PlayME

As Sam’s time grows shorter, tensions and emotions run high. Rachel’s estranged boyfriend unexpectedly shows up to support her, leading to a heated confrontation with her father over past grievances. Amid a bittersweet celebration, the family tries to hold on to moments of joy—but they’re all painfully aware of what’s coming. When Rachel uncovers a long-held secret, it might be the key to changing her father’s heart.

Featuring: ...

When thirty-year-old Rachel returns home for Shabbat dinner with her ailing father and his girlfriend, she’s met with a life-altering announcement: her father, Sam Adleman, has chosen to end his life through Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)—and he plans to do it in just seven days. Shocked and heartbroken, Rachel decides to stay the week, desperately trying to change his mind. But when she brings their Rabbi into the conversation...

Playwright and performer Rachel Cairns joins Laura Mullin to discuss her acclaimed play Hypothetical Baby and the deeply personal experience that inspired it. Rachel shares her journey of facing an unplanned pregnancy despite having an IUD, the unexpected challenges of accessing abortion care, and the emotional and societal pressures that shaped her decision.

Despite growing up in a progressive and supportive family, Rachel foun...

After navigating the barriers to abortion access, Rachel now faces the emotional weight of the experience—her body, her relationships, and the choices that linger long after the procedure.

As she processes the physical toll of the abortion, a conversation with her mother reveals a hidden family history of reproductive decisions. Meanwhile, her boyfriend’s lack of emotional support forces her to question not only their relationsh...

What happens when the "what if" becomes reality? In Hypothetical Baby, award-winning playwright and performer Rachel Cairns pulls back the curtain on the unspoken truths of abortion. Raw, darkly funny, and deeply personal, this fearless solo play goes beyond the question of “will she or won’t she?”—diving headfirst into the messy, complex, and often absurd journey of reproductive choice. From a dismissive doctor’s office to a relen...

PlayME is back! Your free ticket to bold, binge-worthy theatre. In this season’s trailer, hosts Laura Mullin and Chris Tolley present five powerful new plays turned audio dramas. Hypothetical Baby by Rachel Cairns explores the complexities of deciding to have a baby—or not. In Seven Days by Jordi, Mand follows a daughter fighting to change her father’s MAiD decision. The Green Line by Makram Ayache is a GG-nominated story of queer ...

Go behind the scenes with Laura Mullin and Chris Tolley as they discuss the creation of TUNNEL RUNNERS, their original seven-part scripted audio thriller. They dive into the writing process, the challenges of recording action-packed scenes, and the intricacies of foley and sound design. They discuss the series' themes, including anxiety, young adulthood, life on the margins, and hidden underground societies, while reflecting on the...

When Cam, a gifted teen from Toronto, finds himself drowning in anxiety and depression, he turns to prescription meds and endless urban exploration videos on YouTube to numb the pain. After suffering a devastating panic attack at school, he escapes into the sprawling subway tunnels beneath the city, desperate for solace. Underground, he stumbles upon a shadowy world filled with a hidden subculture thriving in the darkness. 

Last month, we lost our mentor, colleague, and friend, Gregory J. Sinclair, whose contributions to the world of audio drama and this podcast were invaluable. Greg was an internationally renowned producer and director of audio dramas for CBC Radio and Audible Canada. As Executive Producer at CBC Radio, he developed, produced, and directed multiple acclaimed audio series and specials, including Afghanada and the interactive...

Laura talks with writer and performer Diane Flacks about her latest solo show, Guilt (A Love Story). Diane opens up about turning her sometimes painful personal experiences into compelling plays. She shares how she thinks there’s a death of fun in theatre and why she pushes herself to take risks in her work and not play it safe. Diane also talks about her writing experiences for TV, including her stint for the hit series “Kids In T...

Diane has a monster of guilt growing inside her. She feels it as she and her ex decide to separate after 20 years. It’s there when they tell their two boys that their family life as they once knew it is over.  But it completely consumes her after she signs paperwork at her lawyer’s office officially ending their marriage. Panic follows, and on one of the most important nights of her life, she finds herself lying naked on the f...

Diane Flacks has been drinking alot lately. It helps numb her guilt. As she approached mid-life, she threw a bomb into her domestic life. Married for almost two decades and the mom of two boys, she finds herself growing apart from her wife. They attend couples therapy and agree to open up their marriage. She meets a younger woman and falls madly and hopelessly in love. The fallout leaves her grappling with overwhelming pangs of gui...