Jessica Mary Best

Due in part to cuts from above, the GCAC has sadly had to suspend their artist grant programs for 2025. I know there are many talented artists in my region who could make great things with a little support, and I hope the GCAC's budget is soon restored by future leaders who get the value of art.

(I found out that I'd gotten the grant right about when the US presidential election results were announced and it felt extremely tone deaf to post about it then)

A belated but extremely heartfelt thanks to the Greater Columbus Arts Council, for giving me funding in 2024 to hire a sensitivity reader for my upcoming audio drama Everyone Leaves Alive! #GCACGrants #ArtMakesCbus

Werewolves of Chicago, by Jessica Best and the Creeping Doubts from the album Fundraising Songs For EVERYONE LEAVES ALIVE

Wrote a song about my favorite city, and also werewolves, which you can stream right here:
creepingdoubts.bandcamp.com/track/werewo...

Hello and welcome to Get Me Through Thursday!

Today what's getting me through is having a lot of creative projects going at once. I couldn't live like this year-round, but right now it is helping to keep my mind away from the yawning mouth of the void.

What's getting you through?

Episode 3.04 of Starship Iris is live!

Listen: tinyurl.com/3k8kfu7v (or on your podcatcher of choice)

Transcript: www.procyonpodcastnetwork.com/post/starshi...

Credits and content warnings in the episode notes.

Do yourself a favor and listen to this, all in one go, with headphones on. A journey in the best possible way.

Going to Fall (Strange Case of Starship Iris ver.) Tail Light Rebellion · Single · 2025 · 1 songs

open.spotify.com/album/7G8iQ3...
#ska #punk #folk

Also, being ace unfortunately kinda means that I am somewhat used to having my personal approach to desire uncomfortably scrutinized by others (people I've dated in the past, etc). To me, this gives me way more common ground with the people creating smut than it does those trying to censor them.

Look, do I fail to connect with sex scenes sometimes? Absolutely! Am I offended or harmed by this? No way; mostly I just get bored and/or zone out. It's like watching a movie with a super long car chase sequence. "This is probably fun for other people" I think (with zero, like, emotional damage).

When I was 5, I was allergic to milk; a classmate thought he could make me pass out by waving some cheese at me.

As an asexual, this is (part of) how I feel abt people justifying anti-smut stances by claiming they're protecting the aces. Like, you fundamentally do not understand how I function.

(Sometimes you ask friends if you can pay them to use a song of theirs in your audio drama, and instead they write you a brand-new song that is a total banger.)

If you like the track, consider checking out Tail Light Rebellion just generally: taillightrebellion.org

Starship Iris episode 3.03 is live!

Link: tinyurl.com/4wjcmkvn

Summary: What's unlikely, really?

Content warnings in episode description

Transcript: www.procyonpodcastnetwork.com/post/starshi...

Feat. "Going to Fall" by @jonnyswagger.bsky.social tail-light-rebellion.bandcamp.com/track/going-...

Also, yes, it's Anti-Prime day over at @bookshop.org so, you can preorder FLIP and not have to pay for shipping and support local bookstores? It saved me $9 on a single order???? ✨📚

🔗: bookshop.org/p/books/flip-ngozi-ukazu/21977290

Just a quick reminder to any procrastinators that the application/audition window closes tomorrow night (7/9) at midnight ET!

That *would* explain that age-old diner saying, "Marilyn one, a diner well-run. / Marilyns two, spells trouble for you / Marilyns three, high profits you'll see / Marilyns four, health inspectors will roar"

Just curious: Do you think when you start a diner in Midwestern America, the National Restaurant Association sends you several framed pictures of Marilyn Monroe, or are those municipally issued?

My first was Jackson Browne's 1986 song "Lives in the Balance," which I mainlined in (Bush Jr-era) middle school. www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_8U... (The album is often dated but the track is unfortunately evergreen.)

On what America should be, Sifu Hotman's "Matches" www.youtube.com/watch?v=5goB...

Years ago now, I asked Swagger of Tail Light Rebellion if they had any songs appropriate for [REDACTED] and if I could use (with permission & payment) such a song in Starship Iris. Instead they wrote a brand-new tune and it ROCKS. Check it out next week on Starship Iris, or right here right now!

Re-upping because I haven't gotten many applicants yet! If you know someone who would be perfect for a job or a role, pls pass it on. Thanks! 🎸

Several of my books have been banned and challenged. I've never seen them on banned books displays. Being banned has, if anything, decreased my sales. Worse, it sends a message to the queer kids I wrote the books for that their stories are shameful and something to be hidden away.

it's true, WE ARE CASTING!!

"can I audition for an atypical show" is probably the, like, 2nd most common email I get after "how do I make a podcast" and I so rarely get to say "yes you can!" but yes you can!!!

Folks, if you're not listening to The Strange Case of Starship Iris, now is the time to remedy that. Gorgeous queer audio drama. You've got two seasons to catch up on and now the second ep of Season 3...

Episode 3.02 of Starship Iris is live! Listen here: tinyurl.com/3k55suhh

Brian reminisces, McCabe looks within, and some uninvited guests make a scene.

Transcript at www.procyonpodcastnetwork.com/post/starshi....

Contains discussion of violence, discussion of poisoning, violence, and gunshots.

Ran out of characters; I'd like to add that any signal boosting is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Everyone Leaves Alive Pilot - crew applications official_final Everyone Leaves Alive Pilot - crew applications About This Project Everyone Leaves Alive is a musical audio drama about a touring rock band that secretly solves monster-related problems, created by Je...

The pilot for Everyone Leaves Alive, my queer musical audio drama about a rock band secretly solving monster-related problems, is hiring!

tinyurl.com/4zp4kn74 – Crew roles: director, music director, producer, and sound designer

tinyurl.com/487k6yh7 - The cast, incl. singing and non-singing roles!

Happy Juneteenth!

Every Black voice actor drop your demo or website. Everyone else, gas them up and hire them!

Today is a particularly good day to support trans mutual aid as a concrete way to fight back against the fuckers trying to take their healthcare and other rights away.

🧵 of a few groups, campaigns, and individuals you can donate to:

That's lovely to hear! Also the guy at the network got back to me immediately and it's fine on their end, so I will do my best to make that happen when the season's out!

Great question! I have just asked someone at the podcast network if there would be issues. If it's okay with the network, it sounds like a wonderful idea!