Lore: A Storytelling Podcast
I have a new podcasting obsession. That obsession is Lore.
So, what is Lore? I’ll let the creator, Aaron Mahnke, tell you:
Lore is a bi-weekly podcast about true life scary stories. The people, places, and things of our darkest nightmares all have real facts at their core. Each episode of Lore looks into a uniquely scary tale and uncovers the truth behind it. Sometimes the truth is more frightening than fiction.
Each episode covers a story or theme most have had exposure to: the jersey devil, haunted places, vampires, and various sub-categories of halflings. Lore presents an eerie campfire story sensation into your earbuds, Bluetooth speaker, or vehicle. Like a fly on the wall, you witness the terrifying and unexplainable events each episode brings to life. Though the subject is folklore, the art of storytelling on display warrants a listen from any podcaster out there.
Take Serial for instance. The story itself, of a teen sentenced for life in prison for a crime he may not have committed, is intriguing. The plot alone, however, did not drive this podcast through the ceiling. In much the same way, The Jinx contains more than a look into the eyes of a sadistic man by the name Robert Durst. A story’s presentation is quite convincing, and even more so, it seems, in the art of storytelling. Mahnke’s storytelling structure puts Lore on the level of the aforementioned shows.
Sometimes the truth is more frightening than fiction.
Lore is a masterpiece, but not for doing something out of the ordinary. In fact, I would argue the show’s simplicity makes it valuable. Lore has focus. A focus that many shows lack and seem to go on for about 15 minutes longer than they should. It’s cut to roughly 20 minutes, and every word holds weight in the progression of the story. I say this again, fan of folklore or not, this show deserves a listen.
Another element to a podcast is what happens beyond the recorded sessions that are uploaded to iTunes. Mahnke goes above and beyond his call of duty to engage with listeners. He provides transcripts and music playlists from each episode. The podcast alone is excellent, but the show delivers these extra incentives for listeners who want to dive a little deeper.
The Ratings
Frequency: ****
Production: ****
Relevance: ***
Length: ****
Narrative: *****
Advertisements: ****
Recommended Episode:
Seeing isn’t always a prerequisite for belief. In fact, oftentimes the things we believe in the most strongly are invisible to our naked eyes. But when we experience those invisible things through pain and physical attacks, our belief can become deep, paralyzing fear.
