DISCOVER
ABOUT ALPHA 8
An award-winning science fiction audio drama about family, identity, and what it means to be human.
WHAT IS ALPHA 8
Alpha 8 is an award-winning science fiction audio drama podcast about an alien who crash-lands on Earth and swaps places with an overworked mother of three. Created, written, and directed by Stephanie L Elie and produced by Bizzie Media Group, it is a full-cast scripted series with original music and sound design. Season One is eight episodes, each 16 to 21 minutes. The series is rated for ages 10 and up.
THE STORY
When an unidentified craft breaches Earth's atmosphere near Beale Air Field, researcher Michael Peterson is pulled from his family in the middle of the night to study what came down. The being his team names Alpha 8 is invisible unless wet, learns at extraordinary speed, and wants something no one expects: to understand what a family is.
When Alpha 8 escapes, she finds the Peterson home — and takes the place of Michael's wife, Larson. While the real Larson is held inside a government facility, an alien with no idea how to be a mother tries to raise three kids who are starting to notice that something about Mom is very, very wrong.
WHO ALPHA 8 IS FOR
Alpha 8 is rated 10 and up and made for listening together. There is no explicit language, no sexual content, and no graphic violence. The series deals with grief, divorce, blended families, and workplace pressure in ways that are honest but not frightening — one of the central characters is a boy processing the death of his father.
Listeners who enjoy E.T., Starman, Freaky Friday, and The Princess Diaries will recognize the tone: science fiction with a warm center, more curious than scary.
THE WORLD OF ALPHA 8
- Alpha 8
- An extraterrestrial who arrives on Earth seeking to understand human family life in order to save her own species from extinction. She can take human form and is invisible to the eye unless wet.
- Larson Peterson
- A working mother of three whose life Alpha 8 takes over. Held inside a government facility while an alien wears her face.
- Michael Peterson
- Lead researcher at NARB and Larson's husband. The first human to make contact with Alpha 8, and the reason she survives long enough to escape.
- Daniel Nichols
- Larson's son from her first marriage. Obsessed with science and the unexplained, and the first to work out that his mother has been replaced.
- Taryn Peterson
- Michael's teenage daughter, fifteen and the oldest of the three kids.
- Jackson Peterson
- Michael's son. Basketball obsessed, loyal to Daniel, and quicker to believe than anyone expects.
- NARB
- The National Anomaly Resolution Bureau, the government organization studying Alpha 8 and the antagonist force of the series.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Alpha 8 about?
Alpha 8 is a science fiction audio drama about an alien who crash-lands on Earth and swaps places with an overworked mother named Larson Peterson. While Larson is held in a government facility, the alien tries to raise her three children and learn what family means, in order to save her own species from extinction.
Is Alpha 8 appropriate for kids?
Yes. Alpha 8 is rated for ages 10 and up. There is no explicit language, sexual content, or graphic violence. It is designed for families to listen to together.
How many episodes of Alpha 8 are there?
Season One is eight episodes, each running 16 to 21 minutes. Season Two is written and currently in production.
Where can I listen to Alpha 8?
Alpha 8 is free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever you get podcasts. Every episode is also available on alpha8audio.com with a full transcript.
Is there a Season 2 of Alpha 8?
Yes. Season Two is written and in production, with the cast currently recording. Sign up at alpha8audio.com to be notified when it releases.
Do I need to listen to Alpha 8 in order?
Yes. Alpha 8 is a serialized story and each episode builds on the last. Start with Episode 101, The Arrival.
Is Alpha 8 a full-cast audio drama?
Yes. Alpha 8 is fully cast with individual actors in every role, plus original music by Steven Bias and sound design by Xperience J. It is not a narrated audiobook or a single-voice reading.
Who created Alpha 8?
Alpha 8 was created, written, and directed by Stephanie L Elie and is produced by Bizzie Media Group. It is distributed as part of the Fable and Folly Network.
Are transcripts available for Alpha 8?
Yes. Every episode has a full transcript on its episode page at alpha8audio.com.
What is Alpha 8 similar to?
Alpha 8 draws on science fiction like E.T. and Starman, fish-out-of-water stories like The Princess Diaries, and body-swap comedies like Freaky Friday. It sits closest to family-friendly science fiction rather than horror or thriller audio drama.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
Signal Awards
Gold
T.O. WebFest
Best Writing
BIAA BeHear Award
Best Ensemble Cast
START LISTENING
Begin with Episode 101, then follow the story in order.