Cultureverse
Studio OchentaCULTUREVERSE is an immersive audio drama that celebrates our collective cultural past. It is a place where myths and legends come alive in the modern world. In each episode, an ordinary kid encounters an extraordinary creature, myth, or folk character from their culture, embarking on an exciting journey of self-discovery. Cultureverse isn’t just an audio adventure, it’s a show that celebrates who we are, and where we come from.
CULTUREVERSE is an immersive audio drama that celebrates our collective cultural past. It is a place where myths and legends come alive in the modern world. In each episode, an ordinary kid encounters an extraordinary creature, myth, or folk character from their culture, embarking on an exciting journey of self-discovery. Cultureverse isn’t just an audio adventure, it’s a show that celebrates who we are, and where we come from.
The Rolling Calf
What happens when you step into the Cultureverse?
In the first episode of our cultural adventure series, Winston sneaks out to go camping with his friends and encounters a Jamaican folk creature called The Rolling Calf.
This story is inspired by the Jamaican folktale of the Rolling Calf. The Rolling Calf is one of many "duppy" spirits who used to roam about on plantations in Jamaica. In the 1800s the creature became popular because there was very little electricity, and stories about spirits in the dark spread. The Rolling Calf would appear to punish criminals or those who misbehaved.
This podcast was produced by Studio Ochenta for TRAX on PRX and is hosted by Kelly Marie Tran and Yara Shahidi. Winston was voiced by Steven Etienne. Luis was voiced by Luis López Levi. Emma was voiced by Lory Martínez, Jackie by Lisha López and Winston’s Mom was voiced by L. R. Davidson.
Special thanks to our Cultureverse editorial team for this episode: Richard Robinson, Taryn Scarlett, and Sutanya Dacres, who brought their Jamaican experiences to this story.
Transcripts and additional resources to learn more about Jamaican folklore are available at ochentastudio.com/cultureverse.