Shadows of the Mind Podcast

Shadows of the Mind Podcast Logo (via Anchor)

Mandi Jourdan

Nick Pennington

Lindsey Carda

Jennifer McCollom

Sarah Jilek

(see "Cast" section for full cast)

The *Shadows of the Mind* Podcast is an adaptation of the novel series of the same name by Mandi Jourdan. It is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Anchor, and all other major listening platforms.

## Series Overview

Each season of the podcast corresponds with one of the novels in the *Shadows of the Mind* series. Season one, which contains nine episodes, spans the full length of *Lacrimosa* and deals with the death of Damian Lawrence and the search for his killer*.* Season two, which will air in 2020, will correspond with *Veritas* and will focus on the larger issues that motivated Damian's death, including the creation of the Division and its android soldiers.

Between seasons, bonus episodes adapted from short stories in the *Shadows of the Mind* universe will air on all platforms.

The podcast stars a full voice cast consisting primarily of students and faculty from Southern Illinois University, where the show is produced. Actors portray their characters through both dialogue and narration, and scenes are underscored with music and feature a full host of sound effects.

## Cast

*Shadows of the Mind* stars an ensemble cast. The central characters are as follows:

* **L.J. Engelmeier** as Lila
* **David Ballard** as Derek Lawrence
* **Mandi Jourdan** as Desdemona "Desi" Lawrence
* **Nick Pennington** as Edward "Eddie" Dodson
* **Lindsey Carda** as Ravenna Mitchell
* **Jennifer McCollom** as Mia
* **Sarah Jilek** as Rachel Hartley
* **Emma Lasley** as Kathleen "Kat" Seward
* **Jessica Freeman** as Clarisse Mitchell
* **Pinckney Benedict** as Osiris
* **Sydney Connolley** as Hathor
* **Katie Durham** asCasey O'Malley(in season two; in season one, Casey was played by Sarah Jilek)

The supporting cast includes:

* **Ian Moeckel** as Damian Lawrence(main in season one, supporting in season two)
* **Beaumont Rand** as **Andrew Stark**
* **Jay Livingston** as **Bennet "Ben" McNaire**
* **Graham Turner** as Alexander "Lex" Knight
* **Sarah Schore** as Charlotte "Charlie" Vela
* **Ivy Reitz** as Isis
* **Riley Herron** as Horus
* **Audrey Holmes** as **Abigail Knight**
* **Dylan Davis** as **President Ethan McNaire**
* **Shirley Scott** as **Isabella Hartley**
* **James Nash** as **Detective Harry Masters**
* **Justin Gordon** as **Captain Scott Ryder and** Anubis
* **Greg Kassen** as **Skylar Ellis**

## Episodes

As of the end of the show's first season, nine episodes have been released as well as a linked audio piece published by the *Missouri Review.*

1. **The Co-President** (Aired January 22, 2019): On July 28, 2232, Lila is being hunted, though she can't remember whether she's guilty of the heinous crime she saw in her dream. One week earlier, robotics mogul Damian Lawrence plans to reveal a secret to his family, unaware that his plans—and his life—will be cut short.
2. **Control** (Aired January 31, 2019): In the wake of Damian Lawrence’s death, his brother and sister watch a recording of what happened the night he was killed. No one is prepared for what they find. Lila makes her way through Manhattan and learns she has unique skills. Rachel meets with President McNaire, who isn’t pleased with her.
3. **Until Proven Guilty** (Aired February 10, 2019): Lila and Derek are both plagued by nightmares about Damian’s murder, but Lila’s come with a startling realization—she sees herself holding the gun. Eddie tries to get Desi to open up to him about what she’s going through, and she’s torn between her need to push him away and her true feelings for him. Mia is determined to cover her tracks.
4. **Line of Fire** (Aired March 3, 2019): Ravenna's search for her fiancé’s killer leads her to Lila's hotel room. As Lila struggles to escape, she encounters someone from her past and learns a truth about herself that changes everything. The Division hunts Mia, who has made deadly allies.
5. **Proximity** (Aired March 21, 2019): Desi can't stop replaying the night of her brother's death. In her guilt, she turns to Eddie, and the two must begin to deal with their feelings for one another. Lila struggles to trust her new ally. The Division makes a move against Mia.
6. **Surrender** (Aired May 2, 2019): Derek struggles to cope with the loss of his brother and his conflicted feelings for the woman accused of committing the murder. Ravenna remembers her reasons for choosing the life of an assassin, and Desi and Eddie continue to meet in secret. Lila makes a decision that forces Derek to confront the truth.
7. **I'm You** (Aired June 9, 2019): Lila's memories are returning more quickly. After she leaves the security of Derek's apartment, her search for answers takes her to LDE—and into the path of one of her pursuers. Desi and Eddie admit the depth of their feelings for one another, and Desi confronts Ravenna.
8. **Lacrimosa** (Aired July 10, 2019): As Lila’s memories continue to slide back into place, she realizes how close she was with the Lawrence family before the events of July 25th. At Damian’s public funeral service, Derek, Eddie, and Desi eulogize him. Meanwhile, Ravenna finally catches up to the woman who killed her fiancé, and the truth of what happened the night Damian died is revealed.
9. **Convergence** (Aired November 9, 2019): Season finale. At the LDE warehouse, Desi confronts her brother's killer. Derek and the others race to the same building, where the reason for Damian's death is revealed.

## Production

All episodes of the main podcast are filmed at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, in the Faner Podcasting Lab. The lab is funded by a grant from the SIU Foundation. Production is made possible by Professor Pinckney Benedict.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the bonus episodes produced between seasons are filmed remotely.

The podcast is edited and produced by Mandi Jourdan. The royalty-free music and sound effects are from Storyblocks Audio, and the music is selected by Mandi Jourdan and Sarah Jilek. Shadows of the Mind can be heard on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and all other major podcasting platforms.

## "Inheritance" and the *Missouri Review*'s Miller Audio Prize

"Inheritance," a short piece set after the end of the Shadows of the Mind series, won first place in the prose category of the *Missouri Review*'s 2019 Miller Audio Prize. It was selected by contest judge Cher Vincent and was published on the *Missouri Review* website on September 2, 2019 along with an interview with author Mandi Jourdan. **Note:** as "Inheritance" takes place after the Shadows of the Mind series, both the piece itself and the related article contain spoilers for the Shadows of the Mind podcast and novels.

The cast includes:

* **Sarah Jilek** as Cissa Dodson
* **Nick Pennington** as Edward "Eddie" Dodson
* **David Ballard** as LDE Advertisement/Holofile
* **L.J. Engelmeier** as Newspaper
* **Mandi Jourdan** as LDE Computer