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The best podcasts for Audio Drama Fans

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Who am I?

The creator of the audio drama Murphy, and a huge fan of audio drama as a medium! Most of the Ghostly Muse Productions team went to SUNY Purchase, and now live in New York City. Our team at Ghostly Muse Productions is one of writers, actors, a composer, a dialect coach, and more who all are extremely passionate about what they do. They’ve studied these subjects a lot and even got college degrees for them. Audio drama is such an important medium for storytelling that goes back to some of the earliest broadcasted stories in the beginning of the 20th century. The old school radio plays of yesteryear were the foundation for what we now see on TV today, and the natural evolution into podcast form parallels the change from cable TV to on demand streaming services like Netflix and Hulu.

My Show

What is my podcast about and/or how does it relate to the playlist topic you chose?

Our show is a full cast audio drama that immerses the listener in the story using sound effects, music, and spatial relation, on top of a gripping story. With this list, we wanted to shout out and raise up some of our fellow audio drama creators who have also done a fantastic job of honoring the format and exploring new frontiers in the genre.

What is my podcast playlist about?

This playlist is a series of fantastic audio dramas that regard the format’s past with reverence and respect while shooting for the stars in terms of what the format can become.

The podcasts I picked and why

1. The Magnus Archives

Why this podcast?

This show inspired some of our writers on Murphy, and is an exceptional example of long form worldbuilding.

The Magnus Archives
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“Make your statement, face your fear.” The Magnus Archives is an award winning weekly horror fiction audiodrama podcast examining what lurks in the archives of the Magnus Institute, an organisation dedicated to researching the esoteric and the weird. Join Jonathan Sims as he explores the archive, but be warned, as he looks into its depths something starts to look back... New episodes every Thursday produced by Rusty Quill, featuring guest actors, short stories, serial plots and more. The long awaited continuation The Magnus Protocol launched in January 2024. Season 2 of the Magnus Protocol is ongoing!


This multi-award winning and record breaking epic horror anthology features elements of the supernatural and the eldritch while blending genres of horror, mystery, tragedy and romance in to a truly epic metaplot that has captivated millions and helped make The Magnus Archives the worlds most popular horror podcast.


Spotify Award winner for over 100 Million downloads, British Fantasy Award Winner and Webby Honoree.


For fans of M.R James, Cosmic Horror, deep storytelling, dark academia, great audio fiction and audio drama, analogue horror / unfiction and ARGs.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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103 Listeners

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14 Comments

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2. The Madness of Chartrulean

Why this podcast?

Another incredible example of worldbuilding and sound design, Madness of Chartrulean is also a great example of how to be a great part of the audio drama community. The creator, Packhowl Media, has always been and continues to be a monumentally helpful resource for other creators of the genre, hosting a Discord server aimed at not only their own self-promotion, but the promotion, discussion, and troubleshooting of any other show out there.

The Madness of Chartrulean
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Imagine the next messiah doesn’t come from religion, but from the tech world. Chartrulean abandoned piety for progress, becoming the savior the world needed anyway. But at what cost? The Jhardeho Order named him messiah and taught him that progress means corruption. He defected. Then, House Starbringer handed him the power to end a centuries-long war. What Chartrulean chose split his world in two. Now he fears he was wrong and is haunted by the manifestation of his choices. His troubled past surfaces as fear, anger, and doubt, threatening the fragile relationships he's built. Chartrulean must reconcile with the gods and kings he angered before succumbing to the madness he created. The Madness of Chartrulean is a character-driven sci-fi epic for fans of Dune, Foundation, and Game of Thrones. Blending political drama, Shakespearean tragedy, and mythic futurism, it explores the moral ambiguities of power. Vol. 1 is out now, with over 8 hours of content across 13 full-length episodes and bonus material. Listen anywhere you find podcasts, or dive deeper into the world with the story compendium. AI disclaimer: No GenAI is used in the making of this show. We advocate for human artists. To dive deeper into the world of Chartrulean, including how the show is being brought to life in Unreal Engine, visit chartrulean.com

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8 Listeners

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5 Comments

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3. The Leviathan Chronicles

Why this podcast?

The Leviathan Chronicles was a pioneer in modern audio drama. By the 80s and 90s, traditional radio plays it seemed had finally gone the way of the Dodo in many parts of the world. However, with the emergence of podcasts following the success of Apple’s iPod, some creators ran with the idea of bringing radio plays into the modern era. One that has stood the test of time is The Leviathan Chronicles which started in 2008 and employed a massive cast of characters along with an extremely long form story that would take well over a decade to tell, and movie quality sound design.

The Leviathan Chronicles

The Leviathan Chronicles

Leviathan Audio Productions

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Welcome to Leviathan Audio Productions, home of The Leviathan Chronicles, The Rapscallion Agency, The Invenios Expeditions, and more! At the heart of our studio is The Leviathan Chronicles, our flagship series that launched a sweeping universe of interconnected audio dramas. From the deepest trenches of Earth’s oceans to the farthest reaches of outer space, the Leviathan Universe blends epic science fiction, covert espionage, and secret histories into one immersive, evolving saga. With some of the highest production values in audio drama, our show features full-cast performances, original scores, and Hollywood-level sound design to create a truly cinematic listening experience. Leviathan Audio Productions pushes the boundaries of what fiction podcasting can be. Discover more podcasts set in the Leviathan Universe at www.leviathanaudioproductions.com.

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7 Listeners

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4. Station 151

Why this podcast?

Taking a very lonely location and breathing a surprising amount of life into it, Station 151 is a tense, gripping adventure worthy of your time, and especially worth listening to with a good pair of noise cancelling headphones.

Station 151

Station 151

Pale Matter | Realm

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Station 151 is Antarctica’s first and only astronomical radio observatory. Built by the Telders Corporation at an estimated cost of $200M USD, the station promises to reveal the darkest secrets of the universe. Join Astrophysicist Wayne Robertson at the bottom of the world as he sets off on the adventure of a lifetime (and possibly his last). Station 151 is a science-fiction podcast written by Andy Scearce and Steven James Scearce. It is produced by Bear Weiter and Pale Matter.

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5 Listeners

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