MY FAVORITE TRUE CRIME PODCASTS
Years ago Serial essentially resurected podcasts from the media grave where it lay right beside VHS & 8-track. Since then the true crime podcast market has become incredibly saturated with another popping up nearly every week. It’s so difficult to decide which to listen to! To help you out I’ve compiled a list of my favorite true crime podcasts.
CRIMINAL
Criminal is unique in that it doesn’t limit itself at all in terms of what types of crime it’s willing to cover. They’ve covered some of the popular muder cases of course, such as the death of Kathleen Peterson, but they’ve also produced episodes about a woman who works in physician-assisted suicide or death with dignity, the impact of identify theft, or an instance when vandalism turned into a religious shrine (no, really). If you’re a fan of storytelling radio shows like NPR, Criminal is for you.
Criminal releases new episodes twice a month on Fridays.
FBI RETIRED CASE FILE REVIEW
Jerri Williams, a retired FBI Special Agent herself, interviews her colleagues about their most notable cases in her podcast FBI Retired Case File Review. From bank robberies, to crisis negotitaion, and, of course, serial muder, you’ll hear about cases that the mainstream media never touched. What could be better than hearing about these incredible cases from those who actually worked on them?
The host Jerri Williams is also a crime fiction author. There are currently two books in her Philadelphia FBI Corruption Squad series: Pay to Play and Greedy Givers. She is also the author of FBI Myths and Misconceptions: A Manual for Armchair Detectives.
FBI Retired Case File Review used to release new episodes every Wednesday but is currently transitioning into an every other week schedule.
BEST CASE WORST CASE
Jim Clemente, Retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent and profiler with the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, and Francey Hakes, former federal prosecutor, team up in Best Case Worst Case to interview law enforcement and other first responders about the cases they’ve worked.
These episodes will leave you either with feelings of triumph or in a pit of dispair. There is no inbetween. Exprience the highs and lows of a life in law enforcement like never before by listening to Best Case Worst Case. If you want to learn about the everyday effects of law enforcement on the community, and athe effects of their work on law enforcement, check this one out.
Best Case Worst Case releases new episodes weekly on Fridays.
TRUTH & JUSTICE
I’ve been listening to Truth & Justice since the good ole Serial Dynasty days. When Serial blew up there were several other podcast that began in order to investigate the case on their own. SO MANY. Serial Dynasty solved the problem by gathering information from everyone who was covering the murder of Hae Min Lee and the potential innocense of Adnan Syed and condensing it into this single podcast. When the case was over we were left wondering, “where does Serial Dynasty go now?” The answer: what is now known at the Truth & Justice Army.
Bob Ruff has now left his job as a fire chief to devote his time soley to the podcast. Truth & Justice now investigates potential wrongful convictions from square one and makes a real impact on the criminal justice community. How impactful? Just ask Ed Ates, a man who spent twenty years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. He was released from prison after the Truth & Justice Army stepped in.
Earlier this year at CrimeCon in New Orleans I was lucky enough to meet Bob Ruff himself, as well as many other members of the Truth & Justice Army, at a Truth & Justice meet & greet.
Truth & Justice releases new episodes weekly on Mondays and bonus episodes weekly on Fridays.
REAL CRIME PROFILE
Real Crime Profile is also hosted by Jim Clemente, Retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent and profiler with the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, this time along with Laura Richards, criminal behavioral analyst and former New Scotland Yard, and Lisa Zambetti, the casting director for CBS’ Criminal Minds.
This podcast comes out on top because you’ll get to hear about the most popular cases, as well as the tv shows and movies that cover them, from people who really know what they’re talking about. I mean who’s not interested in the opinion of someone who actually worked in the real life Behavioral Analysis Unit?
Real Crime Profile releases new episodes weekly on Wednesdays.
If you’re interested in listening to these or other podcasts but aren’t quite sure where to start, check out this post from Jerri Williams, the host of FBI Retired Case File Review on how to listen to a podcast.