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 the Valentine’s Day 1995, secret love, and a princess with two faces.
I call it: THE STARTER
In the shadowed ballfields of Maplewood-Sparta, Patrick has always been the relief pitcher, always waiting for his shot to start, to finally matter. But with his future and a college scholarship on the line, and his best friend Mike burning with his own hunger for glory, the boys turn to a whispered legend: a secret ritual that promises a way to tap into your well of luck… for a price.
Patrick’s best friend Mike, a charismatic ex-QB and current ace on the mound, is desperate to bring back the glory days of the Spartans’ legendary ’93 shutout season. He drags Patrick to meet the fallen Old Captain, who reveals a simple, dangerous ritual: knot a thread torn from something you wear proud (a Starter jacket), speak a magic spell, burn the thread—and “withdraw” luck from your life’s fixed account.
The risk: no one knows how much luck they have to spend, or what’s left after the cheers fade.
As the Spartans’ 1995 baseball season unfolds and Saint Patrick’s Day approaches, Patrick is forced to reckon with what he’s willing to risk for a chance at greatness.
Told around a campfire by his younger brother, Owen, this is the story of high school senior Patrick, who stands on the edge of everything he’s ever wanted—and everything he might lose.
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.
SPARTANS is getting its own Substack. For now, through the end of Season One (late April 2026), you can listen to SPARTANS here at The Codex and/or at the new SPARTANS Substack.
Campfire Rating for THE STARTER
🌙 Lantern (Teen / PG-13)
Advisory: Underage alcohol presence, mild profanity.
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 Owen’s Burned CD
The music from THE STARTER on Spotify:
Meet the Narrator
Johnny Penney is a Boston-based actor and arts educator with ten years of experience on and off the stage. His voice can be heard in audio series such as Tales from the Janitor, Your Horror Show, and The Distant Silence Radio Hour, and now SPARTANS!, as well as in video games such as The Jester and the Madman and Nightmare Shift. He has a passion for woodworking, mystery novels, tabletop RPGs, and spending time with his family.
Meet the Writer
It’s me!
If you 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 behind-the-scenes 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“Thank you for sharing these wonderful stories of the 90s with us.”
— Scott L, Massachusetts“THE CHAIN is awesome! I would LOVE to see a short film of this story with all the transformations of Jenny!”
— Audrey M, Washington
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
