10 Incredible Podcasts with a Documentary and Storytelling Format (Fiction and Nonfiction)

Jan 31, 2024

It’s national storytelling week! Unfortunately, it’s a little too cold to be sitting around the campfire spinning yarns and tall tales, but we’ve still got plenty of stories up our sleeves! That’s right, we’re sharing our picks for great storytelling options in podcast format. Get excited for your daily commute as you check out these riveting stories from mysteries to sci-fi to true crime. They’re so good you might even want to leave earlier than usual so you can fit in an extra episode or two on the drive. And, of course, they make great travel and road trip playlists all year round, too.

Here are ten great storytelling and documentary style podcasts:

Here Be Monsters Podcast is a unique podcast exploring fear, beauty, and the mysterious side of life! This podcast loves to find the line between weird, dark, and deeply personal heartfelt stories. There are content notes posted for each episode, so you can pick and choose the topics and content that fit you best. It’s an unconventional and unexpected treat that always piques interest.

Desert Oracle Radio is great for the folks seeking thrills and adventures. Each weekly episode covers a new, strange story about the desert of the American West. From odd lights in the sky to strange and unusual occurrences to missing people to unsettling creatures out in the wilderness, there’s no shortage of mystery!

Love&Radio is chock full of interesting characters, unusual lifestyles, and a unique documentary format conversation style podcast. These emotionally engrossing episodes will engage and entertain you as you drive. With an eclectic mix of subjects and topics, you’ve certainly never heard anything like this before. If you’re looking for something to shake up your commute, these stories will certainly do the trick.

Live, Laugh, Larceny is a theatrical parody podcast for fans of dark comedy and true crime. If you’re a fan of shows like “Only Murders in the Building”, we bet you’ll love this podcast. With original storylines presented over original musical scores created by two lifelong best friends, this faux murder documentary format is jampacked with entertaining content that keeps you laughing and listening one episode after another.

Welcome to Nightvale has been long-hailed by critics and listeners as a brilliantly deadpan and surreal news satire podcast. With more than 225 episodes, this bi-monthly podcast is chock full of mystery, mayhem, and magic. If you’re a fan of shows like The X-Files or Twin Peaks or Supernatural, we bet you’ll really enjoy this series.

Digital Folklore is an immersive podcast exploring the relationship between all things internet: memes, legends, monsters, and more! This documentary style narrative explores the origins of our favorite internet topics via an academic lens as told through unique storytelling, theatrical voice acting, featured interviews, and more. It’s a great way to toe the the intersection between folklore and fact without having to be “chronically online.”

Who Killed Alaska follows the misadventures and mysteries of an eccentric stoner and a private detective as they explore clues to hopefully solve a mysterious death! This audio drama features two seasons of top notch voice acting and high production value for a truly immersive storytelling experience.

Kane and Feels is a radio serial style old-timey noir podcast following a pair of private investigators who explore the unknown! Kane is a scholarly soul and a true academic, and is balanced by Brutus, an excop with plenty of feelings to balance out that braun. Join them as they explore the unsettling atmosphere and unsavory characters in their universe of paranormal mysteries.

This American Life is a weekly serial public radio program with a new episode theme each week. From personal stories and anecdotes to tales with a twist, there’s no shortage of interesting content here. These offbeat and mostly true stories explore what it means to be human, and teach us how to find the extraordinary in an ordinary, everyday life.

In Strange Woods is a creative fictional documentary podcast with an original folk-pop musical score. In the aftermath of a local teenager who has gone missing, this investigative story spins a mystery marrying interviews, clues, and a wholly unique score. Each episode gives us a chance to explore what it means to grieve, wade through the struggles of adolescence, and explore the connection between humanity and nature.

What are some of your favorite storytelling and documentary format podcasts to listen to as you drive? Let us know in the comments on our social media!