1. Criminal

Criminal is a lovely and poetic true crime podcast featuring cultural analysis uncovering the societal factors that underlie each heinous act. Since 2014, host Phoebe Judge and the Criminal gang have been interviewing victims, suspects, and witnesses. Each episode dives into the motivations and interesting stories surrounding the crime. Phoebe’s buttery smooth voice is also perfect for storytelling. If you’re hunting for podcasts like Serial, this is it.

2. The Dropout

The Dropout is a true crime documentary that follows Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos in an unbelievable tale of ambition and fame gone terribly wrong. How did the world's youngest self-made female billionaire lose it all in the blink of an eye? How did the woman once heralded as "the next Steve Jobs" find herself facing criminal charges — to which she pleaded not guilty — and up to 20 years in jail? How did her technology, meant to revolutionize healthcare, potentially put millions of patients at risk? Witness the never-before-aired deposition testimony of Elizabeth Holmes, and those at the center of this story.

3. Missing and Murdered: Finding Cleo

Cleo was only a child when she was stolen, murdered, and missing. The only proof of her existence is a tiny, undated school photo. Missing & Murdered recalls one woman’s search for the truth about her missing sister from an unlikely clue. This investigative podcast sheds light on a broader, dark chapter in Canada’s Indigenous history. Reporter and host, Connie Walker, an Indigenous woman, helps craft this sensitively-structured podcast helping the family of the victim find closure from their heartbreak.

4. Darknet Diaries

Are you a web sleuth? Fascinated about cyber crimes? Explore the dark side of the Internet with this indie true crime podcast that takes you on a journey through the chilling world of privacy hacks, data breaches, and cyber crime. The masterful criminal hackers who dwell on the dark side show us just how vulnerable we all are.

5. My Favorite Murder

The long adored My Favorite Murder has broken download records and built a cult-like fanbase of “Murderinos.” If you’re obsessed with true-crime and the psychology behind it, join hosts, Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark as they tell each other their favorite tales of murder and hear hometown crime stories from friends and fans. Explore stories of notorious serial killers like Ted Bundy and unsolved mysteries like JonBenet Ramsey. Stay for the hosts' blunt and quirky sense of humor.

6. Forgotten: Women of Juárez

In this series, Journalists Mónica Ortiz Uribe and Oz Woloshyn investigate the mass disappearance of hundreds of women from Ciudad Juárez, a border city in Mexico. With many of the women showing up dead, Uribe and Woloshyn dive into the theories surrounding the murders — from drug cartels to hit men to satanic cults — and shed light on the factors that have allowed these tragic killings to continue. Full of original reporting and interviews this captivating series is one of the best true crime documentaries out there.

7. Atlanta Monster

The Atlanta Monster digs into one of the most disturbing true crime stories, taking us back to the summer of 1979 when two children disappeared in the booming metropolis of Atlanta. Their only connection is that they are both Black, and the community is disheartened when they are found murdered. However this is just the start to the serial killer’s work, surpassing over 25 murders of Black children and young adults by the time an arrest is made. Beyond the crime itself, the podcast explores whether the correct offender was placed behind bars, and the racial tensions that grew prior to police taking action.

8. Last Podcast on the Left

What do you get when a horror podcast is hosted by comedians? The Last Podcast on the Left! Since 2011, their informative and entertaining episodes have covered infamous killers, in-depth assessments of cults, and even aliens. Listeners often applaud the level of research conducted by the three hosts, and how each provides a humorous perspective on the topic of choice. Fan favorites include the episodes on Tupac & Biggie’s unfortunate deaths, the assasination of Rasputin, and an investigation into the origin of Bigfoot. All together, this is a true crime comedy podcast that is well worth your time.

9. Supernatural with Ashley Flowers

Ideally, every true crime case has the ability to be solved, but occasionally there’s no apparent explanation for the horrific events that have occurred. It’s these perplexing cases that are the focus of Supernatural with Ashley Flowers. A phenomenal mystery podcast, Ashley analyzes unearthly events such as encounters with the legendary Jersey Devil and plane crashes in The Bermuda Triangle. Also the host of the acclaimed Crime Junkie podcast, Ashley is well-versed in podcasting and knows how to create fact-filled episodes you’ll be glued to.

10. Scam Goddess

If you’re looking for a hilarious and unique true crime podcast, join host Laci Mosley’s devoted “con-gregation” and learn all about scams and fraudsters big and small. Each week, Mosley is joined by a comedian to dissect — and laugh about — a different scam, including the infamous fake heiress Anna Sorokin and influencer scammer Caroline Calloway. Covering many cases you’ve never heard of, Mosley’s great sense of humour and genuine appreciation for the art of the scam make this podcast a fun escape from the darker alleys of true crime.

11. Bear Brook

Bodies were found in a mysterious barrel in the woods of Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown, New Hampshire, but no one knew who the victims were. This is the ultimate cold case where the identities of both victims and the murderers were both unknown, making it an obsession for both amateur sleuths and Jason Moon from New Hampshire Public Radio alike. Throughout the episodes, you get to hear the case solved in real-time with novel scientific techniques that completely changed how murders are investigated since. If you’re new to the true crime genre, this gripping series will ease you in and get you eager to listen to more investigative true crime.

12. Serial

A best-of true crime podcasts list would not be complete without the smash hit podcast Serial. Hosted by podcast star Sarah Koenig, Serial was not only a breakout podcast for the investigative narrative true crime genre, but a defining moment for the podcast industry as a whole. In its first season, Koenig revisits the 1999 murder of a Baltimore high school student Hae Min Lee. Behind bars sits her convicted murderer and former boyfriend, Adnan Syed, who claims he is innocent … but is he? Koenig sets out to uncover the truth. With over 80 million downloads alone in the first year, Serial is truly one of the best true crime podcasts of all time.

13. Casefile

14. Crime Junkie

15. Dateline

Want to save this list to listen later? We’ve conveniently curated them all for you in this playlist:

If you’re looking for more bingeable true crime podcasts, check out this playlist from members of the Podyssey community: