Healing Power of Imagination: Podcast Recommendations

Southern Gothic

 guides listeners through the dark history, ghost stories, and legends of the American South through an immersive landscape of sound and a commitment to good, old-fashioned storytelling. [Sponsored]

Podcasts Exploring the Healing Power of Imagination

Curated by...

Blake Pfeil (he/him)

Why did you choose this theme?The imagination is a sanctuary. Over the past few years, I've found myself falling back into the practice of seeking refuge inside my imagination. I chose this theme because I want to share the healing power of imagination with anyone who's looking for a mental, emotional, or spiritual salve during this particularly pressing time.And what better medium to stoke the coals of the imagination than audio?

PODCAST PICKS:Click on the podcast art to listen 👂

The Youngs by Elizabeth CraneStories From: The Low Season is an anthology fiction podcast inspired by the album "The Low Season" by POOLSIDE. Each song serves an inspiration for a short fiction piece, and the original song is reworked as a dreamy underscore. In this episode, (inspired by POOLSIDE’s song “Around the Sun”), get whisked away by writer Elizabeth Crane (and narrator April Eckfield), under a starry, spring sky with a group of friends who reflect on their youth. 

The Far MeridianPrayerThe Far Meridian is audio magic at its finest. Embark on a strange journey with Peri, an agoraphobic woman who lives in a lighthouse that starts to show up at a new location every morning. In this episode, let the Audio Verse Award-winning drama point your imagination skyward and accompany Peri on a mystical odyssey into the woods as she continues the search for her missing brother. 

Within the WiresSeason 1, Cassette #1: Stress, ShouldersFrom Night Vale Presents, Within the Wires describes itself as “an immersive fiction podcast using found audio from an alternate universe,” each season featuring a new narrative and narrator — but if you pay close attention, the stories overlap. Season One is called “Relaxation Cassettes,” which, at first, sounds like nothing more than a collection of guided, meditation cassette tapes, but listen closer: narrator Janina Matthewson is relaying something more than simply relaxation techniques, starting with this episode.

The Memory PalaceThe Existential TouristThe Memory Palace is one of those special shows that can't help itself when it comes to activating the human imagination. Host Nate DiMeo guides you through short, peculiar, surreal, deeply imaginative interpretations of moments in history that light up the cerebral cortex and make the brain go wild. In this episode, take a walk on a New York City afternoon with Simone de Beauvoir while you learn about her expansive, wondrous, inquisitive life.

abandoned: The All-American Ruins PodcastIsabel & The Allentown Mafia (Lehigh Valley Dairy - Allentown, PA)abandoned: The All-American Ruins Podcast guides listeners through immersive audio fantasies, recreating host and EarBuds curator Blake Pfeil’s experiences exploring abandoned spaces across the United States. In this episode, Blake guides you through an abandoned milk factory full of phantoms, alongside a curious, ghostly plant manager named Victor. It's a mysterious trip to the abandoned Lehigh Valley Dairy where Blake ponders friendship, FDR's New Deal, and the dark side of the imagination. 

SPONSORS:

Southern GothicJourney into the heart of the American South and explore the history behind some of the region's most chilling ghost stories, haunted places, and darkest days. Of course, Southern Gothic doesn't just take you through the most infamous tales, like the Bell Witch of Tennessee or the Waverly Hills Sanatorium. It also guides you through the local lore of some of America’s oldest and most haunted cities like New Orleans, Charleston, and St. Augustine. 

Chris DeMakes a PodcastDive into the creative process, inspiration, and significance behind beloved songs with host Chris DeMakes of the band Less Than Jake.Through interviews with the artists and associates, Chris uncovers untold stories that shaped the creation and impact of the chosen track. Whether it's a classic rock ballad, a hip-hop anthem, or a pop sensation, each episode shines a spotlight on the song's unique qualities and the enduring connection it has with fans.

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COMMUNITY:

🎙️Storypillar is a podcast for kids! Join Sneak, Bean, and Meg to tackle sticky situations, hear stories from all over the world, and pick up listener advice. Discover new places, get a handle on big feelings, and (hopefully) laugh your face off.🎤This week in Podcast The Newsletter: Check out The Scariest Horror Podcasts to Listen to This Halloween on Lifehacker. 🎙️More than 600,000 people are reported missing each year in the United States, most of them isolated events without a common thread. But in some instances, the victims are linked by one key detail… location. From the creators of Up and Vanished, the new investigative podcast, The Vanishing Point, is here. 

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PODCAST NEWS from Podnews:

• Wondery is turning its podcasts into three TV channels on Amazon Freevee. 

• Spotify is in profit again, surprising analysts who were expecting the company to lose money this quarter. Revenue was up 11% and operating expenses were down 13%.

• Good Tape, a zine for podcasting, has published its first issue.

SPOTLIGHT:

Cirque du SoundCirque du Sound is a podcast from the creative minds at Cirque du Soleil. It’s an immersive sonic trip exploring the creative ideas at the root of some of Cirque du Soleil’s most beloved shows.Join host Michel Laprise, renowned director, and Creative Guide at Cirque du Soleil, for deep-dive conversations bent on widening the definition of creativity, all while looking through the unique ‘cirque-oscopic’ lens of Cirque du Soleil.

SPONSOR:

Creator FestPatreon is thrilled to announce Creator Fest — a celebration of creative expression, creative community, and creative freedom.This one-day festival, featuring some of the best in the game like Amanda Seales, Chelsea Devantez, and Zach Kornfeld of The Try Guys, will bring together creators from all corners of creativity.Join us on November 4 in L.A. for inspiring stories and performances, creator-led masterclasses, Patreon best practices and product updates, and so much more!As a special offer to all EarBuds readers, use discount code EarBuds50 for 50% off your ticket.

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