What’s it called?

Carrier

What’s it about?

Raylene Watts, an African-American driver of long-haul articulated trucks who uses contacts of her sick, truck driver father to pick up an off-the-books “back-haul” for her return trip to Chicago. Bad move. She isn’t allowed to inspect the refrigerated container before she sets off from a high-security industrial compound, and the shipment itself is “bolt sealed”. As she drives through the night talking on her CB radio and pulling in childcare favours from her boyfriend, Raylene starts to realise there’s more to her mysterious cargo than meets the eye. Furthermore, she isn’t alone on the road.

Who’s in it?

Raylene is voiced by London-born, Oscar-nominated actress Cynthia Erivo, while Martin Starr (Silicon Valley), Lamorne Morris (New Girl) and Lance Reddick (The Wire’s Cedric Daniels) also star. The series is created, written and directed by Dan Blank.

What’s so good about it?

The story’s gripping and the sound design is excellent but it’s the growing air of tension and menace which sets this scripted podcast above the rest.

Fun fact …

Makers QCode are the same studio who brought us Blackout, starring Rami Malik.

Best bits …

It’s all good but you know you’re in for a treat from the ballsy opening lines: “Are you listening? Good. This is not a podcast. This is not an audiobook. This is a dimensional experience set in the unseen realms to your left, your right, and all that lingers between. We ask that you put on headphones if possible, use caution during your journey and always listen carefully”.