We love a good true crime podcast. From Crime Junkie to Serial Killers to The Murder in My Family, there are now so many crime podcasts vying for your attention that selecting your next listen can be overwhelming. To make it easier for you to catch up on the latest and greatest audio investigations, here are 10 of the best true crime podcasts that launched in 2020.
By Brandon Miller
Lauren Ash is hilarious on NBC’s Superstore. So, it comes as no surprise that she’s just as funny on her new true crime podcast. Ash co-hosts True Crime and Cocktails with her “sister” (actually her cousin). Together, they discuss cases featured on shows like Unsolved Mysteries and Dateline. This pod is fun and flirty, offering a nice change of pace from some of the more macabre true crime shows out there.
We absolutely adore the premise of Red Collar, which takes preconceived notions about “white collar” criminals and throws them out the window. Here, host Catherine Townsend — a writer, podcaster, and licensed private investigator — focuses on white collar criminals who kill. The result is a unique and fascinating listen.
We love a podcast with a mission, and this one has a very clear goal: to shine a light on wrongful convictions. Hosted by journalist Maggie Freleng, Unjust and Unsolved highlights fights for exoneration and the pursuit of justice. Freleng draws on interviews with the convicted, as well as interviews with friends, family members, and lawyers, to paint a picture of a system that is not always fair and just.
In the Red Clay is 12 episodes of pure true crime magic. The series focuses on Billy Sunday Birt, dubbed “the most dangerous man in Georgia history” by law enforcement officials. Birt is thought to have killed 56 people, though some investigators believe the number of victims to be even higher. In any case, what makes this a top listen is the participation of Birt’s eldest son, who presents a different side to the murderer. In the Red Clay is hosted by Sean Kipe, best known for his musical endeavors.
From its striking name to its knowledgeable host — journalist and professor Kate Winkler Dawson — to its intriguing blend of narrative storytelling and investigative techniques, Tenfold More Wicked is the best of the best. The first season focuses on Edward Rulloff, a highly intelligent killer from the 19th century who killed his own relatives, escaped custody, and continued a life of crime before his eventual apprehension and execution.
We like Lights Out Podcast because it combines true crime with the paranormal. The mystery factor is high in this podcast; you’ll hear discussions of hauntings, cryptids, alien abductions, demonic possessions, and yes, serial killer cases. Host Josh Thomas is engaging, and the pod is perfect for listeners who love a supernatural twist to their true crime fare.
Parcast creates some of our favorite true crime podcasts, including Serial Killers, Female Criminals, and Sports Criminals. The super-specific subject matter means that each series dives deep into its theme. Medical Murders is no exception. Hosted by Alastair Murden, this podcast focuses on killers who operate within the medical field. Trust us when we say that there are few things scarier than a trusted medical professional gone bad.
If you could not already tell, we highly enjoy a true crime podcast with a determinable theme. Park Predators is one such pod, with its focus on dark crimes that occur in national parks. Host Delia D’Ambra, who also hosts CounterClock podcast, enthralls with her chronicles of murders in majestic outdoor spaces, including Rocky Mountain National Park, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and Yosemite National Park.
Calling all Dead Heads: This true crime podcast is for you. Dead and Gone focuses on the 1985 murder of two Grateful Dead fans, while also exploring the dark aura of the Grateful Dead fan base. The show is helmed by Payne Lindsey (Up and Vanished) and Jake Brennan (Disgraceland), two veteran podcast hosts whose distinct presentation styles complement each other well.
LISK: Long Island Serial Killer
LISK focuses on the notorious case of the Long Island Serial Killer, a still-unidentified murderer who’s believed to have killed at least ten people, mostly sex workers, along the South Shore of Long Island, New York. The show is hosted by Chris Mass and is inspired by Robert Kolker’s New York Times bestselling true crime narrative Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery.
