Around the Sun (audio drama)

Around the Sun: An Episodic Audio Drama is a scripted podcast series. Each anthology episode pairs two characters in a short scene that addresses a specific social issue. Production began during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

Production
Around the Sun is written and produced by Brad Forenza. The first season was co-produced by Suzanne Ordas Curry and Brian Dashew and launched via the Broadway Podcast Network in October 2021. In September 2022, Forenza and Adassa announced on NPR Illinois that a second season would premiere that autumn.

Season 1 (2021-22)
Season 1 premiered on October 21, 2021, via the Broadway Podcast Network, with episodes taking place throughout New York City. A special video version of Episode 8: "The Museum," starring Forenza and Vincent Pastore, was produced as an addendum to the season.

Season 2 (2022-23)
Season 2 premiered on October 26, 2022, via the Broadway Podcast Network. The season featured a new cast, with episodes unfolding in and around the American Southwest. Episodes 6 and 10 starred three-time Oscar nominee Piper Laurie in her last credited roles.

Season 3 (2023-24)
Season 3: Pinecones premiered on October 18, 2023, via the Broadway Podcast Network. The Season 3 announcement was confirmed by cast member Jai Rodriguez on WPIX television. The season features a mostly new cast with two performers (Forenza and Clemmons ) returning to the project in new roles. The final episode includes an original song written by series creator Brad Forenza and interpreted by François Clemmons.

In a first for the series, Pinecones follows a single story arc, with each episode offering a different conversation between varying members of an extended family (along with members of their local community). The narrative takes place in an undisclosed mountain town in the American Northeast during the winter holiday season. It makes literal and thematic references to Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life.