Episode 7: Eyes Open

Kove gets more than she bargained for. Content Warnings -- this episode contains the following: Depictions of an emotionally abusive relationship; Implications of past sexual coercion; Discussion of pregnancy and a mention of abortion; Attempted murder via strangulation (cis man to cis man); Implied loss of free will; Mild vomit/coughing noises at 50:21; Intense mental torture/pain noises from 51:02 - 52:10 Shrill screams interspersed between 50:24 - 52:20 Episode transcripts available at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1yEaSAC7SjgbMT3VxG2ojYeeBhVDYexot?usp=drive_link Duststone Theme by Teala Torres, heard at the beginning of the episode. In this episode, you heard: Jayde Violet Hampton-VanSant as Kove Nyx Calder as Arius Rosemund David John-Bores as Deveraux Menzi Althea Walmisley as Belvidere Vallis Savy Des-Etages as Juneaux Menzi Kit Paterson as Young Arius Amy D. Davis and Katelyn Martin as Coriander Moe Finch as the Voice of the Credits Crew: Executive Producer, Writer, Director: Bren McQuillan Sound Designer, Primary Mix Engineer, Co-Mastering Engineer: Bren McQuillan Secondary Mix Engineer & Co-Mastering Engineer: Aaron Paolucci SFX and additional music courtesy of Epidemic Sound. Episode art by Bren McQuillan.

While Episode 7 is baking in the oven, I'd love to present the trailer for Witchpunk -- a cyberpunk epic from Citeog Podcasts. Its entire first season is out now and I highly recommend checking it out! If you like the themes, worldbuilding, and sound design in Dustwalker, you'll probably love Witchpunk. Listen to Witchpunk by searching for the show on your podcatcher of choice, or follow the link here: https://pod.link/1890465291 Witchpunk is a dystopian, cyberpunk, science fiction audio drama. 22nd Century America is crumbling from relentless climate change, collapsing supply chains and recurrent pandemics. Brash cities like New New York are built inland from their flooded originals. The Mid-West is militia-controlled as civil war 3.1 plays out, and the South belongs to the extremist Dominion. Corporations struggle for ascendency while new quantum technology has leaked onto the streets and been repurposed by street witches ("Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic”). Large swathes of the population have been reduced to nomadic status, migrating in their RV’s from one Park and Work to another, while the wealthy watch from the orbitals overhead. For the crew of the semi-legit landship, the Strega, it’s the first job since the death of their captain, Devereaux, and they had hoped this job would be an easy one - get the cargo from Mexico City to St Louis and a data package to flooded Manhattan. But there’s something very odd about the cargo and the strain is beginning to tell on them. Season One follows the crew of the Strega as they navigate ambushes, hurricanes, betrayals and corporate warfare, en route to old New York. What are they carrying? More importantly, have they been set up and will they make it all the way? Henry, their pilot, seeks to step up into the captain’s role while secretly still looking for Devereaux, not convinced she is dead. Alice, their combat witch, is torn between the family life she has built for herself and her need for the thrill of violence. Franklin, ex-corporate gunman, brings the firepower but is acutely aware that he is getting too old for the job. Roya, an escaped con, will join the team as their hacker, mainly because she doesn’t have any other plan to survive.

The Eye is no longer safe. Has it ever been? Content Warnings: This episode contains distant explosions from 0:03-0:05, discussion of human experimentation, references to a past abusive relationship, and contains several instances of high-pitched shrieking. Timestamps are listed below. Listener discretion is advised. Shrill screams interspersed between 51:44-53:02 Episode transcripts available at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1yEaSAC7SjgbMT3VxG2ojYeeBhVDYexot?usp=sharing Duststone Theme by Teala Torres, heard at the end of the security hearing. In this episode, you heard: Jayde Violet Hampton-VanSant as Kove Nyx Calder as Arius Rosemund David John-Bores as Deveraux Menzi Dylan Nguyen as Orator Tuân & additional voices Luiza Mendes as Senator Dahlia Adam Robinson as Archjudge Runo Edwyn Tiong as Security Advisor Sunn Nina Nikolic as Counselor Little Lobstrosity as Senator Althea Walmisley as Senator Lysander Trenton Butt as Jean the Reporter Moe Finch as the Voice of the Credits Dustwalker screams curtesy of Savy Des-Etages. Crew: Executive Producer, Writer, Director: Bren McQuillan Sound Designer, Primary Mix Engineer, Co-Mastering Engineer: Bren McQuillan Secondary Mix Engineer & Co-Mastering Engineer: Aaron Paolucci Additional Music Credits: Vivaldi: The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8 No. 1, RV 269 "Spring": II. Largo e pianissimo sempre, performed by Michelle Ross, Eric Jacobsen, Odyssey Orchestra Mozart: Violin Sonata in E minor, K. 304 I. Allegro, performed by Conway Kuo, Blair McMillen Marker 0 by Luba Hilman Jordskred by Anna Dager, Hanna Ekström Insanity Unleashed by Stefan Ekström SFX and additional music courtesy of Epidemic Sound. Cane SFX courtesy of Maddie Cooper on Freesound.org. Episode art by Bren McQuillan. Website

I’m very excited to present the trailer for The Twelvelms Conspiracy, a fantasy mystery audio drama by Eira Major, the creator of Remnants, Not Quite Dead and Spirit Box Radio. It’s one of my favorite shows at the moment — intriguing, disturbing at times, and filled with well-thought-out magic and mythology. If you’re enjoying the worldbuilding and intrigue of Dustwalker, you’ll probably love Twelvelms. Set in a magical world hidden just out of sight, it’s a story fraught with social and class tension, exploring what it means to belong, and what it means to live with the legacy of terrible decisions made generations ago, whose consequences have shaped everything around you. Cyan Goodman does not belong at twelvelms and everyone knows it. Especially him. The university has trained the finest mages in magedom for centuries, but Cyan only found out it existed two weeks ago. Out of his depth, with nowhere else to go, Cyan is allowed to enroll at Twelvelms under one condition; that he keeps the circumstances under which he was admitted completely secret. To make things more complicated, the only reason he was given a space at the school at all is because another boy has gone missing, under extremely mysterious circumstances. It seems like there’s a much bigger problem lurking just out of sight at Twelvelms, one which reaches far beyond Cyan’s secrets and into the foundations of magedom itself. Cyan narrates his story years after these events, and his circumstances have become even stranger... Find out more at [https://hangingslothstudios.com/twelvelms/ ](

Maybe there's more to Arius than meets the eye. Content Warnings: This episode contains cursing, depictions of heavy drinking, discussion of an unwanted pregnancy, references to a past abusive relationship, and distant explosions from 1:11:03 through 1:11:40. Not intended for kids. Listener discretion is advised. Episode transcripts In this episode, you heard: Jayde Violet Hampton-VanSant as Kove Nyx Calder as Arius Rosemund Kit Paterson as Young Arius Kadecia as Romina Amy D. Davis and Katelyn Martin as Coriander Trenton Butt as Sterling Kirsty Woolven as Cirrus Moe Finch as the Voice of the Credits Additional Voices: Althea Walmisley as Student Savy Des-Etages as Woman Additional music credits: Duplicity by Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen and Karoliina Gabel Crazy Blues and Mem'ries of You, Mammy by Mamie Smith, heard during the tonic scene Eleven Steps Ahead by Stefan Ekström Dauntless by Hanna Ekström, heard during Arius' memory sequence Unconventional Wisdom by Howard Harper-Barnes Epilogue by Hanna Ekström and DEX 1200 Decomposed by Philip Ayers Crew: Executive Producer, Writer, Director: Bren McQuillan Sound Designer, Primary Mix Engineer, Co-Mastering Engineer: Bren McQuillan Secondary Mix Engineer & Co-Mastering Engineer: Aaron Paolucci SFX and additional music courtesy of Epidemic Sound. Episode art by Bren McQuillan. Support the show on Patreon

Kove gets a taste of Church politics. Arius introduces her to the Order. Content Warnings: This episode contains several instances of high-pitched shrieking. Timestamps are listed below. Listener discretion is advised. Loud screams interspersed between 28:28-28:59 Distant screams at 37:38 and 38:22 Loud screams between 38:41-38:52 Episode transcripts Dustwalker Original Theme by Teala Torres. In this episode, you heard: Jayde Violet Hampton-VanSant as Kove Nyx Calder as Arius Rosemund Althea Walmisley as Senator Lysander Nicky Benoit as Lily David John-Bores as Deveraux Menzi Dylan Nguyen as Orator Tuân & additional voices Luiza Mendes as Senator Dahlia Amy D. Davis and Katelyn Martin as Coriander Moe Finch as the Voice of the Credits Additional Voices: Little Lobstrosity as Senator Dylan Nguyen as Advisor Josephine Sweet as Mysterious Lady Kirsty Woolven as Mysterious Girl Dustwalker screams curtesy of Savy Des-Etages. Additional music credits: The Search by Hanna Ekström, Anna Dager Duststone Theme by Teala Torres Enter the Realm of Shadows by Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen Mimicry by Gavin Luke Distressed by Hanna Ekström, Anna Dager Crew: Executive Producer, Writer, Director: Bren McQuillan Sound Designer, Primary Mix Engineer, Co-Mastering Engineer: Bren McQuillan Secondary Mix Engineer & Co-Mastering Engineer: Aaron Paolucci SFX and additional music courtesy of Epidemic Sound. Cane SFX courtesy of Maddie Cooper on Freesound.org. Episode art by Bren McQuillan. Website

The Eye. What strange world is this? Content Warnings: This episode contains cursing and discussion of systemic transphobia & misogyny. Not intended for kids. Listener discretion is advised. Episode transcripts Dustwalker Original Theme by Teala Torres. In this episode, you heard: Jayde Violet Hampton-VanSant as Kove Nyx Calder as Arius Rosemund Amy D. Davis and Katelyn Martin as Coriander Moe Finch as the Voice of the Credits Additional music credits: La Capricieuse, Op.17 performed by Blair McMillen, Conway Kuo Waltz for Fryderyk and George by Beyza The Search by Hanna Ekström, Anna Dager Crew: Executive Producer, Writer, Director: Bren McQuillan Sound Designer, Primary Mix Engineer, Co-Mastering Engineer: Bren McQuillan Secondary Mix Engineer & Co-Mastering Engineer: Aaron Paolucci SFX and additional music courtesy of Epidemic Sound. Episode art by Bren McQuillan. Support the show on Patreon

Arius makes an offer. Kove throws herself into danger—again. Content Warnings: This episode contains cursing, discussion of an authoritarian theocracy, and discussion of parental death. Not intended for kids. Listener discretion is advised. Episode transcripts Dustwalker Original Theme by Teala Torres. A Knight's Vigil was written and performed by Nyx Calder and produced by Teala Torres. In this episode, you heard: Jayde Violet Hampton-VanSant as Kove Nyx Calder as Arius Rosemund Randal L. Wung as Byron the Barkeep Kadecia as Romina Little Lobstrosity as the Crown Patriarch Moe Finch as the Voice of the Credits Additional Voices: MADginary as City Announcer Additional music credits: Ama by Harbours & Oceans Tvivel by Hanna Ekström and Anna Dager Kanji by Aerian, Hanna Ekström, and Anna Dager Lumina by Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen Collusion by Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen Wheel of Mystery by Hanna Ekström, Anna Dager, and Anna Landström Crew: Executive Producer, Writer, Director: Bren McQuillan Sound Designer, Primary Mix Engineer, Co-Mastering Engineer: Bren McQuillan Secondary Mix Engineer & Co-Mastering Engineer: Aaron Paolucci SFX and additional music courtesy of Epidemic Sound. Episode art by Bren McQuillan.

A bird hounds Kove's mistakes, and a stranger comes to visit. Content Warnings: This episode contains a high-speed vehicle crash, sci-fi gunfire and explosions, implied death, cursing, and discussion of an authoritarian theocracy. Not intended for kids. Listener discretion is advised. Episode transcripts Dustwalker Original Theme by Teala Torres. Florence Russell by Four Degrees Colder, heard during the market scene. In this episode, you heard: Jayde Violet Hampton-VanSant as Kove Nyx Calder as Arius Rosemund Maganda Marie as Jex Nicky Benoit as Lily David John-Bores as Deveraux Menzi Amy D. Davis and Katelyn Martin as Coriander & additional voices Althea Walmisley as Senator Lysander Dylan Nguyen as Orator Tuân & additional voices Luiza Mendes as Senator Dahlia Audrey J. Williams as Ms. Greene Blake Bishop as Fin & additional voices Little Lobstrosity as the Crown Patriarch & additional voices Kit Paterson as Mysterious Young Man Moe Finch as the Voice of the Credits Additional Voices: Wol as Guard Randal L. Wung as Driver Kadecia as News Reporter MADginary as City Announcer Paper as Market Seller Anne L.P. as Market Customer Additional music credits: Gravity of Fragile by DEX 1200 The Closing by Hanna Ekström and Anna Dager Crew: Executive Producer, Writer, Director: Bren McQuillan Sound Designer, Primary Mix Engineer, Co-Mastering Engineer: Bren McQuillan Secondary Mix Engineer & Co-Mastering Engineer: Aaron Paolucci SFX and additional music courtesy of Epidemic Sound. Cane SFX courtesy of Maddie Cooper on Freesound.org. Episode art by Bren McQuillan. Website

Episode 1: This Bird Heralds Death released November 20th, 2025. DUSTWALKER is a full-cast, sci-fantasy audio drama following a shaky alliance between a transfem teen and a powerful politician—a trans man who was meant to be her adoptive father. Taking place on a post-cataclysm earth, the two navigate a dangerous magic system in hopes to tear down their city-state’s regime… and maybe grow to care for each other along the way. Trailer starring, in order of appearance: Kadecia, Nyx Calder, and Jayde Violet Hampton-VanSant. Featured music is The Mist by Gavin Luke. Show art by Bren McQuillan. Website