Behind the Script: Allyson Dwyer on Adapting American Afterlife

Summary

Podcast Summary: American Afterlife

Episode: Behind the Script: Allyson Dwyer on Adapting American Afterlife
Gamut Podcast Network | July 14, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode provides a behind-the-scenes look at the writing and adaptation of the audio drama American Afterlife. Host Alison Dwyer, co-writer of the series, discusses how she approached translating the novel's story—centered on Cielo, a young Mexican immigrant surviving the aftermath of a cataclysmic earthquake on the American West Coast—into a compelling audio script. Dwyer sheds light on her background in theater, the collaborative process with fellow writer River Donahay, and how the adaptation maintained the novel's themes of survival, resilience, and compassion in the face of disaster.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Alison Dwyer’s Background and Approach to Audio Storytelling

• Alison Dwyer’s Writing Journey

  • Transitioned from primarily theater and dramatic writing to audio storytelling during the pandemic.
  • Discovered new ways to use space, time, and collaboration in storytelling beyond the stage.
  • Quote:

    “At the beginning of the Pandemic I got into audio writing. I wrote an experimental full length audio play...I really love dramatic writing.” — Alison Dwyer [00:51]

• Collaborative Origins

  • River Donahay (co-writer) invited her to join the adaptation project.
  • Her first step was reading the original novel to fully immerse herself in Cielo's perspective.

2. Adapting the Novel: Themes & Perspective

• Staying True to Cielo’s Viewpoint

  • Maintained the tight, character-driven perspective of Cielo found in the book.
  • Carefully balanced scenes focusing on Cielo with occasional expansions to other characters, always returning to her emotional journey.
  • Quote:

    “I tried to keep it that way. You know, there’s moments where the story does branch out to other characters. I think also her being among this very dramatic landscape, I was thinking about it in a very film-like way…” — Alison Dwyer [01:44]

• Symbolism: The Earthquake as America’s Divide

  • The earthquake is more than dramatic backdrop; it acts as a metaphor for societal rifts and upheaval in America.
  • Quote:

    “Another thing we tried to lean into was kind of this metaphor of earthquake as America, this rift in the country...you have this young immigrant girl living between the cracks of that.” — Alison Dwyer [02:40]

• Cielo’s Characterization

  • Described as a “wandering protagonist” who possesses maturity and wisdom beyond her years.
  • Her outsider perspective—both literal and metaphorical—shapes how she interacts in this post-disaster world.
  • Quote:

    “I kind of saw her as I wrote it as this wandering protagonist who’s just very mature and wise beyond her years to a point that other people don’t understand her...she doesn’t have high expectations of others.” — Alison Dwyer [01:56]

3. Handling Narrative Complexity in Audio

• Translating Complexity from Book to Audio

  • The novel tells a simple story in a complex, nuanced way, which Dwyer found translated well to audio drama through careful scene selection and thematic focus.
  • Scenes and episodes were crafted around themes that reinforced the story and Cielo’s journey.

• Emphasizing Humanity and Kindness amidst Crisis

  • Small acts of kindness are depicted as vital gestures that maintain human connection and hope, even in dire circumstances.
  • Quote:

    “She always chooses to help other people. And at the end a choice is made, even though it’s a small choice. And like those small gestures of kindness kind of keeping humanity chugging along.” — Alison Dwyer [03:09]

4. Reflections on Creative Fulfillment

• Dwyer expresses immense gratitude for the collaborative and creative experience, highlighting the joy and challenge of adapting American Afterlife.
• Quote:

  “It’s honestly one of the most fun things I’ve gotten to write. So thank you. I hope you enjoy.” — Alison Dwyer [03:19]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the adaptation process:

  “The cool thing about American Afterlife is it’s a simple story told in like a complex way. It translates well from book to audio.” — Alison Dwyer [01:40]

• On Cielo’s wisdom:

  “She’s just very mature and wise beyond her years to a point that other people don’t understand her and I think she knows other people don’t understand her.” — Alison Dwyer [01:58]

• On metaphorical layers:

  “We tried to lean into this metaphor of earthquake as America, this rift in the country.” — Alison Dwyer [02:40]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:51 — Alison Dwyer introduces her background and entry into audio drama
• 01:44 — Discussing approach to adaptation and maintaining character perspective
• 02:40 — The earthquake as a metaphor for America’s divide
• 03:09 — Small acts of kindness and maintaining humanity
• 03:19 — Reflection on the creative process and gratitude

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Conclusion

Behind the Script: Allyson Dwyer on Adapting American Afterlife offers a thoughtful exploration into the art and heart of translating a novel of survival and resilience into audio drama. Dwyer emphasizes the importance of tight character perspective, thematic resonance, and the symbolic power of setting to create immersive storytelling. Listeners gain insight into both the technical and emotional elements that bring Cielo’s odyssey to life—underscored by an enduring message about compassion and strength in times of upheaval.

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Credits

• Adaptation written by River Donahay and Alison Dwyer, based on Pedro Hofmeister’s bestselling book
• Starring Scarlett Estevez (Cielo), Joshua Messnick (Lucas), Ted Evans (Charles)
• Production by Benstown McVeigh Podcast Network, Aurora Productions, and Gamut Podcast Network

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This summary omits advertisements and production credits unrelated to content.

Transcript

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[Alison Dwyer]

Hi, this is Alison Dwyer and I am one of the writers for American Afterlife along with River Donahay. I'm a writer and more formally a playwright. That's more of my focus is theater writing. At the beginning of the Pandemic I got into audio writing. I wrote an experimental full length audio play. I really love dramatic writing. I just always have loved drama. I would go into these like tight knit chat rooms of people who were really into cartoons and we had like a wild imagination. I started to appreciate theater for things other than writing. You use of space and time and the collaborative nature of it. Very gratefully river reached out to me about co writing with him. The first thing I did was go read the book and I was very interested in its tight perspective from Cielo. So I tried to keep it that way. You know, there's moments where the story does branch out to other characters. I think also her being among this very dramatic landscape, I was thinking about it in a very film like way, what meanings could be drawn from the setting and the things she did and why she was in the situation she was in. The nature of the book, there's a lot of episodes in it and depending on the things you want to focus on with the story, you can kind of zoom in on the things that are thematic or reinforce the story. The cool thing about American Afterlife is it's a simple story told in like a complex way. It translates well from book to audio. I really like Cielo a lot. I kind of saw her as I wrote it as this wandering protagonist who's just very mature and wise beyond her years to a point that other people don't understand her and I think she knows other people don't understand her. So she doesn't have high expectations of others. Another thing we tried to lean into was kind of this metaphor of earthquake as America, this rift in the country. I think that's something to think about, right? Even like the phrase American Afterlife and thinking about these turbulent times we live in. And then you have this young immigrant girl living between the cracks of that. I think it's also a story about what people can do for each other. You know, she always chooses to help other people. And at the end a choice is made, even though it's a small choice. And like those small gestures of kindness kind of keeping humanity chugging along. I'm so grateful. Thank you to everyone for listening. I had such a wonderful time writing it. It's honestly one of the most fun things I've gotten to write. So thank you. I hope you enjoy.

[Narrator]

You've been listening to American Afterlife an audio drama by Benstown McVeigh Podcast Network production in association with Aurora Productions and in partnership with Gamut Podcast Network Based on the best selling book by Pedro Hofmeister. Presented by Pair of Thieves Produced by Dave chachi Dennis, Mike McVeigh and William Stewart Directed by William Stewart Podcast adaptation written by River Donahay and Alison Dwyer Based on the best selling book series American Afterlife by Pedro Hofmeister Published by Crooked Lane Books Featuring Scarlett Estevez as Cielo, Joshua Messnick as Lucas and Ted Evans as Charles. Additional voices by Estefania Padilla, Phil Levitt, Jacob Urbanek, Angeline Santana Narration by Sean Andre Sound design by Jacob Urbanek Studio engineers Darren Silva and Megan Vasquez Production manager and marketing Susan Aksu Magarian Additional marketing Robbie Gessel if you enjoyed American Afterlife, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts and following us on Spotify.

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