The Magnus Archives

I love TMA. It's well written, well crafted, and introduced a new framework through which to discuss horror themes and concepts (which is just so cool). Really the only downside is that it's super long, so my husband is still only halfway through season one, which means I can't actually use that framework when talking to him. Ugh Oh, also when Johnny Simms pronounced "Chehalis" like that (Washingtonian listeners know what I'm talking about).

Tanis

Several years ago, I had a full-time internship with a 2+ hour daily commute, which is how I got into podcasts in the first place. Tanis was one of the first podcasts that I really got into. Being from the Pacific Northwest, it was an extra fun listen. That said, I have to be honest with you... I stopped listening partway through season 4. I'll probably pick back up eventually, but I just consider "and Rasputin is involved somehow" to be the horror genre's collective shark-jump, soooo...

Alice Isn't Dead

The podcast that got me into podcasts. Yeah, I know I just said that about Tanis, but I ran out of Alice Isn't Dead, picked up Tanis, and then came back for season three after the fact, so there. Anyway, this might be the most hopeful horror story I've ever come across. It's a great listen if the way the world is structured has you feeling powerless. Also, the way this podcast describes love helped me finally leave a really horrible marriage (pizza nights, part 1 chapter 4; if you know, you know).

The Silt Verses

A world where gods are tangible, creatable, commodified, and politicized. This is a fascinating and horriffic story in which (as is so often the case) people are the real monsters. That's a little tongue-in-cheek, for the record. I will say, the sound mixing in the first few episodes can be a real challenge, but if you push through I promise it gets better and the overall story is totally worth it.

I have a great appreciation for any story where achieving your solution to a problem just means you have a whole bunch of new problems to deal with. (something something Jason Mendoza's molotov cocktail something something)

Old Gods of Appalachia

Eldrich horror and deep social commentary, Old Gods of Appalachia is a beautifully-crafted podcast that will suck you in. In the interest of full disclosure, I will say that it can be a real challenge keeping the timeline straight in these stories. Ditto the particulars of any particular arc. Honestly, any time I stop listening for any length of time, I'll generally just pick back up at the start of the season. Not that I'm complaining; any excuse to listen to more of Steve Shell's voice is fine by me (he said, homosexually).

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