4 episodes
MOTHER, She Wrote: An EarthBound Podcast Fable and Folly Network
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- Leisure
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5.0 • 7 Ratings
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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Embark on an Uncanny Journey in "MOTHER," She Wrote: An EarthBound Podcast
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 (aka MOTHER), is brought to life in this genre-bending blend of audio drama and documentary that explores these eccentric adventures like never before.
Travel beyond the controller and into the story - as it’s lived by the characters. Then, unpack all the surreal adventures, thought-provoking moments, social commentary, pop culture inspirations, and more with insightful, pizza-loving co-hosts, Cat Blackard and Jessica Mudd, in this literal love letter to Shigesato Itoi's iconic Nintendo games.
"MOTHER," She Wrote is created by the award-winning team behind The Call of Cthulhu Mystery Program, and feature voices from hit sci-fi audio dramas like Girl in Space and Midnight Burger. Discover more at https://mothershewrote.earth/ or anywhere you listen to podcasts.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Customer Reviews
Ambitious, unique, and unforgettable!
I'll admit that I wasn't entirely certain what to expect from Mother She Wrote, since the premise is so absolutely niche. Audio drama reenactments of a cult videogame? Detailed analyses of the game as an experience AND as a cultural phenomenon? A new original soundtrack in the style of the original Nintendo music? There's just so much happening here! I'm a huge fan of Cat Blackard's other work on Call of Cthulu Mystery Program, but I was still completely blown away by what she and Jessica Mudd have accomplished in MSW! The audio drama sections are compelling and polished, the conversations are fascinating and meticulously researched, and the music underlying all of it is delightful and often quite moving! It's also often laugh-out-loud funny:
MINNIE: "Why is that crow smoking a cigarette?"
CROW (in background): *squack!* *Cough* *Cough*
MOM: "Okay, we're playing *inside* today!"
Something about Jess's delivery of that last line just cracks me up every time I hear it!
Mother She Wrote is an ambitious but accessible exploration of the Earthbound/Mother series that is fascinating and enjoyable even if--like me-- you have never played the original games! It's unlike anything else out there in the best possible ways! You owe it to yourself to check it out!
A Must-Listen for MOTHER Fans!
Listening to this was like receiving a belated Christmas present!
The production values and vocal deliveries were immaculate; the hosts' prowess over this medium was immediately made plain to see (or rather, hear.) I had assumed that the "diary" in question would be written from your point of view as a player. That angle would surely have been serviceable, but I was delighted to be greeted with a serialized audio drama adaptation, whose events are grippingly recounted by a charmingly characterized Ninten. I dare say this is the best auditory retelling of a MOTHER game since "Fobbies are Borange".
Speaking of Starmen.net, I was excited by Cat's experience as a veteran of the website’s heyday. No doubt she have amassed over many years a great deal of talking points pertaining to MOTHER and the community that blossomed around it. And what a better person to compliment a series “oldhead” and balance out the podcast than a (relative) newcomer! I look forward to hearing Jess’s reactions to the games, especially in the case of the divisive first installment.
In spite of their differing histories with MOTHER, it is clear to me that the two of them are both astute and erudite individuals. They really have their fingers on the pulse of the games, and I admire the duo's capacity to relate them to other works of art and note their possible intertextuality. Among the podcast’s highlights were the moments in which the impressionistic storytelling at hand was highlighted, evoking what could not be portrayed within the technological limits. I was already aware of Itoi’s desire to answer the question of, “If Steven Spielberg created an RPG, what would it be like?” but hadn't considered how readily certain scenes in the game lend themselves to cinematic adaptation. It’s great stuff, and I hope they continue to make such intriguing observations.
This will go down in my book as one of the great projects to come out of the MOTHER community. Best of luck for this 11/10 podcast!
Learn About Earthbound and Why it’s Important
Come for the story and stay for the fun, puns, and smashing home runs.