What’s More Unsettling? The Prospect of 2024 or Another Ghost Story?

March 2, 2024 4:41 PM

It’s early 2024, nights are shortening (at least in the northern hemisphere), and here’s another roundup of weird audio dramas to take your mind off other horrors. While these roundups are, of course, invaluable, you might want to check out the Audio Drama Directory as a searchable guide to audio dramas and actual plays (mostly SF, Fantasy, and/or Horror).

Most of the series are audio dramas with paranormal elements, but anthologies, fantasy, and science fiction are included.

Stories with LGBTQ characters and elements are identified when possible. Podcasts with frequent or severe content warnings are noted as are those which provide transcripts. Lately, audio dramas seem to be experimenting more with “chaotic action” – fights, headlong flight, etc. This often doesn’t work all that well; it is noted when significant. All the podcasts are accessible via most podcast apps and aggregators (although, weirdly, some apps seem to not catch entire seasons of some of the shows).

Shows are identified as:
• audio drama – stories with continuing plots and casts, either open- or closed-ended
• anthology – stand-alone stories with no continuity
• anthology with frame – stand-alone stories with some kind of continuity that ties the series together but (usually) does not affect the stories


The Grotto (audio drama)
Struck by a recent loss, Matt turns to spelunking for solace. As Matt battles grief, he questions if the caves are playing tricks or if something else lurks within. The Grotto is a liminal horror podcast that explores the thin line between grief, pain, mourning, and loss (CW; all of the preceding, plus claustrophobia and self harm). Each episode contains original and cover songs, also bloopers at the end. The show is obviously inspired by WOE.BEGONE, but that’s hardly a criticism.
Frequency: biweekly
Length: 25-30 minutes
Tone: multiple realities?
LGBTQ: none
One season (5 episodes; ongoing)
Website


The Magnus Protocol (anthology with frame)
The Magnus Institute was an organisation dedicated to academic research into the esoteric and the paranormal, based out of Manchester, England. It burned to the ground in 1999. There were no survivors. Now, almost 25 years later, Alice and Sam, a pair of low-level civil service workers at the underfunded Office of Incident Assessment and Response, have stumbled across its legacy. A legacy that will put them in grave danger. Sequel to The Magnus Archives. Transcripts available.
Frequency: weekly
Length: 25-45 minutes
Tone: It’s the sequel to The Magnus Archives…
LGBTQ: some characters
One season (8 episodes; ongoing)
Website


Modem Prometheus (anthology with frame)
Modem Prometheus is an anthology podcast of urban folktales. This is where any roundabout could be a gateway to Faerie. Where trains that don’t exist run from the foundations of skyscrapers. Where there is no deeper dark than the shadows between buildings. The transmitter mast is calling. Come home. A series of standalone short stories with callbacks and references to other stories and a shared world but no specific frame. Transcripts available (hosted on Patreon but open to the public via show notes) If you like the setting, they have a solitaire journaling game for sale. By the team that makes The Phosphene Catalogue, below.
Frequency: monthly on the full moon
Length: 20-30 minutes (some shorter in first season, some longer in second)
Tone: urban horror and faerie
LGBTQ: occasional
Two seasons (24 episodes; ongoing)
Website


Modes of Thought in Anterran Literature (audio drama)
A professor lecturing on a lost civilization vastly older than anything else known (which might also be a hoax) becomes involved in a global conspiracy. It’s honestly hard to describe – some episodes are pieces of lectures on the civilization, others are more lie a thriller. Transcripts available.
Frequency: erratic. 1-2 episodes in most months
Length: mostly 10-20 minutes
Tone: lost civilization and conspiracy
LGBTQ: none significant
Three seasons? -- their episode numbering is a nightmare (26 episodes; ongoing)
Website


Neon Inkwell (anthology)
It’s an anthology show from Rusty Quill, but it handles things a little differently with self-contained short series written by different teams rather than individual episodes. It launched with “Of That Colossal Wreck,” an existential science fiction horror written by Sasha Sienna (What the Ghost) and Jonathan Sims (The Magnus Archives). This seven-episode series follows five survivors who awaken on a vast space station, intended as humanity’s last defense against oblivion. Little do they know, however, that other beings are interested in the facility…
Frequency: weekly
Length: 30-ish minutes (second story has longer episodes)
Tone: various
LGBTQ: none so far
Two seasons (14 episodes; ongoing)
Website


No Man’s Land (audio drama)
In 2019, documentary filmmaker John Hulme and his digital storytelling club at Highland Park High School began to investigate the history of "No Man's Land," a section of woods in Central New Jersey with a terrible history of violence dating as far back as the late 1600s. But along the way, the crew became unable to shake the feeling that all the events might have a single source, and that source might still be looking for victims. They claim to be working on Season 2, but there has only been one interstitial episode since 2021. CW: Second half of the season has some not-great treatment of homelessness and mental health.
Length: 40-50 minutes
Tone: folk horror, true crime
LGBTQ: none
One season (11 episodes; ongoing?)
Website


The Occurrence at River Oaks (audio drama)
Police in a small town respond to a call from the town eccentric who claims she’s seen a monster. They find her home wrecked and disturbing things in the woods. CW: I was enjoying this for the atmosphere and character development, but the second episode has what I suspect is a graphic description of a tortured cat, so I noped the hell out. If that doesn’t bother you as much as it does me, you might enjoy this.
Frequency: biweekly
Length: 15-20 minutes
Tone: small town, aliens?
LGBTQ: none
One season (4 episodes; ongoing)
Apparently, no website


The Phosphene Catalogue (anthology with frame)
We see light where others see only darkness. An urban fantasy podcast of tape recordings by the curator of a secretive London-based art auction house. The Phosphene Catalogue is a 1970s mail-order catalogue, specialising in those items that cannot be sold at other auction houses: Paintings of lost origin, statues that are too grotesque for public display, and books better left unread... Episodes are most appraisals of artworks with a slowly developing frame narrative. Transcripts available via Patreon. By the team that makes Modem Prometheus, above.
Frequency: roughly weekly so far
Length: 10-25 minutes
Tone: strange artworks
LGBTQ: some characters
One season (4 episodes; ongoing)
Website


Portland Paranormal (audio drama)
Mark and Patterson search for their missing friend, Sasha, who never returned after leaving for a night run in Forest Park. While searching, they become embroiled in the weird world of cryptid enthusiasts. Is Bigfoot real? Is something sinister going on? Are both statements true?
Length: 10-20 minutes
Tone: cryptids and comedy
LGBTQ: none significant
One season (10 episodes + bonus; ongoing?)
Website


Rescuing Ravenstocke (audio drama)
While minding her friend George's apartment in London, artist/designer Ava's imagination is captured by an item in his collection of vintage TVs and radios: a mysterious 1930s Dieselpunk device known as the Ravenstocke Transopticator - and the tragic early death of its young inventor. Not really weird or horror, it’s a time travel romance, but it’s breezy and fun.
Length: 2 hours
Tone: time travel
LGBTQ: a supporting character
Complete story (1 episode)
Apparently, no website


The Scarab Archives (audio drama)
For nearly two decades, the mysterious Lazarus Foundation has collected supposedly paranormal items and stored them safely in a secret location known as the Scarab Archives. Join the Archive's caretaker, Dr. Delbert East, and his curious intern, Isabella Pthalo, as they attempt to create a digital record of some of the Archive's most terrifying pieces… and accidentally discover a looming threat that is beyond all human understanding. A recent bonus is the entire first season in one file, if you find that convenient.
Frequency: intermittent
Length: 10-25 minutes
Tone: artifacts, cult, doomsday
LGBTQ: some characters
Three seasons (36 episodes + bonuses; ongoing)
Apparently, no website


Slowly Unspooling (audio drama)
Kai is a DJ leading a fairly aimless life when their sister shows up with a box of cassette tapes that were delivered to her home in Kai’s name. Bewildered by this, Kai sets about listening to the records, which seem to be made by some other Kai recently hired into a very odd office. As they listen, Kai’s life starts to unravel as more and more things go terribly wrong. Meanwhile, the Kai on the tapes is also losing their way in the nightmare grip of the nameless company. Transcripts available on website. Second season planned, although the story could end with Episode 12 and feel complete.
Transcripts available on website
Length: 10-15 minutes
Tone: analog horror, workplace horror, distorted reality
LGBTQ: trans narrator
*One season (12 episodes; ongoing?)
Website (does not host actual episodes)


Spectre of the Sea (anthology with frame)
Join Owen Staton (Time Between Times) and Bethan Briggs-Miller (Eerie Essex) as they journey along the coast collecting and sharing tales of legend and folklore. Board their boat the Hiraeth and journey to some inlet or cove, then gather around the fire as they transport you to a land of magic.. This begins with the characters telling each other ghost stories about the coast of Wales, then the frame develops into the main story towards the end. It is apparently concluded, but it feels like it could continue.
Length: 5-25 minutes
Tone: Welsh coastal ghost stories and folklore
LGBTQ: none
Complete story (10 episodes)
Apparently, no website


Witherburn After School News (audio drama)
An anonymous teenage girl starts a gossip radio show to report on the events of her small southern town. In her quest to uncover the latest scoop, she becomes entangled in the midst of a mystery. So far, it’s not clear if anything supernatural is actually happening. Transcripts available.
Frequency: biweekly
Length: 10-20 minutes
Tone: small town mysteries
LGBTQ: none
One season (12 episodes; ongoing)
Website


The Wyrd Side (audio drama)
Aiden Summers and Katherine Moore have a podcast where they investigate UK folklore. On a trip to a small village in the New Forest to look into sightings of a will-‘o-the-wisp, they encounter more than they bargained for with Aiden’s lore and belief and Kate’s rationality and research skills tested by increasingly alarming encounters. Transcripts available at website. Second season planned.
Frequency: monthly
Length: 35-45 minutes
Tone: folk horror
LGBTQ: none
One season (11 episodes; ongoing)
Website

posted by GenjiandProust (11 comments total)

As usual, past editions:
2023 Winter Round Up
2022 Spring Round Up
2021 Winter Solstice Roundup
2021 Fall Roundup
2021 Late Summer Roundup
2021 Summer Roundup
Weird Horror Anthologies
Silt Verses
2021 Spring Round Up
2020 Round Up
2018 Round Up
2017 Round Up
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:42 PM on March 2 [4 favorites]

Since I try to avoid editorializing in the post itself:

* The Magnus Protocol is OK so far, but much less immediately gripping than the original. Perhaps it will come together given time. Rusty Quill has, honestly, had trouble living up to its original success with their later projects. I hope this is the one that gets them back into the groove.

* Modem Prometheus and The Posphene Catalogue are both very engaging with a sort of "braided anthology" style.

* Neon Inkwell has two stories out, but I have only listened to the first. They have an upcoming story from the How It Ends writers, which I am pretty excited about.

* I almost didn't include Portland Paranormal, because I really don't like horr, fantasy, or SF + comedy podcasts. But my taste, while perfect, is not universal, and I thought some of you might enjoy it.

* I very much enjoyed The Wyrd Side, and I hope they do a second season.
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:51 PM on March 2 [1 favorite]

Great stuff! Thank you! :-)
posted by Don.Kinsayder at 4:54 PM on March 2 [1 favorite]

I'd been wondering when another of these was coming! Thanks so much, GenjiandProust!

I really like Modes of Thought in Anterran Literature but the slow, erratic pace of updates makes it really hard to listen to in real time.
posted by Pope Guilty at 8:26 PM on March 2 [2 favorites]

I’ve been enjoying Modes of Thought in Anterran literature. It’s not perfect, with some jarring moments if you’re familiar with ancient history and academic historians, but what’s good about it is very, very good. There aren’t many successful entries in the genre of Borgesian horror, but this one hits the target it’s aiming for. This is probably the only audio-drama I’ve enjoyed for more than five or six episodes.
posted by Kattullus at 4:03 AM on March 3 [4 favorites]

Pope Guilty, it's been a rough year for a lot of podcasts. Not only have there been shorter production interruptions (The Scarab Archives is a bit behind, and Modem Prometheus missed one of its lunar deadlines), but Modes of Thought has been all over the place, A Voice from the Darkness is closing down, Boston Harbor Horror has been on hiatus for the whole year, and How It Ends is struggling to get season 4 started. I'm not sure about all of these, but most seem to be a combination of illness, work issues, personal blows, and just that it's hard to produce a podcast -- even the simplest are a lot of work and the audience is not always particularly kind. I've seen a couple of cases where podcasts get really shitty reviews because of delays or less-than-professional sound and/or acting, which can't help people bring their best work or learn to do better, get better equipment and recording setups, etc. And, unless they have very effective crowdfunding or go heavily into advertising, well, they are paying for that themselves. Which is why I try to be supportive of amateur and small-group projects -- they often have the most interesting ideas and storylines, but they struggle to get noticed and maintain themselves.

(Saying that, I have no idea why Modes of Thought has such an erratic schedule except that the studio that produces it is releasing a lot of shows and seemly marketing very heavily toward television, so it's possible the writer/director is juggling a bit too much. That's based on nothing more than looking at what the studio is putting out though.) Do I spend too much time thinking about audio dramas? Maybe.
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:10 AM on March 3 [1 favorite]

Dear GenjiandProust, I'm so glad you do these roundups. They are very rich and go straight to my podcatcher.
posted by doctornemo at 5:54 PM on March 3 [2 favorites]

Modes of Thought in Anterran Literature delights me. I love your term "Borgesian horror" for it, Kattullus. As an academic who studies academia I enjoy all of the portrayals and satire.

Its erratic schedule actually fits the mood, with various bits of irregular, strange content appearing when you least expect it.
posted by doctornemo at 5:58 PM on March 3 [2 favorites]

I should add that the link to the Audio drama Directory was sent to me by ursus_comiter. Thanks!
posted by GenjiandProust at 2:53 AM on March 4 [2 favorites]

Thank you so much for these roundups! Every time you post, I discover at least one new podcast I love, and this time around it's Modes of Thought In Anterran Literature.

When I was in undergrad, I had to get fellow students to record a lot of in-person lectures for me, due to chronic illness, and then I'd listen to them from home. So, basically the exact experience of listening to the "recordings" of "classes" that this podcast presents. Very uncanny, especially because they absolutely nail the delivery, with all of the little classroom asides!
posted by fire, water, earth, air at 2:09 PM on March 7 [1 favorite]

A late thought before the thread closes. No Man's Land is interesting in a found footage/true crime sort of way, but the thing I found striking is that John Hulme, who I think plays himself, is extremely unlikable, and I can't figure out if he wants that effect or doesn't realize he's doing it. He talks about keeping his students safe, but he repeatedly puts them into potentially dangerous situations, and even engineers something that he knows might put someone else at risk. He's a bit like the lead in Modes of Thought -- not necessarily ill-intentioned but pretty careless of the people around him.
posted by GenjiandProust at 8:38 AM on March 13 [1 favorite]