The Bright Path Podcast
by Benjamin M. Birney
A sprawling science fantasy comedic adventure romance, with goblins and cannons! Johnathan Miller has harbored a secret flame for his childhood friend Merrily Hunter for years, and as Midsummer’s Eve approaches he’s ready to make his move. But when a cranky, sharp-tongued professor of Applied History rides into town looking for a lost book, Johnathan and Merrily quickly find themselves swept up in an adventure that will take them to the very edges of history, language, and probability. They join a host of colorful men, women, goblins, fey, snarfs, horses, and strange outsiders, all set in a world grappling with the consequences of scientific advance, political unrest, and religious debate.
Episodes
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Episode 116: The Beginning / Epilogue, Part 1
Five paths converge in the chaos of Devi Valley. Grygory, Traitor of the North, concludes an unusual life with a most surprising death. All sing. Part 1 of 3.
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Episode 113: Fatuous Nonsense, Part 3
Jonathan finally locates the missing Simon, King of the Goblins–but the King has no interest in coming back to his throne. A new clue emerges from within an old clue, and Rolly has one more joke to play. The Gizzard has a new quest. Part 3 of 3.
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Episode 113: Fatuous Nonsense, Part 1
Jonathan finally locates the missing Simon, King of the Goblins–but the King has no interest in coming back to his throne. A new clue emerges from within an old clue, and Rolly has one more joke to play. The Gizzard has a new quest. Part 1 of 3.
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Episode112: The Impossible Lunch, Part 1
Rufus Snugg's invents a machine that makes the impossible lunch possible. Jonathan tries to prevent a disaster in the Gray Kingdom, and mostly fails. Part 1 of 2.
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Episode 110: Very Small Undead Things
Alternate-Devi travels backward through key events of her life, witnessing in reverse the fall of the Neighbor Kingdoms. A three-way conversation goes off the rails. Devi explains the plot to Cyrus, but the brogue is a bit much.
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Episode 108: Death, Metal, Part 3
Jonathan steps into a simmering quarrel between Snuggs and snarfs, only to discover a new lead in the mystery of Simon's disappearance and Rolly's death. Part 3 of 3.
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Episode 108: Death, Metal, Part 2
Jonathan steps into a simmering quarrel between Snuggs and snarfs, only to discover a new lead in the mystery of Simon's disappearance and Rolly's death. Part 2 of 3.
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Episode 108: Death, Metal, Part 1
Jonathan steps into a simmering quarrel between Snuggs and snarfs, only to discover a new lead in the mystery of Simon's disappearance and Rolly's death. Part 1 of 3.
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Episode 107: Jonathan Miller, God of Murder, Part 2
Jonathan struggles to find a way to keep Rufus Snugg from appropriating the goblin coal mines. Part 2 of 2.
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Episode 107: Jonathan Miller, God of Murder, Part 1
The sword at Jonathan Miller's throat is held by a friend, of sorts. Alice Miller needs rescuing, and The Gizzard proves an untrustworthy ally. Part 1 of 2.
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Episode 106: Word Bullets, Part 2
Victor Hogman reveals the meaning of life, and dreams come uncomfortably true. Devi predicts a cliffhanger. Part 2 of 2.
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Episode 106: Word Bullets, Part 1
Jonathan gets in over his head on the way north to Hog Hurst. Death's grasp on a certain snarf is apparently less firm than was previously understood. Rufus Snugg teeters on the precipice of a dreadful mistake, and Jonathan begins searching for a way to avoid toppling over it. Part 1 of 2.
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Episode 105: Adventure!
Jonathan discovers there's more to Rolly's murder than anyone else realized. "Adventure!" feat. Kevin T. Collins.
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Episode 104: Water, Part 2
Jonathan Stewart must produce a miracle to save his band of historians. Part 2 of 2.
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Episode 104: Water, Part 1
Jonathan and Merrily try to catch the last train out of hell. Sheria makes the ultimate tough call. Part 1 of 2.
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Episode 103: Another Kind of God, Part 2
Sir Richard reaches Green Bridge in May, and sets a final plan in motion. Guillam find what he's been looking for, and also find that it's not what he thought he was looking for. The Metal God plays a sneaky trick. Part 2 of 2.
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Episode 103: Another Kind of God, Part 1
Sir Richard reaches Green Bridge in May, and sets a final plan in motion. Guillam find what he's been looking for, and also find that it's not what he thought he was looking for. The Metal God plays a sneaky trick. Part 1 of 2.
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Episode 102: The False Maiden
Guillam tells how he and his company tried to rescue Sir Richard--who thwarted his own rescue attempt. Veridia grows increasingly suspicious of Guillam's honesty, and brings in a new girl to loosen his tongue. There is a third person in the room.
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Episode 101: The Adversary
Sir Richard recounts a tale of his travels with God, and how God committed a murder. Boris intervenes unexpectedly in Palace Naridium. Sir Richard discovers the identity of his interrogator, and finds a quiet place.
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Episode 99: Guillam Is Not Dead Yet
Sir Richard's doughty sergeant Guillam recounts his own version of the events of his captain's journey to the north. Someone is stretching the truth.
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Episode 98: Sir Richard Enderly is Dead
Sir Richard and his interviewer begin to uncover how he died. Featuring guest performance by Ivy Birney, and "Start Again," feat. Kevin T. Collins.
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Episode 97: Crossing the Streams
Sheria loses the thread of her fate, and Jonathan finds it. Vicod Rayth rides a dinosaur and has a son, not in that order.
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Episode 96: The Guns of June, Part 2
Finally reaching Devi Valley ahead of the Giant-men, Hobb the Wise finds that his prize is ashes. Part 2 of 2.
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Episode 96: The Guns of June, Part 1
Hobb and his army of Republican Guard reach the valley in the northern wilderness and try to win control of the ancient mining complex from the mercenaries and Giant-men. Part 1 of 2.
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Episode 95: Precise Humor, Part 2
Hobb's third battle doesn't go nearly as well as the first two. Beatrice Snugg makes an unexpected reappearance.
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Episode 94: Precise Humor
Receiving an unexpected pair of gifts from the late Sir Richard of Enderly, Hobb turns the Republican Guard north and begins the race to Devi Valley.
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Episode 93: Snow on the Parade
Mr. Robe suggests a novel use for a spoon. Hobb the Wise must make the hardest choice of his life.
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Episode 92: Madness and Fantasy
Hobb confronts the irritating truth that he is living in a fantasy adventure story. He puts the pieces of his knowledge together, and throws himself into a confrontation with the Herald that will absolutely, definitely end with his own messy death.
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Episode 91: The Bench of Destiny
As the courthouse siege escalates, Hobb finds himself losing control of the people he needs to control the most. The Crown Prince finds a new game to play with Hobb, and Professor Pie reappears with a marvelous machine.
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Episode 90: Lies, Delicate and Lacy
Hobb, pressed by demands from many sides, justifies both the Big Lie and the Little Lie. The Man With the Metal Face reaches his first goal. Merrily Hunter proves unhelpful, and Prince Leeland makes an explosive discovery.
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Episode 89: Old Foe's Home, Part 2
The Herald's former identity is revealed. Hobb finds that his arrangement of votes at the Moot leaves something to be desired--but his efforts with Merrily bear fruit. Part 2 of 2.
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Episode 89: Old Foe's Home, Part 1
Hobb finally reaches Roosterfoot, and hears the story of Boris's strange adventures. He sets about balancing diplomacy with the delegates, the Herald, and Merrily Hunter. Part 1 of 2.
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Episode 88: Questionable Sanctuary
Ambushed by Snugg mercenaries on the road to Roosterfoot, Hobb the Wise follows Cyrus Stoat's footsteps into a dead end. His bodyguards come to regret their choice of clothing color.
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Episode 87: The Trouble With Heroes, Part 2
Mr. Robe demonstrates a marvelous new device for enforcing justice, but some bugs remain. Hobb meets a new friend in the dungeons beneath Hoel. Part 2 of 2.
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Episode 87: The Trouble With Heroes, Part 1
Hobb the Wise attempts to rein in his legal opponents, but makes an error in judgment that sparks a standoff at the Old High Court. Part 1 of 2.
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Episode 86: More Like Me
Hobb the Wise has difficult decisions to make as King Leeland lies dying--but despite himself, he manages to lighten the mood.
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Episode 85: Iron for Breakfast
Hobb the Wise and Mr. Robe bring pens to a sword fight.
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Episode 84: Falling
At Devi Valley, during the attack by the Giant-men, Cyrus, Jonathan, and Merrily search desperately for the twelve scroll tubes that will complete Rolly's mathematics. Another Jonathan follows the Dark Path through the life of a peculiar mistress. Featuring "No Turning Back" from Sophia's Fall,...
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Episode 83: Breaking the Rules
Merrily makes a desperate attempt to rescue Prince Leeland from General Logwall. Frederick tells the story of the Parade of Judges. Merrily and Cyrus ride off into the sunrise, toward their doom in the north.
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Episode 82, Part 2: Death and Transmogrification
As Cyrus and Father confront each other, Merrily takes the longest blink. The man with the metal face has new words for her, and for what is inside her. Part 2 of 2.
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Episode 82, Part 1: The Revelations of Nicola Snugg
Merrily is set on a new path by an unexpected friend. Kel and Gerald meet their ends, and force Merrily to change her perspective. Part 1 of 2.
About this show
A sprawling science fantasy comedic adventure romance, with goblins and cannons! Johnathan Miller has harbored a secret flame for his childhood friend Merrily Hunter for years, and as Midsummer’s Eve approaches he’s ready to make his move. But when a cranky, sharp-tongued professor of Applied History rides into town looking for a lost book, Johnathan and Merrily quickly find themselves swept up in an adventure that will take them to the very edges of history, language, and probability. They join a host of colorful men, women, goblins, fey, snarfs, horses, and strange outsiders, all set in a world grappling with the consequences of scientific advance, political unrest, and religious debate.
Hosted by
Benjamin M. Birney