Do you have a pair of earbuds and the holiday spirit, but don’t want to listen to All I Want For Christmas for the billionth time? There’s help! Some of the best audio drama producers have made great Christmas-themed stories for you to listen to! Stories you can listen to anytime, anywhere. Comedy! Horror! Musicals! Political intrigue! All with a very merry twist.

The Truth: Naughty or Nice

He knows if you’ve been sleeping. He knows when you’re awake. He knows if you’ve been bad or good. And it takes a lot of bureaucracy to pull off an information-gathering operation like that. And some questionable moral compromises. One conflicted elf tries to decide if it’s all worth it. Listen here.

Big Data: Zer0 Kn1ghts Before Christmas

What do you get an internet troll for Christmas? Especially after the internet blew up? Their lack of access should limit the trouble they can cause, but their boredom causes them to get more creative in making the sweetest apocalypse they can muster. Listen here.

The No Sleep Podcast: Christmas Specials

Want to have yourself a scary little Christmas? You’re in luck. No Sleep has been producing annual collections of holiday horrors for the last six years so there’s a lot to choose from. Listen to episodes from 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 or 2016.

Uncanny County: A Christmas Uncanny

While most kids get a visit from Santa on Christmas Eve, Sheriff Rowland has always had a very different tradition. And this year, she’s determined to catch the holiday jackelope that has harassed her since childhood. Listen here.

Earbud Theater: This Monstrous Life

Monsters decide to take over Christmas for themselves, and public radio is there to document the whole affair. Listen here.

EOS 10: Tannenbaum

If you thought Tribbles were trouble, wait until you see what a fir can do. Doctors in deep space try to celebrate the holidays with a humble Christmas tree. But as their hearts grow, so does the tree. Exponentially. Does a doctor’s oath to do no harm extend to a sentient pine that’s about to breach the hull? Listen here.

King Falls AM: A King Falls Christmas Story

Time for some caroling! Also, rapping? In a creepy town where tensions are high, a magical spell forces everyone to work out their problems in song. Listen Here.

The Truth: Santa For President

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, and he knows you’re a swing state. When political strategists convince the ultimate the ultimate outsider, with the world’s highest approval rating to run for the highest office in the land, all seems well. But the political process may be too much for old Saint Nick. Listen here.

Deck The Halls (With Matrimony)

A standalone feature-length audio rom-com about wedding planning, killer turkeys, bridezillas, misunderstandings and holiday romance. Listen here.

Aural Traditions: Frosted

There are two sides to every story. The tale of Frosty the Snowman, when told from the magician’s point of view, is very different. Listen here.

Our Fair City: Die Hartlife

Civilizations have always adapted the holiday traditions of past societies. So in a dystopian future, on Exclusion Day, a monolithic corporation has twisted one of our holiday classics to fit their own needs as they put on their annual Die Hard Pageant. Listen here.

Old Time Radio Christmas

If you’re looking for something a little more classic, there are all kinds of old timey specials for you to peruse! Superman! Dragnet! Sherlock Holmes! Blondie! Even radio adaptations of It’s A Wonderful Life or Miracle on 34th Street! Listen here.

Wooden Overcoats fan-art by Hannah of yamiswift.tumblr.com

…and there’s more to come!

I reviewed some of my favorites above, but there are many more that will be launched this Christmas, by some of my favorite shows! Watch for Wooden Overcoats: Rudyard Ruins Christmas. Our Fair City: Exclusion Day Special. Return Home: Pa-Rum-Pum-Pum-Pum. And the Jim Robbie and the Wanderers Hannukah special, Lights a’ Plenty! Keep an eye out for them very soon!

A few audio drama Christmas episodes that are less stand-alone, and require a little binge-listening to get caught up: Hadron Holiday Special from Hadron Gospel Hour. Wait Wait Don’t Kill Me III from Secrets, Crimes and Audiotape. Deep Breaths from Wolf 359. They are all great, and worth a binge! Did I miss something? Please let me know!