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Littler and Winter have been in a band together for 6 years. The band writes within fictional universes, and the albums are concept albums. And 36Qs was the next step for them. #AFF25

.@twouppodcasts had an idea to have a podcast about a couple who are going up an endless set of stairs, which is where the concept started. The creators there love to play with the form, which helped lead to musical. And Littler knew then in college, and brought Winter on #AFF25

It was meant to be Linklater-esque, but had a narrator "musical director" character that got cut. That character was cut because it was lateral, had no stakes, and didn't feel necessary. That character would have been played by Winter. #AFF25

They wanted to know what kinds of things they could get away with in audio that you couldn't in stage. House falling, thunderstorms, a duck. They've never actually met their sound designer in person. He's just that amazing. #AFF25

Google Docs saved them with organizing sound design on top of musical songs, with entire paragraphs of comments with desired sound effects. #AFF25

Diegetic v. Nondiegetic: they would work themselves up to a moment, an emotional high, when singing absolutely had to happen. They asked then, what is the world before and after the song, and what has the song changed for the characters? What are the consequences? #AFF25

Music stretches time. Having one decision being made at the end of the song, and being okay with not rushing the narrative forward and being careful with pacing. #AFF25

It's three acts, and there's a natural break and a turn, that each led to Act 2 and 3. They had to give themselves the runway to have one character shifts, and they got to the end of act two, and they weren't there yet. #AFF25

The 36 Questions idea was brought forward by Two-Up and that was implemented by Littler and Winter. Answering the questions had to bring new information for listeners and loaded for the characters, which led to Judith lying to her husband as an idea. #AFF25

They collaborated very closely because the music and the narrative exist simultaneously and inform each other. They would trade off ideas between songs and narratives and trade places. #AFF25

How do you know when a song exists in the world? "I cry." -Littler. #AFF25

Winter says sometimes that the circumstances require songs to just be trashed, or they are added if they seem to work as an emotional core for the character. #AFF25

The two actors were smart, asking great questions, and validating for Winter and Littler. It wasn't an extensive rehearsal process; it was days before the studio. #AFF25

Groff sang Winter's songs on her birthday #AFF25

This was Winter's first experience in writing for a podcast, but she'd been writing for stage and had visual habits that were challenging. It was good to have Littler who understood the audience. #AFF25

"You can only move so fast without leaving the audience behind." -Winter #AFF25

Their other major challenge was The Narrator Problem. They decided that they wanted to have Judith holding herself and Jace accountable. It took a year to figure that out #AFF25

Good thing: Winter realized they could orchestrate this like an album. They could have 8 JONATHAN GROFFS in their ears. It was liberating. #AFF25

Being able to have one on one time with each instrumentalist so they had different sounds and a bank of them that enabled them to expand upon the orchestration in post-production. And they improvised a lot! #AFF25

Littler's favorite part is that you can listen to 36 QUESTIONS any time, years after it drops, and still have the same experience. #AFF25

Winter listened to the last episode of Limetown on the subway and remembers feeling like she can't trust anyone. That immersive personal experience is incredible and so important. #AFF25

Many people find this show through the last song of the show. Wait why? Whoever runs Groff's Spotify only had The Truth on it for a long time. #AFF25

A lot of their concept albums have many perspectives, and it was different to have to contain themselves to just those two characters #AFF25

Winter and Littler understood that worldbuilding comes from the characters' mouths, and it's easier to practice worldbuilding restraint when you know that this is the vehicle you have. #AFF25

When they are developing something, they have a roster of things that they need to address. It's a little more academic that way. Truth, identity, intimacy... Waterfowl Were big factors, and if something didn't serve the journey then it got cut. #AFF25

The hardest thing was getting through the 36 Qs in a way that was fast, and intriguing, and not boring. Winter still has night terrors about it. #AFF25

The working relationship is partially about knowing when your partner hasn't eaten. Note: I have just realized when was the last time I ate. #AFF25

There were many songs that started as pieces in sets or previously made in other instances. The opening song was a song from Winter's previous sets that she had to stop performing, but they rewrote. #AFF25

Pieces of advice: GO OUTSIDE. #AFF25

Other advice: Making stuff for fun! If you've got some kind of deadline and system, you need to make something for fun , something low stakes. #AFF25