For the most part, garbage in creates garbage out. And when you're on a super tight schedule, the quality of that garbage becomes a matter of perspective. What would be an immediate re-record session suddenly becomes "good enough" when you don't have any time left. But here's the revelation that I had when doing an audio drama this way: what you think is garbage turns out to be genius! I like to call them Happy Accidents - but I had so many of them that it starts to become art - good art! In fac...
Jun 13, 2025•9 min•Ep. 8
Do you need the best gear to record an audio drama? Do you need a full sound stage and the best microphones to record your voice actors? Do you need all your actors in that studio all at the same time? Or how about "that guy behind the glass" guy? The one everyone knows is moving around dials and switches to make all your actors sound amazing? Do you need that guy? Do you need that big room behind the glass? Do you need any of it? The short answer is, No. You don't need expensive, fancy gear or ...
Jun 13, 2025•6 min•Ep. 7
Do you need a sound library to make an audio drama? No. No, you don't. You can get away with making your own special effects. It might not be exactly what you want. But it has a few advantages: You get to decide what the sound is, rather than settling for what's available You don't have to search for a sound for hours You own it Will it be perfect? Maybe. But for a daily or homebrewed audio drama, sometimes, good enough sounds can work when you're in a rush. When you get yourself a budget and ha...
Jun 13, 2025•9 min•Ep. 6
Do you need real voice actors to make an audio drama? No. No, you don't. You can get away with your friends and family. It might not be great. It might not even be in person. But it will be recorded, edited, and done. When you get yourself a budget and have a real cast, then you can be picky. But when you're in a rush, sometimes good is the best you can hope for. Especially if you're going to do this as a daily audio drama! It is just one of the constraints that forces you to get creative when c...
May 02, 2024•6 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Are you an imposter? Of course not because Mr. Murphy is a lair! He is fear. Fear of embarrassment, fear of judgment, or fear of making a mistake. But that's all Imposter Syndrome is -- fear of the unknown! But what if it all works out? Do you know what will happen if you don't listen to that voice? The worst thing that could happen -- You could learn something. However, nothing happens if you quit and let Mr. Murphy win. Introducing Part 4 of 13 parts in my Between the Pauses mini-series that e...
Apr 05, 2024•7 min•Season 1Ep. 4
To design, create, produce, and promote a daily podcast, you have to have your ducks in a row. It requires planning -- lots of planning -- a solid format that you can use as a template. But what happens when you decide to make that podcast a scripted, fictional audio drama with voice actors, sound effects, and music? Does THAT work? Can THAT work as a daily podcast? Well, you don't have to wonder because I did just that and now I'm here to tell you what happened and what I learned. Introducing P...
Mar 08, 2024•7 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Bonus Episode #2 - Writer and director Kyle M. Bondo talks about the voices behind Pause for Dramatic Effect and describes how he creates the voices of different characters. Learn more at PauseforDramaticEffect.com . Copyright © 2024. Pause for Dramatic Effect, Gagglepod, and Oncetold. All Rights Reserved.
Feb 01, 2023•11 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Bonus Episode #1 - Writer and director Kyle M. Bondo talk about the making of Pause for Dramatic Effect and describes how he came up with the idea for this audio drama in the first place.
Jan 30, 2023•4 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Acknowledgement of additional credited and uncredited character voices.
Jan 23, 2023•3 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Thomas Black is put away in a very special prison... for now.
Jan 17, 2023•7 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Douglas finally has the courage to go home and face his estranged wife Blair.
Jan 09, 2023•6 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Douglas captures Thomas and gives him to the Guild to answer for his crimes.
Jan 01, 2023•7 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Douglas reveals how he got the upper hand on Thomas and Zababa.
Dec 30, 2022•11 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Zababa discovers that the vault contains more than just his treasure.
Dec 28, 2022•7 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Thomas loses Douglas again but manages to catch up with someone more sinister.
Dec 23, 2022•4 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Thomas Black is reunited with Douglas Dire only to discover things have changed.
Dec 16, 2022•4 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Thomas has lost the story of Douglas and now has to face an inquisition.
Dec 14, 2022•10 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Douglas finally understands what Zababa wants and plans his escape from the monster's grip.
Dec 09, 2022•10 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Douglas remembers a forgotten secret while trying to break the Shadow Man's spell.
Dec 07, 2022•8 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Douglas learns how the Shadow Man is connected to the ring.
Dec 07, 2022•7 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Douglas struggles with his grip on reality as he confronts the Shadow Man.
Dec 06, 2022•7 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Where Douglas Dire confronts the Shadow Man and discovers if he is real or only a creation of his own mind.
Dec 04, 2022•6 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Where Douglas Dire finally gets a glimpse of his watcher only to have the sighting resurrect a memory he thought he had buried back in Iraq 15 years ago.
Dec 04, 2022•7 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Douglas investigates the strange sounds only to discover he is being watched.
Dec 04, 2022•6 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Douglas begins to hear strange sounds as he struggles with his own paranoia.
Dec 04, 2022•6 min•Season 1Ep. 2
We meet Douglas Dire as he discovers a very interesting ring.
Dec 02, 2022•6 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Introducing Pause for Dramatic Effect, an audio drama podcast about a US Marine Corps veteran challenged by survivor's guilt, dark forces, and ancient magic.
Dec 01, 2022•1 min•Season 1Ep. 1
