For a fiction podcast, lasting 14 years is a remarkable feat.In fact,
Welcome to Night Vale
is currently the longest-running continually produced fiction podcast available, boasting over 280 episodes. While some argue
We’re alive
holds the title, that show has experienced important breaks between seasons. The story of Night Vale, a peculiar desert town, now spans 12 seasons, three books, and at least 10 live standalone shows.
Created and written by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor, the podcast draws heavily from the works of H.P. Lovecraft. Each season unfolds its own narrative arc, but broadly, the show portrays a town existing in an alternate reality. In Night Vale, Angels are real, yet acknowledging their existence is forbidden; librarians are described as perilous creatures with “thousands of spiny legs” and “pincers”; and a Faceless Old Woman secretly resides in your home.
Thes concepts are unsettling at face value, but Fink and Cranor intentionally lean into the absurdity of cosmic horror, refusing to take things too seriously. each episode features a musical interlude presented as “The Weather.” The show frequently showcases lesser-known artists, but past contributors include jason isbell, The Mountain Goats, Waxahatchee, Angel Olsen, Open Mike eagle, and Sylvan esso.
Welcome to Night Vale
also serves as an excellent introduction to the horror genre for younger listeners. While H.P. Lovecraft’s work is frequently enough unsuitable for children due to its racism and violence,
Night Vale
presents those horrors as entertainment. It provides an opportunity to bond with children over a shared appreciation for the creepy and unusual, while offering a positive message.
Welcome to Night Vale
is available on most podcast platforms,including Apple Podcasts,Pocketcasts,YouTube,and Spotify.
