#the podficast

[foxsoulcourt]

Well, hello there dear ones! It’s been a minute (or six months) since the previous chapter posted.

Click here to go to Surreal But Nice the Podficast final Chapter 12. 

Many, many thanks to  @annawrites , @fuzzballsheltiepants + @gluupor for their WONDERFUL collaboration which made this further collaboration possible. @dont-rain-on-my-solangelo + I had a B L A S T putting this together. 

If you are the type who likes to wait until a work is complete, that day is now for the Podficast version of the story. E N J O Y!

[aftgficrec]

I was looking for anything like Surreal but nice, where Neil is famous but not because of exy! Also if you have any no exy fics to recommend that would be great! Thank you for all the hard work!

Ah yes, famous ‘snacktor’ Neil Josten! What a fabulous fic! You can find it here (and don’t miss out on the amazing accompanying podficast). In the fics below Neil’s claim to fame is based mostly on the arts (music, painting, acting, writing), but we also feature some fics where he’s big on social media, and even one where he’s an astronaut! - S

From previous posts:

‘And We’ll Be Running’ here

‘Sleeping with ghosts’ here

‘Ultraviolence’ here

‘corresponding shapes’ and ‘Ricochets Off The Moon’ here

‘fugue in red’ here

‘(Stealing your Heart was) the Perfect Crime’ here

‘An Adventure in Babysitting’ here

‘Bang Slash Click’ here

‘Absinthe Makes the Heart Grow Fonder’ here

‘Constrast’ here

‘Disillusion's All You Left For Me’ here

‘When I’m In Your World (Gray Turns To Color)’ here

‘luminosity’ here

Such a Fool for Sacrifice by likearecord [Rated M, 31075 words, complete, 2020]

Neil is a successful author with a stalker who seems to know a little too much about his past. He needs a bodyguard for his upcoming book tour. Enter: Andrew Minyard.

I've marked this as Graphic Descriptions of Violence out of an abundance of caution, but I don't even come near the source material here.

tw: violence, tw: torture, tw: implied/referenced abuse, tw: panic attacks

Something About The Sunshine by bazerella [Not Rated (we say T), 19022 Words, Complete, 2020]

“Oh, fuck.”

“Ow.” Andrew raised his hand up to his head. He didn’t feel any blood so that had to be a good sign. He looked up to meet the culprit who probably concussed him.

There was no blood but Andrew was definitely hallucinating.

“Hey,” Andrew said. “You’re--”

“Sh!” Neil Josten just fucking shushed him. “Here let me help you.”

tw: vomit, tw: implied/referenced abuse

What Once Was Lost by 5a5b5p5 [Rated M, 10000 words, complete, 2020]

Andrew’s life is boring, but he’s never been one for adventure.

Not like one Neil Josten, who is currently thriving with over 4 million followers on Instagram and 2.5 million on YouTube, still traveling, still with people who are not Andrew.

Andrew wouldn’t be surprised if Neil has forgotten all about him, eight years of friendship be damned.

Or: How Neil and Andrew travel the world together and try to fix their broken friendship, and maybe discover a little more along the way.

Line of Fire by JostenlovesMinyard [Rated T, 13396 words, incomplete. last updated Sept 2021]

Neil Josten is a famous actor. He’s sassy, talented, handsome and surprisingly clever. His most recent appearance in The film adaptation of ‘Simon Snow: Carry on’ Has everyone swooning over him.

However, popularity has its downsides. For Neil, that means the life he put behind him keeps rearing its ugly head time and time again. His close friend and fellow actor, Kevin Day tells him he needs to get a bodyguard, Neil can’t really put it off anymore especially since a new problem has arisen: a stalker.

When Neil meets Andrew Minyard he cannot see how he’s the agency’s top man. He’s 5”0, partially deaf and as sassy as Neil.

Andrew proves he's more than willing to put his life on the line to save Neil and he’s damn good at it too. It becomes difficult when his feelings begin to grow for the very person he’s been sent to protect and he finds himself thinking with his heart instead of his head. Neil might not be so keen on seeing Andrew in the line of fire either.

When the stalker situation grows even more dangerous, Andrew and Neil find themselves looking to each other for protection. But that puts them both in the line of fire.

tw: implied/referenced drug use, tw: implied/referenced child abuse, tw: stalking

my star by beepbooprobotnoises [Rated T, 10812 words, incomplete, last updated Aug 2021]

Andrew Minyard and Neil Josten are the picture perfect couple. Having grown close on set of their latest film, they are now Hollywood's favorite power couple. They have good looks, adoring fans, and very successful careers as actors. Attached at the hip in promotions, the two seem to be absolutely head over heels for each other. Their apparent affection has them being declared as "couple goals" across the nation.

There's only one problem. They can't stand each other.

tw: implied/referenced abuse

The Morning AUs - A Compilation by scribbleb_red [Rated T-E, collection, last updated May 2021[

Chapter 2: The Scars - (Sculptor Neil x Muse Andrew AU)

"Three years ago Neil (a reclusive but renown sculptor) met Andrew (a nobody going nowhere). Andrew had found Neil’s cat, hiding under his car. Neil took a liking to Andrew. Andrew could see Neil was full of secrets, but the snark and the intrigue kept him coming back."

And then he finds out what Neil is doing and Andrew leaves. This is the story of their reunion.

tw: implied/referenced abuse

unhappier than most [discontinued] by orphan_account [Rated M, 25674 words, incomplete, last updated Sept 2020]

five years ago, neil josten made a promise to never take another role again - even if that meant losing himself.

but now, with his co-star andrew minyard at his side, and a new family behind him, he begins to think maybe getting better isn't so impossible after all.

(two love stories: one fictional on-screen, and one real off-screen).

[edit: DISCONTINUED]

tw: implied/referenced child abuse, tw: implied/referenced rape/noncon, tw: anxiety, tw: suicidal ideation, tw: panic attack

The Lucky Ones by shellreads [Not Rated, 16736 words, incomplete, last updated June 2020]

After years of living on the run, Neil Josten is offered a role on The Foxes, one of the most popular shows on television. Accepting is probably one of the most foolish things he could do; he would be exposing himself to everything he had spent years running from. But Neil can't help himself.

Idk if this has been done before but it's an actors au! All characters and relative plot belong to Nora Sakavic !!

tw: implied/referenced abuse

Art

Actor Neil Josten by @hi-raethia [tumblr, 2020]

[fuzzballsheltiepants]

Hi! Just curious, is there a reason why Surreal updates as a pod before the actual chapter?

ah, good question!  As much as she might wish, @foxsoulcourt doesn’t have access to the chapters ahead of time.  The podficast typically updates the previous week’s chapter a day or 2 before we update the fic chapter.  So the latest pod update was chapter 10 of the fic, which we posted last Sunday.  @foxsoulcourt lists it as chapter 11 because there’s an extra chapter to the pod that talks about predictions and all that after chapter 7.  So we will post the final chapter of the fic tomorrow, and then the last chapter of the pod should update sometime next week! 

We hope you’ve been enjoying both the fic and the pod, we certainly have had a lot of fun listening to the story being read and all the reactions, and the discussions of fandom at large! @annawrites @gluupor

[foxsoulcourt]

As many ventures go, this started out as a little thing: Sunday 26 January 2020 when the work debuted on AO3, I read ch 1 to @dont-rain-on-my-solangelo over the phone. It was fun! We decided we could this for all eleven chapters!  Awww, bedtime story for grown-ups! The authors + Discord friends wanted to hear the bedtime story too, so I recorded us. Everyone enjoyed it, so we did it again, and again, and then --TA DA!-- we birthed a thing: a Podficast. 

Read along with the words or listen while you’re doing dishes/riding the bus/etc. Any way you do it we hope you enjoy hearing us read + respond to this wonderful work!  

Chapters 1 - 4 are complete. Clicking here takes you to AO3 where you’ll find another link to click to listen to the recording on SoundCloud (you do not need to have an account to listen). Going forward the plan is to update Monday mornings.

@dont-rain-on-my-solangelo is the co-host in Chapters 1-4; @pomponia joins the adventure for Chapter 5. I hope to have a few more co-hosts along the way.

P.S. We’d love to see your answers to the Question of The Week in comments.

Thank you so much to @fuzzballsheltiepants @gluupor + @annawrites for your blessing + support. YOU THREE made this collab on a collab so much fun!

[foxsoulcourt]

Hello, hello dear listeners!

Took me a bit longer than expected to get this posted, but/and here it tis for your listening pleasure:

Click here to go to Surreal But Nice The Podficast Chapter 10: Join me in welcoming this week’s co-host @djhedy. We spend the first hour talking about AFTG, fandom + fics and then move into reading Surreal But Nice Chapter 9. I’d love to tell you it’s a fun read, but if you’ve read it you know: it’s not. 

Not to worry: TOMORROW Chapter 10 posts! It couldn’t get any worse could it @fuzzballsheltiepants @gluupor @annawrites ?!

For those who are interested, fics referred to in this chapter are: 

Ominous' progress comes in small steps (62k, 5 different works w/very different tags; mind them accordingly)

@scribbleb-red‘s The Morning AUs - A Compilation (112k, 49 chapters)

zeffyamethyst's Don't Speak Against the Sun (23k)

Nicki Reads 'The Foxhole Court' (Tumblr posts)

@exyfexyfoxes‘ Marrow Without Bone (79k, 19 chapters) - JereJean fic neither of us could remember during the podficast (which I have since re-read + thoroughly enjoyed...again!)

@djhedy‘s Give Me Something (14k, 3 of 16 chapters written + then set aside) + hold me close, in fact bury me (47k, 16 chapters) + likes: exy (32k, 14 chapters)

@thepalmtoptiger / OneSweetMelody's you used to call me on my cell phone (20k, 20 chapters)

[foxsoulcourt]

Hello listeners! Thanks so much to those who have given this venture a listen. If you have not yet, but want to, this is a great time to start. Last week’s / Ch 6 Podficast is a bit late, but here now. 

Click: Surreal But Nice Ch 6 The Podficast w/co-host @scribbleb-red​ to take you to AO3.

Then you will be directed to a mixcloud link which you can use w/out having to set up a mixcloud account. 

Thank you  @scribbleb-red​ for channeling your inner mermaid for this magical recording! I really enjoyed ‘meeting’ you by voice across the oceans, discussing this wonderful work + some related topics. 

Question of the week: Dear Listener if you, like Andrew in this story, were going to flirt with someone by sharing a book, which one would you choose first?

[foxsoulcourt]

Have you read the latest chapter of the story where Andrew’s quiet life as the owner of an independent, cat-enriched bookstore gets thrown into turmoil when Famous Actor Neil Josten stumbles into his shop? If not, you have two choices: 

read it here OR 

listen to this week’s co-host @pomponia respond to @foxsoulcourt reading it out loud here. Plus our discussion about whether we prefer the AFTG series or its fanfic.

Thanks for spending part of your Sunday evening with me @pomponia! It was a lot of fun to meet ‘in person’ and enjoy this chapter together.

[foxsoulcourt]

Hello m’friends!

Click here to go to the penultimate Surreal But Nice the Podficast (Chapter 11  of the Podficast which is actually a recording of Ch 10 of the story). 

I’m thrilled to introduce this week’s co-host: my daughter Clare. Unlike her sister, a frequent co-host, Clare has never read the AFTG series, nor seen the Notting Hill movie. Are you wondering why in the world I thought having her join me in this adventure was a good idea?! Come listen to find out! We cover many topics in the first hour, then I do my best to give Clare context for the chapter she’s going to hear. She has thoughts + opinions. There is much laughter. 

Links to things we refer to towards the end of the recording:

Do you like Fluffy Coffee / frappés? (Connected to the Question of the Week)

Coronavirus, anxiety, and the profound failure of rugged individualism by Roge Karma in Vox

RÜFÜS DU SOL - Live from Joshua Tree  

Can you believe tomorrow the last chapter posts?!! I’m both excited + a little sad. Thank you @fuzzballsheltiepants @gluupor @annawrites for this wonderful adventure!

[foxsoulcourt]

Hi! I've been binge listening the podficast these past 2 days because it is so wonderful! I wish I had taken notes now because there was a lot I wanted to say about how great it is but I've forgotten most of it. Everything about the fandom's culture and generations and timelines was so fascinating. I only joined tumblr late last year, but I've been an aftg fan for ~3yrs so it's cool to hear a little about the history!! I also love the way you read!! I don't have enough space but basically

Dear Anon, I’ve been BLUSHING ever since I read your kind note!!! TYVM. I’m so glad you are enjoying the podficast. Your message reminds me I STILL need to post the last chapter. My brain thinks that if I don’t post it, then the series is still on-going. Ha, joke is on my brain.  If you are so inclined, I’d love to see your responses in comments. Either way, I hope you enjoy the rest of them! Love, Cory / foxsoulcourt

[foxsoulcourt]

HIIII IM CURRENTLY listening to the surreal but nice podficast I love what y’all have going and wanted to ask if y’all were going to make more? It’s literally 4:41 and I have not stoped laughing along with y’all and it’s sooo much fun to listen and I feel this would really be helpful for when I don’t feel like staring at a screen when my eyes hurt from photosneezia or spd but I really love this… also I don’t know if this is coherent I’m still listening to it so I’m kinda multitasking oops!

Dear Nonny,

You are SO SWEET! Thank you for telling me how much you enjoyed the podficast for Surreal But Nice by @annawrites, @fuzzballsheltiepants + @gluupor.

It was so.much.fun for my co-host @dont-rain-on-my-solangelo + I to read their work, talk about it + then ramble into other fics + fandom stuff. Including other co-hosts was @annawrites brilliant suggestion. The additions by @pomponia, @scribbleb-red , @seabearthirteen , @djhedy, + my other kiddo: non-fandom daughter Clare added tons of fun to the overall experience!

Currently @dont-rain-on-my-solangelo + I do not plan to do more. We started another, but then LiFe intervened + it's sitting on the sidelines where I look at it from time to time.

HOWEVER, @aliteralgarbageheap has got you covered here! You'll find 17 (!) podfics ranging in length from 10-45 min + rating G-E, including some of my faves + hopefully yours. @fuzzballsheltiepants' Chemistry Experiment just posted today!

Besides the many friends I've met through fandom life, another aspect I love so much is the never-ending creative collaborations which happen between us. Enjoy these podfics Nonny!

Love,

Cory/foxsoulcourt

[foxsoulcourt]

Dear listeners, thanks for your patience! 

Like the rest of you, these past couple weeks have been full up dealing w/COVID-19. Both how it’s impacting life here in Seattle, WA + the two different states where our college seniors live + are watching their move towards graduation rapidly changing.  

However, The Podficast must go on! Here for your listening pleasure are:

Chapter 7: Many things happen, including THEY FINALLY KISS!

Chapter 8: @dont-rain-on-my-solangelo + I reflect on AFTG, fandom, Surreal But Nice as a whole work and make predictions for the remaining four chapters

Chapter 9: Much delightful conversation + the ups/downs/all arounds of Chapter 8 w/co-host @seabearthirteen  

Chapter 9 of the fic comes out in mere HOURS. I’m excited to meet @djhedy through Discord later today so we can read + talk about it.

[foxsoulcourt]

hello!

Goodness, earlier this evening it started raining + now it is ABSOLUTELY POURING. Fitting for an odd day w/several roller coaster rides of emotions. This w/end was the first of our two daughters’ college graduations which, y’know, aren’t happening. Yes, yes, its nice to hear A Lot of Very Important People  say “you’re the class perfectly suited to these times, blah, blah, blah” in online ceremonies, but/and I know, for our family at least and many others, a bit of boring normality would be even better. 

Which is all to say: I’m doing my best to be grateful for all.the.things going well. That we have roofs over our heads + food in our bellies (in three different states), everyone is healthy, Mr FSC’s job is going well, and we have occasions to celebrate. 

And yet, yesterday + today I’m super sad for C + all the other graduates who were hoping for pomp + circumstance + funny shiny gowns. So the rain is a welcome soundtrack right now. That and some of the great fics I’ve read while I’ve been moping.

[foxsoulcourt]

crowdsourcing for podcast tech logistics

If you have successfully uploaded an mp3 file to AO3 (or similar) in a way which protects your psuedo-anonymity, would you please dm me? I’ve looked into + tested several different options, none to my satisfaction. I’m ready to message w/someone who has gone before me on this path.

please boost across fandoms

Tysm!

[foxsoulcourt]

Getting ready to record Surreal But Nice Ch 8 w/ @seabearthirteen in my fledgling home recording studio/former bedroom/soon-to-be-office/multi-purpose rooms rock!!! I CAN HARDLY WAIT!!! Tomorrow I plan to post Ch 7 + @dont-rain-on-my-solangelo ‘s and my mid-series chit chat + predictions and Ch 8.

[aftgficrec]

foxes seeing andrew being soft and/or we always see neil gushing over andrew are there any fics where andrew not so subtly gushes about neil to people

I don’t have much gushing, but lots of softer and obviously smitten Andrew. - A

Also see…

soft, handsy Andrew here and handsy Andrew 2 here

minor hurt/comfort with soft Andrew here

Andrew & Renee talk about Neil here

oblivious andreil here

andreil relaxed in front of Foxes here

Foxes react to coupley andreil here

smiling Andrew = happy Neil here

andreil + pda here and andreil casual pda here

‘Sparks Fly’ by nymphaliday here

‘All About Us’ here

‘do you like scary movies?’ (now complete) here

‘the roads I traveled with you’ here 

‘The Proposal’ here

‘The One Where Andrew Tries to Kill Nicky’ here

‘Not Nothing’ here

‘Safe.’ here

‘Better than a Blanket, Your Coat’ here

‘Fox Sleep’ and ‘Calling Me Back Once Again’ here

‘definitely something’ here

hold courage to your chest by neilwrites [Rated T, 5433 Words, Complete, 2020]

? where the hell did u go you’re so tiny i’ll never find you if you get lost here

 fuck all the way off kevin u didn’t say there’d be a Guy here

 ? what? there’s always guys here

 not hot ones

 gee thanks

They're Twins by superfluoussplendor [Rated T, 7314 Words, Complete, 2016]

Neil's second year at PSU dealing with the new additions to the team and his relationship with Andrew.

tw: alcohol

i'll crawl home to him by sporadichearttcollector [Not Rated, 5121 Words, Complete, 2019]

“Neither of you are subtle,” Aaron groans. “The whole school is waiting for you to bang already.”

“I don’t want to bang him, Aaron,” Andrew snaps. “I want to take him on dates and hold his stupid hand and then bang him. Longterm. Monogamously. I want to be his boyfriend, I want him to be my boyfriend. I want to one day be Mr. Andrew Minyard-Dobson-Josten.”

Surreal But Nice by fuzzballsheltiepants, gluupor, moonix [Rated T, 35145 Words, Complete, 2020]

Andrew's quiet life as the owner of an independent, cat-enriched bookstore in the heart of San Francisco's hills is thrown into turmoil when Famous Actor Neil Josten stumbles into his shop. They argue their way through Andrew's literary recommendations and into each other's hearts. But even as Neil is adopted into Andrew's family - feline and human alike - they struggle to find a way to reconcile their vastly different lives.

tw: involuntary outing

“Podficast” of Surreal But Nice by fuzzballsheltiepants, gluupor, moonix, read by FoxsoulCourt [Rated T, 12 Episodes, Complete, 2020]

The fic is read by Foxsoulcourt, and the recording includes guests, reactions, and fandom discussions. Enjoy hearing different fandom voices, and the story based on the rom com Notting Hill is a perfect foil for andreil and company. Contributors include @foxsoulcourt (host) and @dont-rain-on-my-solangelo (co-host), plus guests Clare (other daughter of foxsoulcourt), @pomponia, @scribbleb-red, @seabear13, and @djhedy

tw: involuntary outing

“Why don’t you ever say it?” by @andrews-jort-loving-pipe-dream [Tumblr, 2020]

“I love the way you laugh” by @knox-knocks [Tumblr, 2019]

Art

Soft Andreil by @rainbowd00dles 

Andreil being soft by @requiemofkings 

andrew giving forehead kisses art by @ni3dade

“You were supposed to be a side effect of the drugs.” art by @vincevan-goth

some Andreil for y’all art by @mykaeba

[aftgficrec]

Any podfic recommendations?

For some reason none of us have paid much attention to fandom podfics. Now that they’re on my radar, I’m having a blast! This isn’t a true rec post, I just listened to a few that appealed to me and am giving a short summary below each one. I’m sure all the fandom podfics are great! They definitely deserve more attention and kudos.

I did have a favorite. Listed first, it’s just 4 minutes of an Andrew and Renee slice of life. They are so sassy! So fun. Thanks for sending this ask. - A

an interlude by clockwork_hart1 [podfic] read by Rhea314 [Rated G, 4 minutes, 2016]

smoking kills

NB: An extremely satisfying peak into Andrew and Renee’s friendship. Banter and canon references abound. 

Now I'm Covered in the Colors by alaynes [Podfic] read by Rhea314 [Rated T, 1 hour, 2016]

Nathaniel Wesninski is six years old when his first soulmate mark comes in.

NB: A window into Neil’s life on the run as he wonders about a soulmate who has to wear his scars and then watches in horror as bruises and evidence of self harm emerge on his own body. How could his soul be matched with someone who wanted to die when Neil was fighting so hard to stay alive?

When he joins the Foxes, Andrew’s eagle eyes flag the arm scars immediately, but it takes longer for Neil to catch on. He can no longer hide when Andrew emerges from Evermore covered in red marks and a matching band aid covering his cheek. A mix of team hijinks and horrors, and this is nothing turning into something. 

tw: canon-typical violence, tw: implied/referenced rape/non-con, tw: implied/referenced self harm, tw: implied/referenced torture

[Podfic of] a rescue shop within a yard of hell by SashaSea (SHCombatalade) read by Flowerparrish [Rated G (we say T), 10 minutes, 2017]

“There are angels,” she tells him once, when he is barely eight and wondering why he is not allowed to sleep before she has repeated her words over again in both English and Urdu. “Watching over you.”

The might be angels, he allows himself to agree as he traces the imprint of an iron burned into his arm, but they aren’t watching very closely.

(Where Andrew is Neil's guardian angel, for whatever that might be worth)

NB: I loved hearing a fic I’ve enjoyed reading brought to life. Andrew protects Neil at various times while on the run and continues to do so with the Foxes. Includes a *chef’s kiss* reveal at the end that is pure Andrew.

technicolor by TheWrongKindOfPC [Podfic] read by Rhea314 [Rated T, 16 minutes, 2016]

Neil Josten vs. the mirror

NB: This is Neil dealing with Lola’s trial and hating that he looks like his father, but it’s handled with a light touch. My favorite part was hearing the interaction between Andrew and Aaron.

tw: implied/referenced non con, tw: implied/referenced torture, tw: scars

“Podficast” of Surreal But Nice by fuzzballsheltiepants, gluupor, moonix, read by FoxsoulCourt [Rated T, Incomplete, 2020]

Andrew's quiet life as the owner of an independent, cat-enriched bookstore in the heart of San Francisco's hills is thrown into turmoil when Famous Actor Neil Josten stumbles into his shop. They argue their way through Andrew's literary recommendations and into each other's hearts. But even as Neil is adopted into Andrew's family - feline and human alike - they struggle to find a way to reconcile their vastly different lives.

NB: Something a bit different! The fic is read by Foxsoulcourt, and the recording includes guest hosts, reactions, and fandom discussion. I enjoyed hearing different fandom voices, and the story, based on the rom com Notting Hill, is a perfect foil for Andreil and company. Great fun!

tw: involuntary outing