Lieberstein starring Will Forte; Upgrade Soul adapted from the critically-acclaimed science fiction graphic novel by author Ezra Claytan Daniels; The Dispatcher series from New York Times best-selling author John Scalzi and starring Zachary Quinto; Carnival Row set in the world of the Amazon Original series of the same name and created by Travis Beacham and René Echevarria; and many more.

Immerse yourself in this epic tale, exclusively from Audible and available starting October 5, visit www.audible.com/thirdeye.

ABOUT AUDIBLE, INC.
Audible, Inc., an Amazon.com, Inc. subsidiary (NASDAQ:AMZN), is the leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling, offering global audiences a powerful way to enhance and enrich their lives through extraordinary content. Audible’s catalog includes more than 800,000 audio titles, including Audible Originals as well as audiobooks and podcasts from leading studios, print, audio and magazine publishers and world-renowned entertainers.’

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Audible Original, ‘The Space Within’.
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It is definitely safe to say, that stories that feature otherworldly contact between mankind and an alien species… have grown a touch stale in nature. Not because they’re bad, quite the contrary. Great effort goes into telling those stories and they are indeed compelling. But what makes them feel stale is the sheer fact that they all tend to follow fairly familiar formulas. For instance, a great deal of these stories either feature a friendly, and lighthearted encounter with an alien species, wherein humanity’s better angels are put on display to create some good feels. Or… the aliens in question are as evil as they come, and variants of that formula are the most common of all.
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Wherein they bring war to our planet and mankind must respond, or they terrorize communities by feeling the need to abduct as many people as possible before disappearing into the night sky. All of which is stuff we’ve seen before and doesn’t quite engage us or enthrall as it used to. But, as time rolls on and new forms of entertainment arrive, there are creative minds working to freshen up every type of story out there, including this one, as evidenced by the brand-new Audible Original series, The Space Within. For this story, the brainchild of Josh Fagin and Greg O’Connor, does indeed feature an encounter with an alien species, but it is how that is accomplished that matters most.

Because… there are no lighthearted cute scenes here about phoning home. Nor is there an invasion and horrors untold. Just… a reveal that we are not alone and how that plays out… is simply amazing. For this is a supremely organic and human story, one that never once informs us of what is to come, nor does it foreshadow in a manner that makes things obvious. It is simply a story about people going about their lives, and dealing with some strange occurrences that transform into something so much more and that is a powerful way to draw us into this story and stun us. Since that creates a world that feels very much akin to our own, something that is reinforced the well-written nature of the characters, since they are fleshed out and complete and we are quite curious about them, and their struggles.

Which allows for us to care about them and their well-being deeply, because they too are relatable, and that raises the stakes when the weird stuff starts coming into play, and the arrival of something else, is also quite refreshing. Since what lies in the shadows is mysterious, and fascinating, and sinister all at once, and it all feels… alien. Which is key because there should be no familiarity with something from the stars, it should be uncomfortable and weird and strange and leave us out of sorts. Which is accomplished here in a magnificent manner, one that evokes feelings of dread and wonder and fear, that only a handful of films in this genre have ever accomplished. That in turn allows for this story to basically offer up some grand homages to Fire in the Sky, and Communion, while forging its own path.

Plus, it doesn’t hurt… that the cast here… is as stellar as it gets. Since you’ll find Jessica Chastain, Bobby Cannavale, Academy Award-winner Ellen Burstyn (The Exorcist), Michael Stuhlbarg (Your Honor), Shea Whigham (Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One, Gaslit), Michael Shannon (George & Tammy) and Carmen Ejogo (True Detective) in this story and that... is an incredible roster. And really, all of these elements make this a worthwhile and incredible story. One that captivates you and surprises you, and most important of all… draws you deeply into a world where everything we’ve ever known is turned upside down and the best news of all… is you can enjoy this amazing Audible Original right now and we here at NTG hope you give it a listen. Simply because it is original and refreshing, and you can never go wrong with that.

To listen to ‘The Space Within’, click here. To learn more about its genesis, check out our interview with series creators, Josh Fagin and Greg O’Connor.

​Please enjoy this exclusive clip from The Space Within, a brand-new Audible Original that you can enjoy on Audible right now!

One particular aspect of podcasts and original audio content that is quite amazing, is the sheer fact that we are starting to enjoy full on franchises and multiple seasons of storytelling that are akin to what we enjoy on our television sets. In part because it speaks to how far podcasts have come, but what also makes this so incredible… is that it truly speaks to how vested we are in this format of storytelling now, and how excited we get over the prospect of once again being able to return to a particular universe for more storytelling.
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If anything, that magic is top of mind today, simply because… Audible made an announcement recently that reinforced that reality and will also… make fans of the Impact Winter franchise… quite happy.  For we came to learn the release date for season two of this incredible show, and well, it turns out we don’t have to wait that long to enjoy the next chapter in this wildly popular saga. For season two will drop on Audible on July 13, 2023, and well… judging from how season one went, we are going to be in for another epic treat, and to help you understand how amazing season two is going to be, and to properly celebrate the wonder of this show’s growth, here are all the details on what you can expect from the next chapter in this saga, courtesy of Audible.   

‘Audible Inc., the leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling, multiplatform content company Skybound Entertainment, and visionary media company Anonymous Content today announced the cast and premiere date for the second season of the epic post-apocalyptic drama, Impact Winter, debuting on July 13. At its launch in February 2022, Impact Winter was Audible Plus' #1 bestseller across all categories and the #1 Audible Original fiction bestseller in its debut week, in addition to taking the #3 fiction spot on Apple podcast charts. Following the incredible fan reception, Impact Winter’s third season has been officially greenlit.
 
From executive producers of The Walking Dead and the writer of Pacific Rim, Audible's groundbreaking vampire-apocalypse series is back. Eight years after a cataclysmic comet impact blotted out the sun and triggered an endless winter in which vampires rule the Earth, two sisters — one training to fulfill her apparent destiny as humanity's savior, and the other finding purpose and her true self while protecting a group of survivors in her elder sibling's stead — are confronted with an inescapable truth: even if they succeed in fending off the biggest threat to humanity's future, they still have to face their fate.
 
“The hit first season of Impact Winter combined extraordinary storytelling with the highest-quality production value and performances. We’re delighted to deliver two new seasons of this powerful series that has captivated audiences across the globe,” said Zola Mashariki, Head of Audible Studios. “With the addition of new characters and a similarly immersive soundscape, we are confident that this epic tale will continue to provide listeners with a uniquely entertaining experience.”
 
Returning cast members include Holliday Grainger (CB Strike, My Cousin Rachel), Esmé Creed-Miles (Hanna), David Gyasi (The Diplomat, Interstellar), Caroline Ford (Carnival Row), Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us, Game of Thrones) and Liam Cunningham (Game of Thrones) who will all be joined by newcomers Sacha Dhawan (Doctor Who, The Great), Ralph Ineson (Game of Thrones, The Witch), Ellie Bamber (Willow), Danielle Galligan (Shadow and Bone) and Andrew Gower (Being Human, Outlander), amongst others. Skybound and Anonymous Content serve as co-studios on the project which is co-produced in collaboration with Cliff Roberts (The Midnight Sky). From Travis Beacham, the mind behind Carnival Row and Pacific Rim, season 2 of this ambitious series brings listeners a combination of masterful storytelling, incredible binaural audio, superb performances, and extraordinary world-building, to continue the immersive story that originally enchanted audiences in 2022.
 
Revisit season 1 of Impact Winter, now on Audible: audible.com/ImpactWinter, and listen to season 2 of Impact Winter on Audible or wherever you get your podcasts, beginning July 13. In addition, Impact Winter S2 joins Audible’s growing catalog of Originals Audible members can listen to in immersive spatial audio with Dolby Atmos from the Audible app at no additional cost. Visit audible.com/dolbyatmos for more information.  
 
This upcoming Audible Original joins a powerful slate of original audio dramas including Audible’s first foray with Skybound Entertainment, the best-selling series Death By Unknown Event, narrated by Pamela Adlon; James Patterson’s The Coldest Case: A Black Book Audio Drama, a prequel to his #1 New York Times Bestseller The Black Book and performed by Aaron Paul; the #1 New York Times best-selling audio fiction The Sandman from Neil Gaiman, performed by James McAvoy, Kat Dennings, Michael Sheen and a full cast; the highly anticipated sequels The Sandman: Act II; and The Sandman: Act III; The Dispatcher series from New York Times best-selling author John Scalzi; Carnival Row, set in the world of the Amazon Original series Carnival Row, created by Travis Beacham and René Echevarria; and many more.
 
About Audible, Inc.
Audible, Inc., an Amazon.com, Inc. subsidiary (NASDAQ:AMZN), is the leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling, offering global audiences a powerful way to enhance and enrich their lives through extraordinary content. Audible’s catalog includes more than 800,000 audio titles, including Audible Originals as well as audiobooks and podcasts from leading studios, print, audio and magazine publishers and world-renowned entertainers.
 
About Skybound Entertainment  
Skybound is a company for creators. We're known for using the Wheel of Awesome to make cool stuff, no matter the platform. We place creators and their projects at the center of the wheel and work with them to keep the integrity of their vision as it becomes a comic, game, TV series, film, audio series, or all of the above.  
 
Skybound builds global franchises. We’ve been the home of The Walking Dead and Invincible since 2010 and are leaders in creating universes that become pop culture phenomena from our library of over 150 properties, including the emerging tentpole Impact Winter.  
 
Skybound is a force in games. We publish, produce and distribute video games across every genre, including the blockbuster The Walking Dead series and the BAFTA award-winning Before Your Eyes. 
  
Follow Skybound on Twitter (@Skybound), YouTube (Skybound), Facebook (@SkyboundEntertainment), Instagram (@skyboundent), Discord (Skybound), Reddit (Skybound), and at www.skybound.com.    
 
About Anonymous Content
Anonymous Content is a visionary global media company that produces multi-platform premium content and boasts an exceptional client roster which includes many of the world’s most renowned and innovative directors, writers, and actors. The company’s award-winning Film & TV division encompasses many commercially successful and critically acclaimed works. Current Anonymous Content films include the recently released and critically acclaimed THE STRANGER (Netflix) starring Joel Edgerton, SWAN SONG (Apple TV+), WORTH (Netflix), STILLWATER (Focus Features) and THE MIDNIGHT SKY (Netflix) as well as the highly anticipated upcoming films, FOE (Amazon) starring Saoirse Ronan, Paul Mescal and Aaron Pierre that is currently in post-production, and the adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel THE NICKEL BOYS. The company is also behind the three-time Academy Award winning film THE REVENANT, Best Picture Academy Award winning film SPOTLIGHT, and Academy Award winning film for Best Original Screenplay, ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND. The company’s TV credits include the recently released SAINT X (Hulu) directed by Dee Rees, SHANTARAM (Apple TV+) starring Charlie Hunnam, THE LAST DAYS OF PTOLEMY GREY (Apple TV+) starring Samuel L. Jackson and Dominique Fishback, as well as the second season of RANDOM ACTS OF FLYNESS (HBO). Upcoming series include season four of TRUE DETECTIVE (HBO) starring Jodie Foster, TIME BANDITS (Apple TV+) from Taika Waititi, DISCLAIMER (Apple TV+) from Alfonso Cuarón, starring Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline, and SAVANT (Apple TV+), starring Jessica Chastain. Anonymous Content has also produced many other award winning and critically acclaimed series including MR. ROBOT (USA Network), HOMECOMING (Amazon), 13 REASONS WHY (Netflix), DICKINSON (Apple TV+), HOME BEFORE DARK (Apple TV+), and DEFENDING JACOB (Apple TV+). Through its Commercial work, Anonymous Content is also the driving creative force behind countless leading global brands. In 2018, Anonymous Content created The Lab, a creative incubator designed to push the boundaries of how brands tell stories by engaging emerging filmmakers and diverse storytellers. For more information, visit www.anonymouscontent.com.’

Over the course of the past year, we’ve talked at length about the majesty of Realm Media and their fascinating podcasts, and rightfully so. Because they continue to put forth amazing, scripted audio content and podcasts, and well… they’re doing such a great job with this, that they are beginning to attract some incredible creative talent to partner with, to help their network grow and prosper. In fact, they even went so far recently, as to bring into the fold, one of the founding fathers of podcast fiction to properly nurture the next phase of their scripted content.

For New York Times Bestselling Author Scott Sigler is now part of the Realm family, and his arrival only adds to the richness of the network. Since a bevy of his quality content will now be featured in Realm’s digital database and this is huge. For it will undoubtedly lead to some incredible content from Realm, the kind that will wow us and take podcasting to new heights. But before we ponder upon what is to come, it is best we celebrate this amazing collaboration and to properly do so, here are all the details on this magnificent union, courtesy of Realm.

‘Realm, the world’s largest scripted podcast network with over 120 shows and 3500 hours of audio entertainment, today announced the signing of author Scott Sigler, a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of the founding figures of podcast fiction.
 
“Realm is a perfect fit for my work,” Sigler said. “Realm has cultivated a large audience of listeners eager to consume horror and sci-fi audio fiction. I’m excited to put my stories in front of new listeners.”
 
Sigler is bringing multiple unabridged titles to Realm, including Nocturnal, which is live on the site, and soon to be added titles Infected Trilogy, the Generations Trilogy, Ancestor, Earthcore, and the entire Galactic Football League series.
 
Nicole Kreutter, Realm’s Head of Network said: “Scott is a pioneer in audio entertainment – he distributed his audio series as podcasts very early on and built an incredible audience base before expanding into traditional book publishing. We’re excited to partner with Scott and introduce his amazing catalog of audio fiction to the Realm audience.”
 
Sigler, an inaugural member of the Podcast Hall of Fame, is a trailblazer in podcast fiction. In March, 2005 — three months before Apple added Podcasts to iTunes — Sigler released his novel Earthcore as a free, serialized audiobook delivered via RSS. Since then, he has released an episode of his fiction every Sunday. Over 50 million episodes of his work have been downloaded.
 
Even when signed to Penguin Random House through its Crown and Del Rey imprints, Sigler retained the right to distribute audio editions of his novels as podcasts.
 
“My podcast audience was part of why I landed that major hardcover deal,” Sigler said. “I wanted to make sure my existing fans weren’t locked out when I released new books. Now I can bring those stories and more to Realm’s listeners and continue to grow this community.” Most of Sigler’s works join the Realm network as completed, serialized podcasts. His weekly podcast, recently renamed Scott Sigler Slices, delivers an episode of a new story every week and has run nonstop for eighteen years.
Find Sigler’s full catalog of stories on Realm at: realm.fm/scottsigler

About Scott Sigler:
 #1 New York Times best-selling author Scott Sigler is the creator of eighteen novels, six novellas, and dozens of short stories. He is an inaugural inductee into the Podcasting Hall of Fame.
 
Scott began his career by narrating his unabridged audiobooks and serializing them on his weekly podcast. He continues to release free episodes every Sunday. Launched in March of 2005, Scott’s podcast — now known as SCOTT SIGLER SLICES — is the longest-running fiction podcast in history.
 
His rabid fans fervently anticipate their weekly story fix, so much so that they’ve dubbed themselves “Sigler Junkies” and have downloaded over 50 million episodes. Subscribe to the free podcast at scottsigler.com/subscribe.
 
Scott is a co-founder of Empty Set Entertainment, which publishes his Galactic Football League
series. A Michigan native, he lives in San Diego, CA with his wife and their wee little Døgs of
Døøm.
 
For more information, please visit scottsigler.com
 
About Realm:
Realm is a leading audio entertainment company with an award-winning studio and the world’s largest scripted podcast network. Realm’s slate is anchored by #1 hit fiction podcasts and fan favorites like IF I GO MISSING THE WITCHES DID IT starring Oscar nominated actress Gabourey Sidibe; ORPHAN BLACK: THE NEXT CHAPTER and POWER TRIP starring Emmy-winner Tatiana Maslany; MARIGOLD BREACH starring Jameela Jamil and Manny Jacinto; OUTLIERS narrated by Rory Culkin; and ECHO PARK starring Harry Shum Jr.
 
Realm produces immersive stories with top-tier talent and companies from across the entertainment industry. Franchise partners include Warner Bros. and DC Comics on projects including the #1 Spotify podcast HARLEY QUINN & THE JOKER: SOUND MIND starring Christina Ricci and Billy Magnussen, and the official continuation of the hit TV series ORPHAN BLACK, starring Tatiana Maslany. Realm’s forthcoming original slate includes partnerships with horror legends John and Sandy Carpenter, multi-award-winning audio drama creator John Dryden, and TRUE BLOOD author Charlaine Harris.
 
Realm was co-founded by former Penguin Random House executive Molly Barton and former Obama Administration Dept of Justice lawyer Julian Yap. The Realm team and advisors include talent from CAA, UTA, Blumhouse, Warner Brothers, Spotify, NPR, Gimlet, etc. Realm shows are available as podcasts everywhere and on the Realm app, awarded “Best of the Year” by Apple. Follow Realm for updates on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. For more information, please visit realm.fm.

Something that is genuinely amazing about the era we are currently living in, is how many people have truly created their own career path when it comes being a media personality. Simply because forging one’s own path to stardom was simply impossible a short while ago. But the internet has truly revolutionized our world and opened up new avenues for people to pursue and that’s allowed for incredible new stars to conquer the entertainment landscape, and one that continues to be of note is Brittany Broski.
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For she truly took the world by storm with her delightful brand of comedy and that allowed for her to rise to the top quickly and stay there and create her own massive following and enjoy her own path, and well, Brittany is showing no signs of letting up when it comes to her passion of entertaining the masses. For yesterday, Brittany returned to the digital airwaves with a brand-new podcast entitled The Broski Report. Which will offer everyone a chance to catch up on the news in the style of Brittany and well, here all the details regarding her new podcast so that you’re ready to enjoy everything The Broski Report is going to send our way.

‘Broski Nation’s fearless & tyrannical leader has officially established a nationwide broadcast network—meaning you can now get national news blasts in the comfort of your own living room! Stay up to date with what Supreme Leader Brittany Broski is currently obsessing over, learning about, crying about, etc. Also expect important updates on Broski Nation law changes & people of interest. If you’re a loyal subject or follower of @brittany_broski or her top secret second account @lostmymarblesagain, this podcast is for you. “The Broski Report” will air Tuesdays, on all platforms where podcasts are available. 

Brittany took the internet by storm in 2019 with her wit, charm, and of course, distaste for kombucha. Since then, Brittany made the 2022 Forbes 30 under 30 list, was named as one of Fast Company’s “Most Forward-Thinking People in the Creator Economy” and Paper Magazine’s TikToker of the Year, appeared in Super Bowl commercials, created content for Comedy Central and MTV; and has several ongoing brand deals with T-Mobile and Smashbox Cosmetics. 

With over 10M followers on TikTok and over 1M followers on Instagram, Brittany’s rise to fame has truly captured the new influencer frontiers of the platform. She has interviewed notable talent including Jack Harlow, Harry Styles, Chelsea Handler, Bill Nye, among others. Brittany previously hosted Tik Tok’s first official podcast titled “For You.” Brittany has been nominated for several awards including being named an “Icon” on TikTok’s Discover List and taking home the 2020 WOWIE Award for Outstanding Achievement in Comedy.’

Brittany Broski Social Platforms
Instagram  | TikTok | Twitter

It is definitely safe to say, that every nerd and every geek… or every nerd that geeks… can easily pinpoint what formative moments occurred that made them into the super nerdy geek they are today. Simply because, those were special and powerful moments in our lives, the kind that ignited a spark deep within us. One that would guide us to more material in that vein and potentially steered us toward a unique career choice and well… I’d like to share one of my own formative nerdy moments today, to properly celebrate the wondrous holiday that is May the Fourth, and as you’ve probably guessed by now… my memory relates to the majesty that is the Star Wars Universe. Specifically… the release of Return of the Jedi.
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For you see, I’m an elder nerd. One in his forties and I was but a wee lad when ROTJ hit the big screen back in 1983, but thankfully… I was able to see it on the big screen and that was a formative moment for me. One that revolved around a momentous occasion in my family. For my baby brother was born in 1983, and shortly after he gloriously came into this world, my mother needed a little down time and quiet time with her new son and that inspired my father… to take me to see Return of the Jedi. For I’d already shown interest in science fiction as a little kid, and the commercials for this motion picture had already caught my eye. So, we loaded up and headed out to a now defunct theater to get my dad and I a giant bowl of popcorn, my favorite, and a soda… to give mom that break and to properly enjoy the majesty of Return of the Jedi, and my goodness… was it something special.

Because these eyes, had never seen such sights, and I honestly do not recall if I even ate that much popcorn. For my jaw was simply agape at watching Jabba the Hutt do his vile thing, and the epic space battle and lightsaber duel that dominated the finale of this movie, and well… that was it for me. I was hooked. I was a Star Wars fan for life and that movie had a huge impact on my life. It showed me that science fiction stories were worth my while and I poured myself into as many as I could get my hands on, including the other franchise we cannot discuss here for obvious reasons. But what mattered more is that it just inspired me to explore storytelling and everything it had to offer to try and create the same feeling that I received when watching this motion picture. 

One revolving around wonder and awe over the stunning visuals and epic story that played out, and that is a feeling that in all honesty, only a few films and stories have ever replicated for me. Simply because what came after ROTJ was paying tribute to its wonder and because… routine can sometimes remove that sense of majesty as well since there’s comfort that develops in going to see spectacle science fiction stories. But… the point of sharing that memory with all of you, relates to the fact that forty years after I sat in shock over seeing Luke Skywalker beat the ever-living hell out of Darth Vader… that sense of awe returned to me courtesy of the re-release of Return of the Jedi. For I recently went to check it out with my bestest biffle in the whole wide world, Shae, and I honestly just expected to have a good time.
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But somehow, sitting in that theater with my bestie, who is close enough to be considered family, while this movie that I’ve seen a thousand times since played out before my eyes once again… ignited that feeling within me once again. And just like that, I was staring at the screen in awe. Not only because it unlocked the memory of that wonderful day once again, but also because it made me think of the journey that is life, and my personal journey as a nerd. And just how these stories brought me to kindred spirits throughout the years, and the stunning memories made with those kindred spirits… and it even brought me to write these very words to share with all of you, helping me to achieve a personal dream of being a journalist and a writer, and it all started with the words… ‘A long time ago, in a galaxy, far, far away….’ and I am forever thankful for that.

Because it’s been forty, glorious, nerdy years for me, all thanks to my family really, and that is another reason this re-watch in theater was special. Because I saw generations of nerds sitting in the seats and there is a very good chance that some of those kids, many no older than I was on that fateful week in 1983… were seeing this for the first time and perhaps having that same formative experience and well, if that doesn’t speak to the power of nerd-dom and the incredible stories that it is built upon, I don’t know what does. But what I do know, is that this really is a special film, one that will always hold a special place in my heart and remain my sentimental favorite from the saga. For it provided one of my formative moments as a geek and I will always look fondly upon this movie, and all the wonder it brought into my life.  

It is definitely safe to say that the podcast has utterly transformed the entertainment world. For not only has it allowed for new types of storytelling to hit the digital airwaves, but it also brought the radio drama into the 21st Century and it has even managed to give us… unprecedented access to topics we know nothing about and people that we admire from afar, such as celebrities. For they too understand that a podcast will help their fans get to know them and allow for them to take part in conversations they’ve always wanted to have and one particular celebrity podcast of note that that deserves more attention is Paul Giamatti’s Chinwag with Stephen Asma.
 
For this podcast, allows for Paul and Stephen to just let loose and have an incredible talk about whatever is on their minds and sometimes… guests will drop by to take part in that same meaningful conversation and well, this week’s episode is of note, because Paul and Stephen had quite the incredible guest stop by. For William Shatner chinwagged with the chinwaggers and offered up quite the story and well, we here at NTG were fortunate enough to be provided with a clip for this week’s show, wherein you can hear Mister Shatner himself, discuss a fascinating decision he made in Amsterdam. 
 
Simply because… how does one not share this kind of wild story? But also, because… we’re here to spread the world about a fun show, one that has caught our ears and hopefully resonates with you as well. So, without further ado, here is that amazing clip, and all the details you need regarding the show so you too can enjoy the majesty of Paul Giamatti’s Chinwag with Stephen Asma.

About the Episode
 Stephen Asma and Paul Giamatti are giddy to speak with lifelong hero and Star Trek alum William Shatner on tequila tastings, space travel, bum drug trips, holding on to your inner child and that time he beat up an Australian Olympic swimmer on stage.
 
Stephen Asma is a professor and author specializing in the philosophy of science, religion, and art. Paul Giamatti is an award-winning actor and producer.  William Shatner is an Emmy award-winning actor, writer, recording artist and director whose new documentary You Can Call Me Bill  premiered at SXSW 2023.
 
About Paul Giamatti’s CHINWAG with Stephen Asma
 Chinwag is esoteric in the best way possible, as Paul and Stephen delve into anything and everything: Are we living in a simulation? What’s the most perfect sentence in literature? Is Bigfoot interdimensional? Science, the occult, philosophy, magic mushrooms… It's all fair game! Unexpected, hilarious, and maybe even profound – Chinwag is all about having a really, really good chat.
Chinwag is executive produced by Treefort Media’s Kelly Garner and Lisa Ammerman along with Paul Giamatti, Stephen Asma and Dan Carey for Touchy Feely Films. Each episode of Chinwag also features animated stories to complement the chats.
 
Produced by Treefort Media and Touchy Feely Films
 
About Treefort Media
Founded in 2018 by CEO Kelly Garner and based in Los Angeles, TREEFORT MEDIA is an independent podcast company specializing in premium fiction and unscripted audio storytelling. The company’s first original series Fatal Voyage: The Mysterious Death of Natalie Wood hit #1 on Apple Podcasts and garnered over 25 million downloads. The company’s creative partners include Wondery/Amazon Music, Audible, Disney Music, iHeartMedia, Paramount, Spotify, Universal Music Group and Village Roadshow Entertainment Group.

Treefort’s scripted audio drama Moriarty, a twist on the Sherlock Holmes canon, has earned many award nominations – including Best Podcast of the Year – since its debut as an Audible Original in July 2022.  Another Treefort scripted series for Audible, Killing Hollywood: The Cotton Club Murder, won the Webby for Best Scripted Fiction Podcast last year. Their popular unscripted weekly series Killer Psyche led to a daily spin-off, which launched exclusively on Amazon Music in November 2022. Treefort also partnered on the acclaimed investigative series Collapse: Disaster in Surfside, with the Pulitzer Prize winning reporters of the Miami Herald.

For additional information, please visit https://www.treefort.fm/ and follow on social media @treefort.fm on Instagram and @TreefortMedia on Twitter.

About Touchy Feely Films
Touchy Feely Films is a New York-based production company run by producers Paul Giamatti and Dan Carey. Together, they have created an eclectic mix of television and independent film projects over the company’s fifteen-year history, including the acclaimed AMC series Lodge 49 and such films as Cold Souls, All is Bright, and John Dies at the End.