8 episodes

In a not so distant future, due to overwhelming carbon emissions, The Earth is on the brink of becoming uninhabitable. These conditions are made far more horrifying because the available housing shelters (that can produce sustainable air quality) will only be able to house 80% of the world’s total population. To try and save the human race, every person has a government-mandated microchip implanted in their brains to attempt to facilitate the migration of a portion of the population to an underground shelter. In order to decide who gets to be protected and who must stay above ground, the government implements a value scale they have determined based on “usefulness” to future society. If you are valued at a 50 or above, you will be chosen to enter the bunker, and, if not, you must stay above ground and face the end of days. “Neuron” (which acts as both a prestigious brain implant and also a software company) is folded into a sanctioned branch of the government called, “The Ministry of Experience.” Their job now is to develop technologies and software that can replicate the human experience above ground. But what is far more pressing is The Ministry must find a way to reduce the use of resources, or they will run out of all survivable assets before being able to relocate to “Eden” - the one place above ground that might be salvageable in a few years time. Whether Eden will be ready in time remains to be seen, but its existence is literally the last hope for the human race surviving. In a drastic effort to cut emissions and resource usage, “The Oyster” is created. The Oyster is Nirvana - A state absent from the mind while being filled with complete pleasure and bliss. What, then, happens when reality begins to fade and The Oyster is all that remains?

The Oyster stars Logan Browning (Dear White People and the Perfection), Mamoudou Athie (Jurassic World), Carla Gugino (Haunting of Hill House), Keith David (Greenleaf), Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad), Constance Zimmer (House of Cards, UnReal), Andrew Santino (Dave) and more.

Created by Alex Aldea and Adrienne Schaffler

The Oyster The Paragon Collective

    • Fiction
    • 4.2 • 1K Ratings

In a not so distant future, due to overwhelming carbon emissions, The Earth is on the brink of becoming uninhabitable. These conditions are made far more horrifying because the available housing shelters (that can produce sustainable air quality) will only be able to house 80% of the world’s total population. To try and save the human race, every person has a government-mandated microchip implanted in their brains to attempt to facilitate the migration of a portion of the population to an underground shelter. In order to decide who gets to be protected and who must stay above ground, the government implements a value scale they have determined based on “usefulness” to future society. If you are valued at a 50 or above, you will be chosen to enter the bunker, and, if not, you must stay above ground and face the end of days. “Neuron” (which acts as both a prestigious brain implant and also a software company) is folded into a sanctioned branch of the government called, “The Ministry of Experience.” Their job now is to develop technologies and software that can replicate the human experience above ground. But what is far more pressing is The Ministry must find a way to reduce the use of resources, or they will run out of all survivable assets before being able to relocate to “Eden” - the one place above ground that might be salvageable in a few years time. Whether Eden will be ready in time remains to be seen, but its existence is literally the last hope for the human race surviving. In a drastic effort to cut emissions and resource usage, “The Oyster” is created. The Oyster is Nirvana - A state absent from the mind while being filled with complete pleasure and bliss. What, then, happens when reality begins to fade and The Oyster is all that remains?

The Oyster stars Logan Browning (Dear White People and the Perfection), Mamoudou Athie (Jurassic World), Carla Gugino (Haunting of Hill House), Keith David (Greenleaf), Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad), Constance Zimmer (House of Cards, UnReal), Andrew Santino (Dave) and more.

Created by Alex Aldea and Adrienne Schaffler

    Episode 1 - The Sorting

    Episode 1 - The Sorting

    Welcome to the world of The Oyster. 
    This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp and Hellofresh.
    The Oyster is created by Alex Aldea and Adrienne Schaffler.
    This episode was written by Alex Aldea, Adrienne Schaffler, and Jordan Cobb.
    Cast:
    Logan Browning as Hannah Ori
    Giancarlo Esposito as Dolos Devlet
    Carla Gugino as Christian
    Keith David as Policeman #1
    Donnell Rawlings as Micah Ori
    Kimberly Hébert Gregory as Sarah Ori
    Andrew Santino as Art Minor
    Kenny Allen as Ben Avery
    Johnny Ferro as Scott Thompson
    Dionne Lea Williams as Lauren Thompson
    Jolie Handler as Beth Thompson
    Nicole Goodnight as Jane
    David Cummings as Bill
    Nikolle Doolin as Linda
    Production:
    Executive Produced by Logan Browning, Alex Cline, Alex Aldea and Adrienne Schaffler.
    Edited by Victor Figueroa.
    Sound Design and Foley by Victor Figueroa.
    Music Composition by Alex Aldea and Andrew Joselyn.
    Mixing by Alex Aldea

    • 30 min
    Episode 2 - The Trial

    Episode 2 - The Trial

    Trigger warning: This episode contains self harm.
    Ori and Christian embark on the first Oyster trial.
    This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp , Buffy, and Hellofresh.
    The Oyster is created by Alex Aldea and Adrienne Schaffler.
    The Oyster is created by Alex Aldea and Adrienne Schaffler.
    This episode was written by Alex Aldea, Adrienne Schaffler, and Jordan Cobb.
    Cast:
    Logan Browning as Hannah Ori
    Giancarlo Esposito as Dolos Devlet
    Carla Gugino as Christian
    Keith David as Policeman #1
    Donnell Rawlings as Micah Ori
    Kimberly Hébert Gregory as Sarah Ori
    Andrew Santino as Art Minor
    Kenny Allen as Ben Avery
    Johnny Ferro as Scott Thompson
    Dionne Lea Williams as Lauren Thompson
    Jolie Handler as Beth Thompson
    Sean Blakemore as Professor Stapleton
    Constance Zimmer as President Owens
    Mamoudou Athie as Luca
    Michelle Visage as Sharon Stapleton
    Nichole Goodnight as The Oyster
    Production:
    Executive Produced by Logan Browning, Alex Cline, Alex Aldea and Adrienne Schaffler.
    Edited by Victor Figueroa.
    Sound Design and Foley by Victor Figueroa.
    Music Composition by Alex Aldea and Andrew Joselyn.
    Mixing by Alex Aldea

    • 36 min
    Episode 3 - The Final Call

    Episode 3 - The Final Call

    Trigger warning: This episode contains graphic violence and reference to self harm.
    Ori and Luca attend The Final Call.
    This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp , Buffy, and Tushy.
    Enhance this experience with headphones.
    The Oyster is created by Alex Aldea and Adrienne Schaffler.
    This episode was written by Adrienne Schaffler, Alex Aldea and Jordan Cobb.
    Cast:
    Logan Browning as Hannah Ori
    Mamadou Athie as Luca
    Carla Gugino as Christian
    Keith David as Policeman #1
    Donnell Rawlings as Micah Ori
    Kimberly Hébert Gregory as Sarah Ori
    Andrew Santino as Art Minor
    Kenny Allen as Ben Avery
    David Ault as Oliver Barron
    Jamey Jasta as Doorman of the Final Call
    Karlous Miller as Speaker of the Final Call
    Howard Jones as Singer of the Final Call
    This episode features Simple Man performed by Howard Jones (Light the Torch).
    Written by Ronnie Van Zant and Garry Rossington.
    Copyright song of Universal, Inc.
    Production:
    Executive Produced by Logan Browning, Alex Cline, Alex Aldea and Adrienne Schaffler.
    Edited by Victor Figueroa.
    Sound Design and Foley by Victor Figueroa.
    Music Composition by Alex Aldea and Andrew Joselyn.
    Mixing by Alex Aldea

    • 39 min
    Episode 4 - The Overrides

    Episode 4 - The Overrides

    In this episode, Ori begins to learn more about the overrides.
    This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp, Headspace and Bright Cellars.
    The Oyster is created by Alex Aldea and Adrienne Schaffler.
    This episode was written by Adrienne Schaffler, Alex Aldea and Jordan Cobb.
    Cast:
    Logan Browning as Hannah Ori
    Mamoudou Athie As Luca
    Carla Gugino as Christian
    Keith David as Policeman #1
    Giancarlo Esposito as Dolos Devlet
    Donnell Rawlings as Micah Ori
    Andrew Santino as Art Minor
    Kenny Allen as Ben Avery
    Constance Zimmer as President Owens
    Dionne Lea Williams as Lauren Thompson
    Jolie Handler as Beth Thompson
    Nicole Goodnight as Jane
    David Cummings as Bill
    Nikolle Doolin as Linda
    Production:
    Executive Produced by Logan Browning, Alex Cline, Alex Aldea and Adrienne Schaffler.
    Edited by Victor Figueroa.
    Sound Design and Foley by Victor Figueroa.
    Music Composition by Alex Aldea and Andrew Joselyn.
    Mixing by Alex Aldea

    • 35 min
    Episode 5 - Burdening of the Soul

    Episode 5 - Burdening of the Soul

    Trigger warning: This episode contains self harm.
    In this episode, Ori begins to learn more about the overrides.
    This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp, Tushy and Storyworth.
    The Oyster is created by Alex Aldea and Adrienne Schaffler.
    This episode was written by Adrienne Schaffler, Alex Aldea and Jordan Cobb.
    Cast:
    Logan Browning as Hannah Ori
    Mamoudou Athie As Luca
    Carla Gugino as Christian
    Keith David as Policeman #1
    Giancarlo Esposito as Dolos Devlet
    Donnell Rawlings as Micah Ori
    Andrew Santino as Art Minor
    Kenny Allen as Ben Avery
    Constance Zimmer as President Owens
    Sean Blackmore as Professor Stapleton 
    Howard Jones as DC Sherman
    Victor Figueroa as Subject #1
    Jeff Clement as Subject #2


    Production:
    Executive Produced by Logan Browning, Alex Cline, Alex Aldea and Adrienne Schaffler.
    Edited by Victor Figueroa.
    Sound Design and Foley by Victor Figueroa.
    Music Composition by Alex Aldea and Andrew Joselyn.
    Mixing by Alex Aldea

    • 58 min
    Episode 6 - The New Americans

    Episode 6 - The New Americans

    Trigger warning: This episode contains self harm and references to suicide.
    In this episode, Ori learns about Luca's experience in The Sorting.
    This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp, Hellofresh and Helix.
    The Oyster is created by Alex Aldea and Adrienne Schaffler.
    This episode was written by Adrienne Schaffler, Alex Aldea and Jordan Cobb.
    Cast:
    Logan Browning as Hannah Ori
    Mamoudou Athie As Luca
    Carla Gugino as Christian
    Keith David as Policeman #1
    Giancarlo Esposito as Dolos Devlet
    Donnell Rawlings as Micah Ori
    Andrew Santino as Art Minor
    Kenny Allen as Ben Avery
    Constance Zimmer as President Owens
    Sean Blackmore as Professor Stapleton 
    Howard Jones as DC Sherman
    Victor Figueroa as Subject #1
    Jeff Clement as Subject #2


    Production:
    Executive Produced by Logan Browning, Alex Cline, Alex Aldea and Adrienne Schaffler.
    Edited by Victor Figueroa.
    Sound Design and Foley by Victor Figueroa.
    Music Composition by Alex Aldea and Andrew Joselyn.
    Mixing by Alex Aldea

    • 42 min

Customer Reviews

4.2 out of 5
1K Ratings

1K Ratings

Roobie Lily ,

Loved it

I hope there is a season 2!!

ColleenNevada ,

Loved this

I loved this podcast so much and constantly check back to see if there is a season 2 in the works.

dingdongyourewront ,

Season 2!!!

The way I would sell my mortal soul for the second season

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