S3.8 The Retreat
Summary
In this episode of The Other Stories, Penny Durham’s horror story “The Retreat” follows Sophie, a corporate employee attending a mandatory company offsite. What begins as a standard team-building event with trivia and games takes a sinister turn when the CEO reveals the company’s dark secret: a cult-like devotion to the deity Moloch. The narrative culminates in a ritualistic ceremony where the top-performing employee is selected for a horrifying “transfer,” exposing the true, sacrificial cost of corporate loyalty.
Topics discussed
Sponsor: Zen nicotine pouches
Introduction to 'The Retreat' and Zombie Dave
Team building game rules and Sophie's discomfort
Corporate trivia questions and the transfer rumor
Zombie Dave released and Sophie's office move
Retreat preparation and signing the NDA
Friday night party and Sophie's relationship with Joel
Saturday morning games and career show and tell
Shift in atmosphere and preparation for the ritual
Meditation session and the FJ Gardner rumor
FJ Gardner's video: Daycorp as a chosen family
Gardner reveals the true path and Moloch
Announcement of Joel's transfer and the sacrifice
Credits and closing sponsor ad
Listen ad-free on Castria