The Sonic Society

Showcasing the very best in new Audio Drama

The Mutual Audio Network

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The Mutual Audio Network was founded in 2019 with the expressed interest in expanding the mission of The Sonic Society.

Our Mission as we see it is to introduce to the world the wide variety of incredible stories told through the Audio Drama medum.

The Sonic Society podcast, through The Mutual Audio Network, airs twice- on Monday in repeats and on Sunday with new releases. It is also broadcast out of  CKDU 88.1 FM from Dalhousie Campus in HalifaxNova Scotia, Canada and by other affiliate stations across Canada and around the world.

The Sonic Society is hosted by Jack J. Ward and David Ault.

The Society was founded by Jack Ward in September, 2005 initially broadcasting from the Dalhousie Campus and Community radio station. The show was a natural outgrowth from an early radio series called The Shadowlands which ran in the same time slot (Tuesday nights from 9 until 10:30 PM) from 2003-2005. The Shadowlands showcased Old Time Radio episodes each week, and shared a lot of chatter and general nonsense between the host and guests.

The transformation into The Sonic Society occurred as other stations across Canada considered carrying the show as affiliates. Conversations with Station Managers and Programme Managers identified that many stations didn’t have the license to play OTR.  The Shadowlands was doomed as a syndicated show.

However, another aspect of  The Shadowlands had some merit.

Jack and the Shadowlands Players (cobbling together actors from the Halifax Regional area) produced 10 original radio plays during the two years of  The Shadowlands. The soon developed a taste for the theatre of the mind!

Over the summer of 2005, Jack scoured the Internet and contacted a number of exciting new innovators in Audio Drama and began programming shows that were written and produced in the “aughts” (modern audio series from the year 2000 and later).

Folks like Jerry Robbins from Colonial Radio Theatre, Jonithan Russell from DreamRealm Enterprises and Gregg Taylor from Decoder Ring Theatre were quick to share their incredible works. The name “The Sonic Society” was decided as a good metaphor that suggested an inclusive membership of  listeners from around the world.

Fifteen  seasons and three hosts later and The Sonic Society is still going strong! Every year there are new eclectic audio cinema to be heard. With original companies and fresh individuals in the field, the future is bright, and Jack and David are just glad to be a part of it!

Thank you so much for listening and reading!

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