''Sidequesting'' is an independent scripted fiction
podcast
A podcast is a program made available in digital format for download over the Internet. For example, an episodic series of digital audio or video files that a user can download to a personal device to listen to at a time of their choosin ...
created by Tal Minear and first published in 2019. It is described as a
fantasy podcast about avoiding the main plot.
The show features a
nonbinary
Non-binary and genderqueer are umbrella terms for gender identities that are not solely male or femaleidentities that are outside the gender binary. Non-binary identities fall under the transgender umbrella, since non-binary people typicall ...
asexual main character, and is notable for its LGBTQ+ and disability representation throughout the podcast. ''Sidequesting'' also features an international cast of guest voices, including
Clint McElroy
Clinton Emil "Clint" McElroy, Jr. ( , born August 10, 1955) is an American podcaster, comic book writer and former radio personality. He is known for his work on the podcast '' The Adventure Zone'', as well as for hosting several FM radio shows ...
, Erin B. Lillis, and James Oliva. The title of the show is a reference to video game
side quests
A quest, or mission, is a task in video games that a player-controlled character, Party (role-playing games), party, or group of characters may complete in order to gain a reward. Quests are most commonly seen in Role-playing video games, role- ...
.
Format
''Sidequesting'' follows Rion, an adventurer who's willing to help anyone out, as long as they're not being asked to deal with "the scary wizard that everyone keeps talking about". Each episode takes place in a new city or town in a fantasy world, and contains different characters that Rion meets. Episodes are between 10 and 15 minutes long. They can be listened to in any order, though there are story threads that connect across episodes and references that call back to previous stories. The central premise of ''Sidequesting'' is that no problem is too small – for example, the central premise of an episode can be as simple as finding a missing object. Instead of relying on high stakes adventure, the show plays with the character interactions of small moments.
Production
''Sidequesting'' is funded by fans of the show through
Patreon
Patreon (, ) is a membership platform that provides business tools for content creators to run a subscription service. It helps creators and artists earn a monthly income by providing rewards and perks to their subscribers. Patreon charges a com ...
and
Indiegogo. A breakdown of the second season budget showed that the majority of the funds raised goes to voice actors and writers. Two season of the show have been released, each with 10 episodes, and a third is in production.
Reception
The show has been praised for its subversion of tropes found in traditional fantasy stories.
It is one of three audio dramas to prominently feature
deaf
Deafness has varying definitions in cultural and medical contexts. In medical contexts, the meaning of deafness is hearing loss that precludes a person from understanding spoken language, an audiological condition. In this context it is written ...
and hard of hearing characters.
Awards
{, class="wikitable sortable"
!Award
!Date
!Category
!Recipient
!Result
!Ref.
, -
, rowspan="3" , Audio Verse Awards
, 2020
, Writing of an Audio Play Production
, Tal Minear
,
,
, -
, rowspan="3" , 2021
, Writing of a Production
, Tal Minear, Brayden Chapman, and Ather Ahmed
,
, rowspan="2" ,
, -
, Performance of a Guest Role in a Production
, Various guests
,
, -
, Hear Now Festival
, Fantasy
, What Goes Around Comes Around, Ep 14
,
,
[{{Cite web , date=2021 , title=Podcast Palooza 2021 Silver Selections , url=https://www.natf.org/podcast-palooza_silver/ , url-status=live , access-date=April 20, 2022 , website= National Audio Theatre Festival , language=en-US]
References
Audio podcasts
Fantasy podcasts
American radio dramas
Scripted podcasts
2019 podcast debuts
American podcasts
Patreon creators