The Official Adventures in Odyssey Podcast - podcast cover

The Official Adventures in Odyssey Podcast

Focus on the Familywww.adventuresinodyssey.com
Get the latest news and go behind-the-scenes of the world's #1 family audio drama, 'Adventures in Odyssey'! In 'The Official Adventures in Odyssey Podcast', you'll hear fun stories straight from the show's actors -- and 'Adventures in Odyssey' producers regularly answer fan questions submitted at AdventuresinOdyssey.com/Podcast. New editions available every other Wednesday. Subscribe now to get each new edition right when it releases!

Episodes

Bringing Military Authenticity to Odyssey: A Marine’s Story

Marine Josh Hosler shares how his real-life experiences shaped the Adventures in Odyssey episode “Ambush” and more. From military communication to a surprising sheep encounter, hear how he brought authenticity to the story of Ron Perkins—and even landed multiple speaking roles.

Mar 05, 202517 min

Taking Adventures in Odyssey to the next level

We’re saying goodbye to CDs in the spring of 2026 and going fully digital. That means longer storylines for your favorite characters. Less waiting between multi-part stories. More flexibility for fun, one-off episodes. But what about downloads? Will there still be 24 new episodes a year? Executive producer Dave Arnold and showrunner Marshal Younger join producer Bob Smithouser to answer questions about the transition.

Feb 19, 202515 min

Totally Random Edition

It’s Opposite Day as hosts become guests and Bob and Jesse tackle more than a dozen TRQs from our listeners!

Jan 22, 202532 min

Building “School of Hard Knocks”: Friendship, Sound Design, and New Faces

Writer Evan David and sound designer Zach Schneider reveal how they brought “School of Hard Knocks” to life. Evan shares the challenge of transforming Clubhouse Magazine’s Tori Mori into an Odyssey character and weaving her into Olivia and Zoe’s storylines. Meanwhile, Zach pulls back the curtain on crafting the polished, dynamic sound of Mapleton Prep.

Jan 08, 202519 min

Why did Buck and Jules break up? Will Jules stay in the band? Where is the live show in the timeline?

Showrunner Marshal Younger, writer/director Kathy Buchanan, writer/director Phil Lollar, and line producer Nathan Hoobler answer your  questions about Adventures in Odyssey past, present and future! From Bridget’s job changes and Wyatt’s new voice to hints about Album 78 and beyond, the team answers your most curious inquiries about Odyssey’s past, present, and future. Plus: Learn the titles of Album 78 and 79.

Dec 11, 202429 min

Rocking Manic Ravioli: The Sound of Jules’s Band

Sound designer Nathan Jones and composer John Campbell reveal how they turned “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” into a rock anthem, balanced professionalism with a touch of amateur fun, and tackled the challenges of bringing a fictional band to life.

Nov 27, 202422 min

Voicing and Writing "Express Salvation"

Dive into the making of the latest story arc with showrunner Marshal Younger and actor Dawson Griffin, the new voice of Wyatt Perkins. Why has this story been five years in the making? How did Dawson’s journey to Odyssey begin? What’s coming up for the Perkins family in the days ahead? Find out!

Nov 13, 202421 min

From Odyssey to Hollywood and back again

Writer Charlie Richards returns to Adventures in Odyssey after 24 years. Discover how his journey from Focus on the Family to a Hollywood sitcom to “The Pond” led to the latest Club adventure, “You Dirty Rat.” Plus hear a preview of the final episodes of Album 77!

Oct 30, 202423 min

Celebrating Whits everywhere with Award Winner Richard Moore

Bob and Jesse celebrate Richard Moore, this year’s Whit Award winner, with his son Chris and grandson Campbell, who nominated him! Hear how Richard’s mentorship was impacted by Whit himself and how his own mentorship has impacted others. Plus, get the latest on new Adventures in Odyssey merch and a preview of the next episode from Album 77!

Oct 16, 202422 min

The Avery Awards 2024, courtesy of AI-Oh

All the ideas for the Avery Awards have been done until Bob and Jesse employ their new digital assistant AI-Oh. From daring escapes to singing in spooky mansions, our hosts reveal the fan-voted winners from Album 75: “The Best is Yet to Come” and Album 76: “Keep it Together.”

Oct 02, 202424 min

From England to Odyssey: The Voice Behind Renee D. Carter

Caitlin Thorburn, the voice of Renee D. Carter, shares her journey from old England to New England (and back again!), mastering Renee's Scottish accent, and what fans can expect from “The Heavens Declare.”

Sep 18, 202418 min

An update with Andre Stojka

Andre Stojka had to miss One Grand Party and had a lot of people praying for him. He gives us an in-depth update on what happened and how he’s feeling now.

Sep 04, 202416 min

FREE EPISODE: “500” (plus bonus interviews!)

Relive the milestone that is halfway to 1000 as you join the folks in Odyssey for a fun behind-the-scenes look. Exclusive interviews, bloopers, a fun-filled tour of our first 500 episodes, and much more!

Aug 07, 202438 min

Focus president Jim Daly on 1000 episodes

Focus on the Family President Jim Daly travels the halls of the United States Congress, university campuses, and the State Department and finds Adventures in Odyssey fans everywhere he goes.

Jul 10, 202416 min

Who played six different parts in “Running the Race”?

In the Eric Liddell three-parter, Greg Jbara plays a Headmaster at a school in England, a Scottish track coach, a Manchester reporter, a Japanese officer, an elderly man at a concentration camp…and of course Pastor Wilson! Plus, he’ll be joining us for One Grand Party in Colorado Springs. Greg talks about all of this and more.

May 29, 202418 min

Why and how did Buck fall down the stairs?

Writer/director Kathy Buchanan and sound designer Zach Schneider discuss Buck’s first (but not last!) adventure in Baltimore – “Making an Honest Buck.”

May 15, 202422 min

Unpack all three parts of “The Rydell Realizations”

“The Rydell Realizations” is a turning point for Emily and especially for Morrie. Get into the spoiler-y details of the story and production with writer/director Phil Lollar and sound designer Luke Guento … but only after you’ve heard all three parts!

May 01, 202424 min

The five-year journey to “Running the Race”

Executive producer Dave Arnold starting outlining a story about Eric Liddell in 2019 — but the episode wasn’t written and directed by Phil Lollar until 2023 and not released until 2024. Follow the marathon production of the three-part epic. (Plus: A preview of “The Rydell Realizations, Part 3”)

Apr 17, 202424 min

The epic production of “Running the Race”

Sound designer Nathan Jones looks back on all the jogging and Olympic sprints in the first two parts of “Running the Race,” previews the final episode in a prison camp…and tells us the one thing he would save from his home.

Apr 03, 202422 min

The Chairman emerges from the shadows

Brian Cummings has played dozens of Odyssey characters from Christopher Columbus to the local soccer coach to Emperor Nero to even Jesus Christ.

Mar 21, 202423 min

Stories about Will Ryan from his wife Nancy

In our final podcast looking back at the life of Will Ryan and the creation of “The Best is Yet to Come,” Will’s wife Nancy Niparko Ryan shares stories from their time together, Will’s similarity to Eugene, and the reach of Adventures in Odyssey.

Feb 21, 202413 min

Who is Molly's mom?

Dana Powers, voice of Molly’s curiously unnamed mom, remembers auditioning, talks about voicing KitKat commercials, and shares why “One Last Treasure Hunt” is her favorite episode.

Feb 07, 202416 min

Eugene’s voice came from war-torn Ukraine

Vitalii Knya, Head of Delivery at Respeecher, tells us how they created Eugene’s line for “The Best is Yet to Come,” the technology behind their company, and what’s going on in Ukraine.

Jan 24, 202417 min

Join us to celebrate One Grand Party in Colorado Springs!

Calling all Odyssey fans! The 1,000th episode airs this year! We’re inviting fans from all over the country to join us at One Grand Party on August 2-3, 2024, in Colorado Springs. Tickets go on sale on Thursday, January 11. Get more details on today's podcast.

Jan 10, 202419 min

FREE AUDIOBOOK: "Showdown with the Shepherd"

As a special gift, hear an entire Imagination Station audiobook! More are available in the Adventures in Odyssey Club. In this adventure, Cousins Patrick and Beth go to the Holy Land in the tenth century BC. Troubles await them as soon as they step out of the Imagination Station. First they meet an angry bear and later an angry giant. Set against the backdrop of the David and Goliath story, the cousins learn that having a giant faith is more important than having a giant on your side.

Dec 27, 20231 hr 20 min

All your questions about "The Best is Yet to Come" answered

Why not let Eugene stay in Odyssey? Are you going to use the same technology to bring back old characters? Where did you get Bernard’s lines? Why did the whole family Meltsner family move? Why didn’t we hear Wooton in Eugene’s goodbye party? Are we going to get any episodes with the Meltsners in Baltimore? And most importantly, how old are all of the kids in Odyssey?! Executive producer Dave Arnold, showrunner Marshal Younger, writer/director Phil Lollar, writer/director Kathy Buchanan, and line...

Dec 12, 202326 min