Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jay Hazen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Jay, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on recently is an audio drama I created called Happy Medium: The Adventures of Melancholy Helen Polly. It’s a paranormal mystery with a comedic edge, and it features some wonderfully neurodivergent weirdness (the good kind). I wrote, directed, and voiced characters for the series, working with a stellar team of voice actors to bring it all to life—often from our respective blanket forts, makeshift studios, and sound booths made out of questionable closet setups.

What made this project especially meaningful was how personal it was. I wanted to subtly incorporate traits of autism in a way that felt natural and respectful, helping to gently educate listeners while offering a little representation along the way. I also set out to center strong female characters and introduce a drag queen as a key part of the plot—not for shock value or comic relief, but as a real person with real depth, humor, and heart. Basically, I wanted to create a world that looked a little more like the one I wish we lived in.

Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. I caught COVID during production and was down for the count for about a month. Add in some tornado warnings (and a few tornadoes that got a little too close for comfort here in northern Arkansas), and you’ve got yourself the perfect storm for missing deadlines. And as with any group project, life happened—some of the voice actors needed extra time for their parts, which meant leaning hard into flexibility, patience, and occasionally yelling motivational things at my editing software.

But through all of it, I learned so much—not just about storytelling or mastering audio (though that, too), but about perseverance, collaboration, and the fine art of not panicking when your DAW crashes five minutes before exporting. I came out the other side with a renewed belief in my creative voice and a deep respect for the cast (including my wife) who helped make this thing happen. It reminded me that this is a space where I really can contribute something meaningful—and maybe even a little magical.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I first stepped into the creative world back in 1997, after more than a decade of service in the U.S. Army. I was living in Los Angeles and, like many others, decided to pursue a career in acting. Somewhere between auditions and side hustles, I realized I had a knack for storytelling. I started writing short plays, and the positive feedback I got gave me the push to keep going (and the audacity to believe I might actually be good at this).

These days, I do voice acting, narration, audiobook reading, and dramatic audio performance. Writing is still more of a passion project than a full-time gig, but I’m always open to collaborating on scripts. My indie studio, JHP Fiction, is slowly growing and might officially become an LLC if enough people decide they like what I’m putting out there. No pressure.

I don’t have a lofty mission statement, but I do believe in telling stories that matter. That usually means centering strong women and marginalized voices—something I’ve been doing long before it became trendy (hello, 2010). I also believe in entertaining the audience. If I can make someone laugh, cry, or text their friend “you have to hear this,” I’ve done my job.

My first audio drama, Queen of Battle, is a fictional series about the first six women to join the U.S. Army infantry. That story came from personal experience and a desire to spotlight voices I didn’t see represented in audio fiction—or in the real world, frankly. Not everyone loved the idea (some internet trolls made that very clear), but the show found its audience, and the support meant the world.

Most recently, I created Happy Medium: The Adventures of Melancholy Helen Polly, a paranormal comedy with neurodivergent themes and queer representation woven throughout. It was a true labor of love—and sometimes just a labor. Tornado warnings in Arkansas, a month-long battle with COVID, and, oh yeah, the occasional creative breakdown (I’m a disabled vet with PTSD, so sometimes I need to hit pause and catch my breath). Through it all, the cast stuck with me. They waited patiently between episodes, stayed motivated and encouraging, and genuinely helped me get through a vulnerable stretch when I wasn’t sure I could finish the project. I’ll never forget that.

Also? Major thanks to my wife, Lynne Hazen—the lead voice of Helen Polly—for her immense patience while I spent hours upon hours editing, rewriting, and muttering “this still isn’t right” into my microphone. She brought the character to life, kept the spirit of the show grounded, and made the whole thing infinitely better just by being part of it.

I’m proud of what I’ve built, but even prouder of the feedback I’ve gotten—people telling me the characters felt real, the stories hit home, and the experience was unlike anything they’d heard before. That’s what keeps me going.

I want listeners to walk away from a JHP Fiction show feeling entertained, maybe a little challenged, and definitely like they just heard something they weren’t getting anywhere else. And if they liked it? Subscribe, rate, tell a friend—seriously, it helps. We’re a veteran-owned, indie operation just trying to carve out a little space in the audio fiction world. The support means more than I can say (but I’ll keep trying).

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is knowing that something I made—something that started as just an idea in my head—can actually connect with someone else on an emotional level. Whether it’s making someone laugh, feel seen, or think differently about a topic, that connection is everything.

As a veteran, I spent years in a structured, high-stakes environment where creativity wasn’t exactly front and center. So being able to now express myself freely through storytelling, and give a voice to characters and communities that don’t often get the spotlight, feels like a kind of freedom I don’t take for granted. It’s also incredibly fulfilling to know that I’m creating something from scratch, on my own terms, and that people are responding to it. That keeps me going.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

In my view, one of the best things society can do to support artists and creatives is to broaden its idea of where great art comes from. It’s not just big studios and polished PR campaigns—sometimes it’s someone who once carried a medic bag across the desert and now carries a microphone into a closet to make a show happen.

Supporting creatives means making room for the storytellers who don’t always have industry connections or fancy gear, but who do have something to say. It means investing in voices that are often overlooked—whether that’s veterans, disabled creators, or folks working far outside the entertainment hubs.

I’ve been consistently blown away by the cast of both Queen of Battle and Happy Medium. These voice actors brought so much heart, humor, and professionalism to the table—often on tight timelines, sometimes for little more than the joy of creating something meaningful. Their dedication inspires me every day, and I think that kind of collaborative spirit is what a thriving creative ecosystem really looks like.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jhpfiction.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jhpfiction_audio_stories/
• Twitter: https://x.com/JHPFiction
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JHPFiction
• Other: https://patreon.com/JHPFiction

Image Credits

Image credits (outdoors, b&w) Lynne Hazen