Archive 81 – BONUS OUT-OF-UNIVERSE: A Delayed Episode, a Bonus Conversation

Podcast: Archive 81
Host: Dead Signals
Release Date: October 3, 2018
Guests: Mark (co-creator of Archive 81), Elena Fernandez Collins (Audio Dramatic newsletter)

Overview

This special bonus episode addresses the delay of Archive 81’s Season 3 finale. To fill the gap, Mark sits down with podcast critic and journalist Elena Fernandez Collins of the Audio Dramatic newsletter. Their conversation delves into the world of audio dramas and fiction podcasts, offering recommendations for listeners and discussing the broader landscape, including diversity, access, and discovery tips.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction & Reason for the Bonus Episode

• [00:01] Mark humorously, in-character, announces the delay of the season finale, blaming “all organics” for incompetence.
• To tide listeners over, a bonus chat is presented, focusing on audio drama podcast recommendations.

2. Meet Elena Fernandez Collins

• [01:02] Elena introduces herself:

  “I am a podcast critic and journalist. I write for myself at my website and at my newsletter, but I also write for the Bello Collective, which is an online media outlet that focuses on podcasts.”
  (01:31)

3. Podcast Recommendations

a. The Shadows

• [02:02] Elena recommends The Shadows (Caitlin Prest, CBC):
  • Six-part miniseries, all episodes available for binge-listening.
  • “A fictionalized telling about Caitlin Prest’s experiences with romantic relationships... very intense. It’s really beautiful audio.”
  • Notably, all actor dialogue is improvised, which Elena finds “pretty mind boggling.”

b. Mabel

• [03:24] For fans of Archive 81:

  "If you like Archive 81, you will like Mabel."
  (03:24)

• Mabel is “a horror podcast about a woman who is taking care of an old lady in a very weird house, and very strange things start happening... It’s a lyrical, poetic podcast. It does weird audio stuff as well. So if that’s what you’re into... Mabel’s excellent.”
  (04:21)

c. Point Mystic

• [05:35]: “Point Mystic’s second season is coming out this Halloween.”
• Described as magical realism, “edges on the lines of... spooky horror,” about a town and its radio show investigating the supernatural.
• Addresses themes like colonialism, racism, and community identity.
  (05:55–06:27)

d. Love and Luck

• [07:11]: "It’s a queer romance podcast. It’s about these two men who fall in love over voicemail, and then together they start building a really inclusive, wonderful queer community together." (07:18)
• Set and recorded in Australia.
• Recommended for listeners needing “to be happy about something.”

4. Exploring Audio Drama Trends

• Discussion of the rise in superhero-focused audio fiction, especially younger, YA-oriented narratives (09:17–10:43)
  • Notable mentions: The Bright Sessions, Red Wing (“beautifully diverse and really imaginative”), Red Rhino, Superordinary, and The Van.

5. The State of the Audio Drama Landscape

• Diversity & Inclusion (11:41–13:15)
  • Elena gave a recent talk on “audio fiction as a diverse space.” She’s encouraged by increasing diversity but highlights an ongoing need to make the community more welcoming and accessible for creators of color, trans creators, and those with disabilities.

    "...those burdens [financial, energy, access] are certainly, I think, diminished than they would be in other places, but they’re still there." (15:22)

• Accessibility vs. Gatekeeping:
  • Mark and Elena discuss the misconception that podcasting is easy and open to all.

    “You need microphones, you need editing software... it takes a lot of time and not everybody has...”
    (13:26–15:22)

  • Mark is adamant: “I don’t think that paying your actors is a negotiable cost... that’s deeply shitty to not pay people for their art.”
    (15:22)
• Barriers to Entry: Making a “very shitty podcast” is easy; making a good one is hard and takes time, money, and skills (16:11).

6. Discovering New Audio Dramas

• Hashtags:
  • #AudioDramaSunday (started by Mark and Dan), #AudioFictionLove (started by Elena)

    “Audio Fiction Love... is like a way to make sure that we are uplifting our fellow creators and telling them that we love them.” (17:43)

• Websites & Communities:
  • Bello Collective: Elena highlights her monthly debut roundup articles featuring new audio drama releases. (20:08)
  • Newsletters: Gavin Gaddis’s Pod Report (20:51)
  • Reddit: r/audiodrama is noted as a useful resource (21:07)
  • Instagram: Surprisingly rich in audio drama creators and fandom (21:23–21:49)

    “There are podcasts that started on Instagram...” (21:30)

7. Going Beyond the Usual: International Recommendations

• Actively Seeking Non-US/Non-UK Shows:
  • Elena encourages listeners to “take steps outside of their comfort zone and to try to find podcasts that are specifically from places they are not from.” (22:02)
• Standout International Recommendations:
  • Play for Voices: Translates and performs international audio plays in English (22:54)
  • Radio Atlas: Subtitled radio non-fiction/podcasts in English while keeping original audio (23:13)
  • Sound Africa: South African podcast telling diverse diaspora stories (23:43)

8. Finding Elena & Further Resources

• How to connect:
  • Twitter & Instagram: @shomarq
  • Website: elenafernandescollins.com (24:22)
• Final thanks and wrap-up (24:44)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On podcast diversity:

  “I think we are lacking this core demographic of the marginalized and oppressed who definitely wouldn’t be able to get a platform anywhere else because of major gatekeeping, which podcasting doesn’t have. You don’t need someone’s approval to publish a pod.” —Elena (12:31)

• On paying creatives:

  “I don’t think that paying your actors is a negotiable cost. Like, I personally find it horrifying when people talk about not paying actors. That’s genuinely awful and shitty. And if you do that, you’re... kind of a bad person.” —Mark (14:45)

• On odd discovery venues:

  “There are podcasts that started on Instagram and I had to talk to them and be like, hey, you should also be on Twitter.” —Elena (21:30)

• On looking beyond US/UK shows:

  “I highly encourage all listeners to take steps outside of their comfort zone and to try to find podcasts that are specifically from places they are not from.” —Elena (22:02)

• Light-hearted banter:

  “How do you do, fellow kids and all that?” —Mark, mocking his own attempts at youth lingo (11:30)
  “We'll spend literally hundreds of dollars on plane tickets just to go somewhere and fight. It’s going to be totally a good use of money, not toxic masculinity at all.” —Mark joking about hashtag rivalry (18:45)

Important Segment Timestamps

• [00:01] – Mark's in-character intro and explanation of the delay
• [01:02] – Introducing Elena & her credentials
• [02:02] – Recommendation: The Shadows
• [03:24] – Recommendation: Mabel
• [05:35] – Recommendation: Point Mystic
• [07:14] – Recommendation: Love and Luck
• [09:14] – Discussion on superhero audio fiction
• [11:41] – Diversity in audio fiction, what’s missing/needed
• [13:15] – Gatekeeping in podcasting
• [16:11] – Realities of producing a quality podcast
• [17:10] – Audio drama discovery tips and hashtags
• [20:08] – Finding podcasts via Bello Collective, newsletters, Reddit, Instagram
• [22:02] – The need to seek out non-US/UK shows
• [22:54] – International recommendations: Play for Voices, Radio Atlas, Sound Africa
• [24:22] – Where to find Elena online

Summary Takeaway

This bonus episode offers a hearty serving of thoughtfully curated audio drama recommendations and candid industry commentary from two plugged-in voices. While they deliver humor and inside jokes for Archive 81 fans, the heart of the conversation is a genuine love for the medium—from the innovative storytelling of The Shadows and Mabel, to advocating for greater diversity and global listening habits. Listeners walk away with fresh podcast suggestions, community resources, and an honest look at the creative realities behind their favorite fictional audio universes.