15 épisodes
Je Ne Sais Quoi: Absurd Short Fiction Muffy Drake
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- Romans et nouvelles
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5,0 • 6 notes
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Bravo, you’ve found it. Deadpan humor in witty, unrelated, non-sequitur short stories not
devoid of literary merit and seared with absurdity. A ”Catcher in the Wry” vibe.
Since you’re here, we might as well tell you: Muffy Drake has been honored by the National Audio
Theatre Festivals, known as the Sundance of Audio Fiction. That’s right, Muffy Drake has been
presented with several Gold Medals - and even a Platinum in 2023. And while we’re boasting, let’s
mention our short stories have been published in entropy2, Reflex Fiction, Friday Flash Fiction,
Bath Flash Fiction (3 rd Prize, October 2019), the Boston Literary Magazine and elsewhere.
But for Absurd Short Fiction with friction, Muffy Drake is where it’s at. Welcome! If you like tongue-
in-cheek humor, you’re in for a treat. One at a time, once a week. By the way, the French call
tongue-in-cheek “pinch without laughing”. Because - get this - Muffy Drake is based out of
Paris.
Xavier Combe is a freelance translator and conference interpreter who teaches at the
University of Paris X and has worked on French public radio for over 35 years. He has
published 2 non-fiction books in French (one of them has won a prize) and quite a few op-
eds in the French press. Sociolinguistics, not funny at all. If you want a laugh don’t go there.
Jim Hall is a 2-time Peabody award winner for his work with a investigative team and the other half
of Muffy Drake that’s based in the US. That’s right, Muffy Drake is a team of two who do the
writing, narration, voicing, soundscaping and original music.
The French have a saying: “Humor is the last bulwark before despair” (strange, yes, but it
sounds better in French). We at Muffy Drake believe humor is the best medicine.
So we humbly recommend you subscribe and download one MD a week. And if you enjoy
what you hear, feel free to share with, well, one or two million of your closest friends.
Website: muffydrake.com
Contact: muffydrake@gmail.com
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THE ORANGE BOX
May we introduce to you the New Name of our Podcast: Je Ne Sais Quoi
What's in a name? Je Ne Sais Quoi sums it up for Muffy Drake. Take a listen to a short excerpt from the soon to be released full episode. In this sampler, you will hear the story of The Orange Box after an introduction by Xavier Combe and Lola (Mystery Host). Xavier worked for the French version of NPR for decades as a translator. He was the voice (in French) of Nobel Prize laureates and Oscar winners during their stay in France. No kidding. This experience further developed an already advanced worldview only to be narrowed and diminished by his Franco-American Alliance with a collaborator who grew up in Idaho...c'est la vie.
The Orange Box
Written & Narrated by Xavier Combe
French Pilots played by Antoine Herbez & Ivan Herbez
Sound design & Editing by Jim Hall
Je Ne Sais Quoi--Executive Producer--Jim Hall
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The World is Not Perfect
In the time it takes to listen to this short story, you could boil dozens of eggs...but would they be PERFECT?
Written & Narrated by Xavier Combe-Sound Design by Jim Hall
In other Breaking News! Muffy Drake is honored to announce that our short film GAMES PEOPLE PLAY is making its European Premiere in London on March 16th at the Crystal Palace International Film Festival. GPP was first heard on our podcast and now is a Finalist at the festival and will compete to take home the International Prize.
Check it out here:https://cpiff.co.uk/animation/
And, we just had the World Premiere at the DC Independent Film Forum in Washington, DC. So happy to be in attendance at the 25th Anniversary of this cutting edge event. In our block of animation was an Academy Award winner! How cool is that to share the screen with OSCAR caliber work...
Check it out here:https://dciff-indie.org
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FUN FACTS
This episode "FUN FACTS" is dedicated to all of you out there who find themselves stuck, smack-dab in the middle of this thang we call the Human Condition...
Written & Performed by:
Xavier Combe
Jim Hall
Walt Wood -
The Geiger Encounter
In this full episode of Muffy Drake, we explore encounters of the Glowing Kind. THE GEIGER ENCOUNTER-Written & Narrated by Xavier Combe.
WALT RANT-A portrait of the struggling artist. Written & Narrated by Walt Wood.
TWO KIWIS-A Love Story firmly planted in tender soil that isn't for the birds. Written by Xavier Combe with narration by Jim Hall.
MD Host-"Bobo" sets the table for the podcast and closes out the show.
Sound Design & Music by Jim Hall
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What's Your Problem?
In this episode: PARKING LOT AMNESIA-We've all been there, you park the car and cannot find it later amongst the school of fish feeding on the asphalt. Yours resembles a Koi/Kia. Looks like we're gonna need a smaller parking lot...(Written by Xavier Combe-MD Players: Antoine Herbez & Xavier Combe)
SLEEP KILLER BANJO-A Japanese hotel featuring Shoji architectural style paper thin walls and sliding doors is not a great start for a Good Night's Sleep...(Written & Narrated by Jim Hall)
WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?-A talk show that wants to solve the problems of listeners leaves everyone in the non-plussed column...(Written by Xavier Combe & Walt Wood. Performing all the character voices-Walt Wood)
Your host Bobo closes out the show...
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TUBA WARS
In this episode, we take note of the last line of defense against the aliens who are apparently Green with Envy and finally go on the offensive...
Then, Bobo tells us about Aunt Dot and her cats. A symphony of Cat Calls suddenly goes astray...
Then, "Mordvin" takes center stage...
Written & Narrated by Xavier Combe
Sound design by Jim Hall
Avis
Brilliant imagination !
Loved every episode ! Congrats to both of you for the fabulous work.
Wow 👍
Clever AND funny 🤓👏
Hilarious !
Supers récits très drôles et bien écrits