Some say the 90s are dead and gone. But here, they linger.

So gather close for a story of Holy Week, a cross necklace from the 90s, and the secret under the church cemetery.

I call it: THE CROSS

SPARTANS! is getting its own Substack. For now, through the end of Season One (late April 2026), you can listen to SPARTANS here at Legends and/or at the new SPARTANS Substack.

But first, a couple words.

Minisodes Coming in Late April

The final episode of SPARTANS! Season One (THE FLANNEL) drops in a month. After that, we’ll kick off an 8-week minisode series called THE METAL—an exclusive run only for paid subscribers.

You’ll get to stay in Maplewood-Sparta for an extra two months and learn more about the mysteries that surrounded the year prior to Ethan’s death.

THE METAL, 8 minisodes, starting April 28, 2026: In Maplewood-Sparta, the metal kids (Wendy, Ethan, Brandy, and Tony) think they are invisible to everyone but each other—until something in the cemetery starts watching them. What begins as a night of music, fun, and rebellion begins the slow unraveling of the group. And as hot-headed Wendy discovers her witchy heritage, she must learn  there is a fine line between protecting and binding.

Episodes with Commerical Music Moving Behind a Paywall
SPARTANS! episodes that include commercial music will also stay available for paid subscribers. Free subscribers will still have access to every episode here on Legends and at the new Spartans Substack—just without the commercial tracks.

So, if you love SPARTANS, consider becoming a paid subscriber. It helps us pay actors and keep those suburban street lights on.

And now… March’s episode: THE CROSS.

THE CROSS

This episode of SPARTANS! takes place in the present day. It’s Holy Week at Holy Ghost High and a marble statue of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha vanishes from the school chapel without a scrape, a scuff, or a single fleck of dust. Cassie—an anxious, brilliant, intensely private freshman who trusts books more than people—overhears teachers whispering that the disappearance could become a scandal, especially because Father Joe, the school’s beloved Social Studies teacher, may be blamed… and forced to resign under diocesan pressure.

Drawn by equal parts devotion and detective instinct, Cassie investigates.

In the library’s back stacks she finds parish annals, an old marginal note about a “passageway,” and a tarnished 90s cross necklace engraved with the name NOAH—an echo from the Maplewood-Sparta orbit that ties this mystery to earlier episodes. As the Stations of the Cross unfold, Cassie feels the necklace tug and warm like a compass. The story deepens into a spiritual thriller: whispers of vandalism, the politics of sainthood, and the uneasy overlap between holiness and cultural erasure. Following hidden signs beyond the cemetery fence—small wooden crosses left like breadcrumbs—Cassie discovers a sealed grate and descends into a forgotten tunnel.

If SPARTANS! has meant something to you these last 7 months, please like, share, comment here at Substack.

Or if you listen on Spotify, give it a rating and comment.

And please share with anyone you think would love it. It all helps the show find the people it’s meant to find. Thank you.

Campfire Rating for THE CROSS

🕯️ Candlelight (10+)

Advisory: Catholic prayer/saints; respectful discussion of sensitive history; mild tunnel/cemetery peril (no graphic content).

Campfire Scale

To help listeners choose the right vibe for their listening, each episode will be marked with a rating on our Campfire Scale.

Meet the Narrator

Chaia Alyss (she/her) is a juggler: actress, artist, social media personality, cosplayer, software engineer, and tosser of flaming objects. She loves telling complicated stories in rich worlds, and works to find the humanity in every character she brings to life. You can hear her voice as Evie in The Artisan Who Made Me, the narrator of Ringmaster by Abraham Josephine Riesman, and many other places. She lives in California with her loving fiancé and a very strange cat.

Meet the Writer

It’s me!

If you like my writing, there’s more where that came from at Legends of the Lost Substack—where I share my personal essays, research, stories, and writing about writing. And hang out with me behind-the-scenes on Instagram @miraclefieldnotes.

The Spartans! Series

SPARTANS! is a teen ghost story anthology—think “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” meets haunted mixtapes and 90s nostalgia.

Written by Nina Alvarez and narrated by professional voice actors, each episode is tied to a different haunted 90s wearable: a leather jacket, a friendship bracelet, a choker, a flannel . . . And to a holiday. Homecoming, Halloween, Christmas . . . The kind of objects and moments that carry memory, grief, and magic.

So gather close for spooky campfire tales woven together stand by strand like a friendship bracelet.

Show Schedule

On the second-to-last Wednesday of every month, we’ll premier a new episode—working out the kinks, building community, and (fingers crossed) raising funds.

Paid subscribers will get early access to the episode on Mondays, two days before free subscribers.

And all episodes will post without the commercial music to Spotify, Apple, YouTube, Amazon Music, and Audible the following Friday.

SPARTANS! Behind-the-Scenes

Follow @Spartans_Radio on instagram for episode updates, audio, pics, behind-the-scenes, 90s nostalgia, and Easter eggs.

The Word on the Suburban Streets

“Just listened to THE JACKET. It was so good. I had chills at the end.”
— Juliette P, New York

“I believe your writing is valuable because of my instant response to it. I immediately felt in sync with the tone of the story telling for the campfire series. I found myself listening to the first two chapters (THE JACKET and THE BRACELET) over and over—then even shared with it my students, who loved it. I became a paid subscriber to get early access to new episodes.”
— Jen S, New York

“We listened to THE JACKET last night as our bedtime story. We lit a candle. I felt like I had crawled into the main character’s skin—into the leather jacket. It was such a refreshing way to spend the evening, so counter to the media culture of TV and phones. People are going to love it.”
— Rebecca Joy, Massachusetts

“Well, this has become my favorite podcast to listen to.”
— Kristina D, Maryland

“Thank you for sharing these wonderful stories of the 90s with us.”
— Scott L, Massachusetts

“THE CHAIN is awesome! I would LOVE to see a short film of this story with all the transformations of Jenny!”
— Audrey M, Washington

We’ll see you by the fire.

The Spartans aren’t finished with you yet.

-Nina

Some say the 90s are dead and gone. But here, they linger.

So gather close for a story of the Valentine’s Day 1995, secret love, and a princess with two faces.

I call it: THE STARTER

Before we step back to the mid-90s, a quick reminder: this Substack is made up of a few different sections—Legends of the Lost, the Legends of the Lost podcast, Bluff Point Ruins, The Dim, and the SPARTANS! podcast—and you can choose which ones to you want to receive here.

In the shadowed ballfields of Maplewood-Sparta, Patrick has always been the relief pitcher, always waiting for his shot to start, to finally matter. But with his future and a college scholarship on the line, and his best friend Mike burning with his own hunger for glory, they turn their old team captain, who reveals a simple, dangerous ritual: knot a thread torn from something you wear proud (a Starter jacket), speak a magic spell, burn the thread—and “withdraw” luck from your life’s fixed account.

The risk: no one knows how much luck they have to spend, or what’s left after the cheers fade.

As the Spartans’ 1995 baseball season unfolds and Saint Patrick’s Day approaches, Patrick is forced to reckon with what he’s willing to risk for a chance at greatness.

Told around a campfire by his younger brother, Owen, this is the story of a high school senior Patrick (THE CHAIN) who stands on the edge of everything he’s ever wanted—and the question of it he will ever be enough to achieve it.

For early access to episodes, extra behind-the-scenes content, and to help fund voice actors, sound design software, and music rights, become a paid subscriber at The Codex, Legends of the Lost, or join our Patreon at the Spartans! tier.

Campfire Rating for THE STARTER

🌙 Lantern (Teen / PG-13)

Advisory: Underage alcohol presence, mild profanity.

Campfire Scale

To help listeners choose the right vibe for their listening, each episode will be marked with a rating on our Campfire Scale.

Listen to Owen’s Burned CD

The music from THE STARTER on Spotify:

Meet the Narrator

Johnny Penney is a Boston-based actor and arts educator with ten years of experience on and off the stage. His voice can be heard in audio series such as Tales from the Janitor, Your Horror Show, and The Distant Silence Radio Hour, and now SPARTANS!, as well as in video games such as The Jester and the Madman and Nightmare Shift. He has a passion for woodworking, mystery novels, tabletop RPGs, and spending time with his family.

Meet the Writer

It’s me!

If you like my writing, there’s more where that came from at Legends of the Lost Substack—where I share my personal essays, research, stories, and writing about writing. And hang out with me behind-the-scenes on Instagram @miraclefieldnotes.

The Spartans! Series

SPARTANS! is a teen ghost story anthology—think “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” meets haunted mixtapes and 90s nostalgia.

Written by Nina Alvarez and narrated by professional voice actors, each episode is tied to a different haunted 90s wearable: a leather jacket, a friendship bracelet, a choker, a flannel . . . And to a holiday. Homecoming, Halloween, Christmas . . . The kind of objects and moments that carry memory, grief, and magic.

So gather close for spooky campfire tales woven together stand by strand like a friendship bracelet.

Show Schedule

On the second-to-last Wednesday of every month, we’ll premier a new episode—working out the kinks, building community, and (fingers crossed) raising funds to secure the music rights to someday be able to release it with the commercial music on major podcast platforms. For now, though, you’ll hear the music as it was meant to be—just for our private campfire circle.

Paid subscribers will get early access to the episode on Mondays, two days before free subscribers.

And all episodes will post without the commercial music to Spotify, Apple, YouTube, Amazon Music, and Audible the following Friday.

SPARTANS! Behind-the-Scenes

Follow @Spartans_Radio for episode updates, audio, pics, behind-the-scenes, 90s nostalgia, and Easter eggs.

The Word on the Suburban Streets

“Just listened to THE JACKET. It was so good. I had chills at the end.”
— Juliette P, New York

“I believe your writing is valuable because of my instant response to it. I immediately felt in sync with the tone of the story telling for the campfire series. I found myself listening to the first two chapters (THE JACKET and THE BRACELET) over and over—then even shared with it my students, who loved it. I became a paid subscriber to get early access to new episodes.”
— Jen S, New York

“We listened to THE JACKET last night as our bedtime story. We lit a candle. I felt like I had crawled into the main character’s skin—into the leather jacket. It was such a refreshing way to spend the evening, so counter to the media culture of TV and phones. People are going to love it.”
— Rebecca Joy, Massachusetts

“Well, this has become my favorite podcast to listen to.”
— Kristina D, Maryland

“Thank you for sharing these wonderful stories of the 90s with us.”
— Scott L, Massachusetts

“THE CHAIN is awesome! I would LOVE to see a short film of this story with all the transformations of Jenny!”
— Audrey M, Washington

Join the Campfire Circle

For discussion, 90s nostalgia, and behind-the-scenes fun, join our Campfire Circle Facebook group.

For early access to episodes, extra behind-the-scenes content, and to help fund voice actors, sound design software, and music rights, become a paid subscriber at The Codex, Legends of the Lost, or join our Patreon at the Spartans! tier.

We’ll see you by the fire.

The Spartans aren’t finished with you yet.

-Nina

SPARTANS! is back with its fifth episode: THE CHOKER.

Welcome to Maplewood-Sparta, where suburban streets are lined with shadows.

Some say the 90s are dead and gone. But here, they linger.

So gather close for a story of the Valentine’s Day 1995, secret love, and a princess with two faces.

I call it: THE CHOKER

Before we step back to the mid-90s, a quick reminder: this Substack is made up of a few different sections—Legends of the Lost, the Legends of the Lost podcast, Bluff Point Ruins, The Dim, and the SPARTANS! podcast—and you can choose which ones to you want to receive here.

Great. You’re coming with me.

Follow me into the shadows of the mid-’90s, when a secret love and a velvet choker threatened to unravel a princess of Maplewood-Sparta, and where the price of silence is a piece of your soul.

Gabriella (previously introduced in THE JACKET and THE CHAIN) finds herself torn between the expectations of her friends and the reality of her forbidden romance with Ethan—a boy from the wrong side of every social line. Their love is hidden away in a church basement, whispered through mixtapes, and marked by the gift of a velvet choker: a token of devotion and the weight of everything left unsaid.

As the seasons change, Gabriella’s world fractures under the pressure of secrets and betrayals. Mysterious Polaroids begin to circulate, exposing the private shames of her once-invincible friend group, and the line between victim and villain blurs. Haunted by grief, divided selves, and the memory of a boy who changed her forever, Gabriella must finally learn what it truly means to belong.

For early access to episodes, extra behind-the-scenes content, and to help fund voice actors, sound design software, and music rights, become a paid subscriber at The Codex, Legends of the Lost, or join our Patreon at the Spartans! tier.

Campfire Rating for THE CHOKER

🌙 Lantern (Teen / PG-13)

Advisory: Death & grief; bullying/social cruelty; haunting imagery; mild profanity; reference to suicide (Kurt Cobain).

Campfire Scale

To help listeners choose the right vibe for their listening, each episode will be marked with a rating on our Campfire Scale.

Listen to Gabriella’s Mixtape

The music from THE CHOKER on Spotify:

Meet the Narrator

D Casellian is a voice actor and aerialist with a mighty need to spice up everyday life with dreamy possibility. Specializing in character work, she can be heard in video games on every major console, as well as in a variety of audio dramas and audiobooks. When not screaming behind the mic or in the air, she enjoys spending time with her kid and her black cat. You can find more of her work at her website, dcasellian.com, or follow her on Instagram (@dcasellian) for quality nonsense.

Meet the Writer

It’s me!

If you like my writing, there’s more where that came from at Legends of the Lost Substack—where I share my personal essays, research, stories, and writing about writing. And hang out with me behind-the-scenes on Instagram @miraclefieldnotes.

The Spartans! Series

SPARTANS! is a teen ghost story anthology—think “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” meets haunted mixtapes and 90s nostalgia.

Written by Nina Alvarez and narrated by professional voice actors, each episode is tied to a different haunted 90s wearable: a leather jacket, a friendship bracelet, a choker, a flannel . . . And to a holiday. Homecoming, Halloween, Christmas . . . The kind of objects and moments that carry memory, grief, and magic.

So gather close for spooky campfire tales woven together stand by strand like a friendship bracelet.

Show Schedule

On the second-to-last Wednesday of every month, we’ll premier a new episode—working out the kinks, building community, and (fingers crossed) raising funds to secure the music rights to someday be able to release it with the commercial music on major podcast platforms. For now, though, you’ll hear the music as it was meant to be—just for our private campfire circle.

Paid subscribers will get early access to the episode on Mondays, two days before free subscribers.

And all episodes will post without the commercial music to Spotify, Apple, YouTube, Amazon Music, and Audible the following Friday.

SPARTANS! Behind-the-Scenes

Follow @Spartans_Radio for episode updates, audio, pics, behind-the-scenes, 90s nostalgia, and Easter eggs.

The Word on the Suburban Streets

“Just listened to THE JACKET. It was so good. I had chills at the end.”
— Juliette P, New York

“I believe your writing is valuable because of my instant response to it. I immediately felt in sync with the tone of the story telling for the campfire series. I found myself listening to the first two chapters (THE JACKET and THE BRACELET) over and over—then even shared with it my students, who loved it. I became a paid subscriber to get early access to new episodes.”
— Jen S, New York

“We listened to THE JACKET last night as our bedtime story. We lit a candle. I felt like I had crawled into the main character’s skin—into the leather jacket. It was such a refreshing way to spend the evening, so counter to the media culture of TV and phones. People are going to love it.”
— Rebecca Joy, Massachusetts

“Well, this has become my favorite podcast to listen to.”
— Kristina D, Maryland

“Thank you for sharing these wonderful stories of the 90s with us.”
— Scott L, Massachusetts

“THE CHAIN is awesome! I would LOVE to see a short film of this story with all the transformations of Jenny!”
— Audrey O, Washington

Join the Campfire Circle

For discussion, 90s nostalgia, and behind-the-scenes fun, join our Campfire Circle Facebook group.

For early access to episodes, extra behind-the-scenes content, and to help fund voice actors, sound design software, and music rights, become a paid subscriber at The Codex, Legends of the Lost, or join our Patreon at the Spartans! tier.

We’ll see you by the fire.

The Spartans aren’t finished with you yet.

-Nina

Subscribe now

Leave a comment

This month’s episode of SPARTANS! comes a week early so Jenny can have her moment.

You wouldn’t want to piss her off, would you?

Welcome to Maplewood-Sparta, where suburban streets are lined with shadows.

Some say the 90s are dead and gone. But here, they linger.

So gather close for a story of the Winter Solstice 1994, a Chanel double chain belt, and a mean girl’s Krampus curse.

I call it: THE CHAIN

Before we step into the Christmas party, a quick reminder: this Substack is made up of a few different sections—Legends of the Lost, the Legends of the Lost podcast, Bluff Point Ruins, The Dim, and the SPARTANS! podcast—and you can choose which ones to you want to receive here.

Set in Maplewood-Sparta during a blizzard on the Winter Solstice of 1994, THE CHAIN is a bottle episode: a single night that shatters a high-school hierarchy.

Alison hosts a lavish Christmas party at her family’s old house, where the most popular girls in school gather—led by Jenny, their magnetic but cruel queen bee. Dressed in black velvet and a gold Chanel chain, Jenny rules the room with sharp smiles and quieter resentments, especially toward her friend Gabriella, whose effortless confidence has begun to eclipse hers.

Among the guests is Patrick, who serves as the story’s narrator. Patrick entertains the group by telling a legend about Krampus—the Christmas demon who punishes “those who deserve it” with chains and whips.

Jenny, half-mocking and half-tempting fate, rings a sleigh bell and calls him out: “Hey, Krampus. Bring me Chanel or go to hell.” From that moment, the party unravels. Jenny’s casual cruelties begin manifesting as supernatural punishments.

A blend of 90s teen drama, Christmas horror, and moral fable, THE CHAIN is a story about envy, image, and the price of cruelty.

Campfire Rating for THE CHAIN

🔥 Campfire (Mature Teen / 16+)

Advisory: Body horror (self-harm/bleeding, compulsive eating, supernatural possession); teen bullying and psychological cruelty; alcohol use; mild profanity; demonic/hell themes.

Campfire Scale

To help listeners choose the right vibe for their listening, each episode will be marked with a rating on our Campfire Scale.

Listen to Patrick’s MiniDisc

The music from THE CHAIN on Spotify:

Meet the Narrator

Hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area, Sean Oblak is an actor of CHamoru descent. A passion for literature, theater, film, TV, and video games has led him to hone his creative talents in the intersection of all his interests: voice acting. His voice may be heard in animation, audiobooks, and around the campfire of Maplewood-Sparta.

IMDb: Sean Oblak

Meet the Writer

It’s me!

Follow my writing projects and behind-the-scenes on Instagram: miraclefieldnotes.

The Spartans! Series

SPARTANS! is a teen ghost story anthology—think “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” meets haunted mixtapes and 90s nostalgia.

Written by Nina Alvarez and narrated by professional voice actors, each episode is tied to a different haunted 90s wearable: a leather jacket, a friendship bracelet, a choker, a flannel . . . And to a holiday. Homecoming, Halloween, Christmas . . . The kind of objects and moments that carry memory, grief, and magic.

So gather close for spooky campfire tales woven together stand by strand like a friendship bracelet.

Show Schedule

On the second-to-last Wednesday of every month, we’ll premier a new episode—working out the kinks, building community, and (fingers crossed) raising funds to secure the music rights to someday be able to release it with the commercial music on major podcast platforms. For now, though, you’ll hear the music as it was meant to be—just for our private campfire circle.

Paid subscribers will get early access to the episode on Mondays, two days before free subscribers.

And all episodes will post without the commercial music to Spotify, Apple, YouTube, Amazon Music, and Audible the following Friday.

SPARTANS! Behind-the-Scenes

Follow @Spartans_Radio for episode updates, audio, pics, behind-the-scenes, 90s nostalgia, and Easter eggs.

The Word on the Suburban Streets

“Just listened to THE JACKET. It was so good. I had chills at the end.”
— Juliette P, New York

“I believe your writing is valuable because of my instant response to it. I immediately felt in sync with the tone of the story telling for the campfire series. I found myself listening to the first two chapters (THE JACKET and THE BRACELET) over and over—then even shared with it my students, who loved it. I became a paid subscriber to get early access to new episodes.”
— Jen S, New York

“We listened to THE JACKET last night as our bedtime story. We lit a candle. I felt like I had crawled into the main character’s skin—into the leather jacket. It was such a refreshing way to spend the evening, so counter to the media culture of TV and phones. People are going to love it.”
— Rebecca Joy, Massachusetts

“Well, this has become my favorite podcast to listen to.”
— Kristina D, Maryland

Join the Campfire Circle

For discussion, 90s nostalgia, and behind-the-scenes fun, join our Campfire Circle Facebook group.

For early access to episodes, extra behind-the-scenes content, and to help fund voice actors, sound design software, and music rights, become a paid subscriber at The Codex, Legends of the Lost, or join our Patreon at the Spartans! tier.

We’ll see you by the fire.

The Spartans aren’t finished with you yet.

-Nina

SPARTANS! returns with its Thanksgiving episode: THE CORDS. It’s an hour long—a slow burn—but worth a listen, especially for the excellent performance by Kelvin Melendez.

Before we step onto the hayride together, a quick reminder: Legends is made up of a few different sections—Legends of the Lost, the Legends of the Lost podcast, Bluff Point Ruins, The Dim, and now the SPARTANS! fiction anthology podcast—and you can choose which ones to you want to receive here.

If you want to stick around for the latest episode of SPARTANS! then take my hand and let’s journey back together.

Welcome to Maplewood-Sparta, where suburban streets are lined with shadows.

Some say the 90s are dead and gone. But here, they linger.

So gather close for a story of Thanksgiving 1994, a good Catholic boy with a beastly hunger, and a hayride to hell.

I call it: THE CORDS

On Thanksgiving, two boys and two girls take a haunted hayride into the woods—where hunger, desire, and an ancient evil wait in the shadows of 1994.

Fifteen-year-old Kevin is caught between the noise of his big Irish family and the endless ache of adolescent hunger—physical, emotional, and something deeper he can’t quite name.

When a restless bike ride with his best friend Gabe leads them to the shuttered Maplewood Apple Farm, a chance encounter with two mysterious girls sets the stage for a truly haunted hayride. As dusk falls and the wagon rumbles into the cold woods, the group is drawn into a chilling tale of the Wendigo—an ancient spirit of insatiable hunger—and confronted by eerie happenings that blur the line between myth and reality.

Written by Nina Alvarez and performed by voice actor Kelvin Melendez.

Campfire Rating for THE CORDS

🔥 Campfire (Mature Teen / 16+)

Advisory: Creature horror and sustained peril; teen sexual themes (non-graphic); underage smoking; brief strong language, sin/shame themes.

Campfire Scale

To help listeners choose the right vibe for their listening, each episode will be marked with a rating on our Campfire Scale.

Listen to the Burned CD

Music plays a huge role in THE CORDS and I’ve re-created what I imagine might be on Kevin’s burnt CD on Spotify, for those who want to take the music of THE CORDS with them.

Meet the Narrator

Born and raised in Washington Heights, Kelvin Melendez is a Dominican actor and writer. His passion for voice acting has allowed him to explore so many different mediums from audio dramas to video games and more. He’s best known for playing an FBI agent in Deli as well as a writer on the upcoming wrestling short film, Dos Golpes. IMDb: Kelvin Melendez

The Spartans! Series

SPARTANS! is a teen ghost story anthology—think “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” meets haunted mixtapes and 90s nostalgia.

Written by Nina Alvarez and narrated by professional voice actors, each episode is tied to a different haunted 90s wearable: a leather jacket, a friendship bracelet, a choker, a flannel . . . And to a holiday. Homecoming, Halloween, Christmas . . . The kind of objects and moments that carry memory, grief, and magic.

So gather close for spooky campfire tales woven together stand by strand like a friendship bracelet.

Show Schedule

On the second-to-last Wednesday of every month, we’ll premier a new episode—working out the kinks, building community, and (fingers crossed) raising funds to secure the music rights to someday be able to release it with the commercial music on major podcast platforms. For now, though, you’ll hear the music as it was meant to be—just for our private campfire circle.

Paid subscribers will get early access to the episode on Mondays, two days early.

And all episodes will post without the commercial music to Spotify, Apple, YouTube, Amazon Music, and Audible the following Friday.

The Word on the Suburban Streets

“Just listened to THE JACKET. It was so good. I had chills at the end.”
— Juliette P, New York

“I believe your writing is valuable because of my instant response to it. I immediately felt in sync with the tone of the story telling for the campfire series. I found myself listening to the first two chapters (THE JACKET and THE BRACELET) over and over—then even shared with it my students, who loved it. I became a paid subscriber to get early access to new episodes.”
— Jen S, New York

“We listened to THE JACKET last night as our bedtime story. We lit a candle. I felt like I had crawled into the main character’s skin—into the leather jacket. It was such a refreshing way to spend the evening, so counter to the media culture of TV and phones. People are going to love it.”
— Rebecca Joy, Massachusetts

“Well, this has become my favorite podcast to listen to.”
— Kristina D, Maryland

Join the Campfire Circle

For discussion, 90s nostalgia, and behind-the-scenes fun, join our Campfire Circle Facebook group.

For early access to episodes, extra behind-the-scenes content, and to help fund voice actors, sound design software, and music rights, become a paid subscriber at The Codex, Legends of the Lost, or join our Patreon at the Spartans! tier.

We’ll see you by the fire.

The Spartans aren’t finished with you yet.

-Nina

Subscribe now

Leave a comment

Hello Legends subscribers,

Welcome back to the campfire! I’m in the process of introducing you to my audio-fiction series SPARTANS!

I posted Episode 1: THE JACKET yesterday, am posting Episode 2: THE BRACELET right now (listen above). I’ll be premiering THE CORDS (newest episode) next Wednesday, November 19, 2025. Paid subscribers get early access to THE CORDS on Monday, November 17.

Enjoy!

Welcome to Maplewood-Sparta, where suburban streets are lined with shadows.

Some say the 90s are dead and gone. But here, they linger.

So gather close for a story of Halloween 1994, Old World magic, and a friendship bracelet that bound more than anyone ever intended.

I call it: THE BRACELET

Campfire Rating for THE BRACELET

🌙 Lantern (Teen / PG-13)

Advisory: Death & grief; supernatural suspense; Ouija/ritual elements; underage smoking; mention of drug overdose (non-graphic); brief mild suggestive joke.

Campfire Scale

To help listeners choose the right vibe for their listening, each episode will be marked with a rating on our Campfire Scale.

Listen to the Mixtape

Music plays a huge role in THE BRACELET and I’ve re-created the mixtape on Spotify, for those who want to feel the music the way Kristina and Noah do:

Credits

Written by Nina Alvarez
Sound design by Nina Alvarez
Narrated by Miko Steiner
Produced by Camp Cosmographia Radio

Meet the Narrator

Miko Steiner (they/she) is an enthusiastic voice talent with a warm, friendly, mid-to-low feminine voice and a broad range of expression. Since early 2024, they have done voices for character work, audiobooks, and commercials. Located outside Vancouver, British Columbia, they identify as LGBTQ2SIA+ and neurodivergent.

Not only was Miko a pleasure to work with, but they have all the same 90s memories as me (even wove friendships bracelets too) and did extra research to get Baba’s Macedonian accent just right (approved by the real Kristina). I’m sure you’re going to enjoy this performance.

The Spartans! Series

SPARTANS! is a teen ghost story anthology—think “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” meets haunted mixtapes and 90s nostalgia.

Written by Nina Alvarez and narrated by professional voice actors, each episode is tied to a different haunted 90s wearable: a leather jacket, a friendship bracelet, a choker, a flannel . . . And to a holiday. Homecoming, Halloween, Christmas . . . The kind of objects and moments that carry memory, grief, and magic.

So gather close for spooky campfire tales woven together stand by strand like a friendship bracelet.

Show Schedule

On the second-to-last Wednesday of every month, we’ll premier a new episode—working out the kinks, building community, and (fingers crossed) raising funds to secure the music rights to someday be able to release it with the commercial music on major podcast platforms. For now, though, you’ll hear the music as it was meant to be—just for our private campfire circle.

Paid subscribers will get early access to the episode on Mondays, two days early.

And all episodes will post without the commercial music to Spotify, Apple, YouTube, Amazon Music, and Audible the following Friday.

The Word on the Suburban Streets

“Well, this has become my favorite podcast to listen to.”
— Kristina D, Maryland

“I listened to THE JACKET! Brilliant and so nostalgic. I have to listen again and then again to THE BRACELET. Something about these stories captures my imagination so vividly. They have everything! The haunted jacket, ghostly voices, tragic mystery, us vs them, music rebellion from the crowd, the yearbook clue!!! So deeply layered! I can’t wait for more!”

— Jennifer S, New York

Join the Campfire Circle on Facebook and Patreon

For Spartans! updates and discussion, 90s nostalgia, and behind-the-scenes fun, join our Campfire Circle Facebook group.

For early access to episodes, extra behind-the-scenes content, and to help fund voice actors, sound design software, and music rights, join our Patreon at the Spartans! tier.

Subscribe now

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Hello Legends subscribers!

In my last wrote, I wrote a little bit about the making of SPARTANS!

SPARTANS! was originally written and produced for Camp Cosmographia Radio at the Cosmographia Codex Substack (Cosmographia is my small publishing company). But since “Legends of the Lost” is the hub of all my writing (and with the suggestion of friend), I’ve decided to share it here as well.

I’ll be posting Episode 1: THE JACKET today, Episode 2: THE BRACELET tomorrow, and THE CORDS (newest episode) next Wednesday, November 19, 2025. Paid subscribers get early access to THE CORDS on Monday, November 17.

Enjoy!

Welcome to Maplewood-Sparta, where suburban streets are lined with shadows.

Some say the past is dead and gone. But here, it lingers. In velvet chokers and friendship bracelets, in haunted tunnels and November hayrides. It waits in thrift shop windows, in church basements, in a mean girl’s Christmas curse, and in the hush after the cheering fades.

So gather close to the fire. Tonight I’ll tell you the first of these tales—of a leather jacket, a haunted mixtape, and the strange magic of being seen.

I call it: THE JACKET.

Campfire Rating

🌙 Lantern (Teen / PG-13)
Advisory: Themes of death and grief, bullying.

Campfire Scale

To help listeners choose the right vibe for their listening, each episode will be marked with a rating on our Campfire Scale.

The Word on the Suburban Streets

“Just listened to THE JACKET. It was so good. I had chills at the end.”
— Juliette P, New York

“I believe your writing is valuable because of my instant response to it. I immediately felt in sync with the tone of the story telling for the campfire series. I found myself listening to the first two chapters over and over—then even shared with it my students who loved it. I became a paid subscriber to get early access to episodes.”
— Jen S, New York

“We listened to THE JACKET last night as our bedtime story. We lit a candle. I felt like I had crawled into the main character’s skin—into the leather jacket. It was such a refreshing way to spend the evening, so counter to the media culture of TV and phones. People are going to love it.”
— Rebecca Joy, Massachusetts

ETHAN’S MIXTAPE

Music plays a huge role in THE JACKET and I’ve re-created the mixtape on Spotify, for those who feel the music the way Maya does.

Credits

Written by Nina Alvarez
Sound design by Nina Alvarez
Narrated by Mark Taudevin
Produced by Camp Cosmographia Radio

Meet the Narrator

I still can’t believe my luck in finding Mark Taudevin. A New York–based actor and writer with a background in music, Mark approaches every project with curiosity, care, and a collaborative spirit. His work spans film, theatre, voiceover, and animation—and now, the haunted campfires of Maplewood-Sparta. [Read more on his IMDB page.]

The Spartans! Series

SPARTANS! is a teen ghost story anthology—think “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” meets haunted mixtapes and 90s nostalgia.

Written by Nina Alvarez and narrated by professional voice actors, each episode is tied to a different haunted 90s wearable: a leather jacket, a friendship bracelet, a choker, a flannel . . . And to a holiday. Homecoming, Halloween, Christmas . . . The kind of objects and moments that carry memory, grief, and magic.

So gather close for spooky campfire tales woven together stand by strand like a friendship bracelet.

Show Schedule

On the second-to-last Wednesday of every month, we’ll premier a new episode—working out the kinks, building community, and (fingers crossed) raising funds to secure the music rights to someday be able to release it with the commercial music on major podcast platforms. For now, though, you’ll hear the music as it was meant to be—just for our private campfire circle.

Paid subscribers will get early access to the episode on Mondays, two days early.

And all episodes will post without the commercial music to Spotify, Apple, YouTube, Amazon Music, and Audible the following Friday.

“Well, this has become my favorite podcast to listen to.”
— Kristina D, Maryland

Join the Campfire Circle on Facebook and Patreon

For discussion, 90s nostalgia, and behind-the-scenes fun, join our Campfire Circle Facebook group.

For early access to episodes, extra behind-the-scenes content, and to help fund voice actors, sound design software, and music rights, join our Patreon at the Spartans! tier.

Subscribe now

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