Yahoo News You won't be able to stop listening to these true crime podcasts
True-crime isn’t just a genre, it’s a lifestyle. And once you get sucked into the stories of real-life murders and mysteries, it’s impossible to leave. If you’re a fan, you know the feeling. You’ve probably watched all the best true-crime documentaries, marathoned the best true-crime TV shows, and watched classic true-crime movies, which means there’s only one place left for you to turn to get your true-crime fix: podcasts.
Given true-crime’s popularity, it shouldn’t surprise you to find out that there are hundreds of true-crime podcasts dedicated to telling nefarious, ripped-from-the-headlines stories.
Not only that, there are differences within the genre. Some true-crime podcasts focus entirely on unraveling one specific scam or murder, while others follow a murder-of-the-week approach. Based on the sheer volume of true-crime podcasts, it can be hard to narrow it down to one that’s really worth your time, which is why we’ve narrowed it down to the 35 best true-crime podcasts you can listen to right now. All you have to do is hit subscribe, and you'll never have to do chores alone again.
1. Scamanda SUBSCRIBE
There are scammers, and then there’s Amanda Riley, a woman who started a blog about her battle with cancer in 2012. As her blog became more popular, so did the generosity of its readers, and Riley was reportedly able to solicit donations to purportedly help pay for her medical expenses. The only problem? She didn’t actually have cancer. Scamanda exposes the con with interviews with family, friends, and members of her community.
2. Letters from Sing Sing SUBSCRIBE
Letters from Sing Sing follows NBC News producer Dan Slepian’s investigation into the case of Jon-Adrian “JJ” Valazquez, a man convicted of killing a retired NYPD officer. Valazquez was found guilty and sentenced to 25 years to life, but as Slepian begins to look into the case, it’s clear there’s more to the story.
3. Ridiculous Crime SUBSCRIBE
Love true-crime, but don’t want your morning commute to be all about murder? Try Ridiculous Crime, a murder-free true-crime podcast dedicated to crimes that are, well, ridiculous. Past episodes include the theft of Judy Garland’s ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz and the Milli Vanilli lip syncing scandal.
4. Court Junkie SUBSCRIBE
If you’re immersed in true-crime, then you know that law enforcement and the courts don’t always get it right. Court Junkie aims to shine a light on those cases when the judicial system falls short and break down how court cases really go down.
5. Bruh Issa Murder Subscribe
There’s no one better to dive into the wide world of true-crime with than a diverse group of true-crime nerds. Now in its third season, this gripping podcast exposes the dark underbelly of the US justice system when it comes to missing and murdered POC, bringing light to cases of colour that are often swept under the rug. Excellent stuff here, people.
6. Wine & Crime Subscribe
We sure love to be wined and dined, but how about some Wine and Crime? (Sorry, bad joke). Wine & Crime is a true-crime and comedy podcast hosted by three childhood best friends from Minnesota who discuss some of the most bizarre, captivating criminal cases over huge glasses of wine. It’s the best of both worlds.
7. Bear Brook Subscribe
Bear Brook originally focused on the infamous Bear Brook murders, a cold case that went unsolved for years. Distributed by New Hampshire Public Radio, the podcast's first season deep into the fascinating details of the genealogy and genetic techniques used to solve the case, which reopened in 2013 after more than 30 years of inactivity. Host Jason Moon returned for a season 2, this time delving into the case of Sharon Johnson, a woman who was murdered in July of 1988, and the man convicted of the crime, Jason Carroll, who maintains his innocence.
8. Morbid Subscribe
Even if it’s not ~spooky season~, Morbid should be in your queue. Hosted by an autopsy technician and a hairdresser, the two sisters discuss murders, creepy history, and all things spooky in every hour-or-so-long episode. You can tell they have a genuine love for true-crime and everything out of the ordinary, and guess what? So do we.
9. The Murder in My Family Subscribe
Rarely do we get to hear direct perspectives from the family members of victims involved in a murder, but The Murder in My Family is here to change that. It adds another layer of humanity to the victims we sometimes forget are real people and reveals how the loss has affected their loved ones' day-to-day lives. It's especially sad knowing that, sometimes, the killer is still on the run, and the families are still campaigning for justice years later.
10. Scam Goddess Subscribe
No gory details here, folks! Take a break from all the murders and listen to Scam Goddess, a new kind of true-crime podcast covering some of the best, absurd financial crimes people have committed. We never thought racketeering would be so fascinating to hear about, but we guess we should’ve known, given all the scammer and grifter content (i.e. Inventing Anna) that we're seeing lately.
11. Casefile Subscribe
More on the serious side, Casefile is a true-crime podcast that covers some of the most difficult-to-solve cases with care, conviction, and respect for the victims. It’s hosted by an Australian man who wishes to remain anonymous so that he can "stay out of the story and let the facts speak for themselves." While the details of some of the cases are unsettling, his unique brand of storytelling often makes you feel like you’re a part of the investigation, giving you a nitty, gritty, nuts-and-bolts timeline of what went on.
12. Criminal Subscribe
In the words of host Phoebe Judge, this show isn't just about crime in the cold sense. It's about something more multi-faceted — "stories of people who've done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle." And like some of the other podcasts on this list, it aims to expose the shortcomings of the justice system when it comes to particular criminal cases, often leaving you questioning whether enough action was taken. With Phoebe, you'll see there's always more to the story.
13. And That’s Why We Drink Subscribe
If you fancy more flowery details and fancy language, look no further than And That’s Why We Drink. Join Christine Schiefer and Em Schulz as they chug wine and talk about true-crime and paranormal encounters, seamlessly undercutting the seriousness of the cases they cover with some dark (but tasteful) humour. After all, that is why we drink sometimes, right?
14. Redhanded Subscribe
There’s a reason Redhanded was named the #1 most popular true-crime podcast in the UK back in 2020. From mysterious murders to cold cases, Hannah and Suruthi are experts on all things creepy. Some days you’ll get a new take on a big-time story; other times, you’ll learn all the spooky details about a case you’ve never heard of.
15. 90s Crime Time Subscribe
90s Crime Time started as an Instagram account, but it quickly became so much more. Simone’s followers begged her to make a podcast, and voilà, the rest was history. Every week, she shares a new story about a kidnapping, theft, or murder that happened in the '90s. You’ve definitely never heard of some of these stories.
16. In the Dark Subscribe
If you like to spend time with a story you can really sink your teeth into, give In the Dark a listen. Catch up now on seasons one and two, which are about the abduction of a man in rural Minnesota and a man who was tried for the same crime six (yes, six) different times.
17. Affirmative Murder Subscribe
Alvin and Fran don’t just host another true-crime podcast. They’re very intentional about their subjects and use Affirmative Murder as a platform to tell stories about minority serial killers from marginalised communities. Subscribe and diversify your listening list!
18. You’re Wrong About Subscribe
Another non-serialised podcast, this one is all about correcting the wrongs of the past. Each week, the hosts pick apart a misconception society holds about a particular famous crime or event, from the O.J. Simpson trial to Tonya Harding and the ENRON scandal.
19. Wrongful Conviction: False Confessions Subscribe
The title’s pretty self-explanatory here. It’s about people who were put away for crimes they didn’t commit. Right now, it’s digging into stories about people who confess to something they didn’t do because they were under pressure.
20. Dig Subscribe
From the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting, this podcast's first season explored how rape allegations are treated by law enforcement in Louisville. Spoiler: It’s not good. For season 2, the podcast stayed in Louisville to report on the killing of Breonna Taylor.
21. My Favourite Murder Subscribe
This might be the true-crime podcast that started the whole genre. Popular episodes of the pod cover topics like the Challenger explosion, Al Capone, Leo Frank, and the Corpsewood Manor murders.
22. The Last Podcast on the Left Subscribe
This podcast has a particular affinity for all things spooky/scary like cults, serial killers, and even demons. In 2020, it went all in on Lee Harvey Oswald, the man who assassinated former president John F. Kennedy Jr....or did he?!
23. Women & Crime Subscribe
No list of best true-crime podcasts is complete without one about female murderers. Not only does Women & Crime get into the psyches of these killers, but it also looks at how women fare in the criminal justice system.
24. American Scandal Subscribe
American Scandal is a long-running pod that explains the details of some of the United States' most infamous scandals, from Bill Clinton's affair to the Waco seige.
25. American Radical Subscribe
This five-part series chronicles how one person went from not caring about politics at all to storming the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and ultimately winding up dead. Prepare to go on quite the ride.
26. Morning Cup of Murder Subscribe
If you prefer your coffee with a side of true-crime but don't want to spend hours listening (and waiting) to find out who the killer is, then this podcast is for you. In just 10 minutes, this podcast covers a murder case from start to finish, and new episodes drop daily.
27. Unsolved Murders: True Crime Stories Subscribe
Wish you had been alive during the Golden Era of radio when they used to broadcast literal soap operas and murder mysteries for hours on end? Well, now you kinda can, with this modern update on the traditional storytelling technique. With an ensemble cast, each episode brings to life true cold cases and unsolved murders.
28. The Minds of Madness Subscribe
This podcast offers a little bit of everything for the true-crime enthusiast: glimpses into the disturbing minds of violent criminals, tales of unsolved deaths, and insights from victims' loved ones about how their lives were forever changed.
29. Not Another True Crime Podcast Subscribe
For those searching for true-crime delivered in a more, shall we say, conversational way, press play on this podcast, where co-hosts Sara Levine and Danny Murphy deep dive into one case per episode. They discuss the facts but also present their own personal (and highly entertaining) theories.
30. Stolen Lives Subscribe
To hear about disappearances and murders that weren't widely reported on, check out this podcast, which aims to spread "the stories of those who are forgotten." It's been around since 2019, so the archive runs pretty far back if you want to discover the deep cuts.
31. Sistas Who Kill Subscribe
BFFs MaRah and Taz host this entertaining podcast where they research and tell stories of Black women who — you guessed it — kill. They examine the crimes, what happened after, and how Black women are treated differently in the justice system than their white counterparts.
32. Father Wants Us Dead Subscribe
Reporters Rebecca Everett and Jessica Remo revisit the case of a man named John List who, in the 1970s, murdered his mother, wife, and three children in New Jersey and then started over across the country. Father Wants Us Dead breaks down his story. Creepy fact: the murders took place in the same town as The Watcher.
33. Who Killed Daphne? Subscribe
No, this is not a White Lotus theory podcast. This is the story of Maltese investigative reporter and activist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was killed in 2017 by a car bomb. This podcast has something that a lot of true-crime shows, try as they might, do not: a confession.
34. Crime Scene Queens Subscribe
This one's for the science girlies. Laura and Shelly are forensic experts who go deep on how CSI really works. There isn't one particular case they're solving, but if you're interested in how crimes are solved more broadly too, it's a must-listen.
35. Dark History Subscribe
Bailey Sarian is a professional makeup artist and a YouTuber using her skills to go way back in history. Riots, massacres, mind control — no sinister figure or twisted corner of the past is safe.
You Might Also Like
