Moonburn Podcast: An Urban Coming Of Age Tale

 Here is the log line for Moonburn: "Moonburn is a serialized, queer, YA slice-of-life audio drama podcast created, written and produced by Robbie Hyne."

Some, when reading this, will be turned off by the "queer" part, or others by the YA reference, concluding that only young people can listen and understand. 

Let me reassure you, after listening to the podcast, that Moonburn expresses universal issues that transcend sexual orientation, age, gender, race, and economics.

Here is the genesis of the plot:  When Lucas moves into a NYC boarding home to start a new life, he discovers decades-old diary cassette tapes left behind by his room’s first occupant.

From that one sentence, listeners will experience a cataclysm of emotional states, from loneliness to isolation, and sadness to regret.

 Creator Robbie Hyne proudly tells us:  "It is a completely independent (“indie”) podcast— everything from writing, production, voice acting, editing and release are done on our own, not on behalf of any studio or corporation." 

Here is the plot with more detail. When a down-on-his-luck 18-year-old named Lucas (Anthony Keyvan) moves into a NYC boarding home for a fresh start, he discovers decades-old diary cassette tapes left behind by the room’s first occupant, Carter (Joshua Colley). The tapes foreshadow tragedy, but they also lay out a beautiful path for surviving in the city. With the heartfelt stories and invaluable advice contained within these tapes, Lucas embarks on his journey— through the trials and tribulations of life in a new city, accepting himself, creating lifelong friendships, falling in love, and even uncovering a few mysteries about his new home.

When we hear the life story of creator Robbie Hyne we realize that he is no stranger to trauma and facing life's challenges head on.

"I am an imaginative LGBTQ film, television & scripted podcast writer who most recently served as a Story Editor for the CW’s STARGIRL under the tutelage of my mentor, Geoff Johns.

"I got my start as an assistant for Scott Free Productions before moving to Berlanti Productions as executive assistant and coordinator for prolific writer/producer/director Greg Berlanti. While there, I worked on such shows as You, All American, Doom Patrol, Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina, and many more before being promoted onto Stargirl Season One as Writers’ Assistant and Script Coordinator. I was quickly staffed on Stargirl season 2 and promoted again the following year. I hail from Madison, Wisconsin."

Robbie shares: "I've lived as a hard-of-hearing individual my whole life, but in recent years I've gone through multiple surgeries to live and thrive without hearing aids. All my experiences growing up as a young, gay, hard-of-hearing Midwestern boy inspired me to be a part of and share authentic, character-driven stories led by powerful and unique voices."

Robbie released Moonburn under his banner August Year Round Productions. The company's motto is "Words Unleashed."

Robbie says of his company: "Birthed during the WGA & SAG dual strikes of 2023, August Year Round Productions is a podcast production venture built from the ground up— led by creatives, for creatives. Our goal is simple— create a playground for writers, actors, directors, and other creatives to come together and do what we love: tell stories & make art.

"We work completely independently, having raised our initial funds via the love and support of friends, family & other generous donors. From day one, our most important mandate is to lift up diverse voices, with a particular focus on the LGBTQ community, and tell meaningful stories."

The first season of Moonburn had seven episodes with an average runtime of about 25 minutes. Season Two, which was released in early April, continues Lucas’ journey as he navigates the highs and lows of building a new life in New York City, heeding the guidance of a new set of diary cassette tapes, facing fresh challenges, forging the unbreakable bonds with his chosen family, and searching for a sense of purpose… all while confronting the unexpected difficulty of a brand-new housemate at Bourbon St. Boarding. So far, season two has released three episodes, with more to come.

The voice acting in Moonburn is exceptional. Season Two stars Anthony Keyvan (XO, Kitty, Love, Victor) as Lucas, Kevin McHale (Glee), Chris Renfro (Queer As Folk, Oh, Mary!), Alexandra Daniels (What If), Kelly Lamor Wilson (A Man Called Otto), Teala Dunn (Good Trouble), and Anthony Turpel (That 90’s Show, Love, Victor). 

 Robbie says: "At its heart, Moonburn is a story about love, self-discovery, and chosen family. With a focus on heart, humor, romance and even a little mystery, our podcast has the feel of an indie coming-of-age dramedy reminiscent of Heartstopper, Tales of the City, and Emily in Paris. The story thrives on a mix of sharp, witty dialogue and deeply vulnerable moments, reflecting what it’s like to be young, queer, and searching for belonging."

Robbie shares: "My sincerest hope is that audiences discover their own sense of community with these characters, and reflect on their own journeys of love, self-discovery, and the families we all choose. As simple as it may sound, I also hope there is a feeling of comfort diving into this world. With the climate of life these days, I think podcasts like Moonburn are a great and incredibly important way to connect, tell meaningful stories, and build/maintain that sense of community that is so important."

Check out Moonburn. Moonburn captures the highs and lows of coming-of-age in an urban setting, blending nostalgia with a modern sensibility. 

In listening to Moonburn, I discovered another show by Robbie via August Year Round Productions called (Un)Likeminded.

 I love Science Fiction and have been in the same Science Fiction Book Club for 20 years. You think we'd outgrow this? Have you ever seen Black Mirror on Netflix? It's a British science-fiction anthology show and has been wildly popular for its six seasons.

 (Un)Likeminded is a mirror image of that show on audio. It is a Sci-Fi Audio Anthology that brings together like-minded creatives to do what they love— tell stories. Each season of (Un)Likeminded is centered around a theme.

Robbie Hyne explains: "With only that theme in mind, the writers of the collection are tasked with creating original narratives— wherever their mind takes them. Together with some amazing actors narrating and bringing these stories to life, we’ll explore how a singular theme can birth incredibly varied characters, worlds, and ideas… and how even the most like-minded creatives can create vastly (un)alike stories."

In season two, my favorite episodes are A Most Considerate Vampire and We Who Hunger.

Check out (Un)Likeminded. This show proves that indie podcasters like Robbie Hyne can do audio drama / sci-fi as good as and better than the ultra-rich podcast networks with money to burn. 

It's creepy. I'm warning you. Don't listen after dark or when your partner or roommate is traveling. Whatever you do, do not listen to the episode about a jaded young woman who pursues a secret romance with the corpse she brought to life called Maven & The Monster.