This article examines the tensions and possibilities of audio drama in applied theatre and qualitative inquiry. Drawing on our experiences of making participatory audio drama, we argue that applied audio drama provides rich ground for generating new knowledge and approaches to applied theatre research and practice as informed by the cultural turn towards listening, sound, and sonic agency. Situating the conversation within fiction rather than documentary or self-revelatory podcasting, we discuss how applied audio drama is uniquely placed to explore ideas of truth and resonance at the interface between art, research, education and social justice.