EOS-10 | Space Sci-fi comedy, great acting. http://www.eos10.com/
Wolf 359 | Space Sci-fi comedy with well executed high drama. http://www.wolf359.fm/
Limetown | unusual conspiracy thriller. http://www.limetownstories.com
Alba Salix | Fantasy comedy. http://www.albasalix.com/
Wooden Overcoats | Competitive undertaking. http://www.woodenovercoats.com/
Tanis | Conspiracy mystery thriller. http://www.tanispodcast.com/
The Black Tapes | Creepy ghost stories. http://theblacktapespodcast.com
Especially Noteworthy:
Our Fair City | my favorite, a work of genius, the highest production values, actually better than the BBC.
We're Alive | entertaining zombie drama horror, terrific use of sound. http://www.werealive.com/
Genre Specific (usually short stories):
Escape Pod | science fiction. http://escapepod.org/ Pod Castle | fantasy. http://podcastle.org/ Pseudo Pod | horror. http://pseudopod.org/
I find the best new material from Radio Drama Revival
http://www.radiodramarevival.com/
These are also good leads:
The Audio Drama Directory | http://theaudiodramadirectory.com/sciencefiction/
The Parsec Awards | http://www.parsecawards.com/
Non-fiction, most of the usual suspects.
ABC's Future Tense 99% Invisible Hardcore History Joe Rogan (guest specific) Radiolab Robots Podcast NPR's Planet Money Green Building Advisor The Building Performance podcast The Tiny Life podcast (on Tiny Homes)
NPR and the BBC are traditionally regarded as the benchmark, but in the age of the Internet they aren't close to the quality of many so-called amateurs. That is the penalty of having to appeal to a mass audience and why with a stupid democracy every meal will be pizza. I love pizza but that is not the point.
I also listen to Lovecraft when I want to get to sleep (/s).
Lovecratian horror is not what most people think of when they think of horror. It is more existential.
Sebastian Orr does a great narration:
http://www.ourfaircity.com/2011/12/the-rats-in-the-walls-pt-... http://www.ourfaircity.com/2012/01/part-two/
Inspired by Lovecraft, A Colder War by Charlie Stross is also a favorite.