When I say podcast, you probably think of NPR’s news podcasts, the informational but sometimes boring episodes of the likes of Serial, or the many, many sports podcasts that exist.
However, as lucrative and popular as these podcasts are, they don’t capture the full scope, or the best part, of podcasts.
Audio dramas are an underappreciated genre of podcasts that operate similarly to television shows, with actors playing scripted characters, but simply without the visual element.
With nearly 150 million subscribers each, Netflix and Hulu have a reputation as the best ways to binge a show. However, for those who don’t have the time or money to subscribe to multiple streaming services, audio dramas are a perfect alternative. The stories are just as compelling and binge-able as many shows on Netflix, and it’s easy and convenient to listen to them while walking to class or doing laundry.
The first question people ask when they first hear about audio dramas is how they’re different from audiobooks. The simplest response is that audiobooks are like movies, and audio dramas are like TV. While audiobooks are one long piece you buy all at once, audio dramas usually release 30 minute episodes every other week.
You probably find it daunting to switch to an entirely new medium of storytelling, but audio dramas are not as hard to access as they seem. Most audio dramas can easily be accessed for free on a podcast app on your phone, and getting started is as simple as Googling the name of a podcast you’re interested in.
For novices to the world of audio dramas, Wolf 359 is a great starting point. It starts out funny and engaging, and the flawless sound design makes it feel like a TV show without the “show” part.
Many audio dramas also surpass TV shows in terms of diversity. There are a multitude of podcasts with well-written female main characters, such as Alice Isn’t Dead and Girl in Space, as well as great LGBTQ representation, such as in The Penumbra Podcast or The Strange Case of Starship Iris.
Overall, audio dramas are an undiscovered gold mine in the world of podcasts. If anyone is looking for something to listen to while walking to class or doing chores, I highly recommend audio dramas. You will find a world of wonderful stories just waiting to be heard.
I thought your passion blog was very well written and organized. You first tied audio dramas to more familiar mediums of entertainment, and then explain how it is unique and able to stand out from the audio-related entertainment. Following the introduction with strong examples of audio dramas also helps to further persuade the reader to start listening to them. The only thing I would add is where someone looking to get into audio dramas would find them. This might only be because I am unfamiliar with them, but is there a specific streaming site for them, or does each drama release them on their own platform? Overall, this was a great introduction to audio dramas, and had a lot of compelling arguments to convince the reader to watch them.