A groundbreaking podcast that explores forgotten American ruins while addressing critical social issues has captured international attention, earning dozens of awards and reaching the top of Apple Podcasts' Places & Travel charts in 2025.
"abandoned: The All-American Ruins Podcast" takes listeners on immersive audio journeys through deserted buildings and forgotten spaces across the United States and beyond. Created by host Blake Pfeil, the Ambie Award-winning series combines documentary storytelling with audio theater to examine themes of American history, community economics, environmental concerns, and mental health.
The innovative podcast has garnered recognition from major media festivals and organizations worldwide. Recent accolades include nominations for Podcast of the Year (Regional) at the UK Press Gazette Future of Media Awards for two consecutive years and six Signal Awards. The series has been featured in 11 countries and 17 states through prestigious venues including On Air Fest, SONOHR Radio & Podcast Festival, and the Berliner Hörspielfestival.
"With 'abandoned,' Blake Pfeil is pushing at the boundaries of form, combining documentary and audio theater in a voice distinctly his own. These are the rare kinds of stories that leave you wondering," said David Krasnow, Executive Producer of The New Yorker Radio Hour.
The genre-bending audio series achieved significant recognition at the CineHealth International Film & Media Festival, where it won Best Podcast and was featured in AMC, Cinemark, and Regal Cinemas nationwide as part of the pre-show Noovie campaign. Additional festival selections include the Oscar Qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival, Garden State Film Festival, and Rhode Island International Film Festival.
Beyond exploring physical ruins, the podcast encourages listeners to use their imaginations as tools for healing while examining the broader implications of abandoned spaces in American culture. This unique approach to storytelling has earned Pfeil individual honors including the Sydney Web Fest Michael Ajakwe Innovation Award, finalist status for the Disctopia TruePlay Innovative Podcaster Award, and selection as a 2025 Green Box Resident Artist.
The multimodal storytelling project operates under the auspices of SUNY Stony Brook's Podcast Incubator, which supports innovative audio content creation. Through its blend of immersive soundscapes and thoughtful cultural commentary, the series has established itself as a distinctive voice in the podcasting landscape, offering listeners a unique perspective on the spaces society leaves behind and the stories they continue to tell.
