Alice Isn't Dead: Don't Tell Alice. Coming April 13

5 min

•Jan 21, 20264 months ago

Summary

Joseph Fink announces a sequel series to Alice Isn't Dead titled Don't Tell Alice, launching April 13th. The new series features a completely independent story with returning character Keisha and will be funded through a relaunched Patreon model where the three-person creative team splits all revenue.

Insights

Creator-led podcast productions are adopting transparent revenue-sharing models to sustain creative work, positioning Patreon as essential infrastructure for independent audio content
Successful podcast franchises are extending beyond original runs through audience demand, with creators willing to return to projects years later if conditions align
Direct-to-fan funding models enable smaller creative teams to maintain full creative control while offsetting production costs through early-access and exclusive community engagement
Podcast sequels are being positioned as standalone narratives to expand addressable audience beyond existing fans while maintaining continuity for established listeners

Trends

Podcast creators returning to dormant IP after extended hiatuses to capitalize on audience nostalgia and franchise valuePatreon as primary monetization infrastructure for independent audio drama productions replacing traditional sponsorship modelsTransparent creator economics being used as audience engagement and trust-building strategy in podcast marketingEarly-access tiers and exclusive community experiences (writing sessions, production diaries) as differentiated Patreon value propositionsSequel series designed as narrative entry points to expand franchise reach beyond original audience cohortsSmall creative teams (3-person operations) maintaining full creative autonomy through direct audience fundingProduction transparency and real-time audience feedback integration during active production cycles

Topics

Podcast sequel strategy and franchise extensionPatreon monetization models for audio dramaCreator revenue sharing and transparent economicsDirect-to-fan funding for independent mediaAudio drama production and storytellingAudience engagement through exclusive content tiersProduction transparency and creator accountabilityNarrative continuity in podcast franchisesCommunity-driven content developmentIndependent podcast distribution strategy

Companies

Patreon

Primary monetization platform for Alice Isn't Dead sequel, relaunched with new reward tiers and early-access distribu...

People

Joseph Fink

Creator and writer of Alice Isn't Dead sequel series, co-creator of Welcome to Night Vale, leading production and aud...

Disparition

Original music and sound design collaborator on Alice Isn't Dead sequel, part of three-person core creative team

Jessica

Collaborator on Alice Isn't Dead sequel series, part of three-person core creative team handling production

Quotes

"There's only three of us working on this show and basically we just split whatever money comes in. So we're working entirely for free and hoping that some money comes in."

Joseph Fink•Mid-announcement

"I opened the Alice Isn't Dead Patreon. I completely updated it. Entirely new rewards, new tiers. I'm still figuring it out."

Joseph Fink•Mid-announcement

"It's not exactly standalone, I guess, because I don't think having some background on who these people are would probably be helpful but it is an entirely new story"

Joseph Fink•Pre-trailer

"Don't tell Alice."

Trailer voiceover•Trailer

Full Transcript

Hi, Joseph Fink here with an announcement I never thought I'd make. So seven years ago, I finished the show Alice Isn't Dead, and I closed the Patreon. I moved on with my life. I genuinely didn't think I would be writing anymore. And then this year, unexpectedly, I got the urge to write more Alice Isn't Dead. I hadn't seen it coming. I reached out to Disparition and to Jessica, who work on Alice Isn't Dead with me, and fortunately, they were down to do it. And so we have been working on it for the last, I don't know, year or so. And we will have a sequel series, Alice Isn't Dead, Don't Tell Alice, coming out on April 13th on the Alice Isn't Dead feed. Or you can join our Patreon and get it a week early on April 6th. But let me talk about that. There's only three of us working on this show. and basically we just split whatever money comes in. So we're working entirely for free and hoping that some money comes in. The main way we going to do that is the Patreon So I opened the Alice Isn Dead Patreon I completely updated There entirely new rewards new tiers I still figuring out So if you have any comments or things you want, please let me know. I'm opening it up now if you want to support us while we make the show during the production. That would be incredible. That helps us make it. There's some fun stuff that'll happen during that time. Write with me sessions in which you can write with me on Zoom if you have your own project you need to be working on, as well as production diaries, other things that will happen when I think of maybe sneak peeks. So you can join now and help us. That will be at the link in the show notes. Or I will come back and remind you when the show is actually out in April, if you want to wait until then. That's fine too, I understand. What you're about to hear is a trailer for this season. this is not a story about Thistle or about Praxis or about the oracles. I wanted to have Keisha have a brand new adventure. It's not exactly standalone, I guess, because I don't think having some background on who these people are would probably be helpful but it is an entirely new story So please enjoy the trailer for Don Tell Alice I need to tell you another story. A different kind of story. Less triumphant. Less self-righteous. From the team that brought you, Alice isn't dead. Because in my first story, Alice was the one who did wrong. Vanishing from my life. Leaving behind only mourning and memory. Comes a brand new sequel series. I'm not saying it's wrong, because I think I have to do it. I'm only saying that I'm going to have to learn to live with it. Written by Joseph Fink, co-creator of Welcome to Night Vale, and with original music and sound design by Disparition. My phone rang. And I picked it up. I don't know why. No one picks up the phone anymore. But I did Starring Jessica Nicole of Fringe The Good Doctor and Scandal But first and last the voice gave me a warning And something in the way she said it made me think I had better pay attention. She said, Don't tell Alice. Alice isn't dead. Don't tell Alice. coming April 13th, wherever you get your podcasts, and available early and ad-free on our Patreon. Okay, hello again. So remember, you can go to the Patreon, which the link is in the show notes for this episode or just search Alice Isn't Dead on Patreon. That will be the main way we are able to make this show. And if you can support us while we're producing it, that would be incredible. And we'll have some fun stuff for the people who do that. And if not, we will see you in April with Alice Isn't Dead. Don't tell Alice. We will be back with regular episodes on the Night Vale feed on February 1st, and we'll see you then.