An Audio Podcast of Questionable Distinction

Tom Konkle

Award-losing full cast audio stories and characters you’ll probably forget.  Comedies and a few dramas that wandered in by accident.  An Audio Show of Questionable Distinction is a multigenre anthology podcast of original stories. Real actors and scripts no A.I. The full cast audio fiction original audio shows run from serious genre entries to silly absurd comedies. In the An Audio Show of Questionable Distinction podcast, you can experience a 10 episode (very silly) new version of the 'Flash Gordon' radio serials in season one to serious self-contained original takes on “Dracula” and “20,000 Leagues Under The Sea” in exciting new adaptations in season two. Season two has original and parody stand alone episodes including "Scrooge: The Festivus Incident," "The Hairy-Handed Hitchhiker," "Sorry Wrong Number 2023, "Sherlock Holmes Case of the Exploding Christmas Puddings.” The seasons are written by Tom Konkle with some episodes written with Kurtis Bedford.  The narratives come to life through the talented cast of voice actors featuring star power like Vernon Wells, Tom Konkle, Stephanie Stearns Dulli, David Beeler, Kurtis Bedford, Bob Clendenin, Jill Maglione, Gino C. Vianelli, Tanya Johnson, Rhiannon McAfee, Zander Schaus, Paul Eiding, Theresa Ireland, Pete Lutz, Larry Groebe, and Jack Ward. We call them collectively the Mindstream Players and their stellar acting brings the stories to life.  Produced by Tom Konkle and Kurtis Bedford.Directed and edited by Tom Konkle.On X at @mindstreamaudio An Audio Show of Questionable Distinction is a labor of love that showcases the expertise and creativity of its production team. The episodes are enhanced with immersive sound effects and mix by Tom Konkle and On some episodes also Vince Colavitti, adding depth and dimension to the storytelling. In addition to the stellar performances and production, the podcast sometimes features original music by Tom Konkle or Bryan Arata and even public domain sources.  Supported by The Bureau of Audio Nonsense and no longer called Radio Reborn - 

  1. Lost Tycho Brahe and Mrs. Longfellow 1985 TV Pilot

    11/08/2025

    Lost Tycho Brahe and Mrs. Longfellow 1985 TV Pilot

    Tycho Brahe & Mrs. Longfellow (1985) — “They’re in love. With each other. And with danger.”Rumble Falls is the kind of sleepy mining town where the neon flickers, the saxophone never sleeps, and somebody is always “accidentally” falling into a shaft. Into this glitter-dusted grit strolls a most 80s power-couple: Tycho Brahe—yes, the 16th-century Danish astronomer with the polished brass nose—reborn by unexplained TV science and forever quoting the heavens, and Mrs. Longfellow—cocktail-wielding socialite, magazine maven, and problem-solver who can spot a murder motive faster than she can finish a bourbon. Think Hart to Hart chemistry, Simon & Simon stakeouts, and Murder, She Wrote coincidence—all poured over crushed ice and served with a cheeky umbrella.   The unaired two-hour pilot drops our lovers into “A Case of Miss Dynamite,” where a pageant queen goes boom, a mayor sweats rosewater, and a foreman insists a lit stick of dynamite is a “romance candle.” Crane shots you can practically hear, freeze-frame laughs you can definitely feel, and a theme song that says “lighthearted crime show” before the first commercial bumper. Tycho charts trajectories and blood spatter like star maps; Mrs. Longfellow reads people like a society page. The clues point left-handed, the alibis go right out the window, and every time Tycho’s about to solve it, she solves him instead. Do they crack the case? Eventually. Do they sizzle? Constantly. (Cue the rim-lit promo still, police tape just out of focus, and a jet that keeps “turning around” for one more kiss.)   In true 80s fashion, the town’s brass can’t stand them, the townsfolk adore them, and the captions were supposed to explain everything… not that anyone read those during the key change. The result is a gloriously anachronistic, neon-noir valentine to prime-time sleuthing: part telescope, part tumbler, all chemistry.  Credits (1985 pilot) Written & Directed by Tom KonkleProduced by Tom Konkle and Kurtis Bedford (Mindstream Audio)Stephanie Dulli … Mrs. LongfellowTom Konkle … Tycho BraheJude Gerard Prest … Mayor GribbonsKurtis Bedford … Lt. HassellhoffJill Maglione … Darla / BarmaidDavid Beeler … Foreman SteveAndy Hartson-Bowyer … Narrator(Never aired. Cult status inevitable.) Write us we would like to hear from you Support the show Lumen Actus Productions, Inc.

    44 min
  2. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea starring Vernon Wells as Captain Nemo

    01/01/2025

    20,000 Leagues Under the Sea starring Vernon Wells as Captain Nemo

    Drama Science Fiction - Prepare to plunge into a reimagined, atmospheric adaptation of Jules Verne’s classic 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, crafted in the brooding style with cinematic flair. This is not just a journey beneath the waves—it’s a descent into the human soul.  Starring Vernon Wells, Paul Eiding, Tom Konkle and David Beeler.  Directed by Tom Konkle. Join Professor Aronnax, his loyal servant Conseil, and the brash harpooner Ned Land as they are swept aboard the enigmatic Nautilus, a submarine unlike any other, captained by the brilliant yet tormented Captain Nemo. Trapped within its iron confines, they are drawn into Nemo’s obsessive quest for freedom from a corrupt world above—a quest that spirals into vengeance, tragedy, and a confrontation with the unfathomable power of the sea. From breathtaking wonders of the deep to the haunting isolation of the abyss, this adaptation explores themes of freedom, captivity, and the price of defiance. With relentless action, vivid characters, and a chilling climax in the heart of a raging maelstrom, this is a journey that will leave you questioning: can we ever escape the weight of our own choices?" Ladies and gentlemen, this is Tom Konkle, bidding you goodnight from the shadowy corridors of the mind, where stories are told and dreams are shaped into the sounds you’ve just heard. Tonight’s production has been a humble offering  An Audio Podcast of Questionable Distinction —our attempt to bring you the extraordinary, the macabre, the moving, and the marvelous. I wanted to do an adaption of this Jules Verne classic but honor it by having a new take on it as a moody, introspective fever dream. Audio fiction leads itself to such things and so I began this tale. But of course, no such endeavor is truly the work of one man. For tonight’s voyage into the theater of the mind, I owe my deepest thanks to my dear and talented friends: Vernon Wells as Nemo, Tom Konkle as Professor Aronnax, David Beeler as Ned, Paul Eiding as Conseil, with Pete Lutz, Larry Groebe, Kurtis Bedford Jack Ward, and my son, Sean Konkle. Their voices have lent life to the characters that moved and breathed within this little world we built together. As always, the writing adaption, the music, the editing, and the direction—such as it is—are mine. A pleasure, as ever, to weave the tale. But the magic is yours, dear listeners. You make these stories live, simply by hearing them. And so, until next time, we leave you here—between the ticking seconds, the fading echoes, and the whisper of dreams yet untold.  Write us we would like to hear from you Support the show Lumen Actus Productions, Inc.

    1h 32m
  3. Ep. 10 The New Reasonably Amazing Comic Adventures of Flash

    06/01/2024

    Ep. 10 The New Reasonably Amazing Comic Adventures of Flash

    Comedy -  Final episode! Dr. Zarkov—previously turned into a human popsicle—finally thaws out, only mildly annoyed by the persistent pins and needles in his extremities. He and Dale promptly decide that making a quiet, dignified exit from Azura’s palace is absolutely out of the question. After all, where’s the fun in that? Armed once more with their trusty meat-roasting electrodes (surely the greatest upgrade to any action-packed arsenal), they storm Azura’s throne room and demand she vacate the premises—or at least hand over the fancy crown. In the midst of thunderous zaps and a flurry of singed drapery, they manage to corner Flash and gently suggest that he might be under the influence of a mind-scrambling substance. In a neat bit of role reversal, the insidious, memory-altering wine is duly administered to Azura herself, leaving her as befuddled as Flash had been. Our heroes, presumably quite pleased with themselves, gather their wits (what few remain) and prepare to ride off into the cosmic sunset. Will there be celebratory toasts, awkward small talk about iced beverages, and a collective sigh of relief that Flash has finally regained his faculties? Possibly—after all, it’s not every day you dethrone an intergalactic queen with a meat thermometer and some well-aimed static electricity. And thus concludes another thoroughly Reasonably Amazing adventure!   Directed and edited by Tom Konkle.  Written and Produced by Tom Konkle and Kurtis Bedford.  Starring Tom Konkle as Flash Gordon and Hawkman, Stephanie Stearns Dulli as Dale Arden, Kurtis Bedford as Announcer 1  and Ming, Gino C. Vianelli as Thune and David Beeler as Dr. Zarkov.    Music various in the public domain 1934. Support the work it takes to make the show here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TomKonkle If you're enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or any place you're listening, and subscribe now for future episodes. Write us we would like to hear from you Support the show Lumen Actus Productions, Inc.

    40 min
  4. Ep. 9 The New Reasonably Amazing Comic Adventures of Flash

    05/25/2024

    Ep. 9 The New Reasonably Amazing Comic Adventures of Flash

    Comedy - Picture Dr. Zarkov and Dale, typically found bickering over cosmic equations or snappy comebacks, suddenly teaming up with an unexpected set of meat-roasting electrodes—an implement that’s half rotisserie, half lethal lightning rod—to stage a palace coup against Queen Azura. Meanwhile, Saul (evidently thinking, “Why should Lord General Magician General Saul have all the fun?”) takes a stab at ending Flash once and for all. Once again, our well-meaning hero responds with saintly forgiveness, presumably because he misplaced his vengeful streak along with his memory. Not to be outdone in the department of socially unacceptable behavior, Flash promptly hurls an icicle bomb at Dr. Zarkov, probably under the logic that everyone enjoys a good frostbite now and then. Will they all kiss and make up over the sizzling remains of Azura’s palace décor, or is this particular meltdown too chilly for even the greatest of interstellar friendships to survive? Stay tuned for more misguided magnificence! Directed and edited by Tom Konkle.  Written and Produced by Tom Konkle and Kurtis Bedford.  Starring Tom Konkle as Flash Gordon and Hawkman, Stephanie Stearns Dulli as Dale Arden, Pete Lutz as Saul, Hawkman Envoy and Guard 2,  Kurtis Bedford as Announcer 1  and Ming, Gino C. Vianelli as Thune and David Beeler as Dr. Zarkov.    Music various in the public domain 1934. Support the work it takes to make the show here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TomKonkle Write us we would like to hear from you Support the show Lumen Actus Productions, Inc.

    30 min
  5. Ep. 8 The New Reasonably Amazing Comic Adventures of Flash

    05/18/2024

    Ep. 8 The New Reasonably Amazing Comic Adventures of Flash

    Comedy -  A Cool Way To Win!   Lord General Magician General Saul, who makes a gallant attempt at assassinating Flash—only to be met with a cheery “No worries, old chap!” from our misguided hero, who graciously forgives him. With that inconvenience swiftly brushed aside, Flash demonstrates that his sense of friendly fire is alive and well by lobbing an “ice torpedo” at poor Dr. Zarkov, presumably under the impression that a friend covered in frosty weaponry is better than one free of bullet holes. Unsurprisingly, Flash continues to lead the thoroughly disorganized charge against the Hawkmen, and once again Zarkov spares them from a very chilly demise with his signature ice barrier (the man does love a good cold snap). Rubbing his hands in glee—or possibly just to stay warm—Saul then suggests Queen Azura demote Flash and promote himself, because being a double General plus a Magician obviously makes you the best candidate to boss everybody about. Whether Flash can maintain his precarious hold on authority while also apologizing for flinging random projectiles at his allies remains to be seen. But in this cosmic circus, stranger things have certainly happened. Written and Produced by Kurtis Bedford and Tom Konkle. Starring Tom Konkle as Flash Gordon and Hawkman, Stephanie Stearns Dulli as Dale Arden, Kurtis Bedford as Announcer and Old Man, Gino C. Vianelli as Thune and David Beeler as Marr and Dr Zarkov Music by Bryan Arata. Directed and edited by Tom Konkle.  Write us we would like to hear from you Support the show Lumen Actus Productions, Inc.

    25 min
  6. Ep. 7 The New Reasonably Amazing Comic Adventures of Flash

    05/04/2024

    Ep. 7 The New Reasonably Amazing Comic Adventures of Flash

    Comedy - Flash now leads a valiant—if misguided—charge against the Hawkmen. Fortunately, Dr. Zarkov has whipped up a snazzy ice barrier to keep the bewinged ones reasonably safe from interplanetary faceplants. Naturally, because no plan is too ill-conceived for our heroes, Zarkov and the Hawkmen end up clashing mightily with Flash and Queen Azura, most likely in a flurry of confusion, swirling capes, and the occasional flamboyant war cry. Meanwhile, Zarkov, Dale, and the ever-patient Thune decide that perhaps a little subterfuge would help reduce the alarming frequency of catastrophic battles. Enter Captain Mar, who is dispatched to spy on Azura’s operations. Will he blend in seamlessly among the swirling magical glows and over-the-top regalia, or does “Captain Mar” scream “Espionage In Progress” in every known cosmic language? Strap in for another deliriously misguided standoff, where everyone tries to keep Flash from demolishing the galaxy—and where an ice barrier may or may not be the oddest line of defense you’ve ever seen. Produced by Kurtis Bedford and Tom Konkle Starring Tom Konkle as Flash Gordon / HawkMan,  Stephanie Stearns Dulli as Dale Arden / Azura,  Kurtis Bedford as Old Soldier,  Announcer,  David Beeler as Marr and Dr. Zarkov,  Pete Lutz as Saul / Dim Guard and  Gino C. Vianelli as Thune. Written by Tom Konkle and Kurtis Bedford. Original music by Bryan Arata. Directed and edited by Tom Konkle  Keep us alive long enough to make another one here support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TomKonkle)  Love to hear from you if you've listened  https://mobile.twitter.com/MindstreamAudio  Write us we would like to hear from you Support the show Lumen Actus Productions, Inc.

    29 min
4.4
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Award-losing full cast audio stories and characters you’ll probably forget.  Comedies and a few dramas that wandered in by accident.  An Audio Show of Questionable Distinction is a multigenre anthology podcast of original stories. Real actors and scripts no A.I. The full cast audio fiction original audio shows run from serious genre entries to silly absurd comedies. In the An Audio Show of Questionable Distinction podcast, you can experience a 10 episode (very silly) new version of the 'Flash Gordon' radio serials in season one to serious self-contained original takes on “Dracula” and “20,000 Leagues Under The Sea” in exciting new adaptations in season two. Season two has original and parody stand alone episodes including "Scrooge: The Festivus Incident," "The Hairy-Handed Hitchhiker," "Sorry Wrong Number 2023, "Sherlock Holmes Case of the Exploding Christmas Puddings.” The seasons are written by Tom Konkle with some episodes written with Kurtis Bedford.  The narratives come to life through the talented cast of voice actors featuring star power like Vernon Wells, Tom Konkle, Stephanie Stearns Dulli, David Beeler, Kurtis Bedford, Bob Clendenin, Jill Maglione, Gino C. Vianelli, Tanya Johnson, Rhiannon McAfee, Zander Schaus, Paul Eiding, Theresa Ireland, Pete Lutz, Larry Groebe, and Jack Ward. We call them collectively the Mindstream Players and their stellar acting brings the stories to life.  Produced by Tom Konkle and Kurtis Bedford.Directed and edited by Tom Konkle.On X at @mindstreamaudio An Audio Show of Questionable Distinction is a labor of love that showcases the expertise and creativity of its production team. The episodes are enhanced with immersive sound effects and mix by Tom Konkle and On some episodes also Vince Colavitti, adding depth and dimension to the storytelling. In addition to the stellar performances and production, the podcast sometimes features original music by Tom Konkle or Bryan Arata and even public domain sources.  Supported by The Bureau of Audio Nonsense and no longer called Radio Reborn -