Carrier

What happens when a truck driver picks up a loaded trailer but has no idea what is really inside? Cynthia Erivo -- Tony, Grammy, and Emmy winner -- stars in this seven-part scripted thriller that takes place almost entirely on an isolated highway at night. Dan Blank wrote and directed the series, and the tight focus on a single character in a single location forces the show to be incredibly creative with its sound design. Erivo carries the entire production on her shoulders, and she is more than up for it. Her voice work conveys exhaustion, fear, determination, and suspicion in equal measure. The immersive audio is specifically designed for headphones -- Qcode recommends using them, and they are right. Sound effects come from specific directions, the truck engine rumbles beneath you, and things in the trailer behind you make noises that you really wish they would not. The show earned a 4-star rating from over 8,200 reviews, which is a strong showing for a limited-run fiction podcast. Some listeners found the heavy reliance on sound design in the final episodes a bit confusing without visuals, but most praised the overall experience as gripping. At just 7 main episodes, it does not overstay its welcome. A tight, propulsive listen for anyone who enjoys thrillers with claustrophobic settings.