We’re still on a short kitchen staff, so it’s just A. F. today. Our Head Chef brings you two new Stoke the Fire stories, based on prompt #11. The empanadas you just took out of the oven have exploded, and something alive is emerging. We give you “Grow-Dee” by Brayzin Narstirius “The Magic of the Kitchen” by James Silverstein We hope to be back to our usual quality and content come August and our third anniversary. Thanks for bearing with us while we’re recovering from the kitchen disaster in the...
Jul 01, 2017•20 min
Erin and A. F. were panelists at Balticon 51! Here's a discussion on writing specifically for audio, also featuring Paul E. Cooley , Veronica Giguere , P. C. Haring , and Steve Lubs.
Jun 15, 2017•55 min
The Melting Potcast's first ever live show, at Balticon 51! Erin and A. F. go about their usual antics with no possibility of edits. Start off with a Main Ingredient story by Julayne Hughes-- The Nast Pasty, based on prompt #11: THe empanadas you just took out of the oven exploded, and something alive is emerging! Follow that up with an all-live Mystery Meal, read for once by the Head Chef! We destroy Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss ! And we took suggestions for last minute What Boils My Pot! Pr...
Jun 01, 2017•47 min
The Pot cast crew introduces a brand new Word Chef in his first Main Ingredient story: Her Evening Chair by Heath Howell Melissa takes an evening to explore beyond her senses. Follow it up with a Food Critic segment about Comorbid by Lorelei Logsdon, and then a What Boils My Pot segment where Erin rants about the physical trait shopping list. Promo- Veil of Shadows by Terry Mixon...
May 01, 2017•50 min
A. F. actually got invited to be on this panel when someone couldn't show! Dirty scenes of literature are turned into madlibs with the audience's help. NSFW or small children!
Apr 16, 2017•1 hr 43 min
It is April Fool's Day, and there is plenty of foolishness going on in the Disaster Kitchen! Erin and Theo kick us off with some Botched Recipes sure to tickle your innards. Follow that up with A Little Seasoning from Balticon 50, with A. F. interviewing Lauren Scribe Harris . We close with a new Mystery Meal featuring a scene from Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe . Get out your calendars for this one, folks. Prompt #11 is now closed, so we're introducing prompt #13: Where did the corn go? The onl...
Apr 01, 2017•45 min
A short panel from Balticon 50, It Takes a Village. While independent publishing calls itself independent, it's really a group effort with a network and family. This panel discusses building and nurturing that network so creatives aren't alone. Dave Robison Veronica Giguere Walt Boyes Scott E. Pond Paul E. Cooley Sue Baiman...
Mar 15, 2017•31 min
Our March first episode brings us a new pair of Stoke the Fire stories. These are for prompt #9- You wake up alone at night with bite marks on your legs. What’s eating you? We give you: “There’s No Such Thing as Lollywogs” by Austin Malone “Me: It’s What’s for Dinner” by A. F. Grappin After the break, we have another Mystery Meal, with an early scene from Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations . Keep your eyes on our Facebook group and Twitter feed for prompts for the next Mystery Meal! Also, both...
Mar 01, 2017•34 min
Before starting this episode, have to apologize for two things. One, that it's late. Two, we got some weird buzzing in our audio that I couldn't get rid of. At least it isn't in the Main Ingredient story. Speaking of... CHEESE PIRATES by Chris A. Jackson Chris has given us the honor of producing the prequel story to his CHEESE RUNNERS trilogy. Following the story, we also have a Food Critic segment for the trilogy itself. (Spoiler alert, all three books get 4 spoons!) And we finish up with revea...
Feb 16, 2017•49 min
THEO IS BACK! Our intrepid trio of hosts is on vacation, but we're still giving you an episode! We kick off with an all new Main Ingredient story. JET PACK by J.K. Miles All that's between me and the jetpack I've always wanted is a single bureaucrat. How could things get any worse? Music- How it Begins" Kevin MacLeod ( incompetech.com ) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ We follow that up with a Mystery Meal taken from THE PRIN...
Feb 01, 2017•29 min
It's time for another panel from Balticon 50! This was the Queering the Feed panel, discussing gender and sexuality bending in media. This panel was run by Jared Axelrod of The Voice of Free Planet X and also featured A. F. Grappin, Hugh O'Donnell, Ruth Lampe, and J. R. Blackwell. Also, big reminder! We're still accepting submissions for Prompt #12- Write a story featuring some kind of mystic cheese. Until February 10, all submissions will earn their author an entry into a drawing for Audible co...
Jan 15, 2017•54 min
It's a new year with a new surprise from the Potcast crew, but that comes later. We kick off 2017 with two Stoke the Fire stories for prompt #10- An animal from outside your local ecosystem has entered nature and is breeding uncontrollably. "An Unexpected Fluffle" by Nick Kelly of the Geek Wolfpack Podcast "Lawn Care" by A. F. Grappin We follow the stories with a Mystery Meal with a scene from Animal Farm by George Orwell, and then an all new segment. Erin brings us What Boils My Pot, our new ou...
Jan 01, 2017•46 min
It's time for another Balticon Bonus Episode! This time it's a presentation by Maria V. Snyder, regarding How to Write Fight Scenes! This was a great presentation that A. F. thoroughly enjoyed. Hope you do too!
Dec 15, 2016•1 hr 25 min
Erin's in charge of the Disaster Kitchen today, bringing another hefty helping of Botched Recipes! After that, she serves up another interview from Balticon 50. It's A Little Seasoning with creator of The Voice of Free Planet X , Jared Axelrod! The Patreon patron-only episode is going to drop sometime this month. You can only get access to that episode if you are a backer, so check out our Patreon . As little as $1 an episode will get you access to the Patreon feed. That episode is going to have...
Dec 01, 2016•58 min
A. F. and Erin are still sick, but not as bad as two weeks ago. Their temperaments and bickering are definitely back to normal as they bring two new Stoke the Fire stories based on prompt #9- You wake up with bite marks on yours legs. What's eating you? "Slug Teeth" by Dan Absalonson "Monster Hunting" by Hugh J. O'Donnell They follow up with a Mystery Meal from Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. And Theo's finally back to read it! Promo- Necropolis by James Silverstein Bumper- Lauren Scr...
Nov 16, 2016•42 min
The plague has hit the Disaster Kitchen. That's right. A. F. and Erin are sick, so no lengthy notes here. We bring two orphaned Stoke the Fire stories. "The Wizard's Chamber" by Hugh J. O'Donnell "The Interview" by Scott Roche Follow that up with a Mystery Meal featuring a great scene from Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird . Bumper- Chris Lester of The Raven and the Writing Desk Promo- Esho St. Claire by Scott Roche...
Nov 02, 2016•30 min
A great discussion/presentation from Balticon 50 with Denise Clemons. There's more to a meal than just the food. Listen to find out more!
Oct 15, 2016•50 min
It's been some time since our last Food Critic segment. A. F. and Erin discuss The Thousand Names by Django Wexler . After that, Erin serves up another hefty helping of Botched Recipes. Prompt #9 is now closed. Prompt #11 is OPEN! The empanadas you just took out of the oven exploded, and something alive is emerging! We have a serious need for submission, so we're opening a call! Please check out our prompts for flash fiction, or send us a Main Ingredient story of 5000 words or less. Check out th...
Oct 01, 2016•28 min
September's midmonth episode brings A. F. and Erin back to you with some all-new Stoke the Fire stories! These are based on prompt #8- Aliens have given you a supersense. How do you use it? "Safe Scents" by A. F. Grappin "Touch" by Sarah Celiann Follow that up with A Little Seasoning with musician Kim the Comic Book Goddess . From Balticon 50, she and A. F. discuss telling stories through lyrics and music rather than prose. It's a very different sort of conversation, and one A. F. was very pleas...
Sep 15, 2016•46 min
It has been interesting trying to get this episode together. Between baby junior chef, Theo working nights, and the sudden surgery Erin ended up needing, we're just glad this episode happened at all! So we bring you not only your two beloved hosts, but a small sloo of guests! Junior Chefs Emily, Meg, and Lachlan join A. F. and Erin to bring you an all-new Main Ingredient story! Rider of the Postal Apocalypse by Martin Spernau Everyone is afraid of the mailman, but Mary doesn't quite understand w...
Sep 03, 2016•48 min
An amazing presentation/discussion on the craft of writing with Connie Willis from Balticon 50! You need to listen to get everything out of it! Don't forget that voting is still open for our second Cookoff Challenge. You can vote on Facebook and Twitter! Hurry, because it closes on August 21st!
Aug 15, 2016•1 hr 6 min
Two years already we've been doing The Melting Potcast, and we have no intention of stopping! As proof, A. F. (whose birthday is today, too) and Erin (whose birthday is NOT today) bring you the stories for our second Cookoff Challenge. Two authors, head to head, for prompt #8- Aliens have given you a supersense. How do you use it. Sniffing Out Trouble by Scott Roche Head Lights by Austin Malone Sorry, but we're still not playing a Mystery Meal this episode. They ARE coming, we promise! We bring ...
Aug 01, 2016•56 min
Once again, we have no idea where A. F. has disappeared to, so it falls to new mother (again) Erin to host an episode. Before the rigors of Mommy-Brain set in, here's what this midmonth episode brings! Main Ingredient story- The Cost of Freedom by Jeff Brackett Deep in cyberspace, a hacker encounters a frighteningly tough defense system: a soldier named Guardian. Sean has no choice but to fight... and to figure out how to beat the most advanced program he's ever seen. And then, since it's Erin, ...
Jul 15, 2016•27 min
The oven timer FINALLY went off! Grillmistress Erin and Theo have welcomed their little bun in the oven into the world! We have a new Junior Chef in the kitchen, so it's only A.F. today, bringing you two new Stoke the Fire stories. These are for Prompt #6- Why is everyone afraid of the mailman? "Special Delivery" by Terrie Keenan "Postal" by Linton Bowers Both are brand new Word Chefs, so hooray for new blood! A.F. also brings on the first interview from Balticon 50, A Little Seasoning with Mich...
Jul 01, 2016•40 min
Sorry to immediately have another panel episode for the midmonth, but we're still reeling from Erin's pregnancy, and things will be a little touch-and-go for a few months as we settle into having the baby around. You'll probably be hearing more A.F. than the others, and maybe even some new voices helping fill the gaps while the whole maternity thing is still fresh. We will have a new Stoke the Fire episode on July 1. For now, enjoy the first of our recorded panels from Balticon 50: Creating Beli...
Jun 15, 2016•1 hr 21 min
A. F. just got back from Balticon , and there is much sleep to be had. There will be tons of great audio in the year to come, between panels, interviews, and other fun. But for now, it's time to play another bit of Seasoning from last year's Balticon. A. F. and Erin interview JRD, Jaymay, and Opopanax from SkinnerCo and the Flash Pulp podcast. Follow that up with a brand new Mystery Meal of the creation of the monster in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein . Bumper- Nobilis Reed of the Nobilis Erotica P...
Jun 01, 2016•25 min
It's almost time for Balticon 50, so here's the last of the panels we recorded at Balticon 49! Since this was recorded, a decision has been made about whether our Grillmistress Erin will be at Balticon. Sadly, she will not be in attendance. A. F. will still be there, so don't be surprised if you get a microphone shoved in your face!
May 15, 2016•52 min
It's May, and the Potcast crew is bringing you a new Main Ingredient story! "Osiris O'Cyrus and the Nexus of Hells" by James Silverstein Occult investigator Osiris O'Cyrus regales an English gentleman of an adventure into the nature of Hell. But the tale hits a little close to home when an inhuman creature is revealed. Special thanks to Kevin McLeod of Incompetech for the music. "The Complex" Kevin MacLeod ( incompetech.com ) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License After that...
May 01, 2016•39 min
It's episode 28, and A. F. is working hard on your next Main Ingredient story, so Erin is at the helm! Some of the audio quality turned out crap, due to being rushed. Hopefully this won't happen again. Sorry, folks! First, she brings you the last bits of interview A. F. had back in October with the Archmage Ed Greenwood . It's not much, and the audio is a little wonky, and there's not really an intro, but you get the idea. There is a little bit of fun that we just really didn't want you to miss ...
Apr 15, 2016•27 min
It's April Fool's Day, and we're not doing an April Fool's episode because we've grown into adults now. Not really, but this is a real episode. First up is a Main Ingredient story based on a Stoke the Fire prompt. Prompt #4- A company has just received an order of "fledges." They did not order these. We present "F.L.E.D.G.E.S." by Scott Roche Special thanks to Paul K. Ellis for lending his voice for this story. After that, we bring back the Food Critic segment. A.F. tells all about Genrenauts by...
Apr 01, 2016•50 min
