This is the second half of a two part review of “The Madness of Chartrulean.” This review focuses specifically on the various ways one can experience the Dune-inspired sci-fi audio epic. Such ways to listen to “The Madness of Chartrulean” include Apollo+ and Realm+ premium subscriptions. Find out our thoughts on the audio drama, click here. We hope you’ll find a method that works for you

Apollo+ Basic Information

Like Realm+ and other premium podcast networks out there, you pay a certain amount every month or year (for Apollo it’s $9.99 per month) and you’ll get exclusive bonus content and/or no ads to interrupt the listening experience. The people behind Apollo give 70 percent of net value to creators who opt their show(s) into the service. Net value are payments from Apple and Google Plays app stores and after fees and taxes. That 70 percent breaks down further into 20 percent and 50 percent. The 20 is based on how many minutes a creator contributes. The 50 is based on listens a podcast gets. The more popular a show is, the more of the share they’ll get. Apollo+ creators are paid quarterly using the funds available after the two App Store fees.

Apollo+ and Chartrulean

Listening to the first season of The Madness of Chartrulean was less than ideal. More because of constant life interruptions than anything else. That said, the Apollo app experience didn’t help, though I did find a work around to the issue I kept running into. That issue being the lack of resuming playback during the supercut episodes which run for no less than an hour and are collections of three episodes bundled as one. The first season has four supercut episodes. While a workaround was found accidentally. I figured I’d take a moment and tell you some options for listening to “The Madness of Chartrulean” using Apollo app and its premium subscription features.

A Guide for Listening to Chartrulean on Apollo and other Platforms

Below are some ways one can experience “The Madness of Chartrulean.” on their platform of choice. These can include text material as well as audio or some combination therein.

Chartrulean: Individual Episodes and Supercut Method

Those wanting an immersive experience into the world of Astreus will want to listen to supercut episodes. However, I’d recommend listening to it this way a second time once you’ve listened to it one episode at a time in order, with or without ads. The bonus episodes between the regular 13 for the season act as a meta fantasy trope of having world building be explained through monologue. Sometimes this is more appropriate before an episode starts. Other times the information comes after and fills a hole that wasn’t explained in a previous episode. In any case, listening to the compendium episodes is optional for this part. Once you’ve listened to the entire audio drama, if you liked it enough to want to listen again, get a subscription to Apollo Plus.

Chartrulean: To Apollo or not to Apollo: A Traditional Method for the Chartrulean Audio Drama

If you don’t have access to Apollo Plus, listening to it on your podcast platform of choice is the next best option for those wanting an immersive experience but don’t want to pay $9.99 for the supercuts. Do know that the compendium episodes are built-in to the supercuts. The downside are the ads. Having an over one minute opening song (no lyrics) for all main episodes, doesn’t help. Ads at the beginning can make the time it takes for the story to start get longer. If you’re the kind of person easily distracted or will click off a podcast or song in the first few minutes, this method probably isn’t for you.

Alternative Subscription: Chartrulean on Realm+

While Realm+ doesn’t contain the supercut episodes of Chartrulean, their feed does contain deleted scene episodes. Another bonus of a Realm+ subscription when it comes to “The Madness of Chartrulean” are the Havelion’s Journal episodes. While I haven’t listened to these, they sound like they add more to the world and story in the same vein as the compendium episodes. If you’re looking for more of an audio wiki (in addition to the one available on the Chartrulean website), this service might be for you.

One Final Quick Tip for Apollo Plus

One thing I wish I figured out sooner was how the resume playback works in the Apollo app. If you follow a show on Apollo and use that menu to continue where you last left off, your results will be less than ideal. To continue from your last location, use the home screen of the app. It’s the left-most icon with a picture of a house. There you’ll see a history section with the audio dramas you’re in the middle of listening to. Click the play button there if you want to resume playback because you had to stop or some other reason.