Audio drama podcasts are continuing to have a “moment”, even though that word doesn’t quite do it justice. They’re getting bought up and adapted for TV and movie series at an accelerated pace — the latest of which, Homecoming, premieres on Amazon tomorrow. It’s no real surprise either. It’s a genre which lends itself to the most creativity and ingenuity versus other formats. I was delighted to get turned onto Jupiter Saloon, a sci-fi comedy audio drama, that takes place at a dive bar …. in space.

The creators bill it as a cross between Cheers and Tales from the Crypt, but there’s definitely shades of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Seinfeld, and maybe even It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Hilarious, slightly intoxicated conversations from characters around the universe.

We were fortunate to meet up with Chris O’Keeffe, co-founder and head of narrative at Podcation, an event where creators get together to make a podcast in only a couple days. Jupiter Saloon is the culmination podcast that sprung from this creative workshop. We caught up with O’Keefe and asked him about Jupiter Saloon, the audio drama landscape, and where they’re going from here. See below for our Q&A.

Listen: Apple | Stitcher

Discover Pods: How’d you get into podcasting?

O’KEEFFE: When I was little, my dad gave me an old Tascam 4-track recorder. That began a passion for recording that would follow me as I developed as a musician and writer. To be able to work in a medium that combines writing, recording and music is a dream come true.

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

O’KEEFFE: The pilot of Jupiter Saloon is absolutely packed with talent. We recruited a killer team to create this show. The result is fun and goofy. Every human that has listened to this so far has laughed a lot. But, if that’s not a convincing enough argument, how about this one: the whole season is just one episode. One episode! No commitment necessary.

DP: Were there other audio drama podcasts out there that helped inspire Jupiter Saloon?

O’KEEFFE: From the start we cited two influences that predate the modern audio drama: The BBC’s Hitchhiker’s Guide To the Galaxy and Orson Welles’ War of the Worlds. But we also listened to a ton of current stuff in preparation for this project. Hello From the Magic Tavern was a common influence for a lot of the team members, and Marsfall taught us a lot about spacial sound design and effective music applications. There are so many shows out there right now, and there’s something to learn from every one.

DP: In regards to format, how long or seasonal are you expecting Jupiter Saloon to be?

O’KEEFFE: Right now it’s just the pilot. We want people to hear it and react to it as its own thing for now. We’re going to try to do an 8 episode season after this.

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

O’KEEFFE: Figuring out how to work with the best people, but also make sure everyone gets paid!

DP: Where do you want to take your podcast?

O’KEEFFE: The world that we’ve set up with Jupiter Saloon is elastic and expandable. I hope we get an opportunity to explore that world over multiple seasons and many episodes.

DP: What other podcasts are you listening to now?

O’KEEFFE: Been tearing through Greater Boston. That show is beautiful. Lots of long, lyrical monologues and epistolary segments, with sort of an impressionistic approach to sound design. Drawn: The Story of Animation is excellent. I’ve got a spreadsheet with like 50 audio dramas that I need to catch up on. Even with 1.5x speed, there’s not enough time!

DP: Anything else you’d like to add?

O’KEEFFE: Just: thanks. Thanks to everyone making stuff and inspiring us. Thanks to places like your site who help creators get seen, and to sites like Bello Collective who are passionate and thoughtful about audio drama as an art form.

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