Here are my five choices:
1) Pseudopod 173: Bophuthatswana By Lavie Tidhar
Stellar on most every level, from evocative imagery to rhythmic language that was fun to listen to. I love the subtler horror, barely tinging the very real events.
2) Pseudopod 150: Break the Vessel By Vylar Kaftan
Only edged out by Bophuthatswana because I got to have an argument over that one. I absolutely adored this story and the intense emotions it evoked. Weaving poetry from literally shit is a feat few can manage.
3) Pseudopod 144: The Inevitability of Earth By David Nickle
Absolutely brilliant central metaphor which leads to a (for some of us) literally panic-inducing final image. Bonus points for super-awesome title.
4) Pseudopod 155: The Worm that Gnaws By Orrin Grey
Old-school creature-feature horror that overwhelms through sheer apostrophal fury. (Seriously, dialect is hard to do well. This story did it well. Reminded me of Twain's mastery of that most troublesome of dramatic conventions.)
5) Pseudopod 138: Come to My Arms, My Beamish Boy By Douglas F. Warrick
This final slot was really a three-way tie of sorts. This one won my choice basically because I'm a whore for literary allusions, even ones that I don't get to feel snotty and superior for recognizing. Plus, the mental images were just chilling.
Honorable Mention
Pseudopod 131: Tales of the White Street Society - The Corpse Army of Khartoum By Grady Hendrix
I like the TWSS stories and wish they were closer to Union Dues in number. I enjoyed the darker tone this one took toward the end. It was a bit like watching Bertie Wooster finally grow up a little bit.
Pseudopod 129: Bottle Babies By Mary A. Turzillo
Awesome story with fun images that was hard to listen to because Ben's "small child" voice drives me absolutely up the wall. (Sorry, Mr. Phillips!)