Meg MacCary is an Obie winning actor and co-producer of the serialized radio mystery “Split Valley”. She also plays the character of Laura, Caldwell Cosmetics leading salesperson and mother of two. The “Split Valley” podcast is a suspenseful serialized radio mystery about two investigative podcast journalists who are lured by a cryptic postcard to the second-smallest town in New York State. It is written by Caroline V. McGraw and is directed by Eddie Prunoske.
Split Valley launched December 3, 2024. The first season has eight episodes, each 7-12 minutes long, which is perfect for binge-listening. Cliff hangers and red herrings abound, adding to the mystery and leaving listeners eager for the next episode.
A fun fact about “Split Valley” is that it was recorded remotely during quarantine in 17 separate home studios, across four different states! The “Split Valley” podcast is now available on leading streaming platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify and Stitcher.
Interviewer: Tell our readers more about yourself.
Meg MacCary: I’ve been in a NYC apartment all of quarantine, with two teenagers, our rescue dog Fozzie (we got him Thanksgiving 2019 – best thing we ever did as a family – wouldn’t have made it without him), and my husband Joe. Producing and performing these past few months has been insane. I’ve been learning all the new skills: from communicating with artists who have never been in the same room together, to recording under a blanket tent. It’s remarkable how artists just adapt to the most absurd conditions. We’re a hearty lot.
Interviewer: Tell us about your character “Laura” in “Split Valley.”
Meg MacCary: Laura is a wife, the mother of two teenagers, and the top salesperson for Caldwell Cosmetics, a multilevel marketing company. She produces YouTube videos about new shades of gloss and blush brushes. You can tell from her videos that her home life is more complicated than she’d like people to know.
Interviewer: What is the main idea behind the “Split Valley”?
Meg MacCary: Split Valley uses only “found” audio – voice messages, phone calls, taped interviews, etc – so the listener has the experience of being a voyeur, immersed in this strange, small town drama. It takes its aesthetic from weird, off center work like Twin Peaks and Blair Witch. It follows Melanie, an aspiring investigative podcast journalist, as she tries to figure out what’s going on in Split Valley: what are these odd sculptures in the woods and why do people keep disappearing?
Interviewer: Was it challenging to record the podcast during this pandemic?
Meg MacCary: We began working on Split Valley pre-pandemic, so we envisioned gathering in a studio to rehearse and record together. As it turned out, we all recorded separately from our home studios (ie closets) and communicated over phone. Most of us have never been in a room together. Performing under these conditions was very difficult. But I also never realized how much I depend on body language to understand others and communicate. Making art in isolation is no picnic.
Interviewer: Will there be a season 2 to the “Split Valley” podcast?
Meg MacCary: We are incredibly proud of how Split Valley turned out and are of course tempted to see where another season would take us… but only after everyone is vaccinated!
