Five Fiction Pods Pushing Genre Boundaries

Fiction Podcasts Pushing Genre Boundaries

Curated by...

Anderson Cook (he/him)

Why did you choose this theme?Despite an infusion of Hollywood talent in the last few years, fiction podcasts are still the undersung younger sibling of the nonfiction podcasts that dominate the space. Many listeners aren’t quite sure what fiction podcasts are, how to listen to them, or what to call them (audio dramas? scripted podcasts? new-timey radio plays?)There are some really innovative and engaging titles out there from indie creators and big studios alike. And while many fiction podcasts take after the most popular nonfiction podcast genres (horror, sci-fi, mystery, investigative journalism, found footage, etc.), I love the shows that burst out of the conventions of what a podcast can be, and venture into bold new genre territory.

PODCAST PICKS:Click on the podcast art to listen 👂

The ShadowsThis is one of the first fiction podcasts that our curator, Anderson, ever listened to, and it remains close to his heart. On the surface, it’s a simple love story

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two people meet, fall in love, and fall out of love.But that description really undersells the depth, intimacy, and examination of humanity that this podcast showcases, featuring incredible acting, writing, and production, with deeply warm, organic sound design and masterful control over the medium at large.

Dirty DianaThis is the most celeb-ified podcast on Anderson's list, and it manages to overcome his distrust of big names rushing into this newfangled medium (often without appreciating what makes audio drama compelling).Demi Moore stars as a dissatisfied finance professional turned softcore audio pornographer, and the structure of the show is as ingenious as the plotting and characters.

Academy

Steamy love triangles, secret societies, drugs, heists, and friendship

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all the ingredients of a great teen drama are here in EarBuds curator Anderson's new show.The salacious scandals grab you and hook you, and then the depth of characters, laugh-out-loud humor, and trenchant statements on privilege and power will make you binge the whole show in one sitting.

Dark WoodsDark Woods is an eco-thriller about the ravages of capitalism, set in a national park. This could easily turn into a huge lecture, but instead, this show makes you forget about the didactic stuff with really compelling characters and extremely clever, twisty plotting. The show features great acting and writing, and it’s pulpy yet substantive. 

The Two PrincesLike a Pixar film, this kid's podcast is accessible for children, but complex and clever enough for adults to enjoy, too. The show follows two princes of warring magical kingdoms who embark on a delightful enemies-to-lovers journey together, subtly challenging gender norms through joy and discovery rather than trauma or oppression.Anderson loves all three seasons of this show, but he especially loves season three, which is a full-fledged musical with infinitely fun and funny songs.

SPONSOR:

Spirit LevelsEvery week in Spirit Levels, journalist Jenny Valentish and actor/filmmaker Frank Magree turn into human guinea pigs to try out wellness and fitness trends.From facilitated breath repatterning to tantra, cuddle club, peptides, naturism, sober coaching, and muscle fetish, the couple goad each other on into ever-more ridiculous adventures. Listen to Spirit Levels.

COMMUNITY:

🎤This week in Podcast The Newsletter: Lauren Passell writes: "Jess Shane is an artist, documentarian, and storyteller who, on her podcast Shocking, Heartbreaking, Transformative, is telling other people’s stories while at the same time asking really probing questions about the art of storytelling."

🎙️Well, Now is Slate's new podcast about health and wellness. We all want to achieve wellness, but how many of us have a clear understanding of what wellness is or how to measure it? Some believe it’s meeting a certain set of metrics around health. Others see it as becoming a more effective self-advocate when navigating our health challenges, or creating a balance in work, fitness, and family that promotes a sense of well-being. 

❤️Josie’s Lonely Hearts Club is a semi-improvised audio drama set in the studio of New Mexico’s third-best romantic advice call-in show. 

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PODCAST NEWS from Podnews:

• U.S. broadcaster Audacy, which recently filed for bankruptcy protection, has a new business plan that includes an audio subscription service, according to iHeart-owned Inside Radio. 

• In Saudi Arabia, Thmanyah has launched a new Arabic-language podcast app. 

• Pod The North takes a deep dive into The Signal Awards, which are run by the same company as The Webbys.

SPOTLIGHT:

The Happiness ChallengeHello happiness seekers! Klaudia Mitura is on a mission to explore the best happiness habits that science has to offer.Like so many others, the pandemic cut her off from family and work — so she decided to use her training as a psychologist to discover what science can tell us about the art of happiness. What Klaudia found set her on a path to joy — and now she's ready to share my journey with you! 

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