Spooky Stories for a Spooky Month
From classics like "Carrie" and "The Haunting of Hill House," to new stories like "Alice Isn't Dead," here are some of the scariest stories to listen to on audiobooks and podcasts.
What to Hear
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Audible
NBC’s Dateline Launches True-Crime Podcast Service
The Apple category will offer more than 400 hours of exclusive programming.
Meghan Markle’s New Podcast Hits No. 1 on Spotify Charts
The Duchess of Sussex even beat Joe Rogan in the U.S.
‘Harley Quinn & The Joker’ Podcast to Star Christina Ricci, Billy Magnussen, Justin Hartley
Spotify, in partnership with Warner Bros. and DC, announced the start of production for the audio series that will let Harley control her own narrative.
Demi Lovato’s ‘Holy Fvck’: Album Review
Her latest album gets darker and ruder without ditching the killer choruses.
Audiobooks
Variety Recommends
Dive into the audiobooks and podcasts getting Hollywood's attention, for your next vacation or commute.
By Alanna Nash
Narrated by Gibson Frazier
'The Colonel'
Learn the fascinating backstory of Elvis Presley and his secretive manager Colonel Tom Parker before watching the new movie "Elvis" in this biography that reveals how the King's career unfolded the…
By David Wild, Phil Rosenthal
Narrated by Phil Rosenthal, David Wild
'Naked Lunch'
"Somebody Feed Phil" host Phil Rosenthal and his friend David Wild welcome guests from Allison Janney to Roy Choi and Jimmy Jam to talk about food, entertainment and more.
By Molly Lambert
Narrated By Molly Lambert
'HeidiWorld'
The Heidi Fleiss Hollywood Madam saga foreshadowed so many things about modern culture: reality TV, quasi-celebrities and questionable courtroom antics -- but how did the media get it so wrong?
By Molly Shannon, Sean Wilsey
Narrated By Molly Shannon
'Hello Molly'
From the devastating car crash she experienced as a child to her time on "Saturday Night Live," this candid memoir has all the humor and heart you'd expect from the accomplished comedienne.
By Stanley Tucci
Narrated by Stanley Tucci
'Taste'
The veteran actor's memoir encompasses his childhood in a food-loving Italian American family, his eating adventures on film sets and a peek at his cooking and family life.
By Viola Davis
Narrated by Viola Davis
'Finding Me: A Memoir'
Viola Davis tells her story, from a crumbling apartment in Central Falls, Rhode Island, to the stage in New York City, and beyond.
Partner Content
Audible Recommends
Our partners at Audible give their picks for the best audio books to consider.
By Kevin Hart
Narrated by Kevin Hart
'Monsters and How to Tame Them'
Kevin Hart brings his hard-won wisdom to counsel listeners on how to deal with "monsters" of the mind like the need to control or the comparison monster.
By Rob Fresco
Narrated by Taylor Kitsch, Kate Mara, Darrin Kozlowski, Michael Hyatt, Xander Berkeley, Chris Diamantopoulos, full cast
'KOZ'
Taylor Kitsch and Kate Mara star in the true story of ATF agent Darrin "Koz" Kozlowski, who immersed himself in a dangerous L.A. motorcycle club and pulled off a massive organized crime bust.
By Quinta Brunson
Narrated by Quinta Brunson
'She Memes Well'
"Abbot Elementary" creator Quinta Brunson's collection of essays covers how she made it after struggling, details about the production of the series, and how she created roles for young Black actors.
By Sarah Paige
Narrated by Jessie Buckley, Johnny Flynn, full cast
'Mrs. Wickham'
Inspired by Jane Austen, this story revolves around what happens to Lydia from "Pride and Prejudice" after she makes one little mistake and must live a fearless life, far from her family.
By Ryan Kalil
'Block Forever'
NFL All-Pro Ryan Kalil gives fans an insider's look through the eyes of the greatest players and personalities of all time, taking on topics like sports betting and playing through pain.
By John Scalzi
Narrated by Zachary Quinto
'Travel By Bullet'
The latest "Dispatcher" story finds Tony Valdez called to a Chicago emergency room where he is thrown into a scheme involving millions of dollars worth of real estate and cryptocurrency.
By Carlos Santana
Narrated by Carlos Santana
'Santana: Light, Spirit, and Soul'
New cuts of songs like "Black Magic Woman" and "Europa" combine with Carlos Santana's story in his own words in this edition of Words + Music.
Podcasts
Trending
From daily news to true crime, find the next can't-miss podcasts that everyone is talking about and are sure to get you hooked.
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'The Prophecy'
In this supernatural thriller series, the world is facing a series of catastrophes when a mysterious pregnant scientist shows up offering to help the government.
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'The Big Lie'
The true story of an FBI agent who is sent to investigate three blacklisted filmmakers who want to make a movie that embodies their pro-labor, pro-feminist beliefs. The agent is convinced the film is…
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'Fishpriest'
Ethan Hawke plays a cop-turned-bounty hunter in a thrilling crime drama set amid the crack epidemic in the Bronx circa 1993.
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'Funny My Way'
A deep dive into the life and times of Black comedy icons Paul Mooney, Flip Wilson, Moms Mabley, Dick Gregory, Rudy Ray Moore and Redd Foxx, told by contemporary observers and those who knew them.
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'Sundown'
A group of teenagers is transported back 100 years into the past to investigate the racist history of their town in this sci-fi adventure mystery podcast.
Podcasts
Variety Produced
Keep it in the family with our suite of Variety produced podcasts covering everything from awards, Broadway and business.
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'Just For Variety'
SubscribeEach week, Hollywood's most recognizable red carpet correspondent, Marc Malkin, sits down with today's biggest stars to talk film, television, pop culture and the latest news.
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'Awards Circuit'
SubscribeThe weekly "Awards Circuit" podcast features interviews with top film and TV talent and creatives; discussions and debates about awards races and industry headlines; and much, much more.
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'Stagecraft'
SubscribeBehind the scenes with the biggest stars on Broadway, off-Broadway and beyond. Hosted by Gordon Cox.
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'Strictly Business'
SubscribeIndustry leaders converse about business deals, strategy and the future of media and entertainment.
Music
Album Reviews
Who doesn't love new music? Our critics pick the best new albums of the moment.
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‘Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers’
Kendrick Lamar
ListenLamar starts off his difficult, ambitious new work by saying, "I've been going through something."
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'Honestly, Nevermind'
Drake
ListenThese are warm, kinetic dance songs, indebted to pulsing house music and electronica.
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‘Harry's House’
Harry Styles
ListenThe intimate album is very much a continuation and progression of its predecessor.
What To Hear News
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Spotify Cancels 11 Original Podcasts, Trimming Slate as Part of Focusing on Bigger Shows
Spotify is axing a small portion of its original podcast programming slate — canceling 11 out of approximately 500 current shows — as it looks to concentrate firepower on the biggest…
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Arthur, the World’s Most Famous Aardvark, Is Launching a Podcast Series
“Arthur,” the public television show that is the longest-running kids’ animated series in the U.S., is getting its own podcast featuring the beloved anthropomorphic aardvark…
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10 Spooky Stories to Listen to in October
October is a boom time for horror stories, with fans preparing for Halloween by spending the month binging the best slasher films, monster shows and horror books. And for those who…
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Alex Cooper’s ‘Call Her Daddy’ Hits No. 1 on Spotify Podcast Charts After Season 2 Premiere With Hailey Bieber
Sex and relationship talk show “Call Her Daddy,” hosted by Alex Cooper, shot to the top of Spotify’s podcast charts following last week’s debut of Season 2. The premiere episode…
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Kim Kardashian Releases Her First Spotify-Exclusive Podcast
More than two years after Kim Kardashian inked an exclusive deal with Spotify for a podcast series focused on criminal-justice reform, the series is finally out. On Monday, Spotify…
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Crooked Media Hires Vice’s Lucinda Treat as First CEO, Gets Funding From George Soros’ Investment Firm (EXCLUSIVE)
Crooked Media is looking to take its progressive-politics podcast empire to the next level. The L.A.-based media company, which produces more than 30 podcasts including the…
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‘Snafu’: Ed Helms’ First Podcast Series Explores Hilarious Aspects of an ’80s-Era Nuclear War Crisis
Ed Helms has managed to find the amusing parts of impending nuclear Armageddon. The actor, writer and comedian hosts “Snafu,” a nonfiction comedy series in which he’ll dissect…
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Neil Gaiman’s ‘The Sandman: Act III’ Audio Series Surprise-Released on Audible
It’s not a dream: The third installment of Neil Gaiman’s “The Sandman” audio drama on Audible is now available. All 19 episodes of “The Sandman: Act III,” with James McAvoy…
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MrBallen Inks Exclusive Distribution and First-Look Podcast Deal With Amazon Music
True-crime podcaster John Allen — better known to fans as MrBallen — is bringing his show exclusively to Amazon Music. Starting Nov. 1, Amazon Music will be the exclusive home to…
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Bob Dylan’s Audiobook Has All-Star Cast of Narrators, Including Helen Mirren, Rita Moreno, Jeffrey Wright, Oscar Isaac
The list of narrators for the audiobook version of Bob Dylan’s upcoming book has come to light, and it reads like a who’s who of Oscar contenders from the past few decades, along with…
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CIA Launches First Podcast, ‘The Langley Files,’ Which Reveals That Working at the Agency Is More Boring Than Hollywood Makes It Seem
It seems like everyone is launching a podcast these days — and now comes the Central Intelligence Agency. But don’t expect any major revelations from CIA’s “The Langley Files,”…
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Spotify Starts Selling Audiobooks in U.S., With Catalog of 300,000-Plus Titles
Spotify wants to give Audible, Amazon’s market-leading audiobook marketplace, a run for its money. Starting Tuesday, Spotify users in the U.S. are able to purchase and listen to…
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Brooke Shields Is Launching Her First Podcast
Brooke Shields is coming soon to a pair of earbuds near you with her first podcast — in which the actor, model and author explores pivotal moments in people’s lives. “Now What…