Podcast Corner

with Gavin Gaddis

Welcome to the Podcast Corner, your source for some of the best and most inventive podcasts around. Each month I'm offering up four bite-sized reviews, so read on and then listen in!

Want more podcast recommendations? You can find long-form reviews, musings on happenings in the podcasting world, and links to podcasts I produce at my website: thepodreport.com or follow me on Twitter @ThePodReport.

KALILA STORMFIRE’S ECONOMICAL MAGICK SERVICES (COMPLETE)

Produced by and starring Lisette Alvarez, Kalila Stormfire is an audio drama podcast about the titular Kalila, a witch trying to establish herself in a new town. Things aren’t as easy as originally expected and soon Stormfire has evidence to suggest a rival witch somewhere is doing everything they can to sink her business before it can get properly started. A rare example of a fictional witch being written and performed by an actual witch, Kalila is one of the best indie audio fiction shows out there.

kalilastormfire.com

MOONBASE THETA, OUT (ON HIATUS)

Every few months a podcast comes along that just grabs the listener by the lapels and shows them what the medium is capable of. On the surface, Moonbase Theta is a simple single-narrator audio drama about Roger Bragado-Fischer, a man sending out reports from the titular moonbase. Then the deft performance by Leeman Kessler - even with 4-minute episodes - sucks you into this fascinating, terrifyingly possible future. Then you realize the first season’s episodes start at 20 and count down to 1 and a sinking feeling sets in. Embrace that sinking feeling; MTA is one of the best sci-fi audio fiction series I’ve encountered. monkeymanproductions.com/moonbase-theta-out

FUZZY LOGIC (COMPLETE)

Ever think you know the answer to a question but still do a quick internet search before responding? Fuzzy Logic turns this idea on its head to deliver one of the funnier roundtable discussion podcasts in recent memory. Each episode four friends are tasked with answering questions that for sure have factual answers without looking anything up. Once they've talked out an answer, they go off to research the question and see just how right (or wrong) they were. The hosts are hilarious, the conversation never stalls, and the ever-present threat of being completely wrong keeps things interesting throughout. fuzzy.tumblr.com

THE CRYPTONATURALIST (BIWEEKLY)

This deceptively calming audio fiction series delivers fascinating tales of mythical creatures through the soothing narration of the titular character, a naturalist by way of cryptozoology. Each episode is packaged to feel like a David Attenborough nature documentary delivered by way of Bigfoot. The creatures are as fantastical as the host's voice is captivating. The show also features a wonderful break segment that spotlights short fiction and poetry in a similar manner to how Welcome to Night Vale showcases music each episode. Start from the first episode to hear a simple little concept blossom into a beautifully realized series. cryptonaturalist.com