''Imaginary Worlds'' is an episodic

science fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...

and

fantasy podcast A fantasy podcast is a podcast related to or discussing the fantasy genre, which usually focuses on the Magic (paranormal), magical, supernatural, mythical, or Folklore, folkloric. Fantasy stories are set in fictional universes or fantasy world ...

that deconstructs the genres and their themes.

History

Podcast creator and host Eric Molinsky worked in public radio at

WNYC WNYC is an audio service brand, under the control of New York Public Radio, a non-profit organization. Radio and other audio programming is primarily provided by a pair of nonprofit, noncommercial, public radio stations: WNYC (AM) and WNYC- ...

and

NPR National Public Radio (NPR) is an American public broadcasting organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It serves as a national Radio syndication, syndicator to a network of more ...

, but was drawn to podcasting because of the freedom it provided the host. Molinsky deconstructs fantasy and science fiction stories and examines the real-world influences and implications.

Format

The podcast releases content on a bi-weekly basis and is an interview style or talk show format. The podcast format has been described as documentary style or a non-fiction analysis of fictional works.

Reception

Imaginary Worlds was on the 2016 list of best podcasts published by

Business Insider ''Business Insider'' (stylized in all caps: BUSINESS INSIDER; known from 2021 to 2023 as INSIDER) is a New York City–based multinational financial and business news website founded in 2007. Since 2015, a majority stake in ''Business Inside ...

. The podcast was also a 2017 top pick by ''

The Christian Science Monitor ''The Christian Science Monitor'' (''CSM''), commonly known as ''The Monitor'', is a nonprofit news organization that publishes daily articles both in Electronic publishing, electronic format and a weekly print edition. It was founded in 1908 ...

''. Charles Pulliam-Moore of

Gizmodo ''Gizmodo'' () is a design, technology, science, and science fiction website. It was originally launched as part of the Gawker Media network run by Nick Denton. ''Gizmodo'' also includes the sub-blogs ''io9'' and ''Earther'', which focus on pop ...

included the podcast on a list of ten sci-fi and fantasy podcasts.

Miranda Sawyer Miranda Caroline Sawyer (born 7 January 1967) is an English author, journalist and broadcaster. Education and early life Sawyer was born in Bristol and grew up in Wilmslow, Cheshire with her brother Toby, who is an actor. Sawyer was educated ...

of ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...

'' recommended the podcast saying that "Eric Molinsky is a clever and generous host who knows his stuff, and, at their heart, these shows explore just why we need and want worlds that don't exist."

References

External links

* {{Podcast platform links Fantasy podcasts Audio podcasts 2014 podcast debuts Science fiction podcasts Independent podcasts

History

Format

Reception

See also

References

External links