Horror Outside the Table - Podcasts to Frighten and Inspire
September has just started, and that means that October is right around the corner. Many start planning their activities for the holiday season. Some (myself included) might already have things well underway. But with fall right around the corner, you might want to add some more horror to your everyday life.
I have a vast library of horror media. Nothing helps me create, plan, and run my creepy games than immersing myself in a good horror story. So over the years I have cultivated a selection of the horror genre that I enjoy the most. This is a list of Horror Podcasts I have listened to over the years that I have found great at both setting the mood and for coming up with spooky ideas of my own.
Greenwood Cemetery Mausoleum
No Sleep Podcast- Running for over 11 years, the No Sleep Podcast is currently on its 18th season. With a team of talented voice actors, they bring short form horror fiction to life. Free option available as well as a paid subscription which often adds an extra hour of material, as well as special bonus material. Related to the Subreddit of the same name, if you enjoy short horror stories this will be an excellent choice for you.
Old Gods of Appalachia- If you are looking for a different horror, look no farther than the Old Gods Podcast. Set in an alternate world, this focuses on the Appalachian region of the United States. The area has an ancient, unknowable evil that permeates those who inhabit the region. Living in the PA region, I really enjoyed some of the representation of the regions I have been around growing up. If you really like the world and want more of the alternate history, a TTRPG is on the way!
The Magnus Archives - Although complete, TMA has a vast archive of excellent stories. This follows the story of Jonathan Sims as he starts his new job as an archivist at the Magnus Institute. The horror steadily unfolds as Sims realizes he might have found something darker and older than he could imagine.
PseudoPod- Considered one of the first horror podcasts, Pseudopod excels at the short form horror genre. With over 800 episodes available, you can spend a lot of time going through their backlog. If you would rather listen to the best episodes, they provide a New Listeners Guide on their website.
Liberty: Tales from the Tower- For an interesting look at some unusual science fiction horror, I find the Liberty series to scratch that itch. Liberty follows the colony of Atrius. Generations of war along with lack of communication with the rest of humanity has created a gleaming city surrounded by a wasteland. Though as you listen, however, you might find that not everything is as it seems.
Final Thoughts
These podcasts have really helped me get into the horror headspace. Sometimes some stories presented will even give me inspiration for an adventure to make for 5E. I will usually note the episode and timestamp and come back later to write my thoughts.
These are some of the horror podcasts that I really enjoy, but there are many more out there. Do you have a particular podcast you enjoy? Let me know below!
My newsletter, Bjarke’s Dissonant Whispers, is now live! Find out what I am up to, what is coming up, and other miscellaneous things. If you are interested in signing up check here.
Have a question I have not covered and want my thoughts? Want to collaborate on some work in the future? Reach out to me on Twitter or here and let me know! I always love getting new ideas, and love to work with other creators on projects! Either way, I hope to hear from you!