Since its debut in 2012, The Truth has set the standard for modern audio drama anthologies. Its stories, sometimes surreal, sometimes frightening, sometimes heartbreakingly intimate, have been praised for combining sharp writing with meticulous sound design and naturalistic performances.
The Truth was recently named one of Apple Podcasts’ 20 Podcasts We Love: “Its true genius lies in subverting reality to create uncomfortable yet incredibly human stories.” And it was #36 on Left of Dial Media’s 100 Greatest Podcasts of All Time, which called it “smart, sharp, and hauntingly human.” The Guardian has praised The Truth for “setting the benchmark for fiction-based audio anthologies.”
THE TRUTH is the critically-acclaimed fiction podcast that makes “movies for your ears.” Known for cinematic sound design and naturalistic performances, the show tells emotionally rich, surprising stories that range from funny and surreal to dark and devastating.
Praise for the Truth
- “I know of nothing else in the audio-sphere like The Truth — and nothing smarter, more entertaining, consistently surprising or beautifully produced, either.”
Kurt Andersen, novelist and host of Studio 360- “What makes Jonathan Mitchell’s audio-fiction program so captivating is how incredibly well-executed it is, and how unquestionably modern it feels.”
Patrick Caldwell, The Daily Dot- "The stories from The Truth have made me laugh and cry, they’ve left me speechless, and they’ve pushed me to contemplate the meaning of life. What creator Jonathan Mitchell and his team are able to do with audio is nothing short of extraordinary.”
Patricia Thang, Book Riot- “Radio drama done right”
Roman Mars, host and producer of 99% Invisible- “Alchemical magic”
Pete Naughton, The Telegraph- “I’ve been bingeing on The Truth podcast. REALLY well done. Highly recommended.”
Lee Unkrich, director of Toy Story 3 and Coco- “The Truth is kino AF.”
Anonymous 4chan user
Who We Are
JONATHAN MITCHELL is a director, composer, and audio storyteller known for pioneering cinematic, improv-driven fiction in podcasting. He is the creator and producer of The Truth, an award-winning audio drama anthology that blends naturalistic performances, film-style editing, and original music into short, emotionally precise stories. Since its debut in 2012, The Truth has earned millions of downloads, a devoted global audience, and recognition as one of the most accomplished collections of narrative audio fiction.
Before founding The Truth, Mitchell spent more than fifteen years working in public radio, producing stories and sound design for shows like Radiolab, Studio 360, This American Life, and All Things Considered. His pieces have aired nationally and internationally and have received major honors, including the Peabody, two Sarah International Fiction Awards, and a Third Coast Award.
As a director, composer, and editor, Mitchell is known for creating immersive sonic worlds, performances that feel lived-in rather than performed, and stories that hover between comedy, drama, and the surreal. He has collaborated with some of New York’s most accomplished improv actors and writers, and continues to push the boundaries of narrative audio through experimentation with process, performance, and sound.
He lives and works in New York City.
