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Hey, I'm finally on tumblr! *wave*
To introduce myself; I'm Leslie Gideon, podcast voice actor and writer. You may know me from my ADs The Path Down and Hallway to Nowhere, or from the plethora of other ADs I've voiced in!
Happy to be here! :)
I saw @starplanes do this and decided to have fun with the template :)
159!
Anon the podcast I have for you is The Path Down, which is a gentle slice of life story except for all these college kids have superpowers. It's about how you make your way forward in a world that's weird, even as your problems are oh so ordinary. Also it's written by Leslie Gideon who I love.
Podcasts with a plot but also characters who actively study? I don't exactly know what I want but I have this thing where I take on random elements of current fictional characters I'm following, and this can be anything from catchphrases, shamelessness, and anxiety. I'd like some motivations to study if you have any recs. Thanks and I love the blog, I've found some fun shows from here.
Glad to have helped you find shows before.
I'm not sure how much use I'll be here, I can think of a few characters who are very enthusiastic researchers or have studied hard in the past... They aren't students, is what I mean.
The closest to an active studier who comes to mind is Althaar (Life with Althaar), who's an alien diplomat living in human space, but his study often aligns more with human recreation: socialising, consuming media, making friends, cooking etc. He's a sweetheart and an eager learner, so, maybe? Life with Althaar follows John B, a human repairman who moves to The Fairgrounds, a large and extremely haphazard space station at the very edge of human space. His new roommate is polite and friendly, and rent is cheap, but there's one issue: said roommate is a member of an alien race humans find viscerally terrifying, on a primal level. Sci-fi, comedy, takes a while for the plot to pick up proper, especially given the episodes are HOURS long (I'm not complaining).
Edison Tucker (Where the Stars Fell) worked her ass off at uni and is a very qualified cryptozoologist. The show follows her as she moves to a remote town to investigate claims of strangeness and finds out way more than she'd bargained for. I'm a few episodes behind, but I hear the newest season is very gay.
Chell and Peter from Janus Descending are a xenopaleontologist and a xenoanthropologist respectively. Janus Descending is a heartbreaking sci-fi horror and follows their trip to investigate ancient alien ruins on a distant world, where they find more than they bargained for. You hear her logs first to last, and his last to first. Weirdly this is one of the only podcasts I can write/study along to.
Sally Grissom from ars PARADOXICA, an accomplished physicist, and is studying time travel. The show follows her as she accidentally invents time travel and finds herself pulled into shady government work in the 1940s.
The cast of season 3 of The White Vault are mostly university staff, investigating ancient ruins. The first two seasons of TWV follow a repair crew who get trapped in a remote base in the arctic when a seemingly never-ending blizzard rolls in, and decide to investigate the ruins beneath.
Nicholas Waters from season 3 of Archive 81 was very studious and passionate pre-podcast, but has since given up the french revolution for eldritch sorcery, which granted he's also studious with (his sister Chris, on the other hand, not so much). Dan seems to have also been an enthusiastic student, and I guess he's researching? Archive 81 follows a young archivist sent to digitise a collection of bizzare interviews made in an appartment building in the mid 90s. He has a bad time. Cosmic horror/mystery s1, cosmic+body horror/weird fiction for s2, cosmic horror/weird fiction/urban fantasy for s3.
I'm stopping there I'm not going to list every podcast with a researcher/scientist in it to you
Other passionate students of magic include:
Bea in Absolutely No Adventures is a student from our own world who decides she'd much rather study magic in a fantasy world (fair). The show is mostly about a baker who's The Chosen One in about every prophecy ever. He'll help out where he can, so long as there's absolutely no adventures. More slice of life than plot driven.
At least some of the kids in Electromancy, which is set in a prestigious school for magic and follows a young and very powerful electromancer who very much doesn't want to be there, and is just trying (and failing) to keep her head down.
Whisper and Talee from The Stonesinger Chronicles are both unlikely students to a powerful mage and academic. Whisper will read just about whatever he can get his hands on (whether it sticks is another matter), but Talee finds most study frustrating as she's never had a teacher try to adapt to her intense dyslexia. This podcast is a fantasy with a healthy dose of political intrigue.
Lastly, superpowers and technically some study gets done:
The Path Down is set at a university, though I honestly can't remember how much study actually gets done. Not so plot driven, follows a telepath in a world where superpowers are common enough, as she tries to balance college life with learning to manage her friendships and ability.
And of course Caleb and Adam from The Bright Sessions (which is about therapy for people with superpowers) are high-schoolers. So a bit of study there, though Dr. Bright and Sam arguably do just as much over the course of the show.
Wish there was one that fit the ask better, but maybe one will appeal. Good luck with your study.
5 Underrated Audio Drama: Cool Powers Edition
I am the biggest sucker for cool powers, and if you are too, you may have already heard more popular podcasts such as The Bright Sessions or SPINES (if not, why not add them to your list, too?). For the ✨5th edition✨ of 5 Underrated™, I went with typical superpowers, magic-based urban fantasy, and everything in between! Whether you want cool fights, super powered shenanigans, wholesome queerness (yep, they're all queer pods), magical slice of life, or all of the above, these 5 audio gems do not disappoint.
Up to date as of 13th August 2021
Desperado
"Blood magic, Voodoo magic, old gods, new gods: We've got it all! Follow the story of misfits from all over the world, as they try to survive and protect their heritage from modern-day crusaders."
Desperado follows three young people, who's patrons are all death gods, on their travels through the world as they try to achieve various personal goals. Really tasty, refreshing, and unique worldbuilding and some of the absolute best banter in any show I've encountered, it's fun, it's lively without being overwhelming, it's queer, and it's incredibly more-ish. There are currently 15 episodes of 15-45 minutes each, though usually about 25-30 mins.
Desperado is on major podcasting platforms and Spotify. Transcripts are available on the website and content warnings are given at the start of each episode. You can also follow their tumblr at @desperado-podcast!
The Beacon
"After surviving a dangerous encounter with a monster, Bee discovers she has the magical ability to control fire. Confused and with no heroic aspirations, she reaches out online to try and find others with impossible powers like hers - but finding them is only half the battle. Getting along and learning to protect everything important to them is another challenge altogether."
One of my first podcasts, and the first I found through Tumblr, The Beacon is technically the reason this account even exists. Anxious university student Bee discovers she has fire powers and starts a podcast to find other people like herself. Chaos ensues when she discovers she's not the only strange thing on campus. Slowly introduces more magic elements, the worldbuilding and lore is very tasty and holds my curiousity without feeling withholding. I really adore the characters in this one, they're all so unique, fun and memorable, with great and compelling dynamics. And of course very queer. While it is currently on hiatus, there are 24 full episodes of between 7 and 45 mins each, but usually about 25-30 mins, and 13 bonus/minisodes.
The Beacon is available on major podcasting platforms and Spotify. There don't seem to be content warnings, but transcripts of each episode are available on the website. You can also follow their tumblr at @thebeaconpodcast!
The Path Down
"It’s freshman year of college. Vanessa Ortega is a telepath struggling to control her power in more ways than she realizes. Dexter Sullivan is an aspiring animator still reeling from the loss of his parents two years ago. Between Vanessa’s telepathy and Dexter’s grief, they’ll soon learn that they each have to confront their inner demons."
An adequate description on this one, The Path Down is very much a slice of life/drama where some people have powers, and this is just a normal part of everyday life, with it's own benefits and struggles. Which I a big fan of, it's always interesting to see how powers affect everyday life. It also takes an interesting look at wealth inequality, interpersonal conflict and major mental health issues, especially trauma. Sound design is neat, the story is really easy to follow, and of course, it's very queer. The Path Down has 9 episodes of 15-20 mins each, or one 2 hour 20 minute supercut!
The Path Down is available on major podcasting platforms and Spotify. It has content warnings in each episode description, and transcripts of each episode are linked there as well. You can also follow their tumblr at @thepathdown!
The Phone Booth
"15 years ago, a girl named Beca Orlofsky stepped into the sky and exploded. Over the course of the following week, 99% of every living human on the planet gained a super-power. Now, podcaster Joe Pollard travels the world, interviewing people who went to sleep ordinary and woke up as something else."
This podcast is so cleanly-made and well done I'd actually initially planned to name-drop it in the intro, thinking it must already be a big name. It's not even the most listened to on this list, which, okay, they're all great, it shouldn't be a surprise, but I think it's the crispness and a slightly more mainstream feeling to it? Interviews from a world where 99% of the population has superpowers, with people from all walks of life: a firefighter, an anthropologist, musicians, a preacher, and so on. How they live, how the world changed for them with the introduction of powers, the history of the world and of them personally. Amazing emotion-packed writing, delicious worldbuilding, clean soundwork and strong but unintrusive music. The least queer on this list but not devoid of rep, either. 14 episodes of 15-35 mins each, but usually 20-25 mins.
The Phone Booth is available on major podcast platforms and Spotify. Unfortunately there do not seem to be content warnings or transcripts at this time.
VALENCE
"An urban fantasy fiction podcast."
VALENCE follows Liam, an anxious young magic user (muse for short), in a world where magic is shunned and frequently suppressed with various technologies. He's got a lot of problems in his day-to-day life, but his family is one he hoped he'd never have to deal with again. Until he receives a very intriguing offer. Slow but interesting start that moves into some of the most fun character interactions I've seen in a while. Very intriguing and entertaining. Queer, lively, great cast of voices, and if you have any affection for YA fiction you should absolutely give it a shot. Season 2 has just finished, and there are currently 24 episodes of 25-30 mins each.
VALENCE is on major podcasting platforms and Spotify. It has content warnings (complete with timestamps) in each episode description, and transcripts of each episode on the website. You can also follow their tumblr at @valencepod!
Want more good audio content?
5 Extremely Underrated Sci-Fi Podcasts
5 Underrated Weird Fiction Podcasts
5 Extremely Underrated Supernatural Podcasts
5 Underrated Sci-Fi Horror Podcasts
5 Underrated Comedy Podcasts
If you have any requests or suggestions for my next post, or just want to share some good content of your own, feel free to let me know in the notes!
Vanessa and Dexter wrap up their freshman year of college. At least the diner still has decent fruit tarts. Episode nine: God Only Knows is out now on Apple Podcasts and any podcatcher of choice!
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7EysUWkEj9q4dOIIYFDlCy?si=DgBhds9xToS8tMA1CzhOYg
Vanessa and Dexter have difficult conversations. Some talks go better than others. Episode eight: Different Frequencies is out now on Apple Podcasts and any podcatcher of choice!
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6qdn6yyWR2YFiN6DnI1cCD?si=3685065a4a844b8d
