Category: Episodes

Slinky Universe and the Scam

Published 27 February 2026

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:38 — 35.3MB)

What if the line between your reality and a digital illusion is thinner than you think?

I share a personal encounter with a sophisticated lottery scam that nearly caught me off guard. It is a cautionary tale about how modern con artists use technology and psychological tricks to exploit our deepest needs and desires. Beyond the warning, I also feature several experimental vignettes that explore the “Slinky Universe,” a concept where life moves in cycles of expansion and contraction. We look at everything from the strange center of the earth to the hidden struggles of a security guard working the night shift.

Key Takeaways from this release:

The Anatomy of a Scam: How “Dave Johnson” uses fake testimonials and news clips to build a false sense of legitimacy.
The Emotional Slinky: A candid look at how life and relationships can feel like a constant loop of highs and lows.
The Owl Existence: Insight into the quiet, reflective world of nocturnal workers and the “demons” of insecurity we face in the dark.
Creative Experiments: A series of short, imaginative reflections designed to make you think about your own journey as a human being on this planet.

If these stories resonate with you, please subscribe to the show so you never miss a new experiment. You can also find more of my work and visual tips for creators on my YouTube channel, The Writer’s Compass, at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/@TheWritersCompass

I would love to hear your thoughts or your own stories. You can leave me a voice message at Speakpipe.com/Welcometoearthstories or visit my main website at Welcometoearthstories.com.

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AI gods and the Midnight Train

Published 10 February 2026

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:11 — 30.5MB)

As the lines between our digital tools and our human connections continue to blur, have you stopped to consider what it really means to keep your soul in an increasingly automated world?

In this episode, I am handing over the microphone to a familiar voice, Chase Cortell, to explore the fascinating and slightly unsettling reality of our relationship with technology.

We often find ourselves treating AI like a person, offering polite greetings and gratitude to our digital assistants. But is there a hidden cost to this emotional investment? This episode looks at the “AI Trap” and the importance of maintaining our humanity in a world where software feels increasingly real.

Key Takeaways from this episode:

Why we should treat AI as a tool rather than an emotional companion.
The subtle ways we get “trapped” into digital relationships.
A reflective journey through “Midnight Train” exploring the autumn of life.
How to stay grounded as a true “Earthling” in a high-tech society.

I hope these stories spark some inspiration in your own creative journey. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show on your favorite platform so you never miss a story. For more tips on overcoming creative hurdles and finding fresh inspiration, head over to my YouTube channel, The Writer’s Compass, at the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/@TheWritersCompass

You can also find more of my work and past episodes at:

https://welcometoearthstories.com

I would love to hear your thoughts on these episodes. Please leave me a voice message with your feedback or questions at:

https://www.speakpipe.com/earthstories

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First Mover and The Elephant

First Mover and The Elephant

Published 2 February 2026

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 15:14 — 21.0MB)

Have you ever felt the heavy presence of an invisible elephant resting on your shoulders, a burden that no one around you can see?

In this episode, I share a series of Experimental Stories. These reflections are gentle and philosophical, focusing on the hidden layers of our daily lives. I start by telling you about a unique friend of mine here in Ottawa. His perspective is so intense and story worthy that I nearly hit record on my phone just to capture his energy. Instead, I have recreated a moment that highlights his fascinating way of seeing the world.

These stories are for the deep thinkers. They are for the people who stay up late wondering about our purpose and the invisible strings that guide us.

Key Takeaways

The Hidden Burdens: We explore the invisible weights we all carry, from personal failures to mental health struggles.
The Passage of Time: A reflection on aging and the reality of living in a body made of dust within a world that prizes youth.
The Cosmic Spark: A look at the first mover behind the vast chain reaction of our universe.
Beauty in the Brief: Learning to appreciate our short time on earth, much like a tulip in a vast field.
The Power of Vulnerability: I share my own challenges with sleep apnea to show how our personal struggles connect us to one another.

If you find value in these reflections, please subscribe to the show on your favorite platform. Your support helps me continue to create these imaginative tales.

Connect With Me

I am currently working on new material for Season 9, but you can stay updated and find more resources here:

YouTube: Subscribe to my channel, The Writer’s Compass, where I help creators overcome writer’s block and find fresh inspiration: https://www.youtube.com/@TheWritersCompass
Website: Visit https://welcometoearthstories.com for more episodes and updates.
Speakpipe: I would love to hear your thoughts on these experiments. Leave me a voice message at https://www.speakpipe.com/welcometoearthstories.

Be kind to each other. Be a good Earthling.

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Sex And Dental Advice

Sex And Dental Advice

Published 18 January 2026

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:20 — 34.9MB)

What lies beyond the threshold of our most visceral fears? Is it possible that the clinical chill of a dentist office or the heavy silence of a hospital corridor are merely the shadows of a much larger, more spiritual reality?

I am exploring the tension between the things we despise and the incredible wonder of the unknown.

I share personal reflections on my own health journey and a collection of experimental stories designed to spark the imagination. From the miraculous, self-consuming transformation of a caterpillar to a haunting dialogue between a programmer and his AI, these tales look at the human condition through a lens of transformation and mystery.

Key Takeaways:

Acknowledging our deepest fears can be the first step toward finding a deeper sense of peace.
The path of a creator requires constant experimentation and a willingness to embrace abstract ideas.
True change often demands that we dismantle our old selves to make room for something new.

Subscribe to the show to stay connected as I continue these creative explorations. I value your feedback and would love to hear your thoughts on these experiments. Send me a voice message at Speakpipe.com/earthstories

To see how I develop these ideas and to get tips for your own creative journey, follow my YouTube channel, The Writer’s Compass, at https://www.youtube.com/@TheWritersCompass.

Visit the official website for more imaginative tales at https://Welcometoearthstories.com.

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New Year’s Resolutions and The Shadow People

Published 6 January 2026

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 16:12 — 22.3MB)

Are you allowing New Year’s Resolutions to steal your peace of mind?

I am getting honest about a recent health diagnosis and why I am choosing simple, meaningful goals over the high pressure of New Year’s traditions.

While I am busy in production for Season 9, I am sharing a special collection of my Experimental Stories, which are personal, intimate, and designed to explore the true places within us all.

Key Takeaways

The Resolution Trap: Why I believe resolutions are too weighty and how gyms actually bank on you quitting after just three weeks.
Goals Over Resolutions: My approach to setting a few manageable goals to ensure life is about living, not just moving from one stressful goal to the next.
Experimental Storytelling: An introduction to a personal style of narrative that deals with the passage of time, loss, and finding hope in the middle of a storm.
Honesty and Connection: Why I believe being open about my own struggles helps others and how you can share your feedback with me.

I encourage you to subscribe to the podcast on your favorite app so you are the first to know when Season 9 launches. If you want to see how I find inspiration for these stories in everyday life and overcome creative blocks, please visit my YouTube channel, The Writer’s Compass, at
The Writer’s Compass – YouTube

You can visit my website at welcometoearthstories.com to explore more tales or to leave me a message using the old-fashioned microphone icon. You can also reach out to me directly with your thoughts and feedback at speakpipe.com/earthstories.

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God and Time

God and Time

Published 25 December 2025

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 15:38 — 21.5MB)

Put on your headphones, pull the blanket over your head, and join me for an experimental journey into the kaleidoscope of human suffering and resilience where the fragments of our lives rotate around the central axis of God and time.

This episode is a collection of “experimental stories” designed for the nocturnal listener, as we prepare for the launch of Season 9.

Key Takeaways from “God and Time”

Lessons from Randall: My encounter with a man at a shelter whose love for Bob Marley and “richness of life” persisted despite a terminal diagnosis and a three-month life expectancy.
The Illusion of “One”: An exploration of how success, wealth, and status can still leave a person profoundly lonely, proving that possessions do not equate to true richness.
Historical Echoes: A somber look back at the liberation of Auschwitz and Buchenwald in 1945, reminding us of the “bright lights” lost to history.
The Battle of Life: A poignant story of a family banding together in a final farewell to a loved one, illustrating the ultimate reality where God and time finally win.

If these stories resonated with you, I encourage you to subscribe to the show so you don’t miss our upcoming season. For more insights on overcoming creative hurdles and finding inspiration in the everyday, please check out my YouTube channel, The Writer’s Compass.

Connect & Support

YouTube Channel: The Writer’s Compass
Official Website: Welcome to Earth Stories

Support the Show: Buy Me a Coffee

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Return To The Ether

Return To The Ether

Published 16 December 2025

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 15:38 — 21.5MB)

“Just when I thought I was out, they put me back in.”

I know many of you are waiting for Season 9 of Welcome to Earth Stories, and while life and family duties have delayed the launch until the new year, I could not leave you without a story.

In this update, I share why I have had to press pause to care for my wife and how my son, Elijah, has been my anchor through it all. However, I am not leaving you empty-handed. I am excited to present a special rebroadcast from my Experimental Stories anthology titled Return to the Ether. This is a departure from our usual high-octane sci-fi. It is a nocturnal, spiritual journey into grief, memory, and the “cosmic duffel bag” of our past desires.

Key Takeaways:

Season 9 Update: A look at the timeline for the next season of Welcome to Earth Stories.
Experimental Stories: Experience a more gentle and introspective side of my audio drama work designed for the quiet moments of the night.
The Writer’s Compass: I officially announce the re-branding of my YouTube channel which was formerly known as Idea Magnet.

If you are a writer, artist, or creator looking to overcome blocks and find inspiration in the everyday, please join me over on my newly named YouTube channel called The Writer’s Compass. I am filming new content in Ottawa with my son and my friend Oral Brooks to help navigate your creative journey.

Links:

📺 Subscribe to The Writer’s Compass on YouTube:
🎧 Visit the Podcast Website: WelcomeToEarthStories.com

Please subscribe to the show so you do not miss Season 9 when it drops!

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Moment You’ve Been Waiting For

Published 26 October 2025

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 15:44 — 21.7MB)

What happens when your loyal listeners hand you three words—redemption, superfluous, and resigned—and demand a freestyle audio drama? It leads to a dark spiral, trippy dreams, and an exhausting battle against an unbeatable creative block.

Join York as he recounts the journey to make good on a promise, only to find his own foundation slipping. He sought guidance from a therapist who looks suspiciously like a miniaturized, rude, and pipe-smoking Gandalf. The rude reality delivered by this unconventional shrink forces a profound question: Do we have to fulfill every single promise we make, or is that effort simply… superfluous?

Listen to this bonus episode to hear the unexpected, often humorous, and deeply relatable struggle of a storyteller pushing to his creative limit, complete with an existential grocery store encounter and a crucial lesson on knowing when to let go. You’ll also hear the original challenge words from listeners Steve Webb, Timothy from Create Art Podcast, and James Ray. The episode you’ve been waiting for is not what you expect.

York is now taking time off to think about the show’s future, so don’t miss this one.

Find your host, York, on X (formerly Twitter) at @Poeticearthling. And leave him a DM

Listen to all previous season at Welcometoearthstories.com

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Is This The End?

Published 13 October 2025

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 7:48 — 10.8MB)

Every good thing comes to an end.

This statement may be overused but it’s true.

In this special episode you’ll hear about the potential conclusion, not of the universe or reality itself but of my time with you. I’m trying not to spoil everything in the show description so consider this a tease.

Writing and producing fictional audio dramas is a dream come true. Since 2017 I have been creating stories after stories, and I’ve also been producing shows for other podcasters.

I thank you for giving me the opportunity to share these wild tales and I thank my Saviour Jesus Christ for giving me the strength to continue the show during the dark chapters of my life.

Oops, I may have said too much in this “tease” so before I get carried away hit play and send me a message on X (@Poeticearthling) and let me know what you think.

If you want to take part in the freestyle episode, please record your random word along with your name and town or city you live in. I’m going to take your random word and turn it into a freestyle episode. I know that sounds scarry. Record your message on Speakpipe.com/welcometoearthstories.

I have a new Youtube channel for artist, it’s called Idea Magnet.

This channel helps creators, artists, and writers turn daily observations into fresh, actionable concepts for their next project. Please subscribe and leave me a comment on the channel.

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