Episodes

  • Burned by a Paper Sun |S1| Ep. 5
    Nov 3 2025

    The small city of Distoria appeared directly after the Great Darkness of 1999. It is nearly the exact twin of the much older Common Castle, the two lying separated by only a small stretch of woods. Distoria differs from its sibling by means of a far more aged appearance and a sickly aesthetic that informs it with no small amount of menace.

    An artist, with no choices left to him, visits in hope that the dark myths attributed to the towns are true.


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    Want to learn more about the world of Burned by a Paper Sun? Check out our website!


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    Be sure to like, comment, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform! We appreciate your support!

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    Red Rembrandt written by Mark Anzalone

    Edited by Walker Kornfeld

    Sound mastering by Steven J. Anzalone

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    Red Rembrandt voiced by Steven Zivic

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    Intro music by Steven Anzalone, Lou Sutcliffe, and female vocals by Harper Tacent


    Music and Sound effects are licensed from third party providers including Envato, Epidemic Sound, Artlist, Soundstripe, Melody Loops, Pond 5, Soundcrate, Music Vine, Youtube, Melodie, Elelven labs, Slipstream, and Storyblocks


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    26 mins
  • Mael-o-ween Special
    Oct 30 2025

    The Rotten Pumpkin Man


    After the Great Darkness of 1999, many towns that were once occupied were discovered abandoned. One such town, Harvest Creek, is located just outside the borders of Autumn City. One of the many artifacts discovered after the hamlet's apparent desertion was a journal located in one of the empty residence. The small book, which contained an account of a supposed mass murder at the hands of a strange folklore figure, became infamous for its similarities to Autumn City's own killer - Jack Lantern. Some have speculated that Jack Lantern was once a citizen of the small town, while others believe that the killer based his haunting persona on the antagonist of the bloody tale. There are even those who have come to believe that Jack Lantern isn't human at all, but the Rotten Pumpkin Man himself.


    The Spirit Photographer


    In October of 2006, Katie Tammer was the only remaining witness to an odd mass disappearance that took place at the annual Nemeroff Masquerade - a yearly costume party thrown by millionaire, Stanley Nemeroff, at his lake house in Camden, Maine. While Ms. Tammer was initially held as a person of interest, the lack of evidence tying him to any wrong-doing eventually lead to her release. Shortly after, Ms. Tammer disappeared from the country, but had left a letter tacked to the wall of her apartment's entryway. The note was a telling of the events of the night in question, which drastically differed from her account tendered to the police, where she claimed the guests had simply disappeared after she returned from her smoke break. The following is the content of Ms. Tammer's letter.


    The Hunting Houses

    A man ruminates within the confines of a haunted house. Pondering the nature of his home, he comes to a terrifying conclusion.


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    Stories written By Mark Anzalone

    Sound design by Steven Anzalone

    Editing by Walker Kornfeld


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    The Rotten Pumpkin Man voiced by Aubrey Akers

    The Spirit Photographer voiced by Gina Smith

    The Hunting houses voiced by Jessie Van Hove


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    Music and Sound effects are licensed from third party providers including Envato, Epidemic Sound, Artlist, Soundstripe, Melody Loops, Pond 5, Soundcrate, Music Vine, Youtube, Melodie, Slipstream, and Storyblocks


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    19 mins
  • Burned by a Paper Sun |S1| Ep. 4
    Oct 27 2025

    The Skeleton Kids (1:48)

    On the Halloween of 2002, a strange and grotesque slew of events transpired in the small town of Candleton, Minnesota. While rumors of repeat happenings and subsequent cover-ups have circulated for years, on October 31, 2017, authorities were faced with a genuine replay of those 2002 incidents. The following account was the last journal entry of the victim, Lauren Ackerman, which was penned the night of October 31st, only hours prior to her death. Aside from the journal entry, the only other clue left at the scene was the fact that the backdoor lock has been picked.


    The Hollow School (15:01)

    In 2006, in Alberta, Canada, a body was found hanging in a small apartment located on 427 Laney street. Officials eventually determined the body was that of Mathew Burdick, an individual whom United States officials had a warrant for his arrest. Specifically, he was wanted for questioning regarding the disappearances of Ted Holmes and Louis Hatman, individuals whom he was close friends and colleagues with. The following content was in a notebook located in a drawer next to his bed. The Book was handed over to American authorities to assist in their investigation.


    Follow us on Twitter at @maeltopia


    Want to learn more about the world of Burned by a Paper Sun? Check out our website!


    Want additional perks like extra lore, stories, art, and more? Check out our Patreon at: www.patreon.com/maeltopia


    Want unique art and animations to go along with your Maeltopia episodes? Check out our Youtube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmmrdXEvkEPfQvCKT4pha4Q


    Be sure to like, comment, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform! We appreciate your support!

    --

    The Skeleton Kids written by Steven Anzalone

    The Hollow School written by Mark Anzalone

    Edited by Walker Kornfeld

    Sound mastering by Steven J. Anzalone

    --

    The Skeleton Kids voiced by Harper Tacent

    The Hollow School voiced by Lou Sutcliffe

    --

    Intro music by Steven Anzalone, Lou Sutcliffe, and female vocals by Harper Tacent


    Music and Sound effects are licensed from third party providers including Envato, Epidemic Sound, Artlist, Soundstripe, Melody Loops, Pond 5, Soundcrate, Music Vine, Youtube, Melodie, Elelven labs, Slipstream, and Storyblocks



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    27 mins
  • Burned by a Paper Sun |S1| Ep. 3
    Oct 18 2025

    Butterfly Darkly (start at: 1:50)


    After several years, Jamie Grudger - a serial killer of some notoriety - was captured and interred for his heinous crimes. However, the bizarre murderer's ominous words still echoed in the head of Detective Harry Mills, the man who brought the killer to justice. Now, events have brought the detective back to that haunting case and, perhaps, to places far worse.


    Stillborn (Starts at: 17:50)


    Exploring the mess of her deceased grandfather's attic, Lindsey Jacobs happened upon her late elder's journal. While much of it was filled with the mundane on-goings of his daily life, she stumbled upon a strange and morose account concerning a certain tragic citizen of Mercy Ridge. The story only spanned the life of a couple of pages and was peculiarly never mentioned again anywhere in the rest of the journal.


    Follow us on Twitter at @maeltopia


    Want to learn more about the world of Burned by a Paper Sun? Check out our website!


    Want additional perks like extra lore, stories, art, and more? Check out our Patreon at: www.patreon.com/maeltopia


    Want unique art and animations to go along with your Maeltopia episodes? Check out our Youtube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmmrdXEvkEPfQvCKT4pha4Q


    Be sure to like, comment, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform! We appreciate your support!

    --

    "Butterfly Darkly" Written by Mark Anzalone

    "Stillborn" written by Steven Anzalone

    Edited by Walker Kornfeld

    Sound mastering by Steven J. Anzalone

    --

    "Butterfly Darkly" Narrated by Matt Van Hove

    "Stillborn" narrated by Jesse Van Hove

    --

    Intro music by Steven Anzalone, Lou Sutfliffe, and female vocals by Harper Tacent

    Music and Sound effects are licensed from third party providers including Envato, Epidemic Sound, Artlist, Soundstripe, Melody Loops, Pond 5, Soundcrate, Music Vine, Youtube, Melodie, Slipstream, and Storyblocks



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    30 mins
  • Burned by a Paper Sun |S1| Ep. 2
    Oct 18 2025

    Judith Beckett had always found comfort in abandoned places. They calmed her stormy mind, not to mention provided her a reprieve from the world she had grown to resent. The Tower of Teeth, a monument only a few miles from her town, stood against the world in a way she only wished she could. She envied it. She admired it. She wanted to know it. And on a cold October night, she met it.


    Follow us on Twitter at @maeltopia


    Want to learn more about the world of Burned by a Paper Sun? Check out our website!


    Want additional perks like extra lore, stories, art, and more? Check out our Patreon at: www.patreon.com/maeltopia


    Want unique art and animations to go along with your Maeltopia episodes? Check out our Youtube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmmrdXEvkEPfQvCKT4pha4Q


    Be sure to like, comment, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform! We appreciate your support!

    --

    Written by Steven Anzalone

    Edited by Walker Kornfeld

    Sound mastering by Steven J. Anzalone

    --

    Narrated by Jesse Van Hove

    --

    Intro music by Steven Anzalone, Lou Sutfliffe, and female vocals by Harper Tacent

    Music and Sound effects are licensed from third party providers including Envato, Epidemic Sound, Artlist, Soundstripe, Melody Loops, Pond 5, Soundcrate, Music Vine, Youtube, Melodie, Slipstream, and Storyblocks

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    20 mins
  • Burned by a Paper Sun |S1| Ep. 1
    Oct 18 2025

    William is a rational man, but even rational men are left broken by the Great Darkness of 1999. Despite his skeptical outlook, he is haunted by dreams of the most horrible and macabre variety. Most of all, he is terrorized by a single harrowing figure - the Elevator Man.


    Follow us on Twitter at @maeltopia


    Want to learn more about the world of Burned by a Paper Sun? Check out our website!


    Want additional perks like extra lore, stories, art, and more? Check out our Patreon at: www.patreon.com/maeltopia


    Want unique art and animations to go along with your Maeltopia episodes? Check out our Youtube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmmrdXEvkEPfQvCKT4pha4Q


    Be sure to like, comment, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform! We appreciate your support!

    --

    Written by Mark Anzalone

    Edited by Walker Kornfeld

    Sound mastering by Steven J. Anzalone

    --

    Narrated by Aubrey Akers

    --

    Intro music by Steven Anzalone, Lou Sutcliffe, and female vocals by Harper Tacent


    Music and Sound effects are licensed from third party providers including Envato, Epidemic Sound, Artlist, Soundstripe, Melody Loops, Pond 5, Soundcrate, Music Vine, Youtube, Melodie, Slipstream, and Storyblocks

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    24 mins