Audio Fiction Dot C O Dot U K
A library of fiction podcasts, including audio dramas, books and RPG actual plays.

THE LOST BISTRO: Absurd Short Fiction


13 episodes


Solo Multigenre Anthology Audio Book


Synopsis:

Bravo, you’ve found it. Deadpan humor in witty, unrelated, non-sequitur short stories not devoid of literary merit and seared with absurdity. A ”Catcher of the Wry” vibe. Since you’re here, we might as well tell you: Muffy Drake has been honored by the National Audio Theatre Festivals, known as the Sundance of Audio Fiction. That’s right, Muffy Drake has been presented with several Gold Medals - and even a Platinum in 2023. 2024 was so kind to us with a BIG WIN in the Anthology Category at the Minnesota WebFest and several other international festival Official Selections. Meet the Muffy Drake Team: Xavier Combe is a freelance translator and conference interpreter who teaches at the University of Paris X and has worked on French public radio for over 35 years. He has published 2 non-fiction books in French (one of them has won a prize) and quite a few op- eds in the French press. Sociolinguistics, not funny at all. If you want a laugh don’t go there. Netflix calls upon Xavier to be the official translator for premiers in Paris. He was with Martin Scorsese when ”The Irishman” took its bows at La Cinematheque. Jim Hall is a 2-time Peabody award winner and the other half of Muffy Drake that’s based in the U.S. That’s right, Muffy Drake is a team of two who do all the writing, narration, voicing, soundscaping and music. The 23-time Emmy winner has co-produced and edited internationally award winning documentaries on literary and jazz legends Kurt Vonnegut and Wes Montgomery, recently winning a Silver medal at the prestigious New York Festivals. The French have a saying: “Humor is the last bulwark before despair” (strange, yes, but it sounds better in French). We at Muffy Drake believe humor is the best medicine. So we humbly recommend you subscribe and download one MD a week. And if you enjoy what you hear, feel free to share with, well, one or two million of your closest friends. Website: muffydrake.com Contact: muffydrake@gmail.com


Language: English

Format: Audio Book

Continuity: Anthology

Writing: Scripted

Voices: Solo

Genres: Multigenre

Soundscape: Music

Completion status: Not applicable

Not tagged: [Maturity] [Creator demographics] [Character demographics] [Country of origin] [Transcript] [Content warnings]

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Episodes:

JUDE: The Lost Bistro (Episode #9) 25 minutes

Sun, 30 Mar 2025 06:39:04 -0400

FEATURING THE ENCHANTED CHANTEUSES

SETLIST:

THE ITSY BITSY SPIDER (Nursery Rhyme-Public Domain)

JUDE-Written & Narrated by Xavier Combe

LAVA LAMP BLUES-Written by Jim Hall

GLADYS MALLORY-Written & Narrated by Xavier Combe

SONG IN SPITE OF MYSELF-Written by Countee Cullen (Poem-Public Domain)

Episode written by Jim Hall

Sound Design & Editing by Jim Hall

 

Direct MP3 link


Radio Free Paris: Jacques & Jill (Episode#4) 14 minutes

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 07:52:43 -0400

Radio Free Paris-Featuring-THE ENCHANTED CHANTEUSES

In this Episode (#4) of Radio Free Paris:

We conjure a new version of a classic nursery rhyme, this time in Swahili. 

Then, Muffy Drake is proud to manage the career of The Enchanted Gregorians. You will hear from them about the Cosmic Karma Junk in the Trunk...Amen. 

Then, Mother Earth goes toe-to-toe with a Climate Change Denier. Who wins the Singing/Slinging Slug-Fest? You tell us...

Then, a song for the Broken-Hearted, from our Hearts here at the base of the Eiffel Tower to yours.

Executive Producer-Jim Hall

Producer Extraordinaire-Xavier Combe

Editing & Sound Design by Jim Hall

Direct MP3 link


DOLLOP OF KANT: The Lost Bistro (Episode #8) 21 minutes

Sat, 08 Mar 2025 09:18:21 -0500

Dollop of Kant-FEATURING THE ENCHANTED CHANTEUSES

Here we are! Episode #8 of-The Lost Bistro Cabaret: Dollop of Kant

We hope, to this point, you've been entertained and occasionally enlightened as we look through our Paris perspective Ira Glass darkly. Are we nearing the end of Season #1? Good question. Seems this podcast racket is all about the downloads. Can we talk? Good

Maybe one of you, knows someone, who knows someone, who has a cousin named Joey who once played pickleball in the rain with Lady Gaga and is still on speaking terms with them and could reach out to Joey and ask him to champion Muffy. 

YOU have faithfully answered our call every week and Merci Beaucoup! for that. You know who you are. Here is a list of where you live:

France-United Kingdom-Ukraine-Ireland-India-Nepal-Mexico-Taiwan-Greece-Kenya-Latvia-Namibia-Algeria-South Africa-Canada-Pakistan-Poland-Uganda-Portugal-Denmark-Spain-Israel-Japan-Vietnam-Norway-Austrailia-Cyprus-Switzerland-Germany-Italy-Belgium-Cuba-New Zealand-Columbia-Finland-Argentina-Singapore-Netherlands-Uzbekistan-Austria-Chile-Cameroon-Hong Kong-Slovenia-Phillipines-Somalia-Thailand-Trinidad and Tobago & Montana

Au revoir Amigos!

Direct MP3 link


RFP: Sonic Origami (Episode#3) 14 minutes

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 09:02:19 -0500

Radio Free Paris-FEATURING THE ENCHANTED CHANTEUSES 

RFP-: It's FREE, from FRANCE, no String Cheese attached...

In this Ep.#3, we Jitterbug and Cut A Rug in a Syncopated Fashion from song to song...to song.

Once again, we have a mystical little number from The Enchanted Gregorians, a new Chanting Choir of Monks under the management of Muffy Drake. (Tour Schedule Coming Soon!)

And, other songs folded into this podcast to make an exquisite Sonic Origami. 

Sound Design & Editing by Executive Producer Jim Hall 

Direct MP3 link


MUFFY MORGUE?: World in Crisis (Episode #7) 19 minutes

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:32:55 -0500

The Lost Bistro-FEATURING THE ENCHANTED CHANTEUSES

In this episode of The Lost Bistro Cabaret, Muffy Drake frets about the "Download Situation" and imagines if this trend continues, she will end up on the Podcast Killin' Floor...

Stories: 

3 Machines-Written & Narrated by Xavier Combe

Bequeath-Written & Narrated by Xavier Combe

Sound Design & Editing by Jim Hall

Direct MP3 link


ESMERALDA DEPARTED: Little Girl Deported-Immigration Deportation Crisis Today (Episode#6) 21minutes

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 08:12:08 -0500

The Lost Bistro-FEATURING THE ENCHANTED CHANTEUSES

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

—Martin Niemöller

False Friends-Written & Narrated by Xavier Combe

Esmeralda Departed-Written by Jim Hall

Sound Design & Editing by Jim Hall 

Direct MP3 link


RADIO FREE PARIS (Episode#1) 15 minutes

Sun, 26 Jan 2025 14:26:41 -0500

Introducing: RADIO FREE PARIS 

A Brand Spanking New Muffy Drake Media Podcast!

Featuring Music created by the MotherShip in Paris. This Ersatz presentation relies heavily on Superficial Knowledge gleaned from decades of consuming Insignifica to a saturation point. 

In this episode, MD explores the BLUES musical canon in a contrapuntal fashion. 

In other words...take a listen. 

All songs (except for Baa Baa B.S.) written by Executive Producer Jim Hall 

Sound Design & Editing by Jim Hall 

 

Xavier Combe-Producer Extraordinaire 

 

Direct MP3 link


RFP: Tribute to Joe Frank-Radio Icon (EP.#2) 15 minutes

Sun, 19 Jan 2025 18:45:13 -0500

In this Second Episode of Radio Free Paris, we delight in bringing you songs from the Heart.

In particular, there's a tribute to a restaurant owner named "Joe". The name of his Cajun style Bistro is YATS. The name of the song is "What's a Matta, Yats got your Tongue?" 

All songs written by Executive Producer Jim Hall & Producer Extraordinaire Xavier Combe

Sound Design & Editing by Jim Hall 

Direct MP3 link


FALLING DOWN: Democracy in Crisis (Ep.#5) 25 minutes

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 14:23:33 -0500

A Podcast can teach, it can illuminate; yes, it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it's nothing but Joe Rogan electing a president...

-Muffy Drake Media 

Direct MP3 link


SPACE CADET: Star Trek Explained to Mahatma Gandhi (Episode 4) 26 minutes

Sat, 04 Jan 2025 06:50:19 -0500

The Lost Bistro-FEATURING THE ENCHANTED CHANTEUSES

In this episode The Cabaret sings the songs for the New Frontier.

Do we find that New Frontier by slipping the surly bonds of earth? 

Or, do we find it by exploring deeper, the inner space of the Human Heart? 

Written & Narrated by Xavier Combe

Produced & Edited by Jim Hall

Sound Design by Jim Hall 

Direct MP3 link


STEAL BLUES: Left handed female Jimi Hendrix Guitar Player from Seattle (Episode 3) 26 minutes

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 16:46:36 -0500

The Lost Bistro-FEATURING THE ENCHANTED CHANTEUSES

In this episode:

A Blues Guitar is lost in a dice game late at night in the alley behind the club. The owner of the instrument interrupts the show to accuse "Jinny" of stealing his axe.

What happens next...well, hit play and find out.

Short Stories Written & Narrated by Xavier Combe

Sound Design & Editing by Jim Hall 

 

Direct MP3 link


TOMMY HAD A TUBA: Absurd Fiction with a Big HOLE (Episode 2) 25 minutes

Sun, 08 Dec 2024 06:30:09 -0500

The Lost Bistro-FEATURING THE ENCHANTED CHANTEUSES

Live! From the Lost Bistro Cafe & Cabaret, a brand new Spanking & Sparkling Episode from Muffy Drake. In this episode we uncover the incident that got Xavier & Jim kicked out of Le Cordon Bleu while on scholarship with the marching band. Evidently, "someone" poured Bouillabaisse down Tommy the Tuba Player's Hole... Bon Appétit!!

And, other delightful stories and songs prepared in the Absurd & Quirky Kitchen of MD. 

Written & Narrated by Xavier Combe

Sound Design & Editing (Tuba Cleanup) by Jim Hall

Direct MP3 link


THE LOST BISTRO CABARET: New Absurd Fiction Podcast (Episode 1) 22 minutes

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 06:09:05 -0500

The Lost Bistro-FEATURING THE ENCHANTED CHANTEUSES

In this very first episode, Muffy Drake invites you to attend the Grand Opening of our new BLUES & JAZZ nightclub (Le Lost Bistro) in Paris. The club serves as a temporal anchor tethering the start of the podcast to the end connected by a beautiful Pink & Blue string. 

Stuck Smack-Dab in the middle is the story of "Delores said you'd be here..."

Do you need to get away? Escape the Madding crowd? Yes?... Then do we have a treat for you with this mysterious tale of an Airbnb rental that will chill your Spine and comfort your Soul...

Then, a nursery rhyme. Every episode will have a nursery rhyme because the world is acting like a BIG BABY. First sung in French and then in English. 

Written & Narrated by Xavier Combe

Sound Design & Editing by Jim Hall

muffydrake.com   "CATCHER-OF-THE-WRY" 

Direct MP3 link