Step into a world where the lines between science fiction, fantasy, and surreal mystery blur — a world crafted on the fly, powered by curiosity, and designed to ignite your imagination. This August, Blubrry Podcasting is proud to spotlight Makeshift Stories as our Podcast of the Month.
At first glance, the name Makeshift Stories might sound humble, but don’t let that fool you. Since 2008, host Vern Hume (also known by his pen name Alan V Hare) has been crafting speculative sci-fi tales that are raw, spontaneous, and filled with wonder. Think of them as concept sketches in audio form — unpolished by design, allowing listeners to fill in the blanks with their imagination.
“The podcast’s name intentionally infers these stories are not polished works of writing,” Vern explains. “Instead, they are ideas, often quite spur of the moment, put out to our listeners to consider in their raw state.”
What started as an experimental storytelling podcast for younger audiences has evolved into something much broader and more compelling. Early episodes were serialized adventures shaped partly by listener feedback. But after a turning point in Episode 22, “The Boy Who Loved Candy” — a story Vern first improvised as a bedtime tale for his son — the podcast took on a new life. Vern pivoted to an anthology format, where each story stands alone, yet sometimes revisits familiar worlds or characters. The result? A collection of stories that defy genre rules, weaving together science fiction, fantasy, surrealism, and speculative mystery into one hypnotic feed.
“Over time, Makeshift Stories has grown into a show that blends science fiction, fantasy, speculative mystery, and surrealism,” Vern said. “It has never confined itself to a single genre, which is part of what keeps it vibrant.”
A flattering comparison!
As one listener notes, Makeshift Stories is “A slightly gentler but equally insightful Twilight Zone.”
Vern took that comparison to heart. Like the classic Twilight Zone, Makeshift Stories explores the strange, the unknown, and the what-ifs in a way that’s accessible to all ages. No harsh language, no shock-value horror — just scintillatingly spun tales that open the door to imagination.
“I was flattered by the listener’s comparison of the podcast to the Twilight Zone,” Vern notes. “Their comment finally helped me identify the themes that run through the stories: mystery, wonderment, and the unexplained.”
The themes work!
Among its accolades, Makeshift Stories has been nominated for the Podcast Awards (2022) and the Canadian Podcast Awards.
Another fan favorite in the podcast is the Somewhere Sometime series, one-off tales that live outside of any defined timeline or universe. Bedtime stories for grown-ups and children alike, transporting listeners to other realities while still leaving you wondering, “What if this could really happen?”
Makeshift Stories might be a rare gem in the podcasting world — a show that’s stayed true to its creative core while quietly building a dedicated following for over 15 years. Vern Hume’s commitment to curiosity-driven storytelling, coupled with his willingness to let ideas evolve in real-time, embodies what podcasting is all about: connection, creativity, and a sense of wonder.
If you’ve never listened to Makeshift Stories, now is the perfect time to dive in. You just might find yourself looking at the world a little differently after each episode.
Listen at MakeshiftStories.com and join the adventure.