Imaginary Worlds

Jamil Mustafa, a literature professor who studies gothic fiction, joins to trace the long reach of Stevenson's tale. He maps Jekyll-and-Hyde echoes in films and shows, explores Victorian context and hidden sexuality, and praises Bruce Banner’s arc toward coexistence. Conversations touch on psychological splits, antiheroes like Walter White, and why internal threat stories still grip us.

Adam Jarrell, co-creator and sound designer of Sherlock & Co., discusses immersive location recording and layered sound. Joel Emery, writer and co-creator, adapts Doyle’s canon for modern audio drama and explores emotionalizing classic plots. They talk about reimagining Victorian stories for today, portraying Sherlock’s temperament, expanding supporting roles, and engaging a Gen Z audience.

Imaginary Worlds has reached another milestone – 300 episodes! We already celebrated the 200th episode and the 10th anniversary of the show, but in those episodes, we mostly kept the spotlight off ourselves. This time around, my assistant producer Stephanie Billman and I reflect on how the podcast has impacted us. I often joke that the show feels like a train that I’m riding, and I’m laying down tracks as I go. Sometimes those tracks stretch far in the distance, but other times I can see the end of the line and wonder if this train is going to Wile E. Coyote off a cliff. But we have managed to make it this far thanks to a lot of imagination, willpower and chemistry.   This episode is sponsored by Mizzen + Main and Audible.  Our listeners get 20% off their first purchase at mizzenandmain.com using the promo code IMAGINARY20.    Listen to the audiobook of Project Hail Mary at Audible.com/hailmary.   To support the show, you can donate on Patreon where you get access to the ad-free version and our companion show Between Imaginary Worlds. You can also buy Imaginary Worlds merchandise at our online store. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James Ortiz, a theater puppeteer recruited to perform and voice Rocky, shares how he built and operated a complex five-legged puppet. He talks about choosing practical puppetry over CGI, adapting theater techniques for film, collaborating closely with Ryan Gosling, and assembling a multi-puppeteer team to create Rocky’s physical personality and improvisational chemistry.

Ian Spelling, a Star Trek journalist who interviewed D.C. Fontana; Laurie Ulster, a historian of Trek media; and Jarrah Hodge, a writer and podcaster, discuss Fontana’s rise from secretary to story editor. They focus on her shaping of Spock and Vulcan lore, character-driven rewrites, her role on the Animated Series, and her lasting influence on franchise storytelling and fandom.

Imagine if Bruce Wayne had no money, if Superman grew up on Krypton and came to Earth with emotional scars, or if Wonder Woman had been raised in Hell. Welcome to the Absolute Universe – a dark parallel universe created by DC Comics in 2024. The idea of a parallel universe is not new to comic books, but what is surprising has been the success of the Absolute Universe. Some of the Absolute versions of superheroes have been outselling the comics that take place in DC’s mainline universe. I talk with Executive Editor Chris Conroy and Group Editor Katie Kubert about how they’ve overseen the team of artists and writers at DC crafting this dark universe with thematic parallels to our own world. And I talk with writer Kelly Thompson about how she came up with Absolute Wonder Woman and why the comic is resonating with so many fans. This episode is sponsored by Surfshark. Go to https://surfshark.com/worlds or use the code WORLDS at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! To support the show, you can donate on Patreon where you get access to the ad-free version and our companion show Between Imaginary Worlds. You can also buy Imaginary Worlds merchandise at our online store. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kenitra Brooks, scholar of conjure women exploring personal genealogy. Yvonne Chireau, expert on African-derived spiritual traditions who consulted on the film. They discuss hoodoo’s portrayal on screen, co-creating Annie’s practices and movements, ancestral time and music, props and historical choices, and how conjure functions as social power in 1930s Mississippi.

Abby Howard, artist and co-founder of Black Tabby Games known for hand-drawn character design; Tony Howard-Arias, game designer and co-founder focusing on branching narrative and systems. They discuss hand-drawn animation, designing reactive branching choices, balancing romance and solo play, letting players avoid the plot, and Southern Gothic roots shaping characters and tone.

Darby McDevitt, narrative director at Ubisoft, is known for his work on the Assassin's Creed series and his novel, The Halter. He shares insights into the challenges of blending historical accuracy with engaging gameplay, revealing his extensive research methods for crafting immersive backstories. The discussion touches on the limitations of interactivity in games, the balance between realism and player expectations, and the ethical portrayal of sensitive themes. Darby also delves into his novel's exploration of virtual reality addiction, raising questions about empathy and social impacts.

In my annual audio drama, I interview several folklore figures who are synonymous with the holiday season outside America -- but they’ve been overshadowed by the cultural juggernaut of Santa Claus. So they’re on a tour to reintroduce themselves. While I went into this press junket with the best of intensions, some of my interviews went off the rails. It turns out when a supernatural being has been around for centuries, their personal history can get complicated. Featuring André Refig, Vili-Oskari Körkkö, Begonya Ferrer, Teresa Mastrobuono, and Bill Lobley. There will be no episode of Imaginary Worlds on December 31st. The show will return on January 14th. Happy Holidays, everyone! This episode is sponsored by MiracleMade and Uncommon Goods Get 15% off your order at uncommongoods.com/imaginary. Go to TryMiracle.com/IMAGINARY to save over 40%, and when you use promo code IMAGINARY, you’ll get an extra 20% off plus a free 3-piece towel set. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices