The Truth

Object Piece

19 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Object Piece is a radio drama recorded in a dried out lake bed in 1978. It's visceral and compelling, with incredible acting, and it was made by Erik ...

BONUS: Inside "Garden of Evan"

12 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Jonathan talks with writer Mac Rogers about our story "Garden of Evan." If you haven't heard the story yet, this episode contains SPOILERS, so you'll ...

Garden of Evan

05 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A man searching for purpose discovers his compost pile has very strong opinions about productivity. Written by Mac Rogers, directed and sound designe...

Schedule Update

26 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Jonathan had to take a few days off last week due to illness, so we're pushing this week’s episode to next Thursday. In the meantime, here’s a sh...

BONUS: Inside "The Spott off the Side of the Highway"

19 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Jonathan talks with writer Mary McDonnell about our story "The Spot off the Side of the Highway." If you haven't heard the story yet, this episode con...

The Spot off the Side of the Highway

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A group of teenagers go on late-night search for something no one’s sure is real. Written by Mary McDonnell, directed and sound designed by Jonatha...

BONUS: Inside "Forward, Darkspeed!"

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Jonathan talks with writer Hunter Nelson about our story "Forward, Darkspeed!" If you haven't heard the story yet, this episode contains SPOILERS, so ...

Faster, Darkspeed!

29 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A sci-fi writer inherits her mother’s legendary series and faces the impossible expectations that come with carrying a beloved story forward. Writt...

BONUS: Inside "Chez Vous"

22 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Jonathan talks with writer Louis Kornfeld about our story Chez Vous. If you haven't heard Chez Vous, this episode contains SPOILERS, so you'll want to...

Chez Vous

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A struggling writer joins her wealthy friends for an extravagant dinner at a restaurant that charges more than money. Written by Louis Kornfeld, dire...

Conversations with Ghosts

18 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode, we’re giving the feed over to a podcast we think you’ll really love - Conversations with Ghosts. It’s the newest audio drama fr...

The Thing on the Fourble Board

04 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Support The Truth by subscribing to our ad-free feed. It’s $5, or $50 a year. You’ll get every story without interruption, but more than that, yo...

The Projectionists

20 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A date night takes a surprising turn when the movie previews become a little too familiar. Written by Davy Gardner, directed and sound designed by Jo...

The Joke

06 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When an archivist in the future finds a single surviving joke, she risks her job to uncover its meaning, discovering forbidden laughter along the way....

Here I Am

23 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A mother who listens, a father who can’t, and a boy who’s simply trying to say: Here I Am. This is a musical drama about connection, silence, and...

Operation Skill Shot

09 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A pinball obsessive is enlisted by the police to help lure a mob boss out of hiding, giving him a chance to prove that pinball isn't just a game.  W...

Silvia's Blood and Moon Graffiti

26 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode, we're presenting two of our favorite stories: Silvia's Blood was originally released in 2014, and is based on a short story by Phili...

Pariah No. 3

13 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The grandson of a world-renowned art gallery owner falls in love with a performance artist. But when her performance piece becomes a crime scene, he h...

Pariah No. 2

29 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The grandson of a world-renowned art gallery owner falls in love with a performance artist. But when her performance piece becomes a crime scene, he h...

Pariah No. 1

15 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The grandson of a world-renowned art gallery owner falls in love with a performance artist. But when her performance piece becomes a crime scene, he h...

Instruction Manual for Jason

01 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When Jen gets an instruction manual specifically written for her boyfriend, she uses it to help both him … and herself. Written by Mary McDonnell....

Degenerates

18 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A mechanic with a gambling problem has a chance to get out of debt by restoring his bookie’s vintage car. But first he has to deal with Ro. Writt...

Heat Meet

04 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the 18th Annual Heat Meet, where hot sauce enthusiasts from all over the world gather to talk shop, sample new sauces, and—maybe, just ma...

The Talk

06 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We’re taking a break right now, and we’ll be back in May with all new stories. But in the meantime, we’re featuring stories from the past that y...

Keep Running

02 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We’re taking a break right now, and we’ll be back in May with all new stories. But in the meantime, we’re featuring stories from the past that y...

Tough Crowd

02 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For this episode, we’re re-releasing a story from 2013 called Tough Crowd, about a stand-up comic competing with a speed-date event—based on a tru...

The Mutiny

05 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We’re taking a break right now, and we’ll be back in May with all new stories. But in the meantime, we’re featuring stories from the past that y...

Mall Santa

20 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A disenchanted mall Santa gets a surprise gift from SantaCon. This story was originally released in 2017. It was written by Louis Kornfeld, and perfo...

Still On

27 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Long-running late-night talk show “Still On” just got a new host. He’s young, innovative… and cursed. Written by Hunter Nelson Performed b...

I'm Not That Guy

13 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You know the story: back in high school, a jock and a nerd switched bodies. Except now it's ten years later... and they still haven't switched back. ...

Mark the Creep

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Mark thinks he's unworthy of his wife's affection. At least, that's what the voices in his head keep saying.... Written by Louis Kornfeld Performe...

Journey into Kalanu

15 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On a theme park ride dedicated to a sci-fi mega-franchise, a man meets a superfan whose love of fantasy is about to put them both in real danger. Wr...

Happy Happy

21 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There are a million things rock star Melanie Miles would like to have done differently. And a visit to a mysterious bar trapped in the '90s finally gi...

Snoop

07 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

While housesitting for her crush, Sienna finds his journal. But reading it uncovers a little more than she—or her best friend Monica—was expecting...

Swallowed

23 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jonah’s been swallowed by the whale, and he isn’t sure why. But as he prays to God for answers, a different voice responds. Written by Brielle D...

Newts!

02 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

From PRX Productions and The Truth, Newts! is a surf rock audio drama about the end of the world. The six-part series is inspired by the pioneering sc...

Thankless

21 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

To help her sick mother, Abigail needs to ask for help from her brother, a conspiracy-peddling radio host. Written by Louis Kornfeld Performed by ...

Danslang

07 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The kids at Newlin High have invented their own complex and growing language. Can a visiting linguist study and preserve it before the principal wipes...

About the Pond

24 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Emmy’s a chef; her twin brother Ross is an aspiring vegetable influencer. All they want is total culinary dominance—but a swiftly growing pond is ...

What About Ruth?

10 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It’s March of 2020 and Haviland is desperately trying to make herself useful, but her parents just want her to stay safe. Against their wishes, she ...

The Best Truth Story Ever (so far)*

23 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We asked listeners for the best Truth story of all time. You answered. As part of Radiotopia’s Making Trouble week, we’re bringing you the winner ...

The Truth 10th Anniversary Special

11 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Truth is 10 years old today! And to celebrate, we’re talking to a few of our listeners about their favorite episodes. If you’re new to the sho...

My Perfect Dad

03 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It’s not easy being a perfect dad. Especially when your son has some notes about the performance. Written by Louis Kornfeld. Performed by Tim P...

The Disruptors Part 2

20 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Hayley meets a nice man. Could the universe be giving her a break? Nope, it’s still against her. Written by Mary McDonnell. Performed by Mary Mc...

The Grand Finale

23 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s 1978, and the world’s most famous magician wants to show you the true wonders of the universe. Written by Jonathan Mitchell. This story w...

Here Lies Me

09 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It's the first day of eighth grade, and God's got a crush on Noa. For this episode of The Truth, we’re introducing you to a fantastic new podcast ...

The Look-alike

25 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A celebrity look-alike is trying to break away from his famous face and be taken seriously on his own. But it isn’t easy when the world only sees a...

End of the Hum

11 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In our fifth story from the post-apocalyptic world of the Hum, Huck is held captive in the compound while Inez must decide what she’s willing to sac...

Fruit of Knowledge

28 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A year after their father’s death, three siblings find a tree growing directly out of their father’s grave, bearing fruit and an unbelievable fami...

Fairy Godmother of Justice

14 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A fed up fairy godmother decides to grant justice instead of wishes. Written by Mary McDonnell. Performed by Blanche Ames, Lida Darmian, Thomas Wh...

Phonebank Kismet

30 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Matilda is selling artificial limbs at a call center, phoning random people in search of a sale. She wasn’t expecting one of the people to be her ex...

The Chosen One

16 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A down-on-his-luck teacher meets an alien. And suddenly the world wants to know what he has to say. Written by Louis Kornfeld. Performed by Dennis...

Zoe Butterfly

22 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

An eight year old finds a stronger bond with the narrator of her favorite nature documentary than with any of the adults in her life. Written by Lou...

Echo of the Hum

08 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In the fourth episode in “The Hum” series, Milly and Kaitlin finally find a community of people where they can live. It’s a welcoming community....

The Disruptors

24 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A woman thinks the universe is plotting against her. And she’s right. It is. Written by Mary McDonnell. Performed by Mary McDonnell, Louis Kornf...

How We Make The Truth

10 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this special episode, we share some of our favorite outtakes, go behind the scenes of The Truth, hear from writers Mary McDonnell and Louis Kornfel...

Breakfast in Wartime

27 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Liz can work a crowd. But can she read the room? Written by Chris Kipiniak. Performed by Sue Galloway, Sarah Mollo-Christensen, Brian Miskell, Ale...

The Noise and The Signal

13 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes descriptions of sexual acts, and an anti-semitic attack. Two grieving friends hope for a miracle. Neither of ...

Like Me

29 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The latest TikTok challenge seemed fun - until the people started disappearing. Written by Mary McDonnell. Performed by Jacob Cornell, Glo Tavarez...

Irish Water Spaniel

15 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A widower loses his horse and searches for something new to love. Written by Roney. Performed by Austin Pendleton, Josh Perilo, Tallie Medel, Dmit...

Private Thoughts

25 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A sudden telepathic connection pushes an unhappy woman into the arms of her brother-in-law. Written by Mary McDonnell. Performed by Kimberly Chatt...

Caligula the God

11 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes very strong language, and descriptions of sexual acts. It is for adults only, and not intended for children. ...

CrossBread

25 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Back in 2015, twin brother and sister Josh and Joan Burns formed CrossBread, the hugely successful Christian Rap duo from Boronia in Melbourne's outer...

Shadow of the Hum

11 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The hardest thing about living in a post-apocalypse is the loneliness. But what you do to cope could make things worse. This story is the third in t...

Love in Hollywood

28 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

An unexpected chance to be on a reality show lands Cat in a bizarre love triangle. As the story takes on a life of its own, her TV dreams devolve into...

Gods and Mortals

14 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When a group of misfit college students learn that their new roleplaying game affects the real world, opportunities abound. But there are consequences...

Remember the Lakehouse

17 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It’s been five years since her stroke, and Ann is still struggling to make new memories. But an ancient technique might be the key she needs to put...

Santa's Nine

03 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Two best friends are part of a Christmas Eve Bitcoin heist, but things don’t go according to plan. Written by Anthony Del Col. Performed by Alex...

Appearances

19 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Appearances is “an audio mind trip about an Iranian-American woman, the family she carries around in her head, and the family that she wants to have...

Salamanca

05 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A college student studying abroad learns about a romantic legend in Spain, but gets carried away trying to make it come true. Written by David Debli...

Bad Hair

22 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A suburban mom discovers a sinister conspiracy at her local hair salon. Written by Mary McDonnell. Performed by Alex Dickson, Francesca Ferrara,...

Married Alive

08 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A mountain climbing couple gets caught in an avalanche. Will they survive? Will their relationship? Oh, and also—they’re not alone. Written by D...

The Halves

24 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When a sitcom star is contacted by his long-lost relatives, he discovers that gaining a new family is a lot more than he bargained for. Written by D...

Into the Hum

10 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When the sky itself becomes deadly, survival depends on how much you can trust strangers. Written by Louis Kornfeld. Performed by Michael Cullen, ...

After the Hum

23 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In a post-apocalyptic world, a young woman faces her fears of the outside world in order to save her sister. Written by Mary McDonnell. Performed ...

The Session

09 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When two actors on different coasts show up to a mysterious voiceover audition, a sadistic director keeps making things weirder. Written by Laura G...

Anywhere in the World

25 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A virtual reality company can send you anywhere in the world from the comfort of your own home. So when a celebrity uses it for escape and ends up fin...

What's Wrong with Nicole Berkman?

11 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A woman gets trapped in an inter-dimensional game show. To leave, she must win the game by figuring out what's wrong with her. Written by Mary McDonn...

The Fraud

21 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When an artificial intelligence grad student becomes a finalist for a big robotics award, her empathic AI robot starts calling her a fraud, and she mu...

LIVE: The Hilly Earth Society

07 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The Truth was live at On Air Fest in March 2020, with a performance of “The Hilly Earth Society” followed by a Q&A with writer Louis Kornfeld, act...

Clustr

09 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A new app allows you to earn real money just by participating in social events. But what the events are—and who shows up—makes it difficult to kno...

The Wedding Objector

26 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A woman paid to ruin weddings decides instead to help a groom salvage his… and finds love along the way. Written by Mary McDonnell. Performed by...

Chester

12 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When Kyra gets Beth an “enhanced emotional support” dog to help her get over her recent funk, the gift goes over a little too well. Written by T...

Lucky Penny

27 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A son tries to make contact with his dad deteriorating in the throes of dementia. He makes new connections and discoveries, and as he says goodbye to ...

The Choice

13 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

After three friends make a mysterious yet simple choice, they must make sense of the inconceivable results. Written by Davy Gardner Performed by E...

Robocalls

30 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Eddie Doyle is being targeted by bots that are getting smarter all the time. Written by Louis Kornfeld Performed by Tom Ligon, Amy Warren, Louis K...

Museum of You

16 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It’s difficult to convey who you are in a two-dimensional dating profile. So a brand new dating service brings you into the third dimension, allowin...

Passenger List

27 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Atlantic Flight 702 has disappeared mid-flight between London and New York. Kaitlin Le, a college student whose twin brother vanished with the flight,...

Three Seconds to Nowhere

12 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

If you want to get from point A to point B, teleportation sounds like a good idea. But if you ever get the opportunity, just take a cab. Learn what ha...

Possessive

22 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Eve, Jay, and Michael used to be close friends until life moved them in different directions. They are brought together by the death of an old friend ...

Under the Influence

07 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Rory, an influencer with over 2 million followers, discovers she has the incredible ability to rewrite history through social media. But what does hav...

Double Feature of Darkness

24 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Down in the dusty crypt of The Truth, we uncover the remains of two haunting stories. In the first, a mother's most precious possession is discovered....

Self-Made Man

10 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The mysterious founder and CEO of a tech company is about to tell the world the secret of his latest product… and his past. Written by Luke Burns ...

Your Ears Are Burning

26 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Tony's always had a hard time reading the room. But then a mysterious man tells him about a podcast that plays back everything people say about you wh...

Poofed

12 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

After helping a woman on a subway platform, a busker discovers that her ukulele has a strange power. Written by Rachel Wenitsky Performed by Rache...

BONUS: The Fitzroy Diaries

08 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A woman walks, baby strapped to her chest, through the streets of Fitzroy and Carlton. As she walks, she notices the way the skyline edges upward, nud...

Hush Little Baby

25 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Joanna thought she was prepared for her new baby. But the baby has plans of her own. Written by Marina Tempelsman Performed by Ann Carr, Erica Sch...

Persuasive Tactics

27 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A psychology student must clear her name using the power of persuasion. Written by Mary McDonnell. Performed by Kimberly Chatterjee, Jeff Wucher, ...

BONUS: The Shadows

13 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

For today’s episode, we’re featuring an episode from another podcast: The Shadows. Kaitlin Prest, creator and host of the Prix-Italia winner The...

The Body Genius, Part 5

30 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Questions are answered and blood is spilled backstage at the 15th Annual Octane Awards. Performed by Chris Cafero, Eli James, Damon Ketron, Claire B...