Top 10 Paranormal Audio Drama Podcasts
Those who know me know that I am what the podcasting community affectionately refers to as a Super Listener. The volume of podcasts that I consume on a weekly basis is, to most people, mind-boggling. That being said, a few years ago, while working a mind-numbing tech support job, I started listening to audio dramas. They quickly became my biggest love in all of podcasting. Obviously, I have a deep love and appreciation for all things paranormal. This list is the intersection of those two loves. The top 10 paranormal audio drama podcasts. Enjoy!
The Midnight Symphony
This is hands down, my favorite new audio drama of the last few years. When Ali that the disappearance of her younger sister is somehow tied to a melody that has haunted her since early childhood, she sets off on a search for her through a kaleidoscopic cast of characters, mystifying dreamscapes, and bizarre childhood memories. Brilliant writing, nuanced characters, and top-notch voice acting place The Midnight Symphony among the top-shelf audio dramas anywhere.
A second season is coming soon! You’ll want to be caught up when it drops.
Return Home
I don’t remember how I found this podcast, but I’m glad I did. While it seems like another sinister story at the beginning, its true light-hearted nature shines through. Our three heroes, Jonathan, Buddy, and Amy find themselves battling the ridiculous in a never-ending effort to save their hometown.
There’s never a dull moment in Melancholy Falls. You’ll want to start this one from the beginning. Don’t worry. You’ll enjoy every second of it.
The Alexandria Archives
Wendigos! Welcome to the student body of Alexandria University. Each episode our hostess, Morning Wood, delivers the current news and events of the mysterious school and presents a new dark tale found in the campus archives.
The ongoing strange happenings of the fictional school are worth the download alone, but the stories at the end of each episode make it great. Unfortunately, this one is ending soon.
The Lift
Each episode is its own story written by a different author and performed by a different voice actor, but they all feature Victoria, a little girl ghost who is trapped in her apartment building and given an important job. Each of Victoria’s guests is given a choice and the decision that they make decides what floor they are going to be able to get off on.
Since each episode is its own little story, you can jump in at any time without missing too much.
The White Vault
Presented in a found audio format this podcast follows a group of researchers who become stranded in a winter storm. Unable to return home, the group starts to encounter strange things and continues their research to find the source.
The characters in this podcast are great. You have to listen from the beginning for it all to make sense, or at least as much sense as it can.
Mirrors
This story takes place in the past, the present, and the future. We follow three women who are experiencing a similar phenomenon as they record their observations. Each one uncovers new parts of the mystery as to what they are seeing.
From the creators of the Spines podcast, this story is beautifully acted and produced. I’m really looking forward to the second season.
We’re Alive
Zombies have been done to death, but this podcast about a group of strangers trying to survive the undead invasion really works. The characters must learn how to live together in their new reality while trying to find the means to stay alive.
This makes for a great binge and there are enough episodes to keep you busy for a long time. If you manage to make it all the way through, there is a fantastic sequel to dive into as well!
Darkest Night
Following the findings of a couple of scientists using a new and possibly dangerous method of extracting information. Each episode examines a new, seemingly unconnected event but you will soon find out that they are all just pieces of a greater terrifying puzzle.
This is one of my very favorite podcasts. The sound design is terrific. Put in both of your earbuds for this one!
The Black Tapes
This is the podcast that introduced me to audio drama, and it set the bar very high. The voice acting is so good that some listeners even failed to realize that it was scripted. What starts out as simply a journalist’s research into the paranormal turns out to be so much more. Full of twists, turns, and conspiracy theories.
Season 3 was said to be the last until a teaser was released over a year ago and fans hoped that this meant there was going to be a season 4. Since then, however, it’s been radio silence. Luckily, the creators, Pacific Northwest Stories, have a full catalog of brilliant shows that might have taken over this entire list if I had included them all.
The Box
A podcaster finds a box full of journals and decides to read them. At first, she thinks they are interesting, spooky works of fiction but as she investigates further, she starts to think that something more is going on.
I’m still in the middle of listening to this one, but I love it so far.
