I’ll be the first to admit that I never thought I would jump on the podcast-bandwagon, but here I am writing an article about why you should too. As a lover of true crime, I have searched the high tides of Youtube videos and found some channels that give me my crime junkie fix. One of my favorites is Bella Fiori, an Australian YouTuber who specializes in fashion, makeup, and true crime. What I love about her videos is that she covers high profile true crime cases from around the world that I haven’t heard about. She also includes images and snippets of audio and video if applicable to the case and even provides possible theories for unsolved cases. I decided to show one of my close friends a video of hers and they told me to give podcasts a shot, so I decided to venture out into the land of podcasts and stumbled upon Crime Junkie.
Crime Junkie was started by two childhood best friends, Ashley and Britt, who focus on underreported crimes in Indiana and across the United States. What I love particularly about this podcast is that they share their source material and spend at least 30 hours in the creation of each episode. They will reach out to victims’ families and even talk to professionals about specific cases and how listeners can make a difference. My favorite aspect of the show, however, is that they emphasize that the purpose of their podcast is not just for entertainment, it’s for keeping the stories of victims alive and fighting for those who have yet to receive justice. Both Ashley and Britt encourage listeners to report any tips they have to an organization called Crime Stoppers, that assures anonymity in an effort to solve and prevent crimes.
Some notable episodes to listen to:
Murdered: The Powell Family
If you are from Utah you know this case well, but if you don’t this episode does an excellent job at discussing the disappearance of Susan Powell and the murder of her two children all the while highlighting the importance of domestic violence advocacy and red flags to watch for.
Serial Killer: The West Mesa Serial Killer
This episode follows the unsolved murders of sex workers whose lives were tragically stolen from them, and the one woman who was able to connect the cases of 10+ missing girls.
Infamous: Lipstick Killer
If you give this podcast a change this is an episode that you have to listen to! It follows the case of a convicted killer who may or may not be so innocent. What makes this episode so special is that Ashely and Britt emphasize how horribly a juvenile was treated by the system and all the atrocities that happened to him in jail in the hands of adults.
Murdered: Shaquita Bennett // Tara Costigan
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and in this episode, the podcasters share the stories of two victims who lost their lives to abuse.
If you’re looking for a true-crime podcast that highlights cases from underrepresented populations I highly suggest listening to this podcast.