#hearthbound

Ballpoint Pen vs Digital

Poster by @anyaboz

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.

Hearthbound is a 10-episode 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.

[Transcript | Website] Content Warnings - mild swearing.

Guys I had a vision and here we are! These are all shows I’ve loved, friends shows, recs I’ve gotten, and also just shows that have been kind to me in the past! Go check them out! Tagging all the shows under the cut! (If they have a tumblr)

The Vesta Clinic thank you for showing how treatment doesn't have to demeaning. As a person with Conditions(tm) I don't like hospitals much. But listening to The Vesta Clinic is soothing to a certain degree. All the characters had very satisfying arcs this season, especially dr Adra and overall I really loved how there were more personal moments. And all the cases were super interesting/touching/amusing! Can't wait for the season 3!

Two Thousand And Late. Thank you for being angry. No, thank you for being ANGRY. I think we all feel that way right now, no matter where we are in the world. This show is wonderfully done and the dynamic between two main characters is excellent. Sometimes you even forget they're voiced by one person. Some moments hit a little too close to home, but not necessarily in a bad way but in a way you feel seen. That there IS something horribly wrong and it's worth fixing. Also we just need more messy lesbians who can't seem to be able to fix their lives in media.

Hearthbound. Thank you for the journey. This show definitely was a suprise for me since I hadn't expected it to be that genuine or done with such care. The songs are absolutely amazing and you can't help but root for Odessa.

Woodbine. Thank you for telling a story that centers women! Who doesn't like vampires! And women! And women vampires! And they're gay??? Like it's such an easy sell. But Woodbine also has a compelling narrative, wonderful characters and some cases were soooo good (I still relisten some episodes). Not to mention, Woodbine has an antagonist that you just want to rip apart with your teeth and that makes it better too.

I also listen to quite a lot of actual plays, so here are some I've discovered in 2025.

Tiny Table. They play different systems and it's just such an easy show to listen to. They also explain rules, I like it that it's a diverse group and their table dynamic is not too much and not too little.

Summary:

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.