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Forged Bonds - A Mythological Romance Podcast

A queer, myth-bending audio drama retelling of Aphrodite and Hephaestus's love story

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Forged Bonds - A Mythological Romance Podcast

Forged Bonds - A Mythological Romance Podcast

Forged Bonds - A Mythological Romance Podcast

Forged Bonds - A Mythological Romance Podcast

Forged Bonds - A Mythological Romance Podcast

A queer, myth-bending audio drama retelling of Aphrodite and Hephaestus's love story

A queer, myth-bending audio drama retelling of Aphrodite and Hephaestus's love story

A queer, myth-bending audio drama retelling of Aphrodite and Hephaestus's love story

A queer, myth-bending audio drama retelling of Aphrodite and Hephaestus's love story

Pine Gonzalez
Pine Gonzalez
Pine Gonzalez
Pine Gonzalez
2 Campaigns |
Chicago, United States
$2,225 USD 52 backers
23% of $9,325 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal
Highlights
Mountain Filled 2 Projects Mountain Filled 2 Projects

Welcome, dear readers, to Forged Bonds!

I am your humble narrator, Calliope, here to talk you through this campaign and what your support means for us. Starting out with what this is: Forged Bonds is a myth-bending retelling of the story of Aphrodite and Hephaestus. In traditional mythology, they are forced into a marriage together leading to Aphrodite cheating with Ares. What if Aphrodite and Ares were best friends forced into a political marriage? What if Aphrodite started to fall in love with Hephaestus? What if Hephaestus was a trans woman who had been isolated from Olympus in the attempts to protect her own heart? This show strives to answer all of these questions while also taking a look at the love stories and politics of Olympus as a whole. Over the course of 48 episodes, Forged Bonds will tell a love story being gifted by the gods.

Stepping outside the character: I’m Pine, the creator of Forged Bonds and person asking for your support! This podcast is a 48 part misuse of my degree in Classics that is inspired by my love of mythology and my love of Hephaestus specifically. Your support would help this turn from an idea in my head into a fully produced audio drama.

Funds Breakdown and Crowdfunding Tiers

We are trying to raise $9,325 USD for the creation of Forged Bonds. This money goes entirely to the cast of this show while also covering the indiegogo fees and creation of the physical perk items. The breakdown looks like this:

  • Voice actors - $8880 (93.5%)
  • Platform fees - $475 (5%)
  • Physical perks (includes printing and mailing) - $145 (1.5%)

I personally do not take a cut of this money, all of it goes to the incredible cast which you can see here:

Any additional funds raised will go to paying Athan for the music for this show! Athan has created so amazing music and is working on music for Forged Bonds in addition to providing the voice for Poseidon. If we get over our goal, that will help with the payment for the music.

Of course, your funds will not go without repayment! In addition to supporting the creation of the show, you can also choose from the following perks:

Mortal - $5

  • Thank you message and fortune on social media

Oracle - $10

  • Thank you message and fortune on social media
  • Out of context doodle for the show

Demigod - $20

  • Thank you message and fortune on social media
  • Out of context doodle for the show
  • Early access to all episodes of Forged Bonds

Nymph - $50

  • Thank you message and fortune on social media
  • Out of context doodle for the show
  • Early access to all episodes of Forged Bonds
  • Logo stickers and postcard (blank)

Minor god - $100

  • Thank you message and fortune on social media
  • Out of context doodle for the show
  • Early access to all episodes of Forged Bonds
  • Logo stickers and postcard (blank)
  • Additional postcard with portion of a myth related to the show written on the back + personalized message

Olympian - $150

  • Thank you message and fortune on social media
  • Out of context doodle for the show
  • Early access to all episodes of Forged Bonds
  • Logo stickers and postcard (blank)
  • Additional postcard with portion of a myth related to the show written on the back + personalized message
  • Recording of a myth of your choice (30 minute maximum length)

Titan - $200

  • Thank you message and fortune on social media
  • Out of context doodle for the show
  • Early access to all episodes of Forged Bonds
  • Logo stickers and postcard (blank)
  • Additional postcard with portion of a myth related to the show written on the back + personalized message
  • Recording of a myth of your choice (30 minute maximum length)
  • Recording of a myth of your choice (1.25 hour maximum length)

If we don’t hit 100% of our goal, all funds raised will go towards the cast and I will pay the indiegogo fee/buy the physical perks out of pocket. My cast is the heart and soul of this show, they will always be my first priority when it comes to the funds raised.

Why your show?

There are plenty of myth retellings out there, but very few focus on Hephaestus and very few are as committed to making a trans love story as I am. This show is a love letter to the gods and it’s also a love letter to every trans/nonbinary person who fell in love with mythology as a kid and never let it go. I am fortunate enough to get to work with an incredible cast, a large number of whom are queer– half of the cast is some flavor of trans/nonbinary and it has greatly influenced how this story was written. Getting to work with these wonderful people to make as queer a love story as possible has always been the goal; your support means that these people get to be paid fairly to do the incredible work they have done.

Other ways you can help

If you’re not in a place where you can afford to support the crowdfunder but want to support the creation of the show, there are lots of things you can do!

  • Tell a friend! Word of mouth is always important when it comes to gaining traction in a crowdfunder
  • Follow us on social media! We’ll be posting a lot of content on socials @forgedbondspod which you can share or you can make your own posts about the show coming out
  • Follow the cast on social media! This one is less related to the crowdfunder, I just think they’re great
  • Check out my other show, Tales from the Fringes of Reality - more eyes there can lead to more eyes on this crowdfunder since I do a lot of cross promotion for both shows
  • Tag me in pictures of your pets on social media! Again, not necessarily about the crowdfunder but it would make me very happy

Notes on the crowdfunder

This is an independent show being produced by one person; the turn around will not be as fast as someone with a bigger team or bigger budget, but it will get done and will start release before the end of the year. I have chosen to do a flexible campaign, meaning that even if we don’t hit our goal, we will still keep the money raised in the campaign. This also means you will still get all of the perks offered regardless of whether or not we hit the full goal. 

Looking for more information? Check the project FAQ
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Choose your Perk

Mortal

$5 USD
The gods have heard your message and have sent a vision to the oracle on your behalf! Our thanks to you will be shouts from the highest points of Olympus (the Forged Bonds social media sites)
Included Items
  • Thank you message/fortune
3 claimed

Oracle

$10 USD
The oracle has divined something else for you! This time a snippet from the show- what the context is only the gods themselves know, though they will reveal it to you in time.
Included Items
  • Thank you message/fortune
  • Out of context doodle
9 claimed

Demigod

$20 USD
Premonitions continue to come your way, this time in the form of receiving new episodes every Saturday before official release.
Included Items
  • Thank you message/fortune
  • Out of context doodle
  • Early access to episodes
20 claimed

Nymph

$50 USD
The nymphs have heard of the blessings cast upon you on by the gods and have brought gifts your way. Stickers and a postcard bearing the show's logo, left at the same shrine you used to praise the gods.
Included Items
  • Thank you message/fortune
  • Out of context doodle
  • Early access to episodes
  • Logo stickers
  • Postcard (blank)
Estimated Shipping
August 2024
9 claimed
Ships worldwide.

Minor God

$100 USD
You have begun your ascent past the mortal world and have been accepted in by the minor gods. They have offered to share stories with you, one of which was written and left at the same shrine you began your ascent from.
Included Items
  • Thank you message/fortune
  • Out of context doodle
  • Early access to episodes
  • Logo stickers
  • Postcard (blank)
  • Postcard w/ myth + message
Estimated Shipping
September 2024
4 claimed
Ships worldwide.

Olympian

$150 USD
You have made it to Olympus and the Olympians have invited you to join their ranks. In addition to written stories, they have offered to tell you whatever story of their triumphs and failures you would like to hear-- within a reasonable time frame, of course.
Included Items
  • Thank you message/fortune
  • Out of context doodle
  • Early access to episodes
  • Logo stickers
  • Postcard (blank)
  • Postcard w/ myth + message
  • Recorded myth (up to 30 mins)
Estimated Shipping
October 2024
2 claimed
Ships worldwide.

Titan

$200 USD
You have surpassed the gods themselves and have become a Titan. The Titans have even more stories to tell and even more time to tell them. Pick a story and sit by their side, let them regale you as you await the arrival of our show.
Included Items
  • Thank you message/fortune
  • Out of context doodle
  • Early access to episodes
  • Logo stickers
  • Postcard (blank)
  • Postcard w/ myth + message
  • Recorded myth (up to 30 mins)
  • Recorded myth (up to 1.25 hrs)
Estimated Shipping
October 2024
2 claimed

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