15 Fiction Podcast Debuts: July 2020
Written by Elena Fernández Collins and Amber Bulinski
We all need a bit of uplifting news every day of 2020, even if it’s just “look at this gorgeous flower I found on my walk.” Today, I offer uplifting news of my own: the 2020 debut lists will now be co-written by Amber Bulinski! I decided many months ago that the debut lists would benefit from another mind and writer; it would add more variety to selection and help the critique in these blurbs flourish.
Everyone, say hi to Amber.
In the vein of “uplifting news”, in July I rediscovered an old joy of mine: reading. Bear with me, it’s gonna take a moment to get there…just like how it took a moment for this list to show up.
Before you ask: yes, my podcast consumption level did go down in order to make room for a bunch of science-fiction, fantasy, and horror novels. I spent several days thinking about words like “betrayal” or “I’m giving up on my job,” which honestly should have been a big red flag. We talk about burnout, and podcast overwhelm, and “do we need this many podcasts?” — but I don’t think we really talk about it. To some degree, it feels almost fruitless to do so during a pandemic.
For me, burnout looks like this:
- Dreading the scheduled hours for consuming the media you work with;
- Spending many unscheduled breaks away from not just social media, but everything on the internet, including your email inbox that’s bursting with unread but no doubt important news.
- Forgetting all of the other things you used to do out of love for them (e.g. reading) because it felt like you weren’t doing the one thing you had to (e.g. listening) enough;
But then, eventually, it looks like this:
- Plowing through four books in one day because they take you to another world and give you the irreplaceable high of a brilliant story or the rare but beautiful instance of a book hangover;
- Spending hours on GoodReads and Booktube looking for new book recommendations;
- Coming up for air and feeling re-invigorated instead of disappointed by what you see and actively reaching for whatever it was you had to put down before.
I’m grateful to have Amber with me now because co-working with someone is, a wonderful way to hear different aspects of what I’m critiquing, and an almost foolproof way to not lose sight of what’s important: a love of fiction podcasts and what they can do for people who have not had a platform, a mic, or a story that spoke to them, either as creators or consumers.
And I’m grateful to July for forcing me to take a break. This has been a rough fucking year (understatement) and I think it’s sapped a lot of love from many of us.
Do whatever you need to do. These heartfelt, hilarious fiction podcasts will be waiting for you when you’re ready. And hey, absolutely come hit me up for book recommendations too.
Cheers,
Ely
Dispatch from the Desert Planet
89.x1 Coalition Radio is the interstellar broadcast that gives all Coalition citizens government-approved vintage advertisements, Coalition-mandated sponsors and messages, and definitely no incitements to rebellion. Dispatch from the Desert Planet is a Black-created and BIPOC-focused fiction about tyranny, dystopias, and the real political, cultural, and philosophical events and thoughts we’re living through every day in this universe. This is raw-edged, hard-hitting satire, delivered by an exhausted, unimpressed, and cynical team from a Remote Desert Planet who would like to let you know that nothing the interplanetary authority of the Coalition does is, in any way, problematic.
Seen and Not Heard
Seen and Not Heard is the tale of Bet Kline, a college student who recently went deaf as a result of an illness. As she adjusts to her new reality, Bet grapples with ableism, learning sign, her family, and her relationships with her Jewish faith. This deeply heart-wrenching story, written by deaf creator Caroline Mincks (This Planet Needs a Name), delivers its very real, very honest punches with deft writing and tear-inducing acting. I will be billing Mincks for my tissue debt.
ConSensual
ConSensual is a new romance anthology “for riot grrls.” The first episode, “Ten Week Turnabout,” follows Ingrid Wheeler, who runs into her Indiana small town high school crush at a random rooftop party in Manhattan. The crush, Noah Bloom, is immediately identifiable via his taste in clothes and baby blue eyes, and Ingrid’s internal monologue is peak contemporary romance-voice: snarky, fearful, sweet, and stubborn.
Beyond the Dark
The darkness in Beyond the Dark is that of the future and its many horrific possibilities. Beyond the Dark presents many of these possibilities, from a baffling alien world to a damp sublevel basement of a corporate building, in this richly scored and effectively acted anthology. Episodes succinctly address real world considerations; for instance, in the opening episode, “The Machinist”, the corporate, capitalist environment the narrator works in demands sacrifices that no one should be prepared to accept.
Shadow of Arcanum
Josh, Jess, Tommy, PB, Adriana, Gabe
Shadow of Arcanum ticks every single box for creative and noteworthy actual play. It uses an occasionally-seen system in podcasting, an independently Kickstarted horror fantasy called Shadow of the Demon Lord. It’s set within the world of Exandria — from acclaimed web series Critical Role — twenty years after the defeat of the powerful archlich Vecna. Dungeon Master Josh is a talented narrator and guide, delivering dread and wonder in equal measure, and the show features a cast entirely comprised of queer players of color who are unafraid to leap feet-first into the conflict that arises from living in a world on the edge.
Swan Dive
Sillion, Annie DeYoung, Taylor Zipperlen, Nick Marquez, Robert McCarthy
If you’re seeking more new actual play podcasts in systems that don’t get a lot of podcast airtime, check out Swan Dive, which uses Spire to tell the story of undercover revolutionaries in a dark urban fantasy setting, where the Drow have been colonized by the Aefir. This is all about ripping power from those who have taken it for themselves and finding the humor while fighting for your freedom (and also, funny monkeys that might be terrorists?).
Cape Lock
Cape Lock can’t be found on any physical map, atlas, or GPS. As reporter Christina Glass and scientist Andy Richter start out investigating the science of the human mind and dreams, they end up discovering more about the city of Cape Lock, a city that only exists in people’s minds and memories. Styled as a public radio report, Cape Lock is awash with vibrant characters, and with the tension that grows between Glass and Richter as the tale becomes dangerous.
The One Stars
Jeremy Ellett, Tal Minear, Shamus Burns
Nancy drifts along in space, in her ship except for her wit and her access to a multiverse of one-star reviews online. And her ship’s chatbot, I suppose. And the outstanding arrest warrants across the galaxy… The One Stars is a comedy about lonely people, where Nancy fills the void with the voices of unhappy reviewers and tries to learn to be friends with her cheery Chatbot. The reviews themselves are the highlight; these are funny, short monologues about an instance in someone’s life and how it was totally ruined.
The Mistress Files
When a notorious criminal mastermind called the Mistress turns themselves in without a fight, a detective must interrogate them to get to the bottom of things in this six-episode miniseries written by Alexander Liddel. The Mistress Files is a detective noir that combines the grittiness of Batman Arkham and the character ambiguity of Atomic Blonde to create an interview-style winding tale that makes you question which side you’re on.
Apocalypse Songs
Cassandra Tse, James Cain, Kate Morton
The underground music scene can be filled with plenty of avant-garde characters, but when a radio host starts researching one of these obscure musicians, they get more than they bargained for. This five-part tale from New Zealand holds you captivated with world-building rooted in reality and original music composed by Kate Morton. It feels like NPR meets a found-footage horror, so be prepared to be pulled into the brackish waters of the unknown.
Eastmouth
If you’re a fan of pirate radio hosts exposing the strange happenings in a seemingly quaint coastal town, look no further than Eastmouth. Written and narrated by D.C. Tullis, Eastmouth features old-school sound design that feels like a transatlantic radio show with a veil of mystery. This love child of What’s the Frequency? and Welcome to the Night Vale unravel the mysteries of Eastmouth broadcasting from an abandoned radio station.
We Never Left
Lindsay Jackman, Jade Edwards, Amy Yang
Moving away from your dreary small town to go to college is never easy, and returning is even harder — especially when that town is cursed. We Never Left starts out feeling like your regular slice of life drama but soon strays into sci-fi horror with some serious Frankenstein vibes. If you’re looking for a movie-length fiction podcast with noteworthy queer representation to get you through a long drive, this one is worth a listen.
Lost Terminal
If you are emotionally prepared to relive the collective heartbreak we felt in 2009 when the Spirit rover got stuck in a sand trap on Mars (thanks, xkcd), then queue up Lost Terminal, a show about the lonely little satellite Seth. Seth is curious about what it means to be human and learning everything possible, but as an AI, Seth needs some help; so why won’t Earth pick up the phone?
Arsen
When Aurelie’s parents die in a house fire Aurelie is forced to return to the small town that judged and irritated her and her family. She’s in for a surprise: amidst all the hypocrisy and grief, the touch of magic from her heritage will reach for her, and change what she knows about herself. Arsen starts off with Aurelie’s diary entry, but it is filled with the voices of the people she comes across and bracketed by the ominous promises of someone else.
The Great Chameleon War
If you wanted weird audio, sign yourself up for this psychedelic, surreal, unrelenting ride into a wavering dreamscape known as The Nesting Zone. How close can you stare at the tip of the knife?, the Amaneusis asks the audience in the introduction. Because while The Nesting Zone and the mountain it surrounds might be full of astonishing creatures to study, the problem is the chameleons: transdimensional reptiles that have likely already eaten m-
This playlist was sponsored by Podchaser. Check out Podchaser’s Creator Profiles to find your favorite podcast hosts, producers, editors, guests, voice actors, and more!
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