Haunted -- The Van Buren Manor

It’s true. Timing is everything. Starbucks knows when it’s pumpkin spice time. McDonald’s has Halloween Boo Buckets. Jack in the Box has its Angry Monster Tacos. Hopefully, they don’t make your stomach angry. General Mills is even partnering with The Jim Henson Company for new Monsters Cereal designs. The scariest part may be the sugar content.

Don’t ever say podcasting can’t market with the best of them. Audio fiction auteur Robbie Hyne of August Year Round Productions is releasing HAUNTED: THE VAN BUREN MANOR — a new serialized, supernatural satire fiction podcast. It’s a fully independent production, with Season One just launching on Wednesday, October 8th.

Created by Robbie Hyne (DC’s Stargirl, Moonburn, (Un)Likeminded), the eight-episode series follows the so-called “Spirit Sleuths,” a team of amateur ghost hunters who’ve made their names faking paranormal investigations — until they stumble upon their first real haunting. Trapped inside the enigmatic Van Buren Manor, they must unravel a century-old mystery and stop the manor’s vengeful matriarch before her dark plot claims them all.

Blending biting comedy with atmospheric horror, HAUNTED sits at the crossroads of Ghosts and The Haunting of Hill House. At its heart, it’s a story of friendship, chosen family, and finding inner strength in the face of fear.

When their staged ghost hunter investigations lead them to the mysterious Van Buren Manor, the so-called Spirit Sleuths must confront their first real haunting. Trapped inside, their only hope of survival is to unravel a long-buried mystery and stop the manor’s vengeful Matriarch from carrying out a dark plot a century in the making — one that may cut closer to home than they ever imagined.

The series dives into the idea of free will versus destiny. A century-old curse challenges the characters, but through their choices and actions, they prove that a pre-determined fate does not bind them. They defy the past to create a new, unexpected future for themselves and the spirits trapped in the manor.

Over the course of the series, the team discovers that their true power lies in their inherent strengths and their willingness to trust themselves and face their fears. It’s the story of how they find their power from within, and in each other. And even some supernatural abilities are hiding under the surface.

Creator Robbie Hyne shares: “I am an imaginative LGBTQ film, television & scripted podcast writer who most recently served as a Story Editor for the CW’s STARGIRL under the tutelage of my mentor, Geoff Johns.”

“I got my start as an assistant for Scott Free Productions before moving to Berlanti Productions as executive assistant and coordinator for prolific writer/producer/director Greg Berlanti. While there, I worked on such shows as You, All American, Doom Patrol, Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina, and many more before being promoted onto Stargirl Season One as Writers’ Assistant and Script Coordinator. I was quickly staffed on Stargirl season 2 and promoted again the following year. I hail from Madison, Wisconsin.”

Robbie shares: “I’ve lived as a hard-of-hearing individual my whole life, but in recent years I’ve gone through multiple surgeries to live and thrive without hearing aids. All my experiences growing up as a young, gay, hard-of-hearing Midwestern boy inspired me to be a part of and share authentic, character-driven stories led by powerful and unique voices.”

In April, Robbie released Moonburn under his banner August Year Round Productions. The company’s motto is “Words Unleashed.” We reviewed it and said, “captures the highs and lows of coming-of-age in an urban setting, blending nostalgia with a modern sensibility.”

Robbie says of his company: “Birthed during the WGA & SAG dual strikes of 2023, August Year Round Productions is a podcast production venture built from the ground up — led by creatives, for creatives. Our goal is simple — create a playground for writers, actors, directors, and other creatives to come together and do what we love: tell stories & make art.”

“We work completely independently, having raised our initial funds via the love and support of friends, family & other generous donors. From day one, our most important mandate is to lift up diverse voices, with a particular focus on the LGBTQ community, and tell meaningful stories.”

Check out his other audio fiction show, (Un)Likeminded. This show proves that indie podcasters like Robbie Hyne can do audio drama / sci-fi as well as, and often better than, the ultra-rich podcast networks with money to burn.

Season One of Haunted features an incredible cast, including Lilah Richcreek Estrada (A Man on the Inside, Chicago Med), Anthony Keyvan (XO, Kitty, Love, Victor), Alexandra Daniels (What If…?), Billy Langdon (Almost Friday TV), and more.

Episodes release weekly every Wednesday, October 8th through November 19th on all major podcast platforms.

Robbie Hyne is particularly proud of the fact that every aspect, from writing and voice acting to editing and release, was done entirely in-house, without the backing of any studio or corporation.

With biting, witty dialogue, absurd humor, and deeply vulnerable character moments, Haunted is a story that reflects the messy, challenging journey of finding oneself, one's people, and one's purpose.