of Podcasts
I hate podcasts-except for the ones I really like. They’re “not like podcasts,” though.
… of Podcasts …
If the webz are to be believed … podcasts are the new mid-life crisis for 40-year-old guys. These formats serve as a medium for dull men to talk at other dull men who are equally dull. This is an intentionally reductive summary to highlight the difference between “podcasts” and the “narrative radio plays” I enjoy when delivered via podcast form.
Podcasts originated as an audio blog associated with iPod devices. While visual+audio formats favor (young) women (for obvious reasons), switching to an audio-only format shifts the bias toward middle-aged men.1 Like attracts like, and we end up with a narrow group trying to do the same thing within the same medium-right?
Conventionally, podcasts are expected to feature a host and a co-host talking about something. I feel that much of the appeal is built around the illusion of hanging out with the speakers and the semblance of friendship with them.2 Because of this very specific “structure,” I feel like most people’s eyes glaze over when I say “podcast,” and they can’t fathom what “narrative podcasts” are supposed to be.
Narrative Podcasts
Narrative podcasts deliver a story in chunks, with each offering a narrow view into a world on a very modest production budget. Multiple cast members or voice-acting gimmicks allow a limited group of creators to illustrate a full story, eliminating the need for large-scale production. One can create prime TV-level storylines with entry-level equipment.
Audio drama fills a social role similar to that of pulp magazines.3 Not all are great, but the ones that are good thrive in this format. For this reason, I find “stories that require only listening” to be a surprisingly underappreciated medium, which is why I wrote this whole blurb to promote them.
Recommendations
Malevolent - Rusty Quill
- Follows Arthur, an Atlantic PI whose vision is taken over by a dead god in his head.
- Works well since the voice has to narrate everything.
- My headcanon is that Arthur can sort of see but doesn’t know it-since he doesn’t seem to have a problem getting around or picking up things.
The White Vault - Official Site
- Set in Svalbard and told in a found-footage style.
- Seed vaults are not the focus.
Old Gods of Appalachia - Official Site
- Sort of my first love, but it doesn’t flow as smoothly as Malevolent or The White Vault.
- I’m fond of it and still enjoy listening when I get the chance.
Deviser - Rusty Quill
- A “one and done” story that is complete but also a bit gruesome.
- I like the idea that it was an idea.
Breachside Broadcast - Wyrd Games
- A “Saturday morning cartoon” set in the world of Malifaux.
- This is where it started for me.
- It can be a bit of a letdown overall, but individual entries are great-it just doesn’t seem to gel into a greater sum.
Not saying this is good or bad. I’m speculating why there’s a prevalence of middle-aged men (like me) in this medium.
[return]Again, I state this as a dipstick anthropological assumption. I, for one, like long-running narrative mystery-box tales because new mysteries bring their own excitement to a situation I was already engaged with. The “among friends” vibe is hardly something I would judge anyone for enjoying.
[return]…or fan fiction, but I don’t think the baggage associated with that term is beneficial to this discussion. Fan fiction has a reputation for focusing on romances between characters and exaggerating otherwise dull aspects of existing stories. None of this is interesting to an audience that isn’t already fanatic-therefore, “fan fic” as a term implies limited appeal.
[return]
