Worlds Without Warning

31 episodes
(Actual number of episodes significantly different than number of episodes as recorded in database.)
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Web <link> from RSS feed:
https://omny.fm/shows/thankgodformovies
Database link:
https://omny.fm/shows/cinemaholics
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Creator from RSS feed: TGFM
Database Creators: Jon NegroniSynopsis:
Weekly short stories read aloud by their authors. From Cetera Magazine, featuring literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction exploring memory, rebellion, folklore, and other worlds without warning. Stories edited by Natalia Emmons and Jon Negroni.
Language: English
Format: Audio Book
Continuity: Anthology
Writing: Scripted
Voices: Solo
Narrator: Multiple
Genres: Multigenre
Soundscape: Voices only
Completion status: Not applicable
Not tagged: [Maturity] [Country of origin] [Transcript]
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Episodes:
The Big Black Square – A Dark Fiction Short Story by Kasey Soska
Thu, 29 Jan 2026 14:40:17 +0000
In this special bonus episode of Worlds Without Warning, Jon Negroni reads aloud "The Big Black Square" by Kasey Soska. He also shares Soska's author notes.
You can find the written version right here.
About the Author
Kasey Soska is a professional science nerd and novice fiction writer. His PhD in developmental psychology is from New York University. His academic research has appeared in Developmental Science and Child Development. Kasey studied comedy at Second City’s Conservatory and performed sketch and improv shows in Chicago, Miami, and NYC. He returned to his hometown of Pittsburgh, where he lives with his three-legged dog and two-legged wife.
About Cetera Magazine
We publish original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
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If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!
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A Special Bond – A Psychological Horror Story by Marco Etheridge
Mon, 26 Jan 2026 20:02:15 +0000
In this special bonus episode of Worlds Without Warning, Jon Negroni reads aloud "a Special Bond" by Marco Etheridge. He also shares editor's notes on why this story was published in Cetera Magazine.
You can find the written version right here.
About the Author
Marco Etheridge is a writer of prose, an occasional playwright, and a part-time poet. He lives and writes in Vienna, Austria. His work has been featured in over one hundred and fifty reviews across
Canada, Australia, Europe, the UK, USA, and India. Marco’s short story “Power Tools” was nominated for Best of the Web for 2023 and is the title of his latest collection of short fiction. When he isn’t crafting stories, Marco is a contributing editor for a ‘Zine called Hotch Potch. In his other life, Marco travels the world with his lovely wife Sabine.
About Cetera Magazine
We publish original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
Share This Episode
If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!
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Second Run – A Literary Short Story By Jon Negroni
Fri, 16 Jan 2026 19:14:06 +0000
Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud his new short story "Second Run," which was published on January 15, 2026. He also shares his author's notes on the story behind this story.
You can find the written version right here.
About the Author
Jon Negroni is a Puerto Rican author and illustrator based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His published books include The Pixar Theory (Slimbooks, 2015) and his debut fantasy novel Killerjoy (5050 Press, 2017). He's published short fiction for IHRAM Press, The Fairy Tale Magazine, The Vanity Papers, Discretionary Love, and many more. He’s the chief editor of Cetera Magazine, and his work has appeared or is forthcoming in several anthologies, including Neon Hemlock, Oddity Prodigies, Sinister Smile Press, Inked in Gray, and Speculation Publications. He was a finalist for the 2025 BCLF Elizabeth Caribbean-American Writer’s Prize, received an honorable mention for the Rhonda Gail Williford Award for Poetry, and is a Best American Short Stories 2025–nominated writer.
About Cetera Magazine
We publish original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
Share This Episode
If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!
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Hành Tinh Thu Doesn’t Welcome You – A Sci-Fi Short Story by C. Inanen
Thu, 08 Jan 2026 15:58:40 +0000
Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud "Hành Tinh Thu Doesn’t Welcome You" by C. Inanen. He also shares editor's notes on why this story was published on Cetera Magazine.
You can find the written version right here.
About the Author
C. Inanen lives in the Midwest, USA. His work has been most recently published in Yellow Mama magazine. It will also be featured in the March 2026 issue of Close to the Bone, the June 2026 issue of Down in the Dirt magazine, and broadcast January 2026 on YouTube by Antimatter Dreams. He is a contributor to The Yard: Crime Blog.
About Cetera Magazine
We publish original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
Share This Episode
If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
No Regrets – A Speculative Short Story by Jon Negroni
Fri, 02 Jan 2026 20:22:43 +0000
Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud his new speculative romance story, "No Regrets."
You can find the written version right here.
About the Author
Jon Negroni is a Puerto Rican author and illustrator based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His published books include The Pixar Theory (Slimbooks, 2015) and his debut fantasy novel Killerjoy (5050 Press, 2017). He's published short fiction for IHRAM Press, The Fairy Tale Magazine, The Vanity Papers, Discretionary Love, and many more. He’s the chief editor of Cetera Magazine, and his work has appeared or is forthcoming in several anthologies, including Neon Hemlock, Oddity Prodigies, Sinister Smile Press, Inked in Gray, and Speculation Publications. He was a finalist for the 2025 BCLF Elizabeth Caribbean-American Writer’s Prize, received an honorable mention for the Rhonda Gail Williford Award for Poetry, and is a Best American Short Stories 2025–nominated writer.
Listen toward the end of the show for Jon’s full author’s notes on the making of this story.
About Cetera Magazine
We publish original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
Share This Episode
If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
You're the Best – A Literary Short Story by Jon Negroni
Fri, 26 Dec 2025 21:59:33 +0000
Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud his new literary fiction story, "You're the Best."
You can find the written version of "You're the Best" right here.
About the Author
Jon Negroni is a Puerto Rican author based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His published books include The Pixar Theory (Slimbooks, 2015), a pop culture nonfiction, and his debut fantasy novel Killerjoy (5050 Press, 2017). His recent short fiction includes "Men Who Are Strong" (IHRAM Press) and "Upon a Dream," an original fable published in The Fairy Tale Magazine. He's the chief editor of Cetera Magazine and his work has appeared or is forthcoming in several anthologies, including Neon Hemlock, Oddity Prodigies, Inked in Gray, Speculation Publications, and more. He was also a finalist for the 2025 BCLF Elizabeth Caribbean-American Writer’s Prize and is a Best American Short Stories of 2025-nominated writer.
Listen toward the end of the show for Jon’s full author’s notes on the making of this story.
About Cetera Magazine
We publish original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
Share This Episode
If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Holiday Party – A Literary Short Story By Jon Negroni
Sun, 21 Dec 2025 20:03:49 +0000
Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud his new literary fiction story, "Holiday Party."
You can find the written version of "Holiday Party" right here.
About the Author
Jon Negroni is a Puerto Rican author based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His published books include The Pixar Theory (Slimbooks, 2015), a pop culture nonfiction, and his debut fantasy novel Killerjoy (5050 Press, 2017). His recent short fiction includes "Men Who Are Strong" (IHRAM Press) and "Upon a Dream," an original fable published in The Fairy Tale Magazine. He's the chief editor of Cetera Magazine and his work has appeared or is forthcoming in several anthologies, including Neon Hemlock, Oddity Prodigies, Inked in Gray, Speculation Publications, and more. He was also a finalist for the 2025 BCLF Elizabeth Caribbean-American Writer’s Prize and is a Best American Short Stories of 2025-nominated writer.
Listen toward the end of the show for Jon’s full author’s notes on the making of this story.
About Cetera Magazine
We publish original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
Share This Episode
If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!
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Thu, 30 Oct 2025 14:47:37 +0000
Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni, Natalia Emmons, and Bridget Serdock present their collaborative cozy ghost story, "Someone Lived There Too." Set in an off-season Cape Cod rental cottage, this story follows Rena, an artist struggling with creative paralysis, who discovers that the old house she's staying in hasn't quite let go of its previous inhabitants. Blending slice-of-life grief with gentle supernatural communication and the mundane details of an artist trying to work again, the story explores how we leave traces of ourselves in the spaces we occupy and what happens when a haunted house isn't trying to scare you...it's just lonely.
You can find the written version of "Someone Lived There Too" right here.
Also
About Cetera Magazine
We publish original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
Share This Episode
If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, 23 Oct 2025 14:22:21 +0000
Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud his new atmospheric horror story, "The Caller Isn't Human." Set during the graveyard shift at an all-night laundromat, this story follows Ray, a night-shift worker, through the hours between 2 and 4 a.m. when a payphone outside begins ringing at precise intervals, people start vanishing without explanation, and something begins testing the boundaries of the building. Blending cosmic dread with working-class isolation and meticulous attention to disrupted patterns, the story explores liminal spaces, the fragility of the systems we depend on, and what happens when reality quietly stops following rules you didn't know existed.
You can find the written version of "The Caller isn't Human" right here.
About the Author
Jon Negroni is a Puerto Rican author based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His published books include The Pixar Theory (Slimbooks, 2015), a pop culture nonfiction, and his debut novel Killerjoy (5050 Press, 2017). His recent short fiction includes "Men Who Are Strong" (IHRAM Press) and "Upon a Dream," an original fable published in The Fairy Tale Magazine. His upcoming anthology appearances include a cryptid horror tale, a speculative fiction piece for Neon Hemlock, and a superhero story for Oddity Prodigies. He's also the co-founder of the entertainment website, InBetweenDrafts.
Listen toward the end of the show for Jon’s full author’s notes on the making of this story.
About Cetera Magazine
We publish original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
Share This Episode
If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, 16 Oct 2025 14:35:05 +0000
Special thanks to the Type. Tune. Tint. podcast for sponsoring this week's story.
Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud his new speculative horror story, "The Petals Beneath Her Tongue." Set in a near-future where emotions can be extracted and sold as consumable flavors, this story follows Vera Salazar, a disgraced influencer who signs a contract with Savorium to monetize her feelings...literally. Blending body horror with corporate exploitation and liturgical imagery, the story explores the commodification of authenticity, forced empathy, and what happens when the boundary between self and other dissolves completely. Content warning: this story contains visceral body horror, medical procedures, and themes of bodily exploitation.
You can find the written version of "The Petals Beneath Her Tongue" right here.
About the Author
Jon Negroni is a Puerto Rican author based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His published books include The Pixar Theory (Slimbooks, 2015), a pop culture nonfiction, and his debut novel Killerjoy (5050 Press, 2017). His recent short fiction includes "Men Who Are Strong" (IHRAM Press) and "Upon a Dream," an original fable published in The Fairy Tale Magazine. His upcoming anthology appearances include a cryptid horror tale, a speculative fiction piece for Neon Hemlock, and a superhero story for Oddity Prodigies. He's also the co-founder of the entertainment website, InBetweenDrafts.
Listen toward the end of the show for Jon’s full author’s notes on the making of this story.
About Cetera Magazine
We publish original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
Share This Episode
If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, 09 Oct 2025 14:26:33 +0000
Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud his new literary horror story, "Housekeeping for the Dead." Set during the night shift at the Starlight Motel, this story follows a housekeeper who cleans seven rooms while five stay locked, encountering different versions of the same dying woman in each one. Blending grief with supernatural repetition and the mundane details of motel housekeeping, the story explores complicated mourning and what happens when someone can't stop trying to care for a person they've already lost. Content warning: this story deals honestly with terminal illness, death, and watching someone fade slowly.
You can find the written version of "Housekeeping for the Dead" right here.
About the Author
Jon Negroni is a Puerto Rican author based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His published books include The Pixar Theory (Slimbooks, 2015), a pop culture nonfiction, and his debut novel Killerjoy (5050 Press, 2017). His recent short fiction includes "Men Who Are Strong" (IHRAM Press) and "Upon a Dream," an original fable published in The Fairy Tale Magazine. His upcoming anthology appearances include a cryptid horror tale, a speculative fiction piece for Neon Hemlock, and a superhero story for Oddity Prodigies. He's also the co-founder of the entertainment website, InBetweenDrafts.
Listen toward the end of the show for Jon’s full author’s notes on the making of this story.
About Cetera Magazine
We publish original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
Share This Episode
If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, 02 Oct 2025 14:20:37 +0000
Special thanks to the Type. Tune. Tint. podcast for sponsoring this week's story.
Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud "The Morrow Twins," a gothic horror story by Natalia Emmons, Cetera's managing editor making her fiction debut. Set in the fictional coastal town of Greyport, Massachusetts, this story follows Iris, who returns home for the funeral of childhood friend Thalia Morrow, only to encounter Tess—Thalia's twin sister whom Iris doesn't quite remember but somehow should. Blending psychological horror with haunted house atmosphere and New England gothic tradition, the story kicks off Cetera's Horror Month with twins, mirrors, and poppets with teeth.
You can find the written version of "The Morrow Twins" right here.
About the author:
Natalia Emmons is the managing editor of Cetera Magazine and one of its cofounders. She mainly writes short fiction, poetry, and extremely long text messages about the perils of run on sentences.
Listen toward the end of the show for Natalia's full author’s notes on the making of this story.
About Cetera Magazine:
We publish original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits:
Share this story!
If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, 25 Sep 2025 14:51:34 +0000
Special thanks to the Type. Tune. Tint. podcast for sponsoring this week's story.
Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud his new fantasy story, "I Am the Wolf, I Am the Boy." Set in the mysterious Singing Woods, this story follows Ilen, a traveling bard searching for stories, who encounters Corrin, a young man cursed to transform into a wolf and forget anyone who truly loves him. Blending dark fantasy with queer romance, the story explores the ache of loving someone we're destined to lose and the role of art as memory that survives forgetting.
You can find the written version of "I Am the Wolf, I Am the Boy" right here.
About the Author
Jon Negroni is a Puerto Rican author based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His published books include The Pixar Theory (Slimbooks, 2015), a pop culture nonfiction, and his debut novel Killerjoy (5050 Press, 2017). His recent short fiction includes "Men Who Are Strong" (IHRAM Press) and "Upon a Dream," an original fable published in The Fairy Tale Magazine. His upcoming anthology appearances include a cryptid horror tale, a speculative fiction piece for Neon Hemlock, and a superhero story for Oddity Prodigies. He's also the co-founder of the entertainment website, InBetweenDrafts.
Listen toward the end of the show for Jon’s full author’s notes on the making of this story.
About Cetera Magazine
We publish original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
Share This Episode
If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Songs for the Dead and Drowning
Mon, 22 Sep 2025 16:25:00 +0000
Special thanks to the Type. Tune. Tint. podcast for sponsoring this week's story.
Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud his dark fantasy story, "Songs for the Dead and Drowning," which is a fan favorite originally published in May that we've been eager to share in audio form. Set in a fantasy version of Caribbean waters influenced by Taíno folklore, this story follows a nameless sirena who refuses to be the sanitized mermaid of popular culture, instead wielding teeth sharper than storms and a hunger for justice that runs deeper than any ocean trench. Blending brutal fantasy with cultural reclamation and environmental themes, the story explores what happens when wild things refuse to be tamed, when predators stop apologizing for their nature, and what revenge looks like when it comes from the sea itself seeking retribution against those who would plunder and possess it.
You can find the written version of "Songs for the Dead and Drowning" right here.
About the Author
Jon Negroni is a Puerto Rican author based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His published books include The Pixar Theory (Slimbooks, 2015), a pop culture nonfiction, and his debut novel Killerjoy (5050 Press, 2017). His recent short fiction includes "Men Who Are Strong" (IHRAM Press) and "Upon a Dream," an original fable published in The Fairy Tale Magazine. His upcoming anthology appearances include a cryptid horror tale, a speculative fiction piece for Neon Hemlock, and a superhero story for Oddity Prodigies. He's also the co-founder of the entertainment website, InBetweenDrafts.
Listen toward the end of the show for Jon’s full author’s notes on the making of this story.
About Cetera Magazine
We publish original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
Share This Episode
If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, 18 Sep 2025 13:55:36 +0000
Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud his new magical realism story, "The Archivist." Set in Oakland, this story follows Isandro, a DJ who returns home from a late-night gig to find a mysterious woman in his apartment cataloguing all of his personal absences, which include missed calls, unsent birthday cards, and broken promises that have accumulated over the years. Blending fantastical elements with deeply grounded emotional realism and community healing, the story explores what we owe to the spaces where love should have been, as well as the weight of things left undone.
You can find the written version of "The Archivist" right here.
About the Author
Jon Negroni is a Puerto Rican author based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His published books include The Pixar Theory (Slimbooks, 2015), a pop culture nonfiction, and his debut novel Killerjoy (5050 Press, 2017). His recent short fiction includes "Men Who Are Strong" (IHRAM Press) and "Upon a Dream," an original fable published in The Fairy Tale Magazine. His upcoming anthology appearances include a cryptid horror tale, a speculative fiction piece for Neon Hemlock, and a superhero story for Oddity Prodigies. He's also the co-founder of the entertainment website, InBetweenDrafts.
Listen toward the end of the show for Jon’s full author’s notes on the making of this story.
About Cetera Magazine
We publish original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
Share This Episode
If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, 11 Sep 2025 14:33:21 +0000
Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud his new thriller story, "End of the Line." Set on Chicago's Blue Line during the late-night shift, this story follows Lily, a train conductor whose routine crossword puzzle is interrupted by a mysterious voice on an old radio frequency claiming there's a killer on board. Blending real-time suspense with transit procedural detail and character depth, the story explores quick decision-making under pressure, the courage to break protocol when lives are at stake, and what happens when an ordinary person must choose between following the rules and following their instincts to save passengers from a deadly threat.
You can find the written version of "End of the Line" right here.
About the Author
Jon Negroni is a Puerto Rican author based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His published books include The Pixar Theory (Slimbooks, 2015), a pop culture nonfiction, and his debut novel Killerjoy (5050 Press, 2017). His recent short fiction includes "Men Who Are Strong" (IHRAM Press) and "Upon a Dream," an original fable published in The Fairy Tale Magazine. His upcoming anthology appearances include a cryptid horror tale, a speculative fiction piece for Neon Hemlock, and a superhero story for Oddity Prodigies. He's also the co-founder of the entertainment website, InBetweenDrafts.
Listen toward the end of the show for Jon’s full author’s notes on the making of this story.
About Cetera Magazine
We publish original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
Share This Episode
If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, 04 Sep 2025 14:53:15 +0000
Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud his new speculative contemporary fiction story, "Behavioral Pause." Set in our near future, this story follows Eleanor, who volunteers for a clinical trial testing a drug designed to help people control their verbal impulses by creating a neural delay between thought and speech. Blending pharmaceutical science fiction with relationship dynamics and social commentary, the story explores authenticity versus acceptability, the pressure to optimize our personalities for social consumption, and what happens when we can no longer access our own voices. As Eleanor discovers the costs of chemical self-improvement while dating Marco, the story examines whether being liked is worth losing the ability to be truly known.
You can find the written version of "Behavioral Pause" right here.
About the Author
Jon Negroni is a Puerto Rican author based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His published books include The Pixar Theory (Slimbooks, 2015), a pop culture nonfiction, and his debut novel Killerjoy (5050 Press, 2017). His recent short fiction includes "Men Who Are Strong" (IHRAM Press) and "Upon a Dream," an original fable published in The Fairy Tale Magazine. His upcoming anthology appearances include a cryptid horror tale, a speculative fiction piece for Neon Hemlock, and a superhero story for Oddity Prodigies. He's also the co-founder of the entertainment website, InBetweenDrafts.
Listen toward the end of the show for Jon’s full author’s notes on the making of this story.
About Cetera
Cetera is a literary magazine publishing original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
Share This Episode
If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, 28 Aug 2025 14:19:25 +0000
Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud his new contemporary literary fiction story, "We Should Celebrate." Set in Charlotte, North Carolina, this story follows Elena and Noah, roommates whose carefully maintained boundaries are tested when Elena receives a job offer that will take her across the country. Blending understated prose with emotional complexity inspired by Sally Rooney and Emily Henry, the story explores the concept of "never-lovers;" people who want to be together but battle against timing and circumstance. Using an experimental three-act structure compressed into short fiction, it examines missed connections, unspoken feelings, and what happens when we choose our futures over our hearts.
You can find the written version of "We Should Celebrate" right here.
About the Author
Jon Negroni is a Puerto Rican author based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His published books include The Pixar Theory (Slimbooks, 2015), a pop culture nonfiction, and his debut novel Killerjoy (5050 Press, 2017). His recent short fiction includes "Men Who Are Strong" (IHRAM Press) and "Upon a Dream," an original fable published in The Fairy Tale Magazine. His upcoming anthology appearances include a cryptid horror tale, a speculative fiction piece for Neon Hemlock, and a superhero story for Oddity Prodigies. He's also the co-founder of the entertainment website, InBetweenDrafts.
Listen toward the end of the show for Jon’s full author’s notes on the making of this story.
About Cetera
Cetera is a literary magazine publishing original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
Share This Episode
If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Hunger Beneath the Warrens
Thu, 21 Aug 2025 14:51:38 +0000
Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud his new dark fantasy horror story, "The Hunger Beneath the Warrens." Set in a world of interconnected rabbit warrens bound by ancient magic, this story follows Captain Vetch of Thornburrow as he faces an undead infection that spreads through fallen communities, turning the dead into something far more dangerous than corpses. Blending fantasy worldbuilding with zombie horror and emotional depth, the story explores impossible leadership choices, community bonds, and what happens when the magical connections that define a society begin to crumble, forcing survivors to choose between preserving the past and building an uncertain future.
You can find the written version of "The Hunger Beneath the Warrens" right here.
About the Author
Jon Negroni is a Puerto Rican author based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His published books include The Pixar Theory (Slimbooks, 2015), a pop culture nonfiction, and his debut novel Killerjoy (5050 Press, 2017). His recent short fiction includes "Men Who Are Strong" (IHRAM Press) and "Upon a Dream," an original fable published in The Fairy Tale Magazine. His upcoming anthology appearances include a cryptid horror tale, a speculative fiction piece for Neon Hemlock, and a superhero story for Oddity Prodigies. He's also the co-founder of the entertainment website, InBetweenDrafts.
Listen toward the end of the show for Jon’s full author’s notes on the making of this story.
About Cetera
Cetera is a literary magazine publishing original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
Share This Episode
If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tue, 19 Aug 2025 20:32:02 +0000
Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud his literary folk horror story, "A Butcher's Fable", which was originally published in April and now features a new edit by Natalia Emmons and fresh artwork by the author. Set in the fictional Caribbean coastal town of Bahía Roja, this story follows Juan Albizú, a meticulous butcher whose pristine shop becomes the center of dark secrets when his meat begins to whisper truths the community refuses to acknowledge. Blending Caribbean cultural traditions with Southern Gothic atmosphere and psychological horror, the story explores communal silence, moral complicity, and what happens when guilt finds its voice in the most unexpected places.
You can find the written version of "A Butcher's Fable" right here.
About the Author
Jon Negroni is a Puerto Rican author based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His published books include The Pixar Theory (Slimbooks, 2015), a pop culture nonfiction, and his debut novel Killerjoy (5050 Press, 2017). His recent short fiction includes "Men Who Are Strong" (IHRAM Press) and "Upon a Dream," an original fable published in The Fairy Tale Magazine. His upcoming anthology appearances include a cryptid horror tale, a speculative fiction piece for Neon Hemlock, and a superhero story for Oddity Prodigies. He's also the co-founder of the entertainment website, InBetweenDrafts.
Listen toward the end of the show for Jon’s full author’s notes on the making of this story.
About Cetera
Cetera is a literary magazine publishing original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
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Thu, 14 Aug 2025 13:46:51 +0000
Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud his new horror fiction story, "Frequency." Set at San Francisco's Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, this story follows Christian, a DJ performing as the opening act to an indifferent crowd while nursing fresh rejection from his partner. Blending electronic music culture with body horror and psychological terror, the story explores artistic validation, emotional pain, and what happens when a performer's internal anguish begins literally transmitting through the music itself, transforming the audience in devastating ways. Content warning: includes substance use, body horror, and disturbing themes.
You can find the written version of "Frequency" right here.
About the Author
Jon Negroni is a Puerto Rican author based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His published books include The Pixar Theory (Slimbooks, 2015), a pop culture nonfiction, and his debut novel Killerjoy (5050 Press, 2017). His recent short fiction includes "Men Who Are Strong" (IHRAM Press) and "Upon a Dream," an original fable published in The Fairy Tale Magazine. His upcoming anthology appearances include a cryptid horror tale, a speculative fiction piece for Neon Hemlock, and a superhero story for Oddity Prodigies. He's also the co-founder of the entertainment website, InBetweenDrafts.
Listen toward the end of the show for Jon’s full author’s notes on the making of this story.
About Cetera
Cetera is a literary magazine publishing original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
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If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, 07 Aug 2025 13:56:10 +0000
Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud his new contemporary short fiction story, "Your Inner Sourdough." Set on a BART train in the Bay Area, this story follows Marina, who has claimed a specific seat as her daily sanctuary, only to find a stranger sitting in it every morning. Blending self-help culture satire with relatable commuter anxiety and awkward human connection, the story explores boundaries, control, and what happens when our carefully constructed inner peace meets someone else's completely reasonable existence in the most embarrassing ways possible.
You can find the written version of "Your Inner Sourdough" right here.
About the Author
Jon Negroni is a Puerto Rican author based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His published books include The Pixar Theory (Slimbooks, 2015), a pop culture nonfiction, and his debut novel Killerjoy (5050 Press, 2017). His recent short fiction includes "Men Who Are Strong" (IHRAM Press) and "Upon a Dream," an original fable published in The Fairy Tale Magazine. His upcoming anthology appearances include a cryptid horror tale, a speculative fiction piece for Neon Hemlock, and a superhero story for Oddity Prodigies. He's also the co-founder of the entertainment website, InBetweenDrafts.
Listen toward the end of the show for Jon’s full author’s notes on the making of this story.
About Cetera
Cetera is a literary magazine publishing original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
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If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Little Matchgirl Makes Good
Thu, 31 Jul 2025 14:41:03 +0000
Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud his new dark fantasy story, "The Little Matchgirl Makes Good." A reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen's classic fairy tale, this story follows a girl who dies selling matches in the cold but is resurrected by the Daughters of Ashes, a group that brings back forgotten girls to seek revenge on those who let them perish. Blending gothic atmosphere with social commentary and moral complexity, the story explores class warfare, justice versus vengeance, and what happens when the discarded rise up to burn down the world that discarded them.
You can find the written version of "The Little Matchgirl Makes Good" right here.
About the Author
Jon Negroni is a Puerto Rican author based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His published books include The Pixar Theory (Slimbooks, 2015), a pop culture nonfiction, and his debut novel Killerjoy (5050 Press, 2017). His recent short fiction includes "Men Who Are Strong" (IHRAM Press) and "Upon a Dream," an original fable published in The Fairy Tale Magazine. His upcoming anthology appearances include a cryptid horror tale, a speculative fiction piece for Neon Hemlock, and a superhero story for Oddity Prodigies. He's also the co-founder of the entertainment website, InBetweenDrafts.
Listen toward the end of the show for Jon’s full author’s notes on the making of this story.
About Cetera
Cetera is a literary magazine publishing original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
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If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tue, 29 Jul 2025 13:40:39 +0000
Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, host Jon Negroni reads aloud his magical realism story, "Magical Pork," which was originally published on Cetera in February 2025. Set in Oakland, this is the tale of Ruben, who runs a Puerto Rican food truck and discovers that his pernil has the power to feed an entire neighborhood without ever running out. Blending culinary tradition with community magic and emotional realism, the story explores hope, cultural heritage, and the miraculous ways food can transform strangers into family. Drawing from Jon's own Puerto Rican roots, it's a love letter to the power of shared meals.
You can find the written version of "Magical Pork" right here.
About the Author
Jon Negroni is a Puerto Rican author based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His published books include The Pixar Theory (Slimbooks, 2015), a pop culture nonfiction, and his debut novel Killerjoy (5050 Press, 2017). His recent short fiction includes "Men Who Are Strong" (IHRAM Press) and "Upon a Dream," an original fable published in The Fairy Tale Magazine. His upcoming anthology appearances include a cryptid horror tale, a speculative fiction piece for Neon Hemlock, and a superhero story for Oddity Prodigies. He's also the co-founder of the entertainment website, InBetweenDrafts.
Listen toward the end of the show for Jon’s full author’s notes on the making of this story.
About Cetera
Cetera is a literary magazine publishing original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
Share This Episode
If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, 24 Jul 2025 13:34:42 +0000
Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud his new contemporary fiction story, "That's Your Problem to Solve." Set in a converted San Francisco nail salon, the tale follows Gabriel Hayes, a former therapist who charges people five hundred dollars an hour to professionally not help them with their problems. Blending dark comedy with sharp social commentary and emotional realism, the story explores codependency, recovery, and the strange ways we connect when we stop trying to fix each other and start trying to see each other instead.
You can find the written version of "That's Your Problem to Solve" right here.
About the Author
Jon Negroni is a Puerto Rican author based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His published books include The Pixar Theory (Slimbooks, 2015), a pop culture nonfiction, and his debut novel Killerjoy (5050 Press, 2017). His recent short fiction includes "Men Who Are Strong" (IHRAM Press) and "Upon a Dream," an original fable published in The Fairy Tale Magazine. His upcoming anthology appearances include a cryptid horror tale, a speculative fiction piece for Neon Hemlock, and a superhero story for Oddity Prodigies. He's also the co-founder of the entertainment website, InBetweenDrafts.
Listen toward the end of the show for Jon’s full author’s notes on the making of this story.
About Cetera
Cetera is a literary magazine publishing original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
Share This Episode
If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tue, 22 Jul 2025 22:30:05 +0000
Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, host Jon Negroni reads aloud his original fairy tale, "The Moon Dancer's Bargain." This is Cetera's second published story from January 2025. Inspired by Caribbean folklore, this is a tale of a young woman who encounters mysterious magic and must make an impossible choice that will change everything. Blending timeless fairy tale elements with rich cultural traditions, the story explores sacrifice, desire, and the true cost of getting what we want most. Plus, Jon shares brand-new author's notes created specifically for this episode.
You can find the written version of "The Moon Dancer's Bargain" right here.
About the Author
Jon Negroni is a Puerto Rican author based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His published books include The Pixar Theory (Slimbooks, 2015), a pop culture nonfiction, and his debut novel Killerjoy (5050 Press, 2017). His recent short fiction includes "Men Who Are Strong" (IHRAM Press) and "Upon a Dream," an original fable published in The Fairy Tale Magazine. His upcoming anthology appearances include a cryptid horror tale, a speculative fiction piece for Neon Hemlock, and a superhero story for Oddity Prodigies. He's also the co-founder of the entertainment website, InBetweenDrafts.
Listen toward the end of the show for Jon’s full author’s notes on the making of this story.
About Cetera
Cetera is a literary magazine publishing original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
Share This Episode
If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, 17 Jul 2025 13:45:25 +0000
Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud his new paranormal contemporary fiction story, "One Good Ghost." Set at a beachside wedding, this is a tale where past and present collide when a bridesmaid encounters her brother's dead ex-fiancée in a bathroom mirror. Blending supernatural elements with sharp family dynamics and emotional realism, the story explores love, loss, and the complicated ghosts we carry, even into new beginnings.
You can find the written version of "One Good Ghost" right here.
About the Author
Jon Negroni is a Puerto Rican author based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His published books include The Pixar Theory (Slimbooks, 2015), a pop culture nonfiction, and his debut novel Killerjoy (5050 Press, 2017). His recent short fiction includes "Men Who Are Strong" (IHRAM Press) and "Upon a Dream," an original fable published in The Fairy Tale Magazine. His upcoming anthology appearances include a cryptid horror tale, a speculative fiction piece for Neon Hemlock, and a superhero story for Oddity Prodigies. He's also the co-founder of the entertainment website, InBetweenDrafts.
Listen toward the end of the show for Jon’s full author’s notes on the making of this story.
About Cetera
Cetera is a literary magazine publishing original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
Share This Episode
If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mon, 14 Jul 2025 21:23:02 +0000
Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, host Jon Negroni reads aloud his paranormal romance story, "To Feel Like a Person Again." Set at Starling Academy, a school where students who die become ghosts until graduation, this is the story of teen witches Hollie and Luce as they navigate love when one person gets to keep living and the other doesn't. Blending supernatural elements with sharp emotional realism, the story explores agency, identity, and what it means to truly "see" someone. Even when they're no longer fully there.
You can find the written version of "To Feel Like a Person Again" right here.
About the Author
Jon Negroni is a Puerto Rican author based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His published books include The Pixar Theory (Slimbooks, 2015), a pop culture nonfiction, and his debut novel Killerjoy (5050 Press, 2017). His recent short fiction includes "Men Who Are Strong" (IHRAM Press) and "Upon a Dream," an original fable published in The Fairy Tale Magazine. His upcoming anthology appearances include a cryptid horror tale, a speculative fiction piece for Neon Hemlock, and a superhero story for Oddity Prodigies. He's also the co-founder of the entertainment website, InBetweenDrafts.
Listen toward the end of the show for Jon’s full author’s notes on the making of this story.
About Cetera
Cetera is a literary magazine publishing original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
Share This Episode
If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, 10 Jul 2025 13:49:17 +0000
Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, host Jon Negroni reads aloud his new speculative literary short story, "Paper Dreams." Set in a near-future Silicon Valley, this is a world where dreams are taxed as intellectual property. Blending soft sci-fi and dystopian satire with emotional realism, the story explores grief, surveillance, and the quiet rebellion of a woman whose inner life is no longer her own.
You can find the written version of "Paper Dreams" right here.
About the Author
Jon Negroni is a Puerto Rican author based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His published books include The Pixar Theory (Slimbooks, 2015), a pop culture nonfiction, and his debut novel Killerjoy (5050 Press, 2017). His recent short fiction includes "Men Who Are Strong" (IHRAM Press) and "Upon a Dream," an original fable published in The Fairy Tale Magazine. His upcoming anthology appearances include a cryptid horror tale, a speculative fiction piece for Neon Hemlock, and a superhero story for Oddity Prodigies. He's also the co-founder of the entertainment website, InBetweenDrafts.
Listen toward the end of the show for Jon’s full author’s notes on the making of this story.
About Cetera
Cetera is a literary magazine publishing original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
Share This Episode
If "Paper Dreams" surprised you, please share it with fellow story lovers. The best fiction deserves to be heard, and your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mon, 07 Jul 2025 18:57:31 +0000
Welcome to the very first episode of Worlds Without Warning! Host Jon Negroni introduces the podcast and reads their own speculative fiction story, "Soulmate Season." A tale of cosmic destiny meeting heart-crushing reality when two strangers discover their invisible thread connection at the worst time possible. You can find the written version of "Soulmate Season" right here.
About the Author
Jon Negroni is a Puerto Rican author based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His published books include The Pixar Theory (Slimbooks, 2015), a pop culture nonfiction, and his debut novel Killerjoy (5050 Press, 2017). His recent short fiction includes "Men Who Are Strong" (IHRAM Press) and "Upon a Dream," an original fable published in The Fairy Tale Magazine. His upcoming anthology appearances include a cryptid horror tale, a speculative fiction piece for Neon Hemlock, and a superhero story for Oddity Prodigies. He's also the co-founder of the entertainment website, InBetweenDrafts.
Listen toward the end of the show for Jon’s full author’s notes on the making of this story.
About Cetera
Cetera is a literary magazine publishing original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
Share This Episode
If "Soulmate Season" surprised you, please share it with fellow story lovers. The best fiction deserves to be heard, and your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Introducing: Worlds Without Warning
Mon, 07 Jul 2025 18:45:40 +0000
Get ready for Worlds Without Warning, a new weekly podcast where stories come alive through the voices of their creators.
Worlds Without Warning features original short stories from Cetera Magazine, read aloud by the authors themselves. Each week brings a new tale that might surprise you, move you, or even haunt you a little.
As a subscriber, you can expect:
About Cetera
Cetera publishes original short fiction every Thursday, complete with original artwork and detailed author notes. These are stories written with care, intention, and the belief that fiction can be one of the best forms of surprise.
Links & Resources
Credits
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.