The Dope Show is a horror/sonic opera podcast from
@gsd_podcasts
starring Steven Ogg, Rory Culkin, Aud Andrews and Jared Carter.
Come find immortality at the low, low price of a few lives.
Buckle up friends, this one's gonna suck.
I don't like having to do this, but we need to talk about a member of the audio fiction community who is a bad actor.
TW: Stalking, abuse, self-harm and extortion
Let's talk about Jess Berson, creator of Regina Prime
Jess has been engaging in abuse of SEVERAL members of the audio fiction community for at least seven months now. Her behavior has everyone in fear of what the next escalation may be. This is only our account of that abuse. Others have similar stories, I'm certain.
Be forewarned.
I'm certain that Jess will respond to this in some format with her own twisted version of events. We don't expect the abuse to stop by making this post, in fact we're sure it will get worse.
That's not the point. The point is to save other people from being victimized.
In October of last year, my business partner had a very brief involvement with Jess. Their entire relationship began and ended in less than a month. Jess then started to behave erratically and abusively.
Posts altered to not name victims.
When these were refunded and failed to have the intended effect, Jess further escalated. She sent a package to Joseph's former home with a vague threat against another creator in the community.
When Joseph didn't respond the way she wanted, she escalated her behavior. She began sending harassing messages attached to PayPal donations, all the while claiming she didn't have the money for copays for her mental health visits.
Included in this email chain were messages that Jess had exchanged with Joseph's ex after Jess's abuse spilled out into the real world. Joseph's mother also began receiving odd and harassing phone calls and fake process servers showing up at her house around this time.
Names and certain personal information redacted for privacy.
Jess whiplashed between denying anything was happening to the vaguely ominous gambit of "meet my demands and all this goes away."
All the while, an email thread purpose built to harass people Jess had felt wronged her raged on. Jess has emailed as often as 2 dozen times a day, adding and removing people seemingly at random. This has been sent directly to people's bosses at networks as well.
Yesterday, Gas Station Drugs ended its relationship with
@TheRustyQuill
. We wish them well. The path forward for us likely isn't with a network for the time being, as we found ourselves disenchanted with the experience. At least for
@whatsintherift
and
@Wireland_Ranch
.
Of course this generated a whole new slew of abuse after a brief delay where things were quiet yesterday.
Unfortunately Jess is unlikely to change. I'll continue to document these things and if forced to I'll join the people who have been forced to get a restraining order.
Buckle up friends, this one's gonna suck.
I don't like having to do this, but we need to talk about a member of the audio fiction community who is a bad actor.
TW: Stalking, abuse, self-harm and extortion
Let's talk about Jess Berson, creator of Regina Prime
I'm certain that Jess will respond to this in some format with her own twisted version of events. We don't expect the abuse to stop by making this post, in fact we're sure it will get worse.
That's not the point. The point is to save other people from being victimized.
Just a reminder that phenomenal shows like Audistorium exist that pour an immense amount of effort into their work because they care about the quality stories they're telling, not because anyone expects this to be their full-time job.
Remember that your favorite
#AudioDrama
may have only made $5 this month. If even that. Remember how much work goes into them and the time, sweat and tears that get poured into this. We'd like to make this a living, but there's not a lot of money in it. Be patient with your favs.
New name!
Gas Station Drugs is our new production company run by Josh Burgess and Joseph Rutledge. We can't wait to continue bringing you quality shows like
@Wireland_Ranch
and our forthcoming What's in The Rift podcast.
Can't wait to show you what's in store, friends.
I can't stress how grateful we were for the opportunity even if it ended up not being for us. Keep an eye out for future projects, including
@TheDopeShowPod
, a second season of
@whatsintherift
and (eventually) even more
@Wireland_Ranch
.
Thanks for all your love and support!
A dead body in a wall. A computer that runs itself. A barrage of messages as nonsensical as they are threatening.
Six strangers in Florida, and a device that is already starting to crack the foundations of the world.
What's in The Rift
Releasing 10/1
Violations of causality. Casual damage to the brain. An unknown and advancing malevolent force weaving itself through the fabric of reality.
Truth versus Narrative.
What's in The Rift
October 1st
"Initial subjects pulled from populations of pineoblastoma patients do not turn out well. He finds the majority of people with the condition are young children, and those that develop it as adults often pass rapidly."
- Journal of D—V—
What's in The Rift
Releasing 10/1
Hey folks, I know I've been quiet here for just about ever. We have some big things brewing however.
To that end, I'm posting a PAID casting call for female presenting or androgynous voices. More details here:
Submissions open until 8/31!
It's been a wild first 30 days of What's in The Rift, and I'm trying to be better about celebrating our success.
The support for our show has been phenomenal, and I wish I could show up and deliver a personal thank you to all of you — but, y'know, not in a weird way of course.
Reviews are in from our beta listeners, and it's certified gold, baybee!
Follow us on your preferred podcast platform so you don't miss a moment, and find out more about the show here:
See you on The Rift!
We're coming down to the wire for the
@audioverseawrds
semi-final voting.
Joseph is much too cool to say it himself, but as his business partner I can say
@Wireland_Ranch
richly deserves recognition. We need your help to make that happen.
Go vote here:
Now available on all your favorite podcast platforms:
Ep 0.1 - The Broken Earth
Ep 0.2 - Apollo Armstrong
Ep 0.3 - John Beinson
Check us out! If you're so inclined, like, rate and review us as well.
TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY TO VOTE in the
@audioverseawrds
semi-final round.
Head over and put in your votes for
@Wireland_Ranch
. We know there are tons of you out there that are too cool for things like "voting" but please descend from yr throne for a moment to help our show out.
Grateful to the
#ttrpgcommunity
for the support we've seen today. We love all of you, and the rest of the
#ttrpgfamily
that showed up for us.
If you haven't yet, give us a listen. If you like what you hear, please rate and review. Thank you all so much!
Do you like FREE dice valued at $80?
We're giving away a set of custom resin sharp-edged dice from the April
@enchantserpdice
collection.
💫TO ENTER
✅Follow our account
✅Like this tweet
✅Repost it on your timeline
Ends April 7th with the release of Ep 14 of our show!
If you like what we do here at Gas Station Drugs, one of the best (and cheapest) ways to support us is by voting for
@Wireland_Ranch
in the Audio Verse Awards.
Thank you for being a part of everything we do.
Vote here:
This marks our second show on the Rusty Quill network.
It's been great to have the support of not just RQ but the network of creators therein and the larger AD/AP communities as well.
That said, GSD is not just Wireland and Rift.
Hey folks, we're a Rusty Quill podcast. Couldn't be more excited to launch under a platform with such greats as
@oldgodspod
,
@Wireland_Ranch
and
@HowieMilkman
.
We'll keep doing what we can to earn our place here.
We are super grateful to everyone that helped us along the way.
Some news!
#TTRPGRising
Our first three episodes are scheduled to launch in 11 days. They're titled as follows:
The Broken Earth
Apollo Armstrong
John Beinson
This Monday and May 15th we'll release vignettes that introduce our players' characters and the setting of our game.
If you or anyone you care about is the subject of intimate partner abuse, please do not remain silent.
Advocating for oneself is one of the most difficult things an abused person can do. Step up when they cannot.
I've spent the last two days thinking about our next project and reaching out to folks who we really want to work with.
I am blown away by how easy it's been to put together a squad that I'm incredibly amped to work with compared to the first time around.
Very exciting stuff.
A mystery in an abandoned apartment. A literal deity. Abduction and banishment. Getting yanked from the void of non-existence and into an out of control car fire.
Prophecy. Punishment.
What's in The Rift?
Find out on October 1st.
Have you noticed a weirdly-shaped hole in your life? That's the spot that you should be filling with Fractal Observation Institute.
Try us on
@GoodpodsHQ
here:
For the second time in a month, I'm forced to share some tough news. In the last 24 hours I learned some rather distasteful information regarding one of our players. As this player was involved directly in the creation of our show and its world building, I unfortunately feel that
we cannot continue Fractal Observation Institute as originally planned.
We want to thank everyone for their support and feedback. We're incredibly sad to see this thing that we were just getting off the ground have to be put to rest so soon.
However, we cannot abide abuse.
It's way, waaay too early to be sharing anything from our upcoming project. We won't have anything to listen to until October.
So here's something from our upcoming project anyway.
People always ask me, how do you spend 30 hours a week hunched over your computer like a troll writing and editing your podcast? Don't you have a family?
The answer is simple: if you force your partner to play in your campaign, they aren't allowed to be mad. I think.
Josh here. A lot of you knew our previous podcast, Fractal Observation Institute, and how that crashed before we really got to tell any good stories with it.
Well, we've got something I'm even more excited about bringing you now.
Please follow
@whatsintherift
for more updates!
Oh no, all my players are now on Twitter.
I'm going to have to go scrub the timeline of any spoilers I threw around cavalierly.
While I do that, go follow
@yolandiejo
- Yolandie
@JakeMacklem
- Jake
@99s_sugar
- Summer
@Vetarius
- Sean
It's Kill FM time, baby!
Check it out:
I provide the voice for a driver in this one, with subject matter that only _barely_ makes me wanna crawl out of my own skin!
Oh there you are. I've been waiting for you, my Dear Traveler. Take my hand as I guide you through these twisted woods for only I know the way. The darkness is closing in now. It's maw wide and baying for a taste of your flesh. Come quickly now, the time has come. The Morbid
@CritStupid
Congrats on your gross tweet!
We're FOI, an AP about tackling deep philosophical problems and fixing them with ham sandwiches. Join our cast as they try to navigate an ever-shifting reality and unravel the mystery at its core.
Premiering 5/1!
@PenandPaperPod
Happy
#TTRPGRising
! Fractal Observation Institute is an
#actualplay
podcast running Kevin Crawford's "Without Number" OSR systems dropping on 5/1. Come check us out!
Hey folks! If you're not familiar with Wireland Ranch, our audio drama, more is the perfect time to go check out what it's all about and leave us a review.
The season one finale drops this week. It's officially binge season, pumpkin!
Yay! We've satisfied one listener, which I've always said is our goal. That objective being met, there will be no more episodes of Fractal Observation Institute.
Thanks for getting us across that milestone, everyone!
I just listened to the first episode of Fractal Observation Institute from
@DieInsideGaming
, and OH BOY. I'm already hooked.
@Wireland_Ranch
Are you sure this isn't you?
One of the cast members for What's in The Rift, Yolandie Hamilton, is the purveyor of Enchanted Serpent Dice. She has brand new dice for Leap Day this year, and they are -beautiful-
Get 10% off with coupon: BLANCHE10
@Clash_Of_Krits
Thanks
@Clash_Of_Krits
!
What's in The Rift? premieres October 1st. Very early, but if you enjoyed the 2.5 episodes of Fractal Observation Institute or just love expertly crafted podcasts with high-quality sound you'll love this show.
Not having a podcast to edit at the moment is perfect for catching up on all the podcasts you've been recommended but had no time for. I know I'm early (barely). Sue me.
This
#FF
, let me give you my short list,
#ttrpgfamily
.
Big thanks to
@WingWomenPod
and
@TheSPCpodcast
for helping us cross the line at 100.
We promise we'll treat the huge responsibility of keeping you all entertained with the decorum it deserves.
Huge shoutout to our podcast besties. My beautiful little monsters got a huge kick out of hearing you call us out in Ep. 9.
If you haven't, GO LISTEN TO
@dice_monsters
. If you like good podcasts, that is. Otherwise, what the hell are you doing here?
@BigCampaignPod
Hey BCP! You know us, we're that podcast you're going to be on.
Join the agents of the FOI as they untangle a mystery of an unraveling reality. An OSR actual play podcast, we deal with questions of ethics and identity, and also the mystical ham sandwich.
We're only 6 days until the first episodes of Fractal Observation Institute!
We've given ourselves a makeover to go out and greet the world. Looking so fly, like Jeff Goldblum.
@BjarketheBard
We're an actual play podcast that will put hair on your chest and/or polish tarnished silver (depending on how you use us). Join us as we delve through layers of weird as a mostly improvised actual play featuring actors and a-holes alike.
All hands on deck to get this man to a well-deserved 1000!
If you like anything about the art of storytelling via TTRPGs, you'll effing LOVE Game Master Monday.
One of the best there is out there right now.
#ttrpgcommunity
#ttrpgfamily
#actualplay
@BjarketheBard
Happy
#TTRPGRising
! Fractal Observation Institute is an
#actualplay
podcast running Kevin Crawford's "Without Number" OSR systems dropping on 5/1. It's a goofy Fringe/X-Files/Outer Limits style show.
Come check us out!
For all you elder millennials and Gen X folks, Clone High is now on HBO Max. If you didn't catch it the first time around, or are just looking to wallow in your nostalgia, I highly recommend it.
If you haven't yet, check out Finding Pattersby by
@PattersPod
. Is it a mystery? Is it a horror? Is it a comedy? Is it a love letter to and manifesto against the paperback industry?
The answer to these questions (and many more questions aside from them), is yes.
Go throw some money at
@LoveTalkerPod
.
This incredible project is coming from
@deliverypod13
and
@wkeithtims
& features some of the best VAs and creative minds in the indie Audio Drama field.
It looks phenomenal.
I backed, you should too.
We've taken all Gas Station Drugs shows ad-free.
We appreciate everyone that supports our shows. We're investigating other ways to monetize, but ads ain't it right now.
If you want, you can help support us directly here:
💜
Holy hell!
More big news in our world. Our cast member
@JakeMacklem
is not only a phenomenal person and a great GM in his own regards, but he's finalizing a publishing contract with
@AethonBooks
to publish his Trueheart series of books!
Congrats Jake!
Only two days away from the very first episodes of Fractal Observation Institute!
We want to tell you that we put together something we know you're going to love.
Join us & check out a system from a creator who's never been associated with the Pinkertons this Monday.
Hey folks! We're only 2 followers away from 100. I'm not going to beg for followers, but I'm also an inveterate liar.
PLEASE FOLLOW US. We promise you we'll be funny, and tell good stories even! We even put out a new trailer today, too.
Who knows? Not you, if you don't follow.
@RPGsUncovered
Thanks Jack! We're an actual play podcast that crawls into the greasiest corners of your imagination. Join us as we battle drug-induced hallucinations, out think sentient slime molds, and argue with livestock.
Releasing 5/1