Austin-based voice actor stars in new science fiction podcast

Austin TX

21 March, 2022

9:57 PM

Description

Independent production company Obscure Studios announced today the release of its first-ever audio drama, “The Adventures of Captain Radio.” The first season, consisting of six 20-minute episodes, is available now. The scripted, full-cast science fiction drama pays homage to the radio shows of the 1930s, featuring classic tropes, rapid-fire dialogue, newsreel-style narration and in-universe commercials, while updating the formula for modern ears. William McDonald plays the title character. McDonald moved to Austin from Arizona last year. Like the rest of the cast, scattered across the country, he records all his lines for the podcast from his home studio he built for his work as an audiobook narrator. It’s a small space, but functional, and his dog Westley is often found snoozing nearby. In addition to lending his voice to the cast, McDonald helped produce the show, recruiting other voice actors and managing the dozens of audio files necessary to construct each episode. “What I love so much about Captain Radio is that it is so immersive, from the writing to the sound design—you really feel like you’re listening to a classic radio drama from nearly a hundred years ago,” McDonald says. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Jonny Eberle found himself drawn to narrative fiction podcasts as a means of escape and entertainment. It wasn’t long before he started writing a script with McDonald in mind for the lead role. The two have remained frequent creative collaborators for more than a decade, even though McDonald lives in Texas and Eberle lives in Washington. “More than any other medium, podcasts have kept me sane during the pandemic,” Eberle says. “When I started writing Captain Radio, there was no doubt in my mind that audio was the best way to tell this story. Especially now, when there’s so much darkness in the world, we could all use a dose of hope for the future.” Set in the distant future, the podcast follows the exploits of the heroic Captain Radio as he travels across the stars to rescue the love of his life from the clutches of a mad scientist. Along the way, he teams up with his robotic sidekick and a former enemy to outwit space sirens, interstellar beasts and mysterious monks in the hopes of preventing a universe-ending catastrophe. The show is distributed free through all major podcast directories, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music; directly via RSS feed; and anywhere audio fiction is found. Transcripts are available at obscurestudios.net. Supporters of the show are encouraged to leave a rating and review wherever they listen, and can also contribute to Obscure Studios’ Ko-fi page or purchase merchandise on their TeePublic store. “The Adventures of Captain Radio” debuted on December 31, 2021 and the entire first season is now available, with a second season currently in the works. About Obscure Studios Founded in 2004, Obscure Studios is a small, independent production company creating original short films and podcasts. “The Adventures of Captain Radio” is their first audio drama. Learn more at obscurestudios.net.