PRESS KIT
PRESS KIT, THEME & PILOT SCRIPT
ABOUT THE SHOW…
MOONBURN is a serialized, queer, YA slice-of-life audio drama podcast created, written and produced by Robbie Hyne, under his banner AUGUST YEAR ROUND PRODUCTIONS. It is a completely independent (“indie”) podcast— everything from writing, production, voice acting, editing and release are done on our own, not on behalf of any studio or corporation.
ABOUT THE STORY…
When a down-on-his-luck 18-year-old named Lucas (Anthony Keyvan) moves into a NYC boarding home for a fresh start, he discovers decades-old diary cassette tapes left behind by the room’s first occupant, Carter (Joshua Colley). The tapes foreshadow tragedy, but they also lay out a beautiful path for surviving in the city. With the heartfelt stories and invaluable advice contained within these tapes, Lucas embarks on his journey— through the trials and tribulations of life in a new city, accepting himself, creating lifelong friendships, falling in love, and even uncovering a few mysteries about his new home.
Season Two continues Lucas’ journey as he navigates the highs and lows of building a new life in New York City, heeding the guidance of a new set of diary cassette tapes, facing fresh challenges, forging the unbreakable bonds with his chosen family, and searching for a sense of purpose… all while confronting the unexpected difficulty of a brand new housemate at Bourbon St. Boarding.
Season One Trailer:
Season One, Chapter One:
Season Two Trailer:
ABOUT THE THEMES & TONE…
Key Themes:
Chosen Family: The series explores how the people we surround ourselves with can become just as— if not more— important than the families we’re born into. Lucas’ journey is about finding a home in people who truly accept him.
Self-Discovery, Acceptance & Identity: Lucas (and Carter before him) grapple with understanding who they are, not just in terms of their sexuality, but also in defining their own sense of self outside of the expectations placed on them.
Love, Heartbreak & Healing: Romantic relationships, both healthy and toxic, play a major role in our story. The series delves into first loves, betrayal, and the complicated emotions that come with it all.
Mental Health & Survival: Carter’s tapes serve as both a lifeline and a warning. The show tackles mental health, loneliness, and the importance of finding support, showing how difficult moments don’t have to define someone’s story.
New York as a Character: The city isn’t just a backdrop— it represents both possibility and struggle. It’s where dreams are built, but also where reality hits hardest.
Tone:
MOONBURN is centered around heart, humor, romance, and even a little mystery.
It’s a realistic, slice-of-life story that has the feel of an indie coming-of-age drama with a poetic edge, reminiscent of something between Heartstopper, Tales of the City, and Emily in Paris but with a more introspective undercurrent. The series thrives on a mix of sharp, witty dialogue and deeply vulnerable moments, reflecting the highs and lows of being young, queer, and searching for belonging.
ABOUT THE CAST & CREW…
Season Two — Lead Cast:
ANTHONY KEYVAN as “LUCAS”
Known for: XO, Kitty (Netflix), Love, Victor (Hulu)
Social Reach: Instagram – 1.2M followers, Tiktok – 1.4M followers
KEVIN MCHALE as “Zach”
Known for: Glee (Fox), American Horror Stories (FX)
Social Reach: Instagram – 1.1M followers, Tiktok – 550K followers
ALEXANDRA DANIELS as “SADIE”
Known for: What If…? (Disney+)
Social Reach: Instagram – 16.1K followers
TEALA DUNN as “OLIVIA”
Known for: Good Trouble (Freeform)
Social Reach: Instagram – 6.6M followers, Tiktok – 4M followers
ANTHONY TURPEL as “RYAN”
Known for: That 90’s Show (Netflix), Love, Victor (Hulu)
Social Reach: Instagram – 191K followers
KELLY LAMOR WILSON as “CARINA”
Known for: A Man Called Otto (Sony)
Social Reach: Instagram – 18.7K followers
CHRIS RENFRO as “AUGUST”
Known for: Queer as Folk (Peacock), Oh, Mary! (Broadway)
Social Reach: Instagram – 20.8K followers
Our Team
Created, Produced & Edited by: Robbie Hyne
Produced by: Anthony Keyvan
Intro & Outro Music by: Noah James
Podcast Artwork by: Brendan Haley (insta: @haleydoodledo)
OTHER CAST & CREW:
Season One — Lead Cast
Anthony Keyvan
Joshua Colley
Adam Faison
Alexandra Daniels
Teala Dunn
Anthony Turpel
Kelly Lamor Wilson
Chris Renfro
Noah James
Season One — Supporting Cast
Benita Nall
Kate Godfrey
John Brodsky
Matthew Bridges
Rachel Leigh
Kyle Kamphaus
Cortney Radke
Norma Torrey
Ingrid Solano
Connor Street
Jenna Jimenez
Owen Virgin
Alex Quijano
Robbie Hyne
Austin Zajur
Tyler Santana
Season Two — Supporting Cast
Lexi Simonson
Joshua Colley
Adam Faison
Kate Godfrey
Jenna Jimenez
Lilah Richcreek Estrada
Zackry Colston
Joey Rudman
Eliza Helm
Lyo Reneau
Russell Lewis
Vaune Suitt
Matthew Bridges
Courtney Perdue
Creator, Producer & Editor:
ROBBIE HYNE
Robbie is an imaginative LGBTQ writer from the Berlanti Television camp. Most recently, he served as a Story Editor for the CW’s STARGIRL under the mentorship of legendary writer/producer Geoff Johns. Robbie’s journey began as an assistant at Scott Free Productions before transitioning to Berlanti Productions where he supported prolific creator Greg Berlanti on hit shows like YOU, ALL AMERICAN, DOOM PATROL, CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA, and more. After being promoted to Writers’ Assistant and Script Coordinator on STARGIRL Season One, he quickly rose through the ranks to become an integral part of the writing team for Season Two and Three. Robbie’s work also spans other major projects, including a stint as Writers’ Assistant on Scott Free’s RAISED BY WOLVES for HBO Max. In the midst of the 2023 strikes, Robbie channeled his entrepreneurial spirit to launch AUGUST YEAR ROUND PRODUCTIONS, a scripted podcast production company dedicated to writing and producing diverse fiction series such as MOONBURN, (UN)LIKEMINDED: A SCI-FI AUDIO ANTHOLOGY, and more. A proud native of Madison, Wisconsin, Robbie is a lifelong hard-of-hearing individual who, after several surgeries, now lives and thrives without hearing aids. His unique perspective— growing up as a gay, hard-of-hearing Midwestern boy— shapes his passion for crafting authentic, character-driven stories with strong, distinct voices.
ABOUT THE OTHER IMPORTANT INFO TO KNOW…
Season / Episode Details:
Recording and production on MOONBURN began in October 2023.
Season One premiered on Wednesday, May 1st and ran for 7 episodes.
Season Two will be 7 episodes, premiering Wednesday, April 2nd and airing weekly for the run of the season. Episodes drop at 3AM PST / 6AM EST and run between 22 Min-30 Min, generally landing around the 22-24 Min range.
The best place to start is Chapter One.
MOONBURN is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music & Youtube
Apple Podcasts Rating: 4.8 Stars / Spotify Rating: 4.9 Stars
Season One Summaries:
Season One Episode Summaries are available here. Scripts are available upon request.
Season Two Episode Summaries will be posted at the episodes come out. For any Season Two summaries, scripts or previews, please contact us below.
Content & Trigger Warnings:
MOONBURN falls in the TV-14 range with some strange language, and alcohol and weed use.
Mental Health Themes: MOONBURN touches on loneliness, depression, and suicidal ideation (though Carter ultimately survives). These topics are handled thoughtfully but could be triggering for some listeners.
LGBTQ+ & Diversity:
From day one, our most important mandate is to lift up diverse voices, with a particular focus on the LGBTQ community. As LGBTQ+ creators, we believe representation matters. We want to tell meaningful stories where queer characters and those from other marginalized groups have prominent, positive roles. We hope to push toward this goal with every project, including MOONBURN.
ABOUT AUGUST YEAR ROUND PRODUCTIONS…
Birthed during the WGA & SAG dual strikes of 2023, August Year Round Productions is a indie 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.
Our official launch began in January 2024 with the release of our sci-fi, short story anthology podcast— (UN)LIKEMINDED. Followed soon thereafter with our first queer, YA audio drama— MOONBURN.
This is just the beginning, and we can’t thank everyone enough for joining us on this journey.
ABOUT THE REVIEWS…
A MUST LISTEN
“Incredibly written, amazing performers and so well put together. A must listen.” – TheBeesKnees81
ONE OF THE BEST PODCAST STORIES I’VE HEARD
“Great script, top quality voice actors, realistic characters. The story was completely compelling and the pacing kept the plot moving. It’s story is unique and captivating. More of this please!” – WndyCty_Guy
CASSETTES AND GAYS
“*buys cassettes because of this pod*. Ah yes, playlists. Love this pod :D” – cosmo’s stars
FALLING IN LOVE
“Absolutely loving this series!! My heart cannot with how sweet this story is!” – norm2020
STARY EYES
“So well put together, and honestly makes you feel like you’re right there with them.” – Notchly
ABOUT HOW TO SUPPORT & CONTACT US…
Website: AugustYearRound.com
Email: AugustYearRound@gmail.com
Download / Subscribe:
*Please do not sell or distribute materials without consent.