Welcome to Night Vale, which debuted in 2012, is a fiction podcast presented in the style of community updates for the small desert town of Night Vale, featuring local weather, news, announcements from the Sheriff’s Secret Police, mysterious lights in the night sky, dark hooded figures with unknowable powers, and cultural events. Its offbeat humor, surreal and often disturbing storylines, as well as its ability to blend elements of horror, science fiction, and comedy, garnered it a cult following that grew into mainstream success.Creators Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor were able to create a rich world full of distinctive sound effects, music, and narrative style, that is both familiar and strange, completely drawing listeners in. The show’s success led to multiple spin-offs and adaptations, and alongside Limetown, it has been credited with popularizing fiction podcasting and inspiring other creators to experiment with imaginative and unconventional storytelling.