Written by contributor Jeanette Zhukov
Since Serial took the world by storm in 2014, true crime has become a significant staple in the podcasting world. While true crime stories have always fascinated popular culture, the podcasting market has seen an oversaturation of true crime shows of all varieties. But this is not a bad thing! With the popularity of true crime podcasts, many cases have seen renewed public interest, new leads, and pressure on law enforcement. Also, I mean, who doesn’t love those opening jingles that seem to grace the beginning of every true crime podcast?
The wide variety of listening options just makes it more difficult to navigate all of the great and different podcasts available. Whether you consider yourself a seasoned armchair detective or you are just testing the waters out, hopefully this list, while by no means comprehensive, will highlight just some of the true crime podcasts worth giving a listen.
- Missing and Murdered
Missing and Murdered: Who Killed Alberta Williams? (season 1)
Missing and Murdered: Finding Cleo (season 2)
With two completed seasons to binge through, Missing and Murdered offers an intensive examination of specific crimes against indigenous women and children. Hosted by indigenous investigative reporter, Connie Walker, this eye-opening podcast is heart-wrenching and highlights the history of injustice against indigenous people. Building a comprehensive narrative, Missing and Murdered examines a separate case each season and features interviews from various people related to the case, such as family members and law enforcement. The first season consists of eight episodes and focuses on the unsolved 1989 murder of 24-year-old Alberta Williams in British Columbia. The second season, a total of ten episodes, investigates the stealing, murder, and disappearance of nine-year-old Cleo Semaganis Nicotine. Both seasons are completed and currently available to listen.
- Crime Junkie
Focusing in on one crime a week, the Crime Junkie podcast offers riveting and thorough research on missing person cases, unsolved murders, and murderers. Hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat, the podcast takes on a serious and respectful tone with Ashley doing most of the narration and with Brit asking the burning questions in place of the listener. About an hour long each, these episodes are condensed deep dives, focusing on crimes that are not as widely known. New episodes are released every Monday with additional episodes available on the podcast’s Patreon page.
- Death in Ice Valley
Incredibly atmospheric and moody in tone, Death in Ice Valley is an auditory experience that feels like a cinematic one. Hosted by investigative reporter, Marit Higraff, and BBC radio documentary maker, Neil McCarthy, the podcast examines the mysterious case of the Isdal Woman, an unknown woman that was found dead under mysterious circumstances on November 1970 in Norway. The mystery of the Isdal Woman is fascinating and complex as the podcast conducts interviews and reexamines clues of abandoned luggage, fake identities, and coded messages. All 11 episodes are immediately available for listening.
- Swindled
Hosted by “A Concerned Citizen,” Swindled is not your typical true crime podcast. Instead, Swindled takes a look at the often overlooked crimes within the true crime genre – the white-collar, political and corporate crimes. With episodes ranging between 30 minutes to an hour, each week is focused on a specific case like that of the Flint Water Crisis to the McDonald’s coffee lawsuit. Each episode also begins with a prelude, which is a brief examination of thematically related cases that occurred earlier in history. The podcast just completed their third season in January of 2020 and a season 4 is on the horizon. To get even more content, the podcast also has bonus episodes on their Patreon page.
- My Favorite Murder
Are you a Karen? Or a Georgia? This true crime comedy podcast will make you feel like you’ve made two new best friends. Hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, My Favorite Murder is a weekly podcast where the hosts each retell either a murder, survival account, or other crime related story while adding a touch of their signature humour. Along with the crime, Karen and Georgia share their own stories and experiences dealing with anxiety, addiction, and therapy. New episodes are released every Thursday and minisodes, where listeners can submit their own hometown murders to be read, are every Monday.
