At my home now, we conÂstantÂly tell stoÂries: to disÂtract, soothe, entertain—telling and retelling, colÂlabÂoÂraÂtiveÂly authorÂing over meals, lisÂtenÂing to a ton of stoÂry podÂcasts. These activÂiÂties took up a good part of the day before all hell broke loose and schools shut down. Now they guide us from mornÂing to night as we try to imagÂine othÂer worlds, betÂter worlds, than the one we’re livÂing in at present. We are paintÂing on the walls of our cave, so to speak, with brave and fearÂful images, while outÂside, conÂfuÂsion sets in.
Lest anyÂone think this is kid stuff, it most assuredÂly is not. NarÂraÂtive coherÂence seems parÂticÂuÂlarÂly imporÂtant for healthy human funcÂtionÂing. We may grow to appreÂciÂate greater levÂels of comÂplexÂiÂty and moral ambiÂguÂiÂty, it’s true. But the desire to expeÂriÂence realÂiÂty as someÂthing with arcs, rather than erratÂic and disÂturbÂing non-sequiturs, remains strong. ExperÂiÂmenÂtal ficÂtion proves so unsetÂtling because it defies acceptÂable notions of cause and conÂseÂquence.
From the tales told by plague-disÂplaced arisÂtoÂcrats in Boccaccio’s Decameron to the radio draÂmas that enterÂtained famÂiÂlies shelÂterÂing in place durÂing the Blitz to our own podÂcast-satÂuÂratÂed coroÂnÂavirus media landÂscape…. StoÂries told well and often have a healÂing effect on the disÂtressed psyÂches of those trapped in world-hisÂtorÂiÂcal draÂmas. “While stoÂries might not proÂtect you from a virus,” writes Andre Spicer at New StatesÂman, “they can proÂtect you from the ill feelÂings which epiÂdemics genÂerÂate.”
In addiÂtion to advice offered throughÂout history—by many of Boccaccio’s conÂtemÂpoÂraries, for examÂple, who urged stoÂry and song to lift plague-weary spirits—“dozens of studÂies” by psyÂcholÂoÂgists have shown “the impact stoÂryÂtelling has on our health.” Telling and hearÂing stoÂries gives us lanÂguage we may lack to describe expeÂriÂence. We can comÂmuÂniÂcate and anaÂlyze painful emoÂtions through metaphors and charÂacÂterÂiÂzaÂtion, rather than too-perÂsonÂal conÂfesÂsion. We can expeÂriÂence a sense of kinÂship with those who have felt simÂiÂlarÂly.
PerÂhaps this last funcÂtion is most imporÂtant in the midst of catÂaÂstroÂphes that isoÂlate peoÂple from each othÂer. As realÂiÂty refusÂes to conÂform to a sense of approÂpriÂate scope, as carÂtoonÂish vilÂlains destroy all proÂporÂtion and probÂaÂbilÂiÂty, empaÂthy fatigue can start to set in. Through the art of stoÂryÂtelling, we might learn we don’t have to share othÂer peoÂple’s backÂgrounds, beliefs, and interÂests to underÂstand their motiÂvaÂtions and care about what hapÂpens to them.
We can also learn to start small, with just a few peoÂple, instead of the whole world. Short ficÂtion brings unthinkÂable abstractions—the death tolls in wars and plagues—to a manÂageÂable emoÂtionÂal scale. Rather than showÂing us how we might defeat, avoid, or escape invisÂiÂble antagÂoÂnists like viral panÂdemics, stoÂries illusÂtrate how peoÂple can behave well or badÂly in extreme, inhuÂman cirÂcumÂstances.
Below, find a series of audio draÂmas, both ficÂtion and non, in podÂcast form—many feaÂturÂing celebriÂty voicÂes, includÂing Rami Malek, CatherÂine KeenÂer, Tim RobÂbins & more—to help you in your jourÂney through our narÂraÂtiveÂly exhaustÂing times. ParÂents and careÂgivers likeÂly already find themÂselves immersed in stoÂries much of the day. Yet adults, whether they’re raisÂing kids or not, need stoÂryÂtime too—maybe espeÂcialÂly when the stoÂries we believed about the world stop makÂing sense.
Alice Isn’t Dead — Apple — SpoÂtiÂfy — Google — Web Site — A truck driÂver searchÂes across AmerÂiÂca for the wife she had long assumed was dead. In the course of her search, she will encounter not-quite-human serÂiÂal murÂderÂers, towns litÂerÂalÂly lost in time, and a conÂspirÂaÂcy that goes way beyond one missÂing woman.
BlackÂout — Apple — SpoÂtiÂfy — Google — AcadÂeÂmy Award winÂner Rami Malek stars in this apocÂaÂlypÂtic thriller as a small-town radio DJ fightÂing to proÂtect his famÂiÂly and comÂmuÂniÂty after the powÂer grid goes down nationÂwide, upendÂing modÂern civÂiÂlizaÂtion.
LifeAfter/The MesÂsage — Apple — SpoÂtiÂfy — Google — The MesÂsage and its sequel, LifeAfter, take lisÂtenÂers on jourÂneys to the limÂits of techÂnolÂoÂgy. n The MesÂsage, an alien transÂmisÂsion from decades ago becomes an urgent puzÂzle with life or death conÂseÂquences. In LifeAfter, Ross, a low levÂel employÂee at the FBI, spends his days conÂversÂing online with his wife CharÂlie – who died eight months ago. But the techÂnolÂoÂgy behind this digÂiÂtal resÂurÂrecÂtion leads Ross down a danÂgerÂous path that threatÂens his job, his own life, and maybe even the world. WinÂner of the Cannes Gold Lion.
HomeÂcomÂing — Apple — SpoÂtiÂfy — Google — HomeÂcomÂing cenÂters on a caseÂworkÂer at an experÂiÂmenÂtal facilÂiÂty, her ambiÂtious superÂviÂsor, and a solÂdier eager to rejoin civilÂian life — preÂsentÂed in an enigÂmatÂic colÂlage of teleÂphone calls, therÂaÂpy sesÂsions, and overÂheard conÂverÂsaÂtions. StarÂring CatherÂine KeenÂer, Oscar Isaac, David SchwimÂmer, David Cross, Amy Sedaris, Michael Cera, MerÂcedes Ruehl, Alia Shawkat, Chris GethÂard, and Spike Jonze.
LimeÂtown — Apple — SpoÂtiÂfy — Google — Web Site — The premise: Ten years ago, over three hunÂdred men, women and chilÂdren disÂapÂpeared from a small town in TenÂnessee, nevÂer to be heard from again. In this podÂcast, AmerÂiÂcan PubÂlic Radio reporter Lia HadÂdock asks the quesÂtion once more, “What hapÂpened to the peoÂple of LimeÂtown?”
MothÂerÂhackÂer — Apple — SpoÂtiÂfy — Google — Web Site — The plot: Bridget’s life is a series of dropped calls. With a gift for gab, an ex-husÂband in rehab, and down to her last dolÂlar, Bridget’s life takes a desÂperÂate turn when she starts vishÂing over the phone for a shady idenÂtiÂty theft ring in order to supÂport her famÂiÂly.
PasÂsenÂger List — Apple — SpoÂtiÂfy — Google — Web Site — Atlantic Flight 702 has disÂapÂpeared mid-flight between LonÂdon and New York with 256 pasÂsenÂgers on board. Kaitlin Le (KelÂly Marie Tran), a colÂlege stuÂdent whose twin brothÂer vanÂished with the flight, is deterÂmined to uncovÂer the truth.
SanÂdra — Apple — SpoÂtiÂfy — Web Site — Co-stars KrisÂten Wiig, Alia Shawkat, and Ethan Hawke. Here’s the plot: Helen’s always dreamed of ditchÂing her homeÂtown, so when she lands a job at the comÂpaÂny that makes SanÂdra, everyÂone’s favorite A.I., she figÂures it’s the next-best thing. But workÂing behind the curÂtain isn’t quite the escape from realÂiÂty that Helen expectÂed.
The Angel of Vine — Apple — SpoÂtiÂfy — Google — Web Site — A present day jourÂnalÂist uncovÂers the audio tapes of a 1950s priÂvate eye who cracked the greatÂest unsolved murÂder mysÂtery HolÂlyÂwood has ever known… and didn’t tell a soul. StarÂring Joe ManÂganielÂlo, Alfred MoliÂna, ConÂstance ZimÂmer, Alan Tudyk, CamilÂla LudÂdingÂton, and more.
The Bright SesÂsions — Apple — SpoÂtiÂfy — Google — Web Site — A sciÂence ficÂtion podÂcast that folÂlows a group of therÂaÂpy patients. But these are not your typÂiÂcal patients — each has a unique superÂnatÂurÂal abilÂiÂty. The show docÂuÂments their strugÂgles and disÂcovÂerÂies as well as the motiÂvaÂtions of their mysÂteÂriÂous therÂaÂpist, Dr. Bright.
The OrbitÂing Human CirÂcus — Apple — SpoÂtiÂfy — Google — DisÂcovÂer a wonÂdrousÂly surÂreÂal world of magÂic, music, and mysÂtery. This immerÂsive, cinÂeÂmatÂic audio specÂtaÂcle folÂlows the advenÂtures of a loneÂly, stage-struck janÂiÂtor who is drawn into the largÂer-than-life uniÂverse of the OrbitÂing Human CirÂcus, a fanÂtasÂtiÂcal, wildÂly popÂuÂlar radio show broadÂcast from the top of the EifÂfel TowÂer. WNYC StuÂdios presents a speÂcial director’s cut of this joyÂous, movÂing break from realÂiÂty. StarÂring John Cameron Mitchell, Julian Koster, Tim RobÂbins, Drew CallanÂder, SusanÂnah Flood, and feaÂturÂing Mandy Patinkin and CharÂlie Day.
The Truth — Apple — SpoÂtiÂfy — Google — Web Site — The Truth makes movies for your ears. They’re short stoÂries that are someÂtimes dark, someÂtimes funÂny, and always intriguÂing. Every stoÂry is difÂferÂent, but they all take you to unexÂpectÂed places using only sound. If you’re new, some good startÂing places are: SilÂviÂa’s Blood, That’s DemocÂraÂcy, Moon GrafÂfiÂti, Tape Delay, or whatÂevÂer’s most recent. LisÂtenÂing with headÂphones is encourÂaged!
The Walk — Apple — SpoÂtiÂfy — “DystopiÂan thriller, The Walk, is a tale of misÂtakÂen idenÂtiÂty, terÂrorÂism, and a life-or-death misÂsion to walk across ScotÂland. But the forÂmat of this stoÂry is — unusuÂal. The Walk is an immerÂsive ficÂtion podÂcast, and the creÂators want you to lisÂten to it while walkÂing. It begins with a terÂrorÂist attack at a train staÂtion; you are the proÂtagÂoÂnist, known only as WalkÂer, and the police think you’re a memÂber of a shadÂowy terÂror group called The Burn.” “Author NaoÂmi AlderÂman, whose latÂest novÂel was a bestÂseller called The PowÂer, is the creÂator of The Walk.”
We’re Alive — Apple — SpoÂtiÂfy — Google — An award-winÂing audio draÂma, origÂiÂnalÂly released in podÂcast form. Its stoÂry folÂlows a large group of surÂvivors of a zomÂbie apocÂaÂlypse in downÂtown Los AngeÂles, CalÂiÂforÂnia.
Wolf 359 — Apple — SpoÂtiÂfy — Google — A sciÂence ficÂtion podÂcast creÂatÂed by Gabriel Urbina. FolÂlowÂing in the traÂdiÂtion of GoldÂen Age radio draÂmas, Wolf 359 tells the stoÂry of a dysÂfuncÂtionÂal space staÂtion crew orbitÂing the star Wolf 359 on a deep space surÂvey misÂsion.
These podÂcasts can be found in the new colÂlecÂtion, The 150 Best PodÂcasts to Enrich Your Mind.
RelatÂed ConÂtent:
How Can Boccaccio’s 14th CenÂtuÂry Decameron Help Us Live Through COVID-19?
1,000 Free Audio Books: DownÂload Great Books for Free
Josh Jones is a writer and musiÂcian based in Durham, NC. FolÂlow him at @jdmagness