Last updated on December 1st, 2021
Last October, I did something a little different with Radio at the End of the World. Instead of recommending a wide range of podcasts, I honored the holiday season. With October being Black Speculative Fiction Month, I focused on Black speculative fiction podcasts or episodes. For those who don’t know what speculative fiction is, it sorta dominates the audio drama or audio fiction realm.
Speculative fiction encapsulates science fiction, slipstream, fantasy, steampunk, horror, magical realism, and all other genres that stray away from the ordinary everyday places of our lives. Welcome to Night Vale? Speculative fiction. Black Tapes? Speculative fiction. The Magnus Archives? Yup, speculative fiction. Black Speculative Fiction Month happens every October and was started by writers Milton Davis and Balogun Ojetade to celebrate and honor speculative fiction written by, for, and featuring Black people and storylines representative of their lives.
This month’s roundup will do just: highlight and direct attention to the Black creators out there working in the speculative fiction genre. But with a slight twist. It’s been over a year, more than 100 audio dramas, and in that time, I’ve come across many great Black speculative fiction audio dramas and audio fiction stories. So, I want to focus on looking back at a few of my favorites from throughout the past year or so.
A QCODE favorite from 2019 is the science fiction monster audio drama Carrier. QCODE is known for putting out full-cast audio dramas with a lot of star power both behind and on the mic. Carrier is no different! Follow along as a woman accepts a truck driving assignment out of desperation in the wake of her father becoming too ill to work. The main character is a Black woman played by a Black woman. There are more Black characters throughout the series, making the science fiction audio drama feel like authentic representation instead of filler. When I first featured the audio drama, it was a year off its series ending with little left for listeners to check out besides the seven-part series. Now, there are a couple of previews and sample episodes of a new series coming out by QCODE similar to Carrier if you’re hungry for more stories featuring Black characters, actors, and storylines.
Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website
Ostium Podcast is about a strange town hidden in the woods and supposedly empty, except for all the strangeness and locked doors that lead to other times and places. Ostium Podcast, with Black writer and actor Georgia Mckenzie, began back in 2017 and introduced fans to the town of Ostium, the main character who can’t help but follow the mystery and the people and places he finds along the way. Like the main character, listeners will be sucked into the small breadcrumbs left leading to Ostium. I featured this speculative fiction audio drama a few months back because of how it swept me away with the mystery instantly. It has all the elements of a dark speculative mystery and a fair number of back episodes to keep you entertained and guessing if you’re new to the speculative fiction audio drama.
Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | Transcripts
Old Gods of Appalachia is a cross between an audio drama and an audio fiction podcast. A familiar setting and characters crop up throughout the horror anthology podcast, making 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. And it’s easy to see why. Old Gods of Appalachia creates an alternative Appalachia as diverse, expanse, and old as the actual Appalachia region. Old Gods of Appalachia is a recent favorite on my list ever since listening to it this year.
Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | Transcripts
Unwell is a horror audio drama following a young woman who 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 horror audio drama has aired since 2019 with three complete seasons, which means there are over 30 episodes for new listeners to catch up on. Honestly, if you haven’t listened to this audio drama, you’re missing out or just avoiding it. I’ve recommended this diverse podcast with Black characters and actors at least twice in various articles on Discover Pods because it’s that good.
Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | Transcripts
Moonbase Theta, Out is one of my favorite audio dramas to recommend. Not only are there Black characters in a great science fiction setting but there are queer stories and characters, too. The science fiction audio drama follows the shutting down of the Moonbase programs of the future. There’s one left, Theta. The stories and characters explore topics surrounding politics, science, and more. And there are tons of episodes for new listeners, along with a new season for diehard fans. This August, Moonbase Theta, Out began airing its All Your Base season, giving listeners a peek into the other bases. Don’t worry; it’s still the same feel, vibe, and podcast.
Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | Transcripts*
*Transcripts available on each season page
The Dark Tome is a speculative fiction audio fiction podcast that uses voice acting and sound effects to create a fuller experience for the reader. “Maggie Doll” was initially featured in Alex Jennings’ short story collection, Here I Come. It takes on a whole new life with the help of The Dark Tome. I wrote about “Maggie Doll” a few months back and haven’t stopped thinking about the characters and their relationships since. A stuffed animal in a fantastical world of talking creatures must help them prepare for and face a war they don’t fully understand. Blending genres and tones, “Maggie Doll” balances between creepy, cute, and touching in a way that makes the listener feel the anguish and desperation of the characters.
Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Website
Covid39 examines where we are now and where we are headed. More than anything, Covid39 is a bit of soft science fiction and offers listeners a look back on what the pandemic is like now and the ramifications these moments might have on the future. If you’re put off by most science fiction or speculative fiction, Covid39 is a great way to start. The speculative fiction audio drama follows a Black couple who are curious if their love stems from their families interacted closely during a very traumatic time. Through audio recordings, letters, emails, and more, the two unearth the locked away memories of their time during the pandemic, the time still happening for many of us.
Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website
Strive to support each one of these Black speculative fiction audio dramas in any way possible. If you have the resources to give, pay tribute with hard cash so that these creators can continue producing stellar content. Money, not your thing? There are other ways to support these Black audio dramas.
Share these podcasts wide and far. Make sure everyone in your network knows these creators. Bring them up in dialogue about great speculative fiction. Support, spread, and show appreciation.
The most interesting podcasts draw the listener in. Subscriptions. Binge listeners. This is what you…
The Dissect Podcast had been floating around in the back of my head for a…
NASCAR podcasts really have the possibility to bridge what we may ignorantly think is a…
Welcome to our guide on the best mystery podcasts! If you're a fan of spine-tingling…
The trial is over, the sentence meted out, but the impacts linger. We'd all do…
The best podcast about history will not only teach us about the past, but will…