I Witness: The Long Shore

Episode: S5E1 – The Story We Choose to Tell
Date: December 2, 2025
Host: Northwest Christian School, Red Five Media

Episode Overview

This gripping season premiere of “I Witness” plunges listeners into the heart of immersive historical storytelling and ethical simulation design. The episode tracks the Elysium team’s journey as they debrief their VR re-creation of ancient Rome and collaboratively chart the course for their next, more modern, and intensely human tale—a story centered on civilian courage during the evacuation at Dunkirk in WWII. The drama unfolds through a blend of behind-the-scenes technical and philosophical debates and a raw, emotive re-enactment of fishermen choosing to risk all for the stranded soldiers, emphasizing themes of empathy, memory, and the responsibility of storytellers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Debriefing the "Germanicus" Simulation

• Engagement & Emotional Impact
  • The team reflects on strong user engagement rooted in ethically charged narratives.
  • “Everyone was emotionally invested, even when they didn’t always like the choices.” (D, 00:40)
• Technical Performance
  • AI and sound design held up, though users reported some glitches and motion sickness.
  • Quick fixes are planned for environment tracking and camera movement.
• Ethical & Emotional Fallout
  • Some participants found the experience overwhelming and invasive.
  • “One student felt like he was invading their lives... he wished he could apologize for being there.” (F, 03:31)

2. Recruiting and Expanding the Team

• Nya’s Perspective
  • Introduced as a new addition for her critical, empathetic lens.
  • “I want to be part of that change for somebody else.” (F, 02:57)
• Exploring Participants’ Reactions
  • Noted that deep immersion blurs the line between observation and intrusion, raising questions about emotional safety and narrative ethics.

3. Choosing the Next Story — Moving from Myth to Memory

• Rationale for Looking Forward in History
  • Calls to select stories that resonate with living memory and blur moral absolutes.
  • Debate on the practical challenges of rendering the modern era versus ancient settings.
  • “The further forward we go, the more detailed the world has to be… That’s thousands of variables.” (E, 04:45)
• Thematic Shift: From Triumph to Survival
  • A desire surfaces to focus on stories of survival, ambiguity, and ordinary heroism—namely Dunkirk.
  • “Are you saying you want to build a program around retreating?” (B, 06:34)
  • “Just a story of survival.” (E, 06:32)

4. Technical Innovation to Enhance Experience

• Solving Motion Sickness & Immersion Barriers
  • New motion platform features (dynamic field of view, inertial dampening) are introduced.
  • “The platform will tilt slightly… so your inner ear believes what your eyes see.” (E, 07:09)

5. Psychological Risks & Supporting Users

• Fears and Vulnerability
  • Both returning and new users express apprehension after previous harrowing experiences.
  • “You can’t remove fear with an update.” (F/C, 08:29–08:32)
• Emphasis on Support
  • “Maybe we can patch it with something else. With me not leaving your side this time. Friend mode. Not lab coat mode.” (D, 08:32)

6. Behind-the-Scenes: Testing & Tuning

• Interactive vs. Ghost Run Testing
  • Testers observe and adjust story flow, emotional beats, and technical parameters.
  • “It’s like tuning a symphony by ear.” (D, 10:54)
  • “If someone needs a breath after an intense moment, we can widen that breath. If it’s dragging, we can tighten.” (D, 11:17)

Memorable Quotes

• On Storytelling & Empathy:
  • “The point of the Elysium is to create empathy, not leave students feeling like an intruder in someone else’s trauma.” (B, 04:01)
• On Facing Fear:
  • “Every time we start a program, I wonder what happens if I let someone down… That’s my lion. And I walk in anyway.” (D, 08:46–09:13)
• On Duty & Choice:
  • “Those boys on that beach, they’re us. Our lads… The only reason any of you sit here drinking and arguing is because some lads somewhere said: forget comfort, forget sense, I’m going.” (J, 16:03–17:27)

Key Scenes & Timestamps

[00:23–04:01] — Project Debrief: Germanicus

• Evaluation of engagement, technical issues, and participant feedback.

[04:01–07:06] — Ethical Debates & New Story Direction

• Discussion of emotional safety, shifting from ancient to modern events, and the potential of telling less mythic, more relevant stories.

[07:28–09:28] — Team Dynamics & Vulnerability

• Candid exchanges about fear, failure, and the power of support (“Friend mode”).

[10:08–12:05] — Testing Methodology Explained

• Distinguishing interactive from observational ("ghost") runs and the art of fine-tuning narrative flow.

[13:19–14:01] — Launch into Dunkirk Scenario

• Technical banter gives way to dramatic soundscape as the simulation begins.

[14:01–20:16] — Dunkirk: The Scene

• Fishermen in a seaside pub debate whether to risk their lives rescuing soldiers (“Those boys on that beach, they’re us…”).
• Poignant moments of personal resolve, solidarity, and the weight of conscience.

Dramatic Highlights (Dunkirk Simulation)

• Fishermen’s Reluctance and Resolve
  • “We do this because it’s who we are... Fishing’s just a trade. Being men and women with spines, that’s something else.” (I, 19:10)
• Final Commitment
  • “I’ll go then. God help us.” (J, 19:30)
  • “Boys go to Dunkirk and bring them home.” (G, 20:16)

Conclusion

This premiere blends immersive narrative experimentation and deep ethical inquiry, introducing listeners to the evolving mission of the Elysium project. The team’s internal debate grounds the stakes—how to wield technology’s power to foster genuine empathy, without crossing the line into trauma. The Dunkirk sequence, raw and immediate, sets the tone for a season committed to shining light on voices from history who faced darkness not with triumph, but with ordinary, undeniable courage.