The Once And Future Nerd

We are thrilled to announce that THE ONCE AND FUTURE NERD is returning on January 30, 2022!

A few other important scheduling notes:

• We are switching to a monthly release schedule. Going forward, episodes will be released on the last Sunday of every month.
• One upside of that change is that we expect to release new episodes consistently for at least the remainder of 2022 and hopefully beyond.
• In line with this change, we’re switching our Patreon account to bill monthly, and also simplifying our reward tiers. You can find out all the details of that, or become a Patron at Patreon.com/onceandfuturenerd.
• Whether you already support us on Patreon or plan to start, make sure to select a reward tier before Jan 30, or Patreon will not send you your rewards!!
• All of Book One is now also available on our YouTube channel. We’ll also be posting a chapter of Book 2 on Wednesdays and Sundays leading up to the premiere of Book 2 Chapter 7. If you want to re-listen before the new episode and talk to other fans, you can post on social media using #TOAFNReRead

The full transcript of this conversation can be found here.

Thank you for your patience and continued support! We’ll see you on January 30th!!

Today, a conversation with Paul Notice (Nelson, Antonin Mooncrest, Ensemble) about WILLOW, an Afrofuturist, Womanist, Anti-Capitalist horror film that he’s currently raising money for.

If you want to help him make it, you can head to bit.ly/willowhorror, or head to thenoticeblog.com to see everything that Paul’s up to.

The full transcript of this conversation can be found here.

Some useful links this week:

• Astoria Food Pantry
• Transgender Law Center
• Fair Fight

Our sponsor this week is The Listener, an expert-curated podcast recommendation newsletter. You can get 2 months free with code toafn20

Talk to you soon!

Today’s bonus content is a showcase featuring HARLEM QUEEN by Yhane Smith.

If you like what you hear, you can listen to HARLEM QUEEN on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher, and follow the show on Twitter @AudioHarlem or on Instragram @HarlemQueenAudiodrama. You can also support the show at Patreon.com/harlemqueen.

The transcript for Zach’s conversation with Yhane can be found here.

Some useful links:

• Vote.org and ACLU.org/voter
• Louisville Bail Fund
• Astoria Food Pantry

Our sponsor this week is Tavour. Download the app, and use code TOAFN for $10 off after your first order of $25 or more.

Talk to you soon!

A few of our buds from around the Audio Fiction world have created a limited-run Audio Comedy Series for charity. They’ll be putting episodes out this coming week to raise money for Lovin’ Spoonfuls, a food rescue in Massachusetts.

We’ve dropped their trailer in your feed today. You can visit marsbestbrisket.com to listen to the show, and marsbestcharity.com to donate!

The full transcript of this announcement is available here.

We’re back, with another batch of scripted minisodes!

“The Lullaby”
by Anya Gibian
Performed by:
Julie Reed – Jen
Anya Gibian – Arlene
(Script)

“Straight From The Underground”
by Christian T. Kelley-Madera
Performed by:
Anya Gibian – Regan
(Script)

Associate Producers: Mark Nielsen and Alec Story

Ways to help the show this week:

• You can buy music from us through our Bandcamp page. And if you do it on Bandcamp Friday, Bandcamp will waive all of their usual fees. The next Bandcamp Friday is Sept. 4
• You can join our Tab For A Cause team – and raise money for charity while you do your thing online – at tabforacause.org/toafn

Some places you can donate:

• Malecare.org – a support/advocacy group for male survivors of cancer, known for programs for BIPOC and GBT survivors
• Milwaukee Freedom Fund
• Rebuild the University of Delaware Chabad
• California Wildfire Relief Fund
• The Cajun Navy Relief & Rescue helping out in the Gulf

CONTENT NOTES below.

CONTENT NOTES:

• “Straight From The Underground” discusses police violence and domestic violence

End of listed CONTENT NOTES.

This week’s bonus content is another in our showcase series. Today we’re featuring WITCHEVER PATH by Steven & JourNee LaFond. It’s an audio drama anthology series where audience interaction determines the course of the story!

If you like what you hear, you can check out WITCHEVER PATH at witcheverpath.com, or download wherever you get podcasts. You can also support their work at Patreon.com/witcheverpath.

The transcript for Zach’s conversation with Steven & JourNee can be found here, and the original transcript to the episode featured can be found here.

Some useful links:

• issuesintheworld.carrd.co
• sayhernames.carrd.co
• Statement from PodTales organizers re: Palace Shaw and racism at PRX

Our sponsor this week is Tab For A Cause – a browser extension that lets you raise money for charity while you do your thing online. Join our team by clicking that link!

Also, we’re still trying to hit some reach goals with really cool rewards over on our Patreon. Thank you so much to everyone who’s already joined or upgraded!

That’s all for this week, but we plan to be back on August 30 with another batch of scripted minisodes!

We are so excited to present to you our first batch of scripted minisodes!

“26 Maple Dr”
by Christian T. Kelley-Madera
Performed by:
Frank Queris – Billy
Julie Reed – Jen
(Script)

“A Going Away Party”
by Zach Glass and Christian T. Kelley-Madera
Performed by:
Gregory M. Schulz – Yllowyyn
Rhiannon Angell – Yllodyk
(Script)

Associate Producer:
Alec Story

As we mentioned last week, we’re currently doing something of a pledge drive over on our Patreon.

Our sponsors this week are:

• Serial Box, a website that creates and curates award-winning sci-fi, fantasy, thrillers, and more, in both audio and text formats. You can get 50% off TOAFN Book 1 at serialbox.com/TOAFN50. Or, you can get 40% off 10 titles of Serial Box’s choosing (normally $9.99 each) at serialbox.com/FutureNerd40.
• Shaker & Spoon – a subscription service for making craft cocktails at home. Get $20 off your first box at shakerandspoon.com/futurenerd!

Some donation links:

• https://www.glitsinc.org/
• https://www.rosehipmedics.org/
• https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/

CONTENT NOTES below.

CONTENT NOTES:

• “26 Maple Dr” alludes vaguely to abusive parenting and sexual abuse of a minor
• “A Going Away Party” depicts recreational drug use

End of listed CONTENT NOTES.

We are very happy to announce that new scripted content is coming your way on July 26! That’s next week! You’re gonna hear two “minisodes,” that is short vignettes that are canonical to our story world but outside the scope of the main story (and produced fully socially distantly.)

As always, they’ll be free to listen to (albeit ad-supported). But we will be charging Patrons for them. We said at the start of quarantine, we’d warn you before we started charging again. So consider this your warning, and pause or deactivate your pledge by July 25 if you don’t want to get charged. And believe us, we understand if you need to do that. Times are weird and money is tight.

(And by the way, if you’re new here and don’t know about Patreon – we offer lots of cool rewards and bonus content to anyone who signs up as a Patron on Patreon. You can find out more at patreon.com/onceandfuturenerd.)

If you can support us though, now is a really helpful time to do it. Your support now means we’ll be able to better pay all the very deserving people who make this show happen, and it means we’ll be able to hit the ground running on all the cool, ambitious stuff we’ve got planned for Chapters 7-9, as soon as it’s safe to go back in the studio.

To that end, we’ve added some new tiers and reach goals over on Patreon…

• A new $10/episode tier, which will get you a twice-annual voice chat with some of the people who make the show, and a once-annual physical gift from us!
• If we reach $650/episode total, we’ll do another commentary track for a prior chapter, like we released recently
• If we reach $800/episode total, we’ll do a second commentary track
• if we reach $1000/episode total, we’ll create and release a Fiasco playset based on TOAFN, and record some of us playing it.
• If we get to 50 new and upgrading Patrons by the time we’re done releasing Book 2 Chapter 7, we’ll send all of those new and upgrading Patrons a TOAFN enamel pin. (If you already joined or upgraded since March 1, you’ll be included for the pin.)

Fine print for all of this – reach goals, etc. will all be assessed after the first charge cycle. Also, you should be aware that new laws require Patreon to charge sales on certain pledges in certain jurisdictions. That money goes to the relevant government agencies and not us or Patreon.

And finally – if you want to support the show without signing up for anything recurring – our sponsor this week is Serial Box, a website that creates and curates award-winning sci-fi, fantasy, thrillers, and more, in both audio and text formats. TOAFN Book 1 is available on Serial Box, among a lot of other excellent content. You can get 50% off TOAFN Book 1 at serialbox.com/TOAFN50. Or, you can get 40% off 10 titles of Serial Box’s choosing (normally $9.99 each) at serialbox.com/FutureNerd40.

See you next week for our first two minisodes!

Today’s bonus content is the next in our Showcase series, this time featuring Gabriel Alvarez and his space opera STARCALLED.

If you like what you hear, you can visit starcalled.space for more. Or you can follow @Starcalledradio on Twitter, or support the show at Patreon.com/starcalled.

The transcript for the interview can be found here, and the original transcript for the episode of STARCALLED that Gabriel excerpted can be found here.

Some useful donation links:

• https://ndncollective.org/
• https://www.lambdalegal.org/
• https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/

Our sponsor this week is Tavour. Download the app, and use code TOAFN for $10 off after your first order of $25 or more.

That’s all for this week, but stay tuned to this feed for upcoming announcements!

Today’s show is the first in a series of Bonus episodes where we’ll highlight the work of another creator in the audio drama/audio fiction space through a brief interview and by playing a selection from their work. We’re starting with JANUS DESCENDING, the sci-fi horror saga by Jordan Cobb.

If you like what you hear, you can check out all of Jordan’s work at nosuchthingradio.com, and you can support her work on Patreon at Patreon.com/nosuchthingproductions.

The transcript for the interview can be found here, and the original transcript for Entry 10 of JANUS DESCENDING can be found here.

Some useful links:

• https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/
• The Marsha P. Johnson Institute

Our sponsor this week is Tavour. Download the app, and use code TOAFN for $10 off after your first order of $25 or more.

We’ll be back on July 12 with more bonus content!

Today’s Bonus Content is something new we tried recording, back in late April (i.e. approximately 7000 years ago). Several of us recorded a commentary track for Book 1, Chapter 4 – “Monsters,” released all the way back in the spring of 2014.

It also includes a message that we think you should hear.
CONTENT NOTES for the first 8 minutes or so: police violence, racial violence, victims of hate crimes, white supremacy, and police violence.

The transcript for this episode can be found here. And the original script for “Monsters” can be found here.

Announcements for this week:

• https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/
• On June 19, Bandcamp will be donating all proceeds from record sales to the NAACP legal defense fund, and we’ll be doing the same. For any song you buy from our Bandcamp on that day, we’ll donate the proceeds.
• If you’re Black and starting out in Podcasting or VFX, our director/co-creator (@Ctmadera) is offering some free services. Details in this tweet.

Shout-outs from the Commentary:

• The Notice Blog on YouTube
• Recent Cutbacks on YouTube
• Can You Violate The Geneva Conventions? on Twitter

Our sponsor this week is Shaker & Spoon, a subscription service for making craft cocktails at home. Get $20 off your first box at shakerandspoon.com/toafn!

We plan to be back with more bonus content on June 28. Hope to see you then.

This week’s bonus content is an interview Christian did with author, musician, crafter, and self-described jack of all trades Margaret Killjoy. It’s about power in Fantasy (among other things). So, right up our alley.

You can find out about all of Margaret’s various projects at birdsbeforethestorm.net, or follow her on Twitter @MagpieKilljoy.

The transcript for this episode can be found here.

Our partners this week are:

• Tab for a Cause – a browser extension that lets you raise money for charity while you do your thing online. Join team Once And Future Nerd by signing up at tabforacause.org/toafn!
• Shaker & Spoon – a subscription service for making craft cocktails at home. Get $20 off your first box at shakerandspoon.com/toafn!
• And as a reminder, we also sell music from the show at onceandfuturenerd.bandcamp.com, and merchandise at onceandfuturenerd.com/merch!

We’ll be back again on June 14, with a new format of bonus content we’re trying out. See you then!

Hey all,

This is normally about the time that we’d be announcing we were about to start recording our next chapter. Unfortunately, as you may have heard, there’s a global pandemic going on, and it’s hitting New York City especially hard. So it’s not safe for us to meet up in person to record, and given the setup of our show it’s not logistically feasible to do it remotely. And sadly, we don’t know how long that’s going to be the case. Looks like at the very least a few more months, so, sorry to say, we will not have new story content for the foreseeable future. But we are going to keep writing, and the hope is that as soon as it’s safe for everyone to return to the studio, we can hit the ground running and record a bunch of material very quickly.

In the meantime, we’re going to be experimenting with some new formats of bonus content. You’ll probably hear some more interviews with other podcasters and speculative fiction creators like you’re used to, but we’re also going to try out some other stuff. So when that happens, let us know what you think! If we find something new that we like and you like, then we might continue doing it even after production returns to normal.

We know money is tight for a lot of people right now. If you’re a Patreon subscriber, then as usual you will NOT get charged for anything until we put out new story content – which is again, not for the foreseeable future and not until we announce it. That said, if you need to cancel your subscription for peace of mind, we understand. We really hope we’ll see you back once things are more settled but we understand. And just to reiterate, if you keep your subscription active, you will NOT be charged until we start putting out full story episodes again. If – on the other hand – you’re looking for ways to support the artists you like right now, we might have a few new ways to support us a la carte to announce in the future so stay tuned for that.

Lastly, on a personal note, Zach and I and all the cast and crew want to send you our best wishes during this crisis. Things are strange and and sad scary right now, but we’re all in this together. Keep yourself safe, then look around and see what you can do to keep others safe. As a starting point – stay home as much as you can, wash your hands, call or text your loved ones. And we’ll talk to you again as soon as we can.

Best wishes until then,
-Christian, Zach, and the whole TOAFN team

In today’s bonus content, Producer Zach Glass interviews author Liz Kerin, whose novel The Phantom Forest is available now through Inkshares or wherever you get books.

And – as mentioned in the episode – you can watch Colleen Scriven (creator of Lesser Gods) interview Liz at The Strand here!

Our sponsor this week is Marvels – a podcast from Marvel, set in the background of the Fantastic Four’s showdown with Galactus. Written, directed, and produced by some of the best talent in podcasting. Go to marvelspodcast.com to learn more. And if you want to listen, go to stitcherpremium.com and enter the code FUTURE to get a month of Stitcher Premium for free!

Today’s bonus episode is the audio from our #AskTOAFN livestream for Book 2 Chapter, originally broadcast on November 17. It’s been cleaned up and lightly edited for clarity, but you can watch the full original stream over on our YouTube channel.

Thank you to everyone who submitted questions!

Our sponsors this week:

• A Quest of Heroes by Morgan Rice, Book One in The Sorcerer’s Ring. Visit morganricebooks.com for more information.
• Marvels, a new podcast from Marvel, set in the background of the Fantastic Four’s showdown with Galactus. Written, directed, and produced by some of the best talent in podcasting. Go to marvelspodcast.com to learn more. And if you want to listen, go to stitcherpremium.com and enter the code FUTURE to get a month of Stitcher Premium for free!

Other announcements/shout-outs:

• Congrats to Shannon, whose short film “THREE Birds” had its world and NYC premiere this past week at the Big Apple Film Festival. 
• “Chameleon” by Herbie Hancock, a major inspiration for our heist score
• And a proper answer to the question about Springsteen songs, in the form of a playlist of course. Christian explains his choices in this Tumblr post.

This week – to hold you over until our #AskTOAFN livestream, we have an interview with three brilliant podcast creators. Sarah Shachat, Gabriel Urbina, and Zach Valenti are the production team behind Wolf 359, No Bad Ideas, and Time Bombs. In this interview, they talk to Christian about their latest endeavor, Zero Hours.

Update: The promo code for Audio Fiction 101 given in this episode has since expired. Thanks to everyone who used our code and everyone else can still take advantage of the course at its regular price.

And last but not least: Our #AskTOAFN livestream for Book 2 Chapter 6 will be on Sunday, November 17 at 4:30pm New York time, on our YouTube channel. If you’d like to submit a question, please do so by Wednesday, November 13. You can post on Twitter or Tumblr using #AskTOAFN, or use the #AskTOAFN threads on our Facebook page or subreddit.

See you then!

The conclusion of Book 2 Chapter 6! The party puts their daring plan into action against the Elves. Will fortune favor the bold?

The script for this episode can be downloaded here.

Chapter conclusions mean it’s time once again to #AskTOAFN. We’ll be answering YOUR questions in a livestream. (Exact time TBA later on our social but likely to be Sunday, Nov. 17 late afternoon or early evening New York time.) If you want a chance to have your question answered, please submit it by Wednesday, Nov. 13. You can post on Twitter or Tumblr using #AskTOAFN, and we’ll have threads on our Facebook page and Subreddit.

Update: The promo code for Audio Fiction 101 given in this episode has since expired. Thanks to everyone who used our code, and everyone else can still take advantage of the course at its regular price.

And did you know that we sell merchandise? Or that we have a Patreon with cool rewards available for Patrons? Well we do! And, along with patronizing our sponsors, those are great ways to support our show!

CONTENT NOTES below.

CONTENT NOTES:

• From 20:30 – 21:16 (Pg. 81-82) There is a shoot-out in a crowded public area. Several civilians are killed or wounded, and many more panic. 
• From 21:57 – 22:15 (Pg. 83) A crowd of civilians reacts to an explosion and a structural collapse. 
• From 22:42 – 23:19 (Pg. 84-85) There are several graphic stabbings.
• From 23:49 – 24:07 (Pg. 87) A lamed horse is euthanized and then used as a shield.

End of Listed CONTENT NOTES.

Something very unwelcome washes ashore in a southern fishing town. Jen has a rough night, and Nelson has an unsettling dream.

The script for this episode can be downloaded here.

Update: The promo code for Audio Fiction 101 given in this episode has since expired. Thanks to everyone who used our code, and everyone else can still take advantage of the course at its regular price.

Our listeners can also save on orders from Plus One Balms, a line of RPG-inspired beard care products made from all natural ingredients. Use promo code TOAFN for 10% off your order.

And did you know that the entire first book of our tale is available on a cassette-shaped USB drive, courtesy of AudioBooks On Tape? It includes full chapter files, bonus content, and exclusive artwork, all in a slick, retro package.

The conclusion of Chapter 6 will be released on November 3. We hope to see you then!

CONTENT NOTES below:

CONTENT NOTES:

• From 12:26 – 12:51 (Pg. 52) A protester is killed very gruesomely. 
• From 13:22 – 13:58 (Pg. 53-54) Someone experiences PTSD symptoms. (We don’t experience the event that causes it, only the aftermath.)
• From 16:56 – 18:19 (Pg. 56-58) A Black mother talks to her young son about the threat of racist violence.

End of listed CONTENT NOTES.

The village of Three-Bridges finds consensus in First Snow’s plan, but Tyymos lo-Jyf – as you can imagine – objects. Ardel Redmoor makes plans to flee Castle Guernatal, but the Phantom of the Castle objects to this. Regan and Yllowyyn find Nia, along with a whole lot of trouble they weren’t looking for, and Nia tells the Party of her plight.

The script for this episode can be downloaded here.

Update: The promo code for Audio Fiction 101 given in this episode has since expired. Thanks to everyone who used our code, and everyone else can still take advantage of the course at its regular price.

And as always, The Once And Future Nerd is made possible by our Patrons on Patreon. Patrons receive lots of cool rewards for their support. And this episode(??) is your last chance to receive the exclusive artwork for the chapter!!

Finally, TOAFN will be at PodTales – A Festival of Audio Drama and Fiction Podcasting – in Cambridge, MA on October 20. Stay tuned to our social media for details on where we’ll be. We’d love to say hi to you!

Our next episode will be released (also) on October 20! We hope to see you then!

CONTENT NOTES BELOW:

CONTENT NOTES:

Temp

• From 6:07 – 7:52 (Pg. 22-24) There are several imminent threats that mirror real-world racist and colonialist violence.
• From 12:21 – 13:51 (Pg. 27-28) – Someone is forced to do something at knifepoint.
• From 14:42 – 15:00 (Pg. 30) – A small explosion startles a crowd.
• From 20:55 -20:58 (Pg. 38) – Someone makes an insincere mention of suicide during an argument.

End of Listed CONTENT NOTES.

Welcome, one and all, to the premiere of Book 2 Chapter 6!

Nia has no choice but to negotiate with Lord Commander Ry’y lo-Th’yyt, and Regan and Yllowyyn have no choice but to go looking for Nia. Meanwhile, the village of Three-Bridges learns of Elven encroachment on their farmland, and debates what to do. And Nia’s parents learn the limits of Elven hospitality.

The script for this episode can be downloaded here.

Update: The promo code for Audio Fiction 101 given in this episode has since expired. Thanks to everyone who used our code, and everyone else can still take advantage of the course at its regular price.

Also – a reminder – our official merchandise can be found at onceandfuturenerd.com/merch. And our supplier Spreadshirt is offering free shipping through September 23 with offer code SHIPFORME.

And as always, The Once And Future Nerd is made possible by our Patrons on Patreon. Sign up to support the show and you’ll be rewarded with things like early release episodes, and stickers and posters of Patreon-exclusive artwork!

Finally, TOAFN will be at PodTales in Cambridge, MA on October 20. Come say hi!

Our next episode will be released on October 6. We hope to see you then!

We are pleased to announce release dates for our next chapter!

THE ONCE AND FUTURE NERD
Book 2 – Myth Made Flesh
Chapter 6 – “One For The Team”

• Part 1 – September 22, 2019
• Part 2 – October 6, 2019
• Part 3 – October 20, 2019
• Part 4 – November 3, 2019

Also, FYI – we’re going to be changing some geeky stuff under the hood so we get sorted into the right categories on Apple Podcasts. This should NOT change anything for you…UNLESS you subscribe directly through FeedBurner, Email, or our RSS feed. (If you’re not sure how you subscribe, it’s probably not like that.)

If you do subscribe that way, our new feed location will be:
http://onceandfuturenerd.com/feed/podcast

But basically all podcatching apps should adjust to the change automatically. That said, if it’s September 22 and noon (NY time) has rolled around without a new TOAFN episode popping up, let us know and we will help you sort it out!

Talk to you in September!

Here’s the audio from our #AskTOAFN livestream for Book 2, Chapter 5. It’s been edited for clarity but you can still see the unedited (and severely technologically challenged) video stream on our YouTube channel.

Links to topics discussed in this episode:

• “On how forced the story with the Orcs feels” from the TOAFN subreddit
• Chimamanda Adichie on The Danger of a Single Story
• Louis Riel on Wikipedia
• The fan-run TOAFN Discord Server

TOAFN is brought to you in part this week by Plus One Balms. Go to plusonebalms.com/TOAFN and use offer code TOAFN to get 10% off your order and help support our show.

Thanks for listening!

Out west – far west, past rebuilt Freehold, past ruined Blackhold and ravaged Silberg, past even Jethro’s remote cabin and its terrible cellar, over the god-made walls of that primordial fortress you call the Black mountains, down the foothills where the downtrodden many pull precious stones from the living rock, for the benefit of the privileged few – there is a town on the plains. The inhabitants of this town would be called Urrkyet by the Elves, that is to say Orcs in the common tongue of the Eastern realms. Most of this episode is about them.

But also Nia catches a really rough break.

The script for this episode is available here.

Our sponsor this week is Plus One Balms. Made from high quality all natural ingredients, Plus One Balms give you everything you need to level up your beard or give your skin an AC boost after a shave. Head to plusonebalms.com/TOAFN and enter code TOAFN at checkout for 10% off your offer and to help support our show!

And, finally – this being the conclusion of Chapter 5 – we are now accepting listener questions and will answer our favorites live(!) on our YouTube channel on Sunday May 19 (exact time TBA). If you want to submit a question, you can ask us on Twitter, Tumblr, or Facebook. Make sure to use #AskTOAFN to be sure we’ll see it!

CONTENT NOTES below.

CONTENT NOTES:

• From 12:11-12:48 (p. 77-78), there are threats mirroring real-world racial violence
• From 17:43-18:42 (p. 82-83), these threats escalate

END OF LISTED CONTENT NOTES.

Nia asks her old friend for a confounding favor. The Pennsylvanians love it when a plan comes together.

The script for this episode is available here.

Our sponsor this week is Plus One Balms. Made from high quality all natural ingredients, Plus One Balms give you everything you need to level up your beard or give your skin an AC boost after a shave. Head to plusonebalms.com/TOAFN and enter code TOAFN at checkout for 10% off your offer and to help support our show!

The conclusion of Chapter 5 will be released on May 5. We hope you’ll join us then!

Regan is short on friends willing to aid in her campaign. Nia seeks medical help from an old friend of hers. Ardel Redmoor is even shorter on friends than Regan.

The script for this episode is available here.

Our sponsor this week is Plus One Balms. Inspired by the six traditional roleplaying stats, Plus One Balms are made from high quality all natural ingredients that give your beard and skin everything they need to be healthy and strong. Head to plusonebalms.com/TOAFN and enter code TOAFN at checkout for 10% off your offer and to help support our show!

We’re also teaming up with Plus One Balms to create a scented balm inspired by our show! And we want your help creating it! Post your suggestions on Twitter using #SmellsLikeTOAFN. If we use your suggestion, we’ll send you a tin of the resulting formula!

Our next episode will be released on April 21. We hope you’ll join us then!

CONTENT NOTES below.

CONTENT NOTES:

• From 12:54 – 14:03 (p. 34-36) a character experiences/expresses discomfort regarding gender presentation.

End of listed CONTENT NOTES.

• From 15:31-20:19 (p. 13-16) there are sounds of bodily decay and mutilation, and basically an entire scene of verbal abuse.
• From 23:23-24:16 (p. 19-20)  there is discussion of a death by suicide. 

We’re trying to hit $500/episode by March 24th to make the show more sustainable for everyone involved. And we’ve added some cool new rewards to do it! Please help us spread the word, or consider pledging if you’re able.

Thank you as always for listening, and we will see you on March 24 for the premiere of Book 2 Chapter 5!

First! The announcement you’ve all been waiting for! Release dates for our next chapter.

THE ONCE AND FUTURE NERD
Book 2 – Myth Made Flesh
Chapter 5 – “An Impregnable Missive”

• Part 1 – March 24, 2019
• Part 2 – April 7, 2019
• Part 3 – April 21, 2019
• Part 4 – May 5, 2019

We can’t wait for you to hear what we’ve been cooking up.

Next, we’re conducting an audience survey to get a sense of your likes and dislikes, and to see where we can grow and improve the show. Your participation would be tremendously appreciated. So, when you’ve got 15-20 minutes to spare, please head over to bit.ly/TOAFN2019.

Finally, in case you missed it earlier this week, TOAFN will be at PodCon this coming weekend, Jan. 19-20 in Seattle! Zach, Christian, and Greg will be there, sharing a booth with Greg’s co-hosts from Left Trigger Right Trigger. And we’ll have some limited edition stuff to give away that’s being made just for the Con. So come say hi!

See you in March (or hopefully sooner at PodCon!)

Today’s bonus content is a conversation that Zach and Christian had with Amanda McLoughlin, Julia Schifini, and Eric Silver of Multitude fame. We talked about the role that storytelling plays in society and how that intersects with roleplaying and self-conception.

We’re also pleased to announce that we’ll be in production for our next chapter November through early December. We’ll be announcing official release dates once we’re a little ways into post-production, but hopefully early 2019.

Here’s the audio from our #AskTOAFN livestream for Book 2 Chapter 4. It’s been lightly edited for length and clarity, but you can still watch the full video stream on YouTube.

Some shout-outs and announcements:

• Thanks to our Week 1 fundraiser on Maddy Groves, we were able to donate over $60 to the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES)! Thank you to everyone who bought the song!
• You can catch our own Shannon Harris (Ren, Nia’s mom, writer) in LUKE CAGE (!!!) Season 2, now streaming on Netflix. (She’s in Episode 11)
• Paul (Nelson) has always got content going up on THE NOTICE: Facebook | Twitter | IG
• Catch Greg (Yllowyyn, writer) on Left Trigger Right Trigger: Podcast | YouTube
• Most of our pirate crew performs musical improv together under the name Night Captain. Follow their Facebook page for updates on upcoming shows.

Thanks to everyone who sent in questions. See you soon!

In the heart-stopping conclusion of Chapter 4, Regan and Ren navigate some treacherous waters. (That’s literal and metaphorical, you see.) Meanwhile, General Traft makes some new friends. And Ry’y lo-Th’yyt catches a lucky break. Will she finally do some outmaneuvering of her own?

The script for this episode can be downloaded here.

And, since this is the final episode of this Chapter, it is time once again to #AskTOAFN! Got a question you’d like to hear answered on our video livestream? DM us on Facebook, Reddit, or Patreon, or post on Tumblr or Twitter using #AskTOAFN. Make sure to get your questions in before Midnight ET on Friday, June 22. The livestream will happen on Sunday, June 24 at 3:30pm ET on our YouTube page, with audio posted to the podcast feed shortly thereafter.

Also! Due to swift and intense popular demand, our take on the folk song “Maddy Groves” from Chapter 4 Pt. 3 is now available for download on our Bandcamp page! Our Patreon patrons will be getting a discount code for it, but also all of our sales in the first week will be going to charity to help protect the rights and well-being of children detained at the US border.

Thanks as always for listening, and we’ll see you in a week on our livestream!

The Party is in for yet another of their many culture shocks as they make their way aboard Ren’s notorious Red Reaver (except for Regan of course). Billy questions his role in the group, and Arlene levels up the vital bardic skill “read the damn room.” Meanwhile, Bryce Riverfell proves far less cooperative than Ry’y lo-Th’yyt expected. And new pressures threaten the delicate agreement between Regan and Ren.

The script for this episode can be downloaded here.

The thrilling conclusion of this chapter will be released on June 17. We I’hope you’ll join us then!

If you enjoyed the (almost entirely improvised) performance of our pirate crew, you can see Night Captain perform live at the PIT Striker on June 28 (Tickets). If you enjoyed the complex and multi-layered sound production, you can thank Jared Paul for recording it and Oliver Morris for mixing it. Oliver produces his own horror-noir podcast called KANE AND FEELS: PARANORMAL INVESTIGATORS.

CONTENT NOTES for this episode, including an inevitable MAJOR SPOILER, below.

CONTENT NOTES:

• From 03:23-03:28 there are vomit noises.
• From 19:55-20:06 (Script Pg. 53) someone with a pre-modern vocabulary says “sex” where ‘gender’ would be more appropriate in a modern context.
• From 24:07-24:48 (Script Pg. 57), there is a depiction of a gruesome suicide, committed to avoid torture.

End of listed CONTENT NOTES.

Regan negotiates with Ren to get her crew to Armstrungard. Jethro the Woodsman explains more of his unusual beliefs to General Traft. General Riverfell has his evening plans disrupted.

The script for this episode can be downloaded here.

Part 3 of this Chapter will be released on June 3. We hope we’ll see you then!

Welcome back, dear ones!

In the premiere of Chapter 4, our party must reap what they have sown aboard the Otto Olafsson’s merchant vessel. (Hint: It’s pirates.) Meanwhile, the High Council of the White Forest has some questions for Ry’y lo-Th’yyt.

The script for this episode can be downloaded here.

Part Two of this Chapter will be released on May 20. We hope you’ll join us then!

CONTENT NOTES below.

CONTENT NOTES:

• From 1:40-1:48 there are some vomit noises.
• From 5:35-6:21 (on script pg. 5) a survivor of sexual assault is in a potentially threatening situation
• From 11:58-12:23 there are some more vomit noises.

End of listed CONTENT NOTES.

Some scheduling announcements for our upcoming episodes.

Book 2 Chapter 4 premieres on May 6, 2018. We’ll see you then!

Today’s bonus content is the cleaned up audio from our last end-of-chapter livestream (along with the Chapter 3 blooper reel). You can watch the video of this conversation here.

Podcast Shout-Out’s this episode:

• Greg: Til Death Do Us Blart, Worst Idea Of All Time
• Ian: Pod Save America, Beautiful Stories From Anonymous People
• Christian: Left Trigger Right Trigger, The Bright Sessions, Wolf 359, Join the Party, What’s The Frequency?, Audio Drama Production Podcast, Métis in Space
• Zach: Nerds On A Roll, Lesser Gods

Chapter 4 of our tale will be released some time in the first few months of 2018. We’ll post release dates as soon as we know them. Hope to see you then! And Happy Holidays from all of us to all of you.

CONTENT NOTES below.

CONTENT NOTES:

• From (1h9m41s – 1h12m35s) the conversation touches on sexual assault and its effects.

End of listed CONTENT NOTES.

While Nia has a brief run-in with her past, Billy procures passage for the Party. But their new accommodations leave much to be desired for our heroes’ purposes. Meanwhile, Traft’s abductor reveals some explosive secrets about the recent past of Iorden.

The script for this episode can be downloaded here.

Thus concludes this Chapter of our tale. We’ll be taking a short production break for the holidays, but will announce Chapter 4 release dates as soon as we have them.

In the meantime though, it is once again time to Ask The Once And Future Nerd. Submit your questions about the show using #AskTOAFN on Twitter, Tumblr, or Facebook, or DM us on Reddit or Patreon. Submit by December 1st for a chance to have your question answered on upcoming Livestream!

CONTENT NOTES below.

CONTENT NOTES:

• If vomit sounds bother you, you might want to skip 8:17-8:52
• There is a mention of cannibalism from 19:23-19:30 (script pg. 82)

End of listed CONTENT NOTES.

With the Knights of the Wood hot on their trail, our newly reunited heroes must think quickly to make good their escape from Freehold. Meanwhile, Ardel Redmoor is finally forced to confront the responsibilities of the title he now claims. And a wounded Ry’y lo-Th’yyt encounters yet another obstacle in pursuit of her quarry.

The script for this episode can be downloaded here.

Chapter 3 will conclude on November 19. We hope to see you then!

Strange and unnatural circumstances abound at Redmoor-occupied Castle Guernatal. The downtrodden General Traft finds shelter from a storm. But what manner of shelter is it? The prodigal Elf, and Knight, and Lady, and Handmaiden return to the side of their Queen. But there’s little time for warm reunions.

The script for this episode can be downloaded here.

As we’ve mentioned before, we are thrilled to be nominees in this year’s Audio Verse Awards, alongside literally dozens of shows we love and admire. Semi-Finals Voting is open now through October 30, so head over to www.audioverseawards.net/site/vote/ to cast your ballots and give some good good recognition to whatever shows you think deserve it.

Part 3 of this Chapter will be released on November 5. We hope to see you then!

An inebriated and ill-prepared Yllowyyn finds himself with two lives in his hands. No matter what he does, his decision is likely to echo loudly and far.

The script for this episode can be downloaded here.

We’d like to take this opportunity to thank whatever kind souls saw fit to nominate us for the 2017 Audio Verse Awards. Thank you so much, and please stay tuned for details on when/where to vote.

Part 2 of this chapter will be released on October 22. We hope to see you then!

CONTENT NOTES below.

CONTENT NOTES:

• The character who was in grave danger from law enforcement at the end of Chapter 2 is still in danger from law enforcement.
• From 8:51-11:04, one character intentionally outs another character with regards to sexual orientation and past abuse. The character doing the outing seeks to use this information as justification for violence against the outed character.

End of listed CONTENT NOTES.

Today’s bonus content is an interview with the one and only Zach Valenti, star and co-producer of Wolf 359 (among many other things), who took on a cameo role as Merril in our last few episodes.

This conversation was originally broadcast in May as part of Zach’s ongoing “Self Care Sunday” livestream project. You can watch video of the interview here (Christian starts at right around hour 2), and subscribe to the channel at zach.live.

Release of Chapter 3 is delayed slightly, for reasons explained at the head of the episode. We will announce release dates as soon as we can, and we’re sorry for the delay!

Hit the break for a full transcript of Christian’s statement.

Statement transcript:

Hey everyone,

Christian here. Got some more bonus content for you this week, and the reason for that is we’re still waiting to see when we can release Chapter 3. You have our apologies for that.

I’m sure this has been a really rough week for a lot of us what with the events in Charlottesville. Speaking personally – though I’m definitely angered and saddened and frightened – as a straight white guy living in New York City, these things tend not to hit me as viscerally as they might hit some of you. So I try to use that position of relative safety to hunker down and do what I can to help. That includes but is by no means limited to hopefully getting this show out in time for anyone who counts on it as a little spot of fun in their week.

Unfortunately, in addition to everything else, Jess and I had a pet pass away this week, and being perfectly honest I wasn’t really able to focus much on work. So in the interest of transparency, that’s meant that editing is delayed on Chapter 3 and writing is delayed on Chapter 4. And I want to take just a moment to say for posterity that our rabbit Bebe was a sweet little spot of light and good in a world that too often lately feels dark and shitty. She was loved and will be very dearly missed.

I know it’s a small thing in light of what everyone else is certainly feeling this week, dearly beloved though Bebe was. So I’ll just add this, because I’ve been thinking about it a lot: The first words spoken in The Once And Future Nerd are “Imagine, if you can, what life is like for a rabbit.” At the risk of saying the subtext out loud, that was us trying to p rime our audience to think about what it would be like to be much more vulnerable than they are. That’s always been a core principle of the show. A lot of people are very vulnerable right now. Do what you can for them. Be excellent to each other.

I hope that our fandom is a fairly wide tent. I’m glad we have writers who don’t always agree with me. I hope we have fans who don’t always agree with us. I want our show to affirm but I also want it to teach, and you can’t teach if everyone agrees. And right now with tensions running so high, I think those of us who are relatively safe could do better at having patient, good faith conversations with people whose views frustrate us.

Having said that, if your stated belief is that some people are inherently inferior to you at birth, you have thereby forfeited your claim on patience and good faith. The Once And Future Nerd, as a project and an organization, is Black and Brown and Jewish and female and queer and disabled. Nazis and white supremacists and their ilk can fuck off, now and forever. And to be clear, because I don’t want it to seem like I’m just calling anyone I disagree with a Nazi, if you walk around next a Nazi flag saying Nazi shit like we should have a white ethnostate, you’re a fucking Nazi, and you can fuck off.

End transcript.

This episode is the audio from our latest #AskTOAFN, which we did as livestream. It’s been cleaned up a little and lightly edited. And you can always watch the original, unedited and with the video right here.

Thank you so much to everyone who wrote in with questions! We tried to at least acknowledge receipt of everything even if we didn’t answer it, so if you believe you sent in a question and you didn’t get any kind of a nod from us, let us know. If you won a book, we’ll be in touch shortly.

We’ll be back soon with some more cool bonus content, and we’ll announce release dates for Ch. 3 as soon as we can commit to something. See you then!

Cool stuff mentioned in this episode:

• Not that they need our help, but the McElroys are some sweet, sweet boys.
• Our friends are doing cool things at Join The Party.
• We recently interviewed Tal M. Klein about his new novel THE PUNCH ESCROW.
• Anya is playing a show in NYC with the cast of ONCE to benefit VH1’s Save The Music.
• The Notice is Paul’s ongoing blog and documentary project.
• Left Trigger Right Trigger is Greg’s “video game book club” podcast.

Today’s bonus content is an interview with Tal M. Klein. His sci-fi novel THE PUNCH ESCROW – the film rights to which have already been purchased by Lionsgate -is available now, and he’s touring indie book stores to promote it.

If you’d like to be entered to win a copy of the book, tweet something using the hashtags #TOAFN and #GetPunched.

And as a reminder, we’ll be doing an #AskTOAFN livestream on Tuesday August 1 at 8pm Eastern. Stream will be posted at this link. We hope to see you there!

In the harrowing conclusion of Chapter 2, Gwen shares what she’s learned with Brennen and Bryce. And Arlene has some very difficult questions to answer.

The script for this episode can be downloaded here.

As this is the end of this chapter, it’s time for you to send in your #AskTOAFN questions to be answered on the air in a couple weeks. You can submit your questions anytime before 11:59pm Eastern time on July 28, through Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, Tumblr, or Patreon, either with a DM or by using the hashtag #AskTOAFN.

And if we hit our Patreon reach goal of $250/episode, that #AskTOAFN episode will become a live video hangout! We’re extremely close to that goal right now, so thanks a million to everyone who has pledged or told a friend about the show.

We’ll be taking our customary micro-break between chapters, but release dates for Book 2, Chapter 3 – entitled “Bridges” – will be announced in the near future. We have some cool bonus content lined up for you in the meantime.

CONTENT NOTES (including some unavoidable spoilers) below:

CONTENT NOTES:

We can’t really put a timestamp on this one unfortunately. Pretty much this entire episode centers around a character who is not straight in increasingly dire peril at the hands of law enforcement.

End of listed CONTENT NOTES.

Having had some time to cool off, some of our party takes steps towards reconciling. But Brennen is still struggling, and seeks the guidance of Bryce Riverfell, before the two are interrupted by an unexpected guest. Yllowyyn grins and bears his new traveling companion(s). And back at the Horse’s Head Inn, Arlene makes a new…friend? But she’ll have to reckon with an unexpected guest of her own.

The script for this episode can be found here.

The pulse-pounding conclusion of this chapter will be released on July 23. We hope we’ll see you then.

Having been all but kicked out of his parents’ house, Yllowyyn finds several unlikely allies and adversaries in his familial conflicts. Meanwhile, the Kids consider how to make the best of the turmoil in their camp. But things seem especially gloomy for Nia and Brennen. And elsewhere in the realm, Arden the Annihilator – legendary hero of antiquity – returns to the field of battle for the first time in millennia.

The script for this episode can be found here.

Our next episode will be released on July 9. We hope we’ll see you then.

Billy, Nelson, and Nia attempt to parse Regan’s revelations through the varied lenses of their unique lives. Meanwhile, Regan reacts very poorly to needing to be cared for. And Yllowyyn returns with what he’s heard to the White Forest – and to his parents, who attempt to set straight the prodigal son.

The script for this episode can be downloaded here.

Our next episode will be released on June 25. We hope you’ll join us then.

And in case you didn’t see it on our other social media, we’ve added a new reach goal on Patreon! Short version: If we get to $250/episode, we’ll be recouping our production costs, and you’ll get recurring live video hangouts with the cast and crew! You can read this post for more details.

As the shockwaves of Regan’s revelations ripple through the party, Yllowyyn feels less welcome than ever. Ry’y lo-Th’yyt discovers a loose thread in urgent need of snipping. And Brennen is given an ultimatum.

The script for this episode can be downloaded here.

Part Two of this chapter will be released on June 11. We hope you’ll join us then!

And finally, the artist D.N. Frost, who designed our official map of the Human Realms of Iorden, has just released her new guide on “How To Make Fantasy Maps In Photoshop.” Now through June 23, it’s available as a free PDF download on her website. A literal steal for anyone interested in Fantasy world-building or cartography.

CONTENT NOTES below:

CONTENT NOTES:

• From 8:50-9:27 (on script pg. 8), a corpse is mutilated in an area of the body we’d probably consider private. (And no, it’s not Renault.)
• From 16:30-20:25 (on script pgs. 15-18), discussion of the violence at the end of Book 1 continues. It’s not especially graphic, but may remind some listeners of real-world violence.

End of listed CONTENT NOTES.

Thank you so much to everyone who wrote in for our first #AskTOAFN of Book 2! We answered as many questions as we could. If yours didn’t get answered, we hope you’ll try again next time.

And let us know if you enjoy this episode and whether we should keep doing this.

Cool stuff mentioned in this episode:

• Our revamped merchandise page is now live!
• Listen to Greg (voice of Yllowyyn) on the Left Trigger Right Trigger podcast, and in his band Duckspeak, who have a new EP out.
• Wil Williams writes podcast reviews and obviously has impeccable taste.
• Kat on Tumblr also has great tastes in podcasts (even if her question almost broke us all up.)

CONTENT NOTES below:

CONTENT NOTES:

• From 32:08-33:00 a real-life mass shooting comes up in the course of our discussion.

End of listed CONTENT NOTES.

Release dates for Chapter 2 will be announced in the very near future. Stay tuned!

It’s the dramatic conclusion of Book 2, Chapter 1. At the Horse’s Head Inn, Arlene and Gwen Anna and Gayle reluctantly make plans regarding their newfound ward. In an ice cave in the south seas, Renault the “nice” necromancer meets a legendary warrior from an age nearly forgotten. And back near Freehold, a newly (and just barely) conscious Regan divulges what she saw in the western forest.

The script for this episode can be downloaded here.

We’ll be taking our customary micro-break between chapters, but release dates for Book 2, Chapter 2 – entitled “What Used To Be Enough” – will be announced shortly. In the meantime, though, we’ll be answering listener questions on air! Read this post for full details on how to submit a question.

CONTENT NOTES below:

CONTENT NOTES:

• From 09:47-10:38 (on script pg. 63), bodily mutilation is played for laughs.
• From 15:00-16:25 (on script pgs. 68-69), the extreme violence from the end of Book 1 is verbally recounted.
• From 23:18-23:25 (on script pg. 75), a character threatens suicide in a way that is flippant and obviously insincere, and is dismissed just as flippantly.

End of listed CONTENT NOTES.

As the Kids discuss Nia’s advice and how to proceed with it, Yllowyyn discovers Brennen’s ruse and confronts Nia. Things get a bit spooky back at Castle Guernatal. But all disagreements within the Party halt when Brennen returns with a badly injured Regan, in desperate need of medical help.

The conclusion of this chapter – along with information on our upcoming listener Q&A – will be released on April 23, 2017. We hope you’ll join us then.

CONTENT NOTES below (minor spoilers):

CONTENT NOTES:

• Starting at 14:16 through the end of the episode, we listen to someone audibly struggle to breathe.

End of listed CONTENT NOTES.

We return to the camp outside Freehold, shortly after Regan’s clandestine departure. Jen and Nelson receive stark prospects for their futures from a newly candid Nia, who also speculates about important matters metaphysical and arcane. Brennen and Yllowyyn disagree about the next steps in Brennen’s ongoing campaign, and Yllowyyn’s place in it. But once Jen comes clean about Regan’s whereabouts and intentions, Brennen drops everything and chases after his Queen in great haste.

Our next episode will be released on April 9. We hope you’ll join us then.

In the meantime, March has seen an industry-wide push to introduce more people to podcasts in general. If you have any friends who don’t listen to podcasts, recommend this show or anything else you think they might enjoy. If you do it on social media, you can use #TryPod.

Dear Listeners, we are extremely pleased to present to you the first episode of Book 2, MYTH MADE FLESH.

After the disturbing events that concluded our previous book, Regan finds herself in a literal tight spot and in possession of very sensitive information. Jen must decide between keeping Regan’s confidence, and looking out for the best interests of the Party. And Arlene and Gwen’s own troubling discovery threatens to disturb their newfound peace. All the while, Regan’s prospects for escape from her predicament dwindle by the minute…

Part 2 of this chapter will be available on March 26. We hope you’ll join us then.

CONTENT NOTES  below:

This episode features brief flashbacks to genocidal violence.

Today, we bring you yet another podcast pilot from within the TOAFN family.

Greg Schulz (plays Yllowyyn) is one of the minds behind  LEFT TRIGGER RIGHT TRIGGER. It’s a book club…for video games! We hope you enjoy it. If you do, make sure to subscribe to them on iTunes and follow them on Twitter.

And for everyone who enjoyed the TAKING INITIATIVE pilot last time, here’s a reminder that they have a new episode out tomorrow, Monday March 6.

And if you still can’t get enough D&D after that, you might enjoy YOU MEET IN A TAVERN.

And of course…we’ll be back with the premiere of Book 2 on Sunday March 12 – one week from today. See you then!

We are extremely pleased to announce official release dates for our next episodes (!!!)

THE ONCE AND FUTURE NERD
Book 2 – Myth Made Flesh
Chapter 1 – “A Cruel And Sullied World”

• Part 1 – March 12
• Part 2 – March 26
• Part 3 – April 9
• Part 4 – April 23

If you could all do us a favor and help spread the word between now and then, you’ll receive a) our eternal love and admiration, b) more friends to talk about the show with, and c) preference when we choose questions for our on-air, end-of-chapter AMA. Keep reading for details.

As soon as Part 4 drops on 4/23/17, we’ll be opening up an AMA across Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Reddit. You can get your question bumped up in priority above the general public by doing the following: At any point between now and March 12, post something about us, using your own words, in any of those places. Retweets and Reblogs are OK as long as you add your own words in there. Use the hashtag #TOAFNBook2 so that we’ll see it. (If you choose to use Reddit, which doesn’t do hashtags, just message us at r/onceandfuturenerd.) And that’s all you have to do.

We can’t wait to share the next chapter of our tale with you. See you on March 12!

Today’s bonus content is the pilot episode of a new side project from our editor, Josh. It’s a D&D podcast called Taking Initiative.

We hope you enjoy it as much as we did, but any feedback is welcome. If this just isn’t your cup of tea, don’t worry. Taking Initiative will have its own website and feed so that this one doesn’t get bogged down with a show you didn’t sign up for. But if you’d like to hear more Taking Initiative after today, you can head over to thespark.network for all the subscription info.

Oh and by the way…the next announcement you hear from us will be the release dates for Book 2. Stay subscribed 🙂

And keep reading for Creative Commons attributions of music used in this episode.

“Come Play with Me”, “Spacial Winds”, “Unnatural Situation”, “Vanishing”
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Today we wanted to let you all know about Paul Notice (Nelson, Antonin, Smith) and his project The Notice Blog. The Notice Blog “creates work that engages, informs, and represents the world’s complexities through journalism & fictional narratives.” You can check out their website to see all the documentary shorts, interviews, live journalism, and serial fiction they’ve already done.

But now through Feb. 5, they’re running a Kickstarter campaign to buy equipment and advertising so they can put out weekly content.

Take a look, and help The Notice Blog out if you can!

For today’s bonus content, Christian interviewed Stephanie Cooke of Rogue’s Portal about her latest project, a live audio drama called THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HELL. The conversation touches on how Stephanie got into audio drama, the logistics of producing a live show month after month, and her collaborative process. Follow Stephanie on Twitter for updates on all her projects.

PLUS! Announcements about the future of TOAFN and a bunch of shout-outs for people who’ve gone out of their way to flatter us in public.

Dear Fans,

We’re sorry this didn’t come out sooner. We wanted to get as many of our voices on tape as possible. 

Full text of the statement is below:

The Once And Future Nerd is an organization that stands for love and acceptance, and vehemently opposes bigotry and hatred of all forms. We believe that all people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. All people, regardless of race, gender, religion, country of origin, sexual orientation, or any other point of identity.

Many of our listeners may be feeling fear and uncertainty at what the future has in store for them. To those people, we stand with you in solidarity.  We vow to do all that is within our power to aid and support you.

Anne Frank was a young woman who was forced to live in hiding for two years before ultimately being killed by the Nazis during World War 2. While in hiding, she wrote “in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart.”  In the film “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure”, the film’s protagonists Bill and Ted asked the world to “Be excellent to each other”. This is what we ask of all of our listeners today. Be good at heart, and be excellent to each other. If you see someone in need of aid, offer your comfort and support.  If you see someone acting inappropriately, stand up and say something. Be good, and be excellent to each other.

America is not just 1 person living in the White House, nor is it the hundreds legislators on Capitol Hill. It is not even just the 130 million citizens who cast votes last week. America is all 325 million people who reside in this country, and no man at the top can tell you how to treat your fellow human. Treat people with kindness and respect. Tolerate disagreement but never become complacent in the face of abuse. That is your right, and that is your power. The actions of millions of good people will always speak louder than the words of the handful of people in Washington.

Be good at heart, be excellent to each other, and do your best to retain hope.

The Once And Future Nerd will return with full episodes within the first 90 days of 2017.  Until then, we will continue to produce periodic bonus interviews. We also are always available to speak with anyone who would like to reach out. You can find us on Twitter, on Tumblr, on Reddit, via email (iordic.princes at gmail dot com) or through our website.  Thank you for listening.

Sincerely,
-TOAFN

For this week’s bonus content we sat down for a chat with Justin Sloan, a prodigious Fantasy writer who has worked on and published several original novels, written for video games including Telltale Game’s Game of Thrones series, and adapted several novels for the screen. Oh and he was also a martial arts instructor in the United States Marine Corps. So yeah, it was interesting conversation.

You can find Justin and links to his work here:

• Anywhere At All by Small Planet Radio drops on 9/10
• Christian on The Great Albums Podcast last year
• Scriptnotes #201, featuring Telltale Games’ Game of Thrones as a One Cool Thing

Remember the song that Arlene sang to Gwen back in Chapter 6 and again in Chapter 9? We know at least some of you do, because you wrote in to tell us how much you loved it, and to ask whether it was available as a standalone track.

Well…it is now! We re-recorded it with a new arrangement and live instruments. Head over to onceandfuturenerd.bandcamp.com to purchase it for $1 (or more if you’d like to be very kind. Patreon subscribers, check your Patreon feed for a coupon code to save 50¢.)

And for today’s bonus content, we talked to the talented folks involved for insight into making the song.

Keep reading for full credits and attributions.

“The Singing Sister”

Copyright © 2015 by Gibian, Glass & Madera

Lyrics by Zach Glass & Christian T. Madera, based on a traditional folk song
Music by Anya Gibian

This version arranged, orchestrated, and produced by Tom Lee.

Recorded and Edited by Justin Tricarico at Studio 302, Queens College, Queens, NY.

Performed by:

Anya Gibian – Vocals

Emily P. Dana – Harp, Violin, Viola
Simona Donova – Flute
Zach Glass – Trumpet
Tom Lee – Percussion programming
Kelsey Sheldon – Cello

Mixed by Chris Montalbo of The Last Alliance.

Executive Produced by Zach Glass & Christian T. Madera

The Making-Of Featurette:

This episode is heavily inspired by Song Exploder, which we highly recommend.

Music used:

“Cruel Sister” by Pentangle (Amazon | iTunes | Google Play | Spotify)
Main Title Theme from HOUSE OF CARDS by Jeff Beal (Amazon | iTunes | Google Play | Spotify)

We’re really excited to announce that the Special Edition of The Once And Future Nerd Book 1, is now available through Audiobooks on Tape. (They make these really cool USB flash drives that look like old cassette tapes!)

The Special Edition includes:

• Full chapter files with credits only once per chapter for maximum bingeing (previously only available to Patreon subscribers)
• Bonus interviews
• TOAFN artwork in 4K Ultra HD, including our new map, and several never-before-seen character designs.

All proceeds from the Special Edition will go towards funding Book 2 (which we are currently writing!), and are also a great gift for anyone who loves Fantasy or Audiodrama, but doesn’t do podcasts.

Purchase at AudioBooksOnTape.com (just search for ‘Once And Future Nerd’).

And in honor of the Special Edition, we sat down for a conversation with Ian Harkins (the Narrator) looking back at Book 1. Think of it like a free companion piece.

We’ve also got some limited-time-only coupon codes for fans who want to purchase the special edition, so keep reading for those.

£1 off the Special Edition USB cassette with coupon code iorden.

33% off the Special Edition USB cassette by becoming a supporter on Patreon.

20% off of a novel by D.N. Frost, the Fantasy Cartographer who created our map: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=DLMP8DZV8PPEL

Hey guys!

A lot of you have been writing in to say how much you miss the show and wondering when it’s coming back – and it’s really great to hear from you and to know we’re missed! The short answer is: Book 2 is coming – just not yet. We took a break after Book 1, and now we’re getting back into it. That said, making The Once And Future Nerd to the level of quality you’ve come to expect requires a big metaphorical machine with lots of moving parts, so we can’t responsibly commit to any kind of release date at this point, but we can promise that the show is moving forward!

What can you do to contribute to Season 2? We have some ideas:

• Keep sending us positive messages – that really encourages us!
• Draw some fan art and put it on Tumblr (we’re looking at you, artsy people!)
• Tweet about us and the awesome fuck-yeah-once-and-future-nerd.tumblr.com (also – a huge thanks to whoever made that!)
• Get redditing! Participate on the subreddit, discuss your theories about season 2, tell your friends, and get them to start listening and discussing too.
• And last but not least, if you haven’t yet, please consider buying some merchandise or pledging on Patreon. The truth is, so far we still lose money in creating each episode – and our brilliant actors are still by and large compensated in pizza. Any money we receive from Patreon will go towards offsetting the production costs of the show, and if we ever were to break even on production, it would go towards compensating our cast and crew. And if you are not in a position to contribute, don’t worry, we pledge that our podcast will always be free to listen. But if you are in a position where you could comfortably contribute, each dollar pledged (or piece of merchandise purchased) will help to grease those big machine gears and smooth the process towards creating Book 2. And as a reminder, no matter what you pledge on Patreon you won’t be charged for it until we put out an episode.

So do we have anything for you in the meantime? Well, many of you have been nice enough to tell us how much you liked the song that Arlene and Gwen sing to each other, and you asked whether we could make it available as a standalone release. Consider yourselves heard – we went into the studio with an improved arrangement and real instruments. We’ll need a little time for pickups and mixing, but as soon as that’s ready, the song will be available for sale, and a making-of featurette will be available for free on our feed!

Also want to call out a few great iTunes reviews we’ve had since the last episode. Deepschwag says “Kind of Vincent Price meets Buffy.” High praise indeed. User Thousand Things says “I emerge, after a weekend that started with thinking “hey, this looks like an interesting podcast…” and ending with having binge-listened to the entire series. Considering forcing my husband to sit and listen to the whole thing again while I enjoy it a second time through. In other words, AMAZING. YES. LOVE. Listen to this podcast!” And Jesse W Jackson says “Found this through a search and I’m very pleased. A nice story with a just the right amount of naughtiness. I like the characters and the story is easy to follow. My only suggestion, more titles based on Bruce Springsteen songs!” Noted, Jesse, and thanks. Glad someone caught that. So those are all greatly appreciated.

That’s all we’ve got for now. Thanks for your love and support and patience, and keep subscribed to this feed for all future updates.

Thanks so much to everyone who voted in Round 1 of the 2015 AudioVerse Awards. Thanks to you, we are now FINALISTS in EVERY CATEGORY for which we were eligible.

Best Original Composition in an Original, Short-Form Production – Tom Lee
Best Audio Engineering for an Original, Short-Form, Serial Production – Brian Forbes, Sam Palumbo, Christian Madera, Josh Perault, and Sandra Ramirez
Best Writing of an Original, Short-Form, Serial Production – Zach Glass & Christian Madera
Best Actress with an Ensemble Role in an Original Serial Production – Rhiannon Angell
Best Actress with an Ensemble Role in an Original Serial Production – Lily Drexler
Best Actress with an Ensemble Role in an Original Serial Production – Anya Gibian
Best Actress with an Ensemble Role in an Original Serial Production – Julie Reed
Best Actor with an Ensemble Role in an Original Serial Production – Garrett Armyn
Best Actor with an Ensemble Role in an Original Serial Production – Dan Dobransky
Best Actor with an Ensemble Role in an Original Serial Production – Ian Harkins
Best Actor with an Ensemble Role in an Original Serial Production – Frank Queris
Best Ensemble Cast in an Original, Short-Form, Serial Production
Best Original Short-Form, Serial Comedy
Best Original, Short-Form, Large Cast, Serial Production

But there’s still one more round of voting to determine the winners. So please head to www.audioverseawards.net any time before November 9 to cast your vote.

Thank you as always for your support. And be sure to follow this feed for some exciting announcements coming up around the New Year!

We’re so pleased to be nominated for the 2015 AudioVerse Awards amongst an extremely wide and formidable field of contenders. We’re up for:

• Best Original Composition in an Original, Short-Form Production
• Best Audio Engineering for an Original, Short-Form, Serial Production
• Best Writing of an Original, Short-Form, Serial Production
• Best Actress with an Ensemble Role in an Original Serial Production (x4!!)
• Best Actor with an Ensemble Role in an Original, Short-Form, Serial Production (x6!!!)
• Best Ensemble Cast in an Original, Short-Form, Serial Production
• Best Original Short-Form, Serial Comedy
• Best Original, Short-Form, Large Cast, Serial Production

The Awards are open to a public vote, and voting for the first round (which determines Finalists) closes on October 20, so head over to audioverseawards.net to cast your votes!

And don’t forget to check our sweet, sweet merch.

CONTENT NOTE: The violence in this episode gets particularly graphic. Listen with care.

The First Book of our Tale comes to its bloody close at the Battle of Freehold.

Our deepest thanks go out to everyone who has tuned in along the way. We never would have gotten this far without you. We’ll see you again for Book 2, release date TBD.

If you’re enjoying the show, please consider becoming a patron at Patreon . The more patrons we have, the easier time we’ll have getting up and running for production of Book 2.

In this, the penultimate episode of Book 1, Julius Mooncrest mourns his nephew Antonin. But all is not what it seems with the young lord’s apparent demise. Meanwhile, at the Horse’s Head Inn, a terrible discovery threatens to cut short Gwen and Arlene’s newfound romantic bliss. And our stalwart Narrator confesses that he has run out of events with which to delay the recounting of the Battle of Freehold and its aftermath.

The climactic conclusion of Book 1 is coming next. Be sure to subscribe, and tell your friends so they won’t miss it. And hey, have you seen all the exciting news lately about merchandise, free full-chapter downloads, and awards?

For today’s bonus content, Christian (director, co-creator), Zach (co-writer, co-producer), Anya (Regan, Arlene, various female),  Ian (Narrator, various male), Dan (Ardel, Traft, various male), Paul (Nelson, Antonin) and Lily (Gwen, Ry’y, various female) sat down with Matthew of the Audio Drama Production Podcast to talk about the highlights, challenges, and strategies that went into creating Book 1 of THE ONCE AND FUTURE NERD.

Show notes are below.

Awesome things the Cast & Crew are up to:

• The New York Fringe Festival (http://fringenyc.org/) includes SOLINA (http://www.eventbrite.com/e/solina-fringenyc-tickets-17728346963), staring Anya, and FUENTE OVEJUNA (http://www.eventbrite.com/e/fuente-ovejuna-fringenyc-tickets-17728291798), featuring Ian. Performances through the end of August
• Dan performs at the Magnet Theater (http://www.magnettheater.com/) in Manhattan and posts news about his other projects at http://ddobransky.com. You can also find him on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MrBrodansky).
• Lily and her twin sister Michelle list their projects at http://drexlertwins.com.
• Paul’s production company can be found at http://themillennialgroupllc.com. And get updates from the Notice Blog on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/thenoticeblog) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/TheNoticeBlog).
• Follow Christian on Twitter (http://twitter.com/ctmadera)

As we mentioned before, we are honored to nominees for Best Podcast in the 2015 Geekie Awards. Well, the Awards are now open to a PUBLIC VOTE to determine who gets to take home a statue.

If you would like to vote, just go to http://vote2015.thegeekieawards.com/ . No sign-in required or anything. It’s designed so that each voter can vote once per day per category, from now until Noon Pacific on August 31.

The Geekie Awards are doing an awesome thing by increasing exposure for independently-produced content, and we’d love to return the favor by supporting them. So vote early and vote often! We’re nominated alongside some truly excellent content, so vote as you see fit. But if you think we deserve some extra recognition, votes for us would be a great way to support our show and costs you nothing but a few seconds.

We’ll keep you posted on any future developments.

Thanks!
-The Producers of THE ONCE AND FUTURE NERD

As they wait for the rendezvous with Ry’y lo-Th’yyt (and hopefully the fulfillment of her promise of assisatnce), Nia and Regan consider the wages of their struggles so far. But far away, in the icy seas of the south, a spurned foe plots his next move. (Spoiler: It’s Renault. That dipsh*t).

There are only TWO (2!) episodes left in Book One. The next episode will be released on August 16. And be sure to like/follow/subscribe for some very exciting upcoming announcements. And check out the awesome updated logo artwork by the brilliant John Flanagan!

In this, the premiere of Book 1’s final chapter, Generals Riverfell and Traft make one last doomed attempt to reach terms before the Battle of Freehold begins in earnest. The fate of the Human Realms of Iorden hang in the balance. Fresh off their new and hard-earned revelations, the Kids take an active role in combat. But the Narrator, in a rare moment of blatant editorializing, expresses dread at having to recount what comes next.

Our next episode will be coming in early August. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss it. And tell a friend so you have someone to enjoy it with! Or make new friends over on our official discussion forum!

In this, the final episode of Chapter 9, Jen must confront a man from her past she was not expecting to see. Iorden’s civil war arrives on Bryce Riverfell’s doorstep whether he and his charges are prepared or not. And Arlene and Gwen change their course, now that Arlene’s singing has created some options for them.

“The Singing Sister” is © 2014. Lyrics by Zach Glass and Christian Madera, based on a traditional English folk song. Music by Anya Gibian.

We’ll be back on July 19 with the premiere of Chapter 10, the final chapter of Book 1! In the meantime, you can discuss anything about the show at www.reddit.com/r/onceandfuturenerd.

The conflict between Antonin Mooncrest and Ardel Redmoor comes to bloodshed. Who will survive? Meanwhile, Arlene struggles to adapt to a working woman’s life; her inexperience threatens to leave her and Gwen without a roof over their heads.

You won’t want to miss the conclusion of Chapter 9, which will be released on June 21. In the meantime, check out our official discussion forum, and tell a friend about the show if you want our eternal love!

“The Singing Sister” is © 2014. Lyrics by Zach Glass and Christian Madera, based on a traditional English folk song. Music by Anya Gibian. This arrangement is by Anya Gibian and Christian Madera.

CONTENT NOTE: This episode depicts a physically and emotionally abusive domestic situation from the beginning until the 4:15 timestamp. Please use your discretion in listening.

In Billy’s vision, the young man must contend with his father’s harmful expectations. Will he escape with his mind and soul intact?

Our next episode will be released on June 7. In the meantime, be sure to head over to our discussion forum to discuss all that’s transpired so far.

As Bryce Riverfell’s medics tend to our children in the infirmary at Freehold, the poison they ingested produces striking visions in their minds. In this episode, Nelson struggles with doubt over whether his life so far would make his parents proud.

Darkness on the Edge of Town, Pt. 3 will premiere on May 24. Be sure to subscribe, and check out our discussion forum at reddit.com/r/onceandfuturenerd

In the premiere of our ninth chapter, Billy and Jen push each other to acknowledge their true feelings about being in Iorden, but they are interrupted by the Templars of Discord, and quickly succumb to the same poison which incapacitated Nelson. Will the Kids’ fate be left in the hands of their fell captors, or will anyone come to their rescue? And what of Arlene and Gwen’s urgent need for discreet lodging? Listen to find out!

Part 2 of Chapter 9 will be released on May 10. Subscribe so you won’t miss it! And maybe if you’re feeling generous and want our eternal love and gratitude, you could tell a friend about our show?

A huge thank you to everyone who participated in our first ever Fan Q&A. That’s @Anarchaelogist on Twitter, Rena and /u/screwbuharvard2 on Reddit, and Logan Waterman on Facebook. If you want to keep the conversation going, hit us up on Twitter (twitter.com/_toafn), Reddit (reddit.com/r/onceandfuturenerd), or Facebook (facebook.com/toafn).

Chapter 9, “Darkness on the Edge of Town,” will premiere on April 26. Don’t miss it!

Nia and her companions are attacked by Renault D’Esprit, the “nice” necromancer. Will any escape the Cairn of Evil Untold with their lives? Or their souls? Will Renault ever shut his stupid face? (Probably not, on that last one.)  Meanwhile, at the Horse’s Head Inn near Freehold, the Kids get near to the information they seek, but are soon reminded that safety is a rare luxury in Iorden, and never lasts for long.

If you leave us an iTunes review, we may read your review on air in an upcoming bonus episode! And, for a limited time, ask us a question about the show on Twitter (@_toafn) or Reddit (reddit.com/r/onceandfuturenerd), and we may just answer it on air!

Our tale will resume on April 26 with the first part of Chapter 9 – the penultimate chapter of Book 1!

Brennen, Yllowyyn, Nia, and Regan venture into the ancient burial mound known as the Cairn of Evil Untold to retrieve an artifact for the Knights of the Wood. It goes…about as well as you’d expect for a place that’s called the Cairn of Evil Untold. But the ordeal will prove particularly trying for Nia, who must contend with an unsavory slice of her past. (Spoiler – it’s this dipsh*t: http://onceandfuturenerd.com/2014/02/05/the-nicest-necromancer-public)

Check out our friends at Rude Alchemy (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/rude-alchemy/id961837133?mt=2). They just wrapped up Season 1 of their very funny audiodrama.

Chapter 8 will conclude on March 29. Make sure you’re subscribed, and please consider leaving us an iTunes or Stitcher review if you haven’t already.

Alone in the Horse’s Head Inn, the Kids try to pry some information out of some out-of-place college students. But, as always, danger is just around the corner. Meanwhile, Antonin Mooncrest issues a public and irrevocable ultimatum to Ardel Redmoor.

If you haven’t been to our discussion forum, you’ve missed out on some very lively discussion about Regan’s decision at the beginning of Chapter 8. Head over to www.reddit.com/r/onceandfuturenerd if you don’t want to miss the conversation.

Convinced that Ardel Redmoor has harmed his new bride, Arlene, Antonin Mooncrest wants to retaliate against Ardel immediately; his Uncle Julius advises caution though. But Arlene and Gwen are, in fact, alive and well, and must answer to General Bryce Riverfell for their escape on one of his supply convoys. Meanwhile, the Party stops at a tavern near the ancient crypt where Ry’y lo-Th’yyt has sent them – the Cairn of Evil Untold – and decides to split up. What awaits the grownups in the Cairn of Evil Untold? What will the kids do with a night of freedom and a decent bit of beer money? Stay subscribed to find out.

The next part of Chapter 8 will premiere on March 1. If you’re enjoying the show and you’re not able to support us on Patreon, telling your friends about us is one of the best things you can do to help us!

Welcome back to The Once And Future Nerd! In this week’s episode – the premiere of Chapter 8 – Regan makes her fateful decision about what to tell the Th’ar lo-Hyyl, the Kids get to better know Yllowyyn’s sister, Yllowyyn and his parents contend with their increasingly disparate values, and Ry-y lo-Th’yyt makes our Party a very lucrative offer. Oh, and equipment upgrades! We mustn’t forget those.

Evil Untold, Pt. 2 will premiere on February 15. Be sure to subscribe, and leave us a review on iTunes or Stitcher or anywhere if you have a moment!

For today’s bonus content, Zach and Christian talk with Dan Dobransky (Ardel, Traft, others) about villains and their role in a story. You can check out more of Dan’s work in the webseries CLAN on Vimeo (http://vimeo.com/113923451), and see him do sketch and improv at the Magnet Theater in New York (http://www.magnettheater.com).

Chapter 8, “Evil Untold,” will premiere on Feb. 1. If you can’t get enough TOAFN until then, head over our official discussion forum at http://reddit.com/r/onceandfuturenerd to discuss what’s happened so far.

For today’s bonus content, Zach and Christian talk to cast member Greg Schulz (Yllowyyn, others) about the story so far and his experiences being the newest cast member.

Did you know that we now have an official TOAFN discussion board set up on Reddit? Head over to www.reddit.com/r/onceandfuturenerd to discuss the show with other fans (and the creators)!

Update: The holiday bonus period is now closed. Check here for more info.

From everyone at TOAFN, we’d like to wish you a happy holidays and beginning of 2015!  We’ve got two big announcements to share with you all for the holidays.

FIRST, for a limited time only (between now and January 1st) each chapter of TOAFN is available in a binge-able, full-chapter format!  That’s one single audio file containing all 4-5 episodes strung up in a row, with the theme music only once at the beginning, and the credits only once at the end.  This is a great way to pass the time over the holidays, whether you have a long car or plane ride, or just some time off from work or school.

To access these binge chapters, head to http://onceandfuturenerd.com/rewards/
There, you will see a field to enter a download code.  The download codes are:

Chapter 1: holidaybonus01
Chapter 2: holidaybonus02
Chapter 3: holidaybonus03
Chapter 4: holidaybonus04
Chapter 5: holidaybonus05
Chapter 6: holidaybonus06
Chapter 7: holidaybonus07

So basically, you type in lowercase “holidaybonus” and then the number of the chapter you want to hear.  Please share these codes around! Tweet them, facebook them, tell your friends and family.  Anyone you know who has a long holiday travel, let them pass the time listening to TOAFN!

SECOND, we are setting up a raffle!  For each tweet/retweet, Facebook like, iTunes review, and Stitcher review you make in the next week, you will get one entry into a drawing. Prizes will include free access to certain tiers of Patreon rewards for the rest of the season, as well as some more cool prizes which we will talk about in the near future.  Notice how well this works with the binge bonus episodes!  Tweet about the full-chapter bonus content, and get an entry into the raffle!  Tweet and Facebook, and you get two entries!  Tweet and Facebook and review on iTunes…you get the idea! Just make sure we know about it so that your entries will be counted! If you do something on Facebook or Twitter, you can tag/mention us and we’ll see it. If you’re leaving us an iTunes or Stitcher review, email us at iordic.princes at gmail dot com so that we’ll see that too.

Happy Holidays, and thank you, as always!

CONTENT NOTE: This episode contains a retelling of sexual abuse, which may be disturbing to some listeners, between timestamps 8:17 – 9:18. Please use your judgment in listening.

Faced with the harrowing decision of whether to officially declare her claim to the throne before the Elven High Council, Regan turns to an unlikely advisor. Meanwhile, Antonin Mooncrest discovers his new bride Arlene is missing, and jumps to conclusions about who is to blame.

Thus concludes Chapter 7 of our tale. Chapter 8 will premiere in 2015. In the meantime, stay subscribed for bonus content, as well as other exciting holiday news. If you want to keep the conversation going, visit our official discussion forum at www.reddit.com/r/onceandfuturenerd. And thank you, as always, for listening.

Arlene Redmoor’s wedding finally arrives in this episode! Arlene is wed to Antonin Mooncrest, and what follows is a party that will not soon be forgotten by any involved. Meanwhile, in the White Forest, our party is introduced to the last member of Yllowyyn’s family.  Yllowyyn’s older sister, Yllodyk, turns out to be a rather interesting character.  Music for this episode, “The Traditional Iordic Wedding Gigue”, was created by Christopher Montalbo for use in THE ONCE AND FUTURE NERD, with some rights reserved by the creator. If you’d like to discuss this episode, head over to www.reddit.com/r/onceandfuturenerd, our new official forum for all things TOAFN!

We hope our American audience has a happy Thanksgiving, and for the rest of the world…have a good Thursday! In light of the holiday, TOAFN will be taking a small hiatus. The conclusion of Chapter 7 will be presented on December 14. During the break, you can check out audioverseawards.net, where we are finalists in a number of categories of podcast awards! Voting for the winners is live, so consider supporting all the contestants and voting for your favorite! And by favorite, of course, we mean us. Vote for us. (No but seriously, uphold the integrity of the event, vote however you see fit).

As we mentioned before, we are finalists in several categories of the AudioVerse Awards. Thank you to everyone who voted in the semifinal round, we hope you’ll consider giving us your vote again. Head to http://audioverseawards.net/site if you’d like to vote!

Just a reminder for all you dear viewers that voting for the first round of the 2014 AudioVerse Awards closes on November 17! THE ONCE AND FUTURE NERD is nominated in several categories so we hope you’ll consider voting!

http://www.audioverseawards.net/site/

CONTENT NOTE: The first scene of this episode depicts some graphic violence. Use your discretion in listening.

Brennen and Jen are treated by the best Elven doctors, whose behavior just seems to rub Billy the wrong way. Despite Billy’s misgivings, the two are soon returned to full health. At Castle Guernatal, Antonin Mooncrest distrust of Ardel Redmoor grows, as everyone prepares for the big wedding between Arlene and Antonin. Meanwhile, Yllowyyn is honor-bound to be involved in an extremely uncomfortable tradition–the introduction of his friends to his parents. The narrator finally begins to understand some facets of slang from Pennsylvania.

Thank you for listening! The next installment will air on November 23, 2014.  If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher, or even on your own website like this wonderful person did!

With Brennen and Jen in desperate need of medical attention, the party arrives at the White Forest – the sacred sanctuary of Iorden’s Elves – in great haste. But the barriers to entry prove vexing even for Yllowyyn the Kalth’yr. Meanwhile, Gwen and Arlene reach a life-changing decision.

THE ONCE AND FUTURE NERD and its cast & crew have been nominated for several AudioVerse Awards! Voting will begin in November. Find out more here: http://www.audioverseawards.net/site/faq/

Chapter 7, Pt. 2 will be available on November 9, 2014. Be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on iTunes or Stitcher!

September 21st marked one year since we began releasing episodes! So we sat down with most of our current cast to talk about where we’ve been and where we’re going.

Special thanks to Silver A./AG Audio for helping us out with the audio work on this one. You can check out more of their work here: https://soundcloud.com/ag-audio

Hit the break to see the maps we reference in our conversation (one of them is hilariously bad).

(Click for bigger images):

Baaaaaaad Map

Good Map

The not-terrible map was made by Christian with the help of Tiffany Munro’s free-to-use Tolkien-style map brushes, with art direction help from John Flanagan. The terrible map was made by Zach & Christian with the help of buffalo wings and Magic Hat #9.

Chapter 7 of our show will premiere on October 26. Please subscribe and tell your friends!

CONTENT NOTE: This episode portrays the aftermath of bodily mutilation from timestamp 16:18 – 17:40,  and again from 21:25 – 21:45. Please use your own discretion in listening to these scenes.

In the moving conclusion to Chapter 6, Brennen fights against his illness and tries to continue his storytelling, but it seems to be a losing battle. Based on the counsel of the Templars of Discord, General Traft begins the next leg of his campaign, and does some storytelling of his own. And Arlene Redmoor must face the cost of survival under her brother’s Regency.

Music for “The Singing Sister” is Copyright © 2014 by Anya Gibian. Lyrics Copyright © 2014 Glass & Madera, based on an English folk song. We encourage the creation of derivative works, but please contact the authors first.

Chapter 7 will premiere on October 26, 2014. In the meantime, stay tuned for our first anniversary special, and be sure to subscribe so you won’t miss anything!

If you want to support the show, iTunes reviews are a huge help and cost you nothing but time.

As of today, we have accumulated 10,000 total downloads.

To celebrate this milestone, and to thank all of you dear viewers for your support and listenership, we’re re-releasing the entirety of Chapter 1, “The Prince of Iorden,” but this time as a single file with no interruptions and with credits and titles only once. We hope you enjoy it!

If you’d like to listen to future chapters this way, please consider becoming a supporter of the show on Patreon. Visit http://onceandfuturenerd.com/support to learn more about supporting us financially. If you’d like to support the show, but can’t spare any cash, you can do us a huge favor by reviewing us on iTunes, or just by generally spreading the word around your usual internet hangouts.

CONTENT NOTE: This episode contains a portrayal of a rape survivor being forced to confront her attacker from time-stamp 1:00-6:35, as well a portrayal of bodily mutilation from time-stamp 18:33-18:50. Please use your own discretion in listening to these scenes.

As the party continues their story-telling on the road to the White Forest, drama unfolds at Guernatal Castle. Rickard Redmoor attempts to speak with Arlene about the history between them. The aftershocks of this tectonic conversation have tremendous consequences, both for Arlene in her dealings with her brother, and for Rickard himself. Antonin Mooncrest continues his quest to sort through Ardel’s scheming. Meanwhile, Brennen describes his first meeting with the rebel half-Orc Traft, and Nia considers the import of the prophetic dreams.

The Singing Sister reaches the extremely emotional conclusion on September 28, 2014 (the first birthday of The Once And Future Nerd!).  Do not miss it! Until then, please tell your friends about our little show, over Twitter or Facebook.

On the road to the White Forest, Sir Brennen tells stories to keep himself awake and the party entertained. We learn of his childhood, the first time he had met King Gunther Guernatal (then only a prince)–and the first time he had killed a man.

The Singing Sister continues on September 14. The Once And Future Nerd is approaching its first birthday! If you enjoy the show, please consider giving us a Like on facebook, and check out our Patreon page to consider supporting us.

Welcome back to TOAFN!  We are proud to present the first installment of Chapter 6, The Singing Sister. The party sets off from Armstrungard. Their destination is The White Forest, home of the elves. After some minor shenanigans passing through the city gates, the party begins to tell stories on the road. Meanwhile, General Traft continues his aggression on the outpost known as Blackhold, and Nia learns a little piece of the meaning of the mysterious dreams.

Part 2 of The Singing Sister will be coming to you on our regular schedule, August 31, 2014. If you are enjoying the podcast, please tell your friends! Give us a shoutout on twitter or facebook, spread the word!

In the thrilling conclusion to Chapter 5, the brutal Sir Frieshelm catches up with our party. A shame, really, as Jen was nearly ready to process her recent acts of violence, and Nia was on the verge of a breakthrough with her dreams. Will Brennen and Regan make it to the monastery in time to save the day? Will they  need to, or have the children become more capable than anyone imagined? No matter how the battle turns out, when it’s over there will be no doubt as to who is truly the worthiest knight.

Meanwhile, Antonin Mooncrest essays a courageous gambit with the potential to change everything within House Redmoor – Ardel’s scheming included.

With the conclusion of Chapter 5, we are half way through the first book of our tale, and our production will be taking a brief mid-book hiatus. Chapter 6, “The Singing Sister,” will premiere on August 17.

If you are enjoying the show, please help us spread the word by telling your friends or leaving us an iTunes review!

In this installment, Brennen and Regan continue to seek out the remainder of the party. Meanwhile, we learn more of what actually has transpired with Billy, Jen, Nelson, and Nia in the inn outside of the city.

In case you missed it, our good friends at Two Grey Dogs Designs have created a line of knitting yarn, whose colors are inspired by Brennen’s possibly-prophetic dreams. General Brennen dreamed of a beautiful bird of red and gold, accompanied by smaller birds each of red, gold, or grey. Thus inspired, Two Grey Dogs Designs have dyed a yarn of red, gold, and grey. Outside of their podcast-themed products, they offer a lot of beautiful hand-dyed yarns and hand-painted jewelry. If you are into knitting, or know of someone else who may be, please consider checking them out! They have hinted that further TOAFN-themed products may be available soon, so look out for future announcements.

The Worthiest Knight reaches its conclusion on July 20, 2014. The party will finally be reunited! You do not want to miss it, so be sure to tune in! As always, please follow us on twitter, like us on facebook, give us a rating on iTunes, and consider supporting us on Patreon!  Thank you so much for your support, enjoy the show!

Brennen and Regan track the children’s path through Armstrungard. Mishap to mishap, they postulate on what had happened as they follow the trail…and occasionally even guess at something resembling the truth of things.

Our plot thickens!  If you enjoy the story, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Our patrons receive special bonuses that you don’t want to miss! The Worthiest Knight will continue on July 6, 2014. See you then!

Welcome back to The Once And Future Nerd! In this episode, Queen Regan and Brennen return to Armstrungard to rendezvous with Yllowyyn and the children. Upon reaching the city, they find that all is not well. Meanwhile, the handmaiden Gwendolyn is “interviewed” by Ardel Redmoor concerning the events of the previous night.

We are back on our regular schedule! Next episode, The Worthiest Knight Part 2, will be available in 2 weeks, on June 22, 2014.  If you enjoyed this episode, please consider giving us a rating on iTunes. You can always find us on twitter and facebook too!

This week’s bonus content is written by Ian Harkins.

For today’s bonus content, we are pleased to present an exclusive interview with wood sprite Ian Harkins, narrator of The Once and Future Nerd. In it, director Christian Madera learns many interesting things about sprite actors, and not a few disturbing things about himself.

The Once and Future Nerd is independently produced. If you are enjoying the show and would like to support us financially, please visit our Support page to find out how you can help. If you would like to support us non-financially, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, leave us a rating on iTunes, and tell your friends!

Our story shall resume on June 8, with the premiere of Chapter 5, “The Worthiest Knight.”

The unbelievable conclusion to Chapter 4! Brennen and Regan make their escape from the dungeons of Castle Guernatal. Once free, they discuss the consequences of their escape, and the Monsters of the world.  On her own, Jen also contemplates the Monsters around her, and reaches a decision about the particular monster known as Sgt McShane.

This concludes Chapter 4 of our tale.  Tune in on May 25 for a special interview with everyone’s favorite Wood Sprite, our dear Narrator. Chapter 5, titled “The Worthiest Knight” will begin on June 8. We hope you’ve enjoyed our tale so far!

In this action-packed installment, Regan and Brennen return to Castle Guernatal, only to discover the harsh reality of the Redmoor coup.  Brennen confronts Ardel Redmoor, before being reunited with his King. Meanwhile, Arlene and Gwen also discuss the reality of Ardel’s coup, Arlene’s own upcoming wedding, and other matters.  In Armstrungard, the group comes to terms with Jen’s…ahem, vocal performance and its consequences. And finally, Aerona Regan is forced to make a decision.

You really, really  do not want to miss the conclusion of Monsters, which will air on May 11.  Be sure to tune back in, and in the mean time reach out on Twitter and Facebook to let us know what you think!  Don’t forget to subscribe on iTunes, and we would really appreciate if you considered supporting us on Patreon.

Our story now turns to General Traft, the half-Orc commander of the rebel army. Traft attempts to gain a tactical advantage by recruiting an unlikely ally to his cause. In the process, Traft discusses the nature of stories, and philosophizes on the justification of his rebellion.

Tune in on April 27, 2014 to hear about Brennen’s not-so-triumphant return to Castle Guernatal. If you enjoy the show, please be sure to follow us on Twitter, and give us a rating on iTunes!  The TOAFN Patreon page is now live! If you have the means and appreciate our show, please consider supporting us on Patreon. 

Greetings, Dear Viewers!

We’re very excited to announce that our Patreon page is now live. Patreon is a crowd-funding service, similar to Kickstarter or IndieGoGo, but allows supporters of a project to pledge small amounts of money on a continuing basis, rather than just a large sum all at once.

If you’re enjoying the show, we hope you’ll consider supporting us financially. Your money will go towards recording studio time, web hosting, and compensating the people whose hard work makes the show possible. Remember: until such time as someone perfects the alchemy that turns good writing directly into gold, the generosity of fans is the best avenue by far for independent artists and content creators to receive material compensation for their work.

You can pledge as much or as little as you want, down a single cent per episode, and all pledges will be gratefully received. But, if you pledge at least $1 per episode, we have rewards for you! You can score yourself lossless audio of all our episodes, scripts of upcoming episodes two weeks before the episode is released – or even an Associate Producer credit, among other things.

If you can’t spare any cash, don’t fret – we’re very grateful just to have your listenership. The show you know and love (like? like like? casually enjoy? casually enjoy with benefits?) isn’t going anywhere. MP3’s of every episode will always be available for free through all the usual channels. And you can still help us by telling your friends about the show and/or our fundraising efforts.

For more details, head to onceandfuturenerd.com/support, or patreon.com/onceandfuturenerd.

Thank you all so much.

Sincerely,
The Producers of The Once And Future Nerd 

Seeking somewhere to stay while they await the return of Brennen and Regan, the rest of the party heads for the outskirts of Armstrungard to entreat the hospitality of a former acquaintance of Regan’s. As it turns out, their new host’s house is…of considerably worse repute than Nia would prefer. Once settled in, Billy and Nelson struggle to process the killing they were recently party to. Meanwhile, Jen and Nia stumble upon an unspeakably vile truth, beneath the already grimy surface of their new surroundings.

Our next episode will be released on April 13. If you are enjoying the show, ratings and reviews on iTunes are extremely helpful to us.

After the foiled ambush on the party by Redmoor soldiers, Brennen fears (correctly) that High King Gunther Guernatal is in danger. So, he makes haste back to Castle Guernatal with Regan in tow, hoping to re-establish the Guernatal dynasty before it’s too late. Little does he know that Ardel Redmoor has already made his treacherous move for the Throne. The rest of the party heads back to Armstrungard to hide out, but Billy and Nelson are deeply troubled by the events of the recent battle. In the west, House Ironhertz – and their tactically advantageous stronghold – falls to the rebel General Traft.

If you’re listening on an iOS devices, iTunes reviews are greatly appreciated! Our next episode will be released on March 30.

In the thrilling conclusion of Chapter 3, Ardel Redmoor springs his nefarious trap and Arlene has one last chance to stop him. Will she act in time? Meanwhile, the party must defend against a surprise attack from the Redmoor soldiers they’ve made camp with. But the gravest consequences fall on Billy and Nelson.

Chapter 4 will premiere on March 16. If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating on iTunes!

With the main road to Castle Guernatal blocked by a large Felghir encampment, the party must take the road less traveled. Without any way of predicting what dangers may lurk within, they journey into the labyrinthine caves below the foothills. At Castle Guernatal, as King Gunther’s court analyzes the latest information about the movements of the rebel General Traft, Arlene and Gwen deduce the next monstrous step in Ardel’s plot. But will they be able to stop him?

The action-packed conclusion of Chapter 3 will be released on March 2. Be sure to subscribe, and rate us on iTunes if you haven’t already.

The party finally departs the Briarhelm farm for Castle Guernatal, following a few uncomfortable disputes about logistics, of course. But their progress is halted by a potentially deadly obstacle, or rather, obstacles. A few thousand of them. At Castle Guernatal, Arlene and Gwen have a breakthrough in their attempts to uncover Ardel’s scheming.

Our next episode will be released on February 16. Have you considered giving your sweetheart the gift of making them aware of this excellent audio series?

Please note: This episode contains a retelling of a traumatic sexual experience. It is not especially graphic, but if you would rather not hear it, skip from 13:32 to 15:38.

As the party sorts through the carnage from last night’s skirmish with the mercenaries, Ardel’s political maneuvering forces Arlene to confront a horrible secret from her past.

This week returns us to our regular programming schedule. Our next episode will be released on February 2.

In the harrowing conclusion to Chapter 2, the party must beat the odds against the large number of mercenaries who have descended upon the Briarhelm farm. And Brennen is forced to deal with his friend’s act of betrayal – not to mention a rather irate Regan.

We will be taking a brief holiday hiatus at the end of this month. Our next episode – Part 1 of Chapter 3 – will premiere on January 19. Be sure to subscribe, and rate us on iTunes!

Regan has some doubts about the dependability of their temporary host, Bowen Briarhelm. Meanwhile, the children get some hands-on training in the use of weapons, and a crash course in introductory magical theory from Nia. Billy grows concerned over the influence Regan may be having on Jen, but Jen still finds herself in some serious danger.

Be sure to subscribe to The Once and Future Nerd so that you don’t miss a second! And, if you’re listening on iTunes, we would be eternally grateful if you left a review.

Hoping to make the best of the situation, Brennen sets to teaching the kids the basics of armed combat. Meanwhile, back at Castle Guernatal, Ardel Redmoor makes the first tentative moves of a nefarious scheme.

The next part of this chapter will be released on December 15th. If you are enjoying the show, we would greatly appreciate if you rated us on iTunes.

After a brief encounter with some of Armstrungard’s law enforcement community, our party of seven departs the city in a hurry. Their search for a locale in which to…let us say, “sequester themselves,” as the reverberations of Chapter 1’s events quiet down, brings them to the doorstep of an old acquaintance of Brennen’s.

The next part of this chapter will be released on December 1st. If you are enjoying the show, we would greatly appreciate if you rated us on iTunes.

This week’s bonus content is our first ever audio bonus content. As usual, bonus content is only available on our website. So, if you’d like to know more about dialect coaching, monetary policy, and sexual healing, follow this link (http://onceandfuturenerd.com/2013/11/10/audio-bonus-content-1/).

This does not change our regular programming schedule. Our next episode – the first part of Chapter 2 – will still be released on Sunday, November 17 and be available for download and streaming through all the normal channels.

In today’s bonus content – our first audio bonus content! – the producers talk with Anya Gibian (Arlene/Regan) about keeping track of multiple dialects.

Short version: It’s wicked hard.

And don’t forget, Chapter 2 premieres next week!

In the epic conclusion of Chapter 1, “The Prince of Iorden,” the party descends deep into the seedy underbelly of Armstrungard in search of an infamous thief. But everyone involved may have taken on more than they bargained for.

The first part of our second chapter will be released on November 17. Be sure to subscribe!

The party reaches the storied city of Armstrungard and, after stocking up on equipment, venture to enlist the aid of the legendary Elvish wizard Ba’a lo-Ky’yr. They gain a new ally in the process.

Our next episode will be released on November 3. Be sure not to miss the thrilling conclusion of Chapter 1!

The party journeys towards the storied city of Armstrungard, in search of clues about the betrayal of House Guernatal, and learns more about the recent history of Iorden. But Brennen has an ulterior motive for this journey. Meanwhile, at Castle Guernatal, the nobility makes arrangements for the impending conflict.

TRIGGER WARNING FOR THIS EPISODE: Domestic Violence

The next episode will be released on October 20th. Be sure to subscribe!

Part 3 of our 3-part series premiere…

When three high school students from modern-day Pennsylvania find themselves trapped in a world of wizards, elves, and feudal intrigue, they must learn to survive in their new surroundings, and undertake an epic quest to save the world from the encroaching forces of chaos.

WARNING: This show contains adult language, graphic descriptions of violence, and explicit discussions of sexuality. This is, of course, in the interest of historical realism. We hope you enjoy our story about wizards and elves.

This concludes our three-part series premiere. THE ONCE AND FUTURE NERD releases episodes on alternate Sundays. The next episode will be released on October 6, 2012. Be sure to subscribe!

Part 2 of our 3-part series premiere…

When three high school students from modern-day Pennsylvania find themselves trapped in a world of wizards, elves, and feudal intrigue, they must learn to survive in their new surroundings, and undertake an epic quest to save the world from the encroaching forces of chaos.

WARNING: This show contains adult language, graphic descriptions of violence, and explicit discussions of sexuality. This is, of course, in the interest of historical realism. We hope you enjoy our story about wizards and elves.

When three high school students from modern-day Pennsylvania find themselves trapped in a world of wizards, elves, and feudal intrigue, they must learn to survive in their new surroundings, and undertake an epic quest to save the world from the encroaching forces of chaos.

WARNING: This show contains adult language, graphic descriptions of violence, and explicit discussions of sexuality. This is, of course, in the interest of historical realism. We hope you enjoy our story about wizards and elves.

THE ONCE AND FUTURE NERD updates on the second and fourth Sunday of every month.