25 Best True Crime Podcasts That Will Keep You Hooked for Hours
These are for fearless listeners only.
By Megan Stein
Some things are worth losing a little sleep over—and if you ask Ree Drummond, a good true crime podcast is one of them. Ever since she binge-listened to the podcast Serial on the drive to drop off her daughter Alex at college, she's been obsessed with all things true crime—even though it's been known to keep her up at night. "It’s Serial’s fault, of course, but I have fallen into the world of true crime podcasts. And I can’t get up," she joked. If you're equally fascinated by unsolved mysteries and love to play the armchair detective, then welcome! You’ve come to the right place.
Like your favorite crime drama shows, the best true crime podcasts of all time will put your investigative skills to the test. You'll be on the edge of your seat as you uncover details about some of the most riveting famous and overlooked cases in history.
Some of the podcasts center around specific people, like Christopher Duntsch a.k.a. "Dr. Death" and former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes, while others are more overarching and review prominent crimes from all angles. A few (like My Favorite Murder) even have a humorous slant, which will be a relief to anyone who feels queasy at the mere mention of true crime stories.
Whether you're looking for a binge to fill your daily commute, or a suspenseful investigation to keep you awake during a road trip, there's a true crime podcast to hold your attention through every clue, alibi, and motive. And when you need a palette cleanser, we suggest watching the best romantic comedies. Trust us—they'll be a big help when bedtime rolls around.
Scamanda
Scamanda tells the story of Amanda C. Riley, a former teacher and principal who faked a Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosis for seven years. During that time, she collected more than $105,000 in online donations for what she claimed were medical expenses.
Slow Burn: Watergate
This podcast miniseries explores the Watergate scandal through the eyes of the people involved. Season 1 of Slow Burn was turned into a limited series political thriller, Gaslit, starring Julia Roberts and Sean Penn.
The Thing About Pam
This Dateline original podcast examines the Christmas 2011 murder of Betsy Faria, a woman from a small town in Missouri. While all signs initially point to her husband being the killer, a police investigation leads to a surprising new suspect: Betsy's friend Pam, the last person to see her alive.
What Happened to Sandy Beal
In 1977, 18-year-old Sandy Beal was found fatally shot in her car. Authorities quickly determined that she had taken her own life—but a few strange details suggest otherwise.
Up and Vanished
This podcast delves into the mysterious disappearance of Tara Grinstead, a Georgia beauty queen and high school teacher.
Swindled
If this podcast could be summarized in two words, they would be: corporate evil. These white-collar criminals would stop at nothing to get what they wanted, no matter the cost.
Paper Ghosts
Investigative journalist and bestselling true crime author M. William Phelps delves into the mysterious disappearance of four young girls in 1970s New England.
Dr. Death
If you loved Dirty John, you’ll want to add this to the top of your list. It tells the horrifying story of Christopher Duntsch, a neurosurgeon who claimed he was the best—until his patients started experiencing complications. Once you’re done streaming the podcast, consider watching the Peacock series inspired by the gruesome tale. (It stars Joshua Jackson!)
Dark House
In House Beautiful magazine's very first podcast, editors Alyssa Fiorentino and Hadley Mendelsohn explore the history of four different homes, each well-known for creepy reasons. The hosts interview authors, paranormal investigators, and psychic mediums to try and get to the bottom of what makes these houses so spooky.
Death of a Starlet
Playboy Playmate Dorothy Stratten was found dead at 20 years old, and three men could be responsible: Hugh Hefner, famed director Peter Bogdonovich, or her husband, Paul Snider. This six-part series will keep you captivated the whole time.
Unsolved Mysteries
Fans of the original show and the Netflix reboot will certainly enjoy the podcast version. As you likely know, you’ll learn about a whole slew of fascinating mysteries including abductions, deaths, and even paranormal encounters.
Anatomy of Murder
If you’re a serious crime buff, you’ll certainly enjoy this one. It’s brought to you by a former New York City homicide prosecutor and an Emmy award-winning journalist (who was also a former Deputy Sheriff), so you know the facts and research are going to be rock-solid.
Unraveled: The Long Island Serial Killer
Take a closer look at the infamous Long Island Serial Killer, who is believed to have murdered 10-16 women from the ‘90s-2010. It’s remained unsolved, but hosts Billy Jensen and Alexis Linkletter dig into what went wrong along the way.
My Favorite Murder
Comedians Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark discuss their favorite true crime tales, and welcome more stories from friends and fans.
The Dropout
If you haven't heard all you can about Elizabeth Holmes and her company, Theranos, then let us show you how to spend the next several hours of your life.
Serial
Perhaps the most well known true crime podcast ever, Serial first became famous for delving into the mind-boggling case of Hae Min Lee and Adnan Syed.
Criminal
This series follows "people who've done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle." There are more than 130 episodes, so you better get listening!
The Shrink Next Door
Veteran journalist Joe Nocera thought his neighbor, Ike, a therapist to the stars, was just a regular guy. That is, until another man turns up in Ike's house and spills secrets about Ike's psychological manipulation and fraud.
Someone Knows Something
CBC radio has recorded several seasons of this podcast, examining disappearances, unsolved murders, shocking deaths, and more.
The Clearing
April Balascio joins host Josh Dean to look back at her life with her father, convicted murderer Edward Wayne Edwards.
Megan Stein is the executive editor for The Pioneer Woman, and oversees entertainment, features, and news for the website. Whether it's catching up on the latest true crime podcast, or re-watching the best '80s movies for the zillionth time, she's always here to talk about anything and everything relating to pop culture.
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