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One in three Americans watch true crime at least once per week, and one in four do so multiple times per week, according to a YouGov poll released in September. Podcasts are the preferred method for 17% of those people to stay up to date on recent crimes. When music isn’t cutting it, podcasts are a terrific alternative to listen to on a dog walk or in the car on the way to work. For listeners who want to combine their passion of true crime and podcasts, there are plenty of options to choose from. But there are some shows that we think are the most “binge-worthy” of all. Learn about six must-listen-to true crime podcasts in the next paragraphs.
Crime Junkie, unquestionably one of the most well-known and well-liked true crime podcasts, has amassed quite the following since it debuted in 2017. According to its website, Ashley Flowers, the show’s founder and CEO, and Brit Prawat, her co-host and best friend, have hosted Crime Junkie, which has received over 500 million downloads.
“I adore how each tale is presented and how it develops for the listeners. I’m listening to an episode after another “According to Chartable, a review of Apple Podcasts reads. Ashley certainly has a way of drawing you in, and Brit is a fantastic addition.
In their review, yet another listener even referred to the podcast as binge-worthy. If I’m being completely honest, I listen to at least 2-3 episodes a day, if not more, lol, and it’s become an addiction.
Stories cover both well-known cases like Lacey Peterson and Meredith Kercher as well as less well-publicized incidents from the time the crimes were first committed. In light of prior allegations of copying, some critiques are harsh, while others point out that the style has evolved little over time.
However, there have also been some constructive changes, such as more calls to action. One reviewer claimed that the material makes them eager to clean merely to satisfy their craving.
Every Monday, new episodes are made available to loyal “Crime Junkies” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Pandora, and Google Podcasts. Once you start listening and finish the backlog of prior episodes, you might discover that you can’t stop. If so, you can also join the podcast’s fan club, which, depending on the level of membership you choose, grants you access to special content.
Dirty John
One of those true crime podcasts that will really get under your skin is Dirty John. The listener will choose whether or not something is in a positive or negative way.
The Los Angeles Times published six episodes in 2017 along with a six-part story series that was both written and narrated by journalist Christopher Goffard. Goffard skillfully tells the tale of the real-life “Dirty John,” John Meehan, and you won’t be able to put it down until you learn the outcome.
According to the description on Spotify, the podcast finally spins “a web of love, deception, forgiveness, denial, and ultimately, survival,” yet that is merely the tip of the iceberg. The narrative was so intriguing (and featured such a startling plot twist) that it was even turned into a Bravo series, now available on Netflix and starring Connie Britton and Eric Bana.
“One reviewer on Apple Podcasts wrote, “Couldn’t stop, I was listening all night, love the music too,” and another said, “This podcast is great.” You can really tell how unsettling John was. Time can be easily lost while bingeing.”
Among other platforms, you can listen to Dirty John on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Spotify, and Stitcher.
My Favorite Murder
My Favorite Murder, which many deem to be the pinnacle of “binge-worthy,” rounds off this list. The podcast debuted in 2016 and has grown steadily in popularity since then. It is hosted by comedians Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark.
According to Forbes, My Favorite Murder had 35 million monthly downloads as of 2020. Star Sexy Don’t Get Murdered by Kilgariff and Hardstark even peaked at No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list, and the duo’s live performances are in high demand.
The podcast’s blend of true crime and humor is due to the fact that Kilgariff and Hardstark are also comedians. This conversation is addictive for die-hard listeners, known as “Murderinos,” but for some, the fact-checking falls short. Regardless of opinions on tone, My Favorite Murder made an impact, and with hundreds of episodes and “minisodes,” there is a ton of material to binge and even listen to again.
According to Chartable, a review on Apple Podcasts states, “One of my favorite podcasts.” “I always enjoy hearing from these two ladies and am pleased to go back and relisten to previous episodes.”
Since the podcast was purchased by Amazon Music and Wondery in January, some OG listeners have voiced concerns about the quality of the programming, but that’s all the more incentive to start at the beginning and find out what all the fuss is about!
Serial
Everyone enjoys an oldie but a goodie, and Serial was a pioneer in the field of true crime podcasts. Since it was the first podcast “to go mega-viral,” the program is sometimes credited with popularizing true crime and podcasts in general. In just four weeks following its 2014 debut, each episode garnered more than 1 million downloads.
This American Life’s offshoot podcast was presented by Sarah Koenig and featured one story per season. Koenig recounts the narrative of Hae Min Lee’s 1999 murder and the prosecution of her ex-boyfriend Adnan Syed over the course of 12 segments.
If you’re not familiar with the Syed case, you should listen to the first season before checking for any new developments online. You’ll comprehend why the podcast grew so well-liked and contentious. You can watch the 2019 HBO documentary The Case Against Adnan Syed or listen to Crime Junkie’s description of the events in their episode.
Serial’s later seasons, which center on the Taliban’s imprisonment of army sergeant Bowe Bergdahl and Cleveland’s criminal justice system, are also worth binge-watching. The podcast has received positive reviews from listeners, earning a 4.7-star rating out of 5 on Great Pods.
“Serial stood out right away after its debut. Like, stood out a lot, “Reads one review. “Serial is at its best when it describes, condenses, and—most importantly—combines all these people’s tales. Serial eventually discusses some challenging, harsh subjects. But exactly because of this, paying attention to it is crucial. The majority of readers of this book will never go through the situations Koenig describes.”
You can listen to Serial seasons 1, 2, and 3 on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Pandora.
Sistas Who Kill
MaRah and Taz, another best buddy team taking on the podcast industry, have received positive feedback from listeners. The two discuss their perspectives on the criminal justice system as a whole while conducting research and sharing anecdotes about Black women who kill. The podcast’s Spotify description states that “they debate the crimes, the results, and how Black women are handled differently in the legal system than their white counterparts.”
MaRah and Taz are skilled storytellers, and Sista Who Kill is highly recommended and “must be listened into,” according to multiple Apple Podcast evaluations. Another reviewer acknowledged that Sistas Who Kill is the exception to their preference for selective podcasts. The fact that they are original stories will truly pique your interest. It has a phenomenal 4.9-star rating on the platform. It is so significant and compelling because of this.
“A review states, “I really adore this, i’ve been hunting for true crime that talked about black killers and stumbled across this. They give stories of black women that I’ve generally never heard before and we NEED our stories told. I might feel like I’m chatting up some buddies.”
Audible, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, or Spotify are all great places to binge.
The Deck
The Deck is a true crime podcast that is ready to “deal you in,” and it is another creation of Flowers and her media firm, audiochuck. The fact that the episodes are based on playing cards is what distinguishes this podcast from others like Crime Junkie.
But these aren’t just any playing cards; they include the portraits of persons who have been murdered or gone missing and whose crimes have never been solved. In the hope that someone will one day identify a face and provide details about “the coldest of cases,” decks are distributed by state jails and local law enforcement.
Every playing card has a different tale to tell in Episodes, which is launched every Wednesday on all the same platforms as Crime Junkie. However, the inclusion of detectives and relatives of the victims—all of whom are striving to piece together these murders in the hopes of bringing about justice—makes The Deck much more gripping and worth bingeing on.
Ashley M. Ryan, a well-known witchcraft content maker on Instagram and TikTok, says that both The Deck and Crime Junkie stand out.
After doing some introspection, Ryan tells Best Life, “I actually stopped listening to true crime because I realized how awful it was for me to be listening to people’s misery and trauma for my enjoyment.” However, I don’t experience that when I listen to The Deck or Crime Junkies since Ashley Flowers is assisting the families of the deceased rather than producing amusement.
Ryan also makes reference to Flowers’ foundation, Season of Justice (SOJ), which was established to give law enforcement financing to resolve unsolved cold cases. The information from tips that have been submitted through the usage of that podcast, as mentioned on her program, has been able to solve some instances, Ryan claims.
