As any audiobook or podcast fan knows, the perfect narration can take a listen from good to great. Full cast ensembles in particular are the perfect choice for those times you really want to dive headfirst into a story. A group of talented narrators, sometimes accompanied by original music or a bold, captivating soundscape, craft a truly unique and immersive listening experience. So, if you’re looking to liven up a long road trip or day of chores, look no further. Our list of the best full cast audiobooks and podcasts of all time (ranging from scripted comedy to touching personal narratives to terrifying horror audio dramas) will keep you captivated every second of the way.
The 10th anniversary edition of Neil Gaiman’s American Gods is an immersive experience commonly referred to as Gaiman’s director’s cut of the novel. This version is based on his unedited manuscript and includes elements he omitted from the original publication. The story follows ex-convict and recent widower Shadow as his life becomes increasingly treacherous and exciting when he meets the mysterious Mr. Wednesday and is hired as his bodyguard, driver, and errand boy. The full cast performance brings the complex mix of sci-fi, fantasy, and mystery to life. In particular, acclaimed audiobook narrator Ron McLarty perfectly captures Wednesday’s smug demeanor while Daniel Oreskes’s performance of Shadow gives listeners a relatable hero who brings them along for the ride.
hilarious,
pure fire,and a
breath of fresh air, and their praise is not without merit. *Sorry Charlie Miller* follows two police department employees (portrayed brilliantly by Zachary Quinto of Star Trek fame and comedian Michelle Buteau) as they attempt to solve the missing persons case of Charlie Miller, a reality TV star with a devoted fanbase. With a riveting plot, impeccable comedic styling, and a full cast that also includes Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family) and Ashley Benson (Pretty Little Liars), this podcast is an absolute delight.
Lincoln in the Bardo features a myriad of characters—dead and alive, historical and imaginary— who offer perspective and input on the story as it unfolds. So we’re lucky to have a full cast, totaling 166 narrators (including stars like Ben Stiller, Keegan-Michael Key, Julianne Moore, and Don Cheadle), lending their talents to this paranormal historical tale. This listen explores themes of death, grief, and love with splashes of humor against a backdrop of the American Civil War. In February 1862, we find President Abraham Lincoln mourning the untimely death of his 11-year-old son, Willie. George Saunders explores the possible untold supernatural connections with this father and son through this work of historical fiction. In this interpretation, Willie finds himself in the bardo—a purgatory of some sort—in a large community of ghosts who fight, complain, mingle, and more as they traverse this strange stage of non-life.
An Audible Original production, Owning It was created especially for Pride Month. This collection of uplifting, raw, and hilarious stories from queer actors, comedians, and personalities is a great listen for anyone coming into their own as a queer person. Each storyteller shares their own unique lived experiences, which turn out to be surprisingly universal. Actress and activist Alexandra Billings and comedian and podcaster Nikki Levy are the perfect hosts for this audio collection, bringing each story to light with thoughtful humor and heart. Owning It is a passionate celebration of LGBTQIA+ stories and the remarkable guests who share them.
The first volume in the His Dark Materials trilogy, this Audie-winning listen transports you to Pullman’s carefully crafted world, with dynamic narration by Pullman himself and spirited performances from the rest of the cast. Pullman and the cast naturally guide listeners through high-stakes scenes and gentle moments between characters with their careful attention to pacing and tone. Philip Pullman begins the trilogy by following Lyla and her daemon, Pan, as they travel to North—a land where witch clans and armored bears rule, children are stolen, and Lyla’s ambitious uncle, Lord Asriel, engages in mysterious experiments.
If you like your humor on the dark and, well, slightly murderous side, the Audible Original Hit Job is the perfect full cast listen for you. Keke Palmer of Hustlers and Pete Davidson of Saturday Night Live lead a full cast that also includes heavy hitters like Max Greenfield, Mikey Day, Natasha Lyonne, and Brooke Shields, just to name a few. This hilarious podcast is equal parts American Psycho and workplace comedy, and we can't recommend it enough.
Good Talk explores the challenges of finding answers to difficult questions, both for yourself and to explain to your child. Mira Jacob’s hilarious and poignant memoir centers on her attempts to navigate tough topics (like American identity and interracial families) with her insanely inquisitive six-year-old son, Z. Jacob’s narration affectionately captures the range of emotions involved in everyday conversations between a mother and child. We get to experience her exasperation as she tries to convince Z that being Indian is cool; we feel her dejected demeanor as she tries to explain the shooting of Michael Brown to him. The full cast rounds out Jacob’s world as we hear her husband’s attempts to help navigate Z’s many questions and we listen in on the news that sparks some of these queries.
World War Z: The Complete Edition, winner of the Audie for Multi-Voiced Performance in 2014, brings together new unabridged recordings with the original abridged audiobook for an entirely new performance. This oral history-style retelling of the fictional Zombie War examines the impact of the war on individuals from various walks of life. Brooks himself portrays a reporter who interviews people to shed light on the aftermath of the war and how humankind reacted to this disastrous event. The ensemble cast, including superstars like Mark Hamill, Simon Pegg, and Martin Scorsese, places listeners in this post-apocalyptic world to learn about each character’s experiences through detailed eyewitness accounts.
Theater fans won't want to miss Have a Nice Day, a full cast performance of a poignant, charming play that stars Hollywood icons the likes of Annette Bening, Billy Crystal, and Kevin Kline, as well as rising stars like Moana's Auli'i Cravalho. Following President David Murray (Kline) and his First Lady (Bening) through a crisis of both state and family, this Audible Original will leave you hanging on every word. Oh, and did we mention that Billy Crystal portrays the Angel of Death? Sentimental and full of humor and heart, this play is masterfully performed.
No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency follows the adventures of Precious Ramotswe as the leader of Botswana’s only female private detective agency. These first eight episodes find Precious as she takes on a colorful array of cases that involve beauty contests, questionable husbands, and a missing American. Lead Claire Benedict portrays Ramotswe and delivers her strong and assured demeanor during each case in this mix of mystery and suspense. The story is spliced with authentic musical interludes and offers listeners a peek into Botswana's heart and culture.
The Man of Legends encompasses multiple genres, with themes of romance, drama, and adventure immersed in supernatural elements. The story begins with New Yorker Jillian, who uncovers an entrancing mystery involving the same, unaging man found in pictures with historical figures ranging from Ulysses S. Grant to Gandhi. Her path soon clashes with 33-year-old Will, who has a secret past, and former UN envoy and Vatican emissary Hanna. Finding themselves at the center of an old, global conspiracy, the trio must uncover an ancient curse that threatens thousands of lives, including their own. Each member of the ensemble cast tells their character’s first-person perspective of the unfolding events as we slowly learn more and more about the mysterious Man of Legends himself. Notable performers include actor and masterful narrator Stephen Mendel and Hall of Fame Narrator Cassandra Campbell.
If your favorite aspect of a full cast recording is the absolute immersion crafted by thoughtful sound engineering and effects, music, and incredible voice acting, it doesn't get much better than the Alien audio dramas. In Out of the Shadows, the first installment which has been reformatted into an episodic podcast, listen in as Chris Hooper and the crew of the Marion encounter terrifying creatures known as xenomorphs...and find their only hope in the last survivor of the Nostromo, Ellen Ripley.
A great introduction to Agatha Christie’s most well-known detective, Poirot's Finest Cases is a compilation of mysteries exploring the different cases Hercule Poirot navigated throughout his career. The collection of suspenseful mysteries includes old favorites like Murder on the Orient Express, The ABC Murders, and The Mysterious Affair at Styles. Musical interludes and careful sound effects accompany these dramatizations, capturing the essence of the time period and perfecting the story’s pace. John Moffat plays Hercule Poirot, a performance that has won him tremendous praise.
Full cast audio isn't just for adults. In fact, some of the most unforgettable full cast productions were crafted with kids in mind, made especially captivating to capture the minds of the listeners young and old alike. One of our newest favorites is a podcast inspired by some of the classic characters featured in Highlights Magazine. In this full cast Original, considerate Gallant, flippant Goofus, and their little sister Gigi get into wacky hijinks and share some important lessons along the way.
Melisande Stokes is an expert in linguistics and languages who serendipitously meets military intelligence operator Tristan Lyons in a Harvard University hallway. They strike a deal that rewards Mel with a large sum of money in exchange for translating a handful of documents and a signed non-disclosure agreement. Mel and Tristan’s work confirms the existence of magic, which was practiced for centuries until advances in science and industry weakened its power. It also reveals the ultimate goal of the Department of Diachronic Operations (D.O.D.O.): to bring magic back. Listeners get to explore a series of events that illustrate the rise and fall of the D.O.D.O. with the help of multiple narrators who keep the story moving with quipped dialogue sprinkled throughout. Any history buff would appreciate this whimsical take with Neal Stephenson’s great attention to historic detail.
This teen mystery thriller takes place in Ketterdam, where almost anything can be had for the right price. Here is where criminal virtuoso Kaz Brekker is offered the opportunity to pull off a heist that could line his pockets for years to come. Kaz puts together a dangerous and unlikely crew of misfits to pull off the inconceivable heist. A New York Times best seller which alternates between flashbacks and current events to build upon the mystical setting, this listen features a different narrator for each member of Kaz’s party who each gets their own chapter. This unique performance lets listeners intimately experience each character’s distinct personality and their interpretations and opinions of other characters and events as the story progresses.