Welcome to Maplewood-Sparta, where suburban streets are lined with shadows.
Some say the 90s are dead and gone. But here, they linger.
So gather close for a story of Halloween 1994, Old World magic, and a friendship bracelet that bound more than anyone ever intended.
I call it: THE BRACELET
Campfire Rating for THE BRACELET
🌙 Lantern (Teen / PG-13)
Advisory: Death & grief; supernatural suspense; Ouija/ritual elements; underage smoking; mention of drug overdose (non-graphic); brief mild suggestive joke.
Campfire Scale
To help listeners choose the right vibe for their listening, each episode will be marked with a rating on our Campfire Scale.
Listen to the Mixtape
Music plays a huge role in THE BRACELET and I’ve re-created the mixtape on Spotify, for those who want to feel the music the way Kristina and Noah do:
Credits
Written by Nina Alvarez
Sound design by Nina Alvarez
Narrated by Miko Steiner
Produced by Camp Cosmographia Radio
Meet the Narrator
Miko Steiner (they/she) is an enthusiastic voice talent with a warm, friendly, mid-to-low feminine voice and a broad range of expression. Since early 2024, they have done voices for character work, audiobooks, and commercials. Located outside Vancouver, British Columbia, they identify as LGBTQ2SIA+ and neurodivergent.
Not only was Miko a pleasure to work with, but they have all the same 90s memories as me (even wove friendships bracelets too) and did extra research to get Baba’s Macedonian accent just right (approved by the real Kristina). I’m sure you’re going to enjoy this performance.
Meet the Writer
It’s me!
Like my writing? There’s more where that came from at Legends of the Lost Substack—where I share my personal essays, research, stories, and writing about writing. And hang out with me on Instagram @miraclefieldnotes.
The Spartans! Series
SPARTANS! is a teen ghost story anthology—think “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” meets haunted mixtapes and 90s nostalgia.
Written by Nina Alvarez and narrated by professional voice actors, each episode is tied to a different haunted 90s wearable: a leather jacket, a friendship bracelet, a choker, a flannel . . . And to a holiday. Homecoming, Halloween, Christmas . . . The kind of objects and moments that carry memory, grief, and magic.
So gather close for spooky campfire tales woven together stand by strand like a friendship bracelet.
Show Schedule
On the second-to-last Wednesday of every month, we’ll premier a new episode—working out the kinks, building community, and (fingers crossed) raising funds to secure the music rights to someday be able to release it with the commercial music on major podcast platforms. For now, though, you’ll hear the music as it was meant to be—just for our private campfire circle.
Paid subscribers will get early access to the episode on Mondays, two days before free subscribers.
And all episodes will post without the commercial music to Spotify, Apple, YouTube, Amazon Music, and Audible the following Friday.
SPARTANS! Behind-the-Scenes
Follow @Spartans_Radio for episode updates, audio, pics, behind-the-scenes, 90s nostalgia, and Easter eggs.
The Word on the Suburban Streets
“Just listened to THE JACKET. It was so good. I had chills at the end.”
— Juliette P, New York“I believe your writing is valuable because of my instant response to it. I immediately felt in sync with the tone of the story telling for the campfire series. I found myself listening to the first two chapters (THE JACKET and THE BRACELET) over and over—then even shared with it my students, who loved it. I became a paid subscriber to get early access to new episodes.”
— Jen S, New York“We listened to THE JACKET last night as our bedtime story. We lit a candle. I felt like I had crawled into the main character’s skin—into the leather jacket. It was such a refreshing way to spend the evening, so counter to the media culture of TV and phones. People are going to love it.”
— Rebecca Joy, Massachusetts“Well, this has become my favorite podcast to listen to.”
— Kristina D, Maryland
Join the Campfire Circle
For discussion, 90s nostalgia, and behind-the-scenes fun, join our Campfire Circle Facebook group.
For early access to episodes, extra behind-the-scenes content, and to help fund voice actors, sound design software, and music rights, become a paid subscriber at The Codex, Legends of the Lost, or join our Patreon at the Spartans! tier.
We’ll see you by the fire.
The Spartans aren’t finished with you yet.
-Nina
