A few months ago, if you had asked me what a Podcast was, I would have said, “I don’t know but it sounds stupid and boring.” Oh, how I’ve been proven wrong about that! Podcasts are now one of my favorite things, especially “True Crime” podcasts that are basically like investigative journalism combined with compelling storytelling and often times have real-life audio clips weaved throughout. It’s like watching all those Netflix specials but in audio format. Below I’ve listed a few of my absolute favorite true crime podcasts that hopefully you’ll enjoy.
1. Cold
This is the very first podcast I started listening to on the recommendation of a friend. Little did I know I how captivating a podcast could be. Cold reviews the “cold case” of Susan Powell’s disappearance and murder. The podcast dives into the background of Susan, her husband Josh, and his history of abuse. What makes this podcast exceptional is hearing so much of the information in the voice of Josh Powell and his creepy father via their audio journals, as well as never before heard interviews and discussions with the primary detective on the case. This podcast is incredibly detailed and well done, and has completely sold me on listening to podcasts!
2. Believed
Believed is an NPR podcast that follows the story of Larry Nassar, the former USA Gymnastics doctor who sexually abused hundreds of girls. Several in-depth stories of survivors are shared, much of which is in their own words and voice. You can hear the power of their emotions as they speak. The podcast concludes with the legal proceedings and testimonies of these women, which left me in tears. This eye-opening podcast shows how important it is to be aware of the signs of abuse and is a must-listen for everyone.
3. Dr. Death
Dr. Death follows the life and career of Dr. Christopher Duntsch who was a neurosurgeon who used his charisma to convince employers and patients that he was an excellent surgeon, but he ended up paralyzing, permanently injuring, or killing the majority of his patients. What is most shocking is how long it took for him to be stopped and the dozens of people who were just looking the other way. The story of how he was finally taken down is fascinating.
4. The Dropout
Although this may not fit exactly with the rest of these “true crime” podcasts, this story of white collar crime is equally fascinating and still left a deep impact on many people’s lives. The Dropout recounts the rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes and her company Theranos and the fraud behind the facade. The fantastic research and storytelling breaks down the Silicon Valley culture that contributed to this massive con job.
5. My Favorite Murder
You can’t talk about true crime podcasts without including My Favorite Murder. Now, let me preface this with the disclaimer that this podcast includes A LOT of cursing and dark humor. If that’s not for you, just skip this one. Each episode discusses the “favorite murder” of each of the two hosts as they give their own theories about the case and what struck out to them the most. Karen and Georgia say things that many of us think, but wouldn’t normally say out loud. They poke fun at their fascination with crime in a very relatable way, so that you just feel like you have another weird friend to talk about murder with.
There’s my first list of favorite podcasts! I imagine I’ll add more to the list as time goes on. Tell me about your favorite podcasts in the comments below.
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I love podcasts, especially true crime podcasts. I listen to Real Crime Profile, Best Case, Worst Case, Dr. Death, Dirty John, Criminology, Cold Case, American Scandal and more. There are so many good ones out there. I know there are more in my library.
Yes, I have also listened to Dirty John and enjoyed it- and also watched the show on Bravo. American Scandal is on my list of podcasts to listen to soon- I’ll have to add the others! Thanks!