Of Now And Then

An investigator with a damaged reputation reluctantly teams up with a disgraced son of a Goddess to solve the murder of a mortal.  To crack the case, they venture into the underbelly of immortal society, make deals with demigods, and risk the wrath of the powerful to expose the truth. But the pursuit of justice is rife with danger, and if they aren’t careful, they could be next on the murderer’s list.  In this contemporary fantasy where humans live at the whims of Gods and Goddesses, accusing one of murder has disastrous consequences. In Season 2, Justix Iris Tharro is back with another murder to solve— but this time, it’s Andy’s fate on the line. If she can’t prove he’s innocent of the crime, the Gods will have their vengeance.  Andymion Eriki, disgraced demigod, has been blamed for a murder. Actually, make that framed. He escapes from his immortal prison to plead his case to the only person he can trust: Iris. With only three days to find the real culprit before vicious beasts come for their heads, Andy and Iris must figure out which Gods they can trust, or they’ll both end up dead.  Gods & Lies is a Realm production, created and written by Elizabeth Vail. Listen Away. For more shows like this, visit Realm.fm

In a near-future Tokyo, a Japanese investigator and US peacekeeper reluctantly join forces to solve a series of bizarre murders.  Season 2 out now! It's 2033 and Tokyo, partially occupied by China, is in a state of fear, distrust, and drone-enforced surveillance. When Detective Miyako Koreda is paired with Lieutenant Emma Higashi of the US Peacekeeping force, Miyako is annoyed by the obviously American-backed PR stunt. But as the city is ailed by a rise in gruesome crimes, Miyako and her new partner must quickly learn to trust each other as they race against the clock to investigate each case —which range from a missing shipment of dangerous weapons to a faceless body on the subway platform — all while dealing with frequent blackouts, local gangs, and underground resistance forces. Ninth Step Murders is a Realm production, written by Malka Older, Curtis C. Chen, Jacqueline Koyanagi, and Fran Wilde. Listen Away.  For more shows like this, visit Realm.fm

James and Terrance share DNA, but they aren’t brothers. They aren’t even friends.  As a civil advisor for the LAPD, James relies on Terrance— his genetic clone—to help him pass mandatory drug testing. But when Terrance suddenly goes missing, and multiple clones end up murdered, a case of mistaken identity forces James to inhabit his double’s life, risking that the secret of his addiction will unravel his carefully composed lies. First designed as biotech property and then raised in foster care, Echoes live on the outskirts of society; genetic clones of their sources, but rarely accepted into their lives. That’s what Terrance should have been for James— a stranger he never even knew existed— but instead, their lives became dangerously intertwined.  After Terrance misses their usual exchange of clean urine for cash, a man with a gun shows up instead. In order to stay alive, James pretends he’s Terrance, setting off a dangerous chain of events that quickly spiral out of his control. Inhabiting his clone’s life is the easy part; James is used to lying. He’s lied to his traditional, well-off Chinese parents about where he goes at night, to his coworkers at the LAPD about his drug habit, and to Terrance, about how severe his addiction really is.  It never occurred to him that Terrance was keeping secrets, too.  As he learns about the history of clones, James begins to question the biggest secret of all: the one his parents kept when they, like many others, chose to clone their children.  When clones are murdered and James is blackmailed by someone who knows his true identity, finding Terrance becomes only half the mission. Because the clues left in his wake lead to a conspiracy even more cold blooded than murder— and if James can prove it, the lines and lies that divide his world and the clones will be shattered forever. Echo Park is a Realm production starring Harry Shum Jr., written by Curtis C. Chen, Monte Lin, Millie Ho, Sloane Leong, and Jenn Reese. Listen Away.

EPIC is your new HQ for Realm’s exhilarating action and adventure stories, with new episodes dropping every Monday introduced by host Faith McQuinn. Embark on your greatest adventures yet, whether it’s crash landing on a desolate planet with only a cerebrally-embedded AI to guide you, or realizing that your latest game design is the only thing staving off total global annihilation. So unsheath those earbuds, clench that steering wheel, and buckle up because EPIC is about to take off. This month, we are featuring Silver Wing: On a desert planet in the far future, an old dragon hunter embarks on a desperate journey to save her estranged son. For centuries, the dragons have been sleeping. But in their rest, they provide a crucial energy source necessary to keep the planet Toon Flats habitable. Amphet Dahl is a diviner, gifted with the ability to sense the dragons’ dreams and memories and to the disappointment of her son, Afton, she uses this ability to assist in harvesting dragon bodies for fuel. It’s been years since Amphet last saw him, and she relies on alcohol to keep her regret at bay. When Amphet has a vision of Afton being in danger, she sets out on a perilous journey across the desert to save him. But her own life hangs in the balance when she least expects it, the dragons wake. Silver Wing is a Realm production, written by ZZ Claybourne and performed by Sanya Simmons. Listen Away.

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. 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. To dive deeper into the world of Chartrulean, visit https://www.chartrulean.com

One part short-form anthology, one part fiction writing course, Homestead on the Corner is the original podcast from Trevor Van Winkle, creator of Tales of the Echowood and The Sheridan Tapes. Tune in for new stand-alone audio dramas or lessons on plot, character, and other writing techniques. “Have a great day, and keep writing!”