tellnotalespod

[tellnotalespod]

Episode Ten is live!

Link to episode, or it should be available in your podcatcher of choice.

Summary: Meeting the parents.

Be advised this episode contains strong language.

Link to transcript

This episode features—

Kay Watson as Morning Announcements

Matthew Sabido as Zach

Chris Rivera as Gabe

Ishani Kanetkar as Tori

Greg Vinciguerra as Cody

LW Salinas as Mrs Navarro

Mike Martinez as Mr. Navarro

Donald Sutton as the Hacky Comedian

Directed by Rachel Mackenzie Kellum

Production Coordination by Michaela Whatnall

Audio mixing by Rebecca Lynn

Written by Jessica Best

Zach's narration music is written, performed, and produced by Chiron Star.

[tellnotalespod]

So a lot of the notes on this post are recommending The Magnus Archives, which (while a very much enjoyable show!) as far as I can remember doesn’t actually feature a canon trans main character for the first 200 episodes until its sequel, The Magnus Protocol.

So, while I’m not trying to dissuade anyone from listening to TMA, I also want to add some alternatives for more explicitly trans-led shows:

Thankfully I have a convenient playlist compiled from my book, which name drops a bunch of (exclusively trans-led) audio dramas. The pilot episodes of each show can be found here:

I’m also strongly seconding Fio’s suggestions, ESPECIALLY The Holmwood Foundation, which is only missing from this list because it didn’t exist when the book was written 😅

A lot of creators have compiled trans- or identity-specific playlists on Podchaser, so have a search around and find lists by creators you admire and trust!

I’d also take a look at @boombox-fuckboy’s page, who has already offered SO many tailored recommendations

And there are many MANY more out there so please feel free to add recs of your own!!

Hi hi, as that wizard show now is getting an audio book series, just a reminder that there are so many people in the queer space making audio drama for free that’s amazing so please go support those, instead of the terrible wizard woman who’s literally funding to make trans people’s lives worse.

[tellnotalespod]

Very exciting to be on the Holmwood feed today, and grateful to the lovely team behind the show for sharing and supporting!!

If by some rift in the matrix you haven’t yet listened to Holmwood, PLEASE do!! It’s a fantastic and beautifully fresh take on Dracula, with phenomenal characters to get attached to and a lot of fast paced plot to get sucked into

FEED SWAP - Listen Closely (The Night Market)

In these weeks between episodes, we'd like to highlight and share some of our favourite fellow podcasts and shows! This week, we present something a little different. This is an in-universe podcast for a book about audio drama written by Leon Egan of Tell No Tales, who introduced this for us with some context!

Listen Closely is a heartwarming, cosy YA romance, perfect for fans of You've Got Mail, Jenny Han, Beth Reekles, and Heartstopper, from the highly acclaimed author of Lover Birds, Leon Egan, who also hosts Tell No Tales (@tellnotalespod).

Jude's smile is magnificent. Their sharp edges melted away into a rare and beautiful joy. The flash illuminates them as their photo is taken, and for just a second, they glow. It feels like lightning has struck.

When Jude and Aiden are paired up together for an internship at a local radio station, things are awkward. Jude is quiet, withdrawn, has one friend, and is suspicious of everyone. Aiden is charming, outgoing, and popular, with a seemingly easy confidence and golden retriever energy.

But after they discover a shared love of podcast dramas, Jude and Aiden realise that they have more in common than they first realised – especially after Aiden reveals that he is a huge fan of Jude’s own podcast, The Night Merchant.

With a wonderful and original meet-cute premise, an adorable couple with a grumpy x sunshine dynamic and gorgeous chemistry, and themes of forced proximity, found family, and mistaken identity, Listen Closely is an irresistible, heartwarming, swoon-worthy romance and a beautiful coming-of-age story – perfect for fans of You’ve Got Mail, Heartstopper, and Rainbow Rowell.

Narrated by Cloud Quinn and Maggie Bain. Find out more: https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/listen-closely-leon-egan

[tellnotalespod]

[tellnotalespod]

@tellnotalespod's Leon Egan recently released his second novel Listen Closely, that follows two trans teenagers who bond over their shared love of audio drama.

While PBC is primarily a listening hub for podcasts, the team has been discussing setting up an actual book club in the server to read and discuss Listen Closely together, and support a wonderful creator in the space. Please indicate if you'd be interested below!:)

[tellnotalespod]

Listen Closely Playlists!

This is a post I promised @bekabloodhound some time ago and forgot to make, but here I have, for your enjoyment, not one not two but THREE tie-in playlists for my book Listen Closely!

The first is a simple list of every show mentioned in the book, either directly by name or via a description. It is missing The Magnus Archives and Wooden Overcoats, which were mentioned for plot reasons, but the name drops I peppered in throughout were chosen lovingly from some of my favourite trans-led shows, so these are the ones compiled here:

For ease, the shows in question are:

The Attic Monologues - @theatticmonologues

Night Shift - @nightshiftpodcast

Moonbase Theta, Out - @monkeymanproductions

Syntax - @twinstrangersp

The Night Post - @thenightpost

Hello From the Hallowoods - @hellofromthehallowoods

Monstrous Agonies - @monstrousproductions

Spirit Box Radio - @spiritboxradio

Eeler’s Choice - @eelerschoice

Tales from the Fringes of Reality - @thefringespod

(As an aside, if any of these creators would like a free copy of the book, I will be SO happy to send one out once my author copies arrive from the publisher! Please feel free to DM)

The second playlist is more recommendations beyond the ones directly mentioned in the book. This is likely missing many of my favourites, so if I’ve missed your show or a show you love, don’t be disheartened, I’ll be adding as I go! (I’ve also slightly limited this based on what I feel comfortable recommending to the readership of a teen book)

And finally, some music! I compiled this playlist while drafting, and these tracks are now inextricably linked in my mind to Jude and Aiden and their journeys. Hope you enjoy!

And if you’ve somehow missed my many posts on the subject and are wondering what the hell this is all about, this is my second novel Listen Closely, a YA rom-com about two trans kids just trying to learn how to be themselves. It’s a love-letter to audio drama, and I honestly can’t believe my publisher let me wax lyrical about my love for this medium for 80k words

[tellnotalespod]

Listen Closely Playlists!

This is a post I promised @bekabloodhound some time ago and forgot to make, but here I have, for your enjoyment, not one not two but THREE tie-in playlists for my book Listen Closely!

The first is a simple list of every show mentioned in the book, either directly by name or via a description. It is missing The Magnus Archives and Wooden Overcoats, which were mentioned for plot reasons, but the name drops I peppered in throughout were chosen lovingly from some of my favourite trans-led shows, so these are the ones compiled here:

For ease, the shows in question are:

The Attic Monologues - @theatticmonologues

Night Shift - @nightshiftpodcast

Moonbase Theta, Out - @monkeymanproductions

Syntax - @twinstrangersp

The Night Post - @thenightpost

Hello From the Hallowoods - @hellofromthehallowoods

Monstrous Agonies - @monstrousproductions

Spirit Box Radio - @spiritboxradio

Eeler’s Choice - @eelerschoice

Tales from the Fringes of Reality - @thefringespod

(As an aside, if any of these creators would like a free copy of the book, I will be SO happy to send one out once my author copies arrive from the publisher! Please feel free to DM)

The second playlist is more recommendations beyond the ones directly mentioned in the book. This is likely missing many of my favourites, so if I’ve missed your show or a show you love, don’t be disheartened, I’ll be adding as I go! (I’ve also slightly limited this based on what I feel comfortable recommending to the readership of a teen book)

And finally, some music! I compiled this playlist while drafting, and these tracks are now inextricably linked in my mind to Jude and Aiden and their journeys. Hope you enjoy!

And if you’ve somehow missed my many posts on the subject and are wondering what the hell this is all about, this is my second novel Listen Closely, a YA rom-com about two trans kids just trying to learn how to be themselves. It’s a love-letter to audio drama, and I honestly can’t believe my publisher let me wax lyrical about my love for this medium for 80k words

[tellnotalespod]

Listen Closely is the second novel from @tellnotalespod's Leon Egan, which was published on the 3rd of July. The story follows Jude and Aiden, two trans teenagers in high school, as they get to know each other thanks to their shared love of audio drama.

[tellnotalespod]

This week I also wrote about Leon Egan's (of @tellnotalespod fame) new novel, Listen Closely! The story follows Jude and Aiden, two trans teenagers who share a love of audio drama, and who both create their own fiction podcasts.

[tellnotalespod]

Hi <3

My copy of Listen Closely just arrived, and I cannot wait to start reading it!

I wish you a nice weekend (mine will be a blast 😊)

Hey, this is lovely thank you, I hope you enjoy!!

Idk if you saw in AMC’s post over on @vestaclinicpod but she did say, while I’m looking after her cat, I may offer cat pics in exchange for book sales so this is me making good on that 😌

Juno hopes you had a lovely weekend!

[tellnotalespod]

Oh 🥹🥹🥹 reading this brought me so much joy, thank you Beka!!! (Also yes jewellery is included in the handmade things being imbued with magic rule, my tell no tales bracelet is proof of that for me)

Obviously read at your own peril because it’s FILLED with spoilers, but if you’ve read Listen Closely (or don’t care about spoilers) then give this thread a read because it’s lovely

After a crazy extended long weekend, I've finally had the chance to start Listen Closely (audiobook version) by @tellnotalespod's Leon Egan. I am so completely enamoured, by these characters, by this story, by the way it's so filled with love for audio drama and the community we've built around it.

I've still got a ways to go and it's 2:30am so I need to put away the headphones and go to bed, but so far it's felt like a long, warm hug. I have a feeling this is one I'm going to come back to again and again. ❤️

[tellnotalespod]

Okay SO there isn’t a US deal currently on the horizon, which means unless a US publisher shows interest at some point, there may never be an official edition over there. BUT I found this site in which the audiobook is purchasable in the US!

(The site itself does seem legit, I’m not sure how they have rights to the UK edition given they don’t operate here, but hey I won’t see royalties for a long time anyway and I’d rather people have access to it than not!!)

Also I found it fun that the sample snippet they chose is the one that name-drops Syntax

Remember when I said to keep an eye on our feed for some exciting new (non-tnt) content?

The first part of this is up now!

This is The Night Market, a fictional (more fictional than the usual sense) audio drama created by a character in my book, Listen Closely. I've been so excited to produce this with the help of Maggie Bain, the fantastic narrator for Jude in the Listen Closely audiobook!

The episode is up on the Tell No Tales feed now!

If you'd like to see more from The Merchant's market stall, this show is woven into every chapter of Listen Closely, so there's much more to see in the book. You can pre-order it here or pre-save the audiobook on Spotify

And while this episode of The Night Market is only a one-off, continue keeping an eye on the feed. We have an episode from another character’s show, Unfathomable Depths, coming tomorrow!

[tellnotalespod]

After a crazy extended long weekend, I've finally had the chance to start Listen Closely (audiobook version) by @tellnotalespod's Leon Egan. I am so completely enamoured, by these characters, by this story, by the way it's so filled with love for audio drama and the community we've built around it.

I've still got a ways to go and it's 2:30am so I need to put away the headphones and go to bed, but so far it's felt like a long, warm hug. I have a feeling this is one I'm going to come back to again and again. ❤️

[tellnotalespod]

It's the first Audio Drama Sunday of Disability Pride Month, so here are some shows with disabled main characters I'm (re)listening to this month:

Where The Stars Fell

Seen and Not Heard

Killjam XXX

Waiting For October

Camp Here & There

Eeler's Choice

Does anyone else have more recs?

[tellnotalespod]

Thank you for the shout out! I’ve got a few more up my sleeve!

The Attic Monologues: An all-time favourite! The main character of @theatticmonologues is non-binary, and the whole cast is very queer and trans all around. Perfect for elements of poetic horror, strange magic, and lots of gay disaster moments for levity when needed

Love and Luck: For a change in vibe, @loveandluckpodcast was the first time I heard a main character be confirmed as a trans man in a podcast (I definitely didn’t burst into tears 👀) and is a lovely wholesome slice of found family and magic

Do You Copy: I’d be here all day if I listed off all the trans characters in @doyoucopypod but trust me they’re there and it’s fantastic, a great show for if you like horror and mysteries, and a fantastic cast of characters just trying to survive but not doing such a good job of it

Also shows like Eeler’s Choice @eelerschoice and Forged Bonds @forgedbondspod where, while transness is not often remarked upon or relevant to the story, there’s certainly plenty of it among the cast and characters (said with bias, as a trans cast member in both productions)

does anyone have any audio drama recommendations that have prominent characters that are trans men/masc? (That aren’t Hello from the Hallowoods, The Silt Verses, or Camp Here and There)

[tellnotalespod]

It’s true I’m not above exploiting AMC’s beautiful cat for book sales (and thank you!! This is lovely 🥹)

This post is also what reminded me to listen to Land’s End. I’ve been meaning to, but what a SELL! It’s being queued up immediately

Audio Drama Sunday - 6th July ✨

Had a pretty heavy week and so ready for a holiday!! Here’s what got me through my mammoth packing sessions this week! 

🏴‍☠️ @levianpodcast-desperado (4) Oooh Roan you are a fascinating little snake in the grass! Very interesting to learn a little more about the Levian’s strength. She seems so nice but what do I know (nothing). Tanathea’s visions were so beautifully sound-designed but I don’t know if I trust the All-Father… I adore this show so far!! 

🌲 @hellofromthehallowoods (196) Oh my god, Syrensyr is truly *awful*. What a waste of Nik’s talents on your paranoid little games. I’m so glad we were able to stay somewhat close to the action and the transitions between the segments were so cool!!! 

🧳 Travelling Light @monstrousproductions (50) Awwww, Traveller 😂 I can’t laugh too hard because I just know this would also be me. Bless their little cotton socks. 

💬 @clinical-space-podcast (5) Poor Captain!! I am choosing to believe the wolf she had to fight was Letitia from Killjam XXX. The threat to the crew seems much more real after this event! 

🛸 @iriscasefiles (3.02) Brian Jeeter, love of my life. What a SICK piece of lore from him. I love how Arkady is stepping up into the role of Captain and making sure that her crew are physically and psychologically safe. She truly has learned from the best. 

🐏 @landsendpod (2) This show continues to delight. The best kind of horror is when you can predict the nasty twists and turns right up until the moment when you can’t and it was so fun to have the same questions about the sheep a few minutes before the shepherd dare ask them out loud! We adore an unreliable narrator. Do yourselves a favour and listen to Land’s End! 

💍 @forgedbondspod (19-23) I did a big catch-up listen while packing my case and awww so many relationship revelations! Hermes and Ares are super cute together and Hephaestus’ realisation was a huge mood!!! 

🏙️ @luxradium (01) On a great recommendation (thank you @chemicallywrit) I listened to the first episode of Metropolis before downloading the rest for my flights! I’m smitten with Nan’s heart and love the sound design and world building so far! 

🎙️ Also! @tellnotalespod creator, beloved friend and STAR AUTHOR Leon Egan has a new book out called Listen Closely. It’s a YA romcom ABOUT AUDIO DRAMAS!!! Please join me in buying a copy and supporting a super-talented and all round wonderful human! 

(note that I couldn't even wait to get upstairs into my flat before opening the parcel hehe)

(also leon IS looking after my cat for 2 weeks while I'm away so if you buy his book maybe he'll send cat pics idk but maybe!)

[tellnotalespod]

Oh this is so lovely thank you so much!! I can only apologise as ever for the tears, but consider me happily shaken and yourself shaken fondly in return (anyone not following this is simply going to have to read all the way through the book to the acknowledgments to understand 😌)

Happy audio drama Sunday, friends! I'll be back next week with my usual Sunday post, but this week I wanted to congratulate @tellnotalespod's Leon Egan on the publication of his new book, Listen Closely! I'm about halfway through, and I've already lost count of the amount of times it's made me cry??