HOOSE THE BEAR — EPISODE 1 “TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES” | Official Sci-Fi Audio Drama

Welcome back to CHOOSE THE BEAR, the cinematic sci-fi audio drama set deep inside Zenith Aerospace — the most powerful private defense + space corporation on Earth.

Episode 1, “Technical Difficulties,” follows new recruit Callie “Bear” Winter on launch day as she battles malfunctioning tutorials, an overly cheerful autonomous flight suit, and a co-pilot AI she immediately names “The Manipulation Engine”… (Nippy).

This episode blends comedy, tension, claustrophobic space realism, corporate dystopia, and character-driven sci-fi. If you love The Expanse, Red Dwarf, Becky Chambers, WALL-E, Severance, or Interstellar, you’ll feel right at home.

As Callie launches toward the mysterious orbital “Communities,” she forms an unexpected bond with her capcom, Diana, who becomes her lifeline through panic, snark, and a whole lot of “huggy-tingly” flight suit calibration. When the engines finally cut out and Earth rises in the window… she’s forced to confront why she’s here, what she’s running from, and why trust — even in deep space — is never simple.

Turn your volume up. Put on your best headphones.

This is where the real journey begins.

CAST

Hannah Lee DeFrates — Callie “Bear” Winter

Antonella Pérez Ferrero — Diana

Meredith Nudo — Nippy / Onboard AI

CREW Written by: Aly Kantor Directed by: Helen May Produced by: Jack Davis Soundscape Engineering: Bob Sawyer Video + Scenic Production: Joe Swenson Featuring music by Grand Hotel

ABOUT THE SERIES CHOOSE THE BEAR is a near-future sci-fi saga exploring: AI ethics & manipulation Corporate-controlled survival lotteries Spaceflight anxiety + dark humor High-stakes humanity under pressure A growing conspiracy far above Earth This is Episode 1 — the beginning of the mission, the beginning of Nippy, and the beginning of a partnership that may determine the fate of every human left alive.