Apple Podcasts has officially announced its Show of the Year for 2024, and the honor goes to a compelling limited-run series titled Hysterical. Here’s what you need to know.
Limited series premiered in July and became an instant success
Hysterical is a seven-episode limited series from Wondery with a captivating premise:
Hysterical explores an enigmatic illness that spreads among a cohort of high school girls in upstate New York.
The series launched in July as the top show on Apple Podcasts and finished the year as the ninth most popular show overall.
Apple conducted an interview with the creator, delving into the origins of the series.
Creator Dan Taberski felt drawn to this narrative after hearing about “Havana syndrome”—a baffling illness affecting many diplomats and seasoned CIA operatives. He recalled a similar situation involving a group of high school girls in Le Roy, New York, who experienced a different but equally mysterious illness years earlier. Considering the possible connections between these groups, he pondered, “What if it’s a hysterical illness?”
Insights from the interview with the creator
For those interested in podcast production, an extensive conversation with Taberski is accessible on the Apple Podcasts for Creators website. Some of the topics discussed include:
- What recommendations do you have for those looking to create a limited-run series?
- Can you share tips for podcasters on expressing their unique voice when scripting audio content?
- How can you distinguish between an idea for a multipart series and one for a standalone episode?
- What techniques do you use for structuring a serialized narrative? How do you approach storytelling across multiple episodes?
- Having a background in TV and film, what unique storytelling advantages does podcasting offer compared to those other forms?
Last year’s Show of the Year was Wiser Than Me featuring Julia Louis-Dreyfus. For more podcast ideas, Apple has recently highlighted the top shows across various categories.
You can tune into Hysterical now on Apple Podcasts or through your preferred podcast platform.
Have you given Hysterical a listen? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
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