9 Podcasts That Tell Stories in Unusual Ways
With Ben Weaver-Hincks, Podcast Producer
Podcasting is today one of the fastest growing forms of media, and with its explosion in popularity has also come a rich landscape of creativity, innovation and experimentalism. Here, Ben introduces 9 podcasts – both fictional and documentary – that push the boundaries of storytelling in their own way:
1. Heavyweight
Each episode of Heavyweight has a single goal: to help someone resolve something from their past. Every story follows a different person, but together they paint a picture of the diversity and complexity of what it means to be human. Ultimately, the show demonstrates that all lives contain stories worth telling.
2. Alice Isn’t Dead
Told as an audio diary, this fictional series follows a trucker as she searches for a wife she presumes to be dead. On the face of it, this is a classic supernatural mystery, but it soon establishes its own unique style and expansive universe.
3. The Memory Palace
These short narratives uncover forgotten or misunderstood moments from history in unique ways, and in doing so they bring the past to life. The Memory Palace does that difficult thing: creating perfectly formed episodes that always leave the listener wanting more.
4. S-Town
S-Town begins as a true crime investigation, but it soon becomes a baroque portrait of the life and death of one man. Some have pointed to the ethical complexity inherent in the show’s subject matter, but it is undoubtedly a brilliant piece of audio documentary-making.
5. The Clearing
The Clearing is a true crime podcast in reverse - not so much a 'whodunnit' as a 'whatdunthey'. The show tells a human story without attempting to sentimentalise or simplify, critiquing the tropes of its own genre along the way.
6. Dolly Parton’s America
How do you tell the story of an icon in a way that feels fresh and engaging? Dolly Parton's America blends music, history and biography to give a sense of a person and the time and country in which they live.
7. Calais 2037
Set in the near-future, and featuring a stellar cast, Calais 2037 is an audio drama exploring many of the political and social issues of our time. It also pioneers a First Person Immersive approach, which puts the listener at the heart of the action.
8. 9/12
This new podcast, released to coincide with the 20th anniversary of September 11, asks us to look beyond our memories and understanding of one of the most infamous days from recent history. Notably, it does so by focusing on its aftermath - from its effects on comedy and notions of freedom to the Islamophobia and conspiracy theories that developed in its wake. 9/12 shows that every story is worth revisiting.
9. Neutrinowatch
The technology that delivers podcasts to our devices can also be used to create experimental experiences. While this series contains just a handful of episodes, each one changes daily, creating a never-ending series of possible journeys for the listener. Neutrinowatch demonstrates the many exciting innovations we can expect from the future of podcast storytelling.
Ben Weaver-Hincks
Ben is a producer, creative consultant, researcher and writer, working across digital media, theatre and the arts. As a producer, he has worked on multiple Top 20-charting podcast releases, from interview series to documentaries, and has several audio projects in development.