The Midnight Rebellion

Season 1

1. Trailer: The Midnight Rebellion Trailer

   Show notes

   When Joule steps into her mom’s mysterious machine, she’s thrown into a strange and polluted city of tides. The sea has risen, turning streets into rivers. The air is thick and smelly. The sun feels like hot iron. And the place crawls with energy-hungry robots that shoot lightning. It’s not great!

   But who said danger can’t be fun?

   To find her way home, Joule must be brave and smart, she’ll need friends, and she’ll need you. That’s right. YOU! The person reading this right now!

   Every chapter ends with a choice, and your choices shape the story.

   26 episodes. 82 possible paths. You can save Joule. You might even save the world.

   The clock’s ticking. What will you do?

   Part 1 launches on Earth Day, April 22. Follow The Midnight Rebellion in your podcast app now to get notified when episodes drop.

   Apr 7, 2026 2 min

2. Part I: 1 | Almost Midnight

   Episode 1

   Show notes

   The adventure begins. As a storm rages, Joule Watts-Green and her brother sneak into their mom’s laboratory, where she finds a mysterious machine containing a lost treasure. What will Joule do?

   Show notes:

   • Script: Read along!
   • Learn more and “play” the show at http://wbur.org/midnight.
   • Take the listener survey here: http://wbur.org/midnightsurvey. (Just make sure to grab a parent or guardian if you are under 18)

   Apr 22, 2026 18 min

3. 2 | Get Hart

   Episode 2

   Show notes

   Joule calls for Hartree to show him the machine, but surprise strikes when she wakes up far from home. Also, there’s dessert.

   Show notes:

   • Script: Read along!
   • Learn more and “play” the show at http://wbur.org/midnight.
   • Take the listener survey here: http://wbur.org/midnightsurvey. (Just make sure to grab a parent or guardian if you are under 18)

   Apr 22, 2026 15 min

4. 3 | Into the Machine

   Episode 3

   Show notes

   Joule steps inside the vessel to retrieve her mom’s watch. Then she gets a good night’s rest, and everything is peachy. Just kidding.

   Show notes:

   • Script: Read along!
   • Learn more and “play” the show at http://wbur.org/midnight.
   • Take the listener survey here: http://wbur.org/midnightsurvey. (Just make sure to grab a parent or guardian if you are under 18)

   Apr 22, 2026 16 min

5. 4 | Chase the Kid

   Episode 4

   Show notes

   The weird boy disappears into the fog, an epic chase ensues, and Joule gets a tour of Intertidal Sacrifice Zone #617. She spots a duck.

   Show notes:

   • Script: Read along!
   • Learn more and see cool show art at http://wbur.org/midnight.
   • Take the listener survey here: http://wbur.org/midnightsurvey. (Just make sure to grab a parent or guardian if you are under 18)

   Apr 22, 2026 19 min

6. 5 | Stand Up

   Episode 5

   Show notes

   Psh! Seaweed? No thanks. Joule introduces herself to Buggy’s sibling, who is ... moody. Then an old lady gives a math quiz.

   Show notes:

   • Script: Read along!
   • Learn more and poke a crab at http://wbur.org/midnight.
   • Take the listener survey here: http://wbur.org/midnightsurvey. (Just make sure to grab a parent or guardian if you are under 18)

   Apr 22, 2026 20 min

7. 6 | Make for the Marsh

   Episode 6

   Show notes

   Electricity never felt so scary. With Bright’s shockbolting tins in hot pursuit, Joule and the others flee Mud Market, but will they make it to the marsh in time? More importantly, is it pronounced “marsh” or “mahsh”?

   Show notes:

   • Script: Read along!
   • Take the listener survey here: http://wbur.org/midnightsurvey. (Just make sure to grab a parent or guardian if you are under 18)

   Apr 22, 2026 18 min

8. 7 | Get to the Copter

   Episode 7

   Show notes

   She haz to get to zee copter! Joule ditches the kid and goes after the flying thing with chrome tentacles. She meets someone without a head, and then gets herself in a bind.

   Show notes:

   • Script: Read along!
   • Learn more and see cool show art at http://wbur.org/midnight.
   • Take the listener survey here: http://wbur.org/midnightsurvey. (Just make sure to grab a parent or guardian if you are under 18)

   Apr 22, 2026 16 min

9. 8 | Find the Warden

   Episode 8

   Show notes

   Chaos erupts at the Bunker Hill Work Camp for a Brighter Future, but Joule is on a mission. Finally, someone hears her out. Be Bright, be right!

   Show notes:

   • Script: Read along!
   • Learn more and poke the crab at http://wbur.org/midnight.
   • Take the listener survey here: http://wbur.org/midnightsurvey. (Just make sure to grab a parent or guardian if you are under 18)

   Apr 22, 2026 16 min

10. 9 | Swim for It

    Episode 9

    Show notes

    We strongly discourage crossing rivers if you don’t know how to swim. Joule does not take our advice.

    Show notes:

    • Script: Read along!
    • Learn more and poke crabs at http://wbur.org/midnight.
    • Take the listener survey here: http://wbur.org/midnightsurvey. (Just make sure to grab a parent or guardian if you are under 18)

    Apr 22, 2026 16 min

11. 10 | Hide

    Episode 10

    Show notes

    Joule jumps into the slime pile to avoid getting speared. Smart. But unexpected news threatens her plans, and she seeks advice from a Scottish guy who reads a lot.

    Show notes:

    • Script: Read along!
    • Learn more and poke a crab at http://wbur.org/midnight.
    • Take the listener survey here: http://wbur.org/midnightsurvey. (Just make sure to grab a parent or guardian if you are under 18)

    Apr 22, 2026 20 min

12. 11 | Seek the Seawall

    Episode 11

    Show notes

    Joule and the others take a boat to the harbor in the dead of night. How are they supposed to find the machine in the dark? Don’t ask us, we didn’t choose this chapter.

    Show notes:

    • Script: Read along!
    • Learn more and poke a gull at http://wbur.org/midnight.
    • Take the listener survey here: http://wbur.org/midnightsurvey. (Just make sure to grab a parent or guardian if you are under 18)

    Apr 22, 2026 16 min

13. Part II: 12 | Smoke and Sails

    Episode 12

    Show notes

    The mission is greater! The stakes are stakier! Joule and the others race to Black Marsh — but they are not the only ones searching for the machine. (There’s also a seagull.)

    Show notes:

    • Script: Read along!
    • Take the listener survey here: http://wbur.org/midnightsurvey. (Just make sure to grab a parent or guardian if you are under 18)

    May 13, 2026 18 min

14. 13 | Jump Ship

    Episode 13

    Show notes

    Joule goes back for Buggy and Nico, Bright gets away with the machine, and the trio comes face-to-face with a tattooed pirate in desperate need of anger management classes.

    Show notes:

    • Script: Read along!
    • Learn more and read about the characters at http://wbur.org/midnight.
    • Take the listener survey here: http://wbur.org/midnightsurvey. (Just make sure to grab a parent or guardian if you are under 18)

    May 13, 2026 15 min

15. 14 | Truth

    Episode 14

    Show notes

    Shocked by the big news, Joule decides to trust Cap’n Cutthroat and tell him she lost the machine. (Twice.) Does he keep his cool? We’re going to let you figure that one out on your own. P.S. There’s something in the water.

    Show notes:

    • Script: Read along!
    • Learn more and read about Fin at http://wbur.org/midnight.
    • Take the listener survey here: http://wbur.org/midnightsurvey. (Just make sure to grab a parent or guardian if you are under 18)

    May 13, 2026 20 min

16. 15 | Joule, Aboard

    Episode 15

    Show notes

    Bright must not keep the machine! Joule continues the journey alone and slips inside Bright’s shipping vessel. But, squid suckers, it is hot, and she did not bring a water bottle. Can she borrow yours? Wait, that doesn’t make sense.

    Show notes:

    • Script: Read along!
    • Take the listener survey here: http://wbur.org/midnightsurvey. (Just make sure to grab a parent or guardian if you are under 18)

    May 13, 2026 15 min

17. 16 | Lies

    Episode 16

    Show notes

    Joule doesn’t trust Cap’n Cutthroat as far as she can throw him—which is not far. (He’s huge!) So she makes something up. The bad news? She’s not the best liar. The other bad news? Puzzles.

    Show notes:

    • Script: Read along!
    • Listen to the next episode using the password at http://wbur.org/midnightcode.
    • Take the listener survey here: http://wbur.org/midnightsurvey. (Just make sure to grab a parent or guardian if you are under 18)

    May 13, 2026 14 min

18. Part III: 18 | Rebel

    Episode 18

    Show notes

    Joule and Cutthroat plan their rescue mission at the rebels’ home base. Nico tries to be positive. Buggy listens to the radio. P.S. Yes, tomatoes are fruits. Please do not send us angry mail.

    Show notes:

    • Script: Read along!
    • Take the listener survey here: http://wbur.org/midnightsurvey. (Just make sure to grab a parent or guardian if you are under 18)

    Jun 3, 2026 23 min

19. 19 | Cape Cod Bay

    Episode 19

    Show notes

    On their quest for the elusive Sky Island, the trio follows a staticky signal to turbulent waters. They find a field of long-forgotten giants.

    Show notes:

    • Script: Read along!
    • Take the listener survey here: http://wbur.org/midnightsurvey. (Just make sure to grab a parent or guardian if you are under 18)

    Jun 3, 2026 13 min

20. 20 | Nakambe River

    Episode 20

    Show notes

    A stroke of luck helps the group reach a new continent as they search for Sky Island. There’s a lot of sand, but oases are real, right? Right?

    Show notes:

    • Script: Read along!
    • Take the listener survey here: http://wbur.org/midnightsurvey. (Just make sure to grab a parent or guardian if you are under 18)

    Jun 3, 2026 17 min