In "Guns Up!", the starship USS Eleanor Roosevelt, commanded by Captain Chyvonne Quint, is on a mission of peace and justice. The all-female crew, who believe that "if you want to get something done, and done right...GET A WOMAN!!!", are en-route to a fleet assembly point.

The Navigator, Mini, discovers a slave transport ship off their planned course. She reveals to Captain Quint that her sister was taken by slavers during the Dry Sack Rebellion and might be on board the ship5. Despite the deviation, Captain Quint changes course to investigate.

The crew of the USS Eleanor Roosevelt boards the slaver ship, led by Sergeant Metzinger. They quickly seize the ship, free the captives, and impound the crew and captain. Captain Quint questions the slaver ship's commander, a man named Cody, who explains that the women are being sold as slaves by the government of Terra Firma as a form of "rehabilitation" to make a profit. He sees the women as nothing more than cargo, like "grain, guns, [and] girls". The women, who are forced to wear identical hot-pink dresses and have their heads shaved, are "crew-graded" on a scale of one to ten, and their numbers are painted on their bellies.

After rescuing the women, Captain Quint leaves Cody and his crew behind, believing that they cannot fix a "bad system" but can save a few people. The Navigator's sister, Maxi, is found among the freed captives. It is revealed that she lied about being part of the Dry Sack Rebellion and was actually arrested in Terra Firma. The USS Eleanor Roosevelt then resumes its original course at top speed to make up for the lost time. Captain Quint puts the Navigator in charge of the freed women and contacts Commander Cody via radio, warning him to cooperate with the Fleet's investigation to avoid her personal intervention!

Art School Drama

This episode introduces us to Josephine Webster, a 20-year-old American art student in Montreal in the late spring of 1960. As her final year of art college draws to a close, she and her friends are caught up in the cultural and political ferment of the city, coinciding with the upcoming election for the Prime Minister of Quebec. Jean Lesage, running on a platform of "Quiet Revolution," promises to shake up the province's traditional, sleepy nature. Josephine, who is half-Blackfeet, finds herself navigating the tension between the English world and the French Canadian life in Montreal.

In this episode:

• Art and Identity: Josephine struggles with her final bronze sculpture—a figure of her late, full-blood Blackfeet father, depicted as a mighty hunter with a spear. Her instructor, Gerard Fontainbleu, both praises the "primitive art" and questions whether she has found her artistic "voice". Her friend Julie Hathaway moves beyond a "nice" presentation of her bison figures to make a statement by painting them with flags and symbols, seeking "contrast, tension and drama".
• Political Awakening: Josephine and Julie get drawn into the political scene, witnessing the contrast between the conservative Union Nationale protest, led by Josephine's boyfriend, Otto, and the Liberal rally for Jean Lesage. Lesage's powerful speech, arguing that the "status quo" perpetuates poverty for French Canadians and gives control of the economy to outsiders, prompts Josephine and Julie to shed their "Conservative" hats.
• A Love Triangle & Heartbreak: Josephine breaks up with Otto, realizing he's an "ordinary guy" who just wants a "pretty little wife". She turns to Jean-Luc, a French-Canadian philosophy student who both criticizes her need for official art world approval and shows her genuine passion and empathy after her bronze casting goes awry. However, she learns from Louisa St. Ann that Jean-Luc is a notorious flirt.
• The Power Shift: On the day of their graduation showcase, the newly elected Prime Minister Lesage appears and uses Josephine's bronze figure to make a political statement for the press, seeing it as the "man who looks at the English world and says 'Non!'". Lesage makes a proposition, and in the episode's final moments, Josephine, choosing ambition and the pursuit of "the top" with Julie, decides to accept his invitation, stepping through the "open door".

Major Themes

• The Quiet Revolution: The story is set on the cusp of a major political and social shift in Quebec, represented by Jean Lesage's campaign. This political revolution mirrors the personal awakenings of the main characters.
• Personal and Artistic Voice: Josephine and Julie are seeking their own voices—literally, as American and Albertan students in a French-English city, and figuratively, through their art. They grapple with finding meaning beyond institutional approval and convention.
• The English-French Divide: The language barrier and cultural differences in Montreal are constant sources of tension, evident in the characters' political affiliations, arguments, and even the debate over art colors.
• Ambition vs. Convention: Josephine rejects the conventional path of marriage to Otto to pursue a life of artistic and personal ambition with Julie, culminating in her decision to meet the new Prime Minister.

In this short audio drama, "Win a Dinner with Alan Greenspan," a poor man from rural North Carolina named Willie wins a dinner with former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan. Willie seeks to understand why he is poor while others are rich. The story, set in a fancy hotel restaurant in Washington D.C., explores several major themes:

• Socioeconomic Inequality: Willie, who hauls ice at a Perdue chicken plant, questions Greenspan about the reasons behind poverty and wealth. He highlights the stark contrast between his life and that of the rich plant manager, who lives in Norfolk.
• Economic Systems and Opportunity: Greenspan explains that wealth is created when individuals or companies leverage their "hard work and innovation for advantage". He suggests that a person's contribution is valued by the company and that the economy offers opportunities to grow through investments like real estate or small business entrepreneurship.
• Barriers to Social Mobility: Greenspan states that economic data suggests someone born into the lowest economic quartile will likely remain poor throughout their life. Willie expresses frustration with this idea, comparing his financial situation to "police cuffs" that only get tighter.
• Critique of Monetary Policy and Corporate Power: Willie challenges Greenspan's views on "direct payments," arguing they would not de-incentivize work, and questions why the government doesn't help all Americans. He also critiques the chicken company, stating it makes people sick and takes the town's water.
• The American Dream vs. Reality: Greenspan upholds the idea of America as a "beacon" of opportunity for the "best and the brightest". However, Willie's lived experience in Ahoskie, where he sees no one as "economically mobile," starkly contrasts with this optimistic view. The drama concludes with Greenspan's concession that while opportunity exists for "everybody, but sometimes not for you," which Willie sadly agrees with.

In the dramatic audio script by Rick Regan, The Daughter Problem, Wayne Webster, a farmer in 1956 Montana, finds his life in disarray. He and his brother Reuben spend their evenings drinking and playing cribbage, still mourning the tragic deaths of their family members. Wayne is left to care for his two daughters, Marie and Maeve, and his niece, Josephine. The script unfolds over two days, Josephine's 18th birthday weekend, revealing the challenges each character faces as they navigate love, loss, and the future.

The Widow Riley character is introduced as a potential romantic interest for Reuben. She is a compassionate and wise woman who lost her husband in the war and moved to Montana to care for her mother-in-law. She works for the Sheridan County services and is a source of guidance for the Webster family. She is crucial to the drama as she helps Marie with her unplanned pregnancy and provides Wayne with a sense of peace and companionship, helping him move past the grief that has plagued him.

Themes:

• Grief and Memory: The story is deeply rooted in the past, as the characters struggle to move on from the deaths of Wayne’s wife, Irene; her twin sister, Colleen; and her husband, Keme. Wayne is literally haunted by the ghost of Irene, who is critical and controlling in death. Reuben and Wayne repeatedly recount the circumstances of their loved ones’ deaths, showing how the past continues to shape their present. The Widow Riley shares her own grief story, helping to normalize the experience and connect with the Webster brothers.

• The Changing Roles of Women: The script explores the limited and expanding options for women in the mid-20th century. Maeve dreams of being a traditional farm wife, while Josephine yearns for a career as a serious artist in Montreal. Marie’s story highlights the tension between her desire for a modern career at a big bank in Toronto and her unexpected pregnancy with Ben Hair. Her dilemma is handled with care and empathy by Widow Riley, who provides support and options for Marie's future, including adoption or a safe abortion at a clinic on the reservation.

• Family and Community: The bonds between family and community are central to the narrative. Wayne, Reuben, Marie, Maeve, and Josephine have a complex but loving family dynamic. The community, represented by characters like the Widow Riley, provides a network of support, especially for Wayne and his daughters. Widow Riley's compassion and wisdom help the Websters confront their problems, from Marie's pregnancy to Wayne's ghostly encounters. The story suggests that while family can be a source of trouble, it is also a source of strength and comfort.

Tina Leary: Veterans Day

In this poignant episode of "Tina Leary," psychic Tina Leary meets Mr. Griffin, an elderly, decorated veteran. Griffin, a West Point commissioned officer who served in conflicts from Vietnam to Afghanistan, is nearing the end of his life and seeks guidance to put the pieces of his long, isolated career together.

Tina, after an initial reading that reveals a lack of deep emotional connection in his mind, reveals her secret tool: a U.S. Government-issued Philco radio, a device inherited from her Navy Intelligence mother, which can contact the decease.

Griffin decides to "fire it up" to find his father, Steven Griffin, who was killed in WWII at Okinawa. The contact is immediate and shocking—not only does he speak to his father, Steven, but also to Tina's mother, Martha, who turns out to be his old flame from Angola. The dramatic, often funny, reunion with Martha uncovers old grudges and "things left unsaid". Steven, Mr. Griffin's father, confirms his pride in his son and, knowing about Mr. Griffin's terminal cancer diagnosis, offers timeless advice on appreciating the little time he has left. The episode ends with Mr. Griffin finding a new perspective: to "stop and smell the roses" and take comfort in the knowledge that his father is always with him.

Major Themes

• Service and Sacrifice: The episode explores the heavy toll of a lifetime of military service, from Mr. Griffin's decades spent in "every theater" (war zones) to the tragic, early death of his father in WWII.
• Legacy and Regret: Mr. Griffin struggles with feeling he left "no legacy" and questions the worth of his life. His father's perspective encourages him to recognize that you "never know how you affect people".
• The Power of Connection: The story contrasts Mr. Griffin's emotionally isolated life with the unexpected re-ignition of connection through the radio, allowing him to reconnect with a lost love and finally hear his father's affirmation.
• Mortality and Time: Given his terminal diagnosis 24, Mr. Griffin's perspective shifts from dwelling on the past to accepting that life is a "blink of an eye" and finding meaning in appreciating the short time he has left.

Way of the Iguana

A young man named Luis struggles to find his place in the world, torn between his past and an uncertain future. This audio drama, written by Rick Regan, explores the lives of a Mexican family through their dreams, struggles, and the harsh realities of poverty and sacrifice.

Listen as Luis grapples with the allegorical wisdom of his father, Jose, who uses tales of donkeys and iguanas to teach him about work and ambition. The "way of the iguana" represents a choice of laziness and a meaningless existence, while the hardworking "donkey" symbolizes a life of labor without personal purpose.

The story unfolds across three distinct time periods, revealing the fate of Luis and his family. The first scene introduces Luis and his father, Jose, working at a construction site in "el Norte," where they toil to send money back to their family in Paraiso, Tabasco. Six years later, Luis finds himself in Mexico, lost and in a destructive relationship, haunted by the memories of his family and their sacrifices. The final scene finds Luis alone in the desert, at the end of his journey, reflecting on his life and the choices he has made.

Themes explored in the play include:

• The meaning of work and labor: The script contrasts the physical, donkey-like labor of survival with the purposeful, heartfelt work that gives life meaning.

• Family sacrifice: The play highlights the sacrifices made by parents, like Jose and his wife, for the sake of their children's future.

• Poverty and survival: The characters navigate a world where poverty is a constant threat, forcing them into difficult situations and desperate choices.

• The struggle for self-identity: Luis's journey is a quest to define himself outside of the roles of "donkey" or "iguana" and to understand his own purpose in a world that seems determined to crush him.

• Faith and despair: The story touches on the role of faith in a world of suffering, and the belief in something greater than oneself, even when hope seems lost.

"Summon the Dead," explores generational trauma, family secrets, and the quest for healing. We follow Tina Leary, a psychic who uses a shortwave radio to communicate with the deceased. The radio, once used by her CIA spy mother, Martha, becomes the conduit for a client, Maria Columbo, to seek answers from the other side.

Maria is troubled by her past and the state of her family, including a daughter she calls a "whore" and a son a "lazy bastard". She wonders where her life "went wrong" and whether it was her fault. Through Tina’s psychic reading, Maria learns of a "dark energy" between her deceased younger sister, Emma, and their father.

The drama escalates when Tina helps Maria use the radio to confront her deceased mother, Cecilia "Chili" Columbo. Maria discovers a shocking family history involving abuse and secrets that reveal the source of her family's long-standing dysfunction. The play delves into how buried truths can impact lives for decades and the difficult journey of confronting them to find closure. The episode raises questions about accountability, motherhood, and the price of silence.

The major themes are generational trauma, family secrets, and the search for truth and healing.

Generational Trauma

The play explores how trauma, particularly abuse, is passed down through generations. Maria's own struggles with her children and husband mirror the dysfunctional family dynamic she grew up in. She believes her life "went wrong" because of a single past event, and the revelations about her father's abuse of her sister and herself show the deep-seated impact of her family's history. Maria's mother, Chili, also alludes to her own difficult past and the pressure to please men. The play suggests that the cycle of abuse and unhappiness continues until someone, like Maria, confronts the painful truth to find a "new way to think about" her own kids.

Family Secrets and the Past
A significant theme is the weight of buried family secrets. Both Tina and Maria work to uncover a past that has been hidden and ignored. Maria herself admits she "didn't want to look" and "couldn't face it" when she suspected something was wrong6. Tina's use of her psychic abilities and the radio allows the characters to confront these secrets head-on. The radio serves as a literal and metaphorical tool for connecting with the past to gain clarity on the present. The play emphasizes that understanding the past is crucial for moving forward, even if the truth is painful.

The Search for Truth and Healing

Maria's journey is a quest for truth and, ultimately, healing. She seeks answers to a central question: "When did I get screwed? Was it really my fault?"10. Her initial session with Tina reveals the "dark energy" and the possibility of abuse. The subsequent communication with her mother, Chili, confirms her suspicions, however painful the conversation is. Despite the terrible revelations, Maria expresses gratitude because now she knows the truth and can begin to "unpack it all". The play suggests that while the truth may not be easy, it is a necessary first step toward breaking free from the past and finding a path to healing.

"Smarty Marty, the Talkin' Mule!," is a short, humorous story about a farmer, Tommy, who is trying to find a new companion for his horse, MacGuire, after the death of his old horse, MacDougal. The story is set in rural Ireland and follows Tommy as he visits a market in Corofin.

In the first scene, Tommy is at his barn, talking to MacGuire about the loss of MacDougal and how he plans to find a new horse for him. He reminisces about MacDougal's playful nature, including a time the two horses were "throwin' peat at each other, sideways-like".

At the market, Tommy runs into his friend, Jimmy, who he hasn't seen in nearly a year. The two friends catch up, and Tommy explains that he is at the market to find a new companion for MacGuire. Jimmy points to a mule for sale named Marty, and warns Tommy to "steer clear of this fella" because he is a "bad mule". Jimmy reveals he tried to teach Marty to talk using a book from the internet, and to his surprise, the mule learned. The problem is, Marty won't stop talking about his obsession with early-2000s celebrities like Scarlett Johansson and Kate Blanchett, and he keeps asking for hot dogs.

Despite Jimmy's warnings, Tommy decides to buy the talking mule. He plans to use Marty's bizarre conversational skills to create content for a YouTube channel. The play ends as Tommy leads Marty away, with the mule continuing his strange comments about celebrities.

Themes

• Grief and companionship: The story starts with the theme of grief and loneliness after the death of a beloved animal. Both Tommy and his horse MacGuire are still mourning the loss of MacDougal.
• The absurdity of modern life: A central theme is the hilarious and unexpected clash between traditional rural life and modern technology and pop culture. The idea of a talking mule obsessed with early-2000s film stars and wanting a YouTube channel is the main driver of the comedy.
• Finding a purpose: Tommy's journey evolves from simply finding a new horse to an entrepreneurial idea to monetize his new talking mule. He sees Marty not just as a companion for MacGuire, but as a way to "make a few of them memes... on the YouTube".