Stories by Character

Johnny Boy Nebraska

Meet Johnny Boy, age 10. The youngest and son of the Nebraskas. Although he doesn’t fit in at Greenhorn, FL, he’s giving it his best & has fun. Johnny is curious about his neighbors, excited about his podcast, & enthusiastic about ice cream. His message: “Martians are people too only from Mars!”

Chapter One: The Anomaly in Greenhorn

When the Nebraska family lands in Greenhorn, there’s a lot they don’t know — including the fact that they are Martians sent to Earth as undercover researchers.

26 min

9+

December 1: The Daily Postcard Extravaganza

What do Christmas, Hanukkah, and other winter holidays on earth look like through the eyes of a real-life Martian?

16 min

5+

December 21: Winter Fire is the Best Fire

When the Plejarens are involved, the Winter Solstice bonfire takes on a whole new meaning, size, and scope. But even with the size of the blaze, it’s hard to miss that very strange light once again...

13 min

5+

December 14: More on Santa and Flurrr

So many busy people at this time of year! Tune in for Johnny Boy’s latest discoveries about the universal desire for winter celebrations.

12 min

5+

December 9: Plejarens are Actually Fun!

Johnny Boy recommends Plejaren traditions for an unusual and unexpectedly moving winter holiday celebration.

12 min

5+

December 8: Santa and Four Others that are sort of like Santa

Hold on to your Santa hats, because you are about to discover amazing facts about Celestial beings that are (sort of) like Santa

14 min

5+

December 25: A Sort-of Christmas Miracle — Actually Three of Them

The surprises just keep on coming in Greenhorn!

23 min

5+

December 24: A Super Surprising Christmas Eve Visit and Even More Surprising Announcement

When Johnny Boy imagined Christmas Eve, he always had lots of questions — but he never expected to receive the visitor who shows up on their doorstep this December 24.

13 min

5+

December 23: The Absolute Best Gift

Donnie Nebraska may seem a little spacey sometimes, but he was certainly paying attention when he got the idea for a spectacular family holiday gift that everyone would enjoy.

11 min

5+

December 22: My Mom's Martian Holiday

Betty Nebraska — artist, community activist, and beloved mom to Johnny Boy — joins the podcast.

11 min

5+

December 20: Mr. Reggie and My Dad, Donnie

What’s the difference between an amusement park ride and a community gift drive? Not much, we learn in this special podcast episode with Johnny Boy’s dear old Dad, Donnie Nebraska.

11 min

5+

December 19: A Greenhorn Christmas

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Greenhorn! Johnny Boy invites his sister Suzie Q on to the podcast to report on the annual town Christmas party.

10 min

5+

December 18: Martian Undusting

Johnny Boy’s robot-dog X gives a detailed description of the Martian Undusting ceremony, including the luxurious synthetic oil bath for robots and the issuance of comedy jokes.

11 min

5+

December 17: On Carols, Vloors and a Real Mystery

It’s Johnny Boy’s first caroling outing, and wow is it fun!

11 min

5+

December 16: Twas the Night before Ricki-ricki Reekhap

Johnny Boy explores the rich traditions of the Sobeks’ culture, including the origin of Ricki-ricki Reekhap, the being with famously white spiky hair who brings books to the Sobeks.

11 min

5+

December 15: Dustfest a Gogo

It’s finally here — the Martian holiday you’ve all been waiting for! Get ready to don your helmets and space suits and play outside in the dust! Oh, sorry ... you’re Earthlings?

10 min

5+

December 13: The Christmas Story

When Johnny Boy visits a church and watches a nativity play for the first time, his mind is blown!

13 min

5+

December 12: Johnny Boy’s Gift-Giving System

Johnny Boy has researched Earthling gift-giving practices and thinks we’ve missed the mark. Luckily, he’s devised a four-step system for us to follow when giving gifts this year — just listen in for the details!

14 min

5+

December 7: Nebraska Christmas Cookies

Ice-cream-loving Johnny Boy is blown away by the discovery of Christmas cookies. What a delight!

12 min

5+

December 11: Gifts and Goop

As Johnny Boy pieces together our earth-bound gift-giving traditions, he compares them with X’s description of the traditional Martian exchange of … goop. But what is goop?

12 min

5+

December 10: Holiday Fair Magic

A holiday fair can bring whole communities together — and the Nebraska family wants to be part of this festival

12 min

5+

December 6: Celestial Christmas Cards

After Johnny Boy gives his listeners a little recap about the Celestials in his town, we learn about a very Christmas-card-like tradition that the Sobeks practice as they write and send their annual reekhaps.

12 min

5+

December 5: Miracles, Light and Stars

IIn conversation with Sheriff Tish, Johnny Boy learns about the celebration of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. T

10 min

5+

December 4: On Christmas Trees and Dustalia Mushrooms

There’s one Earth tradition that is a complete mystery to Johnny Boy: Christmas trees. Why bring the tree inside?

12 min

5+

December 3: Dusteve and letting the Dust In

Johnny Boy notices some parallels between Christmas Eve and Dusteve — but how similar are they really?

11 min

5+

December 2: Snow is to Earth, as Dust is to Mars

Did you know that Mars is covered in dust? And did you further know that Martians hold an annual festival that celebrates the joys of this dust? Johnny Boy fills us in on his planet’s spectacular traditions and customs.

11 min

5+

Epilogue: Plants and Transplants

As the tension in Greenhorn, Florida resolves into harmony, the next chapter of the story unfolds. Tune in for one more update — and a glimpse into the future!

11 min

9+

Chapter Ten: Context and Cliffhangers

A crisis that has been brewing in Greenhorn for decades finally comes to a head. But at precisely the right moment, help arrives from an unexpected source.

24 min

9+

Chapter Nine: What Brings Us Together

Everyone has differences, and Greenhorn is no exception — except for the additional difference of planetary origin. How can these divergent factions find a way past their disagreements and into a true community?

18 min

9+

Chapter Eight: Pause for Effect

Things are beginning to change in Greenhorn, and that change is coming from the general direction of the Plejaren farm. What is that family up to? Why are they suddenly becoming more social?

16 min

9+

Chapter Seven: Two Histories of Greenhorn

The history of Greenhorn, Florida can be told from a few different perspectives depending on your parents, your community, or your home planet. Who really has the power in this story?

20 min

9+

Chapter Six: What’s Going On in Greenhorn

Suzie Q reports the curious goings-on in Greenhorn, including the complex feelings she has about friends and neighbors. Johnny Boy recommends his favorite food and gives a "hot take" on a complex topic that might ruffle feathers.

17 min

9+

Chapter Five: Protocol Z: The Reset

The Nebraska family does not know it, but their memories are at risk of obliteration — by their beloved pet. Are the Nebraskas a risk to the Martian mission? Or are they just a regular part of the local community now?

18 min

9+

Chapter Four: X Returns!

Johnny Boy Nebraska is overjoyed that his beloved companion X has returned from an unexpected adventure. X offers its own reflections on human culture … and raises an important procedural question.

19 min

9+

Chapter Three: A Survey of Celestials

It turns out that the town of Greenhorn, Florida is attractive not only to humans and Martians but to a number of other interplanetary species as well. Who are all of these mysterious beings?

17 min

9+

Chapter Two: My Family is Strange

Johnny Boy tells listeners of an extraordinary ice cream shop, a mayor who utters veiled threats, and the neighbors who explain their Martian origins. Later, Suzie Q’s audio diary recounts the ways she is having trouble fitting in.

24 min

9+