Like with past Discover Pods audio drama genre lists, I wanted to give newcomers to the genre and fans a few current horror audio dramas covering the wide range of what horror can be. There’s emotional, comedic, romantic, and supernatural. Not to mention monsters, murder, and mayhem—spooks, splatter, and something that goes bump in the night. Really, there’s just a horror audio drama for everyone on this list … if you dare read on.

Keep in mind that these are all serialized (with one noted exception), so they should all be started from the beginning. This list isn’t arranged in any particular order; it’s just a collection of some of my favorites.

Wrong Station

I’ve written about The Wrong Station a couple of times in the past. If you’ve never listened to this horror audio drama anthology, you’re missing out. The show was initially modeled after radio dramas of yesteryear, but as the years have gone on, The Wrong Station has become something wholly its own. The Wrong Station delivers animated and well-acted storytelling along with heavy themes and storylines that push past simple ghost stories. Each episode is raw and rough and packs an emotional punch. Since The Wrong Station often deals with heavy topics, I want to let listeners know they should check the content warnings on the episodes before diving in if they are curious about what territories and experiences the episode will cover. I’m a fan of the earlier seasons for the way they pull the listener into the story by adding a secondary POV character of ‘you.’ But the newer seasons have more nuanced and original episodes. The Wrong Station is perfect for The Black Tapes and The NoSleep Podcast fans.

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS | Transcripts

Carrier

Carrier is an older horror sci-fi audio drama released in 2019 from QCODE. While there aren’t any more episodes airing, the whole story has already been released, so there’s no worry of an unresolved ending. The horror audio drama follows a truck driver transporting a mysterious cargo that turns out worse than anything she could have imagined. When I first listened to Carrier, it filled that want in me for more stories like Alien and Stranger Things. The bonus of Carrier is that unlike both of those stories, Carrier has a Black woman lead. So, moments and scenes throughout the show connect with my experiences, making the audio drama relatable despite its supernatural horror element. Like a few other horror podcasts on this list, Carrier is perfect for listeners who love Alice Isn’t Dead and Homecoming. 

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS

The Slaughterhouse Stories Podcasts

The Slaughterhouse Stories Podcast is a creepypasta, horror anthology, poetry, and short fiction podcast featuring stories from across the web. That means, while the stories aren’t always the best, there is a lot to choose from. More often than not, you’ll find a new type of story like the types you’d find on Reddit or Tumblr. Each episode is dark and offers that bit of found fiction vibe that makes the stories feel more like Internet folklore. The host reads each story with nice creepy musical undertones that makes up for the less than scary stories featured on The Slaughterhouse Stories Podcast. There is usually more than one story featured on each episode, so if you don’t like the first one, give it a couple of minutes, and a new story or poem will start. While listening to a few of the episodes, I got The Wrong Station and Knifepoint Horror vibes. So, if you like either of those two horror audio dramas, you’ll love The Slaughterhouse Stories Podcast.

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS

Pseudopod

Pseudopod is a horror podcast part of the Escape Artist podcast group, including Escape Pod, Podcastle, and Cast of Wonders. Pseudopod releases the best short horror audio fiction up there with Nightmare Magazine Horror Podcast and NIGHTLIGHT Horror Podcast. With episodes dating back to 2016, Pseudopod has an extensive back catalog of all types of horror ranging from classic vampire and werewolf stories to more literary and original tales featuring creatures, characters, and situations that are both terrifying and thoughtful. There are no cheap thrills or screams on Pseudopod. And that’s what I like about the horror podcast. Unlike a lot of horror anthology shows that tend to become one trick or have a wide range of writing levels, Pseudopod delivers well-written and entirely fascinating horror stories about people you feel for every time. A few episodes have brought both chills and tears to me. 

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS | Transcripts

Believer: A Paranormal Mystery

A new podcast to me was the horror mystery Believer: A Paranormal Mystery. When a fake psychic’s ex-girlfriend goes missing in her strange hometown, the psychic packs up and heads out to find her or at least offer some help. And there’s a solid romance plot to tug at your heartstrings as you quiver in fear. Believer: A Paranormal Mystery is the queer comedy-horror audio drama I didn’t know I was missing in my life. There is a lot of sound production—so make sure to pop those headphones on or in—and the horror is layered and paired well with the humor; that way, both are equally heightened. Sometimes the sound production gets too much, and I had to turn down the volume when there was a bit of sound for something as simple as a shirt ruffling. Believer: A Paranormal Mystery is perfect for listeners of horror audio dramas like Unwell and Less is Morgue.

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS | Transcripts 

The Cellar Letters

If you’re into horror with a fair amount of mystery alongside its scares, then The Cellar Letters is going to be your next great listen. After uprooting and moving into a new home, a young man begins to experience strange and unusual happenings in his home. Even though there’s a single narrator, the audio production gives The Cellar Letters a fuller feeling. I loved the story and slow unfolding of the mystery, unraveling new and horrifying experiences for the character. I did find myself guessing what was going to happen next, but it was still satisfying to hear it happen. And a big part of that had to do with the audio production. I couldn’t wait to hear how they brought certain elements and events in the story to life. The Cellar Letters is a great horror audio drama for Malevolent and The Night Post fans. 

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS

The Way We Haunt Now

The Way We Haunt Now was the most unique and interesting horror audio drama podcast I found while compiling this list. Unlike a few others that felt a bit predictable, though exciting in their own right, The Way We Haunt Now felt specific. Like a lot of the podcasts on this list, The Way We Haunt Now uses humor to lull listeners into false states of security so that they can scare the crap out of you. There were also soft and emotional elements that made me want to know more about the story the horror audio drama was creating. And I only have 13 more episodes until I’m fully caught up. With the emotional and original horror storytelling that The Way We Haunt Now has, I think it’d be a great listen for fans of Palimpsest and Limetown.

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Google Podcasts | Website | RSS | Transcripts

13 Days of Halloween

13 Days of Halloween initially aired in 2020 during Halloween as a bit of a one-off horror audio drama from a big production company—Blumhouse. But then, last year, they released an all-new season featuring new characters, new storylines, and a whole new spooky setting. Instead of being set at the Hawthorne Manor, listeners are invited to visit the eerie New England village of Direbrook in the second season, ‘The Sea.’ While the first season of 13 Days of Halloween had a great blend of humor and horror, the newer season feels more emotional and steeped in darkness. The latest season of 13 Days of Halloween is a great horror audio drama podcast for fans of Boston Harbor Horror and Deadly Manners. 

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS

The Other Stories

The Other Stories is a horror audio drama podcast aimed at delivering listeners a mix of stories from emerging or struggling writers and experienced professionals. Like The Wrong Station, The Other Stories is an anthology horror podcast. One thing it does different, though, is offer listeners a wide range of horror genres like Pseudopod. Also, like Pseudopod, The Other Stories accepts listener-submitted short stories that they choose from for their episodes. For listeners interested in contributing to the show, check The Other Stories submission guidelines. With fantastic audio production and sound effects accompanying every episode, The Other Stories crafts new experiences for listeners each week. I like that there are characters that show up throughout The Other Stories long back catalog of episodes. 

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS

Come Join Us by the Fire

Tor Nightfire is the new horror imprint of Tom Doherty Associates that’s been releasing seasons of their horror anthology podcast, Come Join Us by the Fire, since 2020. The second season ran last year in March—and I hope there’s a new season coming out this spring, too! Listeners can dive into original stories from horror writers like Nibedita Sen, Cassandra Khaw, and more. Like other horror anthology audio dramas on this roundup, Come Join Us by the Fire allows listeners a comprehensive sampling of horror stories outside the typical horror tropes. With 18 episodes, horror listeners are sure to find a tale or two to keep them up at night. Come Join Us by the Fire is similar to horror podcasts like NIGHTLIGHT: A Horror Fiction Podcast and The Wrong Station. (Disclaimer: I write for Tor Nightfire’s blog.)

Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Libro.fm | Website

Vampires of White Chapel

Vampires of White Chapel is a full-cast horror audio drama about a group of vampires and their evil pursuits. Season three recently started in October 2021 with The Blood Reaper Chronicles. For fans of the original seasons, the newer one focuses on the vampire clan Blood Reapers. I’m a long-time vampire lover and fan, and I found Vampires of White Chapel to be a great vampire audio drama that clung close to many vampire conventions while still presenting an interesting story reminiscent of Vampire the Masquerade and Vampire High. With only one episode out of the new season, I’m curious to see where the vampire audio drama goes in the new year and how they wrap in the new bit of information given in the first episode. Vampires of White Chapel would be great for horror audio drama fans of Victoria’s Lift and We’re Alive.

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS | Transcripts

Boston Harbor Horror

Boston Harbor Horror is a full cast eldritch horror and weird fiction audio drama about a coast guard investigating an emergency on an island in Boston Harbor. It’s got atmosphere, character, and monsters all set in a location that feels like something straight out of a Stephen King novel. Season three started in December 2021, with nearly 50 episodes for new listeners to catch up on. I’m not always a fan of eldritch or Lovecraftian horror, but I really like how Boston Harbor Horror unfolds, developing new mysteries and uncovering horrors. And as a coastal baby, I enjoy the sea theme and connection to water horrors. Fans of The Leviathan Chronicles and Archive 81 will enjoy the storytelling and horror featured on Boston Harbor Horror.

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS

The Town Whispers

Out of all the horror audio drama podcasts on this list, The Town Whispers has my favorite opening song. It’s beautiful and perfectly sets the vibe for the narrative horror audio drama. Along with the narrative storytelling, sound effects and music accompany each episode, giving it that audio drama lure. The Town Whispers delivers stories about the fictional town, The Fort, and its occupants. Some of the stories are directly related; others simply happen within the town, but no matter what, the stories are creepy and packed with dark events that plague the town and the folks who live there. While being an audio drama, I loved that it also felt like an anthology horror podcast. Fans of Old Gods of Appalachia and Welcome to Nightvale will enjoy the darkness of The Town Whispers.

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS

America After Midnight

I was on the fence about adding this horror audio drama to the list, but then I figured even though it was too much for me, there are a lot of listeners who would love this type of horror. America After Midnight is a revenge horror anthology audio drama, so there are trigger warnings for each episode because there is a lot of racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist, and other offensive types of characters and situations at the beginning of the episodes, but by the end those people get what’s coming to them, whether or not it makes up for the opening moments, you’ll have to judge for yourself. It can be entertaining and cathartic for some, but use caution when going into the episodes and stories. American After Midnight is the first revenge horror audio drama podcast I’ve ever listened to. Still, it did remind me of horror audio dramas like Campfire Radio Theater and The NoSleep Podcast. 

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | RSS 

A Voice from Darkness

I’ve been searching for A Voice from Darkness for months! The first time I heard it, I was working on an article on podcasts for stoners and listened to it on another person’s account. I attributed my forgetfulness to the content I was writing about and tried to find the horror audio drama with no luck for months. Until now! A Voice from Darkness is part supernatural call-in and part American spooky folklore. I instantly fell in love with the creepy storytelling, strange events, and the way A Voice from Darkness tries to bridge a dark path into our world. There are national warnings, folktales, scary stories, and more all happening around the United States. It made it seem like the perfect blend of Welcome to Night Vale and The Town Whispers.

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS

Whether you’re looking for humorous horror, remakes, anthology shows, or any of the other horror audio drama subgenres, hopefully you’re able to find one new podcast to fill your ears. Keep the fright alive by considering going beyond listening to these horror audio dramas and supporting them by sharing, pledging, and reviewing them.

Haunted House Flippers

Haunted House Flippers is a hilarious audio drama that blends horror and comedy with an unlikely theme. That theme being a couple inheriting an old haunted house and deciding to flip it. The husband is one of those “YouTube ghost hunters” with a spotty grasp on reality and a real lack of self-preservation. The couple is cringe-worthy and adds another layer of tension to the story with their constant bickering and passive-aggressive communication style. It would be like if Paranormal Activity were a comedy and audio drama. Haunted House Flippers is perfect for the listener who doesn’t like a lot of gore, scares, and other intense materials but still wants a good ghost and monster mystery. Its first season is currently airing with nine episodes out, so now is a perfect time to hop on the fan wagon. 

Eastmouth

Eastmouth is packed with spooky and strange audio effects that make the audio drama really stick in your ear. The show follows a broadcaster stationed in a town with lots of secrets and hidden passages and a town council that’s been up to more than community services. The first time I listened to this horror audio drama podcast was while playing a horror survival game. If you like to game and listen to their podcasts, I super recommend this one to heighten scary games. Eastmouth puts out a new episode every month or so with episode 14 scheduled for a late July release. Another great thing about Eastmouth is that while it reminded me of other horror audio drama podcasts like Malevolent, it didn’t feel derivative or like I had experienced the story before.

Death by Dying

Do you like your horror with a bit of humor? Think Haunted House Flippers meets the TV show Bored to Death with a hint of Ian’s Gone Postal. An obituary writer goes above and beyond his duty and investigates the odd deaths in his town, leading him down a road of bizarre and sometimes supernatural involvement. Each episode dives into new mysteries that connect the main character and the mysterious town of Crestfall, Idaho. Originally aired in 2018, the dark comedy horror audio drama Death By Dying is written with a noir style, heightening both the mystery and humor. So far, there is only one season out, but the second is fully funded and on its way. New listeners can check out the first ten episodes and a few bonus ones while they wait for the drop of the new season, though.

Unwell, A Midwestern Gothic Mystery

Unwell is a horror audio drama following a young woman as she moves back to her small-town home in Ohio to look after her estranged mother. While there, she lives in her family’s boarding house that’s filled with ghosts lurking in the shadows and mystery around every bend. The full cast audio drama has aired since 2019 and is towards the end of its third season now, which means there are over 30 episodes for new listeners to catch up on as this season comes to a close. I think this horror audio drama is perfect for listeners who like Palimpsest and The Bright Sessions. There’s enough intrigue to make the scary seem tempting. Just listening to the show makes me feel haunted. 

The Dark Tome

The Dark Tome is a dark fantasy or speculative fiction audio fiction podcast that uses voice acting and sound effects to create a rounder experience for the reader. The horror audio drama uses a framing device wonderfully to make an audio fiction show within an audio drama, an audio drama within an audio fiction podcast. A teen finds The Dark Tome, a magical dark book that transports her to other worlds and stories, and the podcast unfolds from that premise. Each episode is a horror or dark fantasy story from classic horror writers like Edgar Allan Poe and contemporary writers like Catherynne M. Valente, Tananarive Due, and Martin Cahill. A full-cast production brings to life each story, truly creating another world for the listener to fall into alongside the character as she flips through the pages of The Dark Tome. With three seasons, there are over 30 episodes of The Dark Tome for fresh listeners to horrify and amaze themselves with. This horror audio drama podcast is perfect for listeners who enjoy horror anthology shows but want them to be more attached and connected. 

Old Gods of Appalachia

Similar to The Dark Tome, Old Gods of Appalachia is a cross between an audio drama and an audio fiction podcast. There’s a common setting and characters that crop up throughout the horror anthology podcast that makes this more than just a string of horror stories unrelated. 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 conjures a sense of place, heavy and thick, bringing readers to the southern reach of Appalachia, where ghosts, monsters, and other dark beasts wreak havoc in the woods. With 30 episodes and more on the way, this is a great horror anthology podcast for listeners interested in modern southern gothic tales. 

Read more: Old Gods of Appalachia Creates An All-American Horror

A Horror Borealis

Begun as bonus content for The Cryptid Keeper, A Horror Borealis has grown into its own audio drama show. Following three women in 1996 Revenant, Alaska, as they bond over the horrors of their life and town, A Horror Borealis is an emotional horror audio drama podcast great for listeners hungry for mystery, friendship, and monsters. The original series has over 60 episodes for new-time listeners to check out while the spinoffs or bonus stories, A Horror Borealis ’76 and LOSERS, add another few episodes and history onto the town of Revenant. Currently, the audio drama is doing a remix of Stephen King’s IT in an actual play retelling using the one-shot mystery Back to Derry by Christine Prevas. It’s AWESOME. 

The White Vault

An audio drama in collected records that sounds like found video footage for the ears, The White Vault follows the mystery surrounding an outpost in the artic. This horror audio drama podcast stands out because The White Vault features diverse voices and languages. Using such a range of a cast creates a story with greater depth and emotions. We can hear how each odd and horrific occurrence affects a greater population. The White Vault is perfect for people who love an excellent artic horror like The Thing and piecing together a mystery from various recordings and accounts. Lots of subtext and intrigue mixed with the horror! First aired in 2017, The White Vault celebrated six years and is still growing strong with a loyal fan base and over 60 episodes. 

The Grey Rooms

The Grey Rooms follows a man cursed with living someone else’s death every day, only to wake up and have it happen all over again. To say this show has lots of death would be an understatement. But death a protagonist that dies every episode isn’t the coolest feature of this horror audio drama. It’s the mystery surrounding why the character is dying over and over again like some rancid dark Groundhog Day. Started in 2018, The Grey Rooms is on its third season of scaring and terrifying listeners. The finale aired back in April, but there are several bonus episodes and other content. 

Victoria’s Lift

I actually found Victoria’s Lift through The Grey Rooms. There was a bonus episode recently released that promoted the show and offered a taste of the supernatural horror audio drama. Victoria’s Lift is about a girl who uses a mysterious elevator to help people reach their ‘transformations’. Emotional and creepy, Victoria’s Lift has over 50 episodes of travels through dark and meaningful realms. Victoria reminds me of the evil AI little girl in the 2002 Resident Evil movie. Don’t let the fact that a little girl is the protagonist of Victoria’s Lift fool you; this is not a show for young listeners. But it is perfect for fans of anthology horror audio dramas like Old Gods of Appalachia and The Dark Tome.

What’s the Frequency

What’s the Frequency has been described by creator James Oliva as “psychedelic noir” and only “horror-adjacent,” both of which are true–but this strange, innovative, form-breaking audio drama is known for sending chills down listeners’ spines. What’s the Frequency follows several stories, but primarily that of Troubles, a PI, and Whitney, his assistant, as they try to find a missing radio play writer whose work is the only thing playing on the radio stations. This podcast is riveting and throws the listener directly into the actions with gorgeous, unsettling sound design and very little explanation. It’s an intense listen that demands paying close attention but always rewards listeners with how strange, immersive, terrifying, and often funny it is.

Palimpsest

An often-overlooked genre in horror are the creeping, contemplative, psychological stories–think, for instance, of Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House (or even the Netflix show based on it, as different as those two are). Palimpsest takes this tone and mindset, giving the listener a slow-building, creeping terror instead of jump scares. The horror here isn’t just in the ghost story, both with the protagonist’s new house or the ghost of her sister, which she keeps asserting she’s seen. The horror is also in trying to find out whether the protagonist is an unreliable narrator or not. It’s a podcast that plays with your mind more than with just loud noises or gore, and weaves a gorgeous, delectably literary story along the way. The second season of Palimpsest is a completely different story–one of a circus, a family, and the fae. Make sure to read our interview with its creators for more insight on what makes Palimpsest tick.

Station Blue

Station Blue follows protagonist Matthew Leads as he accepts the position of caretaker for an Antarctic research facility and quickly finds he’s bit off more than he can chew. This audio drama is masterful in its command over atmosphere. Between its minimalist score, its unobtrusive sound design, and its downright visceral foley sound effect work, Station Bluetransports the listener to the station, filling the listener with as much dread as Matthew feels. Station Blue dabbles in gore more successfully than just about any audio drama I’ve ever heard, but its real horror focus is the feeling of sheer isolation it evokes. The loneliness in Station Blue is tangible, and so are its effect, slowly wearing away at the protagonist while the stakes get higher and the worries get deeper.

The Magnus Archives

Initially, The Magnus Archives feels like a collection of spooky short stories, some of which land harder than others. The production quality is lo-fi and performed by a single, unflinchingly dry narrator. The framing device here is that the narrator is tasked with turning the paper archives of a paranormal investigation business into audio files–and it isn’t long before this task starts to gain its own over-arching plot. Each episode of The Magnus Archive plays on different fears, making them more vivid and effective than expected. You’ll go into an episode about a scary doll, for instance, thinking, “Oh, this is silly”–but by the time the episode’s ended, you’ll be avoiding the toy aisle next time you hit up Target.

Janus Descending

Janus Descending is podcasting’s answer to the Alien franchise–or, at least, you know, the good movies in that franchise. Told from the perspectives of two explorers on an alien planet, Peter and Chel, the listener hears the story unfold from opposite ends of the timeline. Chel’s story progresses linearly, while Peter’s perspective is told in reverse, starting with his last audio log moving back to his first. Janus Descending is about love–the love Peter and Chel have for each other, but also the love of exploration, the love of knowledge, and the love of who we think we know. A terrifying tragedy, Janus Descending is one you won’t soon forget.

A World Where

What makes fiction anthology podcast A World Where terrifying isn’t just its sci-fi setups, pulling inspiration from works like Black Mirror. It’s how easily it can trap you in those setups, both by how narratively close to home they hit and by its stunning binaural sound design. With each episode, you’re trapped both in concept and in audio, existing fully in the scene. Whether it’s an even more nightmarish version of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or an absurdist, darkly comedic take on Chopped, A World Where is stunning, upsetting, and existentially horrific.

The post Our Favorite Horror Audio Drama Podcasts appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

Audio drama and fiction podcasts give listeners a taste of the real and imaginary—the frightening and obscure. They give listeners a shot at a new world that seems so similar to ours except much more exciting, and at times, hopeful. 

In this new series from Discover Pods, I’ll be doing a monthly roundup of the best, and maybe worse, audio fiction and drama podcasts out there. 

I’ll be covering all genres and themes in hopes of delivering a wide sample of new and beloved podcasts to listen to on your commute, while playing video games, or just to put on while you’re having a relaxing moment to yourself. 

FANTASY 

Beneath Ceaseless Skies ‘The Widow’ by Emma Torzs Episode #261

Each issue of the adventure fantasy magazine Beneath Ceaseless Skies takes two stories published in the online adventure fantasy magazine and puts a reading of them on the magazine’s podcast. For Issue 305, the first story chosen was ‘The Widow’ by Emma Torzs and read by Tina Connolly. This is a story filled with world coloring that brings the imaginary to the forefront of the listeners mind. It’s a piece that balances itself between the whimsical world and the dark. Some moments it’s scary and unnerving, making the listener want to stop and take in what has just happened before plowing ahead to its quietly horrifying and happy ending. There is a content warning that accompanies this piece due to domestic violence. 

Listen Here: Apple Podcasts | Google Play

Lightspeed Magazine Podcast ‘Destinations of Love’ by Alexander Weinstein

Similar to Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Lightspeed is a science fiction and fantasy magazine that publishes some of the stories from its issues on their podcast. Issue 120 features several great stories that are worth a read, but one of the fantasy stories deserves special attention. Alexander Weinstein’s ‘Destinations of Love’ narrated by Paul Boehmer from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a part of a series, of what could be deemed, fantasy travel guides with the latest installment on the podcast for this month. One of the things that stands out about this episode is the narrative personality that Boehmer is able to immolate so clearly that you can almost see the smug expression on the travel guide. This is a perfect listen for car drives to nowhere. 

Listen Here: Spotify | Google Play | Stitcher

HORROR

Palimpsest Entire Series

Palimpsest is a horror audio drama podcast that has been recommended to fans of Shirley Jackson due to its intimate horror vibes and chilling prose. Palimpsest reminded me of Channel Zero: The Dream Door. It had the same urgency in its telling. An urgency that propelled me through the first episodes of season one before I told myself to stop, breathe, check the shadows in the hallway, and take a break. An added bonus to the creepy writing of Jamieson Ridenhour is the captivatingly chilling music by Ian Ridenhour that accompanies every episode. The show is an anthology horror series with each season focusing on one person as they live through an emotional and horrifying time in their life. It’s intimately baroque and pulls the listener in with the stellar voice acting of Hayley Heninger. 

Listen Here: Apple Podcasts | Google Play | Spotify

The Drabblecast Episode 425 ‘The Bodies’ by Tim Pratt

The Drabblecast is a special blend of audio fiction and drama. If you’re a fan of Augustus Burroughs ‘Wolf at the Table’ audio book, then you’ll find a home at the Drabblecast. It promotes weird fiction by weird authors and each episode sets a musical atmosphere that provides a soundtrack to the odd and abusrd. They read old works and new, reprints and originals. There’s a wild kindling of strange and horrible in the archives of the Drabblecast. Episode 425 ‘The Bodies’ is a horror story from well-known author Tim Pratt, The Wrong Stars. The story follows the main character as they somehow keep stumbling across gruesome slain bodies littering their common haunts.

It’s not a coincidence that I note the music in both Palimpsest and the Drabblecast. Audio fiction and dramas, especially horrors, are all about the atmospheres they are able to set for their listeners. War of the Worlds didn’t just scare listeners with its vocals but with the sound effects placed just right throughout the broadcast. 

Listen Here: Apple Podcasts | Google Play | Spotify

SCIENCE FICTION

Escape! SciFi Season 1 Supercut

Escape! SciFi is a nifty podcast with a majority of its characters voiced by A.I. After all of her crew is slain by the monster they were making in space, AMI-42 must contain and control the piece to make sure the mission does not fail. Like many stories featuring AI characters, Escape! SciFi plays with the common themes of being a sentient artificial intelligence. What I found refreshing in the show and what won me over was the back and forth dialogue between the two A.I. characters throughout the story. Hearing the dialogue of freedom and life actually being spoken by two created entities in some way made the experience realer like listening to Tara the Android. I recommend listening to the supercut of all the episodes over the shorter single episodes.

Listen Here: Apple Podcasts | Google Play | Spotify

Janus Descending 

Follow two xenoarcheologists as they discover and walk on new worlds to learn of the civilization that lived and died there all while fighting with the creatures that killed them. This podcast would go great under the horror section, but the world is so science fiction that it deserves to be listed in this area. There’s only one season of this podcast, but luckily, it’s all completed. There is a supercut available, but I would still recommend that each episode be listened to in order and separate. Give your ears that small moment of silence to take in what you’ve recently listened to. Let the screams die down before listening to the next episode. Everything from the acting to the music sets this podcast up to reel its listeners in from the first minute. It’s emotions, action, and horror all in audio format. 

Listen Here: Apple Podcasts | Google Play | Spotify

MYSTERY

Fireside Mystery Theater Episode 49.3 ‘The Fortune Teller: The Impossible Seeker’

Styled after olde time radio dramas, Fireside Mystery Theater provides listeners with an atmospheric anachronism of stories, characters, and themes. The episode above is a small sampling of one of their characters and showcases the talent on the show. Following Anita—The Fortune Teller—, listeners go on a journey through a city that comes to life through stellar audio production and acting. At times, the telling verges on the comedic and scary, but walks a delicate line between both, so that the conversations feel real. 

Listen Here: Apple Podcasts | Google Play

Next month, I’ll be rounding up more podcasts from around the net and cataloging them in this new series Radio at the End of the World. I hope you join me as I showcase what is out there for your listening enjoyment. All of these are available for free for listeners, so don’t hesitate to start your new favorite show or binge listen. 

The post Radio at the End of the World: Audio Fiction and Drama Podcast Roundup June 2020 appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

Aries: Caliphate

Aries traits: headstrong, virtuous, caring
Aries dates: March 21 – April 19

Aries, you’re likely to jump into conflict with action–but also with care. Caliphate is an emotionally gripping story about a New York Times journalist having deep, empathetic conversations with people radicalized to join ISIS. The journalist’s personal experiences are at the forefront, satiating your need for a human connection with the host, and the conversations about right and wrong will challenge–and then solidify–where you stand on some ethical debates.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google | Spotify

Taurus: Hometown

Taurus traits: focused, patient, persistent
Taurus dates: April 20 – May 20

Taurus, you love a good, simple, earnest story about what makes people feel comfortable and safe. Hometown is a fiction anthology series told as vignettes from people describing their hometown. Each episode is a new story and a new perspective, so the tone does vary, but it always stays sweet and sincere. There’s a sense of low stakes–not no stakes, but instead, a shirking of big drama–that helps each narrative feel comforting and warm.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google | Spotify

Gemini: Adventures in New America

Gemini traits: charismatic, witty, analytical
Gemini dates: May 21 – June 20

Gemini, your knack for hijinks paired with your love of fast-paced intellectual analysis makes Adventures in New America perfect for you. This Afrofuturist fiction series from Night Vale Presents is hilarious and bizarre, but underneath its pulpy genre veneer is a deluge of rapidfire social commentary. The story takes so many twists and turns, you’ll find yourself outpaced, and so excited about it.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google | Spotify

Cancer: The Far Meridian

Cancer traits: emotional, imaginative, cautious
Cancer dates: June 21 – July 22

Cancer, your love of whimsy might sometimes clash with your introversion, making big adventures simultaneously enticing and difficult for you. The same is true for The Far Meridian‘s protagonist, Peri. When shy Peri finds her home, a lighthouse, transporting her to a new location every day, she has to learn to balance her fears with the adventure she’s been put on.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google | Spotify

Leo: Aria Code

Leo traits: brash, bold, confident
Leo dates: July 23 – August 22

Leo, if you’re not familiar with arias, you should be: they’re parts of operas written specifically to show off the talents of the performer, usually including wildly difficult techniques. Aria Code talks about what makes certain arias important, but it also goes into how and why they were written and performed, scratching your itch for great storytelling.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google | Spotify

Virgo: Song Exploder

Virgo traits: orderly, modest, practical
Virgo dates: August 23 – September 22

Virgo, your keen sense for detail is a great match for Song Exploder, which takes apart how songs are made piece by piece. If you feel like you love a song but can’t voice why, Song Exploder will help explain the nuances in songwriting and production that make songs work. You’ll love the clean editing, the songwriters’ attention to detail, and how well everything comes together as the episodes close.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google | Spotify

Libra: Dear Prudence

Libra traits: diplomatic, sociable, protective
Libra dates: September 23 – October 22

Libra, you love keeping the peace, tending to your loved ones, and making sure everyone is heard and treated fairly. But let’s be real here: you also love the goss. Long-running advice podcast Dear Prudence is beloved for good reason. It’s a killer advice podcast delivered with a huge dose of empathy and heart, but it doesn’t shy away from questions that are wild.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google | Spotify

Scorpio: Arden

Scorpio traits: mysterious, magnetic, passionate
Scorpio dates: October 23 – November 21

Scorpio, what could be better than a baffling unsolved mystery? The enemies-to-lovers trope. Arden is a modern retelling of Shakespeare classics, but it’s also a satire of the true crime genre–while still working as a killer fictional mystery. The two protagonists of Arden are Brenda and Bea, two diametrically opposed women with wildly different approaches to telling the core story.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google | Spotify

Sagittarius: Ostium

Sagittarius traits: adventurous, honest, optimistic
Sagittarius dates: November 22 – December 21

Sagittarius, your love of travel and the unknown might have you craving more strange portal fantasy like Myst. Ostium is the perfect next step in podcast form. Ostium is a mysterious, ambiance-heavy fiction podcast about finding a strange town with doors and doors and doors. When the protagonist opens those doors, everything just becomes stranger, and the stakes get higher.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Android | Spotify

Capricorn: In the Dark

Capricorn traits: ambitious, disciplined, reserved
Capricorn dates: December 22 – January 19

Capricorn, you have a strong sense for right and wrong–not just ethically, but also in procedure. American Public Media’s In the Dark doesn’t just analyze strange true crime cases. It also analyzes why they were handled so poorly by the criminal justice system, and then it does something about it. Your need for systems to be taken seriously will be as satiated as the need to take action when things are done incorrectly.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google | Spotify

Aquarius: Palimpsest

Aquarius traits: friendly, artistic, independent
Aquarius dates: January 20 – February 18

Aquarius, your love of strange, artistic stories will help you fall in love with Palimpsest. Palimpsest is a fiction podcast that takes on a different story and tone each season. The first season is a slow-burn Shirley Jackson style ghost story; the second season follows a woman working for a carnival, dealing with the whims of the fae; and the third season follows a woman through war-torn London. Each season will draw you in with its beautiful prose and keep you hooked by encouraging theories about the plots.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google | Spotify

Pisces: This Is Love

Pisces traits: sensitive, intuitive, jovial
Pisces dates: February 19 – March 20

Pisces, it’s okay to admit that you can be a little bit of a sap sometimes. This Is Love has some sappy stories, absolutely, but it also has plenty of that gut-wrenching heartache you also love. You’ll hear intimate stories of people without having to dive too deep into their lives as a whole, giving you some necessary distance to help parse the big emotional payoff in each episode.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google | Spotify

The post Podcast Recommendations for Your Horoscope appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

Palimpsest is a serialized spooky podcast with an emotional edge. Fans of The Black Tapes or The Big Loop will likely see elements they like in the podcast, albeit in a longer anthological format. The first season, 10 parts, wrapped up earlier this year but producers Jamieson Ridenhour and Hayley Heninger are already busy working on a follow up season with new characters and storylines.

Discover Pods caught up with Ridenhour and Heninger to talk about the state of audio drama podcasts, the ones that inspired Palimpsest, and their plans for the future. See below for the Q&A.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

Discover Pods: How’d you get into podcasting?

Jamie: I’ve been a fan of audio dramas for years, and I really wanted to try my hand at it, mainly because it seemed like an interesting challenge as a writer. And I thought a single-voiced audio drama would be a great way to explore my favorite literary device: the unreliable narrator. I had worked with Hayley in the world of live theater, and I approached her about trying our hand at a podcast. She is also a big podcast fan, and it didn’t take much to convince her.

DP: In your own words, why should listeners tune into Palimpsest?

Jamie: Because it’s not just creepy (though it is), but also has an emotional punch to it. Anneliese is haunted in a lot of ways, and peeling back those layers is fun and intriguing. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll hide under the covers and hope you’re alone. You won’t be.

DP: Are there audio dramas out there that inspired Palimpsest?

Jamie: It didn’t directly inspire it, but hearing Alice Isn’t Dead was what first suggested the idea of a single actor telling a story directly to an audience to me. I love Joseph Fink’s pacing and the way he hits several themes in each episode while keeping the primary narrative moving forward. That one definitely showed me a possible path.

DP: Any plans for a season two or a spin-off? Where do you hope to take Palimpsest?

Jamie: Season Two is already being planned. It’ll be a brand new story, brand new character, but exploring the same themes of memory, identity, and hauntings.

Hayley: Palimpsest’s next season will be set in a different time and place. I’m hoping to leave no trace of Anneliese in my voice.

DP: What’s the most difficult part of podcasting for you?

Hayley: For me, as with any other mode of art, it’s probably finding the delicate balance between getting in and out of my head; the struggle of getting over insecurities, the fear of being unprepared or inadequate. More specifically to a single-narrator podcast, it was sometimes tricky to believe that if I can see it, I can convey it. The script needed to grow into a mental map. With theater or film, you memorize the words then bring them to life with your bodily and facial expressions (etc.), but here it was somewhat reversed. I’m not saying I always nailed it, but the best takes were the ones where I could hold focus long enough to watch it all happen in my mind, vividly.

DP: What podcasts are you listening to now?

Jamie: Lots! I love The Bright Sessions, Victoriocity, and The Big Loop. My favorite is Wooden Overcoats, which I love with a great and mighty love.

Hayley: I’m two episodes shy of being current with Welcome to Night Vale, and I’ve recently restarted Alice Isn’t Dead, while still dabbling in any other show out of Night Vale Presents. I’m also excited for more Girl in Space.

DP: Anything else you’d like to add?

Hayley: Music adds so much to the listening experience. I feel lucky to have Ian Ridenhour on our team and look forward to what he adds to the upcoming season. Also, the audio drama community is so warm and welcoming. We appreciate the shares and listens from other podcast creators and reviewers. It’s a great environment for new stories to be heard. Thank you!

The post Podcast Spotlight: Palimpsest appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.