True crime podcasts have come a long way since Serial broke records in 2014, tackling crimes from a variety of perspectives. But as this roundup of the best true crime podcasts shows, despite their wide variety, the best ones have one thing in common: They explore our society, psychology, and relationships as much as they explore crime itself.
A Swedish case so disturbing we almost ignored it. True Crime Documentary.
A cold case podcast in the vein of Serial and Atlanta Monster, West Cork’s 14 episodes focus on the unsolved 1996 murder of French TV producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Hosted by investigative journalist Sam Bungey and TV producer Jennifer Forde, the podcast explores the unanswered questions surrounding du Plantier’s brutal murder, offers a penetrating psychological study of the prime suspect, and an exposé of how police bungled the original investigation. Initially available only on Audible and requiring a subscription, the podcast is now free and available from other sources.
For anyone worried that listening to dark crime podcasts might become overwhelming after one too many gruesome murders, My Favorite Murder is a recommended antidote. It’s a true-crime comedy podcast hosted by writer/comedians Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, who casually discuss one or two murder cases each episode, peppering their irreverent and conversational brand of humor throughout.
Unlike true-crime podcasts that focus on murders and disappearances, Swindled is a podcast that focuses on white-collar crimes such as fraud, insider trading, and bribery. Hosted by the anonymous “Concerned Citizen,” much of the podcast’s appeal lies in its ability to penetrate beneath the surface of corporate America, using steely narration and archival footage to expose corruption in a gripping way.
