Sci-fi spans across many different types of media. We all know about sci-fi movies, TV shows, and books, but sci-fi podcasts are another way to enjoy this timeless genre in the modern era. The big question for lovers of science fiction would be: what are the best sci-fi podcasts?
And really, that’s a great question.
Sci-fi is a broad spectrum in the podcast sphere. Based on research conducted by Zipdo, Sci-Fi podcasts made up 8% of all podcast downloads in 2023.
There are shows that are more informative, those that focus on classic pieces of sci-fi media, and those that are purely fictional and for entertainment. Which ones you choose will depend on what you’re in the mood for. Do you want to learn about forgotten sci-fi stories? Or are you ready to dive into a brand new story that will suck you in like a good audiobook?
Well, this list of the best sci-fi podcasts is for you.
The Appeal of Sci-Fi Podcasts
Science fiction isn’t usually what people think of when they listen to podcasts. However, the genre has leagues of dedicated fans. People tune in weekly to hear incredible stories, insights, and theories, thereby immersing themselves in a new science-fiction world.
When you think of the dedication that sci-fi fans have to the genre, think about fans of Star Wars, Stranger Things, or Dune. These worlds are vast and expansive, allowing people to escape into fiction and take a break from the stressors of real life. Fans of this genre will gather in online spaces and IRL conventions to converse with and relate to like-minded people. It’s truly a culture of its own.
Sci-fi podcasts are an additional medium to the beloved genre, allowing you to listen to well-narrated audios complete with music and smooth voices, so you can sit back and let yourself fall into a new world, no matter what you’re doing or where you are. If you’re someone who wants to get into podcasts but doesn’t enjoy the non-fiction genres that most people seem to talk about, getting into science fiction podcasts could be for you. This is especially true if you enjoy audiobooks or other immersive audio experiences.
The Best Sci-Fi Podcasts That You’ll Find Out Of This World
What is the criterion for something to be “the best”? Isn’t that subjective? Well, maybe for some it is. But the podcasts on our list today are highly rated and highly recommended for sci-fi fans.
For those who are already into the genre and those who are interested in getting started, these are some of the best sci-fi podcasts out there.
The NoSleep Podcast
The NoSleep Podcast has been going strong for about 15 years now, starting in 2011. This podcast began as a subreddit that encouraged people to submit scary sci-fi stories. Eventually, that evolved into the suggestion that a podcast should be created to read out the stories being posted.
Now, years later, the podcast uses professional musical scoring, voice actors, and sound effects to create an immersive listening experience to short stories submitted by authors. Each episode is about an hour long, and they release episodes weekly. They have a 4.7-star rating on Apple Podcasts and a 4.8 on Spotify. They’re currently on season 24 of the podcast and still going strong with 2 million monthly listeners.
The Strata
The Strata is a podcast with an ongoing, singular plotline. In this story, we follow a seasoned courier in a dystopian world who is forced to work for a ganglord to pay for his life-saving treatments. The story features sound effects, multiple voice actors, and a compelling narrative that will have you invested from beginning to end.
Despite being released only in 2021, The Strata already has 13 seasons, with fewer than 10 episodes per season. Each episode is around 30 minutes, including commercial breaks, so you’re in for bite-sized drama and intrigue.
The SCP Experience
If you grew up on SCP lore, this is the podcast for you.
For those who don’t know what SCP is, let’s go through a quick overview of it. The SCP is a long-running, fan-created, and maintained collaborative project that revolves around creatures and people called anomalies or SCPs. The term SCP stands for Special Containment Procedure, and the concept is pretty simple. The lore dictates that there is a special government-led organization (The SCP Foundation) that discovers, controls, and contains these anomalies.
These SCPs are usually based on spooky folklore and pop culture characters. Sometimes these things are actual creatures, sometimes more humanoid, and other times just objects. For example, SCP-087 is a staircase that descends forever and blocks light. So you’d essentially be trapped there for eternity, just walking down a dark staircase. But SCP-087-1 is the faceless creature that chases you down the staircase, with the unknown consequence if you get caught.
In a nutshell, that is what the SCP lore is. This project is popular in online horror spaces and is kept alive purely by fan-made content, including theories, analysis, videos, fan art, fan fiction, and yes, a podcast. The SCP Experience takes you into the perspective of different SCPs in each episode. The SCP lore is deep, which is what allows this podcast to already have over 500 episodes. Most of them are shorter, between 25 and 45 minutes, with a few outliers that are longer, but you should mostly be able to enjoy this podcast in small bursts.
And The SCP Experience sits at a 4.8 rating on Apple Podcasts and a 4.9 on Spotify. With thousands of reviews, no wonder The SCP Experience is amongst the best sci-fi podcasts to consider.
The Lost Sc-Fi Podcast
This podcast is for fans of classic science fiction. The kind that comes from the 20th century and shaped the genre as we know it today. The synopsis of the show promises to narrate “forgotten and underrated vintage science fiction short stories from the Golden Age of science fiction.” One particular episode, "Death Wish by Robert Sheckley”, narrates a story originally published in an issue of Galaxy Science Fiction in 1958.
The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast boasts a 4.7-star rating on Apple Podcasts and a 4.9 on Spotify. It’s a beloved and cherished show that aims to preserve amazing stories and highlight the mostly forgotten authors who wrote them. Unlike some of the shows on this list, it doesn’t feature a full cast, but the narrator is captivating nonetheless. The episode's length varies, with some, like the aforementioned “Death Wish by Robert Sheckley” being about 30 minutes, while others are over an hour.
The show has over 500 episodes, so there’s a lot of content to choose from if you want to jump into it.
I Am Echo
I Am Echo is a biweekly podcast with a 4.4-star rating on Apple Podcasts and a 4.3 on Spotify. There are currently two seasons, with each following different characters and storylines. Season one follows Catherine, who investigates the mysterious circumstances surrounding her father’s death. Season two follows Tony, who is in the middle of family drama and a major conspiracy.
The show is musically scored, well-voiced, and features sound effects. Even though the series only started in 2023, it has great momentum, and each episode pulls you in further. For fans of the show, it’s exciting to see where the creators could potentially take it.
Definitely don’t miss out on starting this one early on!
Welcome to The Night Vale
With over 27k reviews, Welcome to The Night Vale is still able to pull in a whopping 4.8 star rating on Apple Podcasts and a 4.9 star rating with 21k reviews on Spotify. Those numbers are incredibly promising, and this podcast certainly delivers.
Welcome to The Night Vale, follow the happenings in a mysterious town called Night Vale. Each episode follows a new person and situation in the town, with a horror/sci-fi premise. There are over three hundred episodes, but they’re short, and the creators claim you can start wherever you’d like and catch on to the podcast's story and formula easily. Though starting from the beginning would be a fun project as well.
Old Gods of Appalachia
Old Gods of Appalachia is a sci-fi podcast with a nearly perfect rating of 4.9 on both Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Each episode follows a different story based on Appalachian folklore. Rather than sounding like a TV show, Old Gods of Appalachia is narrated as if it's an audiobook, though there is music themed to the episodes. The storytelling is superb, and it’s the perfect show if you enjoy folktales.
The podcast has become so popular that it has even been adapted into a tabletop RPG, which die-hard fans enjoy immensely.
Bunker 8
Bunker 8 follows a man named Jack who is sent to a classified Earth outpost of the same name for a six-month mission. The longer Jack spends in Bunker 8, the more he begins to understand that something is very wrong for many reasons.
This podcast uses effects that create a deeper level of immersion, like those used when the narrator is supposed to be on a phone call. It makes the character that’s supposed to be on the phone seem like their voice is coming through a receiver, which is really nice while you’re listening. Bunker 8 has a 4.4-star rating on Apple Podcasts and a 4.5 on Spotify, though neither platform exceeds 1,000 reviews; the people who do listen enjoy it immensely.
Hard Drive
If you enjoyed Stranger Things, this podcast will be a treat for you. Priah Ferguson, who plays Erica Sinclair in Stranger Things, lends her voice to this immersive sci-fi podcast. In it, we follow a young woman who inherits her late grandfather’s hard drive. On it, she finds a task that leads her to discover and defeat a major conspiracy. The podcast trailer absolutely convinces you that Hard Drive is something you need to listen to.
There is only one season of this podcast so far, and it was just released in January of 2026. Despite being a new show with only 67 reviews on both Apple Podcasts and Spotify, it received 4.3 and 4.4 ratings on each platform, which places it on the list of the best sci-fi podcasts to listen to. Fans note that the show is high-quality and features a gripping plot.
Each episode is less than 30 minutes long, allowing you to catch up and binge in one day!
Mission to Zyxx
For the final selection in this lineup, we’re taking a more comedic route with Mission to Zyxx. This show describes itself as an improvised podcast sitcom. This show has a 4.9 rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, making it another pick with a nearly perfect rating. Mission to Zyxx aims to give you science fiction storytelling with a big dose of humor. It’s a great listen to start your morning and lighten your day.
The episodes are usually over an hour long, with over 150 episodes for you to enjoy. There is also plenty of bonus content, including additional episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and Q&As.
Finding Your Next Favorite Sci-Fi Podcast
Podcasts are a diverse medium where you can find shows on all of your interests. According to Zipdo, the science fiction podcast genre accounted for 8% of total downloads in 2023. Millions of people tune into the top sci-fi podcast shows every single week, getting their fill of the macabre, creepy, and fantasy elements offered by these fantastic shows.
So much work and effort go into these productions, and the quality of all the podcasts on this list is professional and nearly cinematic. Definitely check them out, and discover your newest sci-fi obsession.
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