Radio Hope and the Reader Episode 1: Seeking Help

Radio Hope and The Reader is a weekly podcast set up like the journal of a superhero, The Reader, John Black, stuck on a satellite in space as he copes with his own loneliness as well as trying to solve the problems of the planet Earth.

Written and Narrated by Luke Herr

Click here to listen to episode 1 (it’s about 23 minutes)

or here to download the first episode. No fancy podcast work yet.

Notes and commentary after the jump.

I wanted to do something different to use my time (being mostly unemployed/freelancing) and I’ve been Night Vale-ing it up and wanted to do some kind of audio podcast. I like the way I write – I write like I talk and I think the way I talk and write flows well, minus my pauses. Originally I was considering a superhero news show but part of me hates my voice and lacks the desire to do anything beyond basic editing – and even that is limited. You get pauses in here because it is supposed to feel real and parts of this are realer than I wanted. It is a bit like a psychologist meeting.

The main character, John Black, is in a position a lot of people can relate to. Having skills that aren’t used. Feelings of isolation. Overinflated self importance. Parts of him are based on the person I used to be, part of him are based on who I still am, other parts are made up – and yes he is a bit of an ass and a bit more of who I used to be. I matured more than I figured he would have.

The rest of the idea came from a Justice League pitch I had on here – you can find it though it will only ruin things and give away hints. There are analogues for characters though without tying myself to DC anymore I’m going to change them more, let them breathe more.

Episode 2 is written – I wrote Episode 1 out but deviated from it a bit, and it is reactionary. It is a fallout episode so it is more human and inhuman than this. I have plans for another 7 episodes and considering this only took an hour to do, minus writing we can probably expect more.

Thanks for your time, leave a comment, and the audio quality is weird because I recorded while sitting on a futon and sometimes laying down. That’s how journal podcasts are done.

Pax for now.