In a special side-step episode, we explore the adventures of a cybernetic organism as she prepares humans for the end of the world. CAST Amber Schein as Mouser and Sara Daniel Timothy Treacy as Adam Angela Roxanne Lazar as Wanda Michael Burles as Simpson Stephanie Leet as Mrs. French Written by Angela Roxanne LazarSound Effects by Danger Marshall Original Music provided by Jacob Jansen
My friend, Sam Mowry, died on July 20. If you’ll indulge me for a few minutes, I’d like to talk to you a bit about Sam, who he was, how he came into my life, and how he changed it. Of course, everyone you know changes your life. When you open your heart and connect with someone, you change; sometimes in little ways, sometimes in enormous ways. I feel this about the people involved in EXOPLANETARY. But Sam Mowry had a way of involving himself in people’s lives, and really showing you that he loved you. All of my memories of Sam are happy ones, and every story I have about him involves his indefatigable kindness. To me and everyone else. It was just as we were finishing up the first season of EXO that I met Sam. I was summoned! There’s really no other way to say it. A few actors and radio theater people were asked to come to the place I am now: Sam’s studio. You’ve seen it in many of our pictures on social media, with those theatrical red curtains and Sam’s old radios. Sometimes you walk into a room and you feel right at home, and that was the case here. We read through a few scenes of an adaptation of The Island of Dr. Moreau and I made some aggressive snarling noises as a Beast Man. Afterwards, Sam and I got to talking about radio theater, old movies, and it was that sort of bonding you do with someone who becomes one of your best friends. Maybe you don’t know it when you start talking, but you know it when the conversation was over. I was summoned again not long afterward on a sunny afternoon for a visit under Sam’s famous Casbah, a sort of covered patio where many a salon for theater people and other friends had been held. It was there that Sam encouraged me to start recording EXO in his studio. You could have knocked me over with a feather. The studio provided my show with something it hadn’t truly had before: a home. Sam and his wife, Cindy McGean, took me and my actors in so warmly, and it’s the greatest gift I can ever imagine. It was one I was eager to return. For the remainder of our time together, I helped him with every production of his company, the Willamette Radio Workshop. I even got to perform with him a few times. Sam was a friend, but he was also a mentor. I have always been a reluctant leader; I just don’t see myself in that role. As I grew up, I also had some examples of leadership that didn’t exactly leave me eager to be in charge. Unfortunately, to do what I’ve needed to do to make EXO happen, I needed to find that part of me and get it in gear, to varying degrees of success. What Sam taught me was how to be a positive presence in people’s lives, how to deal with obstacles, how to foster a sense of fun and community, and, really, how to be the best version of myself. We shared deeply about our hopes and dreams for creating shows and spaces for performing. It wasn’t unusual for him to bring up some empty restaurant space or office building or some other edifice and muse that it would be the perfect place to start a theater. As one of Portland’s foremost and most beloved theater people, Sam was constantly looking for new ways to put on a show, even as poor heath made it more and more difficult. Sam loved everything to do with radio. Something we both had in common was sleepless nights when we were young, searching the AM bands for what they now call “OTR.” Old Time Radio. Fibber McGee and Molly. Vic and Sade. The Jack Benny Program. And, of course, Orson Welles. Because of Sam’s voice, he drew a lot of comparisons to the Great Man. When Willamette Radio Workshop performed the War of the Worlds, he took Orson’s parts. Who else could? But Sam also did an impressive Sydney Greenstreet, which was wickedly funny. Sam really loved the magical feeling of a device pulling voices out of the air, picking them up from faraway cities. He was, at heart, a romantic. Having Sam in my life meant that I was constantly coming up with characters that I wanted him to play. You’ve heard him as Long John Silver and a space cowboy named Jonas. I had so many more things I wanted him to play, but we didn’t have the time. Sam is also in the plays I was finalizing at the time he passed. Knowing that these are probably his last performances in radio theater... well, that has been a big responsibility. Those of you who are Patreon supporters have already heard one of them, and the other is coming shortly. If you aren’t a supporter, you’ll hear these on the main feed in the coming months. Sam Mowry was one of the best friends I’ll ever have. He taught me so much, gave me so much. We would meet people, total strangers, and he would introduce me as Christopher Hart, the creator of the science-fiction audio drama podcast EXOPLANETARY. As if they might have already heard of me, and that were the greatest thing in the world. There’s another gift: teaching my tired, cynical heart to think that, yes-- maybe it was the greatest thing in the world, after all? This is what your friends do for you. The best friends teach you how to see yourself. They teach you their way of seeing you. Encountering so many of Sam’s friends, one really amazing thing about this guy was, he did some version of this for nearly everyone. And now that he is gone, we each have the task of doing this for other people, and teaching them to do the same. It’s a legacy of love, and I hope that in telling you a bit about my friend Sam Mowry, who took a bow on July 20, 2024, I am doing something to pass it on. This includes scenes from the EXOPLANETARY episodes "The Pirates of the Cormorant Nebula," "The Purple Fields of Violon," and "The Purple Reign." If you would like to offer a tribute in Sam's name, please consider a donation to the Oregon Food Bank, which was one of his favorite charities. Written and read by C. Christopher Hart
David has a new mission. This is a prologue to "Thursday's Child." CAST Danger Marshall as David Wolverton Bruce Miles as Copernicus Written by C. Christopher Hart Sound Effects by Danger Marshall Original Music provided by Jacob JansenScript Consultant - Ash Freeman This play, the characters, situations, and associated intellectual property © 2024-2025 C. Christopher Hart, all rights reserved
Episode 001 – The Complete Alice Wolverton by C. Christopher Hart Alice Wolverton is looking for a job. Exoplanetary, one of the largest corporations in the solar system, has a job that might take her far. Alice contends with the moral, philosophical, and existential problems of becoming an interstellar traveler in the 26th century. CAST Firiel Elliott as Alice Wolverton Mick LaFlamme as Edgar Shawn Brateng as Grant Danger Marshall as Dave Conor Hughes as Father Stone Original Music provided by Jacob Jansen Musical Direction by Melissa Schenter This play, the characters, situations, and associated intellectual property © 2014 C. Christopher Hart, all rights reserved. "Soda can sounds » Open can" by Cabeeno Rossley is used in an altered form under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcode
Ben Wolverton visits the home of an asteroid miner and discovers that Exoplanetary's Human Simulation Android is not for everyone. Lucy the Android cooks and cleans and adores Harry, but she can't fix what's really wrong with him. CAST David Loftus as Ben Wolverton Khloella Brateng as Lucy Colin Hearne as Harry Blake Original Music provided by Jacob Jansen Musical Direction by Melissa Schenter This play, the characters, situations, and associated intellectual property © 2014-2016 C. Christopher Hart, all rights reserved.
Calvert Wolverton is a brilliant scientist, a lousy human being, and a newly-minted time traveler. Stuck in the 21st Century, desperate to get back to the 26th, he makes a dangerous deal with Stacy Curtis, who is eager to leave Echo Bay, Oregon, circa 2014. CAST C. Christopher Hart as Calvert Wolverton Alicia Hueni as Stacy Curtis Dan Marshall as Gary Brooke Higgins as Heather Original Music provided by Jacob Jansen Musical Direction by Melissa Schenter This play, the characters, situations, and associated intellectual property © 2014-2016 C. Christopher Hart, all rights reserved.
Brother Dustin Wolverton, monk of the 26th Century, is sent to the long-abandoned planet Earth in hopes of reclaiming the now-viable wilderness for the benefactors of his sect, the supercorporation known as Exoplanetary. His cohort, a sarcastic android cleric named Mother Invention, is sworn to protect him, but she doesn't like his chances against the Barbarian Women of the Forest or the half-crazed old man who yells at them all from his shack at the top of the hill. CAST Bobby Eversmann as Brother Dustin Stephanie Leet as Mother Invention Firiel Elliott as Marge, The One True Queen of the Forest Brooke Higgins as Sonja, The Other True Queen of the Forest Alicia Hueni and Melissa Schenter as the Warrior Women and Bill Terry as Brother Kermit Original Music provided by Jacob Jansen Musical Direction by Melissa Schenter This play, the characters, situations, and associated intellectual property © 2014-2017 C. Christopher Hart, all rights reserved.
Alice Wolverton begins a journey of the mind for the Exoplanetary Corporation, as she meets two new friends and travels to another planetary system via a cruise ship, circa 1973. A virtual reality brings the unexpected adventure of love (exciting and new). Anchors aweigh! CAST Firiel Elliott as Alice Wolverton Melissa Schenter as Dorothy Greene Rob Bekuhrs as Peter David Loftus as the Coordinator Original Music provided by Jacob Jansen Musical Direction by Melissa Schenter This play, the characters, situations, and associated intellectual property © 2014-2017 C. Christopher Hart, all rights reserved.
Exoplanetaryland is the Happiest Place in the Solar System. There's roller coasters, a Haunted House, familiar characters to greet you, and -- uh-oh! -- a murder! Ben Wolverton and Lucy turn gumshoe in order to find their killer, be they human or android. CAST David Loftus as Ben Wolverton Khloella Brateng as Lucy Shawn Brateng as Walt Kollander Melina Best as Loop De Loop Sound Editing and Effects by Danger Marshall Original Music provided by Jacob Jansen Musical Direction by Melissa Schenter This play, the characters, situations, and associated intellectual property © 2014-2017 C. Christopher Hart, all rights reserved.
Stacy tells the tale of how Calvert Wolverton brought her to Echo Bay in the 1850s, shortly after Oregon became a state. Bewildering sights and sounds beguile her, including a three mystical strangers, two twins and their trading post, and one snoring time traveler. Calvert believes that some great disaster is ahead of them; can he and Stacy stop it together, or will it ultimately tear them apart... and time and space, as well? CAST Alicia Hueni as Stacy Curtis C. Christopher Hart as Calvert Wolverton Mick LaFlamme as Maxim Marinov Katina Andoniadis as Fraulein Gretta Beltz and Bill Terry as the Kidding Brothers Sound Editing and Effects by Danger Marshall Original Music provided by Jacob Jansen Musical Direction by Melissa Schenter This play, the characters, situations, and associated intellectual property © 2014-2017 C. Christopher Hart, all rights reserved.
Brother Dustin and Mother Invention attempt to make a love connection between Superhuman Dude-bros and Barbarian Women. Love will tear them apart again, though, as Little Momma puts her petite foot down. Also: Dave reveals a dangerous secret to a befuddled Mother Invention. CAST Bobby Eversmann as Brother Dustin Stephanie Leet as Mother Invention Danger Marshall as Dave Firiel Elliott as Marge, The One True Queen of the Forest Alex Wank as Überdude Deborah Zirin as Little Momma and Bill Terry as Brother Kermit Sound Editing and Effects by Danger Marshall Original Music provided by Jacob Jansen Musical Direction by Melissa Schenter This play, the characters, situations, and associated intellectual property © 2014-2017 C. Christopher Hart, all rights reserved.
Alice Wolverton's mind has traveled to another planetary system. She awakens in a new body on a jungle world populated by strange creatures. But strange music draws her toward a mysterious destiny. CAST Firiel Elliott as Alice Wolverton Rob Bekuhrs as Peter Wynee Hu as Ornu Stephanie Leet as Muhrrah Written by C. Christopher Hart Directed by Melissa Schenter Sound Effects by Danger Marshall Original Music provided by Jacob Jansen Musical Direction by Melissa Schenter This play, the characters, situations, and associated intellectual property © 2014-2017 C. Christopher Hart, all rights reserved.
Calvert and Stacy land in prison on a new planet. Not the best first impression. Wait until they find out who's in charge on Planet Vixen! CAST Alicia Hueni as Stacy Curtis C. Christopher Hart as Calvert Wolverton Melissa Schenter as Dorothy Greene Justin Atkins as Vladimir Rob Bekuhrs as Ernesto David Loftus as the Commander Written by C. Christopher Hart Sound Effects by Danger Marshall Original Music provided by Jacob Jansen This play, the characters, situations, and associated intellectual property © 2014-2017 C. Christopher Hart, all rights reserved
Alice Wolverton's time with the Spider Tribe continues, but a strange omen in the sky threatens to end her life on Planet Prancer. CAST Firiel Elliott as Alice Wolverton Rob Bekuhrs as Peter Wynee Hu as Ornu Stephanie Leet as Muhrrah Melissa Schenter as Dorothy Greene Written by C. Christopher Hart Sound Effects by Danger Marshall Original Music provided by Jacob Jansen This play, the characters, situations, and associated intellectual property © 2014-2017 C. Christopher Hart, all rights reserved
Ben and Lucy need help with a complicated AI. Can Calvert stop being arrogant long enough to lend a hand? CAST David Loftus as Ben Wolverton Khloella Brateng as Lucy C. Christopher Hart as Calvert Wolverton Justin Atkins as Vladimir Shawn Brateng as Thompson and Curtis Anderson as the Todds Written by C. Christopher Hart Sound Effects by Danger Marshall Original Music provided by Jacob Jansen This play, the characters, situations, and associated intellectual property © 2014-2018 C. Christopher Hart, all rights reserved
Mother Invention has just about had it. Is the Earth big enough to handle all three Wolverton brothers? CAST Bobby Eversmann as Brother Dustin Stephanie Leet as Mother Invention David Loftus as Ben Wolverton Khloella Brateng as Lucy Danger Marshall as Dave C. Christopher Hart as Calvert Wolverton Justin Atkins as Vladimir Alex Wank as Überdude and Bill Terry as Brother Kermit with Katina Andoniadis Written by C. Christopher Hart Sound Effects by Danger Marshall Original Music provided by Jacob Jansen This play, the characters, situations, and associated intellectual property © 2014-2018 C. Christopher Hart, all rights reserved
This episode features depictions of war violence. Listener discretion is advised. Stacy tells the story of where she's been for thirty years. CAST Katina Andoniadis and Alicia Hueni as Stacy Curtis Stephanie Leet as Mother Invention and Muhrrah Rob Bekuhrs as Ernesto Melissa Schenter as Dorothy Greene Wynee Hu as Ornu Michael Burles as Walter with Firiel Elliott as Alice Wolverton and C. Christopher Hart as Calvert Wolverton Written by C. Christopher Hart Sound Effects by Danger Marshall Original Music provided by Jacob Jansen This play, the characters, situations, and associated intellectual property © 2015-2018 C. Christopher Hart, all rights reserved
Reunited on the Earth, the Wolvertons plan for war. CAST Firiel Elliott as Alice Wolverton David Loftus as Ben Wolverton C. Christopher Hart as Calvert Wolverton Bobby Eversmann as Brother Dustin Khloella Brateng as Lucy Stephanie Leet as Mother Invention Katina Andoniadis as Stacy Curtis Danger Marshall as Dave Mick LaFlamme as Edgar Shawn Brateng as Grant Written by C. Christopher Hart Sound Effects by Danger Marshall Original Music provided by Jacob Jansen This play, the characters, situations, and associated intellectual property © 2015-2018 C. Christopher Hart, all rights reserved
Whatever became of the original Dorothy? Whatever became of the original Alice, for that matter? CAST Melissa Schenter as Dorothy Greene Firiel Elliott as Alice Wolverton Stephanie Leet as the Doctor and the Pharmista Wynee Hu as Grace and the Specialist Danger Marshall as Dave Written by C. Christopher Hart Sound Effects by Danger Marshall Original Music provided by Jacob Jansen This play, the characters, situations, and associated intellectual property © 2015-2018 C. Christopher Hart, all rights reserved
SEASON 1 FINALE. The Wolverton Family protects the Earth, but face terrible costs. CAST Stephanie Leet as Mother Invention C. Christopher Hart as Calvert Wolverton Katina Adoniadis as Stacy Curtis Firiel Elliott as Alice Wolverton Danger Marshall as Dave David Loftus as Ben Wolverton Melissa Schenter as Dorothy Greene Bobby Eversmann as Brother Dustin Khloella Brateng as Lucy Mick LaFlamme as Edgar Shawn Brateng as Grant Written by C. Christopher Hart Sound Effects by Danger Marshall Special Sound by Jon Winstead Original Music provided by Jacob Jansen This play, the characters, situations, and associated intellectual property © 2015-2018 C. Christopher Hart, all rights reserved
Anthony Rodriguez
A really fun podcast. The audio quality is outstanding. And the actors' voices are a joy to listen to. It has an unusual atmosphere for a science fiction story. It feels like an Aesop fable turned into a novel. The motivations are often oversimplified and childish. But the premise is really engrossing and draws you in, like any good science fiction.
andy bunn
really brilliant if a little sad ending to season 1
Hanif
That first spider sounds like the original Frieza voice.
Raj Blueheart
Loving this podrama so much!! The characters are believable and endearing, the sound effects awesome and, what a fun story arc! Brilliant!❤