Get ready for Worlds Without Warning, a new weekly podcast where stories come alive through the voices of their creators. 

Worlds Without Warning features original short stories from Cetera Magazine, read aloud by the authors themselves. Each week brings a new tale that might surprise you, move you, or even haunt you a little.

As a subscriber, you can expect:
Diverse genres: Literary fiction, speculative stories, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction that defies categorization
Recurring themes: Memory, rebellion, folklore, and worlds that change without warning
Author insights: Behind-the-scenes looks at inspiration, process, and the wonderfully weird facts that spark imagination
Quality curation: Every story carefully edited by Natalia Emmons
Human creativity: All stories written without AI assistance

About Cetera

Cetera publishes original short fiction every Thursday, complete with original artwork and detailed author notes. These are stories written with care, intention, and the belief that fiction can be one of the best forms of surprise.

Links & Resources
Read the stories:cetera.substack.com
Submit your work: Visit cetera.substack.com for our open submissions page
Subscribe: Available wherever you get your podcasts

Credits
Host: Jon Negroni
Editor: Natalia Emmons
Artwork: Jon Negroni
Music: "Opportunity Walks" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Get ready for Worlds Without Warning, a new weekly podcast where stories come alive through the voices of their creators.&nbsp;
Worlds Without Warning features original short stories from Cetera Magazine, read aloud by the authors themselves. Each week brings a new tale that might surprise you, move you, or even haunt you a little.
As a subscriber, you can expect:
<ul>
<li>Diverse genres: Literary fiction, speculative stories, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction that defies categorization</li>
<li>Recurring themes: Memory, rebellion, folklore, and worlds that change without warning</li>
<li>Author insights: Behind-the-scenes looks at inspiration, process, and the wonderfully weird facts that spark imagination</li>
<li>Quality curation: Every story carefully edited by Natalia Emmons</li>
<li>Human creativity: All stories written without AI assistance</li>
</ul>
About Cetera
Cetera publishes original short fiction every Thursday, complete with original artwork and detailed author notes. These are stories written with care, intention, and the belief that fiction can be one of the best forms of surprise.
Links &amp; Resources
<ul>
<li>Read the stories: <a href="https://cetera.substack.com/">cetera.substack.com</a></li>
<li>Submit your work: Visit cetera.substack.com for our open submissions page</li>
<li>Subscribe: Available wherever you get your podcasts</li>
</ul>
Credits
<ul>
<li>Host: Jon Negroni</li>
<li>Editor: Natalia Emmons</li>
<li>Artwork: Jon Negroni</li>
<li>Music:&nbsp;"Opportunity Walks" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</li>
</ul>

Weekly short stories read aloud by their authors. From Cetera Magazine, featuring literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction exploring memory, rebellion, folklore, and other worlds without warning. Stories edited by Natalia Emmons and Jon Negroni.

Weekly short stories read aloud by their authors. From Cetera Magazine, featuring literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction exploring memory, rebellion, folklore, and other worlds without warning. Stories edited by Natalia Emmons and Jon Negroni.

Worlds Without Warning brings you captivating short stories read aloud by the authors themselves. Each week, discover a new tale from Cetera Magazine—spanning literary fiction, speculative stories, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction that defies categorization. These carefully curated stories explore recurring themes of memory, rebellion, folklore, and worlds that shift without warning. After each reading, authors share the inspiration and process behind their work. All stories are written without AI assistance and crafted with the belief that fiction can be one of the best forms of surprise. Find the written versions with original artwork at cetera.substack.com.

Worlds Without Warning

In a world that's always on fire, Thank God For Movies. Formerly known as Cinemaholics, join film critics Jon Negroni and Will Ashton as they discuss the latest films coming to theaters or streaming online.

In a world that's always on fire, Thank God For Movies. Formerly known as Cinemaholics, join film critics Jon Negroni and Will Ashton as they discuss the latest films coming to theaters or streaming online.

Thank God For Movies

TGFM

Introducing: Worlds Without Warning

Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud “Pete” by Jeremy Morris. It's a funny, strange, and perhaps unexpectedly tender speculative story about a widow whose husband dies from cancer, only for another version of him to walk into her life. Blending multiverse science fiction with sex, absurdist comedy, and the mundane rhythms of life after loss, Morris asks whether another version of someone you loved can ever replace the particular person who is gone.

You can find the written version of this story right here.

About the Author

Jeremy Morris has been published in The Deadlands, Neon Demon, and SciFanSat. He's also won a Sloan Writing Fellowship, the Jubilee Prize, and the McGill Short Play Prize.
Tip the author to support them and say thanks
Explore our full archive of stories and poetry.
Submit your own story to be featured on Cetera.

About Cetera Magazine

We publish original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.

Credits
Author: Jeremy Morris
Narrator: Jon Negroni
Editor: Natalia Emmons
Artwork: Jon Negroni
Music: "Magic Escape Room" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Share This Episode
If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!

Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud &ldquo;Pete&rdquo; by Jeremy Morris. It's a funny, strange, and perhaps unexpectedly tender speculative story about a widow whose husband dies from cancer, only for another version of him to walk into her life. Blending multiverse science fiction with sex, absurdist comedy, and the mundane rhythms of life after loss, Morris asks whether another version of someone you loved can ever replace the particular person who is gone.
You can find the written version of this story&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ceteramagazine.com/pete/">right here</a>.
About the Author
Jeremy Morris has been published in The Deadlands, Neon Demon, and SciFanSat. He's also won a Sloan Writing Fellowship, the Jubilee Prize, and the McGill Short Play Prize.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.ceteramagazine.com/pete/#/portal/support">Tip the author</a> to support them and say thanks</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ceteramagazine.com">Explore our full archive</a> of stories and poetry.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ceteramagazine.com/submit-to-cetera/">Submit your own story</a> to be featured on Cetera.</li>
</ul>
About Cetera Magazine
We publish original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
<ul>
<li>Author: Jeremy Morris</li>
<li>Narrator: Jon Negroni</li>
<li>Editor: Natalia Emmons</li>
<li>Artwork: Jon Negroni</li>
<li>Music: "Magic Escape Room" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0&nbsp;<a href="Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a></li>
</ul>
Share This Episode If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!

Pete – A Speculative Short Story by Jeremy Morris

Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud “A Little Something” by Vaidhy Mahalingam, which is a literary fiction story about an Indian immigrant trying to build his American Dream one meticulously inspected borehole at a time. When a building inspector’s exacting standards make him wonder whether the man might be waiting for “a little something,” memories return of the bribes, bureaucrats, moral compromises, and carefully maintained principles he thought he’d left behind in India.

You can find the written version of this story right here.

About the Author

Vaidhy Mahalingam came to the USA from India for graduate school, completed his PhD in Naval Architecture, and had a 29-year career in the tech industry. In retirement, he spends his time cherishing moments with his family and putting into words the stories that have lived in his thoughts for years. His short stories have been featured in Arkana, Pembroke Magazine, Solstice, MudRoom, The Temz Review, and The Write Launch.
Tip the author to support them and say thanks
Explore our full archive of stories and poetry.
Submit your own story to be featured on Cetera.

About Cetera Magazine

We publish original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.

Credits
Author: Vaidhy Mahalingam
Narrator: Jon Negroni
Editor: Natalia Emmons
Artwork: Jon Negroni
Music: "Magic Escape Room" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Share This Episode
If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!

Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud &ldquo;A Little Something&rdquo; by Vaidhy Mahalingam, which is a literary fiction story about an Indian immigrant trying to build his American Dream one meticulously inspected borehole at a time. When a building inspector&rsquo;s exacting standards make him wonder whether the man might be waiting for &ldquo;a little something,&rdquo; memories return of the bribes, bureaucrats, moral compromises, and carefully maintained principles he thought he&rsquo;d left behind in India.
You can find the written version of this story <a href="https://www.ceteramagazine.com/a-little-something/">right here</a>.
About the Author
Vaidhy Mahalingam came to the USA from India for graduate school, completed his PhD in Naval Architecture, and had a 29-year career in the tech industry. In retirement, he spends his time cherishing moments with his family and putting into words the stories that have lived in his thoughts for years. His short stories have been featured in&nbsp;Arkana,&nbsp;Pembroke Magazine,&nbsp;Solstice, MudRoom, The Temz Review,&nbsp;and&nbsp;The Write Launch.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.ceteramagazine.com/a-little-something/#/portal/support">Tip the author</a> to support them and say thanks</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ceteramagazine.com">Explore our full archive</a> of stories and poetry.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ceteramagazine.com/submit-to-cetera/">Submit your own story</a> to be featured on Cetera.</li>
</ul>
About Cetera Magazine
We publish original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
<ul>
<li>Author: Vaidhy Mahalingam</li>
<li>Narrator: Jon Negroni</li>
<li>Editor: Natalia Emmons</li>
<li>Artwork: Jon Negroni</li>
<li>Music: "Magic Escape Room" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0&nbsp;<a href="Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a></li>
</ul>
Share This Episode If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!

A Little Something – A Literary Short Story by Vaidhy Mahalingam

Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud “We All Must Attend the Deathbed of the Lich” by Haden Cross — a dark fantasy story about an immortal ruler finally approaching death and the kingdom ordered to gather at his bedside. Told through a collective “we,” Cross turns a fantasy death vigil into a story about propaganda, obedience, political memory, and the strange moment when a population realizes the supposedly permanent thing governing their lives can end.

You can find the written version of this story right here.

About the Author

Haden Cross is the author of The Uncontinented Stars, which was a finalist for the 2026 Lambda Literary Award for Transgender Fiction. Their short fiction has been featured in The Deadlands and Shadowrun: Augment. 
Tip the author to support them and say thanks
Explore our full archive of stories and poetry.
Submit your own story to be featured on Cetera.

About Cetera Magazine

We publish original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.

Credits
Author: Haden Cross
Narrator: Jon Negroni
Editor: Natalia Emmons
Artwork: Jon Negroni
Music: "Magic Escape Room" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Share This Episode
If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!

Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud &ldquo;We All Must Attend the Deathbed of the Lich&rdquo; by Haden Cross &mdash; a dark fantasy story about an immortal ruler finally approaching death and the kingdom ordered to gather at his bedside. Told through a collective &ldquo;we,&rdquo; Cross turns a fantasy death vigil into a story about propaganda, obedience, political memory, and the strange moment when a population realizes the supposedly permanent thing governing their lives can end.
You can find the written version of this story <a href="https://www.ceteramagazine.com/we-all-must-attend-the-deathbed-of-the-lich/">right here</a>.
About the Author
Haden Cross is the author of&nbsp;The Uncontinented Stars, which was a finalist for the 2026 Lambda Literary Award for Transgender Fiction. Their short fiction has been featured in The Deadlands and Shadowrun: Augment.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.ceteramagazine.com/we-all-must-attend-the-deathbed-of-the-lich/#/portal/support">Tip the author</a> to support them and say thanks</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ceteramagazine.com">Explore our full archive</a> of stories and poetry.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ceteramagazine.com/submit-to-cetera/">Submit your own story</a> to be featured on Cetera.</li>
</ul>
About Cetera Magazine
We publish original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
<ul>
<li>Author: Haden Cross</li>
<li>Narrator: Jon Negroni</li>
<li>Editor: Natalia Emmons</li>
<li>Artwork: Jon Negroni</li>
<li>Music: "Magic Escape Room" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0&nbsp;<a href="Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a></li>
</ul>
Share This Episode If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!

Introducing: Worlds Without Warning

In 1 playlist(s)

TGFM

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips