IRIS Episode 8: A Great Big Heat

The bomb has dropped -- so to speak -- and America is left staggering, trying to understand the series of events that has rocked the energy sector to its core. A media frenzy esnues as the audio broadcasts of one Iris Ignatius become the subject of obsession, derision, conjecture, and conspiracy theories. Experts must sift through the mire of fact and fiction to make sense of the story that has taken the world by storm. Voices rise to confirm and to deny the details of this sordid tale. The final notes of the narrative ring out into the ether as Break Media Collective finds a way to say goodbye.

Thank you to all our IRIS listeners! Your patience and support mean the world to us as we put the last touches on the tenth and final Episode. Expect its release in just a few weeks. In the meantime, we’d love for you to help us spread the word about IRIS. Follow us on Instagram at Wunderdog Theater—that’s W-U-N-D-E-R-T-H-E-A-T-R-E—where you can share with us your theories, thoughts, and insights. We read every single message, and we love hearing from you. Thank you, as always, for tuning in and being a part of the journey. We can’t wait to share the final installment of this story. But know that IRIS isn't the end. We can't wait to share what’s next for Wunderdog in the months to come.

Iris gets ready to say goodbye with her final broadcast. The trip to California yields more than high-stakes negotiation; unexpected allies shed light on yet unexplained apects of this twisted tale, giving Break Media Collective the pieces they need to spin a masterpiece -- if only they can buy themselves enough time. The clock is ticking down, and when Kris and Jolene disappear, Iris must reckon with the consequences of her choices: the truth, it turns out, it a weapon that anyone can wield to devastating effect.

Iris' supplies may be dwindling, but her resolve to finish her story isn't going anywhere. Tensions and tempers are running high. Trust and honesty become the key to the trio's safety as they risk it all to follow a lead to the wastelands of California, where they are haunted by ghosts from the past and very real fears for the future.

Struggling to hold onto hope, Iris keeps herself together enough walk her listeners through the fallout of "the day that went three ways." Together again, Break Media Collective start to weave together a story that will bring the truth to light without landing them trapped in the Gregory's web. To do so, they must double back on their path thus far, bringing with them fresh perspective and better questions, all while Kris and Iris navigate how to approach Jolene about the secrets that now hang between them.

Iris offers up her final version of "the day that went three ways." With a plan put in place for Kris and Iris estate visit, Jolene is left to do what she does best: pound the pavement with her notepad in search of the stories that live outside the spotlight. In a series of interviews, Jolene learns more about the mysterious drone defendants, and uncovers the key that will help Break Media Collective bring this story home.

Iris provides her own coverage of May 2nd, in which she joins Annabel at the Gregory estate, hoping to uncover enough information to make sense of the sensational story that Break Media seems to be circling. Indulgence, desire, and fear rear their heads as Iris pursues Annabel's truth, only to discover she might not like what she finds lurking in the dark.

As Iris' health deteriorates on the boat, she launches into her first account of March 2nd, "the day that went three ways." Despite questions about the wisdom of seeing the story through, Iris and Kris head off to visit the Gregory estate. Kris' recordings follow him into the world of Rhys Gregory, the wealthy and influential clean energy mogul facing myserteous death threats. Kris must tread a treacherous path of deception and intrigue as he endeavours to earn Rhys's trust while snooping for the answers Break Media needs to connect the threats of their narrative.

What do a mysterious symbol, violent drone attacks, and environmental existentialism have in common? The members of the Break Media collective are determined to figure it out. Their desperate search for information in a world of surveillance leads them to the fringes of society -- from sewers, to border towns, to a tech cult compound -- where it takes their combined charisma and ingenuity to start piecing together the seemingly disparate pieces of an increasingly complex puzzle.

Still adrifit, Iris recounts the events of Feburary 21st, 2054. The threads of cases old and new begin to tie together in unsettling ways, and the Break Media collective finds itself drawn into a dangerous web of intruige. Amidst the chaos and uncertainty, the lines between journalism and personal involvement begin to blur, leaving Iris with more questions than answers.