Life With Althaar
Podcasts
An epic science-fiction sitcom for your ears about an unlikely human/alien friendship in the unluckiest place in Human space. It is the mid-26th Century. John B, a humble repairman and ”former human” (having lost his legal status as such), has left the Earth for mysterious reasons. He is perhaps the unluckiest being in Human space. He has wound up at the Human Exchange Concourse, or the ”HEC,” once the site of Humanity’s First Galactic Fair. It was the biggest flop in Human history. ”The Fairgrounds” is perhaps the unluckiest place in Human space. You don’t go there, you end up there. John’s luck seems to have changed when he gets a good apartment at an amazingly reasonable price only to find his roommate is Althaar, an Iltorian, who is determined to befriend a Human. (Iltorians are the kindest, nicest species in all known space, and natural diplomats, beloved by almost all, but their slightest presence causes Humans to instinctively respond with panic, fear, disgust, nausea, and loss of bodily functions). Can a Human and Iltorian live together without one of them driving the other crazy?
Location:
United States
Genres:
Podcasts
Description:
An epic science-fiction sitcom for your ears about an unlikely human/alien friendship in the unluckiest place in Human space. It is the mid-26th Century. John B, a humble repairman and ”former human” (having lost his legal status as such), has left the Earth for mysterious reasons. He is perhaps the unluckiest being in Human space. He has wound up at the Human Exchange Concourse, or the ”HEC,” once the site of Humanity’s First Galactic Fair. It was the biggest flop in Human history. ”The Fairgrounds” is perhaps the unluckiest place in Human space. You don’t go there, you end up there. John’s luck seems to have changed when he gets a good apartment at an amazingly reasonable price only to find his roommate is Althaar, an Iltorian, who is determined to befriend a Human. (Iltorians are the kindest, nicest species in all known space, and natural diplomats, beloved by almost all, but their slightest presence causes Humans to instinctively respond with panic, fear, disgust, nausea, and loss of bodily functions). Can a Human and Iltorian live together without one of them driving the other crazy?
Twitter:
@LifeWithAlthaar
Language:
English
Contact:
347-409-4279
Episodes
What, No New Episode? Another Word from Ian & Berit
10/22/2021
Once again, there is a delay in the release of the next episode of Life With Althaar.
Sorry about that, listeners.
Ian & Berit have some words on the subject here, with the help of some unexpected visitors to the Gemini CollisionWorks Radiophonic Workshop.
Episode 34 will be out and in your ears as soon as we can finish it to our standards.
Thank you for understanding, and as always, for your attention; it is a pleasure working for you,
Ian W. Hill & Berit Johnson
GEMINI...
Duration:00:06:30
Episode 33: Two Plants and a Booster
10/8/2021
In which John B finds himself in apparent danger, and for once, it's actually unexpected. Dinorbiax and Fracottiverx, the strange-talking Fugulnari enforcers, have dragged him into an interrogation room to discuss some of his recent behavior, which, despite John's actions as a double-agent for the Resistance, are mostly explainable. Mostly. Meanwhile, life goes on at The Fairgrounds, as thought is given by Dee and Xtopps to future plans for after the conflict is over (one way or another),...
Duration:02:50:57
Midseason Check-In with Ian & Berit - No New Episode This Week
9/24/2021
In which Ian & Berit, the co-creators of LIFE WITH ALTHAAR announce the postponement of episode 33, and make a polite request for donations (and tell you how to do that).
So, as announced in the audio here, for those who didn't find out on social media last week, episode 33 of Life With Althaar - "Two Plants and a Booster" - will be uploaded on October 8, 2021.
And also, we would very much appreciate donations to the company, if it is possible for you, as also discussed in the...
Duration:00:08:54
Episode 32: Luck of the Drew
9/10/2021
In which we meet Drew, who is full of hate. Drew hates the Fugulnari, with very good reason. Drew hates John B, for what appears to be good reason. Drew is full of hate because he has had his love taken away from him, and is now on a journey of revenge and discovery across the Fairgrounds that might be far more dangerous to his allies than to their common enemy. EPISODE THIRTY-TWO “Luck of the Drew“ written by Linus Gelber featuring Eli Ganias as Hardyfox "H.F." Fornes, Glottulix, Ward...
Duration:02:23:13
Episode 31: The Xybidont with the Golden Carapace
8/27/2021
In which, for the good of his friends, Xtopps decides he has to kick his peanut butter habit, and we experience the horrors of a Xybidont in withdrawal from the cursed legume. Meanwhile, Vert accidentally stumbles upon the Resistance's secret domain, and must choose between joining them, or probably being blown out an airlock, if you call that a choice. EPISODE THIRTY-ONE "The Xybidont with the Golden Carapace" written by Philip Cruise and Christopher Lee featuring Chris Lee as Chip Frinkel...
Duration:02:01:49
Episode 30: The Union Forever
8/13/2021
In which the various groups and people of the Fairgrounds opposed to the authoritarian rule of the Fugulnari over the Humans seek out alliances with other species to aid their cause. For Torianna, this means a most-unanticipated meeting with the Dilurians. For John, it means a history lesson on Robot/Human Labor Relations. For Xtopps, it means a slight return to his aristocratic roots. And for Althaar, it means a surprise visit from some Gendarans. EPISODE THIRTY "The Union Forever" written...
Duration:02:32:36
Episode 29: And That's the Way It Is
7/30/2021
In which the documentary on the Fugulnari occupation of the Fairgrounds is broadcast, and all of the residents who hoped it would show the truth of what is happening there are indeed amazed at what can be done in post. Meanwhile, with most of the station distracted by the documentary, the Resistance attempts to take advantage of a temporary glitch in security to install monitoring devices in the brig, allowing them more direct access to the political prisoner, Dee. EPISODE TWENTY-NINE "And...
Duration:01:59:07
Episode 28: False Faces, True Colors
7/16/2021
In which tension, apprehension, and dissension have, if not begun, continued apace. As Frondrinax attempts to secretly guide an official fact-finding mission around the Fairgrounds, doing all she can to avoid showing the Fugulnari oppression of Humans, the Resistance and Commander Torianna do all they can to subvert her efforts, being aided in this by the sudden arrival of a delegation of surprisingly-disturbing aliens. Meanwhile, Althaar receives advice on his concerns about John B from a...
Duration:01:56:46
Episode 27: Life Under the Spreading Green
7/2/2021
In which we return after six months to a Fairgrounds both very different, and somehow much the same. Life under the Fugulnari Occupation has become a nightmare of new restrictions and bureaucracy, but somehow the Human Exchange Concourse remains running in the same dilapidated way it always has. As Torianna, Frall, and Althaar attempt to thwart the Fugulnari through diplomatic means, Stella Reyes's Resistance fights them on the ground. And John B, caught in the middle as a secret...
Duration:03:03:40
Episode 26: And You Turn Yourself Around
1/1/2021
In which the kettle boils over. As the Fugulnari's repressive "suggestions" are given the force of law by the occupied League of Humans, making life on the Fairgrounds even more unpleasant than before, the Human residents and their allies try to find ways around, under, over, or through the edicts, believing still that the occupation may just fail on its own. But it becomes clear the Fugulnari are not stopping. And then the violence comes. And everyone on the Human Exchange Concourse --...
Duration:02:24:05
Episode 25: A Special Very Merry Fairgrounds Miracle Wish for the Holidays: A Christmas Fable
12/18/2020
In which Christmas comes again to the Fairgrounds in the form of dueling parties from two of the station's least-likely proponents of the holiday, Mrs. Frondrinax the Fugulnari and Althaar the Iltorian. While everyone wishes, or at least would prefer, to got to the lovable Althaar's party, most of the crew is mandatorily required to attend Frondrinax's - one of the benefits to being part of a fascist take over of the station. However Althaar and Chip Frinkel have a plan to steal Christmas...
Duration:02:24:04
Episode 24: Benefits of a Classical Education
12/4/2020
In which the Fugulnari "advisors" impose strict restrictions on movement for all Humans on The Fairgrounds. Very literally. To increase efficiency and decrease unnecessary movement, all Humans must wear pedometers and walk no more than 4,000 steps per day. However, between shortening the length of the "day" to not quite four hours, and also increasing the amount of alcohol that must be in the drinks at The Electric Egg, their efficiency campaign proves hideously misguided. Meanwhile, after a...
Duration:02:16:38
Episode 23: Trade Test Transmissions
11/19/2020
In which the citizens of the Fairgrounds try to figure out the rules and limits of living under the new "suggestions" from the Fugulnari Advisory Committee. While Fugulnari agent Mrs. Frondrinax has her own problems in a new assignment creating a trade deal with the Bee People, Commander Torianna finds herself in a now mostly formal position, John B and Stella rarely get to see each other because of interference in their work schedules by the new management, drunk and arrogant Fugulnari...
Duration:01:54:56
Episode 22: The Secret Life of Plants
11/6/2020
In which the Day of the Fugulnari Ascension arrives. EPISODE TWENTY-TWO "The Secret Life of Plants" written by Ian W. Hill and Berit Johnson featuring John Amir as John B, Hydroponics Recruiter Berit Johnson as Althaar, Sopon, Alien Barfly, Sharon, Cpl. Ness Eli Ganias as Hardyfox "H.F." Fornes, Fugulnari 3, Mackalocka Amanda La Pergola as Mrs. Frondrinax, Vert Alyssa Simon as Lieutenant-Commander Frallen-Br'ar, PSA Announcer Zuri Washington as Delilah "Dee" Mallory, Tess Ivanna Cullinan as...
Duration:02:45:07
Episode 21: They're Coming to Get You, Althaar
10/23/2020
In which John tries to share the Halloween tradition of watching scary movies with Althaar, and only succeeds in truly terrifying his friend with the mere idea that Humans could rise from the grave, as zombies are a completely and literally alien idea to all non-Human species. Meanwhile, controversial broadcaster Beaux Several arrives on the Fairgrounds after damaging several other civilizations by "just asking questions," and promptly charms and angers the locals in roughly equal amounts,...
Duration:02:12:57
Episode 20: Dial 'O' for Bigelow
10/9/2020
In which A Murder Is Announced. A homicide in a cheap lodging turns out to have important and personal ramifications for Commander Torianna, who takes on the investigation personally. Meanwhile, Althaar, having binge-watched hours of 20th-Century Earth mystery TV shows, on discovering that Mrs. Frondrinax is implicated in the crime, decides to do his own sleuthing, dragging the hapless John B along on what may or may not be a wild goose chase. At the same time, a redecoration of The Electric...
Duration:01:58:38
Episode 19: Eight Ways of Looking at a Bar Fight
9/25/2020
In which Chip returns to The Electric Egg after a quick errand to find an immense booze fight in progress among just about everyone we know on The Fairgrounds. In attempting to sort out how the fight began, we are presented with eight flashbacks from amongst the crew, none of which actually in themselves do much to illuminate how the fight happened, but all of them revealing much about each character and how they see everyone else on The Fairgrounds and how they believe they are see and...
Duration:01:13:12
Episode 18: Space Hat with Air
9/11/2020
In which John B, on yet another boring and routine EVA mission to fix a very small wire on the outside of The Fairgrounds, is sent hurling away from the space station by a chance explosion. As John and the bridge crew attempt in vain to find a way to bring him back (that won't kill him), all of his other friends on The Fairgrounds show up on the bridge to say hello (for no logical reason), and John suspects that, despite their assurances, it's really to say a very final goodbye. And for some...
Duration:01:20:07
Episode 17: The Sweet Smell of the Fairgrounds
8/28/2020
In which the "Steves" from an annoying but highly motivated and skilled capitalist species, the Dilurians, come to The Fairgrounds, renting a downshifted and unused level, from which they proceed to wreak havoc across the entire space station. As their new business, Cadabra, expands rapidly from selling personalized smells, they begin, in less than a day, to gentrify across the station, wiping out all the beloved homegrown businesses and replacing them with more-convenient apps providing far...
Duration:02:15:30
Episode 16: Big Numbers and Little Science
8/14/2020
In which Drop Time comes again to The Fairgrounds, though several newcomers to the station have no idea what this period -- when the station drops a certain amount of days from the calendar to get in line with Earth's -- means for them. For John B, it means his birthday is getting skipped, for Dee, it means a cruel prank regarding a non-binding contract, for the energy being Lt. Frall, it means trying to drink coffee and pouring it on the floor, and for most of the crew, it means a time to...
Duration:01:50:26