The Heart of Ether is an LGBTQ+ small town gothic podcast produced by Three-Eyed Frog presents. Irene Gray moved to Daughtler to move on from something that has haunted her for four years. There is something wrong with this town, though. Something watching. Waiting. TRANSCRIPTS
For those of you who may have just stumbled upon on blog, and are curious about what we’re making here, here is a guide to any questions you might have!
What is The Heart of Ether?
The Heart of Ether is a mystery and horror podcast made by Three-Eyed Frogs Presents.
What is it about?
The elevator pitch: it is a small town gothic that follows Irene Gray, as she describes the strange events of her new town through recordings addressed to her missing girlfriend. There’s cats—including one named Mothman—, mold, mysterious bookstores, “special dietary needs,” and more.
Gay people?
Many. (Both in the show’s fiction and in the cast.)
Where can I listen?
Right now, our show is on Spotify, iTunes, Google Play, Podchaser, Soundcloud, and YouTube.
Are there transcripts?
Yes! Transcripts for every episode can be found here: x. If any of the links aren’t working, you can also search “#heart of ether transcripts” here on Tumblr.
What are the content warnings for the show?
We have a list of content warnings on our “About” page: x.
Where else can I follow you guys?
We are also on Twitter and TikTok under the same username.
I want to post about the show! Should I use a specific tag?
You can post things like fan art and memes under “#heart of ether pod.” There’s a good chance we’ll reblog it (unless you don’t want us to; If we ever interact with a post you don’t want us to, let us know and we’ll correct it). Thank you!
Do you have a website?
We’re working on a website right now, stay tuned! For now, however, you can find more information by going on Tumblr for desktop, where we have our “About” page and more.
Do you have merch?
Not yet, but we’re hoping to soon! Stay tuned for future updates.
Is there any way I can support the show?
Thank you so much! It would mean the world to us if you followed us, told your friends about the show, and left a review on iTunes or Podchaser. If you wish to support the show financially, you can also buy us a coffee.
I have another question or comment, where can I contact you guys?
You can always send us an ask or message us here on Tumblr. Otherwise, you can email us at [email protected]
That’s all for now! Feel free to reach out if you have any additional questions, and thank you for reading. <3
Hi folks, Val here, speaking personally. There is no good way to apologize for me disappearing off of the face of the earth for a few months; I am deeply sorry regardless, and want to do what I can to make up for lost time.
The Heart of Ether is being canceled indefinitely.
This was not an easy choice—far from it. This show has been my pride and joy, my love, and the team behind it has felt like a family to me. After going through a mental health crisis and being hospitalized, however, I realize I am not in a position to be making executive orders for a large-scale series with an ensemble cast and multiple seasons. It is both unhealthy for me, and unfair to those who support me.
For anyone who donated money to the show in any form, whether a monthly Patreon or a tip on our Ko-fi, I personally am willing to refund you. Please email me at [email protected] or DM this account, and we will work out how to get you your money back (I have been able to keep track of who donated and how much, so if you don’t remember how much you gave, I can tell you). If I do not hear from you or you choose not to seek a refund, all of that money will be divided among the cast and crew depending on the volume of their work—I won’t receive any of it. If any money needs to come out of my own pocket to make sure everyone wronged is accommodated, I am more than willing.
To the cast and crew, and anyone else who has helped with the show, thank you. This production has led me to some of the most talented and incredible people I have ever met. This community is driven and thoughtful like no other, and I cannot be more thankful. The same goes to anyone who has supported the show and my work. The fandom around The Heart of Ether brought me more joy than anything. People like you are the reason I make art, and the support this show received genuinely blew me away during its time.
I will still be writing podcasts and working on audio dramas moving forward. However, it will not be under the Three-Eyed Frog domain, and will be shorter series/projects as I try to prioritize school & work. I would love to bring back The Heart of Ether and its characters someday, so don’t consider this Daughtler’s last goodbye. These characters quite literally feel like my children at this point, and I don’t want to give them up just yet. I simply need time to recover and focus my sights on other things before I return to it—and to be frank, I have absolutely no timeline for that yet, so I don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up.
For now, I highly encourage you to seek out and support the works of everyone on this cast & crew. They’re all highly driven and talented people who deserve the best moving forward, and I hope to still work with many of them on future projects. If anyone involved with HoE would like to use this post to promo, then please, feel free.
Again, I cannot thank you enough for how supportive and encouraging this community has been. I have high hopes for the future. <3
here’s the calendar- i’ll also post the individual prompts day of for each!!
image id: the calendar for etherpod hype week. there are leaf decorations across the calendar. the prompts are, in order:
sunday, december 12: Phoebe & Dorothy or Snow
monday, december 13: Avery & The Meat Lady or Hot Cocoa
tuesday, december 14: May & June or Trees
wednesday, december 15: Avery & Irene or Soup
thursday, december 16: Phoebe & Holly or Library
friday, december 17: Aden & Carol or Day Off
saturday, december 18: Irene & Rose or Dancing
i’ll reblog any work made during this week, so long as it’s tagged heart of ether, etherpod, or etherpod hype week. you can also tag or dm me to make sure i see it!
Suuuper late to the party on this one—been a very hectic week over at Etherpod Co. However, this is such a wonderful little fanmade event going on of HoE-themed prompts throughout the week, and we thought we'd spread the good word!
Today is the perfect day to jump in with our favorite agents. ;)
We're deeply sorry for the radio silence on our end since the hiatus. This past month, we've been focusing on school, work, and mental health, and after some semi-major life events happened, priorities had to be shifted around.
But! We will be coming back strong this December once our schedules open up! I really don't know how I'll make it up to y'all for how patient you've been, but I'll certainly try. This show started as something for fun, and we hope it will become fun again after some rest. <3
hi william!! do you, by any chance, have any advice for fellow writers who seriously lack confidence in their work? i'm. uh. asking for a friend! 🖤
1. Even if you lack confidence, never speak ill of yourself or your stories. Even writers at the top of the industry try things that don't work sometimes. If people don't like it, they'll move on to something else, but never apologize for making one more story available to the world. Chances are, they'll like it more than you do anyway.
2. There is no binary of 'good writing' and 'bad writing'. You're at one point in writing now, and if you write over the course of your lifetime, you're going to constantly improve over the decades. The important thing is, does it pass muster for what you'd like to do with it? The barrier to entry for fan fiction or podcasting is none, and a little higher for traditional publishing. Even if your writing isn't at that level yet, it will be in the near future, and you'll only get there with practice.
3. Take advice from the people who are doing what you want to do, and few others. Your parent, friend, or social media mutual can express an opinion on your work, but take these with a grain of salt at best. They may not be an expert in the field you're trying to write in. Everyone in the world can form an opinion on something, whether or not they know what they're looking at. Even with advice, take what works for you and leave the rest. You're looking for tools to add to your writing kit, rather than a list of rules to follow.
4. Don't let opinion slow you down. It's said that writing is a circuit, begun when the author sets pen to paper and completed when the words reach the audience. I'm not sure it needs to go both ways. The reaction of the audience is inherently fascinating to writers, but at the end of the day you're not writing to impress two or three specific people - you're writing because you have a drive and a story to tell and a desire to get better at writing. Once you gain enough of an audience, someone out there will hate your work, even if a hundred thousand people enjoy it. Be unstoppable. No matter how a piece is received, keep writing. You'll do even better with the next story.
I love and second all of these! Especially the importance of not putting your own work down ❤
If I might add a fifth suggestion?
The blank page is not your block of marble. The first draft is.
It's incredibly easy to get frustrated at a piece of work, or at yourself, when what you write doesn't line up with what you imagine in your head. You can spot good writing - you have taste! And you're looking at your own work and thinking, "This... ain't it." But for me, writing is a lot like sculpting - you need something to work with. And when it comes to stories, that "something" - the block of marble - is the first draft.
You need words to work with! You learn how to spot good writing by reading it. You spot your own good writing (or the parts that need work...) by reading it!
Get it onto the page, read it, apply the taste you've developed reading other people's work, and start carving. The story you wrote is always better than the story you didn't.
As you go on and get used to your own writing, you'll get a better sense of when it's worth slogging away at something and when it's time to set it aside. I used to redraft Monstrous Agonies quite a bit, and now I do it far less because I know what I'm doing much more. With other pieces, I trust my gut to tell me when something's finished - or if I'm just done with it!
But the important thing is to get it out there, and know that despite the metaphor we're using, nothing is set in stone. Your first draft is just that - a first attempt. Let it be messy if it needs to be messy. Once it's out in the open, then you can come in and do the hard graft of tidying it up.
[Image ID: A picture of a lush green forest with text that says, "THE FOREST HAS SPOKEN / AND IT SAYS QUEER RIGHTS." In the bottom right corner is a watermark that reads, "As It Was Photography." End image ID.]
The Heart of Ether is recruiting a new sound editor (specifically for soundscaping & finalizing episodes)! Unpaid, unless the circumstances change, which we cannot promise. Deadline to apply is Nov. 22nd. More info below! 🖤
The Heart of Ether Editor Recruit What is The Heart of Ether? The Heart of Ether is a small-town gothic horror & mystery podcast made by
blood seeping through the walls of a haunted house is not normal behavior! it's not "spooky" or entertaining, it's a severe stress response, of which more haunted house owners need to be aware
[You can listen to the show wherever you get your podcasts, or go to our “Listen” page if you’re on desktop.]
VAL
Hey folks, just letting you know that due to some circumstances beyond our control, The Heart of Ether will be going on a temporary hiatus. Don't worry, we won't be gone long! However, everything just kind of piled up to brew the perfect storm—personal life issues, full-time school & work, multiple tech issues over the past two months, you get the jist. We need to take a few weeks to catch our breath and work ahead. It should be no longer than six weeks, but we will keep you all posted via our Twitter & Tumblr. Now would also be a good time to join the Discord server!
In the meantime, we'll be trying to put up a plethora of bonus content on both the main feed and our Patreon! So keep your eyes peeled. Your patience and understanding is invaluable to us, and we'll promise we'll be back soon. Thank you, and have a lovely rest of your day. Stay safe out there.
AUTOMATED VOICE
Please state your message.
[INTRO MUSIC PLAYS.]
[PHONE BEEP.]
[INT. AT THE TABLE OUTSIDE OF A SMALL CAFE, MIDDAY.]
[THERE ARE BIRDS CHIRPING AS AGENT MAY RETURNS FROM SPLASHING COLD WATER ON HIS FACE IN THE BATHROOM. HE SITS DOWN AT THE TABLE WHERE THE CHESSBOARD IS.]
AGENT JUNE
[TEASING] Took you long enough.
AGENT MAY
[GROANING] Needed to clear my head. Come on, let’s finish this. We’ve been loitering outside of this poor cafe long enough.
AGENT JUNE
The owner seems so sweet, though. Like, if I could pay her to be my grandma, I would.
AGENT MAY
Well, I think she’s been watching us play through the window. She winked at me on the way back.
AGENT JUNE
[HE CHUCKLES] Feeling insecure, May?
AGENT MAY
Hardly. [HE SIGHS.] Right. You just moved your bishop to C6, right?
AGENT JUNE
Correctamundo.
[AGENT MAY HUFFS AS HE EXAMINES THE BOARD. THERE’S A PAUSE.]
AGENT MAY
Queen to E7.
[THE PIECE CLINKS AGAINST THE BOARD AS HE MOVES IT. THIS HAPPENS EACH TIME ONE OF THEM CALLS THEIR MOVE.]
AGENT JUNE
Interesting. Trying to have your cake and eat it, too?
AGENT MAY
We both seem to be good at that. [A BEAT.] It’s your turn.
[AGENT JUNE THINKS FOR A MOMENT.]
AGENT JUNE
Rook to F7. [ACCOMPLISHED] I take your pawn.
AGENT MAY
I still have more pieces left than you.
AGENT JUNE
At this point, I’ll take what I can get. See this collection of little white pieces I’ve been steadily growing?
AGENT MAY
[GRUMBLING] We didn’t even arrange the board right.
AGENT JUNE
Hm?
AGENT MAY
In the traditional layout, you’re supposed to be white, I’m supposed to be black. We swapped them.
AGENT JUNE
Does it matter, though? I didn’t even know there was a set way to do the colors.
AGENT MAY
I guess not, just, technically speaking… [HE TRAILS OFF FOR A MOMENT, THEN] Queen to F7. I take your rook.
AGENT JUNE
[UNDER HIS BREATH] Damn. Good move, dude. [A BEAT.] Bishop to B7. Another pawn for my collection.
AGENT MAY
[HE HUMS AS HE THINKS FOR A MOMENT, THEN] Bishop to D6.
AGENT JUNE
Bishop to D5.
AGENT MAY
Queen to F8.
AGENT JUNE
Queen to E6.
AGENT MAY
Pawn to C4.
AGENT JUNE
[HE THINKS FOR A MOMENT, THEN] Aha! [HE MOVES THE PIECE, THEN, COCKY] Bishop to G5. Check.
[AGENT MAY GROANS LOUDLY.]
AGENT JUNE
Gettin’ nervous?
AGENT MAY
[MUTTERS] This was the worst decision of my life. [A BEAT.] King to C8.
AGENT JUNE
Hmm. [A BEAT.] Pawn to C4. You’re runnin’ out of pawns there, buddy.
AGENT MAY
Yes, but you just gave me an opening. [A BEAT.] Rook to H1. Check.
AGENT JUNE
[IMPRESSED] Well, I’ll be damned. [A BEAT.] King to D2.
AGENT MAY
Rook to D1. Still check.
AGENT JUNE
King to E2. You going to keep chasing me around the board, one space at a time, or…?
[AGENT MAY HUFFS IN ANNOYANCE.]
AGENT MAY
This was supposed to be an easy game.
AGENT JUNE
You’re the one getting stressed about it, my guy. What does it matter to you, anyways? This is just for fun.
AGENT MAY
[OVERLY UPSET] It matters because—
[HE STOPS HIMSELF, THEN TAKES A DEEP BREATH. THERE’S A BRIEF YET TENSE PAUSE.]
AGENT MAY
Rook to B1. I take your knight.
AGENT JUNE
Now we’re playing dirty. Rook to B1, I take your rook.
AGENT MAY
Dammit. [HE HUFFS AS HE THINKS. THERE’S A PAUSE.]
AGENT JUNE
Well…?
AGENT MAY
[HE SIGHS.] Bishop to F4.
AGENT JUNE
You sure about that?
AGENT MAY
[PRESSED] I’m positive. Take your turn.
[THERE’S A PAUSE AS AGENT JUNE IS ABOUT TO MAKE A MOVE. THEN, HE STOPS HIMSELF.]
AGENT JUNE
[REALIZING] Check.
AGENT MAY
Excuse me?
AGENT JUNE
[LAUGHING] Dude, my queen has been in position to take your king diagonally this whole time. I can’t believe neither of us noticed!
AGENT MAY
[STUTTERING, UPSET] That’s not fair. You didn’t call it on your turn.
AGENT JUNE
Technically, I am calling it on my turn.
AGENT MAY
I didn’t get the chance to counter it, though.
AGENT JUNE
Alright then, how about this? Move your bishop back, and I’ll let you make a different move.
[AGENT MAY SIGHS. THE STRESS OF THIS CHESS MATCH IS REALLY GETTING TO HIM NOW. HE HESITATES BEFORE MOVING HIS BISHOP BACK.]
AGENT JUNE
[TINTED WITH GENUINE CONCERN] Are you okay?
AGENT MAY
[STRAINED] I’m supposed to be good at this. I beat my sister in every match we played as kids, and you said you’ve never won a game of chess in your life.
AGENT JUNE
And that was true.
AGENT MAY
You don’t understand. I need to be better.
AGENT JUNE
Hey. Look at me. It’s just chess. Alright? At the end of the game, we’re going to walk away from this board and none of it is going to matter. Take a deep breath, and then take your turn.
[THERE IS A LONG PAUSE AS THE TWO LOOK AT EACH OTHER. JUNE MOVES HIS HANDS AWAY. AGENT MAY STARES AT THE BOARD FOR A LONG, LONG TIME BEFORE HE FINALLY MOVES.]
AGENT MAY
King to D7.
[A PAUSE.]
AGENT JUNE
I’m proud of you, May.
[HE MAKES HIS MOVES.]
AGENT JUNE
Bishop to D8. Checkmate.
[A PAUSE AS AGENT MAY’S HEART DROPS INTO HIS STOMACH.]
AGENT MAY
What?
AGENT JUNE
Anywhere you move, either one of my bishops or my queen can get you.
AGENT MAY
[STUTTERING] I could move to B8-
AGENT JUNE
[CUTTING HIM OFF] Right into the tender arms of my rook, waiting for you at B1.
Face it, partner. I won. And look around. Nothing happened. See? It’s just a game.
AGENT MAY
Well then, what’s your metric of what “matters?”
AGENT JUNE
That’s for us to figure out, dude! I mean, think about it. What matters to you? Like, what is important in the world of Agent May? Is it chess? I mean, I guess it could be, but.
AGENT MAY
I— [HE STOPS HIMSELF, STUTTERS FOR A MOMENT, THEN STOPS WITH A SIGH.]
AGENT JUNE
[A BEAT.] Come on. I’ve been thinking about those chocolate croissants in the window since we started playing. A fair loser would be willing to buy one for their new king, hm?
AGENT MAY
[HE GROANS.] You’re insufferable.
AGENT JUNE
[SWEETLY, TEASING] Insufferably charming, more like.
[THE TWO OF THEM PUSH IN THEIR CHAIRS AND WALK INSIDE TOGETHER.]
[PHONE BEEP.]
[RECORDING ENDS.]
AUTOMATED VOICE
Today's quote is: "It seems they were all cheated of some marvelous experience
which is not going to go wasted on me which is why I’m telling you about it."
