Top 10 True Crime Podcasts

Alchemist Republic
4 min readAug 12, 2019

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There’s a new wave of interest in true crime stories. We’ve seen the genre popping up in all corners of media, from series to books to podcasts. Interestingly enough, it appears to be more popular with women than men, according to a study in 2010 on Amazon (70% of true crime book reviews were written by women). That aside, what is that keeps us going back for more? We’ve put together a list for you of the Top 10 True Crime Podcasts.

Often these true crime stories can lead to powerful results, cases being reopened and wrongfully accused being retried. Often these events have happened where there were limitations in the investigations, or prejudices taking the lead. Still, they draw us in and consume us.

Sit back and take a look at the top 10 crime podcasts available today:

10. Cold (Susan Powell still missing)

Susan Powell was declared missing on the 6th of December 2009, and to this day has still not been found. The man suspected of killing her was never charged, but following a murder-suicide, the police believe they found the man behind it all and closed the case 4 years later. Follow the investigation in this chilling 18-part series.

9. My Favorite Murder

This top 10 true crime podcast is hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. It is a regular crime comedy podcast that started in 2016 and continues to grow in popularity.

“My Favorite Murder” discusses various infamous murders and serial killers that have happened in real life. The show has gathered a lot of fans across the globe and has been featured on top entertainment platforms like Entertainment Weekly, The Atlantic, Nylon and Rolling Stone Magazine.

8. Atlanta Monster

This podcast covers the story of many missing children that have never been found, some cases going back 40 years. As many as 25 African American children and young adults are involved in this yet to be uncovered mystery.

This series is investigative journalism at its finest hosted by Payne Lindsey. A second season of the series was released in January 2019, titled “Monster: Zodiac”.

7. Dr. Death

The cringing story of a supposed lifesaver will make you think twice the next time you visit a doctor. Here, Laura Beil breaks down the heartbreaking story of the aftermath of a misdiagnosis and a surgeon that shouldn’t be anywhere near a hospital.

This is the story of Christopher Daniel Duntsch, a neurosurgeon that was involved in gross malpractice that has led to the death and maiming of many of his unfortunate patients.

6. Over My Dead Body

In this top 10 true crime podcast, Matthew Share tells the story of a couple, Dan and Wendi Markel, who seemed like a perfect match, until things went sour.

The 2014 murder took a number of twists and a couple of arrests before the police determined that the killing wasn’t a robbery gone wrong as originally thought. Investigations would later reveal that it was a murder-for-hire killing arranged by Wendi’s family.

5. Crime Junkie

In this podcast, host Ashley Flowers, tackles a new crime in each episode, and keeps up with follow-ups and updates on ongoing incidents. This is a captivating series with blood-rushing stories that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

4. To Live and Die in LA

Investigative journalist and ghostwriter Neil Strauss was contracted by the family of an aspiring actress, Adea Shabani, who went missing in Hollywood in 2018.

Strauss shares his story on his findings about Shabani’s death in this intriguing podcast that commanded the #1 position on iTunes podcasts earlier in the year.

3. Up and Vanished

The 2005 true story of the disappearance of a Georgia high school teacher hit the airwaves in 2016. The series, hosted by filmmaker Payne Lindsey, follows weekly episodes where aspects of the event are unraveled.

It is an intriguing podcast that garnered a lot of attention. The popularity lead to a second season being created, following the case of the disappearance of another young woman.

2. Root of Evil

In January 1947, Elizabeth Short, also known as The Black Delilah, was found murdered in the Leimert Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The gruesome nature of the killing made her death even more popular.

Several years later, sisters Rasha Pecoraro and Yvette Gentile investigate their great grandfather George Hodel. They believe that he is responsible for the death of Short.

The family’s secrets that are revealed make the already intriguing case even more thrilling and captivating.

1. Jensen & Holes: The Murder Squad

Number one of our top 10 true crime podcasts is a weekly episode series that takes up the investigation of missing persons cases. It is hosted by retired cold case investigator Paul Holes and true crime journalist Billy Jensen. This dynamic podcast brings up new real life cases and tries to get to the heart of the matter.

Conclusion

The surge in podcasts and the uncovering of lasting secrets can be entertaining to many people, especially those fascinated by horror stories and thrillers. Perhaps the genre’s growing popularity has to do with our inability to look away from a train wreck, or our curiosity with evil, or even that it makes us feel “more prepared” if ever faced with a situation of that calibre.

Let us know what you think on the Blue Baikal platform, a hub of entertainment reviews from like minded people across the globe. You can submit your own content creation, or you can review the latest or greatest content you’ve come across.

These are the top 10 true crime podcasts, not just made up Hollywood stories. While these revelations can be intriguing and often interesting to follow, the fact that they really happened to other humans attracts emotional interest. They are real, and they are true.

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