Ever tried jumping into the middle of a TV series? Confusing, right? The same goes for serialized podcasts. So what is a serialized podcast, exactly? It's a story-driven audio series where each episode connects to the next. Think audio novels, not talk radio.
Since Serial exploded in 2014, these longform shows have turned podcasting into a mainstream obsession. The format works because it feeds our addiction to "what happens next" the same instinct that made Netflix a juggernaut.
Types of Podcasts: Not All Shows Are Created Equal
Let's break this down. Three main podcast formats dominate:
Serialized podcasts build one continuous story across episodes. Each installment depends on what came before. They're basically audiobooks with cliffhangers.
Episodic podcasts work standalone. Jump in anywhere. Each episode covers a complete topic. Most interview and news shows fall here.
Anthology podcasts offer self-contained stories under a common theme. Different characters and plots each episode, but a similar vibe throughout.
The difference matters. Serialized shows hook passionate fans who binge every episode, while episodic formats serve casual listeners who dip in and out.
Serial Changed Everything
Before Serial dropped in 2014, podcasting was still a nerdy fringe activity. Then Sarah Koenig's investigation into Adnan Syed's murder conviction changed everything.
It shattered download records. It redefined audience expectations. It turned true crime into appointment listening. It was the first podcast to hit 5 million iTunes downloads all by borrowing TV's weekly cliffhanger format and pairing it with radio's intimate tone.
After that, the floodgates opened. True crime surged. Hollywood circled. Big platforms started throwing cash at podcast studios. And they haven't stopped since.
Three Flavors of Serial Storytelling That Actually Work
True Crime & Investigations
Let's be honest: true crime dominates serialized podcasting. A 2023 Pew Research study found that 34 percent of U.S. podcast listeners regularly tune in, with women making up about 60 percent of that audience.
Standouts include:
- Your Own Backyard (2019-2021) - Chris Lambert's grassroots investigation helped solve the Kristin Smart disappearance
- Bone Valley (2022) - Gilbert King uncovered new evidence in a shady Florida murder conviction
- The Trojan Horse Affair (2022) - Serial Productions dug into a mysterious letter that rattled UK schools
These hit because they apply narrative structure to investigative journalism. What you get isn't just facts it's a story that pulls you along, one episode at a time.
Fiction Audio Dramas
Fiction podcasts brought back radio drama, but smarter and slicker. Sci-fi sagas, horror anthologies, psychological thrillers all usually packaged in binge-worthy seasons.
Recent hits:
- Old Gods of Appalachia - Gothic horror set in an alternate Appalachia, now big enough to fund a tabletop RPG
- Batman Unburied - Spotify's dark reboot of the Batman mythos with A-list talent
- The Magnus Archives - British horror podcast turned cosmic nightmare, all told through eerie "archival" recordings
These shows don't just tell stories they build entire worlds. No visuals needed. Your brain does the heavy lifting.
Smart Documentaries Beyond Murder
Not every serialized podcast is a body count.
- Wind of Change - Investigates whether the CIA secretly wrote a Scorpions ballad as Cold War psyop
- Dolly Parton's America - Cultural deep dive into America's most beloved glitter cannon
- Floodlines - Retells Hurricane Katrina using firsthand accounts that undercut the official story
They prove the format works outside true crime. If the storytelling's tight, the subject can be anything.
Best Storytelling Podcasts Right Now
Want the best podcasts that tell stories in 2025? Try these:
- Broomgate: A Curling Scandal - Yes, curling. Turns out scandal plus sportsmanship makes surprisingly compulsive listening
- Holy Sh!t - One woman thinks she's met Jesus. Her friend documents the fallout. Wild, funny, philosophical
- The Sandman - Neil Gaiman's comic, adapted by Audible with James McAvoy and cinema-grade sound
- Being Trans - Personal and political docuseries following multiple trans lives across America
- Can I Tell You a Secret? - The Guardian's cyberstalking investigation turned Netflix thriller
Making Your Own? Three Things Matter Most
Plan the Whole Thing First
Outline your story arc before hitting record. Where it starts, where it ends, how it builds. Episode one needs to hook, but also set up everything that follows.
Most hits run six to ten episodes per season. Less than that feels shallow. More and it gets flabby. Find the sweet spot.
Release Strategy Is Make-or-Break
You've got two main options:
- Weekly releases build hype, anticipation, community
- Full-season drops feed the bingers
A hybrid works too drop three episodes upfront, then go weekly. Just don't wing it.
Don't Let Listeners Get Lost
Use recaps, remind listeners of key points, and keep sound design consistent. Most importantly, end each episode with a reason to hit "next."
Where This Is All Headed
Serialized podcasts are only getting bigger. Platform exclusives, spatial audio, interactive storytelling all of it is heating up.
But at the core, nothing beats a good story told in the right order. The best podcasts that tell stories aren't just content. They're experiences. That's the power of serialized podcasting. And it's just getting started.
