Welcome to the magical realm of fantasy podcasts, where grown adults spend hours passionately debating whether Gandalf could take Dumbledore in a fight while simultaneously maintaining that their hobby is “totally different” from those nerds who play Dungeons & Dragons. In this wonderful corner of the internet, you’ll find everything from scholarly discussions about the socioeconomic implications of dragon hoarding to actual-play shows where professional voice actors pretend to be elves with daddy issues for three hours straight.
These audio adventures have spawned faster than kobolds in a dungeon, each promising to transport you to worlds where your biggest concern isn’t your mortgage payment but whether you remembered to pack enough healing potions for the inevitable betrayal by that sketchy rogue character.
So dust off your +3 headphones of podcast listening and prepare to launch yourself into a universe where everyone has strong opinions about magic systems, the phrase “roll for initiative” is considered high drama, and you can somehow feel superior to other fantasy fans because your preferred method of escapism involves zero dice and marginally more social acceptability.
Counterbalance
Counterbalance stands as an epic fantasy audio drama series. A rupture has been carved through the mystical fabric that generates arcane power, permitting malevolent entities that endanger the safety of human beings to take physical form. The narrative follows three individuals as they embark on a quest to repair this breach while simultaneously investigating the identity of whoever was responsible for creating the initial tear.
Rivals of Waterdeep
This audio series chronicles an extended 5th edition Dungeons & Dragons gaming session brought to life by a skilled ensemble of performers and production team.
Inn Between
An adventurous fantasy tale set during the intervals between quests, where five champions face creatures, enchantments, combat, and camaraderie within the strategically positioned Goblin’s Head Inn.
Fantasy Magazine
FANTASY is a digital publication edited by Christie Yant and Arley Sorg that exclusively features fantasy literature across all subgenres. The magazine delivers monthly original fiction, poetry, and essays that explore the human condition through fantastical storytelling. Additionally, the FANTASY podcast, produced by Grammy winner Stefan Rudnicki of Skyboat Media, offers bimonthly audio fiction episodes.
The Adventure Zone
The McElroy brothers: Justin, Travis, and Griffin, known from My Brother, My Brother and Me, have enlisted their father Clint to participate in an epic quest. Listeners can follow the McElroy family as they seek treasure and defeat countless creatures such as kobolds and other monsters throughout their journey in The Adventure Zone.
Tale of the Manticore, a Dark Fantasy Dungeons & Dragons Audiodrama
Tale of the Manticore represents a fusion of grim fantasy audio storytelling and single-player D&D gameplay. The dice determine all crucial outcomes while the creator serves as narrator, translating their results into compelling narrative. This blend of storytelling and gaming creates a unique experience where “Chaos rolls” drives the plot forward.
Worlds Beyond Number
Brennan Lee Mulligan, Erika Ishii, Aabria Iyengar, and Lou Wilson gather to create narratives through gaming sessions. The results are quite entertaining.
Stories from the Hearth
Stories from the Hearth is an experimental audio series by Scottish poet Cal Bannerman featuring original fiction across fantasy, historical, supernatural, and science fiction genres. The podcast includes immersive soundscapes and occasional storytelling history segments called The Wandering Bard, with episodes lasting 15-90 minutes and artwork by Anna Ferrara.
Join the Party
Join the Party is an actual play podcast featuring immersive storytelling and inclusive gameplay. Their current campaign explores superhero high school adventures, while completed stories include Campaign 3’s pirate tale with plant and bug characters, the Camp-Paign’s supernatural summer camp setting, Campaign 2’s modern superhero saga, and Campaign 1’s high fantasy adventure. Monthly Afterparty episodes address listener questions, with new content released Tuesdays.
Sidequesting
Sidequesting presents a fantasy audio series centered on evading the primary storyline. The show tracks Rion, a wandering hero eager to assist nearly anyone with their problems – provided they don’t expect him to confront the menacing sorcerer that dominates local conversations.
Back Again, Back Again
Back Again, Back Again is an Audioverse Award-winning audio drama following Ilyaas, who returns to the real world after fulfilling a prophecy in the fantasy realm of Rhysea. The series explores her readjustment to ordinary life while processing her extraordinary experiences as a portal fantasy hero.
Omen
Omen, a fantasy audio drama from the creators of Girl in Space, follows three improbable champions as they attempt to prevent a sinister plot while managing their own conflicts. The series ventures through ancient ruins and across treacherous waters, examining whether camaraderie holds genuine power. all amid swashbuckling combat and explosive mayhem.
The Broadswords
The Broadswords, a non-binary and women-led actual play D&D podcast, takes place in Rashemen, a realm dominated by mysticism, governed by sorceresses, and blanketed in perpetual winter. Warriors rage across the landscape while phantoms wander the icy wilderness. Yllairies, Keilah, and Mépris each carry personal motivations for traveling northward, yet discover they share a common fate as instruments in a celestial scheme. The series follows these adventurers as they decode the secrets of Rashemen.
Hello From The Magic Tavern
Arnie Niekamp tumbled through an interdimensional gateway located behind a Burger King and emerged in the magical realm of Foon. Despite his displacement, he maintains a weak internet connection that enables him to broadcast a regular podcast from the Vermilion Minotaur tavern, where he conducts interviews with sorcerers, creatures, and heroes. This represents a groundbreaking find!
Rude Tales of Magic
This improvised RPG podcast features creators from Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, Comedy Central, Marvel Comics and more as they navigate the crude fantasy realm of Cordelia. Branson Reese leads Christopher Hastings, Carly Monardo, Tim Platt, Joe Lepore, and Ali Fisher as unlikely survivors investigating Polaris University’s disappearance to restore education to their world.
Alba Salix, Royal Physician
The acclaimed fantasy-comedy series Alba Salix features an overworked, cynical witch who serves as healer to the royal family and citizens of Farloria, assisted by her irritating apprentice Magnus and a scatterbrained fairy named Holly. Its spinoff The Axe & Crown chronicles the mishaps of Gubbin the troll innkeeper alongside his oblivious landlord Stan and his dubious niece Betula.
The End of Time and Other Bothers
An improvisational fantasy RPG situated within the Alba Salix, Royal Physician universe. The series employs the Dungeon World system and spontaneous storytelling to craft narratives featuring wingless fairies, half-demons, cafeteria staff, oppressive regimes, enchanted cascades, and cryptic tomes. Additionally, the apocalypse factors into the storyline at some point.
Just Roll With It
An exceptionally potent Dungeons and Dragons audio series where the participants simply embrace whatever unfolds.
Dungeons & Dickheads
A spontaneous, chaotic yet heartwarming weekly comedic D&D podcast created by three unknown individuals, a Game Master with boundless tolerance, and an enchanted otter.
Critical Role
Critical Role presents a collection of voice acting enthusiasts engaging in tabletop RPG adventures. The platform showcases exceptional collaborative narrative creation through imaginative improvisation. Viewers can discover their tabletop gaming content and related programming, featuring Critical Role, Exandria Unlimited, 4-Sided Dive, and an expanding library of standalone episodes.
The Call of the Flame
An epic fantasy presented as an audio drama. The saga follows Bri’s quest alongside her Orc, Elvan, Dwarven, and Halfin allies as she strives to absolve her father of slaying the Divine Chieftain and return magical equilibrium to the realm.
Imaginary Worlds
Imaginary Worlds explores science fiction, fantasy, and speculative fiction through thoughtful journalism by host Eric Molinsky, a former public radio producer. Biweekly episodes feature interviews with creators and fans about worldbuilding, suspension of disbelief, and how fantastical stories reflect human experience.
The Once And Future Nerd
When three Pennsylvania high school students become stranded in a realm of sorcerers, elves, and medieval politics, they must adapt to their new environment and embark on a monumental mission to protect the world from advancing chaotic forces. The audio drama features mature content including strong language, violent imagery, and sexual themes in service of historical authenticity within this tale of magic and fantasy.
The Heart Pyre
The Heart Pyre presents an interactive epic fantasy audio drama centered on enigmatic flames, governmental corruption, and ancient deities lost to time.
Dark Dice
A spine-chilling tabletop RPG podcast featuring Dungeons & Dragons gameplay. Every season follows adventurers as they venture into the shadowy depths of a mystical realm populated by dragons and creatures of nightmare. Their harrowing experiences leave them forever transformed.
The Kingmaker Histories
On February 19th, 1911, within the borders of the Valorian Socialist Republic, a tailor’s apprentice called Colette Geise suffered from a debilitating headache that destroyed her existence. THE KINGMAKER HISTORIES chronicles a steampunk fantasy quest following three small-time lawbreakers who become entangled in a mystical conflict that will determine the destiny of their nation in the aftermath of revolution.
Dimension 20
Brennan Lee Mulligan serves as the dungeon master for FANTASY HIGH, which marks the inaugural season of the DIMENSION 20 tabletop gaming collection. Beloved performers from the CH ensemble make their comeback to navigate the challenges of Aguefort Adventuring Academy, currently accessible in podcast format.
Starfall
Starfall presents a fantasy audio drama chronicling the exploits of the Carouvel Traveling Acting Troupe – a theatrical company that employs enchanted artifacts to produce spectacular illusions during their performances as they journey throughout the Falstenian Empire. The narrative commences when the company welcomes Leona, a young fighter harboring a secretive history and even more enigmatic abilities.
Not Another D&D Podcast
NADDPOD features Dungeon Master Brian Murphy guiding players Emily Axford, Caldwell Tanner and Jake Hurwitz through humorous actual-play adventures in Bahumia and Beyond, with music by Emily Axford. The team produces multiple D&D campaigns plus series like DUNGEON COURT and 8-BIT BOOK CLUB, and performs live shows. Discover the best episodes of Not Another D&D Podcast.
Dice Tower Theatre
A group of young heroes, united by deep bonds of love and kinship, is thrust into a journey to uncover the truth behind dragon magic and track down those who have stolen it, before the rising power of the Dark Army consumes their world. Raised in secrecy by knights in exile, each has developed a distinct and vital skill, complementing the strengths of the others.
Do you know of another fantasy podcast that you think should be on this list? Let me know.
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