#discoverpods

6. Greenhouse

Put your flower shop AU’s to bed because Atypical Artists’ Greenhouse is the kind of blooming romance you won’t want to miss. Cute, cozy, and awkwardly sweet, Greenhouse is To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before with deeper roots than your favorite Wattpad fic.

Watch from the shrubs as two wallflowers learn to overcome their fears and open up to each other one letter at a time. Our leads Abigail and Rose are as socially anxious as they are adorable and you’ll be ready for their love story to grow from the first “dear”.

7.  Donald August Versus the Land of Flowers

Babysitting and bad gardening merge in this short audio drama comedy that packs plenty of personality (and pollen) in just under an hour. In this unlikely summer tale in Southern Florida we join twelve-year-old Donnie and his nanny Lex as they investigate the presence of a mysterious palm plant when their game of detective turns into a legitimate investigation.

At a brief five episode length, Donald August Versus the Land of Flowers is a simple, charming story with just the right amount of childhood innocence and the kind of summer fun that will lighten up any dreary day.

8.  Jack of All Trades

In search of work and a place to live, young and spry Jaclyn Seeglay, often known as Jack, gets hired at Fidus Achates as their new repairwoman, even if her own resume could use some tweaking in the truth department.

Little to her knowledge, she’s signed up to be the company’s new paranormal hunter who must determine if the creaky floors and leaky faucets are the results of poor house planning or a poltergeist.

Though I’m sold on the absolute disaster lesbian of a protagonist and her hilarious coworkers, Jack of All Trades comes with some surprisingly strong lore and unique takes on supernatural creatures that gives its world immaculate depth.

9. What Can I Get Started For You?

What Can I Get Started For You? is a slice-of-life comedy mini series that tells the story of four New York baristas passing by work days with hilarious banter and curating the perfect Spotify cue to survive the next lunch rush.

Lucky Doll Productions has crafted the ultimate coffee shop story complete with seductive health inspector checkups and talent shows. What Can I Get Started For You? gets by on the strength of its snappy writing, fun characters, and unique stage play framing that gives it the vibe of watching sitcom misadventures. Don’t even bother adding sugar to your coffee this morning, this show’s good vibes should be enough.

10. PodCube™

No need to adjust your settings, PodCube™ is just as odd as it seems and the kind of alien experience you might be looking for if you have a taste for a weird workplace comedy. PodCube™ seems to be a semi-improvisation project though it might be the actors’ natural comedic flow with each other that’s got me recalling the Interdimensional Cable segments from Rick and Morty.

Despite its inherent weirdness, PodCube™ is a weirdly grounded look into the chaos of mainstream marketing and working under capitalistic restrictions. Between fake movie trailers and awkward press conferences, PodCube™ never once tries to explain itself. You should have been listening to this yesterday.

11. The Swashbuckling Ladies Debate Society

Now this is unfortunately a late arrival as The Swashbuckling Ladies Debate Society is on its third season as of this writing and as a fan of Barbie and The Three Musketeers I’m honestly a little sad no one told me about this sooner.

Here we visit an alternate 20th century France in the seaside town of Massalia under the threat of brutal political corruption from a group that calls themselves The Six. It’ll take wits, cunning, and teamwork to fight the forces disturbing the peace and married lesbian couple Saffron and Zinnia are up for the challenge.

The Swashbuckling Ladies Debate Society is my greatest feminist fantasies come true complete with sword fights, fiery debates, and frilly outfits. It not only makes for some excellent historical fiction but has such contagious charisma and charm, it’ll have you rallying alongside these dashing heroines.

12. Maxine Miles

The newest brainchild of The Bright Sessions’ Lauren Shippen is Maxine Miles, a Nancy Drew by way of Clue audio drama with a choose your own adventure twist. Taking place in the late nineties of Hastings, New Hampshire in the eve of autumn, we join Maxine’s team in uncovering the mysteries of her town after the disappearance of one of her classmates.

The uber-intelligent and precocious Maxine definitely has the wits to crack the case but will the secrets that plague her New England home be too much for one girl to handle?

Maxine Miles proves to be wholesome fun with a twinge of suspense and intrigue that’ll have you nostalgic over tweenage mystery novels. You definitely won’t need a magnifying glass to see why this one is a gem.

13. Death by Dying

The life of an obituary writer isn’t exactly thrilling but in a world where the most unlikely of deaths come attached to haunted bicycles, evil farmers, and cats with a deadly appetite, it’s just one of few misadventures in the life of a rookie occult investigator.

Death by Dying is darkly entertaining in its bold writing choices and macabre yet hilarious subject matter, making it an excellent blend of Wooden Overcoats and Less is Morgue. You’ll enjoy Death by Dying’s smooth narration, solid comedic timing, and intriguingly insane mysteries. It’s grim yet uplifting, discusses the dead and is yet filled with life in each episode.

14. Hannahpocalypse

It’s the end of the world as we know it and Hannah is doing weirdly fine. From Red Fathom Entertainment comes Hannahpocalypse, a comedy/horror audio drama from the perspective of the world’s last unliving girl who has (un)survived a zombie apocalypse merged with a Terminator-style apocalypse.

Hannahpocalypse is a smartly written, tongue-in-cheek take on post apocalyptic tropes told from the perspective of the titular monster. Hannahpocalypse has weaved a funny and insanely charming piece of self aware comedy that’s a refreshing take on the usual piece of glum and gritty apocalypse fiction.

15. Who Killed Avril Lavigne: A Time-Traveling Pop Punk Podcast

Local teen edgelord Derek Walker has his head up in space and himself back in time when his substitute teacher sends him back to Warp Tour to investigate the disappearance of pop punk princess Avril Lavinge. From that premise alone, the best damn thing might be Who Killed Avril Lavigne: A Time-Traveling Pop Punk Podcast, a love letter to rock and the early 2000’s that will resonate with millennials and the average music fan.

6. Fuck Humans

Audio-fiction erotica is in itself quite a rare genre. Not that podcasts can’t talk about or include sex or sexually active characters, but many of which can hardly call themselves legitimate smut. And for the lonely adults in the world in need of some more sizzly soundbytes comes Fuck Humans, a fantasy romance for the eighteen and older audience.

Fuck Humans manages the art of combining both smut and story and doing so with expert consistency. All around, it’s the kind of show you can enjoy with a bit of privacy…or out in the open if you’re into that sort of thing. What could have been a mere monster mash is a rather simple tale about overcoming prejudices with a sexy twist.

7. The Penumbra Podcast

Be it you’re tuning in for the suspenseful cyber noir of private eye Juno Steel or the medieval misadventures of many a dreamy knight at The Second Citadel, The Penumbra Podcast is one of the more popular selections to have come out in years but has certainly earned its position among the greats. Excellently crafted with great characters and even greater mysteries to uncover, any path you choose guarantees hours of wit, whimsy, and wonderful angst.

8. Dark Dice

I personally feel like I’m still barely toddling into the realm of DnD podcasts which is a shame given how incredibly popular they are. An easy format thanks to the improvised storytelling aspects and the wholesome company of good friends with wild imaginations, but it takes far more than just setting up some sound equipment in your mother’s basement to make a session podcast worthy.

That’s why I highly recommend Dark Dice, a grim fantasy adventure following a lovably flawed party banding together to find the missing children of a nearby village while being pursued by a shapeshifting monster. Fool and Scholar Productions creates a solid atmosphere with the kind of interesting creatures, mysterious lands, and high stakes you find in the likes of Thrilling Adventure Zone and Critical Role. So roll for initiative and check it out.

9. Rover Red: Alone in the Apocalypse

As someone so hung up on their own nostalgia that they still have Adobe Flash installed on their computer purely out of spite, it’s no wonder I’m still not over Rover Red: Alone in the Apocalypse, a gloriously short-lived science fiction thriller that debuted in 2017 and, much like a sentient implant drilled into my ear canal, hasn’t left my mind since.

In this rather intense show we follow the adventures of Leah as she navigates the ruined remains of a post-apocalyptic world with only an artificial intelligence and the motivation to find her brother pushing her through increasingly difficult trials that a mysterious council, i.e. listeners, were able to vote on.

Even if there’s only so few episodes to spare, it’s worth a peak regardless for its iron hard tension, excellent world building, and blend of psychological horror and science fiction adventure that makes Ender’s Game look like Little Einsteins.

10. THE INFINITE NOW

As far as non-linear, artsy shows go, THE INFINITE NOW  is a short and sweet but certainly fun little detour. To describe the show’s premise is a bit of a tall order as it’s more or less a random selection of spacy monologues narrated by the show’s creator Richard Penner. But if you have a taste for surrealism, existential horror, and some atmospheric music, it’s an excellent selection to backtrack your next blunt rotation with some close friends.

11. The Meat Blockade

High-brow surrealist comedy with singing pirate frogs and lamb scrotum isn’t the kind of thing you’d be bragging about in your next book club but somebody’s gotta break the ice, especially if you’re in the similar company of Kafka enthusiasts.

The Meat Blockade by the Hennesy brothers is a thrillingly absurd look into the unlucky life of Karl Berenger as he desperately tries to crawl his way back home after one single choice lands him in the gaping maw of Nighttown. Gorgeously edited, fabulously acted, and never slacking in surprises, it’s a wonderfully bizarre romp that wears its inspiration on its sleeves.

12. SAYER

A favorite, always going to be a favorite, and is still a favorite to this day. SAYER is the science fiction horror audio drama debut of Adam Bash who has weaved a positively fascinating if terrifying futuristic dystopia. And it’s through the eyes of the titular SAYER, as well as a number of other equally dysfunctional artificial intelligences, that we learn about the dark secrets and darker tragedies befalling the citizens of Typhon.

13. Hadron Gospel Hour

Hadron Gospel Hour is the kind of show your dad would like, maybe even my dad would like, but that hasn’t stopped teenage me or adult me from being insanely fond of easily one of my favorite audio drama sci-fi comedies.

With its wacky dimension hopping, reality bending mishaps, and chaotic duo of a mad scientist and average joe, Hadron Gospel Hour was Rick and Morty before Rick and Morty was cool, so it’s worth a listen simply for that level of hipster street cred.

14. Return Home

Small towns with big secrets is common ground to tread for many fiction series with varying levels of success. There’s something just so oddly humble about the hidden secrets of an average community being brought to the forefront and it’s things like Return Home that reminds me of the potential they have to be fun, wonderfully bizarre experiences.

Though it may not be for everyone, Return Home is one of those shows that has a little bit of everything: comedy, strange supernatural forces, and romance all wrapped up in a package that’s so unashamedly authentic. With a loveable trio as the leads and an interesting slew of monsters to pick from, this long trip to Melancholy Falls is a nice blend of creative and campy.

15. Adventures in New America

Night Vale Presents is nothing short of a seal of quality around these parts so it’s no wonder that shows like Within the Wires and Alice Isn’t Dead are such beloved audio drama favorites that still have just the slightest DNA of our favorite desert town in its veins. And though those shows are darling to me, Adventures in New America feels like a truly unique entity.

Branching off from the more Americana-esque vibes of Night Vale Presents other works, this show decides to walk in the pond of political satire with a cyberpunk twist. In this “Afrofuturistic buddy comedy”, tag along with best friends IA and Simon Carr as they wind up in increasingly more absurd heist missions on the dangerous streets of New New York City for the deliberate goal of landing in jail for the benefit of free health insurance.

I think it was around the time the first episode rolled out to a cold open of our protagonist receiving an egg from an exuberantly speaking God of Memory followed by a series of her having short-term memory issues that I realized what I was strapping in for. Paired with some catchy, rhythmic clapping for scene transitions and an incredibly tasteful orange on blue title card and I was pretty much sold within the first five minutes.

Our lead, Imogen “Em” Chandra-Phankam, lives in the fantastical yet modern city of Godshead and works at the local newspaper as an advice columnist that the show gets its name from. But after said predicament with the God of Memory, Em is compelled to find her missing sister and requests the assistance of a master thief who goes by the pseudonym Lorem Ipsum. Along the way we learn more about the city, its people, and just who the real and fake gods of the world really are.

And though I’ve merely gotten a peak of what it has in store, I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t already hooked. It’s really the setting of Godshead that gives it such a magical meets mundane atmosphere that becomes broader and broader the longer we stay in its city streets.

This is especially helped by the fact Godshead delivers one of my favorite narrative devices where the listener takes a backseat to the world building and we piece together the most relevant information merely from interactions. Em being well aware of how things work but still capable of learning new things about it actually strengthens the narrative rather than cripples it, not only characterizing her but lending to the central tone to the show over all.

I have no problem with wide-eyed, naive protagonists but it’s nice to have the roles changed every once in a while, where we are truly the ones seeing how things really work as we go along without being talked down to. Peaking in on the lives of these everyday people in an extraordinary world that’s so incredibly normal to them delivers that blend of mysticism needed to keep us invested but not alienated.

It’s pretty masterfully done “show, don’t tell,” letting even its weirder details feel like an authentic part of the narrative that doesn’t have to be extensively exposited.

Godshead is only five episodes in as of this writing and yet nothing has quite grabbed me the way it has in some time. And that’s saying a lot, seeing as how the last show that got my attention this quickly was 2017’s The Penumbra Podcast.

It may not be to the length of marathon listening, but its rather seamless storytelling keeps all its parts interwoven nicely until you make your inevitable return. Which for me means I grabbed a diamond in the haystack a little ahead of time but also leaves me with much more to speculate and predict for the show’s long term run.

But for what little I’ve listened to, I positively adore the energy between Em and Lorem Ipsum. Em’s grounded, slightly cynical behavior clashing against Lorem’s unpredictable wit and theatrics makes for a solid leading audio drama duo and if the “queer idenity” tag found in the press kit is anything to go by, possibly a budding romance.

Don’t blame me for jumping to conclusions here. Ishani Kanetkar as Em and Cole Burkhardt as Lorem have some solid chemistry, and I’ve just always personally been a fan of the “straight man and quirky but competent charmer” dynamic–Juno Steel and Peter Nureyev of The Penumbra Podcast being a standout case, with Renee Minkowski and Doug Eiffel of Wolf 359 being a non-romantic example.

Be it partners in crime, unlikely acquaintances, or potential lovers, them being together in the same scene makes for some electrifying moments which for me is always a stamp of approval.

Point is, no matter what direction the two’s relationship goes, it’s bound to be fascinating and is easily one of the best parts of the Godshead listening experience. But Em and Lorem certainly aren’t the only string to the show’s bow. The deeper lore, budding mystery, and solid dialogue is what really gives Godshead that special spice to its ambrosia and Em and Lorem being center stage for the time being is just an extra bonus.

You’re very quickly endeared to the supporting characters Em interacts with in her daily life be it Therese whose the walking embodiment of a Pinterest board or the adorkable Tervis. And with acting credibilities like The Strange Case of Starship Iris and Our Fair City under the belts of some of the actors, you know the voice work is going to be as satisfyingly delivered as it is satisfyingly written.

I like the snappy dialogue, I like the subtle but meaningful world building, I like the mystery plot that’s motivating the protagonist, I like the blending of everyday living and fantastical phenomenon, I like how the episodes always include a Maddie Monday segment that remind me of the advice columns I always read in my favorite tween girl magazines. Godshead just feels like the kind of show that will deliver a weird, whimsical vibe with a grounded twist.

Godshead paints with a very broad yet very precise brush and definitely seems to know what direction and general vibe its trying to deliver. It’s composed of a lot of single, punchy moments and strong dialogue and even minor interactions have stuck with me in the long term. Every little thing from pigeons to minor thefts serves the purpose to not just inform but develop its cast and city in a way that feels so authentic.

To truly synopsize THE INFINITE NOW is a tricky one, and clearly an intentional struggle at that. From what I can gather, the “story” takes place in an alternative timeline that seems to be a mirror of our own but with a number of obvious differences.

Either that or these are a collection of shortwave frequencies being sent to the “time agents” mentioned in the introduction, implying the existence of time travel. Or, and this is my last guest, the titular Timescanner who is reading off these announcements is some form of corporate representative providing “audio material based on transmissions from outside of time” as the official website is to assure me.

But all that doesn’t really matter as in the end, THE INFINITE NOW is a collection of short-form and barely connected trips into surrealism and science fiction that vary between bite sized ramblings and detailed instructions.

THE INFINITE NOW is an experience and though that statement is undeniably pretentious, its one I say with honest sincerity.

A favorite trope of mine is certainly applying magic to the mundane, taking things we’re familiar with and flipping it on its head to make it more grandiose or terrifying. Perhaps this is what gave Night Vale its initial appeal to so many listeners, but while Night Vale dabbles into eldritch horror with a touch of existentialism, THE INFINITE NOW is that with the settings just a notch higher on the whole “tiny spec in the middle of an indifferent cosmic void” thing.

The way time is treated with the same standards as tax returns-merged with the encroaching excitement of the final seconds of New Year’s Eve, how comets are observed with the same intense analysis as an animal documentary, it’s all such an excellent turn on expectations that have rooted a place in my mind deeper than some of the biggest audio drama plot twists.

THE INFINITE NOW is intense, bizarre, random, occasionally oozing with erotic energy, and somehow it all works so wonderfully. This has much to do with its choice of presentation with its crisp audio editing and excellent and varied selection of background music thanks to talents like Psychic Mold, Dr Quandary, and  Aliceffekt giving it quite the atmospheric soundtrack.

THE INFINITE NOW is the kind of show that truly embodies aesthetic pleasantness. It makes me think of arcade cabinets and lucid dreaming, it’s one of few podcasts that makes me consider smoking a bong or painting my ceiling wall with stars or taking up my mother’s obsession with vinyl records.

And if anything, I wish it was just a little bit longer. It’s more meaty episodes like its debut and “THE COMET BREEDER” that really got me wrapped up in its universe and though the small snippets like “YOUR AUNT BETH” are immensely charming, I always find myself going back to “MARTIAN THIRST TRAP” or it’s incredibly in-character interview with Radio Drama Revival to remind me of just how great the series can be with a longer runtime.

But perhaps that’s the point, these side notes are just extra padding to a rather dense and impressive scope that makes me appreciate the world all the more when I get to see beyond its starry exterior while still knowing almost nothing at all. Perhaps more information would put some meat on its bones but it’s a sustainable and entertaining romp nonetheless that avoids being too thorough in a world it wants to keep mysterious.

The series is just so abundant with details about immortality, alien life, and a variety of ecosystems and colorful characters, it’s hard not to get at least a little wrapped up in its world and pining for what else it has to offer.

1. Wolf 359 on Walkman

Invoking a certain Guardians of the Galaxy vibe, Wolf 359 on a Walkman just kinda fits that brand of grungy, underdog space fiction with an urban twist. The age of the Walkman was practically extinct by the time I was even a fetus but definitely something early-thirties Doug Eiffel would probably have laying around his cabinet drawers.

Nostalgia is a cruel mistress and perhaps the awkward fiddling and painfully unstylish headphones doesn’t quite fit everyone’s definition of old fashion coolness, but it's an undeniably fitting one that fits the nature of the show a little too well. Bringing back what was once obsolete is something of a trend nowadays and maybe one day Sony could consider a brand deal for a customized line of Wolf 359 players and tapes for the new generation to enjoy.

2. The Infinite Now on Vinyl

I waxed poetically about the science fiction podcast THE INFINITE NOW, in my most recent review and mentioned briefly how it scratched this itch for aesthetic pleasantness, namely the uncharted territory of vinyl records. Though far past my generation, even farther than Walkmans for that matter, I can still see the value in the scratchy, authentic ambiance vinyls create. 

THE INFINITE NOW seems to borrow some inspiration from Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon” in terms of visuals and seeing its ominous pyramid painted a bright turquoise against a descending night background just screams 70’s to me. Imagine that on a vinyl sleeve and the mood speaks for itself.

3. Inkwyrm on CD

If there’s anything Inkwyrm reminds me of it’s an interesting combination of my feminine Y2K sensibilities pushed through the filter of a playful science fiction setting. As someone who lives and dies on their aesthetic, regardless of how impractical or unnecessary, I feel Inkwyrm would definitely feel the same about my pick.

Inkwyrm has the kind of sass that feels in place in The Devil’s War Prada or Mean Girls and there was just something about the reliance on CD players still being in full force with the budding popularity of IPods during the early 2000’s that really matches Inkwyrm’s pace.

Some cute cover art to grace the disc with and it would honestly be doing your underused car stereo a favor. Or, if you really want to get stuck in the 2000’s, a full blown boombox baring the podcast’s insignia. 

And in terms of alphabetical order, they’d be bumping shoulders with Ingrid Michaelson in the music store so at least they’d be in good company. Perhaps I’m projecting my own personal obsessions onto this, but they were the ones who decided to make a show about fashion in the first place. 

4. Brimstone Valley Mall on Virgin Records Listening Stations

Brimstone Valley Mall is definitely a show that has its general vibe figured out from the get-go and that vibe is that of gothic retail shenanigans that could only possibly be appreciated by the most authentic of mall window shoppers.

And if there’s anything that sparks to memory when listening to Brimstone Valley Mall it's spending my adolescence visiting the Virgin Records in Southern California’s Ontario Mills and sampling CDs by this sort of special section along the right wall. 

Those at least twenty or up probably know what I’m talking about, the real draw of the store’s layout beyond the collection of colorful music paraphernalia, books, and pricy merchandise your mom wouldn’t let you buy.

Many a demo from the 2000’s was available here-She Wants Revenge, the Gorillaz second studio album, Demon Days, and somewhere between Avril Lavigene and Breaking Benjamin would be Brimstone Valley Mall with its wonderfully stylized cover art and an attitude that perfectly encapsulates the hey-day of the mall shopper.

This would also technically allow it the same position of CD with Inkwyrm by default-and I would never pass up the opportunity to have a Brimstone Valley poster or a tracklist with titles like “Goth as F*ck” and “Little Singing Monster Machines” gracing the back of a plastic case-but the real fans would be all over fully embracing the show’s 1999 atmosphere.

5. ROVER RED: Alone in The Apocalypse on Flash Drives

ROVER RED is the kind of audio drama experience that was gone too soon and perhaps executed too brilliantly to truly reach a conclusion right when a burning question was presented to the narrative. I suppose it already qualifies for its own special category of accessibility seeing 

as how you have to scurry over to their YouTube channel to get your fill of the episodes, but let’s take it a step further.

Befitting its uncomfortable, dystopian setting that’s an excellent blend of Ender’s Game, The Hunger Games, and Portal, there’s something in my head that keeps imagining a collection of flash drives to really get into the spirit of things. 

And not the kind found in your local Best Buy, but a number of password protected websites and a series of word and number puzzles that made the grind worth it. Maybe competitive online games of Pong to win a personalized EVIE laptop that would make Cortana reconsider her line of work. Overly complicated and contrived? Absolutely, but I’m sure the OTHERWHERE wouldn’t have it any other way.

The point here is that the options here are plenty: Hadron Gospel Hour via an outdated model of Windows software, The Bright Sessions stored on those cards that play audio whenever you open them-it's all about living and dying on the aesthetic which is something I personally find nothing but endless satisfaction in.

In summary, the two leads get separated and...something happens in between that brief moment which burdens Ruth with a sudden illness and reluctance to explain exactly what’s wrong with her.

The real underlying suspense comes from this and, given the nature of the show, it’s fair to assume there is something more out of the ordinary than just a common cold in play here.

My guess? Possession, but that’s just a shot in the dark with only a few episodes to deduce what might actually be going on.

Right off the bat it’s all around a nice blend of history with a light horror hook that hasn’t quite reached its peak yet but I definitely see things getting more and more unnerving as things continue. I do like Virginia’s love for subtlety and vagueness and how the info-dumping provided by podcast guests are more or less background noise to what is a much more menacing threat.

And yet the real draw for me was less the urban legend and history angle and actually the relationship between the two leads that provides some excellent contrast between everyday conflict and something much bigger and scarier on the horizon.

Elizabeth and Ruth’s dynamic is as authentic as it is awkward so seeing the few times they’re actually getting along makes their bickering all the more somber to listen to. Ruth’s more stubborn and down to earth while Elizabeth is starry-eyed and ambitious, causing the two to clash fairly often.

I do appreciate the rookie aspect of it all, how incredibly amateurish the two leads are brings some grounded perspective and vulnerability to the storytelling, even if all their worst times of going off script involves them putting their hooks into one another. 

A lot of it is fairly subtle as well-cutting each other off, making quiet but snide comments-it really nails that uncomfortable energy of watching two strangers argue without being too theatrical. This is definitely helped by the acting which really gets that natural vibe across, a trait I just love to see in shows with this format. Deliberately coming off as a beginner takes a certain level of skill that’s one part acting and one part pretending like you’re not acting.

I can’t help but compare it to a short but fairly impressive science fiction audio drama, POD 115 that I checked out in the summer of this year.

It has most of Untold Virginia’s key points now that I think about it: a slightly unhealthy dynamic between the hosts, having at least one guest per episode, real life blending with genuine supernatural threats, and the “podcast within a podcast” framing device done by first-timers. Just a pinch of The Tunnels southern horror setting and realistic atmosphere and that’s pretty much Untold Virginia in a nutshell.

But with all that in mind, has the show entirely sold me on its concept yet? Yes, I think so, but it might be too early to tell.

An incredibly likely hurdle to face with such an early impression but Untold Virginia is certainly the kind of show that likes to lay out its foundation before really going for the kill and so far it’s ultimately worked in the show’s favor. 

It's the mood and sound editing of episode three’s “Genealogy and Mayflower Roots” that shows what the podcast is really capable of and I honestly hope to see more of it as the season pushes forward. 

Though its scares aren’t front in center, there’s this very unsettling detail of Ruth’s labored breaths backing the guest’s monologue. With what little we know about her condition, I was seconds away from assuming Ruth was gonna rip the poor man’s throat out or collapse from exhaustion but the painful coughing fit she’s subjected to genuinely made me uncomfortable.