A podfic? One, a singular podfic? How could I choose but one??? Like artists, you're getting a looooong list of creators I admire. Go check out any of their work.
First, I wouldn't be doing this if it weren't for @etl-echo-audiobooks and particularly @beatificbean. I'd still be recording audiobooks like a chump and not enjoying all the friends and great work I've made through fandom in the past few years. Trish pulled me in and now won't let me go, even though I refuse to participate in any of the things she wants to me to do. It's our kink.
And within ETL Echo, the other talented narrators who I've worked with for almost 4 years now: g0lden_g1rl, TiffyTea, and @karmacookiereads (podfics). Since the others aren't on tumblr, I'll just wax rhapsodic about Karma. She is so talented, works so hard, produces stellar content, and has impeccable taste. I always trust that I will like the thing she records, even if the tags or the pairing wouldn't normally appeal to me, and she's never led me astray. She is also endlessly supportive and kind in fandom and it's been a pleasure knowing her and working with her. Tiffy and Golden (and @meggowaffle - sometimes narrator and my very patient editor) are great too, but @karmacookiereads will always be my favorite (don't tell anyone).
A few old school faves who I've listened to in my chronological HP podfic journey. They may or may not be around so much anymore, but a dive into their catalogs is worth the effort.
xinasvoice @xinasvoice - Xina records their own works very well and is a great writer too. Mostly Wolfstar, and I have to recommend Of Barnacles and Mermen particularly for making fish sex sexy.
picascribit - Also records their own written works. Full of fluffy and a few more angsty fics. Wolfstar and Scorbus primarily with a host of other secondary pairings, OCs, and queerness galore. I recommend Highland Fling (Wolfstar) as an inroad and then listen to all of them.
fire_juggler - a prolific podficcer back in the day. Start with And an Owl Named Romeo by Rickey (Drarry).
RevolutionaryJo - only a few HP fics in their catalog, but it includes the @copperbadge masterpiece Stealing Harry (Wolfstar) and might lead you to some new fandoms!
@sandstripe - records looooong fics. They admit that they speak very quickly, but I really enjoy their fics slowed down to 0.7x, as they suggest, and it'll probably be perfect for you crazy people who listen to things speeded up. I recommend starting with the Do It All Over Again series by @dracowillhearaboutthis
And here are a bunch of podficcers who, as far a I know, are still around making pods and doing a great job keeping me entertained.
sisi_rambles - mostly Drarry + some femslash, lots to listen to, start with Because Potter Is Allergic to Poppies by Lomonaaeren
JocundaSykes - I could listen to Joc read anything. She's got a beautiful voice, great comic timing, and shares here editing skills with the podfic community freely and often. She's also one of the few out there recording Snarry (but also Drarry & Dramione and massive pile of femslash drabbles that she and I and our VoiceTeam recorded a couple of years ago), and she can write! Start with The Space Between Failing and Falling.
lastontheboat - also a writer and podficcer, with excellent taste in choosing stories. Start with Modern Love by @tackytigerfic, OR knead then let rise @softlystarstruck or The Taste of Tuica by @fluxweeed from my previous rec lists.
@ellamcsmellbella - a very prolific Drarry & Dramione podficcer, und hat auch viele podfic auf Deutsch. I've enjoyed the Slow Grenade series by LeilahMoon.
SamGabrielVO (not everything is on AO3, I think? Check his website) - a professional VO, and the only one of us brave enough to actually record My Immortal. But I recommend the beautiful The Secret Language of Plants series (Snupin) by @llendrinall.
RattleAndHum - another absolute professional and a joy to listen to. Of course, Away Childish Things by @letteredlettered is a masterpiece, but I'm going to recommend Open for Repairs by FeelsforBreakfast.
@reveriepi - newer on the scene, so I haven't listened to as much of their work yet, but I beta-listened to Nothing Gold Can Stay by @moonflower-rose and I cannot recommend it enough.
@aibidil - an incredibly talented writer who also pods some of their fics excellently. I will always always always recommend When Times Are Dire, it's become one of my comfort fics when the world is shit (so always).
@melcarrianna - a talented podficcer and also the organizer and editor of several multivoice Drarry advent fics over the years. Check out the really interesting Crane Lord of Gringotts by @vukovich.
And finally, two dear friends I've made through podficcing and who I think are super talented and thoughtful and kind.
@wilfriede - Wilfriede has a gorgeous narration voice, in English, en français, und auf Deutsch. She picks really interesting stories and does a lot of gen, rarepairs, and femslash to spotlight lesser-known corners of fandom. She also coordinates and edits massive multivoice projects which are so fun and I'm honored to be a part of. I already recced Frolic with Fear by @rainstormradish and A Different Fate by @octopuscato, so I'll direct you to a Luna Lovegood/Rita Skeeter multivoice project featuring a number of the name already mentioned above: Quick Quotes and Quibbles also by @rainstormradish.
@sweatersinthesummer - what can I say about sits?? Fandom cheerleader, discerning and hardcore podficcer, incredible book-binder (@sits-bound), rockstar mom, and great friend who gets me enough to recommend me the best beignets while in her city but not suggest we actually meet in person. 😂 It's no contest here, all her stuff is fabulous, but if you haven't listened to Rookie Moves (Drarry) by peu_a_peu (and the sequels), what are you actually doing with your life?
Wow, this looks like an absolute mess of links and tags. Sorry everyone. I would have probably kept going if I didn't have to get ready for work.
Oh PS - I also have over 400 podfics with a variety of pairings if you run out of things to listen to in the list above.
