So you’ve burned through every episode of “Midnight Burger” and now you’re wandering the metaphorical interdimensional void, desperate for another fix of philosophical sci-fi shenanigans served with a side of existential crisis? Join the club.
We’ve all been there, hunched over our phones at 3 AM, frantically searching for anything that might fill the Gloria-sized hole in our podcast queue. Well, put down that dimensional compass and stop asking the universe for answers, because I’ve done the dimensional traveling for you.
Below is a meticulously curated list of audio dramas that, while not exactly identical to our beloved time-and-space-hopping diner (because let’s be honest, nothing truly replaces Medea’s cooking), might just satisfy your craving for the weird, the profound, and the inexplicably heartwarming. You’re welcome.
Desert Skies
Along a quiet stretch of road between this life and whatever comes next lies a final stop we all must visit. Desert Skies Astral Plane Fuel and Service Station is where travelers pause before continuing their voyage through the cosmic realms. Meet the Attendant, the Mechanic, and C.A.S.H. Register, your guides in getting ready for the journey ahead.
Wolf 359
Doug Eiffel, communications officer aboard the U.S.S. Hephaestus, is stuck on a long-term mission 7.8 light years from Earth, orbiting the red dwarf star Wolf 359. His only companions are the strict mission leader Minkowski, the unhinged science officer Hilbert, and the malfunctioning AI, Hera. With little to do but monitor static and old radio broadcasts, Doug passes time documenting the bizarre, isolating life aboard the station. “Wolf 359” is a mix of space adventure, character-driven drama, and absurd comedy.
ars PARADOXICA
After a scientific experiment in a time much like the present takes a disastrous turn, Dr. Sally Grissom is thrown into the past and becomes involved with a secretive division of the U.S. government. She and her team soon discover that tampering with the core rules of reality comes with serious consequences, and no margin for error.
Tower 4
Mike Archer has just taken on a job as a fire lookout in the forests of Wyoming. It’s a fresh start after the loss of his mother, and he plans to spend his time in a tower above the trees, writing his book and watching for wildfires. But the solitude isn’t as calm as he expected, bizarre radio signals echo through the night, and eerie sights and sounds emerge from the woods. As the days go on, Mike begins to wonder: is something truly out there, or is isolation playing tricks on his mind?
We’re Alive
“We’re Alive” is an acclaimed audio drama that tells the story of a group of Survivors navigating life in a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles overrun by the “Infected.” The journey starts with “A Story of Survival”, covering Chapters 1–48, where the group unites, builds a stronghold called the Tower, and soon realizes that the Infected may not be the most dangerous enemies in this new world.
The Silt Verses
In this horror-fantasy drama, Carpenter and Faulkner journey along their god’s forbidden black river, seeking divine truth. As they travel, they’re hunted by authorities and encounter strange, rival deities in the wilds.
King Falls AM
“King Falls AM” follows a late-night AM radio show in a small, isolated mountain town filled with strange events and unusual residents. New episodes drop on the 1st and 15th of each month. To catch all the weirdness from the beginning, start with Sammy’s debut broadcast on May 1st, 2015.
Dirt – An Audio Drama
Listen to Dirt – An Audio Drama
A mysterious letter. A sender who couldn’t exist. Hidden truths beneath the surface. From STUDIO5705 comes a scripted fiction podcast set in modern-day Washington State, following one man’s quest to uncover a family secret and unearth what was buried long ago.
Forest 404
“Forest 404” is an eco-thriller starring Pearl Mackie, Tanya Moodie, and Pippa Haywood, with music by Bonobo. Written by Timothy X Atack and directed by Becky Ripley, each episode includes a story, a talk, and a nature soundscape, plus an interactive experiment on how nature sounds affect us.
Unwell
“Unwell, a Midwestern Gothic Mystery” from Audacious Machine Creative follows Lillian Harper as she returns to Mt. Absalom, Ohio, to care for her mother. In her family’s old boarding house, she uncovers ghosts, secrets, and an unexpected sense of belonging. All five seasons are now available.
Borrasca
“Borrasca” is a tense psychological thriller starring Cole Sprouse as Sam Walker. Season 1 follows Sam as he recalls the summer his sister vanished and the dark secrets of Drisking, Missouri. In Season 2, a figure from his past pulls him back to the haunted town, and the horrors he left behind.
Achewillow
“Achewillow” is a narrative podcast that follows Miriam DuFour, a French Canadian woman who finds herself pulled into the strange town of Achewillow and the secrets of her family’s past. Along the way, she encounters quirky locals, hidden magic, demons, coffee, and plenty of pastries.
We Fix Space Junk
“We Fix Space Junk” is a sci-fi comedy that follows experienced smuggler Kilner and unwilling fugitive Samantha as they navigate the galaxy, evading danger and encountering bizarre beings while taking on unusual jobs at the edge of the law. This female-led sitcom, set in a high-tech, dystopian future, draws inspiration from classic sci-fi, channeling the spirit of Harry Harrison and Douglas Adams’ “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”.
The Amelia Project
“The Amelia Project” is a covert organization that stages its clients’ deaths, allowing them to resurface with fresh identities. This dark comedy is filled with mysteries, surprises… and plenty of cocoa. What begins as a series of interviews with clients seeking to disappear gradually evolves into a much larger, unfolding story.
The Bright Sessions
“The Bright Sessions” is a sci-fi audio drama that centers on a group of therapy patients, each possessing a unique supernatural power. The series explores their challenges, personal growth, and the enigmatic motives of their therapist, Dr. Bright.
EOS 10
Spacefaring doctors, a fallen alien prince, an openly gay space pirate, and a fiery nurse who’s always ready to help you win your next bar brawl.
MarsCorp
“MarsCorp” is a 12-episode scripted sci-fi comedy podcast that follows Station Supervisor E.L. Hob during his first year at MarsCorp, a terraforming colony on Mars founded in 2070.
Among the Stars and Bones
Listen to Among the Stars and Bones
A group of xenoarchaeologists journey to far-off planets, uncovering remnants of a long-lost alien civilization. Each season unveils a new location, fresh mysteries, and escalating threats.
Dispatches from the Multiverse
Listen to Dispatches from the Multiverse
A quirky, weekly improvised sci-fi comedy podcast.
The Program audio series
Listen to The Program audio series
A sci-fi anthology set in a future where Money, State, and God have merged into a singular force known as the Program. Each episode tells a standalone story about everyday people living in this extraordinary world.
Mockery Manor
Summer of 1989, in the heart of rural England. Mockery Manor is a theme park where people vanish, and it’s up to a pair of wild teenage twins to track down the killer.
Death by Dying
The Obituary Writer of Crestfall, Idaho, becomes entangled in a web of bizarre and unsettling deaths, despite his job being limited to writing obituaries. In his investigation, he faces murderous farmers, carnivorous cats, haunted bicycles, and an abundance of eerie shadows.
Tanis
“Tanis” is a bi-weekly podcast from the Public Radio Alliance, hosted by Nic Silver. It’s a serialized docudrama that delves into the intriguing and unexpected mystery surrounding the myth of Tanis. The podcast examines the nature of truth, conspiracy, and information, exploring what occurs when science and fiction begin to merge.
Read our review of Midnight Burger