Many of us really enjoy some pretty depraved media; thanks to outlets like Netflix and mediums like podcasts, your niche interests can be catered to. And if you happen to be into serial killers, true crime, horror or conspiracy theories, there’s seemingly a galaxy of podcasts for you. Here’s a few murdery pods to tee up.
Criminal
Criminal may be a “true crime” podcast, but it isn’t as strict as all that; the show tends to focus on unique and less common crime stories. Crime as a bigger notion, rather than simply murder per se. It covers interesting stories of faked deaths, wrongful convictions, identity theft and notable historical cases. Host Phoebe Judge’s smooth voice and the roughly half-hour length make Criminal episodes easily digestible. The stories are fascinating, unique and genuinely moving.
They Walk Among Us
They Walk Among Us focuses on UK true crime, in that most British of ways. The understated, clipped voice of the mysterious host takes us through gruesome, weird and gripping cases of UK crime and intrigue. As with Casefile, we know nothing about him; the website says his name is Benjamin, but I am no super-sleuth. The pod covers both modern and historic cases, giving a surprising amount of in-depth information and research in its forty-odd minutes.
Casefile
Currently the seventh most popular podcast in Australia (no mean feat.) Casefile is an Australian-made true crime show of no real frills. It’s straight up-and-down true crime, with many Aussie cases featured. Also included is a detailed and heartbreaking account of the Port Arthur Massacre. In recent months, the episodes have extended to ninety minutes, with the addition of greater detail and research. The show features the voice of the anonymous host. Through his rough ocker accent, he takes on notable cases of gruesome, intriguing and downright bizarre crime.
Let’s Not Meet
Not strictly crime-related, Let’s Not Meet is a true horror podcast based on stories shared on the Let’s Not Meet forum on Reddit. These various tales come from all manner of folk, so there’s a healthy mixture of location, age range and specific experience: everything from creepy stalkers to paranormal encounters.
Bowraville
Although I am not usually a supporter of The Australian newspaper, Bowraville is a solid effort in investigative journalism and criminal reporting. Hosted by reporter Dan Box, the six-part series covers a captivating and heartbreaking case from Bowraville, a country town in New South Wales. Three Indigenous young people, aged between four and sixteen, go missing within a span of four months from the same area. Indeed, roughly the same street. The case draws on the failure of the criminal justice system. There’s also a focus on race relations in Australia, and the way authorities are letting down indigenous communities. It can be a harrowing listen at times, but it’s thoroughly enthralling, and professionally-made.
Stuff You Missed In History Class
Another not-strictly-crime show, Stuff still manages to cover some of history’s most brutal and bizarre cases. Hosted by Holly Frey and Tracy Wilson, the pair take us through cases across the span of recorded history. From 1912’s Villisca Axe Murders, to the mysterious and suspicious death of director William Desmond Taylor in 1922. Even 1943’s creepy Hagley Woods Murder. There’s all manner of stories on the Stuff podcast, as they try to keep a healthy mix to their subject matter. So, you’ll no doubt find something to tickle you, whether it’s historical serial killers, “werewolves”, poisonings or mysterious disappearances.
True Crime Garage
Two American blokes drinking beer and talking true crime. Sounds like a slapdash idea, but the show is much slicker and well-researched than it sounds. The ‘drinking tinnies in the garage’ setting is really more of a friendly conceit, as the hosts take us deep into criminal cases. And how deep we go! Most of the episodes are broken down into several parts, with each running about an hour. This allows for in-depth detail and shows off the pair’s research into the cases; a John Wayne Gacy two-parter I listened to recently told me a lot I didn’t know about the creepy clown killer (that is, he often dressed like a clown, not that he murdered clowns. A notable difference.)
Image source: Casefile, They Walk Among Us and The Stuff You Missed In Mystery Class
