Advertise on podcast: Everly Heights Tales

High school teacher Bill Matheson lives for the logic of math, but his personal equation has become a mess of negative numbers. As the town’s resident workaholic, Mr. Matheson juggles teaching high school algebra, the daily grind at The Koffee Shop, and programming lights at Cornerstone Theater. Despite double-checking his work, he’s successfully calculated himself right out of his own marriage! Faced with an empty house and a fresh opportunity from the local tax man, Mr. Matheson must decide if he’s ready to stop “showing his work” and finally solve life’s most delicate equation by tweaking some variables. Will an optimistic man crack under the weight of his own long division? In the aftershow, creator Bill Meeks breaks down the math behind the real-world work-life balance struggles that fueled the script and highlights the return of Season 1 favorites like Michael Special and Nosloo the Great. NEXT TIME: Things get W.E.I.R.D.E. in Everly Heights! Bill Meeks - Mr. Matheson / Jim Colvin / Ricky Special / Infomercial AnnouncerKristyna Zaharek - Angel Matheson / BrendaSean Siegler - Michael Special / CustomerDan Pavatich - Nosloo the Great LINKS Everly HeightsMr. Matheson's Arithme-TIPSJoin the EVERLY HEIGHTS ARTS BOARD and support the showEverly Heights Tales MerchSubscribe on YouTube

W.E.I.R.D.E. agent Jim Colvin spends his days policing the multiverse, yet he can't find out what his new wife, Ramona, is hiding. His deepening paranoia finds a reluctant partner in Nosloo the Great, a refugee dark troll wizard from the war-torn Land of Fee-Nee who is desperate to return home and save his kingdom. But when Jim hatches a risky scheme to use the wizard to force a moment of radical honesty, the walls begin to close in—both from the secrets in his marriage and the coworkers determined to uncover exactly what contraband he smuggled home from the office. In the aftershow, creator Bill Meeks chats with actor Dan Pavatich (voice of "Nosloo the Great") about the "We’ve Got a Secret" sitcom genre. They discuss their friendship's improv origins, the influence of ALF and other weird TV shows on the story, and the ethical nightmare of the episode’s Men in Black-inspired ending. Plus, Dan shares details on his own project, The Hustle Gods. NEXT TIME: Whatever happened to Cornerstone Theater?     SPONSOR CAST LIST Dan Pavatich - Nosloo the GreatBill Meeks - Jim Colvin / Hibboticus / Evil Jim / Ricky Special / Pirate / Carrot Top / Bob Ross / The PresidentKate Sheridan- Brenda / Ramona / KidAndrea Lavender - Cynthia PostalSean Weiland - BuckyAllison Cossitt - SusieTravis Crawford (TV's Travis) - Plant / DadDean T Moody – Intercom AnnouncerHelena Geraci – Jennifer SpecialRichard Reynolds – Lucian the WaiterWynn Mercere – WomanBrice Bankard - Man LINKS Everly Heights"Nosloo the Great" Pilot (2022)Dan PavatichThe Hustle GodsJoin the EVERLY HEIGHTS ARTS BOARD and support the showEverly Heights Tales MerchSubscribe on YouTube

Bill Meeks joins Tom Merritt (Daily Tech News Show) to address the "dark troll wizard" of the project’s history: the years spent fleshing out his six-year old creative writing project Everly Heights using advanced generative AI trained on his own artwork. Bill explains how the artistic community's reaction to AI tools caused him to rethink his approach and abandon them (for the most part) by leaning on his history in audio drama to tell new tales in Everly Heights. He also discusses his work creating custom models to generate character turnarounds, props, and animation assets. PLUS: Explore the real-world inspirations of Wheeling, WV, the geometry of DiCarlo's Pizza, and the"stank" early adoption of concepts (like The Fakist) and technology leaves behind. DTNS Friday Hangout Full Episode (Video)Daily Tech News Show This bonus episode is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

A reunion in a burned-out theater basement forces two former bandmates to confront the lives they picked and the song they never finished. When Marla Harmon returns to Everly Heights for a benefit show for Cornerstone Theater, she finds more than charred Fresnel lights and party snacks. Among the former Rocky Horror cast members in attendance? Calvin Hobbes, her ex-bandmate/boyfriend, now dressed as a man his younger self would label a "sellout." Between a hidden bottle of furnace vodka, a forgotten cassette, and an out-of-tune Stratacoustic guitar, their last unfinished song plucks the strings of the past and reminds them of who they used to be. Will Marla and Calvin grow up and move on from Classic Tragic Hero, or can they finally tighten up the bridge on their abandoned demo? In the aftershow, creator Bill Meeks delivers a personal tribute to his late best friend and bandmate Stephen Carroll, the write of the song "In The Long Run" and the real-life inspiration behind the episode. Bill traces their friendship from teenage collaborations in high school computer labs to early YouTube attention as the basement band Classic Tragic Hero. Framed by Steve’s demo of “In the Long Run,” this aftershow confronts friendship, artistic guilt, and coming back together to make something new. NEXT TIME: Can a fan podcaster find love in the Franklin W. Dixon Memorial Library?     SPONSOR CAST LIST Alex Mechanic - Marla HarmonTravis Crawford (TV's Travis) - Calvin Hobbes LINKS Everly HeightsClassic Tragic Hero YouTube ChannelStephan Carroll YouTube ChannelClassic Tragic Hero Music on Archive.orgJoin the EVERLY HEIGHTS ARTS BOARD and support the showEverly Heights Tales MerchSubscribe on YouTube

In the debut episode of Everly Heights Tales, third-ranked local YouTuber (and yo-yo enthusiast) Louie Loop takes listeners on a walking tour of Everly Heights. From square-cut pizza served by aspiring actors and the mistakenly named Franklin W. Dixon Memorial Library, to haunted tunnels, statues inspired by local history, and the legendary Cornerstone Theater, Louie’s guide is equal parts history, myth, and hometown gossip. Along the way, he introduces us to the town’s mix of charm and curse, hinting at the nostalgic stories on the way this season on Everly Heights Tales. After the story, creator Bill Meeks shares behind-the-scenes inspirations and real-life locations in his real hometown Wheeling, West Virginia that shaped his fictional hometown. PLUS: The hidden foreshadowing baked into Louie’s tales... SPONSOR CAST LIST Samuel Lewis - Louie Loop, Steve Loop (aka Steve the Geek)Bill Meeks - Greg  "Another Day in the City" performed by Classic Tragic Hero, written by Bill Meeks    LINKS Everly HeightsJoin the EVERLY HEIGHTS ARTS BOARD and support the showBuy Mr. Matheson's Arithme-TIPS Comic CollectionSubscribe on YouTube Patsy's PizzaWheeling Coffee ShopTowngate TheaterGoogle Maps view of the "walking bridge"Kids Like UsCurtain Call

Meet the Special family, a theater-loving, stoner couple and their three very different kids. It’s 1994, and Michael and Jennifer Special are just trying to help fund in the arts in their community, but their son Ricky is on the run from a school bully, and their daughter Zara is betting everything on a plan to start the school year as a popular girl. With a mix of '90s nostalgia, sitcom homages, and a healthy dose of humor, "Welcome, Freshmen" will teach you the joys of scented oxygen, the perils of Crystal Pepsi, and why you should never trust a math teacher to do "creative accounting" for the arts. Equal parts funny, smart, and a little messed up, just like Everly Heights itself.     SPONSOR CAST LIST Bill Meeks - Ricky Special/Infomercial Announcer/Mr. MathesonSean Seigler - Michael SpecialKristyna Zahrek - Abby SpecialLaurin Skarr - Zara SpecialKaushal Patel - Phillip "Sinnimon Slush" SimonsonHelena Geraci - Jennifer SpecialDallis MacKenzie - Beatrix KnappMandy McCullough - Rebbeca/VeronicaHoward F. Hulin - Ron Linus/Mayor BrownRichard Reynolds - Jock, Oxygen Bar AttendantClaire Forbes - Brenda, Beach Babe, Carrie TartDan Pavatich - Nosloo the GreatSean Weiland - Jerome Bentley, Surfer Dude "How Can You Be Sure?" and "Zara Special's Mini-Musical Suite" performed by Classic Tragic Hero, written by Bill Meeks   LINKS Everly HeightsJoin the EVERLY HEIGHTS ARTS BOARD and support the showBuy Mr. Matheson's Arithme-TIPS Comic CollectionSubscribe on YouTube

In this bonus episode, the cast of "Welcome, Freshmen" celebrates the final recording session with a virtual cast party! Join writer Bill Meeks and the voice actors behind the Special family—Laurin Skarr (Zara), Bill Meeks (Mr. Matheson, Ricky), Sean Siegler (Michael), Kristyna Zahrek (Abby), Howard F. Hulin (Mayor Brown/Ron Linus), Samuel Lewis (Steve the Geek), Sean Weiland (Jerome), and Bobby Frankenberger (the original Ricky)—as they go behind the scenes of the show. They'll talk about the process of making an animated series over the internet, what it was like to improvise around the script, and the creative collaboration between actors and writers. They also get into some voice actor tech talk and, of course, we learn the term "fluffy lungs." Get to know the talented group of actors who brought this very special story to life.     SPONSOR CAST LIST Bill Meeks - Ricky Special/Infomercial Announcer/Mr. MathesonSean Seigler - Michael SpecialKristyna Zahrek - Abby SpecialLaurin Skarr - Zara SpecialHoward F. Hulin - Ron Linus/Mayor BrownSean Weiland - Jerome Bentley, Surfer Dude "How Can You Be Sure?" performed by Classic Tragic Hero, written by Bill Meeks   LINKS Everly HeightsJoin the EVERLY HEIGHTS ARTS BOARD and support the showBuy Mr. Matheson's Arithme-TIPS Comic CollectionSubscribe on YouTube

When failing salesman Don House returns to his hometown, he’s confronted by the ghosts of his past. This mini-musical follows a man as he reconnects with a troubled musician, a shady restaurant owner, and his first love, all while exploring if it's possible to ever truly go home again. And stick around for the aftershow where Bill Meeks dives deep into the real-life inspirations for the musical, including his former band that had a top #20 YouTube video for about a week once. True story.     SPONSOR CAST LIST Bill Meeks - Don HouseKaleb Deatherage - RyonAllison Cossitt - FaraDean T Moody - Gaston "Home Again", "Only Good for Forgetting", "The Last Time I Saw You I Totally Broke Your Heart", "We Never Change A Thing", and "Why Would We Leave?" performed by Classic Tragic Hero, written by Bill Meeks   LINKS Everly HeightsJoin the EVERLY HEIGHTS ARTS BOARD and support the showBuy Mr. Matheson's Arithme-TIPS Comic CollectionSubscribe on YouTube Classic Tragic HeroA Tribute to Stephan CarrollRyon Hoard - Wishing Well  

In the spirit of a classic 90s educational science show like Beakman's World or Mr. Wizard, "Hey, Marie Molecule!" follows a young girl named Eliza, who visits the titular scientist with an anxiety-fueled question: "Will my brother become a super-villain from an X-ray?". With the help of the good-natured Marie Molecule, Eliza learns all about science and radiation. PLUS: Marie Molecule explains a new technological innovation! After the story, creator Bill Meeks discusses the episode's origin as a submission for America's Next Top Podcaster. He also shares how the Marie Molecule Science Study Center is located in the basement of the Franklin W. Dixon Memorial Library, connecting the episode to the larger Everly Heights universe.     SPONSOR CAST LIST September McCrady - Marie MoleculeBill Meeks - Junkbots Announcer/Eliza "Theme for Hey, Marie Molecule!" performed by Classic Tragic Hero, written by Bill Meeks LINKS Everly HeightsJoin the EVERLY HEIGHTS ARTS BOARD and support the showBuy Mr. Matheson's Arithme-TIPS Comic CollectionEverly Heights Tales MerchSubscribe on YouTube Classic Tragic HeroAmerica's Next Top Podcaster - Hey, Marie Molecule!Bill interviews Beakman's Paul Zaloom on Where I'm From    

In this bonus episode of Everly Heights Tales, I talk to an actor I have an awful lot of nostalgia for: Paul Zaloom, best known as Beakman from the hit ’90s educational series Beakman’s World. This hour-long interview traces Zaloom’s journey from his own “Everly Heights,” Garden City in New York state, to his work in avant-garde theater and puppetry. He reflects on the comedic and cultural inspirations behind Beakman (including Soupy Sales) and shares fascinating stories about the show’s massive and lasting impact, especially in Mexico and Brazil. If you grew up with Beakman’s World, you'll love this conversation packed with behind-the-scenes stories about creativity, art, and the balance between independent expression and mainstream success. Before the interview, we go behind the scenes of a previous Everly Heights Tales story: the making of "Hey, Marie Molecule!" Hear the full development process as Bill and his teammate September McCrady — including producer Bobby Frankenburgger and advisor Tom Merritt — tackle the challenge of crafting a short, science-focused audio drama judged by Scott Johnson, Justin Robert Young, and Jenny Josephson on America’s Next Top Podcaster. (Beakman fans: skip ahead about 20 minutes to jump straight into the interview.)         SPONSOR CAST LIST   Paul Zaloom - Himself/Beakman/Roy G. BivSeptember McCrady - HerselfBill Meeks - Himeself "Theme for Hey, Marie Molecule!" performed by Classic Tragic Hero, written by Bill Meeks LINKS Everly HeightsJoin the EVERLY HEIGHTS ARTS BOARD and support the showBuy Mr. Matheson's Arithme-TIPS Comic CollectionEverly Heights Tales MerchSubscribe on YouTube America's Next Top Podcaster - Hey, Marie Molecule!  

Tonight, my ghoulish guests, we crack open a chilling case of sorority sisterhood gone horribly flat! When Madison invites her frenemy Faith down to the basement for a taste of an exclusive new White Claw flavor, things get bubbly in all the wrong ways. One sip too many, and the claws really come out... A wickedly funny tale of basic witches, haunted hard seltzers, and influencer-era evil. Drink up, darlings — but beware: in Everly Heights, the hangover is the least of your worries.     SPONSOR CAST LIST Bill Meeks - Spooky AnnouncerSamantha Crausman - MadisonHadley Williams - Faith LINKS Everly HeightsJoin the EVERLY HEIGHTS ARTS BOARD and support the showBuy Mr. Matheson's Arithme-TIPS Comic CollectionEverly Heights Tales MerchSubscribe on YouTube The Totally Spooktacular Fakist Halloween Special

Clara, a devoted usher at the historic Cornerstone Theater, uncovers a chilling secret hidden within its velvet seats: a mysterious power that lets audience members live their best life. When curiosity gets the best of her, Clara is drawn into a fairy tale fantasy that feels more real than her own life. But as the mysterious Zarvan winds her up, she begins to wonder what it will cost to stay in the spotlight forever. After the story, creator Bill Meeks sits down with old friends, college collaborators, and forever theater kids Anne Marie DeSimone and Jason George for a nostalgic conversation about rehearsals, missed cues, and the backstage drama that inspired this episode.     SPONSOR CAST LIST Rebecca Johnson - ClaraSean Siegler - Michael Special/ZarvanSeptember McCrady - Mrs. GableKate Sheridan - Timmy GillWynn Mercere - Mrs. HendersonDean T Moody - Mr. HendersonBill Meeks - Worker/HimselfSkyler Nichol - Prince DreamyAnne Marie DeSimone - HerselfJason George - Himself LINKS Everly HeightsJoin the EVERLY HEIGHTS ARTS BOARD and support the showBuy Mr. Matheson's Arithme-TIPS Comic CollectionEverly Heights Tales MerchSubscribe on YouTubeUniverse Box - Theater

In "The Quackening," Angela Craig is back in Everly Heights, and she's not happy about it. Sleeping in her old room and haunted by a fresh divorce from her gaslighting ex, Travis, her life is a mess. That is, until she has a bizarre run-in with Beatrix Knapp and her old high school bullies, "The Sparkles". They offer her a strange inheritance from a dead relative. Inside a magical box she'll discover the ancestral power to make her wishes a reality. But does Angela want recovery, or revenge? After the story, Bill Meeks reveals the episode's "Goodbye Earl with Witches" inspiration , discussing his personal experiences with domestic abuse that shaped the narrative. PLUS: A production postmortem from his IRL sister who voices two characters in the main show.       SPONSOR CAST LIST Kate Sheridan- Angela CraigDawn Meeks - Great Aunt Mildred's Spirit/Mrs. CraigDallis MacKenzie - Beatrix KnappMandy McCullough - Rebecca/VeronicaSkyler Nichol - Travis Hagee LINKS Everly HeightsJoin the EVERLY HEIGHTS ARTS BOARD and support the showBuy Mr. Matheson's Arithme-TIPS Comic CollectionEverly Heights Tales MerchSubscribe on YouTubeUniverse Box - Theater

Settle in, cool cats and kittens, for Love @ Night on WART-FM broadcasting LIVE from Everly Heights. Your host, Bernie Love, is live and on the line to help you find your ideal match, keep that spark alive, and make amends when you inevitably mess it up. The evening kicks off with a special remote broadcast featuring three colorful Milwaukee locals (all voiced by special guest Dave Theune from Comedy Bang Bang, The Paper, and St. Denis Medical) before returning to the WART-FM studio, where Bernie fields calls from romantics and weirdos alike — including a man whose “payday dinner” goes off the rails and a would-be lover torn between Pokémon and Digimon. But when Bernie’s wife calls in to air their dirty laundry on-air, the smooth-talking DJ must confront his own advice and learn to live not in the past... but in the now — or maybe even the future. In the aftershow, Bill Meeks shares how this story began as a challenge for America’s Next Top Podcaster and how Bernie’s voice was inspired by his own time behind the mic.   SPONSOR CAST LIST Bill Meeks - Justin from Wheeling / Ricky Special / Bernie Love (with help from Tripp Rogers)Dave Theune - Michael / Kevin / PatrickTravis Crawford - Announcer/ScottKi Scyne - Bobby from BradentonSeptember McCrady - Prudence Love LINKS Everly HeightsInfinite Tina: Worlds ApartJoin the EVERLY HEIGHTS ARTS BOARD and support the showEverly Heights Tales MerchSubscribe on YouTubeUniverse Box - Theater

When King Sparrow is betrayed by his most trusted captain, a monarch of the skies is cast to the ground, doomed to wander the forest broken, alone, and certain his reign is over. Struggling through a merciless winter, the injured bird fights to find his way back to his Queen, his host, and the life Captain Sparrow ripped away from him. A fairy tale fable of loyalty, loss, and renewal, “The Trials of King Sparrow: Left to the Wolves” is the first of a two-part tale about a fallen monarch whose journey sets in motion the magic that powers Everly Heights.   SPONSOR CAST LIST Narrated by James Romick, with additional voices by Bill Meeks and the Cornerstone Theater Players. LINKS Everly HeightsThe Trials of King Sparrow (EPUB/PDF/AUDIOBOOK)Join the EVERLY HEIGHTS ARTS BOARD and support the showEverly Heights Tales MerchSubscribe on YouTube