MOTHER, She Wrote: An EarthBound Podcast

April, 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of the Japanese release of MOTHER 3. 20 years and still no English release in sight! But we’re not about to let that stop us from celebrating here in Eagleland.Join Cat and Jess SATURDAY April 25th as they kick off Starmen.net's Funfest streaming event, where personalities from across the fandom are playing through MOTHER 3, over 19 nights, with charity donations and auctions benefiting World Central Kitchen. But wait - MOTHER 3?! We're still on EarthBound Beginnings! Jess is avoiding MOTHER 3 spoilers! What's happening! Listen in, friend - answers and more event info await.LINKS:The StarmanClub Twitch Page: https://www.twitch.tv/starmanclubThe Starmen.net MOTHER 3 Funfest Landing page: https://starmen.net/mother-3-20th-anniversary/home.html The Tiltify Page - Donate and Vote for Pizza Toppings here: https://tiltify.com/@starmanclub/mother3-wck-fundraiser Place Auction Bids here: https://tiltify.com/@ladyte/auctions/mother-3-20th-anniversary-fundraiser Name the characters! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe3L0FLGlKdRoyDYGIrWS1KKRZcTomOaHgZ8bbBBRW5WG2mcw/viewformSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Some news and a community update!Meet Cat at North Carolina Comicon, in Durham North Carolina - November 9th and 10th. Tickets and more info at nccomicon.comAnd: EB Saga 5 is out!The long-awaited next installment of Jazzy and Robbie Benson’s EarthBound Saga fan film series that they started when they were kids. It’s a monumental moment in EarthBound fan films - an Evil Dead-fueled, surreal, garlic-munching, midnight movie opus. Head to ebsaga.com And that’s all she wrote. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Step into a Dimensional Slip: intermittent interludes in “MOTHER,” She Wrote’s journey - where we speak with guests from a multitude of backgrounds and delve deeper into the themes, media, and fandom that make up the tapestry of the EarthBound experience.The MOTHER series is known for its distinctive visuals; whether it's the vivid and playful pixel art of the games or its bold graphic design. But there's another key component that's highly unusual and lent to the series' distinct visual identity: clay figures of all the characters. From main heroes and villains down to the most worthless of protoplasms, MOTHER and EarthBound advertising and players guides are filled with photos of hyper-detailed, hand-made clay figurines - all the work of sculptor Masao Tottori.In this episode we share what we know about this mysterious artist and speak with two artists inspired by his work: Camille Young (aka Meeellla) and Justyn (aka Cosmix). Camille is a mixed media artist whose sculptures and figures appear in Fangamer's EarthBound and MOTHER 3 Handbooks and Cosmix is a character craftsman who routinely dazzles fans with his expansive roster of figurines. They're two sculptors from two very different generations of the MOTHER fandom. They share with us their MOTHER origin stories, artistic inspirations, and for all of you physical media artists out there: their tricks of the trade so you too can explore new dimensions of 3D art. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Step into a Dimensional Slip: intermittent interludes in “MOTHER,” She Wrote’s journey - where we speak with guests from a multitude of backgrounds and delve deeper into the themes, media, and fandom that make up the tapestry of the EarthBound experience.The memorable melodies of MOTHER are more than just background music - they're an essential part of the series’ storytelling! We've often talked about the duo responsible for the score: art rock musician Keiichi Suzuki and "Hip" Tanaka, and you've just as often heard us wonder “how did they do this?” It seems like they pushed the Nintendo Entertainment System’s hardware to the limit! So, to get deeper insight into how the music of MOTHER was made, we've turned to legendary chiptunes artist, Pixelh8.Pixelh8's expertise on the musical mechanics of the 8-bit era is second only to the Nintendo engineers who built the system and in this episode you'll hear him give us a hands-on demonstration of how sounds on the NES work, as well as astute assessments of the technical and narrative power of the game's score. We’ll also learn more about the various eras of chiptune music, Pixelh8’s work reclaiming computer chips from dying consoles to build new instruments, and excitingly, his return to the music scene after a twelve year silence, with his new record, Hard Reset. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ninten, Ana, and Lloyd are facing down the biggest calamity in their world-saving careers: childcare. Every adult in Youngtown has been abducted, leaving behind a village of traumatized orphans, fighting to survive in the alien-infested wilderness. Fortunately, there are some pleasant surprises in store: strange new powers, old friends, and fun facts await in this epic and heartrending double-length adventure.“MOTHER,” She Wrote mixes audio drama and talk podcast to chronicle the strangest, most thought-provoking video games ever made: the MOTHER series, as it's called in Japan, and EarthBound as it's called everywhere else. This first season chronicles MOTHER (1989), known as EarthBound Beginnings in English-speaking countries.For links and transcriptions, head to https://mothershewrote.earth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Step into a Dimensional Slip: intermittent interludes in “MOTHER,” She Wrote’s journey - where we speak with guests from a multitude of backgrounds and delve deeper into the themes, media, and fandom that make up the tapestry of the EarthBound experience. The story of EarthBound is two-fold: the story within games and the story of their cultural impact - how they've shaped the world around them. In this Dimensional Slip, we're examining the uncanny life of Kody Nokolo, Webmaster of the fan site Mother Forever and Director at the game design studio, NokoGodo. Theirs is a tale of how the MOTHER fandom expands and self-perpetuates across generations - while inspiring enthusiasts to create their own art, without boundaries. These games speak to their players - not just figuratively, but literally, and that's become a reciprocal dialogue.In this episode we discuss Nokolo's investigative origins in the modern MOTHER fandom, the phenomena of "MOTHERlike" games, the power of breaking the fourth wall, and how all these concepts are in conversation with their forthcoming game, Gnomonic.For links and transcriptions, head to https://mothershewrote.earth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Meet Ana, the psychokinetic preacher's daughter whose mom was abducted by aliens. She has unusual powers, but there's more under the surface of this precocious girl than even she knows. Joining Ninten and Lloyd, they travel to the ghost town of Spookane to investigate a city-wide disappearance and rumors of a haunted piano with a tragic history. Sarah Rhea Werner, of the sci-fi audio drama Girl in Space, joins the cast as Ana and our audio drama segment EXPLODES in this double-length mid-season special. "MOTHER," She Wrote and Ninten's adventures will never be the same again.“MOTHER,” She Wrote mixes audio drama and talk podcast to chronicle the strangest, most thought-provoking, most heart-rending video games ever made: the MOTHER series, as it's called in Japan, and EarthBound as it's called everywhere else. This first season chronicles MOTHER (1989), known as EarthBound Beginnings in English-speaking countries.For links and transcriptions, head to https://mothershewrote.earth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ninten's back on solid ground and in a new town. Life in the bustling burg of Merrysville is tough, but he finds a new friend in a strange place - with explosive results. In Merrysville, Shigesato Itoi's social commentary and observations of American culture are in full effect; as you explore an abandoned factory, an elementary school, and wander in and out of the lives of the town's citizens. Cat and Jess crack open the MOTHER Encyclopedia and speak to a surprising source - Talking Heads' frontman David Byrne - as they piece together all the puzzling evidence of this artful game's influences.“MOTHER,” She Wrote mixes audio drama and talk podcast to chronicle the strangest, most thought-provoking, most heart-rending video games ever made: the MOTHER series, as it's called in Japan, and EarthBound as it's called everywhere else. This first season chronicles MOTHER (1989), known as EarthBound Beginnings in English-speaking countries.For links and transcriptions, head to https://mothershewrote.earth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Flying men, swimming cats, a mysterious mimicker, and a magical castle in the clouds?! We're not in Podunk anymore.Enter the dreamy world of Magicant. Ponder its surreal inhabitants and unusual sights with Cat and Jess as they draw connective threads between Ninten's past, this peculiar place, and beloved children's media from across the 20th century.“MOTHER,” She Wrote mixes audio drama and talk podcast to chronicle the strangest, most thought-provoking, most heart-rending video games ever made: the MOTHER series, as it's called in Japan, and EarthBound as it's called everywhere else. This first season chronicles MOTHER (1989), known as EarthBound Beginnings in English-speaking countries.For links and transcriptions, head to https://mothershewrote.earth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Embark on a journey through EarthBound Beginnings! There's something strange happening in the town of Podunk, and unresolved mysteries, almost a century old, are coming to light. Can a twelve-year-old with emerging psychic abilities hold his own against paranormal disturbances, mind-control, and the walking dead?“MOTHER,” She Wrote mixes audio drama and talk podcast to chronicle the strangest, most thought-provoking, most heart-rending video games ever made: the MOTHER series, as it's called in Japan, and EarthBound as it's called everywhere else. This first season chronicles MOTHER (1989), known as EarthBound Beginnings in English-speaking countries.Adventure with Ninten and then unpack the game's events with hosts Cat Blackard and Jessica Mudd as they dust off their basement bread, share their most SMASHable enemies, and favorite "MOTHER," She Quotes from Nintendo and Shigesato Itoi's beloved cult classic game.For links and transcriptions, head to https://mothershewrote.earth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Set out on a sense-shattering, tear-jerking journey where psychic children brave alien invasion, magical lands, corrupt politicians, and homesickness. The beloved cult video game series, EarthBound (aka MOTHER), is brought to life in this genre-bending blend of audio drama and documentary that explores these eccentric adventures like never before.Travel beyond the controller and into the story - as it’s lived by the characters. Then, unpack all the surreal adventures, thought-provoking moments, social commentary, pop culture inspirations, and more with insightful, pizza-loving co-hosts, Cat Blackard and Jessica Mudd, in this literal love letter to Shigesato Itoi's iconic Nintendo games."MOTHER," She Wrote is created by the award-winning team behind The Call of Cthulhu Mystery Program, and feature voices from hit sci-fi audio dramas like Girl in Space and Midnight Burger. Discover more at https://mothershewrote.earth/ or anywhere you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.