Temporal Light
Content Warning / Trigger Warning: This podcast deals with parental abuse and its entire premise rests on a serious case of gas lighting. Listener Discretion is advised.
Zaneta Aurelia Azis Parker has a normal life. Seriously. It’s normal. She might be the daughter of a prestigious neurologist who caught the eye of the people connected to big pockets, but she just works in the office by running the daily operations and at home by taking care of her siblings. Considering she can remember never wanting this life, some would think that’s odd. But she doesn’t.
Until she sees an image of herself at a fundraising dinner in a modern piece done by a secretive artist. It is hard to see, what with it being hidden and only visible by a trick of the light. However, Zaneta is drawn to the one spot where the lights could have shown her this version of herself.
With that, a facade starts to fall, and Zaneta is left to piece everything together. First things first, you would suppose, who is the mysterious Lucent?
Press kit can be found here.
LOGO
Zaneta's life has changed forever. She knows that, but that's all she knows. Telling this story will be hard. Where should she begin? And can you even believe her? It's like she's meeting you for the first time. But not... The ensuing panic leads to this: a shying away from the moment of pain and gazing instead at the site around the wound.
[General Content Warning for Gaslighting, Abuse. Secondary CW for a discussing reminiscent of body dysmorphia - 2:09 - 2:36 - Not exact but too close to not mention.]
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Written, edited, produced, and performed by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful - Soundslikeanearful.com
Sound Effects from Freesound.org
For Zaneta, the tether to normalcy was cut at what should have been a normal gala. But it wasn't. Zaneta saw herself. In a trick. In an art piece that she did not make. But the consequences are hers. If she plays her cards right.
But still... nothing is as it should be. Secrets are still abound, some Zaneta can see and some she cannot.
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Written, Performed, and Produced by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful - Soundslikeanearful.com
Sound Effects from Freesound.org
A piece of toast, a scar, and a mentor. Things that should not converge at an unknown point. But this is Zaneta's life now. More inconsistences in the illusion are being revealed. Including a next step. If the moment hasn't passed.
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Written, Performed, and Produced by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful - Soundslikeanearful.com
Sounds from Freesound.org
Maybe the stress finally broke her. But Zaneta feels a sense of calm. Little does she know, it's just the calm before the storm. Or before her second chance. Lucent isn't going away.
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Written, Performed, and Produced by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful - Soundslikeanearful.com
Sounds from Freesound.org
There's another gathering. Another appearance. Another chance to start a second journey. But this time, Zaneta has someone guiding her. This time, yes, but maybe not again.
[General Content Warning for Gaslighting, Abuse.]
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Written, Performed, and Produced by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful - Soundslikeanearful.com
Sounds from Freesound.org
Some times grand reveals are anything but. For Zaneta, it's all reason to take pause. She could move forward. But should she? Without Dr. Alexson there to guide her, she might not be able to move on..
[General Content Warning for Gaslighting, Abuse.]
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Written, Performed, and Produced by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful - Soundslikeanearful.com
Sounds from Freesound.org
When the fog lifts, Zaneta finds answers but another question that she's been avoiding. But the pieces she does have need to be gathered. Her home and office are full of secrets. Some used against her and some giving her strength.
[General Content Warning for Gaslighting, Abuse.]
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Written, Performed, and Produced by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful - Soundslikeanearful.com
Sounds from Freesound.org
Zaneta has received some terrible news. And all-in-all, she's just suffering from the weight of sadness. What progress she has made, won't feel like it. Even when the next step seems so obvious. For now, she's still moving forward. Maybe in a more personal direction
[General Content Warning for Gaslighting, Abuse. Which escalates this episode. And CW for suicidal ideation from 11:53 to 12:06]
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Written, Performed, and Produced by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful - Soundslikeanearful.com
Sounds from Freesound.org
If Zaneta gets the answers she seeks, what will become of it? Will she even be able to find out? Answers won't come to her without strife, but it may be worth it to figure out what her father did it her.
[General Content Warning for Gaslighting, Abuse. Which escalates this episode.]
Written, Performed, and Produced by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful - Soundslikeanearful.com
Sounds from Freesound.org
Denial comes easily, for Zaneta. The stakes only help her. But now more pieces are coming together--a dream that can't otherwise be explained and an answer to a question-- as well as other choices being made. Opportunity comes next, but who knows when her convictions can truly return to her.
[General Content Warning for Gaslighting, Abuse alluded to including a comment about Zaneta's weight, specifically 13:45 to 13:52]
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Written, Performed, and Produced by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful
Soundslikeanearful.com
Sounds from Freesound.org
Zaneta's revealed the next step, but that doesn't mean she can take it. And yet, the world moves around her regardless. It may not be her choice much longer.
[General Content Warning for Gaslighting, Abuse]
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Written, Performed, and Produced by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful
Soundslikeanearful.com
Sounds from Freesound.org
In the penultimate season 1 episode, Zaneta inches closer to her flight. At least she knows she's moving slowly, right? But something is happening. Blood work was taken, and a banging keeps happening (or so Zaneta thinks).
Even when the flight happens though, the journey may only be beginning.
[General Content Warning for Gaslighting, Abuse. Brief discussion of a nonbinary coworker's struggles and Zaneta's attempts to help from 4:16 to 4:56. Mention of sleeping pills. Implied drugging throughout the episode]
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Written, Performed, and Produced by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful
Soundslikeanearful.com
Sounds from Freesound.org
A death occurs in the office. Two, if you count the story someone always told himself. But with that, the normal Zaneta had been trying to hold onto is officially gone. Her options are limited. Her fears are numerous.
[General Content Warning for Gaslighting, Abuse. Brief discussion of a medical procedure involving restraint from 19:39 to 20:07, discussion on death and morality through the episode]
Thanks for sticking around for season 1! If you want more of MJ's content, check out Aishi Online, The Oracle of Dusk, and The Mountain's Heart in your podcatcher of choice.
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Written, Performed, and Produced by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful
Soundslikeanearful.com
Sounds from Freesound.org
Zaneta is on the road, but it was never going to be an easy one. As a small act of rebellion, though, she will continue to speak. Somehow. But what it means to hear her words is still unclear.
[General Content Warning for Gaslighting, Abuse.]
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Written, Performed, and Produced by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful
Soundslikeanearful.com
Zaneta has some good memories. Or she thinks she does. She remembers a doll and other pieces of her that weren't so upsetting.
[General Content Warning for Gaslighting, Abuse.]
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Written, Performed, and Produced by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful
Soundslikeanearful.com
Zaneta isn't afraid of travelling. Just the mishaps along the way. But there could be joy there. Assuming this memory is accurate.
[General Content Warning for Gaslighting, Abuse. Mentioning of a nondescript figurative wound healing]
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Written, Performed, and Produced by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful
Soundslikeanearful.com
Zaneta had a reason for this all along. She just couldn't say what it was. Unfortunately, she isn't in the right head space to be apologetic.
[General Content Warning for Gaslighting, Abuse. Passing body shaming/judgment from 2:57 to 3:07 ]
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Written, Performed, and Produced by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful
Soundslikeanearful.com
For Zaneta, things were always going to be bad. There was no way out.
[General Content Warning for Gaslighting, Abuse.]
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Written, Performed, and Produced by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful
Soundslikeanearful.com
Zaneta and her father stand at opposite ends of a certain spectrum. Or that's what she thinks. It's enough to be concerned.
[General Content Warning for Gaslighting. For this episode, Abuse, particularly Medical and Marital Abuse.]
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Written, Performed, and Produced by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful
Soundslikeanearful.com
In this--the first episode of Season 2--Zaneta makes a surprising return. But as far as surprise appearances go, she's not the only one who can do it. Her world is growing now that she's out. But what exactly will that mean?
[General Content Warning for Gaslighting.]
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Written, Performed, and Produced by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful
Soundslikeanearful.com
Zaneta is in control of her life now that she has left her father's house. But the part of her that is actually in control is not what she would want it to be. But what control she can get won't help her protect the one link she still has to the world around her. She can't do that.
[General Content Warning for Gaslighting.]
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Written, Performed, and Produced by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful
Soundslikeanearful.com
Sound Effects from FreeSound.org
There are many questions left unanswered, and far too many of them are medical. Then there's the potential pursuit she has to deal with. All in all, Zaneta may need to refocus.
[General Content Warning for Gaslighting.]
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Written, Performed, and Produced by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful
Soundslikeanearful.com
Ties are never fully severed. Connections linger. Zaneta is left to navigate the resulting forest of ghosts she only partially recognizes.
[General Content Warning for Gaslighting.]
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Written, Performed, and Produced by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful - Soundslikeanearful.com
A brief encounter from a friend from the past had consequences for Zaneta and others.
[General Content Warning for Gaslighting.]
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Written, Performed, and Produced by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful - Soundslikeanearful.com
Zaneta gets caught up in her pursuits. Her world is perpetually spinning; why not grab an anchor now? Simply put: anchors sink. Far lower than you may like.
[General Content Warning for Gaslighting.]
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Written, Performed, and Produced by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful - Soundslikeanearful.com
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Zaneta hits a breaking point. And something else. While a revelation or two hits her more softly.
[General Content Warning for Gaslighting.]
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Written, Performed, and Produced by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful
Soundslikeanearful.com
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Is there something worse than silence? Zaneta misses a broadcast. There are consequences.
[General Content Warning for Gaslighting.]
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Written, Performed, and Produced by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful
Soundslikeanearful.com
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Fortunately, Zaneta is the type to rescue herself. Or at least this time she got kidnapped by someone who wasn't so good at it. But that's getting too far ahead of things...
[General Content Warning for Gaslighting.]
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Written, Performed, and Produced by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful
Soundslikeanearful.com
Sound Effects from Freesound.org
"window-blinds-raise-01" from newagesoup
"Zipper, Back pack" from Alexbuk
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Alone with her thoughts, Zaneta finds herself focusing more on the negative, specifically her choices.
[General Content Warning for Gaslighting.]
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Written, Performed, and Produced by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful
Soundslikeanearful.com
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Zaneta wears self-loathing like a second skin. But there's been a reason for it lately. It's just not a series of choices she wants to admit to. Better to beat herself up for it.
[General Content Warning for Gaslighting.]
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Written, Performed, and Produced by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful
Soundslikeanearful.com
Zaneta is alone, still telling her story for reasons unknown. Maybe it's just cathartic? Maybe it's that self-loathing again. Who is to say.
But a choice was made, again. All the second chances in the world and none of them were enough.
[General Content Warning for Gaslighting.]
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Written, Performed, and Produced by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful
Soundslikeanearful.com
In the season 2 finale, Zaneta reveals what happened to Lottie. Because she knows now. Not that she has much to show for it.
[General Content Warning for Gaslighting.]
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Written, Performed, and Produced by MJ Bailey
Music for this Episode by Sounds Like an Earful
Soundslikeanearful.com