crime podcast recommendations

What are the best true crime podcasts?

The recipient of a Peabody Award, In the Dark is another true crime podcast that spends each season focused on a single unexplained crime.

Who are the hosts of the Criminology podcast?

Calling all true crime newbies—this is the podcast for you. The hosts, Aaron and Justin, have been around since 2012 and have the episode log to prove it, with over 360 episodes to listen from. We're all about the details when it comes to true crime, and that's why we can't stop listening to Criminology.

Is Crime Junkie the true crime podcast for You?

If you want a true crime podcast that leaves you on the edge of your seat but still feels like you’re chatting with your friends, then Crime Junkie is the podcast for you.

What is the'Crimetown'Podcast?

Crimetown is a true-crime podcast with an original, wide-lensed angle from the creators of HBO's The Jinx. It doesn't look at specific crimes, but rather the crime culture of specific towns, which provides the focus for each season.

What is the #1 true crime podcast?

1. Serial. As one of the earliest true crime podcasts, Serial richly deserves the title of “an audio game changer.” After catapulting to success in 2014, the Peabody Award winning podcast remains as prominent as ever.

Are there any good true crime podcasts?

Perhaps the most well known true crime podcast ever, Serial first became famous for delving into the mind-boggling case of Hae Min Lee and Adnan Syed. This series follows "people who've done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle." There are more than 130 episodes, so you better get listening!

What do you listen to after Dirty John?

The hosts rely on interviews with victims, prosecutors, and investigators who worked the case to tell the compelling stories of how the case was solved.Up and Vanished.My Favorite Murder.Cases of Color.Serial Killers.Motive for Murder.The Clearing Podcast.

What should I listen to after Bear Brook?

Podcasts Like Bear Brook West Cork. Your Own Backyard. To Live And Die In LA. Death In Ice Valley. Cold.

Who has the best crime podcast?

20 True-Crime Podcasts That Will Give You Goosebumps Over My Dead Body: Fox Lake. Wondery. ... My Favorite Murder. Exactly Right Media. ... Black Girl Gone. Cloud10 and iHeartPodcasts. ... Dr. Death. ... The Clearing. Pineapple Street Media / Gimlet. ... Over My Dead Body: Joe Exotic. Wondery. ... Uncover: The Village. ... Killer Psyche.More items...•

What is the most popular crime?

What are the most common crimes in the United States?Larceny / Theft. Larceny-theft hits the top of the crime list, far outweighing any other crime. ... Burglary. The next most prevalent crime is burglary, another property crime. ... Motor Vehicle Theft. ... Aggravated Assault. ... Robbery.

What podcast is as good as Serial?

And, enjoy. It's like a good book – the more times you listen to it, the better it gets. S-Town comes in at number 1 in our top podcasts like Serial.

What is the best Serial podcast season?

We have discussed the five best Serial podcast episodes, so if you want to dip your toes into this podcast but are unsure of where to start....These are particularly popular and are worth a listen. S1E1: The Alibi. S2E2: The Golden Chicken. S3E2: You've Got Some Gauls. S3E7: The Snowball Effect. S1E2: The Break-up.

What is a true crime podcast?

True crime is a nonfiction literary, podcast, and film genre in which the author examines an actual crime and details the actions of real people associated with and affected by criminal events. The crimes most commonly include murder; about 40 percent focus on tales of serial killers.

What is the best crime junkie episode?

The 10 Best Crime Junkie Episodes1) MURDERED: Laci Peterson. ... 2) WANTED: Killer on the High Bridge. ... 3) INFAMOUS: The Dexter Killer. ... 4) SERIAL KILLER: L.I.S.K. ... 5) ADNAN: What Serial Didn't Tell You. ... 6) MISSING: Niqui McCown. ... 7) MURDERED: Denise Johnson. ... 8) SERIAL KILLER: Israel Keyes.More items...•

What do you listen to after a dropout?

Podcasts Like The Dropout The Missing Cryptoqueen. Exit Scam. The Dream. Reveal Presents: American Rehab. Fake Heiress. Uncover.

Is Wondery suspect a true story?

Suspect takes up the unsolved murder of Arpana Jinaga, who was killed the night of a Halloween party at her Redmond, Washington, apartment complex in 2008. The case is described to us as a true whodunit, one that relies purely on circumstantial and DNA evidence because there weren't any witnesses to the killing.

What is the podcast "believed" about?

Believed is the ultimate example of a podcast that achieves near-impossible feats. Focusing on the story of former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State doctor Larry Nassar, who sexually abused girls and women for decades, the series manages to put Nassar’s victims front and center, daring listeners to flinch as they detail stories about being groomed and molested. It’s an element that hosts Kate Wells and Lindsey Smith make clear we need to understand. They succeed in large part because they’re both already well-versed in the story, having reported on it for Michigan Radio since 2016. Believed also manages to humanize Nassar — not in order to engender sympathy, but so we can also understand how it was possible he got away with his crimes for so long. Finally, and perhaps most surprisingly, Believed is unapologetically gripping, even entertaining, as it tells one of the most viscerally difficult true-crime stories of the modern era. A right-on-time series that was delivered at the crest of the Me Too era, the series also sticks one of the best landings in podcasting, letting us listen in as more than 150 women give testimony at Nassar’s sentencing, a brand of justice we desperately crave but so seldom get to witness.

Who is the host of Criminal?

The brainchild of North Carolina-based public radio host Phoebe Judge and producer Lauren Spohrer, Criminal is a gift to the ears, in no small part because the show makes a point to stretch far beyond murder and mayhem in the stories it covers.

What did the Undisclosed podcast do for Adnan Syed?

For all Serial did for Adnan Syed’s case, Undisclosed did more — literally. Picking up where the genre’s greatest podcast left off, host Rabia Chaudry, who appeared in Serial as the family friend who brought Syed’s case to Sarah Koenig’s attention, teamed up with an unlikely duo of bloggers and proceeded to tear apart, bit by bit, the state’s case against Syed, and many aspects of the Serial narrative itself. In early episodes, the Undisclosed trio dug up information about reward money, police corruption, and prosecutorial misconduct. They identified the “tap tap tap” on a taped interview as detectives coaxed witness Jay Wilds by pointing to a map. They made the term “Brady violation” part of their listeners’ vocabulary.

Is there a way to make a list of the most important true crime podcasts?

All that said, it’s important to acknowledge that there’s no way to make a list of the most important true-crime podcasts without killing a lot of darlings. Because I’ve worked on or reviewed several of the podcasts up for consideration, I relied on a bunch of podcast heavyweights to weigh in. And of course, some very strong contenders didn’t land on the list. But we feel confident that many of the shows on the list below will still be earning mentions when those future historians parse this era’s golden age.

Who is the host of Missing and Murdered?

Connie Walker, the CBC reporter who hosts Missing & Murdered, recently told me that she set out to make a history podcast about the systemic oppression of indigenous people in Canada, but she knew that in order to get people to listen to it, it had to be a true-crime story.

Is the podcast "In The Dark" true?

There is perhaps no other podcast, true crime or otherwise, that has had a greater real-world impact than In The Dark, which launched in 2016 with an examination of the failed investigation into the infamous disappearance of Jacob Wetterling. This is especially true of the show’s second season, which focuses on Curtis Flowers, a Mississippi man who was tried six times for four murders he probably didn’t commit, an assertion most listeners would be comfortable making after hearing the ample evidence uncovered in the series. “This case is precisely the type that crime podcasting is made for,” says investigative reporter and Accused podcast host Amber Hunt, one of the many people who told me In The Dark was at the top of their list. Hosted by the measured and confident Madeleine Baran, the journalism behind In The Dark is second to none, a team reporting effort that’s transparently explained to the listener. And the proof is in the pudding: Flowers’s latest conviction was recently overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, which considered, among other things, a pattern of egregious prosecutorial misconduct uncovered in the podcast. It’s the rare show to effectively combine shoe-leather investigation, exhaustive sourcing, and groundbreaking data dives, all driven home with rare precision and a welcome dose of humanity.

What is crime in sports?

Two comedians, James Pietragallo and Jimmie Whisman look at athletes who were known for winning, but somehow ended up losing big time to the law.

What is the show "Die Alogue"?

DIE-ALOGUE: a true crime conversation is a weekly true crime podcast in which host Rebekah Sebastian interviews "fascinating people connected to true crime in unique ways." Rebekah and her guests dig deep and try to get to the heart of the "why" that drives true crimes.

What are major scandals like?

Major scandals are like a trainwreck: You can’t really look away. Whether it’s a celebrity, a politician, or an entire corporation brought down by errors, lies, crimes, and misbehavior, scandal is as American as apple pie. This podcast from Wondery goes deep on some of the biggest ones to ever make headlines—the Exxon Valdez oil spill, the Iran Contra Affair, steroid use among athletes—exploring why they happened and who took the fall.

How many seasons of The Case of a Missing Person are there?

This podcast has two seasons so far and is hosted by investigative reporter Payne Lindsey, who spends each episode—which span between 30 minutes and an hour—on the case of a missing person. The podcast also has its own TV show on Oxygen in case just listening isn’t enough.

What is a true crime podcast?

The best true crime podcasts are ones that say something about society while providing an intriguing narrative, and those are the kind we've listed here.

Where was Jennifer Cave's body found?

The 21-year-old went out one night and disappeared—and then her body was found at The Orange Tree, a condo complex near the university . This story takes such a crazy turn you'll find yourself binging all the episodes in one day.

Is there a podcast about murder?

Ah yes, the best way to wake up: a tale of murder. This under 10-minutes podcast has a new episode every single day (yes!), and tells the tale of murder, abduction, cult, etc. that happened on that day in true crime history. It's uber interesting and never dull.

Firebug

In the Eighties and Nineties, an arsonist used a unique incendiary device made with a coin, a cigarette, and a book of matches to set dozens of fires in Southern California, some in the dry brush of the mountains, others in grocery store aisles and fabric retailers populated by shoppers. Sometimes he ignited several in the same day.

Through the Cracks

On Through the Cracks, WAMU reporter Jonquilyn Hill tells the story of Relisha Rudd, who disappeared from a Washington, D.C. homeless shelter in 2014 when she was just eight years old.

Crimes of the Centuries

In these days of the constantly changing new cycle, it’s easy to forget that in decades past, one story might have taken up the entire national consciousness for weeks on end. Journalist Amber Hunt is here to make sure that we remember those cases that captured the nation.

Stolen: The Search for Jermain

Connie Walker is the host of Stolen: The Search for Jermain from Gimlet Media and has been making podcasts about missing and murdered indigenous women for years. A Cree from Saskatchewan, Canada, Walker grew up on a reserve, like many of her subjects, giving her intimate insight into the women whose stories she tells.

Dr. Death Season 3: Miracle Man

Dr. Paolo Macchiarini is a charismatic Italian surgeon who innovates a synthetic trachea transplant in the early 2010s that, it turns out, doesn’t exactly work. People start dying after his operations, in at least one case after he performs several additional experimental and increasingly debilitating surgeries to correct his initial error.

Reveal: Mississippi Goddam: The Ballad of Billey Joe

In 2008, 17-year-old football star Billey Joe Johnson, Jr., who was Black, was killed by a shotgun blast to the head during a traffic stop by a white police officer in Luceville, Mississippi. Authorities initially ruled the death a suicide, but a grand jury later deemed it an accidental shooting.

Los Feliz Murder Mansion

It all started with a Los Angeles urban legend. There was a house, the story went, up in the hills of Los Feliz. A man had murdered his entire family there decades ago, around Christmas, and the house had gone unchanged since — you could still see the presents under the tree.

Casefile

In 2016 Casefile started as a side project telling the stories of the murders of Christine Sharrock and Marianne Schmidt (The Wanda Beach Murders). The host of this true crime podcast is unknown but he’s affectionately known as “Casey” to fans derived from the podcast’s name.

Paper Ghosts

Investigative journalist and true crime author M. William Phelps delves deep into the long cold case of 4 missing girls from the 1970’s in closely connected New England towns. This pod doesn’t just reveal the story of these cases, but also new information about how these cases may be connected, as well.

Son of a Hitman

Legendary Man and man of the people Woody Harrelson has a storied career, but he also had a storied childhood. You may have heard (and subsequently gasped when you found out) that Woody Harrelson’s father was Charles Harrelson, a murderer who may or may not have been involved in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Serial

No true crime list is complete without the OG. Serial takes on a new complicated crime every season, and they’re currently rolling out their fourth, but it’s tough to beat the original deep dive into the case for and against Adnan Sayed. The subsequent seasons, while maybe not as sensational, are certainly as stellar and scintillating.

Generation Why

New to true crime? Start here! Generation Why has been going strong for nearly 10 years now and the strength is in their great hosting.

Morning Cup of Murder

So, you want something that’s like The Daily but gives you instead a daily dose of dastardly deeds? Look no further than Morning Cup of Murder. Short, digestible, and easy to get into when you’re getting ready in the morning or when you’re waiting for your other favorite true crime pod to come out during the week.

American Scandal

Wait, murder isn’t the only crime … American Scandal takes on different stories every season, but it’s one of the most deeply researched and informative crime podcasts on the market right now.

The Shrink Next Door

Not all crimes involve a severed head in a forest: some are subtler, more insidious. ‘The Shrink Next Door’, one of the most shocking – and funniest – stories of manipulation you’ll ever hear, is the second kind. It’s about a New York psychiatrist who takes his relationship with one patient way, way too far.

In the Dark

This podcast puts the US justice system in the dock. The first season asks why it took authorities 27 years to solve the abduction of 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling. Season two examines why a Black man, Curtis Flowers, was tried six times for the same crime. ‘In the Dark’s hallmarks are rigorous investigative journalism and epic suspense.

West Cork

In 1996, French TV producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier was found murdered outside her holiday home near the Irish town of Schull.

Scam Goddess

Actor and comedian Laci Mosley presides over a true-crime podcast that revels unashamedly in the most twisted, tenacious and cunning hustles on record and analyses them as works of art.

The Missing Cryptoqueen

I’m conflicted about true crime. Love the drama, less keen on the gory details of people being murdered. That’s why I’m very into an offshoot of the true-crime genre: podcasts about scammers – all the drama, none of the murder.

Chameleon: Hollywood Con Queen

Luring in Hollywood hopefuls with fictional job offers – and in some cases, entire fictional movies – the con artist at the heart of this magnificently byzantine tale could easily be a movie villain (and maybe one day will be).

Who the Hell is Hamish?

This Aussie true-crime podcast tells the story of surfer dude, serial conman, catfisher and high-class low-life Hamish McLaren and the woman who eventually took him down, Sydney fashion designer Lisa Ho.

What is a casefile podcast?

Casefile is an award-winning podcast that covers a variety of solved and unsolved cases, from cases involving the dark web to missing person’s cases. The Australian host’s identity remains a mystery, as he remains anonymous, but it’s not in a sinister way—in fact, it only adds to the lure of Casefile. Once you start listening, you’ll easily get hooked! Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

What is a casefile?

Casefile is an award-winning podcast that covers a variety of solved and unsolved cases, from cases involving the dark web to missing person’s cases. The Australian host’s identity remains a mystery, as he remains anonymous, but it’s not in a sinister way—in fact, it only adds to the lure of Casefile.

Where is Crimetown season 2?

The first season of Crimetown focused on organized crime in Providence, Rhode Island, which seems an unexpected choice—that is until you have a listen, at which point it might seem odd Providence hasn’t been the setting of more mafia movies. Season two focuses on Detroit but delves insightfully into factors that made the Motor City such an ideal backdrop for the drug trade, political scandal, and racial unrest and brings us close to the people who make the stories all the more vivid. The nearly 14,000 reviews on Apple Podcasts and a 4.7/5 star rating speak for themselves—this is a podcast you shouldn’t miss. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher. If you’re more interested in today’s politics, check out these political podcasts that will keep you informed.

What is the best thing about podcasts?

People love listening to different stories wherever they are (as long as they know how to listen to podcasts .) One of the best things about podcasts is there’s no shortage of content. There’s a podcast for pretty much everything now, and you may already have a growing list ...

What is the best podcast about women and crime?

Women & Crime. Women & Crime, hosted by two Associate Professors of Criminology at Fairleigh Dickinson University, is one of the best true crime podcasts because it combines expertise, thorough research, and excellent discussion.

What is serial about?

The first season of S erial explored the 1999 murder of Baltimore high school student, Hae Min Lee, including the questionable conviction of Lee’s boyfriend . Its second season upped the international scale, focusing on Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, an American Army soldier held captive by the Taliban for five years before the United States charged him with desertion. Its third season abandoned its namesake format to explore the American justice system through a weekly cross-section of the cases that pass through Cleveland’s criminal courts. Sarah Koenig hosts Serial, and you’ll join her as she tries to piece together what happens in each season. Just when you think you know what’s going on, you quickly learn that not everything is at it seems. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

How old is Jayme Closs?

But the true-crime podcast, 88 Days: The Jayme Closs Story, is different. It tells the story of 13-year-old Jayme Closs, who was abducted from her home on October 15, 2018.

What are the scandals that have shaped American history?

Scandals have shaped American history, from the ecological and corporate nightmare of the Exxon Valdez oil spill to the horrors of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, and this podcast is dedicated to shining a light on them all. From sports to politics to celebrities behaving badly, it gives its subjects an in-depth look to explain how these bad acts came to pass, and how they continue to affect the world we live in today.

What is serial about?

The first season, which garnered the show a national following, digs into the murder of high school student Hae Min Lee and the potentially-wrongful conviction of her ex-boyfriend Adnan Syed. The show also has two subsequent seasons, one following the tale of Bowe Bergdahl, an American soldier who was held captive by the Taliban for 5 years after leaving his post in Afghanistan, and a third season that examines a variety of cases that pass through a single courthouse.

What museum was stolen in 1990?

A different kind of true crime podcast, this entry from WBUR and The Boston Globe takes a deep dive into on the 1990 theft of $500 million worth of art from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.

Is SSDGM a comedy podcast?

True crime and comedy may not seem like a natural fit, but this mega-hit podcast proves that these two great tastes can taste great together. On it, hosts Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark take turns telling the stories of real world murders, but it's really their personalities and ability to find the humor in their stories while still honoring the victims that has turned the podcast into a sensation. As they say, SSDGM: Stay Sexy and Don't Get Murdered.

Where were the bodies of the Bear Brook murders found?

In 1985, the bodies of two murder victims were found in barrels in New Hampshire's Bear Brook State Park. In 2000, two more were found in identical circumstances. In this highly addictive podcast, Jason Moon follows the story of how the investigation of the mysterious Bear Brook murders led across the country and would ultimately help uncover a murderer whose crimes spanned decades.

Is there a true crime podcast?

You've got a Netflix queue full of crime documentaries and a bookshelf full of mysteries—so what do you do when you need even more true crime stories in your life? The true crime genre has taken the podcast world by storm, and some of the best examples of cold case investigations and crime journalism around are taking place in audio form now. The genre is so prolific, that Hulu's latest hit— Only Murders In the Building, starring Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez—centers on true crime podcast buffs sleuthing out a podcast all their own. Whether you're a dedicated podcast detective or you're using Only Murders as your inspiration, these are the true crime shows that deserve a spot in your listening library.

Who is Lyn Dawson's husband?

The story delves into the mysterious 1982 disappearance of Lyn Dawson and the dark secrets of her ex-star athlete husband Chris, who managed to duck public scrutiny in her case for more than 30 years. This podcast made such waves that it actually helped revive the cold case, which is now preparing to go to trial.

What is the real story behind the Rodney Alcala podcast?

The story goes like this: In 1987 Rodney Alcala won a date on a reality TV show, The Dating Game. While he charmed everyone, what no one knew was that he was a prolific serial killer in the middle of cross country murder spree. In this six-part series, co-hosts Tracy Pattin and Stephen Lang take listeners on Alcala’s chilling journey, chronicling his crimes and how he managed to fool everyone around him—from his employers to prison psychiatrists and parole boards. Oh, and did we mention it’s from the creator of Dirty John, so you know it’s going to be epic.

What is the dark web podcast?

Darknet Diaries tackles everything from hackers, breaches and shadow government activity to hacktivism, cybercrime, and all the things that dwell on the hidden parts of the network. Created by Jack Rhysider, a veteran of the security world, he gained his professional knowledge of security by working in a Security Operations Center for a Fortune 500 company—a place where threats are detected and stopped. During that time he was exposed to hundreds of client’s networks ranging from schools to governments and banks giving him a unique perspective on darknet crimes. Urban List reader Lila adds, “He tells you how people pull off these huge crimes” and explains the tech side “in a simple way”.

What is the podcast about true crime?

Just when you think you know where this true crime podcast is going, it flips everything on its head— meaning it’s freaking fantastic and you need to plug in immediately. In this seven-part investigative series from The Washington Post, you’ll follow journalist Amy Brittain who after covering a sexual assault case in the District of Columbia in 2018, sparks a chain reaction of shocking revelations that leads her to an old sexual assualt crime involving a prominent high court judge. Over the course of the series you’ll hear the intertwining stories of two women, separated by decades but united by a shared refusal to stay silent. Binge your way through it here.

How long did Allan Bridge have to call his apology line?

For 15 years, you could call a number in Manhattan and do just that. Allan Bridge posted flyers around New York City for people to call his Apology Line, which provided a chance for them to come clean, ranging from infidelity to murder.

When did Rodney Alcala win the dating game?

We cannot get enough of this new true crime podcast. The story goes like this: In 1987 Rodney Alcala won a date on a reality TV show, The Dating Game. While he charmed everyone, including his potential date, what no one knew was that he was a prolific serial killer in the middle of cross country murder spree.

Who is the Night Driver?

From The Australian and award-winning journalist Hedley Thomas, The Night Driver will chill you to your core. The podcast follows the story of Janine Vaughan who was abducted one rain-soaked night in Bathurst nearly 20 years ago and was never seen again. To this day, her disappearence and suspected murder has not been solved and her family are desperate for answers. Thomas (who also created the now infamous The Teacher's Pet) will once again turn detective as he explores the flawed police investigation riddled with corruption, the potential suspects (including a former cop) and how Vaughan’s murder tore a regional town apart. Urban List reader Sophia says this podcast kept her on the edge of her seat.

Is there a true crime podcast?

It’s official, we’re straight up obsessed with true crime. And for the real super sleuths among us, there never is enough true crime podcasts out there. Which is why we're always on the hunt for the most shocking, keep-you-up-at-night series to plug into while you're on your morning walk, at the gym, cooking dinner, or going to sleep (you do you).