For listeners and supporters of audio drama or audio fiction podcasts, Radio at the End of the World is here every month to bring you new stories, new characters, and new podcasts to sink into. Whether you’re new to audio dramas or not, I try and provide a comprehensive sampling of listening experiences. Though I will say that this month’s podcasts lean a bit more to the speculative end.
If you are the creator or writer for an audio drama or audio fiction podcast, please drop me a line through my site, on Twitter, or in my inbox. Let me know what you’re working on and putting out into the world. I can’t guarantee it’ll make it on one of these roundups, but I can promise that I’ll listen to it with an open mind and excitement for your words.
Escape Pod is the science fiction branch of the Escape Artist audio fiction podcast group. I’ve written about all of the different podcasts they produce in RaEnWo before because they are all awesome. Not only do they publish science fiction stories, but they have other branches covering horror, fantasy, and young adult stories. If you haven’t already checked out, PseudoPod, Podcastle, and Cast of Wonders, consider doing so! They have something for all types of audio fiction fans. In one of Escape Pod’s July episodes, author Sarah Gailey treats listeners to a very original and gory story about injustice in the future. It’s vindicating and satisfying in the only way a courtroom tiger mauling can be.
Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Website | Transcripts
Publishing houses have been dipping their toes in the audio drama and fiction world for years, bringing the books they publish to a broader audience than an audiobook format. Macmillan Podcasts is one of the houses that has a few different shows that are worth diving into. My favorite, though, is Stories from Among the Stars. Originally, Steal the Stars, a science fiction anthology series, Stories from Among the Stars still holds to the original’s production and storytelling. The main difference being that the newer series is an audio adaption of The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu. Breaking the novel into episodes, listeners get a chance to read and/or listen along to the thrilling and thought-provoking tale of an alien invasion coming to Earth during China’s Cultural Revolution. Whether or not you’ve read the book, the podcast is something worth listening to if you’re a fan of literary hard science fiction.
Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website
The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel is a mystery-based podcast for children performed by children. Surrounding a group of kids searching for their missing friends, Mars Patel truly earns its comp titles of The Goonies and Stranger Things. Yes, the story is a mystery, but there are also science fiction elements and thriller vibes throughout the series. This show is best for middle-grade audiences or children between the ages of 8 and 12 due to the podcast’s content. Initially released in 2016, The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel ran a re-release of the show that ended last month. However, all the episodes are still available for listeners who missed the first airing of the series.
Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website
PseudoPod, like Escape Pod earlier on the list, is a part of the Escape Artist podcast group. Out of the four audio fiction podcasts they release, PseudoPod is the group’s horror fiction podcast. They always deliver great horror stories ranging from chilling to scary to provocative to creepy and haunting. With weekly episodes, there is always something to choose from, and July didn’t disappoint. One of my favorite episodes was Jordan Kurella’s “The Hollow Tree.” There is a content note for this story because it deals with an abusive husband and father and the daughter’s attempts to free both herself and her mother from his cruelty. With beautiful storytelling and an ending that surprised me, “The Hollow Tree” is an excellent episode for listeners who like a bit of darkness with their fairy fantasies.
Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Website | Transcripts
Old Gods of Appalachia is a cross between an audio drama and an audio fiction podcast. A common setting and characters crop up throughout the horror anthology podcast that makes this more than just a string of unrelated horror stories. Since its airing back in 2019, Old Gods of Appalachia has amassed a large and loyal following along with a lot of respect in the horror and audio drama world. It’s one of those audio drama podcasts that has been on my list for a while now, but every time I went to listen to it, something came up, or I wasn’t in the mood. I finally was able to dive into Old Gods of Appalachia over the past couple of months. With the narrator’s southern accent and way of rattling emotions up throughout each story’s telling, Old Gods of Appalachia is a great horror audio drama for listeners who love when a show fully and totally evokes a mystical sense of place.
Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | Transcripts
Read more: Old Gods of Appalachia Creates An All-American Horror
Apart of Aeaea Podcast Network, Desperado is a modern-day tale of magic, crusaders, and voodoo centering around a group of “misfits” trying to survive it all. It’s super gay and sometimes dark, but the connections and stories of each of the characters makes the darkness in the show worthwhile. Desperado also focuses on cultures, characters, and gods from a variety of backgrounds. With the representation it offers, Desperado is definitely one of my new favorite audio drama podcasts. The most recent season aired its final episode back in May, but there are 16 episodes for new listeners. And by listening and supporting the podcast now, you can help make sure a new season is created.
Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | Transcripts
The Drabblecast promotes weird fiction by weird authors, and each episode sets a musical atmosphere that provides a soundtrack to the odd and absurd tellings. They read old works and new, reprints and originals. A lot of the stories are pretty wild and often dark in various ways, which is why I love this weird fiction podcast so much. One of July’s episodes by writer Davian Aw deals with the death of a partner and how we can choose to move on or lose ourselves to the grief and longing to be with them. Throughout the story, the main character finds their dead lover in different scenarios and spends whatever time they can with them, but always leaving to return to their real life. “Stay” is dark in an emotional sense as listeners feel for the main character trying to reconcile reality with what they feel.
Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Website | Transcripts
Please go beyond listening to these podcasts by supporting them through sharing, donating, or subscribing. These acts not only show the creators that people are interested in what they are creating, but they also help ensure these podcasts stay around and these stories keep getting told.
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