Many true crime fans eat up every documentary they can find on Netflix on Hulu. They scour the internet for new articles from around the world. They even read memoirs and books about the most famous crimes. But many people have yet to catch on to the wealth of information they can gain from listening to podcasts. Here are five of the most interesting true crime podcasts that listeners can binge right now.
1. My Favorite Murder
Comedy duo Karen Killgariff and Georgia Hardstark have a unique take on true crime. Unlike many podcasts, My Favorite Murder mixes comedy and true crime. Killgariff and Hardstark are relatable women, voicing their anxieties and morbid curiosities, but this does not prevent them from being factual and and giving respect to victims.Each week, they chose their respective “favorite” murders and tell each other the story, including background information on the killer and victims, and anything else they find interesting about the case. Ranging from about 1 and a half to 2 and a half hours, a full episode is released each week on Thursday. A minisode is released each Monday where the hosts read emails from listeners who tell the stories of murders that happened in their hometown as well as other crazy stories they think the audience would enjoy.
2. Small Town Murder
The second podcast on the list, Small Town Murder is also hosted by two comedians. Jimmie Whisman and James Pietragallo focus on a different small town each week and delve into a murder that happened there. Though the town is usually in the U.S., they have occasionally featured other countries.The first part of the podcast focuses on the statistics about the town to give a landscape for the crime, then the details of the killer, their background, and their trial is laid out by Pietragallo. Again, the pairing of comedy and true crime may seem odd to some, but the hosts fight to make sure that the victims are seen in the proper light. As they assert in the beginning of each episode, they are “@ssholes, not scumbags,” so the majority of their jokes focus on the mundane small towns and the stupidity of the murderers in them. Small Town Murder generally runs 1-2 hours and is released every Wednesday.
3. The Fall Line
Focusing on cold cases in Georgia, The Fall Line is an investigative podcast. Laura Norton writes and researches for the podcast while Brooke Hargrove hosts interviews. Season one focuses on the disappearance of Dannette and Jeannette Millbrook in 1990. Season two discusses Monica and Michael Bennett, half siblings who went missing from their Michael’s father’s home and were never found or even looked for by their family. The third season focuses on Grady Hospital in Atlanta, where the most infant kidnappings occurred in the world during the 80s and 90s. Episodes of The Fall Line are generally between a half hour and an hour long, with a new season expected in April of this year.
4. Someone Knows Something
Investigative journalist David Ridgen begins Someone Knows Something by returning to his hometown of Arnprior in Ontario Canada to investigate the cold case of six year old Adrien Mcnaughton who disappeared during a family fishing trip. Despite the case being over 40 years old, and little evidence for Ridgen to go on, his story telling ability and commitment to each case he investigates makes this podcast well worth listening to. Someone Knows Something has 5 seasons, each focusing on a different case. Ridgen makes personal connections to the families in each case he investigates which makes his investigations stand out from many other podcasts of a similar nature. The most recent season of the podcast seeks answers to the murder of 15 year old Kerrie Brown. Though season five is currently finished, updates are occasionally posted. Episodes are usually between a half hour and an hour in length, and a sixth season is expected soon.
5. The Teacher’s Pet
Narrated and investigated by Hedley Thomas, The Teacher’s Pet focuses on the Australian cold case disappearance of Lynette Dawson. The mother of two girls mysteriously disappeared from the home she shared with her husband Chris Dawson, who was having an affair with his former student. Only a few days after her disappearance, Lynette’s husband moved his young mistress into the home and they eventually married. More than 30 years later, Thomas reignites the investigation of Lynette’s disappearance and interviews her family and friends, and even the former mistress of Chris Dawson. Though Lynette’s body has never been found, homicide is suspected in the case and Chris Dawson has now been arrested in connection with Lynette’s disappearance. Save for any updates on the case against Chris Dawson, The Teacher’s Pet is complete. Episodes generally run around an hour in length.