Rephonic
Artwork for Imaginary Worlds
Science Fiction
Star Wars
Netflix
Voice Acting
Doctor Who
Dune
Fantasy
Pokémon
The Fantastic Four
Blue Eye Samurai
Scarlet Hollow
George Lucas Talk Show
Audiobooks
Hollywood
Anime
Neuromancer
The Phantom Menace
Cold War
Doctor Doom
One Piece

Imaginary Worlds sounds like what would happen if NPR went to ComicCon and decided that’s all they ever wanted to cover. Host Eric Molinsky spent over a decade working as a public radio reporter and producer, and he uses those skills to create thoughtful, sound-rich episodes about science fiction, fantasy, and other genres of speculative fiction. In this award-winning podcast, Eric talks with film... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes309Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
FictionScience FictionArts

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Artwork for Imaginary Worlds

Latest Episodes

Anime and manga are a global phenomenon, and their popularity continues to grow. Many of these stories are populated by supernatural beings called yōkai. Even though yōkai can be portrayed as ghosts, demons, or monsters, they're rarely purely good or... more

Charles R. Saunders loved Tarzan as a kid, but he was also repulsed by the racism in those books since Charles was Black. So he created a counter narrative about a warrior named Imaro who lived in a fictionalized version of precolonial Africa. Charle... more

Pop culture has been full of Jekylls and Hydes: Bruce Banner and The Hulk, Norman Bates and Mother, Walter White and Heisenberg, The Nutty Professor and Buddy Love. They all echo the archetype that Robert Lous Stevenson established 140 years ago in T... more

John Watson is a former army doctor who became a true crime podcaster when he met a consulting detective named Sherlock Holmes. You can hear about the cases they’ve solved in the podcast Sherlock & Co. Sound familiar? Holmes and Watson may have been ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Jon Tattrie
Author/ biographer of Charles Saunders, interviewed on the episode
Author of To Leave a Warrior Behind
Episode: The Father of Sword and Soul
Milton Davis
Fantasy writer and publisher
Publisher/Writer in the African-based sword and sorcery space
Episode: The Father of Sword and Soul
Sheree Renée Thomas
Fantasy author and editor, Marvel contributor
Editor/Writer
Episode: The Father of Sword and Soul
Troy Wiggins
Fantasy writer and editor
Writer/Editor
Episode: The Father of Sword and Soul
Jamil Mustafa
Professor at Lewis University
Lewis University
Episode: Many Faces of Jekyll and Hyde
Yannie Ten Broeke
Psychology professor
Touro University
Episode: Many Faces of Jekyll and Hyde
Joel Emery
Co-creator/writer of Sherlock & Co
Sherlock & Co
Episode: Holmes and Watson: True Crime Podcasters
Adam Jarrell
Sound designer and editor for Sherlock & Co
Sherlock & Co
Episode: Holmes and Watson: True Crime Podcasters
Marta de Silva
Voice actor who plays Mariana in Sherlock & Co
Sherlock & Co
Episode: Holmes and Watson: True Crime Podcasters

Host

Eric Molinsky
Host of Imaginary Worlds

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 3.5k ratings
  • DC Fontana!

    FANTASTIC DC Fontana episode with the most amazing guest list! 🖖🖖🖖🖖

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    annmarie222
    United States3 months ago
  • Super fun deep dives into geeky things. Sometimes it's stuff I already know about with a new angle (Dune, Murderbot), sometimes stuff I never heard of that makes me want to go watch/read more (Africanfuturism, distinct from Afrofuturism). And sometimes it's just neat and/or weird stuff (vtubers, the woman who designed monsters in early horror movoes, the fictional amusement park based on Freud).

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Wordwizard
    6 months ago
  • could be good but...

    This is a wonderful (Adverstisment break) show! I find the info (AD break) completely informative. I love the (AD break) topics and they are (AD break) handled with (AD break) a unique perspective (AD break) and the interviews are (AD break) top (AD break) notch (AD break). I (AD break) will (AD break) continue(AD break) to (AD break) listen (AD break)!

    Maybe, just maybe, don't do so many advertisements and I'll be able to get through a whole episode without stopping.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    manayunk wall
    United States9 months ago
  • Thank you for THIS!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Right more often than not
    9 months ago
  • One star for every year I’ve been a listener

    I truly love this show. I’m sorry it took me so long to give it some ratings love.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RyanArby
    Canadaa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners note issues with ad placement or pacing in episodes.
Listeners praise the show's thoughtful analysis and deep interviews with creators.
Fans highlight accessibility and broad range of topics, from classic to contemporary works.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#232
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#53
Finland/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#178
Singapore/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#186
Hong Kong/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#206
India/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Holmes and Watson: True Crime Podcasters
Q: How do you adapt Sherlock Holmes for modern day?
They opted to reveal a warmer, more playful side to Holmes, and to frame Watson as a content-creator who adapts the canon for a contemporary audience.
Puppeteering Project Hail Mary
Q: How did you approach rehearsing a character that has no face but needs to express emotion?
We built a system where movement, weight, and the carapace carried the emotional load, using long rehearsal periods to align with the puppeteers and the actor, so Rocky could read as anxious and evolving rather than relying on facial cues.
Absolute Reimagining of DC Comics
Q: How is Absolute Diana different from the traditional Wonder Woman?
Absolute Diana is portrayed as a warrior for justice, willing to use her power aggressively, unlike traditional representations focused on peace.
Absolute Reimagining of DC Comics
Q: So what's different about the Absolute Comics and what are they tapping into?
They offer a fresh take on familiar characters by exploring their origins in contemporary contexts, making them relatable and resonant.
Scarlet Hollow Draws a Picture of Success
Q: Do you already know this is gonna have so many chapters and you already have plotted the entire story out?
Yes, we like to have our endings in mind. We need to make sure that things are correctly building to the point that they need to build towards.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Imaginary Worlds

What is Imaginary Worlds about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show frequently explores science fiction, fantasy, and other speculative genres through thoughtful conversations with authors, editors, filmmakers, designers, scholars, and other creative professionals. Episodes highlight world-building, adaptation, production design, and cultural impact, often tracing historical influences and future possibilities while revealing the human experiences behind imaginative work. A standout trait is the depth of production: interviews are paired with rigorous context, archival material, and sound-rich storytelling, offering both scholarly insight and accessible storytelling for devoted genre fans and curious newcomers alike. A notable edge is its willingness to cover niche subgenres, veteran creators, and ... more

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How many listeners does Imaginary Worlds get?

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To see how many followers or subscribers Imaginary Worlds has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Imaginary Worlds?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Imaginary Worlds:

1. Twenty Thousand Hertz
2. 99% Invisible
3. The Allusionist
4. Decoder Ring
5. Endless Thread

How many episodes of Imaginary Worlds are there?

Imaginary Worlds launched 12 years ago and published 309 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Imaginary Worlds?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Imaginary Worlds?

Recent guests on Imaginary Worlds include:

1. Jon Tattrie
2. Milton Davis
3. Sheree Renée Thomas
4. Troy Wiggins
5. Jamil Mustafa
6. Yannie Ten Broeke
7. Joel Emery
8. Adam Jarrell

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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