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The Drabblecast Audio Fiction Podcast

Norm Sherman·200 episodes

ComedyFictionScienceAudio fictionWeird stories20-35 minStandalone episodesDark comedySpeculative fiction

The Drabblecast is a weekly audio fiction magazine that offers strange stories for strange listeners.

Why listen

The Drabblecast Audio Fiction Podcast is a long-running home for weird, funny, unsettling short fiction, hosted by Norm Sherman with a rotating mix of authors and narrators. Each episode feels like a compact strange-tales magazine, usually one polished story with Norm's oddball framing, episode art, and a taste for sci-fi, horror, fantasy, and dark comedy. It is ideal for listeners who like speculative fiction that can be eerie one week, absurd the next, and rarely sounds like anything else in their queue.

Episodes

30 min
May 6, 2026
Drabblecast 509 – All Roads Lead to Roam

Norm gives us the low down on his disgusting clot procedure, and we present the story “All Roads Lead to Roam” by Christopher R. Muscato. Like the story? Why not follow Christopher’s social media for more updates? Chrisrmuscato.bsky.socialhttps://x.com/chrisrmuscato Narrated by Kurai Kitsune. Catch more from them at http://www.furworks.uk Episode Art by Joel Bisaillon.Find more of […]

30 min
Mar 12, 2026
Drabblecast 508 – The Bridge

Come walk the road (or unsettling staircase leading down into the earth) less traveled this week on the Drabblecast, as we present author Rory Say’s story “The Bridge.” Enjoy! Episode Art by Bo Kaier           The Bridge by Rory Say   Before they were let loose on the beach, the boy […]

26 min
Jan 24, 2026
Drabblecast 507 – Fatal Conditions

The Quantum Doctor is in!  …on this week’s Drabblecast.  We bring you “Fatal Conditions,” by Chris Campbell.  Read by Onicia D Mueller. Want to find more of this episode’s author Chris Campbell’s work? Find them on Bluesky : https://bsky.app/profile/chriscampbell.bsky.social or on their website: https://www.clundycampbell.com   Like many good stories, Chris Campbell’s (he/him) starts with a wrong turn, […]

28 min
Nov 22, 2025
Drabblecast 506 – Window Boy

Silosibyn Sandalhemp (Cryptkeeper Norm) returns to host the Drabblecast Hallowellness Special, and the Drabblecast presents a production of Thomas Ha’s creepy short story, “Window Boy.” This story originally appeared in Clarkesworld.  Did you know Norm is working on an album? More details here.  Thomas Ha is a Nebula, Ignyte, Locus, and Shirley Jackson Award-nominated writer […]

30 min
Oct 2, 2025
Drabblecast 505 – No Real Creatures

⁠The Strangies⁠   Would you like to look on the inside of the Drabblecast to see if we look like what the outside does? Come look for fresh insides at our Patreon. We have ad-free episodes and bonus content to sate your curious mind. Narrator: Norm Sherman⁠Norm Sherman’s latest CD, “The Instruction Book” Author: J. […]

33 min
Jul 31, 2025
Drabblecast 504 – The Mub

We can, as well. Create. Respect. His. Might. This story originally appeared in Clarkesworld. Go here to learn more and vote for your favorite stories of 2023 and 2024: ⁠The Strangies⁠ ⁠Norm Sherman’s latest CD, “The Instruction Book” Thomas Ha is a Nebula, Ignyte, Locus, and Shirley Jackson Award-nominated writer of speculative short fiction. You […]

26 min
May 29, 2025
Drabblecast 503 – The Bleeding Tree

Listen to the Diggerman, the crooked music in his steps, the muddled drumbeat in his cusses. He can’t walk straight or talk straight. All those years of digging left him bent. A story of change and renewel and supernatural bears on this week’s Drabblecast! We bring you “The Bleeding Tree,”by Joe Koch. Also, Norm announcies […]

13 min
Mar 31, 2025
Drabblecast 502 – Good Boy

At last! Another touching dog story on the Drabblecast! This week we bring you an original by H. Robert Barland. Enjoy! H. Robert Barland is a teacher, Viking re-enactor and black belt martial artist. A former climber, film extra, and resident of the UK, he has now returned to Newcastle, Australia where he lives with […]

29 min
Mar 21, 2025
Drabblecast 501 – Pastorale

In a little pastel house, a seer and a psychopomp have questions. This week on Drabblecast– something’s fishy in a curious small town. We bring you a paranormal murder-mystery byCormack Baldwin & EV Smith. Enjoy! Cormack Baldwin (he/him) and EV Smith (he/she/they) are a daring duo of authors and editors. Together, they run Archive of […]

30 min
Feb 27, 2025
Drabblecast 500 – The Repairers of Reality

We made it everyone! On this, the 500th episode, a commissioned original from a Drabblecast favorite– Shaenon Garrity. Episode Art: Bo Kaier Your Local Repairers of Reality By Shaenon K. Garrity When Oreos came out in Red Bull flavor, Jojo decided it was time to take action. There were bigger problems in the world, obviously, […]

19 min
Jan 22, 2025
Drabblecast 499 – Nowhere

John Brown wears brown John Brown pants, on this week’s Drabblecast!  We present an original story by Kay Vaindal called “Nowhere.” Enjoy!  Kay Vaindal (she/her) is a coastal ecologist and weird fiction writer. Her work has appeared in Seize the Press, Dark Matter, and anthologies including This World Belongs to Us and Death’s Other Kingdom: […]

23 min
Jan 9, 2025
Drabblecast 498 – The Sol Searching Fool

A lesson on loneliness on this week’s Drabblecast– an original story by Arasibo Campeche called “The Sol Searching Fool.” Arasibo Campeche (he/him)”Arasibo is originally from Puerto Rico and has a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Biophysics. He writes science fiction, fantasy, and horror that’s often inspired by scientific principles. His work has appeared in numerous venues. […]

Dec 10, 2024
Drabblecast 497- The Goat Wife

This week on the Drabblecast- a melancholy story about loss, abandonment, and the perils of old magic. Avra Margariti is a queer author, Greek sea monster, and Rhysling-nominated poet with a fondness for the dark and the darling. Avra’s work haunts publications such as Strange Horizons, The Deadlands, F&SF, Podcastle, Asimov’s, Vastarien, and Reckoning. You […]

Nov 29, 2024
Drabblecast 496 – Sundays with Pop-Pop

Stop asking so many damn questions. Come and listen to the newest weird story from Pop-Pop. He’s got something important to tell you. Zachary Olson(he/him) is a freelance writer and composer from Phoenix, Arizona currently residing in Chicago. Updates on his work can be found on Twitter @obfuscatingGod and here.  Steve Lillie Find them here: […]

22 min
Oct 29, 2024
Drabblecast 495 – Jared Chapel’s The First Car Ballet

Lights! Wheels! Wipers! Curtain! This week, a marvel of machines and carbureted choreography awaits you.  Kay Vaindal (she/her) is a coastal ecologist and weird fiction writer. Her work has appeared in Seize the Press, Dark Matter, and anthologies including This World Belongs to Us and Death’s Other Kingdom: Horror Tales of WWI. Find them here.  […]

24 min
Oct 14, 2024
Drabblecast 494 – Trifecta: The Sherman Evening Post

You have a ring on your door bell, and laid on your stoop is a brown papered parcel, tied with damp twine. You bring the package inside, noticing that the sky is tinged a weird green. You smell burning hair.  You pull the ends of the twine, which is warm and wet and reminds you […]

28 min
Sep 27, 2024
Drabblecast 493 – China Doll

Your curiosity and your inner voyeur are calling. Will you be able to meet their gaze? This week on the Drabblecast we bring you “China Doll,”by Kelsea Yu. Our artists is Matt Driver. Sydney based artist. Instagram @mdriverart Read by the Word Whore. Kelsea Yu (she/her) is a Taiwanese Chinese American writer and mother living […]

19 min
Aug 25, 2024
Drabblecast 492 – Doubleheader: Christine Nogle

This week on the Drabblecast, become something new!  We bring you two stories about transformation by author Christine Nogle.  Narrated by The Word Whore. Reach your full biological potential at the Drabblecast’s patreon.      FALL INTO WATER, BECOME SOMEONE NEW by Christine Nogle Lines after lines of picnic tables are set on the plain, […]

14 min
Jul 25, 2024
Drabblecast 491 – Learn to Count With the Doomed Expedition

One, two, three, what’s that staring back at me? Four, five, six, I know what this viscera predicts… This week on the Drabblecast, we are going on a journey. Pack your bags, and bring extra socks for the clown. “Learn to Count with the Doomed Expedition” is a reprint story by T.B. Jeremiah. T. B. […]

Jun 27, 2024
Drabblecast 490 – Slime on my Hackles

This week on the Drabblecast, we have arrived in the seedy side of space. The sign on the front says, “Boffel’s”, and the sensation on your back you don’t recognize.  “Slime on My Hackles” is an original story by Jessica Jewell. Jessica Jewell (she/her) is a science fiction writer. She lives in Hamilton, Ontario with […]

Jun 16, 2024
Drabblecast 489- The Black Waters of Lethe

This week on the Drabblecast, we bring you a dark ancient tale from a distant lost land called “The Black Waters of Lethe,” by Oliver Buckram. Also, exciting news!  Norm is launching a new Kickstarter for his 3rd album, “The Instruction Book.”  And how! Follow the upcoming campaign here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/drabblecast/the-instruction-book The Black Waters of Lethe […]

May 24, 2024
Drabblecast 488- From Earth to Io, with Love

Tickets, please! Tickets! Right this way! Coupons to the right, and fast passes to left. NO pushing, folks. Watch your tendrils! Keep your goo to yourself. All lines will get you to the newest episode, “From Earth, to Io with Love. ” by Adelehin Ijasan!     Adelehin Ijasan is a Nigerian writer living […]

21 min
Apr 21, 2024
Drabblecast 487- Bad Meat

Our story this week is spoiling for a good time. Enjoy a delicious exploration of the human condition, “Bad Meat” by Chip Houser! Chip Houser (he/him) has stories in Bourbon Penn, PodCastle, Daily Science Fiction, and various other markets. “Dark Morsels,” a chapbook of his very short fiction, is forthcoming from Red Bird Chapbooks. He’s […]

12 min
Mar 23, 2024
Drabblecast 486- Those Who Forget and Those Who Perish

Our story this week is “Those Who Forget and Those Who Perish” by K. W. Colyard. Enjoy! Cover art by Steve Lillie Do you long to be a part of the mob? Did this week’s story give you mob-envy? Then do we have something akin to a mob, but less angry, and less muddy, and […]

22 min
Mar 1, 2024
Drabblecast 485- He Who Ruined Everything

Let us quell your unease with our favorite platitude, “When God closes a door, he opens a window, but when Tom Floss squints at the mob through his window, Roy boards up the door for him.” Our story this week is “He Who Ruined Everything” by L. N. Clarke. Cover art by Bo Kaier Do […]

19 min
Feb 6, 2024
Drabblecast 484- Cosmic Bowling

The Drabblecast hits the lanes this week with original story, “Cosmic Bowling” by Mike James Davis.  Cover art by Shane Bevin! Drabblecast Patreon Cosmic Bowlingby Mike James Davis I’m a frequent bowler, very frequent in fact, and nothing tickles me more than when my local lanes fire up an old throwback: Cosmic Bowl. The nostalgia […]

20 min
Feb 5, 2024
Cosmic Bowling

The Drabblecast hits the lanes this week with original story, "Cosmic Bowling" by Mike Davis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

16 min
Jan 1, 2024
Drabblecast 483- Snow

The Drabblecast wraps up 2023 with a Drabbleganza, followed by a story about tough decisions and leaving things behind– a Drabblecast original by Em Liu, called “Snow.”  Happy New Year! Drabblecast Patreon Cover art by Bo Kaier Snow by Em Liu I step out into the deep snow. In my right hand is a flashlight, […]

17 min
Jan 1, 2024
Snow

The Drabblecast wraps up 2023 with a Drabbleganza, followed by a story about tough decisions and leaving things behind-- a Drabblecast original by Em Liu, called "Snow." Enjoy, Happy New Year! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

24 min
Dec 19, 2023
That Bloody Frontier

The Drabblecast Weird West Event closes out this week with another original story– this time with epic train shoot-outs, centaurs, and manifest destiny! We bring you, “That Bloody Frontier” by Sasha Brown.Drabblecast PatreonCover art by Tristan Tolhurst Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

23 min
Dec 19, 2023
Drabblecast 482- That Bloody Frontier

The Drabblecast Weird West Event closes out this week with another original story– this time with epic train shoot-outs, centaurs, and manifest destiny! We bring you, “That Bloody Frontier” by Sasha Brown. Drabblecast Patreon Cover art by Tristan Tolhurst     That Bloody Frontier by Sasha Brown August 2, 1855 The bones of the railroad […]

26 min
Nov 24, 2023
Drabblecast 481- The Alamo

The Drabblecast Weird Wild West continues, with “The Alamo” by Cedrick May. Cover art by Tristan Tolhurst The Alamo by Cedrick May The wounded man raised his hand to point, and Sam watched as blood dribbled like raindrops from the end of his finger. “Water, boy… gimme’ some of that water there…” Sam turned to […]

28 min
Nov 24, 2023Episode 481
The Alamo

The Weird Wild West continues this week with "The Alamo," by Cedrick May.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

28 min
Nov 5, 2023Episode 480
Rusty Sue

The Drabblecast Weird West event continues, with “Rusty Sue” by Arthur H. Manners.Cover art by Tristan Tolhurst Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

27 min
Nov 5, 2023
Drabblecast 480- Rusty Sue

The Drabblecast Weird West event continues, with “Rusty Sue” by Arthur H. Manners. Cover art by Tristan Tolhurst Rusty Sue by Arthur H. Manners The last townsfolk bolted in the night, fleeing for their lives. Gen and I had watched the evacuation all day from the overlook, though I’d ordered us abed earlier. Fatigue didn’t […]

10 min
Oct 9, 2023
Headhunting

The Drabblecast kicks off the Weird West event, with Avra Margariti's story "Headhunting" and 100 word story Quickdraw contest winner "Taming the Larvalands" by Matt Blairstone. Enjoy!Art by Tristan Tolhurst Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

8 min
Oct 9, 2023
Drabblecast 479-Headhunting

The Drabblecast kicks off the Weird West event, with Avra Margariti’s story “Headhunting” and 100 word Drabble Quickdraw Contest winner “Taming the Larvalands” by Matt Blairstone. Enjoy! Cover art by Tristan Tolhurst Headhunting by Avra Margariti The tinfoil sun scorched the desert road as a figure rode on horseback, carrying a disembodied head by its […]

30 min
Sep 26, 2023Episode 478
Cool Air

As the summer winds down and things cool down, the Drabblecast brings you a story that will give you chills! We present, "Cool Air" by H.P. Lovecraft. Cover art by Catriel Tallarico Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

29 min
Sep 26, 2023
Drabblecast 478- Cool Air

As the summer winds down and things cool down, the Drabblecast brings you a story that will give you chills! We present, “Cool Air” by H.P. Lovecraft.  Cover art by Catriel Tallarico Cool Air by H.P. Lovecraft  You ask me to explain why I am afraid of a draught of cool air; why I shiver […]

39 min
Aug 14, 2023
Drabblecast 477- The Eight-Thousanders

Mountain climbing might be more treacherous than you think. This week on the Drabblecast, we bring you Jason Sanford’s “The Eight-Thousanders.” Cover art by Bo Kaier The Eight-Thousanders by Jason Sanford He spoke once, the words whispered by frozen lips on a face so frostbitten he looked like a porcelain doll. I found him below […]

40 min
Aug 14, 2023
The Eight-Thousanders

Mountain climbing might be more treacherous than you think. This week on the Drabblecast, we bring you Jason Sanford's "The Eight-Thousanders." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10 min
Jul 21, 2023
Drabblecast 476- The Pigeon

Norm talks birds on this week’s episode, before presenting Drabblecast’s production of “The Pigeon” by Michelle Knudsen. Enjoy!   Cover art by Bo Kaier The Pigeon by Michelle Knudsen The pigeon stood on the concrete ledge outside the library, bobbing its head at passerby and very clearly saying the words “egg salad.” Robert froze on […]

12 min
Jul 21, 2023
The Pigeon

Norm talks birds on this week's episode, before presenting Drabblecast's production of "The Pigeon" by Michelle Knudson. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

21 min
Jun 25, 2023
Drabblecast 475- Doubleheader

A merry hanging and a game of jacks, this week on the Drabblecast! Cover art by Bo Kaier

22 min
Jun 25, 2023
Doubleheader- Donald Bartleme

A merry hanging and a game of jacks this week on the Drabblecast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

33 min
Jun 19, 2023
Exit the Professor

Mutant hillbillies on this week's Drabblecast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

32 min
Jun 19, 2023
Drabblecast 474- Exit the Professor

This week on the Drabblecast– mutant hillbillies!   Cover art by Bo Kaier Exit the Professor by Henry Kuttner and C. L. Moore We Hogbens are right exclusive. That Perfesser feller from the city might have known that, but he come busting in without an invite, and I don’t figger he had call to complain afterward. In […]

18 min
May 30, 2023
Drabblecast 473- Trunk to Trunk

The Drabblecast brings you an original tale of interspecies aid. We present “Trunk to Trunk,” by P.B. Yeary. Enjoy! Art by  Bo Kaier Trunk to Trunk                          by P. B. Yeary The seed that fell from the heavens did not belong where it was planted. […]

20 min
May 30, 2023
Trunk to Trunk

The Drabblecast brings you an original tale of interspecies aid. We present "Trunk to Trunk," by P.B. Yeary. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

18 min
May 17, 2023
Drabblecast 472 – The Hard Problem of Consciousness

#Hivelife this week on the Drabblecast! We bring you “The Hard Problem of Consciousness” by Andrew Giffin. The Hard Problem of Consciousness by Andrew Giffin Rain fell and the air reeked of communication. Chemical signals trailed behind every scurrying figure. Pat shuddered at their segmented legs working in unison, a group of them passing her […]