The Peek with Samuel Pepys

You've never heard celebrity gossip juicier than this. Like, literally. It's the 1660s. We just invented celebrities last week. OFFICAL SITE | RSS FEED

[thepeekwithpepys]

WE'RE BAAAAACK!

THE PEEK WITH SAMUEL PEPYS | 005: "Boys" Official Website | RSS Feed | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | More

S1 Trailer Link (YouTube) (RSS Feed)

Valentino reaches out to Edward "Ned" Kynaston, star actor of the King's Company, who was once the most revered and adored "boy player" of the pre-actress era. Convinced he can help Ned with modern ideas, he hopes their conversation will be the key to getting back home...no matter how jealous Valentino and Ned's chemistry might make Samuel. But when things go awry, Jane steps in with an intriguing offer...an offer that definitely isn't a trap, no way. 

Introducing The Peek... The Peek with Samuel Pepys is a scripted fiction, historical-comedy podcast loosely inspired by the diaries of British writer Samuel Pepys (1633-1703), which provide one of the only first-hand accounts of life in England’s Stuart Restoration, under the rule of King Charles II (1660-1685). Written in an irreverent, anachronistic tone. Accents may vary – oftentimes within the same line. But, hey. It's not like we know what they sounded like back then, do we?

What's the Story? A jaded celebrity gossip podcaster asks the question: who the hell invented celebrities, anyway? He then accidentally time-travels to the Restoration Era. Oops. Luckily for him, he’s landed smack in the middle of the home of Samuel Pepys, the famed diarist and known theatre-obsessed freak. The men strike a deal: Pepys will teach the Podcaster all about the Restoration theatre scene and the budding fan culture around actors and playwrights, and the Podcaster will ensure Pepys’ diaries are shared far and wide in the modern day…if he manages to make it back at all, that is.

What are the release deets? Release Schedule: Bi-weekly / Fridays Episode Count: 10 Episode Length: Approximately 15-25 minutes

Who Made This? This episode features the voices of: Charlie B. Foster (Podcaster/Valentino) Ethan Peña Mock (Samuel Pepys) Major Curda (Edward "Ned" Kynaston) Melissa Bautista (Jane Birch) Celeste Samson (Boy)

The Peek is written, produced, and acted by a group of young, queer, neurodivergent, and/or BIPOC creatives based in NYC, with support from a Queens Arts Grant.

[slenderyodeler]

More Peek with Pepys fanart because what's a better way to procrastinate on important tasks than spending way too long drawing embroidery on a dress.

Anyway, here's Elizabeth and she was really pretty fun to draw. Once again, half jokingly: gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss, kill your husband or at least mess him up a little. Let Valentino live though

[slenderyodeler]

Its-a-me Slenderyodeler with yet another Peek w. Pepys drawing. Anyway this is my take on Ned and this time I will yap about historical fashion, thank you

So basically I decided to make him more androgynous because i think that suits his character but what androgyny means for 1670s is interesting. Prior to the French revolution, a lot of fashion was surprisingly similar between men and women, and instead more split by class. Particularly for the 1670s portraiture I'm looking at, a lot of the faces are very similar. Most portraiture often ascribes to the beauty standard of the time and from what I can tell in the portraits is that, for the face, the beauty standard is really similar. The nose shape, the thin eyebrows, really round lips, etc is common across both, to the point where if you obscure everything but the face it's difficult to determine the gender of the subject. Which is really interesting

Anyway, so for this I decided he should be mostly wearing mens fashion but have some crossover pieces. Big, puffy sleeves were in fashion and like most big puffy things in fashion history, the bigger and puffjer the richer you were because you could afford that fabric. He's kind of broke, so smaller sleeves. The waistcoat nods to the shilouette of a body of stays and the top follows the women's neckline for the time while the shirt and cravatte follow's the men's. (The necklines for women were really very low at this period). The lace sleeves are more common for women but also seen in some men's portraiture. Finally, the hair is long and down which was more the style for men than women (who tended to have it up in curls and in a sort of triangle shape, see my drawing of Elizabeth), but I gave him one little curl in the front.

Im overall pretty happy but kinda ehhh on the excecution on this one

[slenderyodeler]

More Peek with Samuel Pepys fanart because I'm lowkey enjoying drawing some fun outfits

Anyway, this is Jane Birch. While I am invested in the main plot line, one of my favourite plot points in media generally is 'Woman kills her shitty husband' so I'm kinda rooting for Elizabeth here. Also Jane is fun and I like that she's a lot smarter than she lets on. My current prediction is that she's a spy or also from the future

Also, look, fun colours

[slenderyodeler]

Anyway, I drew Valentino from The Peek with Samuel Pepys in a frankly ridiculous 1670s outfit (its more ridiculous than most 1670s dress and is based off of a period portrait, I could say more but I won't because I like to be mysterious (I don't really, if you're interested please ask)).

Also because the peek should have more fanart so I'm taking my time before going back to Archive 81 shitposting

So yeah 👍

[slenderyodeler]

Just finished the episodes of the Peek with Samuel Pepys so far and it is sooo good. I know I say this about a lot of media but I always mean it. Worth checking out for:

-incomprehensibly bad British accents

-Pepys fans. I already knew quite a lot about who Samuel Pepys was going into this, which really makes it a trip. I am currently hoping in later episodes his cheese gets mentioned. (For the uninitiated, Pepys lost an entire wheel of parmesan during the great fire of London. Not in the fire, mind you, but because he burried it to try to keep it safe and couldn't find it again.) I am on my knees begging for an off-handed mention of how upset he is he lost his cheese.

-another impossible ship to describe to your friends. Like the Statue of Liberty x Lady Justice; random occultist x cloud of static and teeth and random british man x a whole ass city, the Peek with Samuel Pepys brings you: Random gossip podcaster x Samuel fucking Pepys

-'I'm gay' 'ME TOO there is so much to be about, I am so happy right now'

-I still don't know why the main guy's name is, he's just Valentino now. How fun and mysterious

-Please let them kiss

-everybody is fucking everybody except Valentino because he still is struggling to communicate that he is gay to anyone at all

-Valentino very openly flirting with Samuel Pepys 24/7, straight off the bat and Pepys is just like 'wow, what a funny italian man who I unrelatedly have feelings for'

ANYWAY GO WATCH IT

[slenderyodeler]

The Peek is peak (and criminally underappreciated) @thepeekwithpepys

[haveyoulistenedtothispodcast]

Have you listened to The Peek with Samuel Pepys (2025-)?

Yes

Partially

No

Never heard of it

Voting ended onNov 1, 2025

Summary:

The Peek with Samuel Pepys is a scripted fiction, historical-comedy podcast inspired by the diaries of British writer Samuel Pepys (1633-1703), which provide one of the only first-hand accounts of life in England’s Stuart Restoration, under the rule of King Charles II (1660-1685), through the eyes of a time-traveling celebrity gossip reporter. Irreverent and anachronistic, The Peek joins other absurdist, semi-factual historical comedies, such as The Great (2020-2023, Hulu) and Oh, Mary! (Broadway). Accents may vary – oftentimes within the same sentence. But, hey. It's not like we really know what they sounded like back then, now do we?

[podcast-bookclub]

@thepeekwithpepys

[thepeekwithpepys]

WE'RE BAAAAACK!

THE PEEK WITH SAMUEL PEPYS | 005: "Boys" Official Website | RSS Feed | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | More

S1 Trailer Link (YouTube) (RSS Feed)

Valentino reaches out to Edward "Ned" Kynaston, star actor of the King's Company, who was once the most revered and adored "boy player" of the pre-actress era. Convinced he can help Ned with modern ideas, he hopes their conversation will be the key to getting back home...no matter how jealous Valentino and Ned's chemistry might make Samuel. But when things go awry, Jane steps in with an intriguing offer...an offer that definitely isn't a trap, no way. 

Introducing The Peek... The Peek with Samuel Pepys is a scripted fiction, historical-comedy podcast loosely inspired by the diaries of British writer Samuel Pepys (1633-1703), which provide one of the only first-hand accounts of life in England’s Stuart Restoration, under the rule of King Charles II (1660-1685). Written in an irreverent, anachronistic tone. Accents may vary – oftentimes within the same line. But, hey. It's not like we know what they sounded like back then, do we?

What's the Story? A jaded celebrity gossip podcaster asks the question: who the hell invented celebrities, anyway? He then accidentally time-travels to the Restoration Era. Oops. Luckily for him, he’s landed smack in the middle of the home of Samuel Pepys, the famed diarist and known theatre-obsessed freak. The men strike a deal: Pepys will teach the Podcaster all about the Restoration theatre scene and the budding fan culture around actors and playwrights, and the Podcaster will ensure Pepys’ diaries are shared far and wide in the modern day…if he manages to make it back at all, that is.

What are the release deets? Release Schedule: Bi-weekly / Fridays Episode Count: 10 Episode Length: Approximately 15-25 minutes

Who Made This? This episode features the voices of: Charlie B. Foster (Podcaster/Valentino) Ethan Peña Mock (Samuel Pepys) Major Curda (Edward "Ned" Kynaston) Melissa Bautista (Jane Birch) Celeste Samson (Boy)

The Peek is written, produced, and acted by a group of young, queer, neurodivergent, and/or BIPOC creatives based in NYC, with support from a Queens Arts Grant.

[straylungs]

Poster by Tianqi Chen

Odessa makes a choice...

Hearthbound is a folk musical audio drama set across a post-apocalyptic Great Basin. It's a road trip, a queer love story, and a ballad for ecological restoration.

Odessa's just trying to get home to her wife, but along the Loneliest Road in America, she'll encounter strange hosts, stray souls, and echoes of the past she's running from… or running towards.

[Transcript] Content Warnings - mild swearing.

🎙️ Come along with us on your favorite podcatcher! 🎙️

[findthefandom-orbecomethefandom]

Jane is my new lil blorbo now. she can make all the traps she wants, ill walk right into anything you make bbg ❣️❣️❣️

[thepeekwithpepys]

WE'RE BAAAAACK!

THE PEEK WITH SAMUEL PEPYS | 005: "Boys" Official Website | RSS Feed | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | More

S1 Trailer Link (YouTube) (RSS Feed)

Valentino reaches out to Edward "Ned" Kynaston, star actor of the King's Company, who was once the most revered and adored "boy player" of the pre-actress era. Convinced he can help Ned with modern ideas, he hopes their conversation will be the key to getting back home...no matter how jealous Valentino and Ned's chemistry might make Samuel. But when things go awry, Jane steps in with an intriguing offer...an offer that definitely isn't a trap, no way. 

Introducing The Peek... The Peek with Samuel Pepys is a scripted fiction, historical-comedy podcast loosely inspired by the diaries of British writer Samuel Pepys (1633-1703), which provide one of the only first-hand accounts of life in England’s Stuart Restoration, under the rule of King Charles II (1660-1685). Written in an irreverent, anachronistic tone. Accents may vary – oftentimes within the same line. But, hey. It's not like we know what they sounded like back then, do we?

What's the Story? A jaded celebrity gossip podcaster asks the question: who the hell invented celebrities, anyway? He then accidentally time-travels to the Restoration Era. Oops. Luckily for him, he’s landed smack in the middle of the home of Samuel Pepys, the famed diarist and known theatre-obsessed freak. The men strike a deal: Pepys will teach the Podcaster all about the Restoration theatre scene and the budding fan culture around actors and playwrights, and the Podcaster will ensure Pepys’ diaries are shared far and wide in the modern day…if he manages to make it back at all, that is.

What are the release deets? Release Schedule: Bi-weekly / Fridays Episode Count: 10 Episode Length: Approximately 15-25 minutes

Who Made This? This episode features the voices of: Charlie B. Foster (Podcaster/Valentino) Ethan Peña Mock (Samuel Pepys) Major Curda (Edward "Ned" Kynaston) Melissa Bautista (Jane Birch) Celeste Samson (Boy)

The Peek is written, produced, and acted by a group of young, queer, neurodivergent, and/or BIPOC creatives based in NYC, with support from a Queens Arts Grant.

[thepeekwithpepys]

WE'RE BAAAAACK!

THE PEEK WITH SAMUEL PEPYS | 005: "Boys" Official Website | RSS Feed | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | More

S1 Trailer Link (YouTube) (RSS Feed)

Valentino reaches out to Edward "Ned" Kynaston, star actor of the King's Company, who was once the most revered and adored "boy player" of the pre-actress era. Convinced he can help Ned with modern ideas, he hopes their conversation will be the key to getting back home...no matter how jealous Valentino and Ned's chemistry might make Samuel. But when things go awry, Jane steps in with an intriguing offer...an offer that definitely isn't a trap, no way. 

Introducing The Peek... The Peek with Samuel Pepys is a scripted fiction, historical-comedy podcast loosely inspired by the diaries of British writer Samuel Pepys (1633-1703), which provide one of the only first-hand accounts of life in England’s Stuart Restoration, under the rule of King Charles II (1660-1685). Written in an irreverent, anachronistic tone. Accents may vary – oftentimes within the same line. But, hey. It's not like we know what they sounded like back then, do we?

What's the Story? A jaded celebrity gossip podcaster asks the question: who the hell invented celebrities, anyway? He then accidentally time-travels to the Restoration Era. Oops. Luckily for him, he’s landed smack in the middle of the home of Samuel Pepys, the famed diarist and known theatre-obsessed freak. The men strike a deal: Pepys will teach the Podcaster all about the Restoration theatre scene and the budding fan culture around actors and playwrights, and the Podcaster will ensure Pepys’ diaries are shared far and wide in the modern day…if he manages to make it back at all, that is.

What are the release deets? Release Schedule: Bi-weekly / Fridays Episode Count: 10 Episode Length: Approximately 15-25 minutes

Who Made This? This episode features the voices of: Charlie B. Foster (Podcaster/Valentino) Ethan Peña Mock (Samuel Pepys) Major Curda (Edward "Ned" Kynaston) Melissa Bautista (Jane Birch) Celeste Samson (Boy)

The Peek is written, produced, and acted by a group of young, queer, neurodivergent, and/or BIPOC creatives based in NYC, with support from a Queens Arts Grant.

[thepeekwithpepys]

This is legitimately so random and cool and more importantly R A N D O M. I do not know how they found us, but I'm awfully honored by this – and thrilled to see our little indie audio drama surrounded by all these big podcasts! Like what!

The article also comes just in time for me to announce that the new episode of THE PEEK will be dropping TOMORROW! Apologies for the delay (it was due to illness). We can't wait to get back to it!

[thepeekwithpepys]

Update on Episode 5 of THE PEEK

Due to unexpected circumstances, Episode 5 of The Peek will be coming out a day later than anticipated. Instead of releasing at midnight EST tonight, it will be released at midnight EST tomorrow.

Thank you for your patience, and so sorry for the delay!

Much love,

Lee

[straylungs]

Audio Drama Sunday

> Hearthbound Edition.

Been a minute! I've been spending a lot of time with my myriad of niblings (ages spanning two weeks to ten years old) and cooking meals for friends who have either just given birth or just gotten gender-affirming surgery (both big Ws!), so there hasn't been much time for audio drama enjoying! But things are finally slowing down a bit, so this week I'm back with another Hearthbound-themed write-up. Topic is: literature, classics-style!

🥊 Fawx & Stallion Chapter One: The Case of the Best Case Scenario Incorrigible trio Fawx, Stallion, and Madge have easily stolen my heart, aorta, and all. What's better than rooting for underdogs, except rooting for underdogs with whatever is the opposite of imposter syndrome? Also, I love that @224bbaker provides a transcript full of jokes you never get to hear in an audio-only medium, like James Stallion's iconic entrance. I picture silhouette, I picture backlight, I picture Vogue Vogue Werk It Baby.

🤌 @thepeekwithpepys 001 | Pilot The Peek is a brand-spanking-new show that feels very much in the tradition of Fawx & Stallion. Brash, nerdy, and camp to the bone, we quickly meet Samuel Pepys, the Restoration Era's man about town, and Valentino, our hapless time-traveling podcaster. There are references galore to beloved historical figures (shoutout to my girl Aphra Behn), but even deep literary cuts stay afloat with the help of breezy quips and kinetic sound design.

🧛‍♂️ @theholmwoodfoundation Episode One I'm a sucker for narratives where two people share a body and so can only communicate with each other asynchronously (see The Locked Tomb's Cam/Palamedes). And exploring that dynamic with both Maddie/Mina and Jeremy/Jonathan means we get all the nuances regarding how different people might cope with the loss of agency and the desperate need for trust. Then there's the Dracula of it all. That's the fun of playing with the classics— unveiling new textures in old stories.

💰 {Queer} Pride and Prejudice A Truth Universally Acknowledged There's something wondrous about hearing a reimagining of Pride and Prejudice where characters are cast not to reflect their canonical gender presentation, but to embrace the remarkable spectrum that does exist. And also, Mrs. Darcy very much belongs in the venerable halls of Mean Dykes to Watch Out For. We can only wonder what Jane Austen might've thought about a yo mama lesbian.

[thepeekwithpepys]

THE PEEK WITH SAMUEL PEPYS | 004: "Press" Official Website | RSS Feed | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | More

S1 Trailer Link (YouTube) (RSS Feed)

Following their appearance at the King's Theatre Company for The Maiden Queen, word of Valentino's presence in London has begun to spread...as have some rumors our favorite gossip podcaster couldn't help but stir up at the show. Two unwelcome visitors come to confront him about this, and the schemes against Valentino pick up significantly... 

Introducing The Peek... The Peek with Samuel Pepys is a scripted fiction, historical-comedy podcast loosely inspired by the diaries of British writer Samuel Pepys (1633-1703), which provide one of the only first-hand accounts of life in England’s Stuart Restoration, under the rule of King Charles II (1660-1685). Written in an irreverent, anachronistic tone. Accents may vary – oftentimes within the same line. But, hey. It's not like we know what they sounded like back then, do we?

What's the Story? A jaded celebrity gossip podcaster asks the question: who the hell invented celebrities, anyway? He then accidentally time-travels to the Restoration Era. Oops. Luckily for him, he’s landed smack in the middle of the home of Samuel Pepys, the famed diarist and known theatre-obsessed freak. The men strike a deal: Pepys will teach the Podcaster all about the Restoration theatre scene and the budding fan culture around actors and playwrights, and the Podcaster will ensure Pepys’ diaries are shared far and wide in the modern day…if he manages to make it back at all, that is.

What are the release deets? Release Schedule: Weekly / Fridays Episode Count: 10 Episode Length: Approximately 15-25 minutes

Who Made This? This episode features the voices of: Charlie B. Foster (Podcaster/Valentino) Ethan Peña Mock (Samuel Pepys) Melissa Bautista (Jane Birch) Celeste Samson (Boy) Alex Ramirez Cannon (Thomas Betterton) Aaron Dorelien (Sir William Davenant) Lee Melillo (Elizabeth Pepys)

The Peek is written, produced, and acted by a group of young, queer, neurodivergent, and/or BIPOC creatives based in NYC, with support from a Queens Arts Grant.