Podcast Spotlight: Ether

I can’t stress this enough, but audio dramas continue to have a moment and it shouldn’t come as a surprise. This genre is producing some of the most creative stories, innovative production quality, and genuinely pushing the boundaries of what most consider a podcast. Though the movie and TV adaptations are (rightfully) getting a lot of exposure, much of the audio drama world is growing because of creative indie podcasters are simply looking to make something great.

If you’re an audio drama fan — or looking to become one — here’s another podcast to add to your queue: Ether.

Ether bills itself as “a slow-burn twist of mystery and suspense, Ether is set in a world where the supernatural clash in this chilling audio drama.” Simple, concise, and compelling. I’ve binged the first season and can attest that the description is apt. The first episode is immediately gripping. We meet one of the recurring characters, Lara, who discovers she has an unusual ability — she can enter other peoples dreams.

Each episode hovers around the 45-minute mark, and with an 11-episode inaugural season, Ether is a fun, creepy, and at time thrilling binge if you’re looking for a supernatural adventure.

We were fortunate to share emails with Chris and Tricia Tollins, the podcast creators, to discuss the podcast, challenges for indie podcasters, and where they want to go from here. See below for our Q&A.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts

Discover Pods: How’d you get into podcasting?

Chris & Tricia: Tricia and I have been fans of podcasts for years, listening to the big name podcasts on road trips and our commutes. We decided to go back to school for New Media Web Design, which also taught us Adobe Audition, Photoshop, and of course, web design. We started dabbling with Audition more and more, realizing that we could start our own podcast. After a few false starts, we started a different format and went with an audio drama, complete with sound effects, foley. and background music

DP: In your own words, why should listeners tune in to Ether?

Chris & Tricia: Ether is a supernatural story that revolves around four distinct characters. Even those these characters have fantastical abilities, they all individually deal with their own issues; depression, guilt, sexism, and spousal abuse. With elements of mystery and a large helping of suspense, we take listeners on a journey through this new world with many twists and turns along the way.

DP: What’s the biggest challenge you face as an indie podcaster?

Chris & Tricia: Advertising! Tricia and I work in the marketing industry, so we both have a good idea about where to put our ad dollars, but starting an indie podcast is tough. We motivate each other to keep going and provide the best possible story, and ultimately experience, to our listeners.

DP: Where do you want to take your podcast?

Chris & Tricia: We’d love to work full-time on Ether. The first two second season are completed, with a full outline finished on the third season. The overall plan for the story would be told over six seasons. We’d love to see Ether brought to a different medium, such as a mini-series.

DP: Are there other audio drama podcasts out there you admire that helped inspire Ether?

Chris & Tricia: The old radio dramas were a big inspiration. The Shadow, Suspense were great inspirations to us, but we wanted to update the format slightly. More modern music, reduced use of foley and sound effects are top-of-mind, with the emphasis on ’story-first’. Our narrator, Suzanne, did a wonderful job on the story so we want her narration to shine first, the music and effect second.

DP: What other podcasts are you listening to now?

Chris & Tricia: A few that we’re digging now are Lore, Notorious Narratives, and several marketing podcasts.