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The Control Group

by iHeartPodcasts

In season two of THE CONTROL GROUP (Civil Defense), the airwaves are filled with announcements of a nuclear attack on the United States. As panic threatens the community of New Canaan, a housewife (Tess Malis Kincaid) tries to protect her daughter (Allie Ficken) from both the atomic and the human dangers that surround them. Woven throughout the story are fragments of “Quasar-1,” an animated children’s television program about a space pilot (Hannah Fierman) assigned to protect a distant planet from self-destruction.

From the show's RSS feed, refreshed Apr 3, 2026. Source feed.

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Episodes

  1. Introducing: Midnight Radio, A New Horror Fiction Podcast from Ethan Hawke

    Hi, Control Group listeners! We're excited to share with you a sneak peek at iHeartPodcasts' latest release, Midnight Radio! Midnight Radio: Starring five-time Academy Award®-nominee Ethan Hawke as “The Radio Man,” MIDNIGHT RADIO is a new, fantastical horror podcast. Told in real-time through the...

  2. Earsay: The Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club Returns for Season 2

    Earsay is back with host Kal Penn for all new episodes about the audiobooks everyone’s listening to and still thinking about long after the last chapter. In Season 2 of Earsay: The Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club, Kal dives into the biggest stories, standout performances, and the moments that...

  3. Introducing: The Passage

    Built on a foundation of historical relevance and structured by a kind of dream logic, THE PASSAGE is an immersive, psychological, 3D audio experience that invites listeners to explore the collective American psyche from the perspective of its most legendary souls. This is an ongoing audio series...

  4. Introducing: Consumed from Grim & Mild

    Hi, Control Group fans! iHeartPodcasts and Grim & Mild are excited to tell you about Consumed - a brand new fiction thriller that we think will... consume you! Don't believe us? Check out this trailer to see for yourself. When you're done, head on over to Consumed starting 1/31 for weekly…

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  5. S2 E7: Epilogue

    A visitor surveys the remains of a once verdant planet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

  6. S2 E6: Make Believe

    Dorrie (Tess Malis Kincaid) reflects on the fateful events of her, and dreams of an opportunity for redemption. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

  7. S2 E5: The Fortress

    Becky (Allie Ficken) and Loraine (Rachel Frawley) attempt to escape from the bunker on Cross Mountain. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

  8. S2 E4: A Prophecy

    An idealistic Noonan (Keith Brooks) shares with Dorrie (Tess Malis Kincaid) his dream for a better world, even as New Canaan descends into chaos. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

  9. S2 E3: L.M.O.E.

    In the Civil Defense Emergency Command Center, Wayne (Tim Habeger) reveals a secret weapon to TV personality Helen Huntleigh (Mary Kraft). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

  10. S2 E2: Shelter

    A paramilitary volunteer (Keith Brooks) persuades Dorrie and Becky (Tess Malis Kincaid, Allie Ficken) to leave their basement and search for better protection against radioactive fallout. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

  11. S2 E1: Red Alert

    The already strained relationships of Dorrie and Wayne Langford (Tess Malis Kincaid, Tim Habeger) and their daughter Becky (Allie Ficken) are completely upended when emergency announcements warn the U.S. is under Soviet nuclear attack. Learn more about your ad-choices at...

  12. Introducing The Control Group: Civil Defense

    When a nuclear attack upon the United States seems imminent, a housewife tries to protect her daughter from the dangers that surround them. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

  13. S1 E10: Terminal Studies

    Somerhill (Daniel May) convenes a meeting at the Founder’s Mansion, a crumbling remnant of Central State Hospital’s more glorious age. There, Dr. Hayes (John Schmedes) is challenged to demonstrate the effectiveness of his radical treatments… by performing a type of experiment that, under ordinary...

  14. S1 E9: Midnight Climax

    Now that Dr. Hayes (John Schmedes) has penetrated the Dixie Hotel’s chamber of secrets, Somerhill (Daniel May) and Dr. Gottfried (Keith Brooks) reveal the hidden workings of the plot in which Karen (Hannah Fierman) has been entangled. The abusive Grath (Joe Sykes) finds Karen in the hospital...

  15. S1 E8: Cages

    Following the incident at the Dixie Hotel, Dr. Hayes (John Schmedes) returns to Central State Hospital just as its orderly operation is interrupted. In defiance of Dr. Hayes, Verdrey (Lisa Paulsen) attempts to hide Karen (Hannah Fierman) where the hospital’s darkest secrets are kept. Learn more...

  16. S1 E7: Charlotte

    Housebound and suffering from mental collapse, Charlotte (Jennifer Bates) receives an encouraging message from an unlikely herald (Mary Kraft). Dr. Hayes (John Schmedes) requests Charlotte’s special assistance in a personal investigation into the circumstances of Karen’s crime. Learn more about...

  17. S1 E6: SIHE

    Somerhill (Daniel May) receives word of Hayes’s (John Schmedes) revelation from both the proud doctor and a rogue agent (Andrew Benator), who is furious at having been exposed. Unsatisfied with Hayes’s explanation, Verdrey (Lisa Paulsen) begins to investigate the identity and purpose of the…

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  18. E1 E5: Sodium Amytal

    Intent on exposing Karen’s (Hannah Fierman) secrets, Dr. Hayes (John Schmedes) subjects her to chemical hypnosis and coerces her to reenact the ill-fated events that occurred in room 512 of the Dixie Hotel. His unhealthy obsession with Karen reaches new depths, but his unorthodox form of...

  19. S1 E4: Phenobarbital

    Karen (Hannah Fierman) spends days confined to a “sleep room,” where a mind-numbing combination of treatments are administered. Pleased with Hayes’s progress, Somerhill (Daniel May) encourages the doctor (John Schmedes) to become more aggressive in his therapies, just as the Ward Head Nurse,...

  20. S1 E3: Psychic Driving

    Dr. Hayes (John Schmedes) conscripts Karen (Hannah Fierman) to tape record a message of cooperation and compliance, to be used in future therapies. When Karen attempts to escape, attendant Grath (Joe Sykes), who is prone to bullying and abuse, volunteers to find her ... and succeeds. Learn more...

  21. S1 E2: Sleep Therapy

    Dr. Hayes realizes he must cultivate more ambitious therapies if he expects to win the fiscal support of a large research group. Long term patient Charlotte grows jealous of the doctor’s obvious fascination with the new patient, Karen. Learn more about your ad-choices at...

  22. S1 E1: ECT

    After being apprehended fleeing the scene of a crime, an outspoken woman, Karen, is placed in the Central State Hospital at New Canaan for examination and evaluation. After a terse interview with Dr. Hayes, she is quickly acquainted with the harsh realities of life in B Ward. Learn more about…

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  23. The Control Group

    Encouraged by a private research group, a doctor at a mental ward sheds his ethical restraints in an effort to pioneer a new form of mental cleansing. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

About this show

In season two of THE CONTROL GROUP (Civil Defense), the airwaves are filled with announcements of a nuclear attack on the United States. As panic threatens the community of New Canaan, a housewife (Tess Malis Kincaid) tries to protect her daughter (Allie Ficken) from both the atomic and the human dangers that surround them. Woven throughout the story are fragments of “Quasar-1,” an animated children’s television program about a space pilot (Hannah Fierman) assigned to protect a distant planet from self-destruction.

Hosted by

iHeartPodcasts

Frequently asked questions

How many episodes does The Control Group have?

The Control Group has 23 episodes on PodParley. The most recent episode was published on October 22, 2026.

What is The Control Group about?

In season two of THE CONTROL GROUP (Civil Defense), the airwaves are filled with announcements of a nuclear attack on the United States. As panic threatens the community of New Canaan, a housewife (Tess Malis Kincaid) tries to protect her daughter (Allie Ficken) from both the atomic and the human...

How often does The Control Group release new episodes?

The Control Group publishes irregularly, based on its 23 episodes since June 2018.

Who hosts The Control Group?

The Control Group is created and hosted by iHeartPodcasts.
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