S1E1 - Welcome to the Sci-Fi Ethics Zone

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 11:30:00 -0000

Episode Notes

This is the story of how the strange accounts recorded in other episodes came to be. Written by Eric Hilker and Peter Miller. Voiced by Peter Miller, Eric Hilker, and M. Dalanda Diallo. Editing by Sara Bastianelli, and support from Sound on Grounds at the University of Virginia.

S1E2 - Pill People

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 12:00:00 -0000

Episode Notes

The world is set a couple hundred years in the future from our current time and human civilization is facing major world hunger due to a mysterious blight that has swept through the world’s crops, killing most viable forms of food consumption. A group of scientists have discovered a way to create a daily pill that is able to provide both the necessary nutrients and calories to every single human, and must only be taken once a day. However, unbeknownst to the general population, these pills are made by absorbing the nutrients out of live humans, killing them. Our protagonist (Andrew) stumbles onto this and has to make a decision between shutting down this project due to the loss of life, or to keep the project going to support the future of human civilization.

Written and voiced by Jakob Polsky, Andrew Kennedy, Enzo Alinsonorin, Megan Sartori, and Mariam Gouda. Recorded and edited by Sara Bastianelli and the Sound on Grounds team.

S1E3 - Work In Progress

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 12:00:00 -0000

Episode Notes

The sun has suddenly disappeared from space. The U.N. has gathered five of the best scientists in different fields to help find a solution. Written and voiced by Nick Meyers, Kate Nagler, Jonny Wei Xu Herrick, and Georgia Clickner. Recorded and edited by Sara Bastianelli and the Sound on Grounds team.

S1E4 - The Cure

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 12:00:00 -0000

Episode Notes

The Cure is a science fiction audio drama about scientists who create a chip meant to cure diseases but discover its power to control people. The story explores the consequences of blind ambition and the moral limits of science.

Written and voiced by Alice Zhang, Cheyoung Kim, Elliott Wright, Fatima Haddi, and Jacqueline Knecht. Recorded and edited by Sara Bastianelli and the Sound on Grounds team.

S1E5 - Miasto

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 12:00:00 -0000

Episode Notes

This episode describes a city that has a hidden truth. We follow Cow and Rabbit on their journey in the underground Renard Orphanage as they navigate their seemingly "normal" lives. They interact with Cat and Fox, who each have a crucial role in their lives.

Written and voiced by Iris Carvalho: Narrator Kayla Butville: Cow Tristan Howdyshell: Fox Geoffrey Lin: Cat Ethan Timar: Rabbit

Recorded and edited by Sara Bastianelli and the Sound on Grounds team.

S1E6 - The Donut That Broke Us

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 12:00:00 -0000

Episode Notes

This is the best episode!

Written and voiced by Romy Byrne, Blake Clayton, Muneeb Malik, Daniel Lee, Bodie Lohr, and Matthew Walls. Recorded and edited by Sara Bastianelli and the Sound on Grounds team.

S1E7 - UBC Shmursday Night Live

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 12:00:00 -0000

Episode Notes

An alien race in a galaxy far, far away, on a planet named Chukula, has discovered Earth and has found a “primitive” civilization on the planet. After Earth’s discovery, there have been heated debates about whether to enter diplomatic relations with the people or to conquer their planet and eradicate them, or even enslave them. On a publicized TV program, a moderator hosts a debate between someone who believes homosapiens aren’t subject to the same human rights as their race, the superioralis orgalis, and one who believes they are. During the debate, clips from Vorpus Dingleshneeb's journalism are shown to the audience and debaters to provide context and evidence for the debaters' claims.

Written and voiced by Lane Caldwell, Dylan Mayton, Oliver Regal, Ethan Edwards, and Thomas Ayoub-Winder. Recorded and edited by Blake Cabral and the Sound on Grounds team.

Sounds used: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oO3GDAyHCc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNf4Q7G-p2g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQAK1HciLcY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrEJ0ccLDII https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvXbEO5Kbgc

S1E8 - The Divide

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 12:00:00 -0000

Episode Notes

The audio drama depicts an old man telling a story to a young boy about how life used to be (humans and genetically engineered humans).

Written and voiced by Aleena Seyam (Ash), Dorian Colina (Flint), Ewan Becher (Elias), Aarnav Bandam (The Overseer) and Nishanth Kolakalapudi (the Narrator). Recorded and edited by Dalanda Diallo and the Sound on Grounds team.

S1E9 - The Core Decision

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 12:00:00 -0000

Episode Notes

The planet of Bolb has a decomposing core, and a select team of specialized Blobs (the inhabitants of Bolb) are tasked with finding a solution. The team discovers Earth, which is slowly being destroyed by its inhabitants and only has a couple years before it reaches an end. Earth has a suitable core that could save the planet Bolb, but in order to take Earth's core, the team would need to blow up Earth. This moral dilema creates a problem that the crew could not have forseen. Will Earth survive, or will its core be used to save the people of Bolb?

Written and voiced by Vicki, Arsen, Hanlin, Zach, and Ryan. Recorded and edited by Blake Cabral and the Sound on Grounds team.

S1E10 - Jefferson Juice

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 12:00:00 -0000

Episode Notes

On a walk back from the Corner on a Saturday night, four students uncover that strange things are happening on grounds due to the influence of a mysterious group who work behind the scenes and are manipulating students in ways that they are completely unaware of.

Written and voiced by Scott Clark, Cooper Southworth, Angelina Ky, Samuel Lloyd, and Jace Oliver. Recorded and edited by Sara Bastianelli and the Sound on Grounds team.

S1E11 - Ecumenopolis: Genesis

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 12:00:00 -0000

Episode Notes

Ecumenopolis follows the story of a galaxy brought to its knees by an industrial empire. We follow six unlikely heroes as they work to form a plan to topple the regime from within. Brought together from different backgrounds, they each hold a certain disdain for the government, yet some need convincing more than others. Will this rebellion finally collapse an oppressive reign, or will this be another meaningless blip on the radar?

Written and voiced by Sam Padilla, Shaniya Gray-Jackson, Bethel Mekonnen, Addison Pennings, Aarush Penmesta, and Charles Hapgood. Recorded and edited by Blake Cabral and the Sound on Grounds team.

S1E12 - The Bunker

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 12:00:00 -0000

Episode Notes

Set in the year 2050, six people are locked in a bunker after the threat of nuclear fallout: a scientist, a failing medical student, a child, a pregnant woman, an old man, and a Michael Jackson impersonator. Running low on food, they must decide on who to send out; an ethical dilemma that will result in one of them dying.

Written and voiced by Madyson Dixon, Amie Do, Aaron Hopper, Will Murphy, Grayson Sipe, and Ava Tran Recorded and edited by Blake Cabral and the Sound on Grounds team.

S1E13 - The Crash

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 13:20:44 -0000

Episode Notes

Written and voiced by Rachel Martin, Allegra Cowan, Amelia Fort, Helena, Garrison Cade, and Isaiah Garrett. Recorded and edited by Sara Bastianelli and the Sound on Grounds team.

S2E1 - Plasticizing

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0000

Episode Notes

A modified and continued take on the story "Plasticized" by Kathryn E. Hill. We will dive into a world where people are slowly becoming more and more plastic, reflecting on one of humanity's many current environmental problems.

Written and voiced by Akhila Addepalli, Sydney Williams, Mackenzie Mize, Sahil Sardar, Jerry Chen, and Julia Fried

Recorded and edited by Sara Bastianelli and the Sound on Grounds Team.

S2E2 - The Last Breath

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0000

Episode Notes

This is the story of a society running out of time, and drastic measures are taken to preserve what little air is left. Lungs can be swapped out but minds cannot, raising the stakes even higher for all who must take the test.

Written and voiced by Charlotte Gabriel, Michael Tardivo, Mariam Gabriel, Emily Acuto, Kai Stone, and Evan Yan.

Recorded and edited by Dalanda Diallo and the Sound on Grounds team.

S2E3 - The Ark

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0000

Episode Notes

This episode reimagines the 1938 "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast through an alternate perspective. As Martians invade Earth, this podcast follows a group of civilians aboard a flight into the heart of New York City. In the face of peril, the characters navigate conflict, interpersonal relationships, and ethical dilemmas.

Written and voiced by Parker Walls, Richard Gao, Adelaide Caron, Taylor Purcell, and William Martin.

Recorded and edited by Sara Bastianelli and the Sound on Grounds team.

S2E4 - Purification

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0000

Episode Notes

In this dystopian news-style episode, listeners are taken live to the Senate floor as lawmakers debate the controversial Purification Bill—a measure that would mandate the immediate euthanization of all “plasticized” people in the United States. With plasticized births rising to nearly forty percent, fear and political momentum fuel the Purified Movement’s push for eradication, while the Plastic People’s Movement fights back, arguing for human rights, responsibility, and accountability for the pollution that caused plasticization in the first place.

Through tense testimonies, moral clashes, and a final decisive vote, the episode explores themes of scapegoating, environmental responsibility, ableism, and the dangers of extremism disguised as practicality. The bill ultimately passes, triggering nationwide unrest and the declaration of martial law. “Purification” leaves listeners questioning who society chooses to protect—and who it decides is disposable.

Written and voiced by Sophia Dortch, Sam Rowanhill, Emma Holt, Rishabh Malkani, and Connor Anderson.

Recorded and edited by Sara Bastianelli and the Sound on Grounds team.

S2E5 - The Answer

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0000

Episode Notes

The Answer is about 3 explorers who are sent on a quest to investigate a unknown world to find a solution on their world problem of running out of oxygen. They have to face the dilemma that there is no solution and are faced with the moral question of do they tell the citizens or not.

Written and voiced by Chloe, Leah, Lillian, Judy, Ronin, and Ashvin.

Recorded and edited by Dalanda Diallo and the Sound on Grounds team.

S2E6 - Its 2079 and No One Is Winning

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0000

Episode Notes

Written and voiced by Jude Sounder, John Aziz, Mae Bledsoe, Nicole Chen, and Xavier Torres-Seda.

Recorded and edited by Dalanda Diallo and the Sound on Grounds team.