Joseph Fink, co-creator of Welcome to Night Vale, credits Grim Fandango as a key influence on his storytelling.

Joseph Fink is the co-creator and writer behind Welcome to Night Vale, a standout in the world of fiction podcasts. He also crafted the noir podcast Unlicensed and Alice Isn’t Dead, which channels the conspiratorial cosmic horror of Night Vale into a more serious narrative exploring relationships, trauma, and the journey of life on the road. Recently, a sequel series titled Don’t Tell Alice has emerged, diving deeper into darker themes as the main character, Keisha, harbors a secret.

In addition to his podcasting work, Joseph is a talented author. He has co-written three novels based on Welcome to Night Vale, along with the Alice Isn’t Dead novel and The Halloween Moon. His latest release, The Nudge, features stunning illustrations by Jessica Hayworth, who also contributes art for Night Vale. This unsettling novella, about a man fleeing from an enigmatic evil, is set to be available on September 1st.

What’s the first app you install on a new phone or computer?
Podcast Addict. This Android-exclusive podcast app, created by a single developer named Xavier, surpasses all others, making it impossible for me to switch to an iPhone. I might be the only person who chooses their phone based on podcast performance.

Which social media platform do you use the most?
I’m on Bluesky, which I initially enjoyed because it was quiet and my posts went largely unnoticed—ideal for me. Now that more users have joined, I sometimes get responses, which can be a bit of a hassle.

What game do you have the fondest memories of?
Grim Fandango, a 1999 adventure game featuring a down-on-his-luck grim reaper navigating a film noir afterlife, has profoundly influenced my understanding of storytelling. The lines and visuals from that game are etched in my memory, even if many were parodies or nods to classic films I hadn’t seen when I first played it.

What creation are you most proud of?
Our Audible show Unlicensed is one of the rare projects that turned out exactly as I envisioned. Set in the less glamorous areas of Los Angeles, where real people live, I aimed to create a compelling mystery rather than just a decent one for writers not typically known for that genre. We produced three seasons, but after Audible scaled back its original shows, that was the end. If I could, I’d spend my life writing Unlicensed.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
I recently caught a talk by Meshell Ndegeocello, who recounted a moment in a guitar workshop where she had to quiet a fellow student who was playing while the teacher was demonstrating. Meshell said, “As a musician, it doesn’t matter how well you play if you can’t listen.” While it might not be the best advice I’ve ever received, it’s certainly solid and applicable beyond music.

What’s the last piece of physical media you bought?
I tend to buy too many books. I love spending time in bookstores and can’t leave without picking up a few titles. While I’m not big on physical media like records or DVDs, I’d rather add onto my house than part with any of my books.

What would the tagline for your biopic be?
“It turns out watching a guy write audio fiction on his computer is boring; this movie was a mistake. Sorry, we’re sorry.”

What’s the last GIF or meme you used?
I don’t really use GIFs or memes. I’m more of a text person, which is why I prefer text-based social media, even if it doesn’t help with selling books or anything like that.