CostasNarrativeXP 2026 September feature "The Two Towers"

Weary companions carry on divided by fate and duty — hope fraying under mounting darkness, courage tested in isolation, as small acts of loyalty and endurance quietly hold back an encroaching, overwhelming shadow.

Book Three
Chapter I-II
00:25 I The Departure of Boromir

21:17 II The Riders of Rohan

Costa's Wordbook
Hewn v (past of hew) to chop, hack, or shape wood or stone with an axe, chisel, or other sharp tool

Rede n arch. counsel, advice, or a plan

Wold n an open tract of high, rolling, or elevated country

Eorl n a man of noble birth, rank, or a nobleman, the direct linguistic ancestor of the modern title Earl (Ay ohl)

2026 Upcoming
Inferno, The Two Towers, Ramayana, A Christmas Carol, Winnie the Pooh, The House at Pooh Corner

Milestones
2021: 0 Full soundtrack, no editing, wife commentary, summary outline, irregular release
2022: 2.0 DaVinci editing, wordbook, book intro, AI intro + thumbnail, chapter summary, scheduled release
2023: 2.1 Descript, CapCut, Suno score, character intro, weekly release
2024: 2.2 Standard condenser mic, Audacity, ChatGPT annotation + illustration, timestamp, 1-hour content
2026: 2.3 Gemini definition, JP, CN, PT subtitles on selected YouTube videos

Platforms
YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Reddit, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Castbox, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn, Castro, Player FM

Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cln9oxg7r007d01xyhd0fadj5/comments
CostasNarrativeXP 2026 July feature "Inferno"

Humanity is enthusiastically building its own high-tech highway to Hell, proving that our scientific arrogance will ultimately trigger a completely self-inflicted apocalypse.

Chapter 31-38
00:25 31

09:06 32
14:57 33
18:56 34
27:07 35

36:02 36

42:27 37

47:31 38

Costa's Wordbook
Passetto - ita, small passage

Buondelmonte - a Florentine young nobleman, slain on his wedding day. His murder, according to Dante Alighieri, was one of the triggers of intra-familial discord and the conflicts between Guelphs and Ghibellines in his native town

Thomas Robert Malthus - an English economist, cleric, and scholar influential in the fields of political economy and demography, has theorised on overpopulation

Ammannati - Bartolomeo Ammannati, an Italian architect and sculptor, born at Settignano, near Florence, Italy. He studied under Baccio Bandinelli and Jacopo Sansovino and closely imitated the style of Michelangelo. He was more distinguished in architecture than in sculpture

Cacus - In Roman mythology, Cacus was a fire-breathing giant and the son of Vulcan. He was killed by Hercules after terrorizing the Aventine Hill before the founding of Rome

Espressi - ita, pl of espresso

“Signori” - ita, Gentlemen

Consiglio Maggiore - The Great Council or Major Council was a political organ of the Republic of Venice between 1172 and 1797. It was the chief political assembly, responsible for electing many of the other political offices and the senior councils that ran the Republic, passing laws, and exercising judicial oversight

Diomedes - an iconic hero in Greek mythology and King of Argos, best known for his pivotal role in the Trojan War. Favored by the goddess Athena, he is widely regarded as one of the bravest and most formidable Greek warriors—often ranked second only to Achilles in martial prowess

Il Papa Terribile - Giuliano della Rovere, Julius II was famously nicknamed both Il Papa Terribile (The Fearsome/Terrible Pope) and Il Papa Guerriero (The Warrior Pope) because he was an incredibly aggressive, iron-willed leader who wore armor, personally led armies into battle, and expanded the political and military power of the Vatican.

Tommaso dei Cavalieri - an Italian nobleman, who was the object of the greatest expression of Michelangelo's love. Michelangelo was 57 years old when he met Cavalieri in 1532

Mariele Keymel - an American concert pianist, music educator, and piano sales representative based in New York City

Maurizio Seracini - an Italian engineer and art diagnostician known for applying scientific imaging and engineering technologies to the study, authentication, and conservation of artworks

Piero Soderini - an Italian statesman of the Republic of Florence, famously commissioned the ultimate artistic showdown between Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo to decorate the Hall of the Five Hundred

Machiavelli - Niccolò Machiavelli was a 16th-century Florentine diplomat, politician, and philosopher whose brutally pragmatic book, The Prince, analyzed the ruthless use of power and deception, permanently cementing his name as the global synonym for cold, calculating strategy. He co-organized the massive Hall of the Five Hundred project with Soderini, choosing themes of military victory to inspire the citizens.

2026 Upcoming
Inferno, The Two Towers, Ramayana, A Christmas Carol, Winnie the Pooh, The House at Pooh Corner

Milestones
2021: 0 Full soundtrack, no editing, wife commentary, summary outline, irregular release
2022: 2.0 DaVinci editing, wordbook, book intro, AI intro + thumbnail, chapter summary, scheduled release
2023: 2.1 Descript, CapCut, Suno score, character intro, weekly release
2024: 2.2 Standard condenser mic, Audacity, ChatGPT annotation + illustration, timestamp, 1-hour content
2026: 2.3 Gemini definition, JP, CN, PT subtitles on selected YouTube videos

Platforms
YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Reddit, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Castbox, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn, Castro, Player FM

Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cln9oxg7r007d01xyhd0fadj5/comments
CostasNarrativeXP 2026 July feature "Inferno"

Humanity is enthusiastically building its own high-tech highway to Hell, proving that our scientific arrogance will ultimately trigger a completely self-inflicted apocalypse.

Chapter 24-30
00:25 24

05:26 25
18:41 26
23:58 27
34:21 28

36:58 29
47:04 30

Costa's Wordbook
Isolotto - ita, islet

Perseus - In Greek mythology, Perseus is the legendary founder of the Perseid dynasty. He was, alongside Cadmus and Bellerophon, the greatest Greek hero and slayer of monsters before the days of Heracles. He beheaded the Gorgon Medusa for Polydectes and saved Andromeda from the sea monster Cetus

Stoldo Lorenzi - an Italian Mannerist sculptor active in Florence and Pisa. Born 1534 in Settignano, Tuscany, close to Florence

Understatement n deliberately describe something as being much smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is

Cortile - ita, courtyard

“Può dirci dov’è la Galleria del costume?” - ita, “Can you tell us where the Costume Gallery is?”

“Io e mio fratello siamo in ritardo per una visita privata.” - ita, My brother and I are late for a private appointment.

“Certo!” - ita, "Certain!"

“Proseguite dritto per il sentiero!” - ita, “Continue straight along the path!”

“Molte grazie!” - ita, "Thank you very much!"

Braccio di Bartolo - real name Nano Morgante, an Italian dwarf who was a famed buffoon and court jester in the court of Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany.

Stalactite n an icicle-shaped mineral formation that hangs downward from the ceiling of a cave, hot spring, or man-made structure (Sta lac tight)

Entablature n the horizontal superstructure of moldings and bands that lies flat above columns in classical architecture

Palle - ita, balls

Buontalenti - Bernardo Buontalenti was a legendary Florentine polymath—an architect, engineer, and stage designer for the Medici family. He is most famously celebrated as the legendary inventor of modern gelato, credited with creating a revolutionary, creamy frozen dessert for a lavish Medici banquet in the 16th century.

“È chiuso!” - ita, “It’s closed!”

“Non si può entrare!” - ita, “You can’t come in!”

Carnet n an international customs document acting as "passport" for goods or vehicles (Carn nay)

“Cosa succede?!” - ita, “What’s happening?!”

“No, signore. Nessuno.” - ita, “No, sir. No one.”

Non deve entrare, né uscire nessuno.” - ita, No one is to enter or leave.

L’accesso - ita, access

Stalagmite n a mineral formation that rises from the floor of a cave. It is formed over thousands of years by dripping water containing dissolved minerals (like calcium carbonate) that splash onto the ground and accumulate layer by layer (Sta lag mite)

Pazzo è colui che bada ai fatti altrui - ita, A fool is one who concerns himself with the affairs of others

Insomma! - ita, In short!

“Non vogliamo farti del male,” - ita, We don’t want to hurt you

“Dobbiamo passare,” - ita, “We have to get through,”

“Dov’è la chiave?” - ita, “Where is the key?”

“Non ce l’ho,” - ita, “I don’t have it,”

“Qual è la combinazione?” - ita, “What is the combination?”

“Non posso!” - ita, "I cannot!"

Non è possibile! - ita, It's impossible!

2026 Upcoming
Inferno, The Two Towers, Ramayana, A Christmas Carol, Winnie the Pooh, The House at Pooh Corner

Milestones
2021: 0 Full soundtrack, no editing, wife commentary, summary outline, irregular release
2022: 2.0 DaVinci editing, wordbook, book intro, AI intro + thumbnail, chapter summary, scheduled release
2023: 2.1 Descript, CapCut, Suno score, character intro, weekly release
2024: 2.2 Standard condenser mic, Audacity, ChatGPT annotation + illustration, timestamp, 1-hour content
2026: 2.3 Gemini definition, JP, CN, PT subtitles on selected YouTube videos

Platforms
YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Reddit, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Castbox, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn, Castro, Player FM