15 episodes

Set out on a sense-shattering, tear-jerking journey where psychic children brave alien invasion, magical lands, corrupt politicians, and homesickness. The beloved cult video game series, EarthBound, is brought to life in this genre-bending blend of audio drama and documentary that explores these eccentric stories like never before. Created by the award-winning team behind The Call of Cthulhu Mystery Program, and hosted by adorable and insightful pizza-loving girlfriends, Cat Blackard and Jessica Mudd, "MOTHER," She Wrote is a literal love letter to Shigesato Itoi's iconic Nintendo games.

MOTHER, She Wrote: An EarthBound Podcast Fable and Folly Network

    • Leisure
    • 4.9 • 26 Ratings

Set out on a sense-shattering, tear-jerking journey where psychic children brave alien invasion, magical lands, corrupt politicians, and homesickness. The beloved cult video game series, EarthBound, is brought to life in this genre-bending blend of audio drama and documentary that explores these eccentric stories like never before. Created by the award-winning team behind The Call of Cthulhu Mystery Program, and hosted by adorable and insightful pizza-loving girlfriends, Cat Blackard and Jessica Mudd, "MOTHER," She Wrote is a literal love letter to Shigesato Itoi's iconic Nintendo games.

    Episode Zero - START HERE

    Episode Zero - START HERE

    Welcome to “MOTHER,” She Wrote - a travelog through three of the strangest, most thought-provoking, most heart-rending video games ever made.
    Hosts and storytellers Cat Blackard and Jessica Mudd combine audio drama and discussion to take you on a journey through the MOTHER series, as it’s called in Japan, or EarthBound, as it’s called in English-speaking countries. Whether you're unfamiliar with this trilogy of games or are a longtime fan - travel beyond the controller and into the story - as it’s lived by the characters. Then, unpack the surreal adventures, thought-provoking themes, media inspirations, and more with your insightful, pizza-loving hosts in this literal love letter to Shigesato Itoi's iconic Nintendo games.
    In this introduction, get to know Cat and Jess and learn how this irreverent sci-fi comedy, filled to the brim with as much poignant messaging as there is cartoon imagery, broke all the rules about the kinds of stories you could tell in a video game and became a cult sensation.
    For links and transcriptions, head to https://mothershewrote.earth
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 26 min
    EarthBound Beginnings - Chapter 1: Bump in the Night

    EarthBound Beginnings - Chapter 1: Bump in the Night

    Embark on a journey through EarthBound Beginnings! There's something strange happening in the town of Podunk, and unresolved mysteries, almost a century old, are coming to light. Can a twelve-year-old with emerging psychic abilities hold his own against paranormal disturbances, mind-control, and the walking dead?
    “MOTHER,” She Wrote mixes audio drama and talk podcast to chronicle the strangest, most thought-provoking, most heart-rending video games ever made: the MOTHER series, as it's called in Japan, and EarthBound as it's called everywhere else. This first season chronicles MOTHER (1989), known as EarthBound Beginnings in English-speaking countries.
    Adventure with Ninten and then unpack the game's events with hosts Cat Blackard and Jessica Mudd as they dust off their basement bread, share their most SMASHable enemies, and favorite "MOTHER," She Quotes from Nintendo and Shigesato Itoi's beloved cult classic game.
    For links and transcriptions, head to https://mothershewrote.earth
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 56 min
    EarthBound Beginnings - Chapter 2: Good & Bad Vibrations

    EarthBound Beginnings - Chapter 2: Good & Bad Vibrations

    Poltergeists, zombies, and now ALIENS?! How much genre-fusion can one kid take?
    At the apex of classic sci-fi like The Day the Earth Stood Still and heartrending musical narratives like The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders from Mars... There is... EarthBound Beginnings.
    “MOTHER,” She Wrote mixes audio drama and talk podcast to chronicle the strangest, most thought-provoking, most heart-rending video games ever made: the MOTHER series, as it's called in Japan, and EarthBound as it's called everywhere else. This first season chronicles MOTHER (1989), known as EarthBound Beginnings in English-speaking countries.
    For links and transcriptions, head to https://mothershewrote.earth
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 1 hr 4 min
    EarthBound Beginnings - Chapter 3: Magicant Mystery Tour

    EarthBound Beginnings - Chapter 3: Magicant Mystery Tour

    Flying men, swimming cats, a mysterious mimicker, and a magical castle in the clouds?! We're not in Podunk anymore.
    Enter the dreamy world of Magicant. Ponder its surreal inhabitants and unusual sights with Cat and Jess as they draw connective threads between Ninten's past, this peculiar place, and beloved children's media from across the 20th century.
    “MOTHER,” She Wrote mixes audio drama and talk podcast to chronicle the strangest, most thought-provoking, most heart-rending video games ever made: the MOTHER series, as it's called in Japan, and EarthBound as it's called everywhere else. This first season chronicles MOTHER (1989), known as EarthBound Beginnings in English-speaking countries.
    For links and transcriptions, head to https://mothershewrote.earth
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 51 min
    EarthBound Beginnings - Chapter 4: The Nowhere Man

    EarthBound Beginnings - Chapter 4: The Nowhere Man

    Our journey through the psychedelic dreamlands of Magicant continues! On the surface, this fantastic world is (mostly) sunshine and rainbows, but there's a deep, and literal, well of sorrow underneath. Meet the sad queen in her majestic palace, the friends who'll lay their lives on the line for you, and a man who doesn't exist - as Cat and Jess unpack the Jungian mysteries of this surprisingly dark chapter of Ninten's adventures.
    “MOTHER,” She Wrote mixes audio drama and talk podcast to chronicle the strangest, most thought-provoking, most heart-rending video games ever made: the MOTHER series, as it's called in Japan, and EarthBound as it's called everywhere else. This first season chronicles MOTHER (1989), known as EarthBound Beginnings in English-speaking countries.
    For links and transcriptions, head to https://mothershewrote.earth
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 58 min
    EarthBound Beginnings - Chapter 5: Don't Avoid the Lloyd

    EarthBound Beginnings - Chapter 5: Don't Avoid the Lloyd

    Ninten's back on solid ground and in a new town. Life in the bustling burg of Merrysville is tough, but he finds a new friend in a strange place - with explosive results. In Merrysville, Shigesato Itoi's social commentary and observations of American culture are in full effect; as you explore an abandoned factory, an elementary school, and wander in and out of the lives of the town's citizens. Cat and Jess crack open the MOTHER Encyclopedia and speak to a surprising source - Talking Heads' frontman David Byrne - as they piece together all the puzzling evidence of this artful game's influences.
    “MOTHER,” She Wrote mixes audio drama and talk podcast to chronicle the strangest, most thought-provoking, most heart-rending video games ever made: the MOTHER series, as it's called in Japan, and EarthBound as it's called everywhere else. This first season chronicles MOTHER (1989), known as EarthBound Beginnings in English-speaking countries.
    For links and transcriptions, head to https://mothershewrote.earth.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 1 hr 6 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
26 Ratings

26 Ratings

[REDACTED] 614 ,

Great podcast

There really is something special about the way the mother series conveys the story. From charming characters to fourth wall breaks to… implications… it really is a beautiful game and this podcast reminded me that you are playing games, not to beat them, but immerse yourself in them. (And Poo’s almost as strong a death laser.) This podcast is SMAAAASHING!

Willia. M ,

This podcast is so good

When I was young, I like to play earthbound and I forgot about it for a very long time until like two months ago when I finally got into it, your podcast really helped me because I forgot about earthbound till then and now I’m playing earthbound beginnings with my friend and you’re just really helping me. Thank you.

Wally90802 ,

Review!!!!

I am not a gamer by any means and I don’t play this game but wow is this interesting! Makes me want to play! But I don’t have a Nintendo!😔

Top Podcasts In Leisure

Critical Role
Critical Role
Duck Call Room
Si Robertson & Justin Martin
Tales from the Stinky Dragon
Rooster Teeth
The Besties
Chris Plante, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy, Russ Frushtick
Kinda Funny Gamescast: Video Game Podcast
Kinda Funny
Kinda Funny Games Daily: Video Games News Podcast
Kinda Funny

You Might Also Like

Mockery Manor
Long Cat Media
Midnight Burger
Business Goose Media
The Amelia Project
Imploding Fictions
Welcome to Night Vale
Night Vale Presents
The Magnus Archives
Rusty Quill
Old Gods of Appalachia
DeepNerd Media