The Penumbra Podcast

{{Infobox podcast

| title = The Penumbra Podcast

| image = Penumbra.png

| host = {{flatlist|1=

Harley Takagi Kaner
Kevin Vibert

}}

| genre = {{flatlist|1=

}}

| language = English

| updates = Bi-weekly{{cite web|last=Baum|first=Sarah Emily|date=January 5, 2018|title='The Penumbra' Is the Queer Audio Drama You Didn't Know You Needed|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-penumbra-is-the-queer-audio-drama-you-didnt_b_5a48f900e4b0df0de8b06b29|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903182030/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-penumbra-is-the-queer-audio-drama-you-didnt_b_5a48f900e4b0df0de8b06b29?ncid=engmodushpmg00000004|archive-date=September 3, 2021|access-date=September 3, 2021|website=HuffPost|publisher=BuzzFeed|language=en-US}}

| length = 30-50 Minutes{{cite web|last=Zhao|first=Nathan|date=June 2, 2017|title=Kevin Vibert: Making Mistakes Is the Best Way to Learn|url=https://waylandstudentpress.com/54756/articles/kevin-vibert-making-mistakes-is-the-best-way-to-learn/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811134343/https://waylandstudentpress.com/54756/articles/kevin-vibert-making-mistakes-is-the-best-way-to-learn/|archive-date=August 11, 2020|access-date=September 3, 2021|website=Wayland student press}}

| num_seasons = 5

| began = March 16, 2016

| ended = August 20, 2024

| related_shows = {{flatlist|1=

The Bright Sessions{{cite web|last=Stuparyk|first=Hannah|date=April 23, 2019|title=Top 5: Podcasts to Kill Time|url=https://thegatewayonline.ca/2019/04/top-5-podcasts/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423210656/https://thegatewayonline.ca/2019/04/top-5-podcasts/|archive-date=April 23, 2019|access-date=September 3, 2021|website=The Gateway|publisher=Gateway Student Journalism Society|language=en-CA}}{{cite web|last=Ourada|first=Kate|date=March 4, 2019|title=Top 5 Fiction Podcasts|url=https://mrhsridgereview.org/1850/entertainment/top-5-fiction-podcasts/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529034405/https://mrhsridgereview.org/1850/entertainment/top-5-fiction-podcasts/|archive-date=May 29, 2019|access-date=September 3, 2021|website=The Ridge Review}}
Alice Isn't Dead{{cite web|last=Moses|first=Jo|date=May 11, 2021|title=Student Spotlight: Julia Barker, Mills' Resident Voice Actor|url=http://www.thecampanil.com/student-spotlight-julia-barker-mills-resident-voice-actor/|url-status=live|archive-date=September 3, 2021|access-date=September 3, 2021|website=The Campanil|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903145100/http://www.thecampanil.com/student-spotlight-julia-barker-mills-resident-voice-actor/}}
Welcome to Night Vale
Wolf 359{{cite web|date=June 15, 2020|title=The Penumbra Paradigm|url=https://discoverpods.com/the-penumbra-paradigm/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830035202/https://discoverpods.com/the-penumbra-paradigm/|archive-date=August 30, 2020|access-date=September 3, 2021|website=Discover Pods|language=en-US}}
The Magnus Archives

}}

| website = {{URL|http://www.thepenumbrapodcast.com/}}

}}

The Penumbra Podcast is a science fiction and fantasy podcast created by director Harley Takagi Kaner and writer Kevin Viber.{{efn|name=publisher-name|Harley Takagi Kaner was known and credited as Sophie Kaner until 2021.}}

It mainly consists of two parallel, unrelated storylines: Juno Steel, a detective science fiction series following the investigations of the titular protagonist, and Tales of the Second Citadel, which follows a large ensemble of characters in a magical high fantasy world, plus a few self-contained and bonus episodes; although Second Citadel made up only two of the inaugural season's eighteen episodes, its would receive focus equal to Juno Steel in subsequent seasons. Most episodes of the series make up one-half of a stand-alone chapter in each storyline.

Kaner directed and sound-designed every episode of the series; Viber acted as writer and recording engineer on every episode, with Kaner as co-writer on certain Second Citadel episodes. The series premiered February 28, 2017, with the first Juno Steel story; its fifth season was its last, concluding the Second Citadel storyline on July 2, 2024, and ending the Juno Steel storyline with the Penumbra Podcast series finale on August 20, 2024.

History

The Penumbra Podcast was created by Harley Takagi Kaner and Kevin Vibert. There are two main stories within The Penumbra Podcast: The Second Citadel, which takes place inside a fantasy world where humans are battling monsters;{{cite web|last=Ponders|first=T. H.|date=June 25, 2021|title=4 Space Podcasts With Crews You'll Want to Join|url=https://www.tor.com/2021/06/25/4-space-podcasts-with-crews-youll-want-to-join/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704160419/https://www.tor.com/2021/06/25/4-space-podcasts-with-crews-youll-want-to-join/|archive-date=July 4, 2021|access-date=September 3, 2021|website=Tor.com|publisher=Macmillan Publishers|language=en-US}} and Juno Steel; a detective noir story set in the distant future.{{cite web|last=Romano|first=Aja|date=May 26, 2017|title=11 Addictive Podcasts to Indulge in Over Memorial Day Weekend|url=https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/5/26/15698356/podcast-recommendations-true-crime-fantasy-summer|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170526215222/https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/5/26/15698356/podcast-recommendations-true-crime-fantasy-summer|archive-date=May 26, 2017|access-date=September 3, 2021|website=Vox|publisher=Vox Media|language=en-US}}{{cite web|last=Levy|first=Marc|date=July 23, 2019|title=PodTales Festival of Audio Drama Is in October, Brought to You by 'Greater Boston' Podcasters|url=https://www.cambridgeday.com/2019/07/23/podtales-festival-of-audio-drama-is-in-october-brought-to-you-by-greater-boston-podcasters/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015121232/https://www.cambridgeday.com/2019/07/23/podtales-festival-of-audio-drama-is-in-october-brought-to-you-by-greater-boston-podcasters/|archive-date=October 15, 2019|access-date=September 3, 2021|website=Cambridge Day|language=en-US}} Juno is portrayed in official art as a handsome, trenchcoat-wearing black detective.{{cite web|last=Ng|first=Wei Ai|date=February 2, 2017|title='Be Gay, Do Crime' - Appreciating LGBTQ+ Representation in Fiction Podcasts|url=https://www.oxfordstudent.com/2020/02/17/be-gay-do-crime-appreciating-lgbtq-representation-in-podcasts/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213164756/https://www.oxfordstudent.com/2020/02/17/be-gay-do-crime-appreciating-lgbtq-representation-in-podcasts/|archive-date=February 13, 2021|access-date=September 3, 2021|website=The Oxford Student|publisher=Oxford Student Services|language=en-GB}}

From 2016 to 2018, The Penumbra Podcast employed artist Mikaela Buckley to make art for the characters of the podcast. In her depictions, some characters (most notably Juno Steel) were black. Some people felt that the podcast was brownwashing the characters without putting actual effort in, as the voice actors almost exclusively were white. The Penumbra Podcast issued an official apology on September 24, 2021, a few weeks after awareness about the topic was raised. Merchandise featuring Buckley's art was discontinued. The Penumbra Podcast still has her art on their website for archival purposes.{{cite web|title=The Penumbra Podcast apology|url=http://www.thepenumbrapodcast.com/regarding-race-in-our-early-artwork|url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-09|archive-date=2021-11-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109143934/http://www.thepenumbrapodcast.com/regarding-race-in-our-early-artwork}}

Reception

The Penumbra has received positive attention for its heavy LGBTQIA+ themes. The site Book Riot labeled it one of "the best fiction podcasts you need to listen to."{{cite web|last=Robertson|first=Zoe|date=April 5, 2020|title=The Best Fiction Podcasts You Need to Listen To|url=https://bookriot.com/best-fiction-podcasts/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302204300/https://bookriot.com/best-fiction-podcasts/|archive-date=March 2, 2021|access-date=September 3, 2021|website=Book Riot|publisher=Riot New Media Group|language=en-US}} Melissa Locker of The Guardian called the podcast "a storytelling show that gives classic tales a head-spinning twist".{{cite web|last=Locker|first=Melissa|date=August 15, 2016|title=The week's best podcasts: Stephen King, BoJack Horseman, Werner Herzog|url=http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/aug/15/the-weeks-best-podcasts-stephen-king-bojack-horseman-werner-herzog|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108140425/http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/aug/15/the-weeks-best-podcasts-stephen-king-bojack-horseman-werner-herzog|archive-date=November 8, 2020|access-date=September 3, 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en-GB}} It was ranked number 17 in Tumblr's 2019 list of top web series.{{cite web|title=2019's Top Web Series|url=https://fandom.tumblr.com/post/189334909694/2019-web-series|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203023832/https://fandom.tumblr.com/post/189334909694/2019-web-series|archive-date=December 3, 2019|access-date=September 3, 2019|website=Fandom on Tumblr}} Mackenzie Hubbard of The Michigan Daily, said "I've listened to [the podcast] four times and I've cried each time".{{cite web|last=Hubbard|first=Mackenzie|date=July 14, 2021|title=The Importance of the Comfort TV Episode|url=http://www.michigandaily.com/statement/the-importance-of-the-comfort-tv-episode/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715164818/http://www.michigandaily.com/statement/the-importance-of-the-comfort-tv-episode/|archive-date=July 15, 2021|access-date=September 3, 2021|website=The Michigan Daily|language=en-US}}

According to Joshua Dudley of Forbes, the podcast has won six different AudioVerse Awards.{{cite web|last=Dudley|first=Joshua|date=January 15, 2020|title=The Audio Verse Awards Announces Winners in Audio Fiction Categories for 2019|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshuadudley/2020/01/15/the-audio-verse-awards-announces-winners-in-audio-fiction-categories-for-2019/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206012948/https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshuadudley/2020/01/15/the-audio-verse-awards-announces-winners-in-audio-fiction-categories-for-2019/|archive-date=December 6, 2020|access-date=September 3, 2021|website=Forbes|language=en-US}} The podcast won "Best New Original, Long Form, Small Cast, Ongoing Production" in 2016.{{cite web|title=2016 Audio Verse Awards|date=28 December 2016 |url=https://audioverseawards.net/2016-winners/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-03|archive-date=2021-10-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006191350/https://audioverseawards.net/2016-winners/}} In 2017, "Best Actress in a Supporting role for an Ongoing, Dramatic, Production" went to Kate Jones for playing the character Rita in Penumbra, "Best Actor in a Supporting role for an Ongoing, Dramatic, Production" went to Noah Simes for playing Lord Arum, and "Best Actor in a Leading role for an Ongoing, Dramatic, Production" went to Joshua Ilon for playing Juno Steel.{{cite web|title=2017 Audio Verse Awards|date=19 December 2017 |url=https://audioverseawards.net/2017-winners/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-03|archive-date=2021-10-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006220605/https://audioverseawards.net/2017-winners/}} The podcast also won best "Audio Play Production" in 2019 along with more awards for acting.{{cite web|title=2019 Audio Verse Awards|date=22 December 2019 |url=https://audioverseawards.net/2019-winners/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-03|archive-date=2021-08-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818104055/https://audioverseawards.net/2019-winners/}}