Hello. My name is Sarah and I’m a True Crime Junkie. I’ve listened to hundreds upon hundreds of True Crime podcasts and watched dozens of True Crime documentaries, but I always want more. Maybe it’s the 5 in me (see: the enneagram types), but I love examining unsolved cases and digging into the mind of a criminal. Were HH Holmes and Jack the Ripper the same person? Did George Hodel kill the Black Dahlia (more on that below)? And what made Ted Bundy one of the most notorious criminals in history?
I think about these questions a lot, and many True Crime podcasts talk about popular cases like these, but a lot of podcasts also bring light to cases that are not as known to the masses. Podcasts are perfect to listen to at your desk or on your commute, so I’m sharing my top 10 True Crime podcasts that I think you’ll love!
Crime Junkie
You’d think with a name like this I would’ve been all over this podcast long before I actually discovered it, but I’ve only gotten into Crime Junkie in the last 5 months or so – and I’ve become OBSESSED. Ashley and Brit do an amazing job covering lesser known cases, and really bringing them to light. I also like that they have a blog on their website where they share visuals for each case. Listening to them is like talking to your best friends about true crime – I highly recommend listening to the Alissa Turney episode, it is INSANE.
Root of Evil
Ok so this is the most recent podcast I’ve listened to and it was MINDBLOWING!!! Root of Evil is based on one of the most notorious unsolved murders of all time – the Black Dahlia. Two sisters, who are actually the great granddaughters of George Hodel, one of the main suspects, dissect their disturbingly dark family past and examine how all of that played into who George Hodel was and if he could’ve been the real killer. It is riveting and honestly, one of my all time favorites. High key recommend.
Dirty John
Maybe an obvious one considering Bravo turned it into a show, but Dirty John is almost like a cult classic for True Crime fans. Like, if you haven’t listened to Dirty John what are you even doing? I was ADDICTED to Dirty John when it first came out. It recounts the life of Debra Newell’s whirlwind relationship with a man named John Meehan that quickly turns into an actual nightmare.
The Dark Side Of…
So while I’m interested in general True Crime, I’m very interested in Hollywood True Crime. There’s just something about the darkness that lurks behind the glitz and the glam of Hollywood – I can’t get enough! The Dark Side of podcast is perfect for anyone interested in Hollywood history because, like the title suggests, it covers the dark side of Hollywood’s early days. The first episode talks about the nefariousness behind the founding of Hollywoodland itself and continues through subjects like Gypsy Rose – the original stage mom from hell, Fatty Arbuckle’s fall from grace, and even Shirley Temple’s struggles as a child star.
The Teacher’s Pet
Do you ever just peruse the browse section on your podcast app to see what’s trending that day? When I finish a podcast that’s what I do to find my next one – which is how I stumbled upon The Teacher’s Pet. It’s about Lynette and Chris Dawson and the circumstances around their marriage that may have led to Lynette’s disappearance. The cover art is what drew me in, but the twists and turns of the story is what kept me listening until the very end!
To Live & Die in LA
What’s interesting about this podcast, is that is covers a crime that is relatively recent and still ongoing. To Live and Die in LA chronicles the disappearance and death of an aspiring actress who went missing without a trace from her apartment in February 2018. It combined a lot of what I’m interested in – Hollywood and True Crime – so as soon as I found this one I dove straight in.
Up & Vanished
Seeing as how Up and Vanished covers the 2005 disappearance of a Georgia high school teacher Tara Grinstead, and I live in Georgia, I was basically required to listen to this. What makes this podcast so amazing is that originally the narrator wanted to cover the existing facts of the case, but it quickly evolved into an investigation for the truth. The difficulties of getting answers in a case over 10 years old and the roadblocks faced in dealing with a small southern town keep you on your toes, but also keeps you emotionally invested in finding out what really happened to Tara back in 2005.
Dr. Death
A story unlike anything you’ve ever heard, Dr. Death will leave you questioning everything you ever thought you knew about medical professionals. Dr. Death tells the very true story of Chris Duntsch, a former neurosurgeon who was convicted of malpractice that led to the maiming, and even death, of some of his patients, and the medical system that let all these patients down. Shocking and eye-opening, that’s all I can say.
Serial Killers
Serial Killers profiles and tells the stories of, you guessed it, serial killers. This might be one of the darker ones that I listen to, so honestly, I can’t listen to too many episodes at one time without starting to feel really heavy emotionally. But the stories are interesting and for True Crime junkies it’s a perfect addition to your playlist.
Mile Higher
I was seriously obsessed with the Mile Higher Youtube channel, and when Kendall and her husband started this podcast it was a dream come true for me. They cover everything you could ever want – murders, conspiracy theories, unsolved mysteries, and even aliens! They really do their research and give their listeners all the facts. One of my favorite episodes is the one about Elisa Lam – that story is one of the craziest mysteries out there.
What are your favorite True Crime podcasts? What do you listen to to get your fix?
