(updated March 2021)

I am a gal with many hobbies and passions. My interests seem to be involved in an ever-changing, ever-evolving game of leapfrog, as far as their priority ranking in my life goes. And these days, True Crime podcasts have leaped very, VERY near the front. Like, scarily close to directly behind God and family. (And maaaybe manicures? I don’t know. I can’t fully commit to that.) But the bottom line is: I love ‘em.

In our increasingly transient culture where busy lifestyles and multi-tasking galore are a way of life (though hopefully, we slow down a bit, too!), podcasts make a fabulous choice to accompany us on our many endeavors. After all, I can be shopping for toilet paper AND be learning about the history of dinosaurs, and that makes them a particularly appealing choice for this busy mama.

And apparently, they’re the perfect choice for almost everyone else, too, because it seems to me that podcasts are taking over the world.

Personally, I listen to quite a few podcast genres: Women of Faith, the Bachelor (I mean, these two subjects do not have to be mutually exclusive), Raising Children, General Science & Discovery, Blogging, etc. But my FAVORITE PODCASTS are those about…

True Crime

I simply cannot resist a great mystery. True Crime podcasts make me feel as though, in some small way, I am a part of the justice for a victim, as well as the investigative team.

So let me tell you about the True Crime podcasts I’ve been listening to (no spoilers, of course!) and then…I want you to tell me if I’ve left any out! I’ll be doing a part 2 at some point because I still have more to listen to in this genre that is growing daily!

A note before I start: Many of these true crime podcasts contain material that 1. Is not suitable for children, and 2. Can be disturbing to listeners of any age. OBV., use discretion.

1. Serial

This is the podcast that started it all for me. Serial season 1 probably started it all for a LOT of people. So if you haven’t listened to any True Crime, start here. Sarah Koenig masterfully hosts and investigates a single murder case. The cliffhangers at the end of each episode always left me wanting more. Season 2 was intriguing, as it took a deep look into the case of an American soldier who went missing and was recovered after several years. However, this season had a different vibe than the first, a less preferable one, in my opinion. Season 3 deviated entirely from the format of sticking with one case throughout the season, which I tend to enjoy, so that was a bit disappointing to me as well. Additionally, it left much of the investigative work behind and became more political in nature. I would love to see Serial return to its roots in season 4, but I’ve heard that it will not. (sad face).

2. Casefiles

The Casefiles format is typically one or two episodes per case, rather than complete seasons as in the others. The episodes definitely bring the drama and the narrator is a fabulous storyteller. Over time, I’ve listened to the entire collection of episodes (up to 166 cases as of 3/2/21). Some are incredibly disturbing (listener beware!)

This podcast quickly rose to the top of my personal charts.

3. In The Dark

This two-season podcast explores two incredibly interesting cases. The reporting is highly skilled and made me eager to push play on the next episode every. single. time. With deep dives into the evidence surrounding the case, it was easy to get sucked in and try to figure out how they would end.

4. Up and Vanished

In Payne Lindsay’s True Crime podcasting debut, he dives headfirst into a mysterious case about a missing beauty queen from Georgia in season 1. As Payne learned the podcasting ropes, he wasn’t always as polished, which I appreciated, as I felt like a part of his journey into the investigative podcasting world. He chases quite a few rabbits before, interestingly, major developments in the case happened as Payne investigated the case, which made it all the more worth a listen. I should note that while I loved season 1, I realized after a while that the bonus episodes (case evidence and Q & A sessions) were interesting but not a required listen, so I skipped a bunch of them. In Season 2, Payne tackles a new case. I personally found it to be an overall slower listen, so after a few episodes, I took a break. However, I haven’t given up yet. I’ll come back to this season soon, I’m sure.

The next three here are produced by Wondery. I’m starting to believe you can’t go wrong with True Crime podcasts by them, as the three I listened to were lights. out.

5. Dr. Death

I’d love to write a whole post on my feelings about Dr. Death. Written about a deviant Orthopedic Surgeon, his title appears to be the only thing he has in common with my Ortho Surgeon husband. I binge-listened to this podcast (literally couldn’t stop just hitting play) because it was so fascinating. Honestly, however, I hesitate to recommend it because I resist any info that will cause the public to lose faith and trust in their surgeons. So the caveat is this: should you chose to listen to this one, remember that this surgeon is a gross anomaly in the world and that he struggles with addiction, as well as a plethora of mental health issues. It is certainly not representative of the doctor world as a whole. Should you hit play, it’s a wild story and you will no doubt be entertained.

6. Dirty John

Another great binge-listen, Dirty John is equal parts creepy and intriguing. It’s an unnecessary but important reminder that there really are psychopaths out there. I appreciated the surprising, yet satisfying ending of this one.

7. Over My Dead Body

Currently releasing new episodes, this podcast is about the murder of a Florida State University professor which took place in Tallassee, FL. If you want to binge-listen, give it a few more weeks 🙂 This one has been incredibly interesting so far; consistently leaving me wanting more.

8. Mile Marker 181

My current binge-listen, this podcast focuses on the death of a 20-year old in West Virginia. It is written, produced, and hosted by a gal, Emily Nestor (who actually approved this image for use today), who doesn’t have previous podcasting, journalistic, or investigative history. Despite her lack of experience, she comes across as a dedicated and talented host who is smooth in her delivery and passionate about her work (as well as the haters that come along in all stories when a guilty party is trying to protect themselves in a small town). It’s relatable in the sense that I imagine myself investigating similarly if I were in her position: with highlighters and phone records, connecting the dots on the floor of my living room, just trying to put the pieces together. Additional episodes are being slowly released, I believe. Highly recommend.

9. S-Town

My family lives in Alabama, so this one hit a little closer to home (um, literally) than most. Each emotional episode was incredibly intriguing and the podcast as a whole leaves the listener wanting more. It’s been a while since I listened to it (it came out in 2017), but parts of the story still stick with me today.

10. My Favorite Murder

This podcast is great for gals who are into short historical murder stories and love a profanity-laced joke. Though the hosts deviate frequently from the subject at hand, these ladies are fun to get to know and are 1 part storytellers, 2 parts comedians.

That should be enough to keep you busy for at least a couple more weeks! All of these podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts and are free to listen to.

So tell me…

What are YOU listening to?! For more of my Podcasting interests check out this post too. Drop me a comment here or on my Instagram or Facebook! Can’t wait to hear your thoughts! Thank you so, so much for joining me here today!!!

Until next time!