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

Imaginary Worlds sounds like what would happen if NPR went to Comic-Con and decided that’s all they ever wanted to cover. The host Eric Molinsky spent over a decade working in public radio, and he uses those skills to create sound-rich storytelling, pop culture analysis and cultural commentary about speculative fiction and immersive worldbuilding. Eric interviews sci-fi fantasy writers, creature m... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes312Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsScience FictionFiction

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Artwork for Imaginary Worlds

Latest Episodes

Christopher Nolan’s film The Odyssey is part of a long line of film adaptations, but Homer’s epic poem has quietly shaped another medium: role-playing games. The structure of The Odyssey is practically a blueprint for tabletop and video game RPGs fr... more

In honor of America's 250th anniversary, we're continuing our mini-series on iconic American toys and games that took on lives of their own. Strong National Museum of Play curators Michelle Parnett-Dwer and Mirek Stolee, along with game designer and ... more

In honor of the 250th anniversary of the USA, we are doing a series of mini stories across two episodes that explore American toys and games. This week, we look at early childhood objects that became vehicles of the imagination. I talk with Michelle ... more

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

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Recent Guests

Tony Mifuchi
Special guest in the studio, connected to Baltic Avenue
Monopoly musical universe
Episode: The U.S. of Play - Part 2: Silly Putty, Twister and Monopoly
Michelle Parnett-Dwyer
Senior Curator at the Strong National Museum of Play, Rochester, NY
Strong National Museum of Play
Episode: The U.S. of Play - Part 1: Wagons, Bears and Dolls
Michael Kimmel
Author of Playmakers, The Jewish Entrepreneurs Who Created the Toy Industry in America
Author
Episode: The U.S. of Play - Part 1: Wagons, Bears and Dolls
Sara Broussard
Director of the Houston Toy Museum
Houston Toy Museum
Episode: The U.S. of Play - Part 1: Wagons, Bears and Dolls
Kaitlyn Ugoretz
Host of Eat Pray Anime, postdoctoral fellow in East Asian Cinema in Media Studies
University of Idaho
Episode: How Folklore Spirited Anime Away
Deborah Shamoon
Professor of Japanese film and pop culture
National University of Singapore
Episode: How Folklore Spirited Anime Away
Michael Dylan Foster
Professor and yokai scholar
UC Davis
Episode: How Folklore Spirited Anime Away
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

Host

Eric Molinsky
Host of Imaginary Worlds

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 3.5k ratings
  • Jekyll and Hyde episode…

    What an insanely outrageously innovative topic for an episode. Opening my eyes and my mind every time I listen. Thank you so much Eric!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    The AA Show
    United States3 months ago
  • DC Fontana!

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    annmarie222
    United States4 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
    8 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 States10 months ago
  • Thank you for THIS!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Right more often than not
    a 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
#138
Finland/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#174
Poland/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#178
Belgium/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#221
Philippines/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#224
Singapore/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#233
Saudi Arabia/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 Indie Video Game 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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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. the memory palace

How many episodes of Imaginary Worlds are there?

Imaginary Worlds launched 12 years ago and published 312 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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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. Tony Mifuchi
2. Michelle Parnett-Dwyer
3. Michael Kimmel
4. Sara Broussard
5. Kaitlyn Ugoretz
6. Deborah Shamoon
7. Michael Dylan Foster
8. Jon Tattrie

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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