Podcasts That Share Spellbinding Stories
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Podcasts are a phenomenal way to connect with communities with similar interests, but where does one start when looking for a good podcast? Being such an accessible medium, there are hundreds of casts out there, many of which fall short of captivating audiences. Then, some masterpieces are too finely crafted to walk away from. Those are the podcasts you wait impatiently for, your finger just ready to click that play button once it launches.
1. LeVar Burton Reads
You may remember him from Star Trek, but we’ll never forget the days of listening to LeVar Burton on Reading Rainbow. Though the long-running series ended in 2006, Burton couldn’t leave literature lovers for long, and in 2017, he launched LeVar Burton Reads, a podcast that sees the titular host picking and reading short stories to his listeners. With over 150 episodes, Burton has become a go-to for fiction lovers.
2. The Orpheus Protocol
The operatives of ORPHEUS have only one job—investigate and contain occult phenomena unraveling worldwide. Creators Rob, Staci, Dan, and Jhan invite listeners to join the members of ORPHEUS as they uncover curses, explore otherworldly events, and go up against the unholy. The Orpheus Protocol is a beta for a larger project, a roleplaying game from Varcolac Press.
3. The Creep Dive
For anyone interested in horror, The Creep Dive should satiate that need for late-night frights. Available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, The Creep Dive recounts stories of the unusual and bizarre, as reported by hosts Sophie White, Cassie Delaney, and Jen O’Dwyer. The cast covers a broad range of topics, from supernatural horrors to true stories of real people sure to make your hair stand on end.
4. What Was That Like
What Was That Like features everyday people who have found themselves in extreme situations. Though not intended to keep you from leaving the house, What Was That Like features stories of trials and tribulations, like a man who faced a grizzly bear or a woman who accidentally killed someone. The podcast sounds grim, and it can be, but some episodes can be very uplifting.
5. Beautiful Anonymous
The showreel describes the podcast as “Beautiful Stories from Anonymous People.” Chris Gethard of Broad City and This American Life listens to wonderful, authentic, raw stories in a one-on-one phone call with those who lived them. It’s a fascinating format that promises a new story and personality in every episode.
6. Hardcore History
Who doesn’t love an in-depth look into the past? In the Hardcore History podcast, presenter Dan Carlin “brings the listener into the story and explains the people’s and events’ mindsets and motivations.” Topics range from the Asia-Pacific War to the Achaemenid Persian Empire.
7. West Cork
The unsolved murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier is the subject of this compelling podcast. Though the show ended in 2021, the mystery surrounding Sophie’s death and how the podcast recounts its events are still captivating to listen to. Considering the topic, West Cork can be distressing but will appeal to true crime lovers.
8. The Adventure Zone
In the physical world, the board game Dungeons & Dragons is a great way to lose yourself for hours. In The Adventure Zone, brothers Justin, Travis, and Griffin McElroy recruit their dad to play the game, and the results are pretty hilarious. The elder McElroy, Clint, has made quite the name for himself since starting the podcast and occasionally appears at conventions.
9. We’re Alive
A desperate struggle for survival is always likely to grip the listener. There’s nothing like a zombie apocalypse, so you can understand why We’re Alive is a favorite among listeners. The podcast is broken down into self-contained and continuing stories that span almost 20 years of the undead invasion.
10. People Who Knew Me
This fictional podcast follows Connie, a woman who faked her death after 9/11 and is suddenly forced to face the life she so coldly left behind. People Who Knew Me stars Rosamund Pike and Hugh Laurie and spans ten episodes.
11. The White Vault
Traverse the vast white of Outpost Frosted in this spooky glimpse into the horrors of Svalbard, Norway. Though it sounds inspired by John Carpenter’s The Thing, The White Vault is its own creation, and a mix of a stellar cast and brilliant writing help bring thrills to each half-hour episode.
12. Odd Trails
Paranormal stories are relayed by Odd Trails’ presenters Brandon Lanier and Andy Tate. Listeners can submit their encounters with ghosts, ghouls, and poltergeists to be featured on an episode.
13. Casefile
For those wanting a dose of true crime, Casefiles is highly recommended. It’s a straightforward glimpse into real cases without the fluff some similar podcasts rely heavily on.
14. Whatever Happened to Pizza at McDonald’s
Few of us remember when McDonald’s served pizza, but it did happen. In this podcast, presenter Brian Thompson goes to great lengths to discover why pizza is off the menu. It’s a rabbit hole you never expected to fall down, but one you won’t regret.
15. Old Gods of Appalachia
Back to the horror genre, this gripping podcast is set in the fictional world of Alternate Appalachia. Old Gods of Appalachia takes a little to get into, but once you’re in, you’ll be tuning in to each new entry into the eldritch horror anthology.
16. The Therapy Crouch
As a light relief from all that horror and suspense, The Therapy Crouch is a lighthearted weekly podcast featuring Abbey Clancy and Peter Crouch exploring the complexity of relationships. That sounds like a horror show, but The Therapy Crouch is lighthearted and funny, featuring listener experiences that add to the fun.
17. The Magnus Archives
A weekly horror fiction podcast, The Magnus Archives, fits the brief perfectly. It’s easy to escape reality with these chilling tales, each more gripping and disturbing than the last.
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