The Call of the Void

The Call of the Void is an American audio drama podcast created and written by Josie Eli Herman and Michael Alan Herman, and produced by Acorn Arts & Entertainment. The series is a science fiction and cosmic horror story set in modern-day New Orleans, following a tour guide and a palm reader as they investigate a mysterious entity in the swamps that seeks to bring the world into perfect stillness.^[1][2] The podcast ran for three seasons from January 9, 2020, to June 23, 2022, comprising 28 episodes. It has received critical acclaim, including a Webby Award Honoree for Best Scripted Podcast Series in 2023, and has garnered over 1.5 million downloads.^[1]

Overview and background

Premise and setting

The Call of the Void is an indie audio drama podcast that follows protagonists Topher Sommers, a tour guide, and Etsy Delmen, a palm reader, as they investigate a supernatural entity lurking in the swamps surrounding New Orleans, an otherworldly being intent on imposing perfect stillness upon the world by inducing cases of sudden insanity among its inhabitants.^[1][2] The core premise blends science-fiction and mystery elements with cosmic horror, centering on the duo's efforts to uncover the entity's motives and prevent its apocalyptic influence from spreading beyond the city's fringes.^[3][4] Set in modern-day New Orleans, the narrative draws heavily on the city's vibrant cultural atmosphere, including its historic streets, jazz-infused urban energy, and the stark contrast with the eerie, fog-shrouded wilderness of the surrounding bayous and swamps, which serve as the entity's primary domain.^[1][2] This juxtaposition highlights the tension between the lively, multicultural heartbeat of the city—known for its Creole heritage, voodoo traditions, and resilient spirit—and the encroaching dread of the untamed natural environment, where the supernatural threat manifests most potently.^[3] Classified as weird fiction within the audio drama genre, the podcast emphasizes psychological tension through immersive soundscapes that evoke unease and supernatural investigation, rather than overt action.^[1] High-level themes explore the human drive for curiosity and understanding in the face of overwhelming existential dread, as the characters confront an incomprehensible force that challenges perceptions of reality and motion.^[4][2]

Development and creators

The Call of the Void is an audio drama podcast created by Josie Eli Herman and Michael Alan Herman, a husband-and-wife duo who serve as its primary writers and visionaries, with Josie Eli Herman also directing the series.^[3][2] The project emerged from their collaboration under Acorn Arts & Entertainment, the multi-media production company they co-founded to develop narrative podcasts and films.^[1][5] The podcast was conceived in the late 2010s, specifically during a 2018 trip to New Orleans amid a hurricane, where the city's eerie atmosphere sparked the core idea of a tour guide and palm reader confronting a mysterious entity.^[5] Initial planning took shape around 2019, as the Hermans drew from their fascination with local Louisiana myths—such as voodoo traditions and haunted histories—and H.P. Lovecraft-style cosmic horror, blending these elements into a serialized audio format inspired by podcasts like Rabbits and Tanis.^[5][1] Pre-production occurred under Acorn Arts & Entertainment, but faced significant hurdles during the 2020 pandemic, which disrupted timelines and resource allocation for an indie production reliant on remote collaboration.^[1] Despite these obstacles, the Hermans completed scripting for the first season, adapting the premise of unraveling cases of sudden insanity in New Orleans into a three-season arc that emphasizes psychological tension and otherworldly dread. In April 2025, they introduced "The Void Verse" as an expansion of the podcast's universe.^[6][7]

Production

Writing and direction

The writing for The Call of the Void was a collaborative effort between creators Josie Eli Herman and Michael Alan Herman, who served as lead writers for the podcast's 28 episodes across three seasons, with each installment typically running 20-25 minutes.^[2][8][9] Their process emphasized dialogue-driven narratives to heighten tension and immersion in the audio format, often beginning with late-night sessions between midnight and 3 a.m. to capture a spooky atmosphere, followed by outlining scenes on notecards before producing multiple drafts.^[5][10] Josie Eli Herman directed all episodes, adopting an approach centered on vocal performance to enhance audio immersion, with careful attention to pacing, subtext, humor, and emotional delivery through voice modulation and seamless scene transitions that allow listeners' imaginations to fill in visual gaps.^[3][5] This method earned her a nomination for Best Direction at the 2022 New Jersey Web Festival, recognizing the innovative execution of the script's cinematic storytelling in an audio medium.^[11] Scripts evolved through iterative revisions, incorporating at least three drafts per episode to refine the narrative, with Season 1 later remastered in response to early listener feedback on production quality.^[5][6] The Hermans drew inspiration from their 2018 flight to New Orleans during a hurricane, integrating authentic local elements into the dialogue to ground the sci-fi mystery in the city's vibrant, macabre setting.^[5][6] A distinctive feature of the writing was its layered world-building, blending cosmic horror influences like Lovecraftian entities with modern New Orleans intrigue to create a sense of escalating mystery across seasons, praised for its "muscular writing" that sustains suspense without visual aids.^[1][5]

Sound design and music

The sound design for The Call of the Void was crafted by the in-house team at Acorn Arts & Entertainment, led by creators Michael and Josie Herman, who handled editing and audio layering in a modest home studio in Pinckney, Michigan.^[12] This process involved up to 12 simultaneous audio files per scene to build immersive environments, including ambient swamp noises from the New Orleans setting, echoes in cavernous spaces, and subtle distortions to suggest the supernatural entity's lurking presence.^[1] Foley work further enhanced realism, with custom recordings of urban elements like crowded café chatter and natural sounds such as pencil scribbles or object scratches, all integrated to heighten tension without visual cues.^[12] Post-production for sound design alone consumed over six months per episode, often exceeding 60 hours of work, reflecting the meticulous effort to evoke the podcast's eerie, cosmic horror atmosphere.^[12] The music composition features an original score that blends eerie synth elements with folk influences, capturing the mystical vibe of New Orleans through haunting melodies tailored for tension-building sequences.^[13] Closing credits and transitional tracks were primarily composed by Karl Casey of White Bat Audio, utilizing dark synthwave styles under a CC Attribution License to underscore the narrative's supernatural themes.^[3] Additional licensed pieces, such as "Six Steps" by Heaven's Gateway Drug, were incorporated for atmospheric depth, aligning with the production's indie ethos of blending custom and royalty-free elements.^[14] Technical innovations in the audio production emphasized spatial immersion through layered Foley and ambient effects, simulating both urban bustle and swampy isolation central to the story.^[12] While initial voice recordings for Season 1 occurred in intensive two-day sessions with a single microphone, later production adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic by incorporating remote recording techniques to maintain voice isolation and quality amid lockdowns.^[15] These choices, influenced by directorial cues for pacing, ensured sound elements synchronized precisely with the script's escalating dread.^[12]

Release and distribution

Seasons and episodes

The Call of the Void is structured across three seasons comprising a total of 28 episodes, spanning from its premiere on January 9, 2020, to the series finale on June 23, 2022, with episodes released weekly during each active season.^[4][3] Season 1 consists of 10 episodes, establishing the introductory arc of the narrative through serialized storytelling that builds foundational elements of the plot.^[16] These episodes aired from January 9 to March 12, 2020, introducing key characters and the central mystery set in New Orleans.^[4] Season 2 features 9 episodes, intensifying the central conflict while maintaining the podcast's blend of self-contained elements and ongoing serialization.^[17] Released weekly from March 12 to May 6, 2021, this season expands on the supernatural threats introduced earlier.^[18][19] The third and final season includes 9 episodes, providing resolution to the overarching storyline alongside thematic expansion.^[1] Aired from April 28 to June 23, 2022, it concludes the series' run with a focus on climactic developments.^[20] Each episode adheres to a consistent runtime of 20-25 minutes, allowing for episodic accessibility while advancing the serialized narrative.^[21] Episodes were initially made available on platforms such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts.^[4]

Platforms and availability

The Call of the Void debuted in 2019 on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and the official Acorn Arts & Entertainment website, providing listeners with initial access to its serialized audio drama format.^[1][3][4] It later expanded to additional platforms including Audible, Podchaser, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher, broadening its reach to diverse podcast directories.^[22][21][1] The podcast followed a free episodic release strategy, distributing episodes weekly during its run across all platforms, while offering exclusive bonus content—such as behind-the-scenes material and extended scenes—to patrons via Patreon for supporters at $5 per month or higher.^[1] It was made available internationally in English, accumulating over 1.5 million global downloads and appealing to audiences in multiple countries.^[1] Following the completion of its three seasons in 2022, the full archive remains accessible ad-free on all primary platforms as of 2025, with no new seasons announced by the creators.^[1][23] Merchandise tie-ins, including t-shirts and accessories featuring podcast artwork, are available through the official Threadless shop linked on the Acorn Arts website.^[1][24] Marketing efforts centered on social media promotions via Instagram (@thecallofthevoidpodcast), Facebook, and Twitter, where teasers, episode announcements, and fan engagement posts were shared regularly.^[1][23] The series also gained visibility through screenings and nominations at international web festivals, such as the NZ Web Fest and Minnesota WebFest in 2022.^[1]

Cast and characters

Main cast

Josie Eli Herman voices Etsy Delmen, the palm reader protagonist of The Call of the Void. Herman, who also serves as writer, producer, and director, portrays Etsy as an intuitive and resilient figure grappling with a mystical heritage tied to experimental origins from her scientist parents. Etsy's backstory involves childhood experiments that granted her unique abilities, motivating her to seek truth amid supernatural threats in the New Orleans swamps; over the series' three seasons, her arc evolves from a struggling artist confronting intrusive thoughts to a determined guardian of her city's mysteries.^[25][2] Michael Alan Herman voices Topher Sommers, the tour guide co-lead alongside Etsy. Herman, co-writer and producer, depicts Topher as skeptical yet adventurous, leveraging his deep local knowledge of New Orleans' history and hidden locales, including his workplace at the Pharmacy Museum. Topher's backstory as the son of scientists draws him into the investigation of his father's disappearance, with motivations rooted in familial loyalty and curiosity; his arc spans the seasons from doubt in the supernatural to full commitment as an ally in confronting the Void.^[25][2] The Hermans, a husband-and-wife team, cast themselves in the lead roles to ensure authentic chemistry reflective of their real-life partnership, enhancing the emotional dynamics central to the audio drama. Their vocal ranges were selected for suitability in the format, allowing nuanced expression of tension, humor, and vulnerability without visual cues.^[3][4]

Recurring and guest cast

In Season 1, the recurring cast includes Bruce Bennett as Victor Sommers, a family member central to the protagonists' backstory, and Annie Dilworth voicing both Hannah Pauling and the enigmatic entity Nox, providing layered supernatural elements through distinct vocal inflections.^[25] Joe Zettelmaier recurs as Malcolm Delmen and additional locals like Walt Rogers, appearing in multiple episodes to support the introductory ensemble of investigators and townsfolk.^[25] Guest performers such as Mary Clairmont as Janis Fletcher and Tim Clairmont as Dr. Wilkhart fill out single-episode roles as experts and antagonists, enhancing the season's exploratory tone.^[8] Season 2 expands the recurring roster with Kryssy Becker portraying Peyton Miller and Dr. Jenner, recurring investigators who deepen the lore around the void's manifestations, while Annie Dilworth shifts to the role of Fargo Kaminski for ongoing narrative threads.^[25] Bruce Bennett continues as Victor Sommers, bridging personal stakes across episodes, and new guests like Matt Cameron as Emerson Parker introduce antagonistic forces with specialized vocal techniques for otherworldly threats.^[25] Callie Bussell appears in 12 episodes as Tera Grace Reinhart, a recurring ally in the expanded investigations.^[21] For Season 3, the guest cast grows to include high-profile cameos such as Kryssy Becker's return as Gwyneth O'Conner, alongside one-off performers like Julia Garlotte in dual roles and Joe Zettelmaier as Tony the Sheriff, culminating the series' climax with intensified supernatural portrayals.^[25] These additions feature unique vocal styles, such as distorted tones for entities, totaling over 40 voice actors across the three seasons who interact with the main protagonists to build tension.^[25]

Plot summaries

Season 1

Season 1 of The Call of the Void establishes the core narrative through its 10 episodes, centering on siblings Topher and Simone Sommers as they investigate their father's abrupt disappearance in modern-day New Orleans.^[26] Their search begins with routine inquiries but soon draws them into the shadowy bayous surrounding the city, where they witness initial encounters with an otherworldly entity manifesting as episodes of unnatural "stillness"—a condition that renders victims blind, incoherent, and eerily motionless.^[16] This phenomenon, first linked to their father's altered state after he is located in a distant hospital, propels the protagonists deeper into a web of cosmic horror, blending local folklore with hints of interdimensional interference.^[3] As the episode arc unfolds, Topher, leveraging his knowledge as a local tour guide, and Simone form their first key alliance with Etsy Delmen, a reclusive palm reader whose prescient abilities reveal connections between the stillness cases and Topher's family history.^[26] Together, they trace leads from cryptic symbols scratched in remote woods to an abandoned research facility in Ohio known as JM Labs, uncovering evidence of past experiments that may have awakened the entity.^[16] Personal stakes intensify when the stillness strikes closer to home, forcing the group to navigate perilous alliances amid growing encounters in the swamps, where the entity's influence creates disorienting voids of silence and isolation.^[26] The season's introductory tone emphasizes themes of curiosity as a gateway to existential danger, with the protagonists' determination to unravel the mystery exposing them to psychological and supernatural perils that erode their sense of reality.^[3] Key developments include the discovery of scattered victims exhibiting the stillness and fragmented clues pointing to a larger, lurking presence in the bayou's depths, building suspense across the episodes.^[16] The narrative arc peaks with a tense escalation at the JM Labs facility, where confrontations with the entity's cult followers heighten the urgency, culminating in Etsy performing a ritual to banish the Void, saving the protagonists and the world, though the entity's influence lingers as a setup for Season 2.^[26]

Season 2

Season 2 of The Call of the Void consists of nine episodes that deepen the supernatural mystery introduced in the prior season, shifting focus to the origins and expanding influence of the Void entity while escalating personal stakes for the protagonists in New Orleans.^[27] A year after the events of Season 1, the narrative picks up with Simone preparing for college at Princeton with Topher's encouragement, while Etsy, now estranged from the group, grapples with intensifying rifts in reality that manifest as dangerous anomalies.^[27] The season explores the entity's insidious goals through a series of interconnected investigations, revealing it as a life-force draining force from an alternate dimension, often tied to cult-like activities and otherworldly incursions.^[27] The episode arc begins with Etsy's arrest for an unrelated incident, which unexpectedly connects her to Jonah, a enigmatic figure whose possession by the Void positions him as a central antagonist.^[27] As mysterious deaths pile up—including that of tourist Emerson Parker—the protagonists uncover links to a secretive cult operating in the bayou swamps, where matter from another dimension seeps into the physical world, amplifying the Void's reach.^[27] New alliances form as Topher reconnects with old acquaintance Dani for support, and he and Etsy reluctantly team up to probe these events, navigating betrayals that expose Jonah's true role as the Void's vessel, known in lore as the Yellow King.^[27] Supernatural events intensify with reality tears causing hallucinations and physical dangers, such as Etsy's emerging ability to deliver a deadly touch, forcing her to confront her own vulnerability to the entity.^[27] Subplots integrate local New Orleans folklore, blending voodoo influences and swamp legends with the Void's cosmic horror to heighten tension, as characters like Simone grow increasingly isolated and accusatory toward Etsy amid the mounting casualties.^[27] Revelations about the entity's objectives—sustaining itself by harvesting human vitality—unfold through urban chases and hidden rituals, challenging the protagonists' trust and sanity in familiar city settings like the French Quarter and bayous.^[27] Mid-season twists, including encounters with nightmarish creatures like the Night Gaunt and glimpses into a shadowy realm called Dark City, propel the rising action, culminating in a desperate confrontation where Etsy defeats Jonah but at great cost, leaving Topher in a coma and prompting her exile from New Orleans to evade the Void's lingering threat.^[27] This finale sets the stage for further resolutions by underscoring the entity's unresolved persistence and the fractured bonds among the survivors.^[27]

Season 3

Season 3 of The Call of the Void comprises nine main chapters released weekly starting in May 2022, followed by a bonus epilogue on June 23, 2022, marking the podcast's narrative conclusion. Set one year after the events of the prior season, the storyline reunites key characters including tour guide Topher Sommers, palm reader Etsy Delmen, and others as they pursue leads on the ancient entity—the Void—that seeks to impose eternal stillness on the world. The arc spans the murky swamps outside New Orleans and the city's haunted streets, resolving lingering mysteries from earlier installments through escalating investigations and personal reckonings.^[28][29] The season's plot intensifies with parallel threads: Etsy, now estranged from the group, is pursued by remnants of a dissolved cult while uncovering deeper connections to the entity's origins, as depicted in episodes focusing on her isolation and survival. In New Orleans, Officer Mason probes a series of enigmatic deaths linked to the Void's influence, consulting experts like researcher Eli and Topher's sister Simone, whose collaborative studies reveal the entity's manipulative reach into human minds. Mid-season episodes heighten stakes with Etsy's direct clash against the cult leader Necromon, a figure tied to the entity's worship, and the team's breakthrough research exposing the Void's plan to eradicate chaos through imposed tranquility. These developments culminate in the unleashing of the Void in the eighth chapter, forcing a desperate convergence of the swamp and city arcs.^[30][31] Central to the finale, the protagonists confront the entity in a high-tension sequence blending ritualistic battles in the bayou with urban chaos, yielding ultimate revelations about the Void's ancient, otherworldly nature and its origins as a force born from cosmic indifference. Profound sacrifices— including losses among the core cast—underscore the cost of resistance, with characters like Topher and Etsy making irreversible choices to disrupt the stillness. The aftermath addresses the threat's defeat, restoring fragile normalcy to New Orleans while affirming human resilience. Thematically, the season fully examines the dichotomy of freedom versus stasis, portraying the Void's allure as a seductive escape from life's turmoil, contrasted against the protagonists' fierce embrace of imperfection and change. Emotional closures abound, from fractured relationships mending through shared trauma to individual arcs of redemption and acceptance.^[2][4] The series concludes in the ninth chapter and epilogue with the protagonists banishing the Void through sacrifices and confrontations, achieving a hopeful resolution that includes Topher and Etsy forming a romantic relationship, though with lasting personal impacts, emphasizing human resilience amid existential dread.^[3][32]

Reception

Critical reception

The Call of the Void has received widespread acclaim from critics for its immersive audio storytelling and atmospheric tension, blending science fiction and cosmic horror elements in an innovative format. The podcast averages 4.7 out of 5 stars on Apple Podcasts based on 651 reviews, reflecting praise for its engaging narrative and production quality.^[3] On IMDb, it holds a 9.1 out of 10 rating from 1,020 user votes as of November 2025, underscoring its strong appeal among listeners.^[2] Critics have highlighted the series' sound design and world-building as standout features. Fangoria described it as delivering a "lush aesthetic of Lovecraftian fright" through "a rich world of macabre intrigue and muscular writing," emphasizing its audibly immersive quality that draws listeners into the eerie swamps of New Orleans.^[15] The podcast was featured in BuzzFeed's 2022 roundup of 15 audio fiction podcasts, recommended for listeners who enjoy stories with complicated family dynamics.^[33] Additionally, it earned recognition for sound innovation as an official selection at the UK International Radio Drama Festival in 2020.^[1] Reviewers have lauded the character dynamics and authentic New Orleans setting, which contribute to the series' tension and cultural depth, though some noted occasional pacing challenges in mid-season episodes that were resolved in later installments. The podcast's artistic merits were further affirmed by its status as an Official Honoree in the Scripted Podcasts category at the 27th Annual Webby Awards in 2023, where Claire Graves, President of the Webby Awards, remarked that it "sets the standard for innovation and creativity on the Internet." Other festival selections, including Best Horror Podcast at the Minnesota WebFest in 2022 and Platinum Status at the Hear Now Festival in 2020 and 2021, highlight its contributions to audio drama excellence. The podcast has amassed over 1.5 million global downloads.^[1]

Audience response and legacy

The Call of the Void has garnered strong listener engagement, evidenced by its 4.7 out of 5 rating from 651 reviews on Apple Podcasts.^[3] Fans frequently highlight the podcast's immersive cosmic horror elements, character development, and atmospheric sound design in online discussions, contributing to its replay value within audio drama communities.^[34][35] A dedicated fan community thrives on platforms like Instagram, where the official account shares updates and engages with followers, and Patreon, offering ad-free episodes and bonus content to supporters.^[23][36] The podcast is often recommended in audio drama circles, such as Reddit's r/audiodrama subreddit, where listeners praise its modern New Orleans setting and narrative pacing as entry points for newcomers to the genre.^[37] By 2025, with no new seasons produced after its three-season run concluding in 2022, the podcast maintains an enduring legacy through its archival availability on major platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify.^[1] It has influenced subsequent indie productions in the cosmic horror space, particularly through the creators' follow-up works like Silver Tongues, which build on similar full-cast audio drama techniques.^[35] Listener conversations often tie the series' themes of existential dread to real-world concepts like intrusive thoughts, with episodes addressing mental health topics such as suicidal ideation and providing resources like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.^[3] This resonance has fostered broader cultural discussions on the "call of the void" phenomenon within horror podcast fandoms.^[1]

Awards and nominations

Major awards won

The Call of the Void has garnered recognition for its innovative storytelling and production quality through several prestigious awards in the audio drama field. In 2023, the podcast was named an Official Honoree in the Podcasts – Scripted (Fiction) category at the 27th Annual Webby Awards, highlighting its impact in the scripted podcast genre.^[38] At the 2022 Minnesota WebFest, it won the award for Best Horror Podcast, acknowledging its overall excellence as a series in the horror audio fiction space.^[1] The podcast also received Platinum status in both 2020 and 2021 at the Hear Now Festival, awards that celebrate outstanding audio drama for their creative and technical merits, particularly in sound design and narrative execution.^[1] In the 2020 Audio Verse Awards, The Call of the Void secured multiple victories, including for Vocal Direction of a New Production (Josie Eli Herman) and Performance in a Supporting Role in a New Audio Play Production (Amanda Buchalter as Simone Sommers), underscoring its strengths in writing, direction, and acting.^[39] In 2021, it won Platinum at the Hermes Creative Awards. By 2023, the series had accumulated a total of five major award wins across these and other festivals, reflecting its consistent acclaim in the independent audio production community.^[11]

Notable nominations

The Call of the Void has garnered notable nominations across audio drama festivals, emphasizing its innovative science fiction narrative and production elements. At the 2021 New Jersey Web Festival, the podcast received nominations for Outstanding Science Fiction and Best Series Premise of a Narrative Fiction Podcast, highlighting its compelling conceptual foundation and genre execution.^[40] In 2022, it earned five nominations at the same festival: Outstanding Science Fiction and Outstanding Fantasy for the series overall, Best Direction for Josie Eli Herman, Best Writing/Script for Michael Alan Herman and Josie Eli Herman, and Best Chemistry in a Narrative Fiction Podcast for Michael Alan Herman and Allison Megroet. These accolades reflect the show's tight ensemble dynamics and creative craftsmanship.^[41] The podcast also advanced as a finalist in various categories at the 2021 Audio Verse Awards, acknowledging its vocal performances, direction, and overall audio production quality within the expanding field of scripted fiction podcasts.^[42]