I’ve never really been a huge horror fan, but for some reason the true crime world has always been fascinating to me. I’m a baby when it comes to jump scares, and luckily you don’t have to worry about that with podcasts.
There’s something for everyone in the Spotify true crime space. Whether you’ve got a long drive, errands to run, laundry to do, or meals to prep, podcasts are a great way to spice up your daily to-dos. The only activity you may want to avoid true crime content for is your next hot girl walk, especially if you’ll be by yourself — let’s just say I wouldn’t recommend listening to stories about serial killers when you’re walking in the middle of a trail by yourself. If you’re looking to take a break from your Halloween music playlist, these cult-followed (get it?) true crime podcasts on Spotify are a great way to mix up your spooky season shuffle.
- Crime Junkie
-
It can’t be a true crime podcast breakdown without Crime Junkie. If you’re new to true crime, this is the best starting point and is widely considered a rite of passage for any true crime newbie. Co-hosts Ashley Flowers and Brit return every Monday to give us a brand new crime story. The Crime Junkie listener to true crime addict pipeline is very real. There’s a good variety of stories featured in the show: murder mysteries, disappearances, abductions, serial killers, all that fun stuff.
Best episode to start with: “INFAMOUS: Prom Night Murders”
- And That’s Why We Drink
-
Crime stories are never funny, but co-hosts Christine Schiefer and Em Schulz bring a light-hearted flare to some serious subject matter. The episodes of And That’s Why We Drink are long, but don’t let that deter you — they go by so quick! Schiefer and Schulz always sound like they’re having such a great time together, and their energy is contagious. There’s truly never a dull moment with those two.
Best episode to start with: “E268 A Sea Shanty for Christine and Paranormal FaceTime”
- Serial Killers
-
With new episodes every Monday and Thursday, there’s always something right around the corner for listeners of Serial Killers. Every story is absolutely chilling. Infamous killers such as “The Cleveland Strangler” and Jeffrey Dahmer are covered, but so are the less publicized killers who didn’t make the front page. For all the history buffs out there, this one’s for you. The pod does a deep dive into each case, pointing out geographical and historical context along the way.
Best episode to start with: “The Zodiac Killer Pt. 1”
- Cults
-
Cults is definitely more of a monotone, educational podcast, but that’s not a bad thing. Sometimes you just need voices like that to play in the background. Even so, the stories are always super interesting. They have covered some of the most infamous cults, such as Heaven’s Gate, The Children of God, The Manson Family, The House of David, The Satanic Panic, FLDS, and NXIVM. Every Tuesday a new episode comes out, and I always know that I’m in for a rollercoaster ride.
Best episode to start with: “Cults Summer Road Trip: FLDS”
- Morbid
-
Another monotone podcast rec, but hear me out: There are so many episodes that come out each week, so you’ll never be short on content. True to the title, the subject matter is extremely heavy. But it’s also very educational and engaging. There’s a wide range of stories that they cover, including witch trials, haunted hotels, disappearances, serial killers, unsolved murders — you name it!
Best episode to start with: “Episode 280: The ‘TallHotBlond’ Murder”
- Mile Higher
-
This one is such an entertaining listen, hosted by the wife and husband duo Kendall Rae and Josh Thomas. They have such a great variety of episodes, and they touch on conspiracy theories here and there too. The episodes are long and well-researched, so you can really do a deep dive into the true crime world.
Best episode to start with: “154: The Royal Family: Meghan and Harry’s Juicy Interview, Epstein’s Connection, & Bizarre Conspiracy Theories”
- Serial
-
Sarah Koenig is the host of this notorious podcast, creating episodes that are broken up into multiple parts. The first episode was released in October 2014, making Serial one of the first true crime podcasts in the game. The first season covered Adnan Syed, the man accused of killing ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee. On Sept. 19 of this year, Syed was released after spending 23 years in jail. Koenig was present in the courtroom, and a brand new episode of Serial has just been released detailing listeners on the recent turn of events.
This podcast is both educational and entertaining, which is a rarity — sometimes you only get one or the other in the true crime world. Koenig is a journalist, so her job often takes her in many different directions. She doesn’t always know how the story is going to end, so it’s like we’re finding out with her as listeners.
Best episode to start with: “S03 Episode 01: A Bar Fight Walks into the Justice Center”
- Killer Queens
-
I’m absolutely obsessed with the sister co-hosts of this podcast, Tori and Tyrella. This podcast has much more of a light-hearted vibe. If that’s what you’re looking for, this is the one for you! You can tell that they really love their audience, and they even have a case suggestion form that listeners can use if they are trying to draw attention to cases that involve loved ones.
Best episode to start with: “174: Mysterious Death of Kendrick Johnson”
- Crimes of Passion
-
This podcast is unique because it centers around crimes committed by people who are emotionally (and sometimes romantically) involved with one another. It’s fascinating to learn about the things that drive people to commit crimes against their loved ones. A little disclaimer: This might freak you out and make you suspicious about the very normal relationships in your life. Like Serial, this podcast is broken into episodes with multiple parts, and the weekly episodes are a must-listen.
Best episode to start with: “Crimes of Passion Bites: Victims Who Escaped”
- Dateline NBC
-
Everyone knows Dateline on TV, but did you know you could also listen to it in podcast form? This podcast offers a wide variety of true crime mysteries including murders and ongoing investigations. Whether they’re discussing cults, natural disasters, disappearances, or murders, you’ll never be bored when listening to Dateline.
Best episode to start with: “The Last Voyage”
Correction 9/28/22: A previous version of this article misspelled Schulz’s name. It has been updated to reflect the correct spelling.