The Road of Shadows: Presenting - Trap Street (Ep. 1)

Podcast: The Road of Shadows
Host: Mark R. Healy
Presented Audio Drama: Trap Street, Episode 1 ("San Francisco")
Release Date: December 9, 2025

Overview

In this special crossover episode, Mark R. Healy introduces listeners to "Trap Street," a supernatural mystery podcast from the creators of "Strange Air." Episode one ("San Francisco") follows Josh Mayfield, an unemployed gamer in San Francisco, whose life takes a surreal turn after he receives a mysterious email with two cryptic attachments: the image of a red-haired, green-eyed woman and a map of Ocean Bay. As Josh seeks help from friends and a tech security expert, he’s drawn into the unraveling of a greater mystery—setting the stage for the exploration of hidden secrets, the supernatural, and the question: Why do some maps not want to be found?

Episode Structure & Key Discussion Points

1. Introduction to Trap Street

[00:00 - 01:03]

• Mark R. Healy introduces "Trap Street" as a finished, bingeable supernatural mystery with "a cast of over 40 voice actors" and "compelling, addictive" storytelling.
• Listeners are encouraged to follow along if they enjoy the genre of "supernatural mysteries."
• The episode transitions seamlessly into the fiction audio drama.

2. Josh Mayfield's Awkward Encounter

[01:19 - 03:37]

• Josh meets a date in San Francisco and admits to getting lost, despite being a lifelong local, underscoring his sense of disconnection and rootlessness.
• Their awkward date humorously reveals Josh's social struggles; his date abruptly excuses herself, never to return.
  • Memorable moment:

    "I don't think she's coming back."
    — Josh Mayfield (03:37)

• Brief comedic exchange with the server follows.

3. Family Dynamics: Josh and His Mother

[04:08 - 06:44]

• Josh banters with his mother, who reveals she’s found a new love interest after his father's death.
• Conversation exposes generational tension and Josh’s lack of direction.
  • Notable quote:

    "With your brain, you could be out there accomplishing great things, wonderful things, but instead you're home playing childish games."
    — Josh’s Mom (05:59)

  • Josh reluctantly learns about his mother’s new partner, Victor, prompting a blend of support and snark.
• Ends with Josh receiving a mysterious, senderless email with a strange attachment.

4. The Mysterious Email

[06:44 - 08:14]

• Josh deliberates on whether to open the unnamed email, humorously referencing scam emails.
  • Memorable exchange:

    "An email just came in. Someone in Nigeria might need my help."
    — Josh Mayfield (06:27)

  • The attachment downloads itself onto his desktop and emits a strange glow.
  • Josh is unsettled but intrigued.

5. Josh Seeks Advice

[08:14 - 12:00]

• Lunch scene with a friend, who teases Josh about his perpetual lateness and lack of tech savvy.

• They discuss the strange email:

  • Attachment's behavior is unnatural; Josh insists he didn’t click anything, friend confirms it's highly suspicious.

• Friend offers a solution:

  • Connects Josh with "Athena," a cybersecurity specialist with a mysterious reputation.
  • Brief light-hearted exchange about the word "hacker" and future planning.

  "Dude, it’s never too soon to start thinking about the future. And no, you cannot live in my basement when you're an old man."
  — Josh’s Friend (11:51)

6. Consulting Athena, the Security Specialist

[12:11 - 14:57]

• Athena connects remotely to Josh’s computer, showcasing both expertise and dry wit.
  • Comic moment:

    "I didn't know hackers had a sense of humor."
    — Josh Mayfield (12:46)

  • Athena is offended by the term "hacker."

    "Don't say that to her. Athena hates the word hacker. I made the mistake of calling her that once, and she threatened to wipe out my retirement account."
    — Friend (11:32)

  • Athena assures Josh he owes nothing; his friend is footing the bill.
• Athena analyzes the mysterious file:
  • It contains a JPEG with erased metadata, raising security concerns but no immediate sense of danger.
  • She introduces the concept of "steganography," the practice of hiding data within images, but finds no malware present.
  • Dismisses the mysterious glow as "just there to get your attention. Someone really wants you to open this file."

7. Opening the Attachments: The Mystery Deepens

[14:57 - 16:13]

• Athena and Josh open the file, revealing an image of a striking red-haired, green-eyed woman.
  • Notable exchange:

    "She’s beautiful."
    — Josh Mayfield (15:27)

  • Athena jokes about attractiveness, then realizes there's a second hidden image—a map.

    "Wait a minute... There's a second image hidden behind the first one."
    — Athena (15:44)

  • The second image is a map, presumably of the enigmatic town "Ocean Bay," setting up the next stage of the story.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• "I don't think she's coming back."
  Josh Mayfield, after his date leaves abruptly (03:37)

• "With your brain, you could be out there accomplishing great things, wonderful things, but instead you're home playing childish games."
  Josh’s Mom, critiquing his lifestyle (05:59)

• "So what are my choices? I can download this file, which will probably infect my computer with all kinds of malware, or I can just delete the email and go back to killing zombies. Well, that's an easy choice. Delete."
  Josh Mayfield (07:05)

• "It's all janky. I keep hitting delete, but the file won't delete."
  Josh Mayfield about the mysterious file (10:41)

• "Please stop talking."
  Athena, cutting off Josh’s rambling efforts at humor (13:08)

• "You could have gotten someone from the Geek Squad to help you."
  Athena, self-deprecatingly about her expertise (14:59)

• "Is there anything more attractive than a woman with red hair and green eyes?"
  Athena (15:41)

Key Moments & Timestamps

| Segment | Description | Timestamp | |----------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|------------| | Awkward breakup/date ends | Josh is left alone at the bar | 03:37 | | Mother reveals new relationship | Family dynamic/humor and tension | 04:53-05:59| | The mysterious email arrives | Sets up the central intrigue | 06:44-07:10| | File downloads and glows | The supernatural/technological mystery emerges | 07:28-07:48| | Consulting cybersecurity Athena | Tech sleuth comedy and intrigue | 12:11-13:47| | Steganography explained | Hidden data; escalates the mystery | 14:08-14:45| | Hidden second image (the map) | Main story world opens up | 15:49-16:13|

Tone and Style

The episode balances comedic, character-driven dialogue with a slow-building supernatural mystery. The writing is sharp, blending self-effacing humor (Josh’s lack of dating and career success) with authentic emotional beats (family relationships, the search for meaning). The sci-fi intrigue begins subtly, leaning on quirks of technology and paranoia before introducing overtly mysterious elements (the glowing file, hidden images).

Conclusion

Episode one of "Trap Street" seamlessly introduces listeners to its protagonist, his personal struggles, and the inciting supernatural event. By the end, Josh has received two enigmatic clues: an image of a mysterious woman and a map with unknown significance. The episode ends on this discovery, drawing listeners deeper into the enigma of "Trap Street" and the secrets maps might hide.

Tagline:
"Maps have secrets." (Repeated throughout)