If you need help now, call a crisis hotline to get immediate emergency counseling. Hotlines are staffed by trained volunteers with text and chat often available. There are mental health provider directories and substance use treatment locators available. You can access resources for basic needs such as housing and food.
In case you missed the news, The End has acquired Podvibes, a podcast-centric Mastodon instance that over-indexes on audio fiction fans and creators. The original maintainer, Nathan Lunsford—himself an audio fiction creator, deserves all the credit for launching the instance as Twitter was becoming Xitter (pronounce the X as "sh") and a wave of people where looking for alternatives. Now that it's in our hands, we'll continue his good work and re-double our efforts to make our small section of the Fediverse a welcome, inviting, and vibrant space for audio fiction creators and fans alike. So go ahead and create your personal account on Podvibes. It's free!
But this acquisition means more costs for me and us here at The End. I'm personally committed to delivering as much free stuff as I can to fans of audio fiction, but that means we need your support to do all of these things—with much more coming! So if you look forward to each issue of The End, please consider becoming an Individual Supporter. Just like Wayne J Parker did this week. Thanks, Wayne!
Or, if you're a fiction podcast producer and want to keep this valuable resource going, you can become a Supporting Creative Shop, just like Dumb Dragons Productions did this week. Thanks, Russ! They make their debut appearance in this week's issue.
So color me excited. And busy! Now—let's get into it, shall we?
Get a fresh selection of finished audio fiction like this in your inbox every week!
Aspiring drag queen and Ring Wireless representative Akbar Shahzad (Qasim Khan) has a problem with his ex-boyfriend. Anxious mother Valerie LeVac (Rosemary Dunsmore) has a problem with her phone bill. Over a series of calls their lives will be changed by the brief but meaningful relationship that develops between them.
Part mystery, part romantic comedy, Kevin Shea’s FEEDBACK uniquely blends audiobook and audio drama to tell this strange, surprising, and darkly hilarious story.
Imagine that the next messiah doesn’t come from religion, but from the tech world. Will his choices be more likely to save humanity—or destroy it? The Madness of Chartrulean is an award-winning fiction podcast that explores this concept using a unique blend of political drama, science fiction, fantasy, and Shakespearean tragedy.
The story takes place on Arcas, a world that faces food scarcity, political infighting, and the threat of alien incursion. But it’s all part of the starmakers’ grand design—until Chartrulean, the promised messiah, abandons piety for progress and becomes a shipbuilder instead. He ends a war and becomes the most powerful man on Arcas, ushering in a new technological era that rekindles hope for humanity while also deepening political divides. Chartrulean’s journey is deeply personal as he struggles with identity, leadership, and the weight of his choices.
Rich in lore and political intrigue, The Madness of Chartrulean was made to resonate with fans of Game of Thrones, and classic sci-fi stories such as Dune and Foundation. It examines the moral complexities of progress, pushing listeners to think critically about power dynamics and the consequences of leadership.
Since its initial release in 2022, the podcast has been recognized for its performances, political intrigue, dense worldbuilding, beautiful original score by Sean Renner (Screwball, Fair Play, Das Boot), and cinematic sound design. Vol. 1 is out now with over 8 hrs of content across 13 full-length episodes and bonus content.Visit https://www.chartrulean.com to learn more.
If you need help now, call a crisis hotline to get immediate emergency counseling.
Hotlines are staffed by trained volunteers with text and chat often available.
There are mental health provider directories and substance use treatment locators available.
You can access resources for basic needs such as housing and food.
Completed or finale'd shows we've recently added to our audio fiction directory.
Discover firsthand what happens in a world of incompetent doctors, cynical nurses, therapists who need therapy, and janitors who can’t clean, all heard from the perspective of a coma patient.