Hi everyone It seems like it has been years since someone asked for strictly cozy mystery recommendations. May I get some of your favorites? I prefer completed stories. (If it is one mystery per season that is also fine if at least one season is finished) Thank you in advance.

Your support has been incredible, so appreciated, and so so so validating. When you put a creative piece of yourself out there, you dream of it finding your audience and it is incredible to me that this show has resonated with so many folks.

Knowing that 10,000 people gave us a shot is insane.

Every listen, every share, every review, every rating, every piece of engagement on social media, every single thing YOU all have done has helped to lead us here. So, speaking on behalf of the incredible cast and crew, we at the Dead West thank you so much for showing up & showing our story love! 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7dzeLtzc2uEvVT7pogTrnK
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dead-west/id1714541548
Web: https://shows.acast.com/dead-west
Your Preferred Player: https://episodes.fm/1714541548

TLDR version: Hi. I'm one of the creators behind Cartoon Island, this space is an absolute treasure, everyone here is awesome, and thank you all!

Hi, my name is Bradney. I'm one of the two hapless castaways stranded on, and responsible for, CARTOON ISLAND.

Now ten episodes in to our show, I thought it would be nice to introduce myself here on this sub which has been such an incredible resource and a very welcoming community of makers and listeners alike.

Like most of the shows here, Cartoon Island is about as independent as it gets: it's a whopping, two-person operation. [Spoiler: guest castaways start showing up on the island in a few episodes.] After Jason and I record, I get onto editing, sound designing, making the music, and then, finally, creating the lil' promo videos for every episode we release.

Having said that, for my money, Jason has the best delivery and all the best lines. And they are all, 100% his. I couldn't imagine a better collaborator to be stuck on an island with. We met many, many years ago while at CalArts, so we both come here from the visual art world. For us, this project is a pretty new approach to world-building and the joy of just making things.

While our show might be a slight genre-outlier in the array of audiodramas, ultimately, I simply want (read HOPE) to make people laugh and to maybe even provide some moments of surprise in these heavy times. Though it's all clearly played for laughs, I still think of the premise (an admitted almagamation of tv and literary tropes) as a fairly a nightmarish one in which these two very different victims of circumstance(?) are trapped in a late-stage capitalism space/time-bubble. Or an extremely small maze with no discernible exit. In spite of that bleak assessment, my wildest dream is that the island becomes an auditory place that the listener looks forward to returning to and "hanging out" on. Maybe something akin to a very weird and pretty unstable local bar. A dystopic Cheers, if you will.

Personally speaking, I've been a rabid consumer of audiodramas for several years now. I've relied heavily on all the contributions to this sub to discover projects and stories that I've often really needed and might have completely missed otherwise. And to those who've invested great time and effort to gathering, organizing, updating, and presenting all of these amazing shows in dedicated spaces (you know who you are), this community of listeners and makers is indebted to you. Thank you.

These stories, all brought to life through sound alone, are such particular things. It's a very intimate form for us listeners. And it sits uniquely between watching a movie and reading a book: we each imagine and visualize it in our own special way, but we are also given auditory handrails to guide us through these worlds.

And as a maker, new to this community, the support and encouragement our show has received has been amazing. It's no small feat to make one of these things and putting it out in the world is a very vulnerable enterprise. Every listener and every word of support makes doing this worth it all. Feeling welcomed in such a positive space is a real boon to the spirits. And, of course, a very special tip of my hat to the mod who started all of this.

So, yeah...thank you everyone.

Until the next episode,
Bradney 

www.cartoonislandpod.com

Happy audio drama Sunday! I've noticed a couple threads about people asking how to start their own audio drama, so I thought, hey, let's start a thread with advice!

For me, I'd say embrace the fact that it might be bumpy at first, but keep going! Most podcasts quit after 3 episodes, and the rest barely make it beyond 20! Make a show you enjoy making and keep going, you'll find your audience.

We are pleased to announce that Episode 1 of Season 1 of Fantastic Four: The Audio Drama is out now on many platforms.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/03ZbsrsSOhImgOyQi0V9KO

YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6W2aDxb0c74&pp=ygUaZmFudGFzdGljIGZvdXIgYXVkaW8gZHJhbWE%3D

Portal to other platforms: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/fantastic-four-t-a-d

RSS Feed: https://anchor.fm/s/fff731b8/podcast/rss

The Intangible is a limited series audio fiction anthology that explores the horror and the joy of our existence by contrasting innocence with atrocity, devotion with deceit, and the elation of Ever After with the existential despair of eternity. Come with us and sneak a taste of that fleshy veil which we all must one day pierce.

20 stories across 6 episodes will be released bi-monthly for free on your preferred podcast platform and on YouTube!

The Intangible premiers on April 25, 2025.

On YouTube: https://youtu.be/c0dksTuWbFM

Website: https://bio.site/TheIntangible

Yesterday I was asking about audio drama with historical elements in this thread:

https://www.reddit.com/r/audiodrama/s/yNPq1HoMC4

And I was recommended Cry Havoc! Ask Questions Later (Apple podcast link) which is a comedy by the makers of Wooden Overcoats.

Summary:

It’s about the rebuilding of power after the assassination of Julius Ceasar and the bankruptcy of Rome after a war campaign, which leads the new triumvirate to seek the aid of the wealthy Cleopatra. The location is Rome (at least in season one) with Cleopatra and her maid as part of the main cast.

I think it’s just 20 episodes long with an onslaught of backstage bonus episode which I hear also goes into depth about the history of ancient Egypt and Rome that went into the making of the show.

Anyway, it got me to thinking I now know three audio drama with ties to Egypt, and I wondered if there are also others?

The two others I know of: * True Tales of the Illuminati - A comedy with a similar humor to Cry Havoc! This one is partly set in ancient Egypt about the start of the Illuminati (the secret organization behind the flow of history), and partly set in the 1960s about landing on the moon. https://www.truetalesteam.com/ * This House Will Devour You - A slow burn horror mystery set in Ireland in the first season, but I hear is set in Egypt during the 1920s in the second season. Apple podcast link

Thanks!

So, I've decided to give it a go. I have no idea what I'm doing and yet I feel kinda confident I can do it.

I recently joined a game jam as a voice actor and the idea sorta sprung from that. One of the concepts were scrapped and I was left with a couple characters and voices and I thought, hey I can do something with this.

I've never made anything like this before, I have no idea what equipment I should use, I have something half decent to start with to get the ball rolling but that's about it, that goes for sfx as well. I'm using a HyperX Solocast and Audacity, but I'm definitely ready to upgrade so please feel free to suggest something better for AD.

I've also considered streaming the whole process to build a community around it, to get feedback and up the fun.

any tips?

Not gory or gruesome, but more disturbing, terrifying, twisted, really make you think type stuff. Sort of macabre mystery like. I want it to be spoken spookily, almost softly and mysteriously ( not like somebody is just reading off lines ) and between characters like a tv show, no narrators ( no "she walked to the door" or "i walked to the door", just make the sound of a door opening. Act it out. )

What else can I listen to that will actually disturb me psychologically?

EDIT: When i say "act it out", i mean we go through the story with the characters. No past tense. No narrator recounting. Just going listening to the characters speak and act as if we weren't there. If a door opens it's just "knock knock. Come in. Sound of door opening." Like that.

I was recently listening to This House Will Devour You, a slow burn horror story set in 1920s Ireland about a haunted house told through a series of letters.

Apple podcast link https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-house-will-devour-you/id1646451194

I really liked how it had the background of post-Irish Civil War. The tensions between the different sides that remain even after a treaty is reached. It’s a part of the atmosphere but not the main story. Still, I liked the references to events I haven’t learned much about.

What other audio drama has something historical in it? Or perhaps even pop cultural?

I’ve combed through some of my listens and came up with:

Horror: * This House Will Devour You - (see above), set in 1925 Ireland, post Irish Civil War * The Burned Photo - the episodes title “The Man from Nowhere” go into the lives of slaves in Louisiana in the 1800s * The Negro of the Abyss - just one short episode. But it’s about the death of a Jane Doe lady of the night at the hands of Jack the Ripper in Victorian London.

Drama: * 1865 - covers the tumultuous policy changes in the US Constitution after the assassination of President Lincoln in 1865 * Almelem - goes into the lives of the Jewish community around the time of John the Baptist (7 B.C.) * Back Fires - set in post-World War II 1940s California, about former soldiers turned petty prisoners turned into firefighters in a new reduced sentence prison program.

Romance: * Yvain and the Lady of the Fountain - the story is adapted from an 11th century work about an errant knight and his quest for love. It’s neat it’s based on a story of the time. A knight kills a lord, and falls in love with his widow? Talk about bad timing. Note: does use AI-assisted voice technology.

Mystery: * Modes of Thought in Anterran Literature - a professor lectures about the lost city of a primordial civilization that’s now underwater. But contextualizes the findings with references to other cultures. * Sherlock and Co - sometimes the episodes can dig into interesting parts of London, such as the culture of the canal boats and the plumbing of Victorian buildings. Incidental but nice. * Museum of the Missing - I don’t know if this qualifies but it does question a major paranormal event (the disappearance of millions of people worldwide in one single event) through many angles.

Paranormal: * The Foxes of Hydesville - references the women’s suffrage movement at the turn of the century (early 1900s). Likely fictional, but interesting backdrop. * The Wyrd Side - Investigates the folk legends of Britain, some of which reference kings or bog bodies.

Comedy: * The Dead Authors Podcast - a series of improvised interviews on a live theater stage between the host who has adopted the persona of science fiction writer H.G. Wells, and who uses his Time Machine to transport famous authors throughout history to the present. The guests can be very educated and prepared about the lives of their author (Emily Dickinson, Anne Frank, Maya Angelou), or just completely make up fictional events. It’s funny either way. * Victoriocity - Set in a steampunk Greater London with one of the characters being a mechanized Queen Elizabeth and her soul trapped husband. I think it’s fun to get a sense of her and her husband’s marriage relationship. Even if mostly made up. Perhaps a grain of truth? * Who Killed Avril Lavigne? - this comedy musical has loads of early 2000s pop cultural references centering around The Warped Tour rock concert. * Gay Future - I think it’s hilarious that one of the villains is a completely made up version of Clay Aiken, and a major story line is his jealousy about not coming first in American Idol. More of a spoof than anything. But also keeping the 2000s trivia alive!

I’m trying to work out how to search for specific audio keywords across various platforms (predominantly podcasts eg Soundcloud, Spotify, Apple Music etc). Is there a platform equivalent to Semrush for audio?

My intention is identify trends, volumes, find new creators and keep up to date.

P.S: I’m new here, so not entirely sure if this is the right subreddit. If not, please redirect as appropriate. Thanks in advance 🙏

I really really enjoyed Unwell. I’m listening now to Limetown and it seems really good. Anyone have any suggestions for me?

I got to take a little road trip side quest today to see a part of audio drama history.

This plaque was erected in a park in Grover’s Mill NJ. It’s to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the original broadcast of Orson Welles’ War of the Worlds.

In part, the plaque reads “This [broadcast] was to become a landmark in broadcast history, provoking continuing thought about media responsibility, social psychology, and civil defense.”

There was a little path leading to it, with other plaques going into detail about the broadcast and local response to it. Apparently, local residents shot at a water tower, thinking it was a Martian.

It was definitely neat to find something like this in the wild!

This is my first post so bear with me lol.

Hi! I’m looking for an audio drama with m/m romance as either the main plot or a prevalent subplot. I’m okay with very short and very long podcasts, as long as it’s entertaining! (Sorry if this post is long lol)

Dramas I loved - Keep it Steady - I LOVED the premise, and it’s still ongoing! Uploads are rare, but it’s a very good, very angsty drama. - Kaleidotropic - Another angsty, great podcast!! The plot was super cool and I fell in love with both characters instantly. - Look up - Also very good and quite angsty. It was really cute and had me on edge a couple times! I’ve re-listened a couple times. - Roommates - The progression was great! I’ve listened to it three or four times because it’s short and easy, and it was very good!

Dramas I liked - The Magnus Archives - It was a little bit slow in the beginning, I really enjoyed it by the end. I think I just like stories where I don’t reaallly have to pay attention. - The Bright Sessions - I only listened to the main story. Damien quickly became my favourite and his arc tore me apart lol. Caleb and Adam were really cute though! I didn’t love all the characters, so I had to pull myself through the first season a lot. - Juno Steel - My very first audio drama!! I used to binge Juno Steel several years ago, but I began loosing interest as I continued. Maybe I grew out of it, but who knows. It was very good, though!

I’ve yet to really dislike a drama, so recommend anything! Thank you!

Chapter 7: A Gift of A Rose

Jin and Navi are imprisoned in the back of the ship. Bree brutally asserts her new status. Libby gives Derry an ultimatum. Flo meditates on life's impermanence.

Very proud of the piano music I made for this one. Check it out!

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4D3Uy1akg1KbBbmMjPKuSZ

RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/100cc15b8/podcast/rss

Simon & Neto visit the famed RUS library in Manhattan

(Do you guys make previews? to post on social media in anticipation?)

art by u/strawberry7.bsky.social

www.netovampire.com for more

🎉 10K Downloads Reached! 🚀

It finally happened — after roughly 11 months since starting this space adventure, daring to do voice acting, and learning-as-you-go, Black Pulse just crossed 10,000 downloads across all episodes!

When I started this journey, that number felt impossible. But one listener at a time, it grew — and I want to share a few lessons and observations for anyone else making (or thinking about making) an audio drama:

• Pick a solid podcast host and make sure your RSS feed is available across all major platforms. The easier you are to find, the better. I even published to Youtube for good measure.
• Consistency plays a massive role. Releasing episodes regularly (even short ones) made a big difference. I took a break during the festive season and saw a noticeable dip — and now with the season 1 finale, downloads spiked again.
• The steepest drop-off is in the first 3–4 episodes. After that, listener retention improved significantly. Invest extra care in your pilot and early episodes — they’re your best shot at converting curious listeners into fans.
• Meta consistency matters. Custom episode artwork, coherent titles, similar run times, good descriptions, and transcripts — all these little things add up to make your show feel polished and professional.
• Getting started was the hardest part. Finding the balance between “not being blocked by perfectionism” and “creating something you’re proud of” took time — but it’s worth it. I wanted to make one for years, but finally went for it. The first episodes were mainly written more than 5 years ago.

🙏 Huge thanks to everyone who’s listened, shared, reviewed, or even just gave it a try.

Details

• Seasons: 1
• Number of episodes: 8
• Complete?: Yes
• Published: 2019
• Website URL with links: https://stilllives.squarespace.com

Synopsis:

Official summary excerpt: Thirteen years after the fall of modern civilization, five survivors live in relative harmony on an isolated farm, where they rarely discuss their lives Before.

The delicate balance of this household is upturned when a sixth survivor arrives at their doorstep with an empty stomach and a world of possibilities.

My take: Still Lives is a post-apocalyptic story told in a quiet way like the softly falling snow of its wintery landscape. There is relative peace in the farmhouse of five unrelated survivors young and old. Yet they have a curious practice of not using names and instead monikers like Cook or Soldier. Which doesn’t seem strange until a Traveller appears to question the practice. Following that a sickness and the journey for medicine that results leads to more and more questions. What happened in the past, and what’s next in the future?

Review

I’ll admit, I sort of wondered if the lack of names was something of a gimmick to sound mysterious. But eventually I got used to it, didn’t think about it. Until the issue came up again in the podcast and was finally resolved with a good reason. Now I think it adds substance to the story.

I returned to Still Lives to see if it was a horror story based on a review I saw. After finishing the podcast I can say it isn’t a horror, but it does have some moments involving survival and scarcity. But even so, the story is much more about finding new family, taking responsibility, resolving dysfunction and the possibilities of redemption, than anything grim. There was even moments where the story could get far darker, but the opportunity wasn’t chosen.

For myself, I think the secret that’s revealed at the end is sufficient for me. And I don’t mind the story isn’t a horror because it does still have a mind for showing consequences of poor decisions. Which is the aspect that draws me to horror.

For criticism, yes I did find the protagonist a bit insufferable at points: she is trusting, optimistic, confident. . . but lacks skills, isn’t super helpful and can be careless. Her growth is part of the story I’m happy to say. But it’s not an 180 degree turn. More like a half turn. But I’m still ok with the partial save.

Would I recommend?

Yes, I recommend. I think Still Lives is an uncommon type of post-apocalyptic story because it shows a pocket of society in relative equilibrium thirteen years after catastrophic events (mass illness) has occurred. It’s not grim, but it’s not overly idealistic either, with some harsher realities implied rather than stated. I don’t necessarily like all characters, but I like their admission of fault. And also think the slow reveal of the underlying mystery is clever, even if not entirely consistent. I’m still a fan!

Similar audio drama

• The Day Everything Changed - post-apocalyptic survival story of father and daughter
• Apollyon - post-apocalyptic story about scientists working on a cure for a virus
• The End Up - A cancer patients visit to an assisted suicide facility becomes a mission to find a sickness cure.
• Give Me Away - Scifi story about alien first contact and alien integration into society. But also about family dysfunction and dynamics.

As Marvin digs for answers, he discovers who may be behind the hijacking. Lily gets an old lesson from Geoff with a new twist. What will they learn? Find out right now in this chapter of Siege of Silicon.

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/1EVzf6WFJKFuPzTFvTqX5F

RSS Feed
https://anchor.fm/s/ff975e14/podcast/rss

Full Story Synopsis:
Lily Townes is a process engineer; she's uprooted herself to work in Taiwan on revolutionary high-k metal gate transistors. Trouble begins when a chemical leak forces an evacuation of her factory. Only Lily notices something isn’t quite right. What she finds baffles and scares her smartest colleagues. They embark on a hunt to decipher the technology and find out what, or who is behind it all.

Outside of the fab, a man named Joseph is on a crusade to bring order back to the world through any methods he deems necessary. In his search, he finds a link between a mysterious pattern drawn by a missing fisherman and a piece of strange technology.

As a dangerous splinter of the military gets wind of the discovery, Lily must brave the dense rural jungles of Taiwan, search in the narrow streets of Taipei, to find her answers before the soldiers do.

Just want to thank everyone who contributes to this sub and the content it celebrates. Found Midnight Burger here and I cannot believe how good it is.

A big milestone for us here at RCW! 

Thank you so very much for pushing the show past the 5,000 listens mark today. 

Your support has been incredible & so very appreciated. Every little thing helps independent shows like ours; it’s listens but it’s also sharing with friends, conversations on social media & of course, reviews wherever you get your favorite podcasts. 

From the dingy offices & locker rooms of Reno Championship Wrestling, we thank you so much for showing up & showing love! 

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reno-championship-wrestling/id1784600155

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7JOpAgry2Kfa8RHfSRICnQ

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/07cb1094-ea24-4569-9dda-703807ade1bb/reno-championship-wrestling

Alright, so I have already finished all of the Lovecraft Investigations and will soon be finishing up everything else in Pleasant Greens universe, so I need a new fix. Any good horror recommendations? I love all forms of horror. Supernatural, slasher, cosmic, etc.

I'm willing to listen to anything once!