MERCY: A Queer Eldritch Western

CW: Prominent themes of isolation, systemic oppression, and loss.

We're working hard to get the next episode of MERCY to you soon! In the meantime, we are super excited to share an episode from our wonderful friends over at The Mechadova Engine! The Mechadova Engine is an upcoming queer sci-fi steampunk audio drama set in a world entirely confined to steam trains in the sky, and features queer, BIPOC, neurodivergent, and disabled characters.

TRANSCRIPT (Turn off browser dark mode): https://ellipsus.com/read/2tES0vyye3PmVjkToCi5pU

SHOW DESCRIPTION: The Mechadova Engine follows Log, who has spent their entire life, as far as they can remember, alone inside a single library train carriage in the sky. Their only knowledge of the outside world is limited to books from a long time ago on earth.
Log has never thought to question their existence or the world outside, until one day their carriage stops. Here, they meet Tinker, a member of a resistance group, who turns their world upside down.
It's a story about meaningless structures, the power of community, and how knowledge is preserved and retold.

KICKSTARTER: The Mechadova Engine is currently running a Kickstarter campaign which you can check out at the link below. If you have the means, please do consider donating to bring this wodnerful show to life!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lumioakes/the-mechadova-engine-steampunk-audio-drama

CAST
Log: Timothy Rafael
Tinker: Rhys Tirado

CREW
Showrunner/writer: Lumi Oakes
Story consultant: Timothy Rafael
Sensitivity Readers: Marisa Ewing-Moody, Besidesthepoint & Mesabzu Wodenscild
Cover art: Rawlyx
Character art: Doodles V. de Castro
Intro music: Eyre

THE MECHADOVA ENGINE LINKS
Transcript: https://ellipsus.com/read/2tES0vyye3PmVjkToCi5pU
Website: https://mechadovapod.com/
Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lumioakes/the-mechadova-engine-steampunk-audio-drama
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/mechadova-pod
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mechadovapod.bsky.social

Strangekind Studio is a not-for-profit collective that spotlights diverse, intersectional stories and characters. You can support the show by leaving us a rating and spreading the word <3
If you'd like to say howdy, you can get in touch with us over on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, or our website. We'd love to hear from you!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CW: Arguing

The next episode of MERCY is on its way soon! In the meantime, in celebration of Black History Month, we are thrilled to present DEADWOOD, created by the wonderful Saniyah Hill! DEADWOOD is BIPOC-led eldritch horror anthology with themes of grief, betrayal, familial love, hope, identity, survival, queerness, mental illness, and what it means to be different when the world dies around you.

In this special trailer, Andie and Demetrius’ fall break is off to a rocky start.

TRANSCRIPT: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nwMkiNUkh0V3xugULvlVHHV8lUASuwxN/view?usp=drive_link

SHOW DESCRIPTION: In season 1, an eldritch god’s origins and how it came to wreak havoc on the inhabitants of Earth are told in reverse, split into three main horror subgenres (cosmic, gothic, and folk) and set in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts at different moments in time. The first story is about the strained dynamic between a pair of siblings who end up trapped in an old house in Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard with their college-aged friends as a being beyond comprehension possesses and kills each of them one by one. Have a listen to the trailer and if you like what you hear, you can check out Season 1 HERE and on YouTube!

DEADWOOD SOCIALS:
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @Deadwood_pod
Instagram: @deadwood.pod
Tumblr: @deadwood-podcast
Bluesky: @deadwoodpodcast.bsky.social
YouTube: @Deadwood-Pod
Strangekind Studio is a not-for-profit collective that spotlights diverse, intersectional stories and characters. You can support the show by leaving us a rating and spreading the word <3
If you'd like to say howdy, you can get in touch with us over on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, or our website. We'd love to hear from you!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MERCY is best experienced with headphones. For adult audiences only.

The Party cook beans, enquire about a manor, and attend a fancy schmancy ball.

CW: Violence and gore; depictions of alcoholism and alcohol withdrawal; graphic depiction of extreme binge drinking (1:04:35-1:07:34) and inebriation; emetophobia (28:34-28:45, 1:10:01-1:10:10); misophonia (drinking: 5:12-5:23; kissing: 1:08:29-1:08:52, 1:09:15-1:09:34); depictions of PTSD and extreme mental distress (panic attacks; audio hallucinations, specifically whispering; and depictions of derealisation & dissociation: 4:49-5:30, 9:38-9:56, 29:09-29:50); ableism and ableist language; classism; misogynistic and homophobic language; mentions of cult practices; and references to religious doctrine (Christianity).

This episode features the vocal talents of Austin Sharp, Aurora Ave-Lallemant, Sneha Kumar, James Reece, Matt Doherty, Jay Rossouw (Jay33721), Elias McDonald, Hayden Sullivan, Michelle Kan, and Madison Diaz (SomethingExtraVA).

MERCY is produced by Madison Diaz.
The script supervisor is Matt Doherty.
Written, directed, and sound designed by Jae-in Hwan.

Visit our website to check out the full cast and crew list, and our socials: https://strangekindstudio.weebly.com/mercycastcrew.html
The music used in this show can be found here: https://strangekindstudio.weebly.com/mercymusic.html
Follow us on Bluesky (strangekindstudio.bsky.social) and Tumblr (@strangekindstudio).

SFX & Music sourced from EpidemicSound.com, Freesound.org, and Pixabay.com

A dyslexia-friendly transcript of this episode can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/15H2toUQD0z7tGCKHz61BKjmu450HxmHDiv4R6rMitV4/edit?usp=sharing

Further information & details regarding submitting to the Episode 10 casting call is available at the Google form: https://forms.gle/vi2VjjnPHGvHgSNC7

Our featured friend of the show is Project Gnosis by MQ Media!
Listen to Project Gnosis now on all podcasting platforms or the RSS here: https://feeds.captivate.fm/projectgnosis/
Strangekind Studio is a not-for-profit collective that spotlights diverse, intersectional stories and characters. You can support the show by leaving us a rating and spreading the word <3
If you'd like to say howdy, you can get in touch with us over on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, or our website. We'd love to hear from you!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MERCY is best experienced with headphones. For adult audiences only.

Lila tries to find her way home.

CW: Violence & gore, graphic body horror, implied child death, mentions of suicide and suicidality, mentions of historical racism & colonial violence (incl. slavery and genocide), mentions of drugs use (opium), air raid sirens, smoking, wound care (blood), non-graphic depiction of ‘whale’ hunting, ableist language, and depictions of extreme mental distress.

If you are feeling suicidal, you are not alone and there is support available. You deserve to feel supported.
You can find help at the IASP website which lists hotlines and resources for your locality: https://www.iasp.info/suicidalthoughts/
If you are considering suicide or self-harm or are in danger, please call your local emergency services immediately to ensure your safety.

This episode features the vocal talents of Sneha Kumar, Melvin "TurgizeVA" Polanco, Tenest Tang, Aurora Ave-Lallemant, Austin Sharp, James Reece, Michelle Kan, Madison Diaz (SomethingExtraVA), and Hayden Sullivan.

MERCY is produced by Madison Diaz.
The script supervisor is Matt Doherty.
Written, directed, and sound designed by Jae-in Hwan.

Visit our website to check out the full cast and crew list, and our socials: https://strangekindstudio.weebly.com/mercycastcrew.html
The music used in this show can be found here: https://strangekindstudio.weebly.com/mercymusic.html
Follow us on Bluesky (strangekindstudio.bsky.social) and Tumblr (@strangekindstudio).

SFX & Music sourced from EpidemicSound.com, Freesound.org, and Pixabay.com

A dyslexia-friendly transcript of this episode can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/15H2toUQD0z7tGCKHz61BKjmu450HxmHDiv4R6rMitV4/edit?usp=sharing

Our featured friend of the show is Hearthbound by the wonderful Jo Chiang of Stray Lungs!
Listen to Hearthbound now on all podcasting platforms - links found here: https://www.theend.fyi/shows/hearthbound-an-untelling-of-the-odyssey
Check out their website here: https://www.straylungs.com/hearthbound
Strangekind Studio is a not-for-profit collective that spotlights diverse, intersectional stories and characters. You can support the show by leaving us a rating and spreading the word <3
If you'd like to say howdy, you can get in touch with us over on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, or our website. We'd love to hear from you!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MERCY is best experienced with headphones. For adult audiences only.

Jack tells his story and the Party opens a door.

CW: Violence & gore, mentions of suicide attempt and suicidality, mentions of genocide, graphic depictions of historical racism & colonial violence (incl. lynchings, arson, and riots), racist slurs, graphic depiction of murder & death (22:12-22:45), alcohol use, smoking, mentions of drug addiction, sexual language (innuendos), themes of assimilation & colonialism, and misophonia (blood & gurgling at 22:12-22:45; coughing at 11:12-11:24).

If you are feeling suicidal, you are not alone and there is support available. You deserve to feel supported.
You can find help at the IASP website which lists hotlines and resources for your locality: https://www.iasp.info/suicidalthoughts/
If you are considering suicide or self-harm or are in danger, please call your local emergency services immediately to ensure your safety.

This episode features the vocal talents of Tenest Tang, Sneha Kumar, Aurora Ave-Lallemant, Austin Sharp, James Reece, Michelle Kan, Madison Diaz (SomethingExtraVA), and Matt Doherty.

MERCY is produced by Madison Diaz.
The script supervisor is Matt Doherty.
Written, directed, and sound designed by Jae-in Hwan.

Visit our website to check out the full cast and crew list, and our socials: https://strangekindstudio.weebly.com/mercycastcrew.html
The music used in this show can be found here: https://strangekindstudio.weebly.com/mercymusic.html

SFX & Music sourced from EpidemicSound.com, Freesound.org, and Pixabay.com

A dyslexia-friendly transcript of this episode can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rxgRmIo_SdbQKL5zXEpRNWEXutKCNgmxXW8CKx_tL_E/edit?usp=sharing

Our featured friend of the show is The Foxkey Chronicles: What Hides Beneath by Cole & Eleana Hill!
Listen to The Foxkey Chronicles now on all podcasting platforms or the RSS here: https://shows.acast.com/the-foxkey-chronicles

The line quoted in this episode's tagline is from one of the many poems carved into the walls of Angel Island, where Chinese immigrants (amongst others who weren't wealthy and/or European) were detained upon arrival. The full poem, labelled 'Poem 19', reads:

"Since our parting, another autumn has yet arrived.
I have become a distant traveller of far away places.
Remembering your great kindness, I know in my heart I have not repaid you.
Hoping to see good tidings, I’ll depend on writing letters."

You can read about the history of Angel Island here: https://www.aiisf.org/history
Strangekind Studio is a not-for-profit collective that spotlights diverse, intersectional stories and characters. You can support the show by leaving us a rating and spreading the word <3
If you'd like to say howdy, you can get in touch with us over on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, or our website. We'd love to hear from you!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.