9 short-run investigations to binge listen
Publishers are harnessing the power of audio to share stories that are engaging, insightful and impactful.
Bed of Lies
The debut series of Bed of Lies starts out like any Dirty John-esque portrait-of-a-scammer show, but quickly becomes much more far-reaching. Investigative journalist Cara McGoogan gives a voice to the individuals whose lives have been shaken by powerful national institutions over a period of decades. Series two digs into another state-level scandal with long lasting repercussions. (The Telegraph)
Floodlines
In this stunning piece of journalism, Atlantic reporter Vann R. Newkirk II takes us back to 2006 to the days and weeks following Hurricane Katrina. Mass media at the time focused on looting and vigilantism instead of the urgent humanitarian crisis — the resulting hysteria that is thought to have delayed critical aid. (The Atlantic)
In Machines We Trust
This series examines how AI is weaving its way into all parts of our lives. Hosted by Jennifer Strong, she dives into police accountability, housing discrimination, dynamic pricing, and much more. (MIT Technology Review)
Thinking Straight
Conversion therapy for gay and trans folks is surprisingly prevalent in the UK. Reporter Emily Sargent goes undercover to explore the secretive practice and how it has affected — and continues to affect — the lives of queer people of all religions and backgrounds. (The Times and Sunday Times)
My mother’s murder
Deeply political and deeply personal, My mother’s murder looks back at the events leading up to the assassination by car bomb of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in Malta in 2017. Galizia was the lead investigator in Malta for the Panama Papers and had a fearless commitment to shining a light on government corruption. Her son, journalist Paul Caruana Galizia, tells her story. (Tortoise Media)
Through the Cracks
How can an 8-year-old disappear for 18 days before she is formally declared missing? Unthinkable, yet according to DC authorities, the 2014 disappearance of Relisha Rudd was “unpreventable”. Presented by journalist Jonquilyn Hill, Through the Cracks focuses on the institutional failures that allowed a child to become extremely vulnerable. Gripping yet never voyeuristic, this is a standout example of ethical and impactful true crime podcasting. (WAMU)
The Anthill, Recovery
Released in the early days of the pandemic, The Anthill’s Recovery series features discussions on cataclysmic moments from history and how those moments accelerated change — often for the better: the bubonic plague, the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, the post-Soviet transition, the 2008 financial crisis. The Conversation adapts articles from academic research papers, and audio is the perfect medium for their brand of explainer journalism. (The Conversation)
Unfair
Hosted by executive editor at Glossy Priya Rao, Unfair reveals the business of skin lightening — an industry valued in the tens of billions of dollars. This series does for the beauty industry what The Dream did for multi-level marketing: uncover the workings of a largely unchecked powerful and dangerous global industry targeting and exploiting women. (Glossy, Digiday Media)
Weekend Bigots
This series from The Scotsman features frank conversations about racism and sectarianism in Scottish football. Though stories with players, fans and coaches, Weekend Bigots examines how football games remain venues for hate speech in Western Scotland. It also doesn’t hurt that the west of Scotland has the best accents ever. (JPI Media, Laudable)
This list was inspired by the “Best Limited Series” category of the Publisher Podcast Awards. Entries for the 2022 edition are open until 10 December and the winners will be announced in April. Podinstall supported the event last year and I had the opportunity to discover some excellent work. Congratulations to all the nominees and to the team from Media Voices for putting together a great event.
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