The True Story Behind The Magical Podcast, 91 Donkey Lane
The 91 Donkey Lane Studio
In spring 2019, Nate Lopez and I relocated to a three-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment in Somerville, Massachusetts, a city just northwest of Boston. I had moved to Boston for a fantastic job opportunity, while Nate returned to be closer to his children.
Although we had been close friends for years, living in the same city was new for us. Before moving in together, we had discussed starting a podcast and brainstormed several ideas. However, upon settling into our apartment at 91 Glen Street, inspiration struck for our new podcast.
The apartment complex that inspired 91 Donkey Lane.
91 Glen Street is a unique apartment complex with an architectural style reminiscent of "Home Depot Hogwarts." Each floor seemed built in a different era, with subsequent years seeming less "up to code." We contended with rats the size of small dogs, slug invasions, and ceilings that dipped in various directions. Despite these challenges, the rent was exorbitant, typical for the Boston area, which somehow rivals San Francisco in costliness.
Nevertheless, we adored the place—it was perfect for us. Nate and I decided to base our podcast on two guys inhabiting a magical apartment complex. This completely improvised fantasy podcast focused on events rather than just our daily lives. Living together made recording episodes easy and exciting; we would often brainstorm ideas while chatting, swiftly transitioning to recording with the 24/7 podcast equipment I had set up. Often, the less we planned, the better the podcast, as our goal was mainly to make each other laugh.
Robert Bacon (left) and Nate Lopez (right) during a live stream event.
Hosting guests on the show was another highlight, introducing me to new improvisers in Boston's vibrant improv community. Guests appreciated the format's freedom to create their own characters, drawing inspiration from favorite fantasy films or books. We were fortunate to feature amazing guests throughout the series, some of whom made significant contributions to the "Donkey Lane Universe" with just a single line of dialogue.
Nate and I cherished the experience of crafting an entire nonsensical world together, adding complex and whimsical rules as we pleased. Some of our most memorable moments recording "91 Donkey Lane" involved portraying multiple characters per episode, challenging ourselves with increasingly intricate scenarios—all fixable or breakable with a bit of magical flair. Nate, particularly, enjoyed giving me extra editing tasks, leading to episodes like "The Snowpiercer" and "Total Recall," filled with elaborate sound effects stemming from his deliberately audacious choices.
Recently, we made the decision to conclude "91 Donkey Lane." Changes in our living situations—specifically, my move back to Chicago to be nearer to family—meant remote recording, though enjoyable, couldn't quite match the energy of living together. Nevertheless, we're immensely proud of the episodes we produced and are taking our time recording the last few episodes now. Their radio drama style ensures they'll remain engaging for years to come. LINK TO DONKEY LANE WEBSITE
Creating content together remains a passion for Nate and me. Our upcoming project promises even greater interaction and freedom than our podcast. Stay tuned—I'll share updates right here on this blog.
