Entertainment
25 True Crime Podcasts On Spotify That Will Have You Totally Hooked

I. CAN'T. STOP. LISTENING.

by Brandy Robidoux
Updated: 
Originally Published: 

If fairy tales and happy endings aren't your thing, you might be in need of something more puzzling to challenge your brain. True crime podcasts have only increased in popularity through the years, and while mindless content is always fun, true crime podcasts enable listeners to become super-sleuths at home. Whether serial killers get your blood pumping, or you're in favor of something less murderous and more white-collar, there's so many true crime picks out there. So much so, it can actually be slightly overwhelming. But believe me when I say these 25 true crime podcasts on Spotify deserve a spot on your listening list.

When it comes to true crime podcasts Spotify's selection is seemingly endless. The streaming service has aggregated all the best shows that have taken the world be storm. Some are episodic, while others tell an ongoing tale, but most importantly, they'll keep you captivated every step of the way. Plus, they're a good chance to give your eyes a break from Netflix for a bit.

New true crime podcasts are popping up every day, but there's a few OG shows that are definitely worth checking out as well. These 25 hand-picked selections are sure to satisfy your true crime sweet tooth.

01Last Podcast On The Left

If you love the feeling of your heart racing, you're going to want to add Last Podcast on the Left to your list. The series takes a deep dive into everything from demons and slashers to cults and serial killers.

New episodes of Last Podcast on the Left drop 2-3 times a week.

02To Live And Die In LA

You don't have to live in The Golden State to appreciate this gripping crime story. The first season of the podcast explores the mysterious disappearance of aspiring actress Adea Shibani, and leaves you constantly scratching your head with its unpredictable twists and turns. Now, in its second season, the mystery continues.

New episodes arrive Thursdays.

03Crime Junkie

Crime junkies, rejoice! There's a lot to appreciate about this podcast. The series, hosted by crime-junkies Ashley Flowers and co-hosted by Brit Prawatcovers everything from stalker stories to conspiracy theories.

The series gets a new episode every Monday.

04My Favorite Murder

This murderous series was launched in 2016 by friends Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, and amps up the podcast experience by letting fans share true crime stories of their own. Of course, if you're more of a lurker, you can just sit back and listen.

Fans can catch new episodes of My Favorite Murder on Mondays and Thursdays.

05Today In True Crime

This podcast is a Spotify original, and definitely sets itself apart from others in its genre. In each episode, the narrator flips back the calendar to examine a true crime event from that specific date in history.

The series drops new episodes on the daily, so crime story aficionados can get their fill Monday-Sunday.

06Crimetown

Crimetown, is a new series from Gimlet Media and the creators of HBO's The Jinx. Each season, hosts Marc Smerling and Zac Stuart-Pontier investigate the culture of crime in a different U.S. city. Crimetown's final episode aired in March 2019.

07Criminal

If you want to explore the minds of notorious criminals, this is the podcast for you. It delivers a broader, deep dive on criminal behavior, focusing on the psychological behaviors criminals adapt when carrying out their bad deeds.

The series has upwards of 200 episodes and airs approximately every two weeks.

08The Clearing

The Clearing tells the all-too-true story of April Balascio, who, as a child, suspected that her father was a murderer. Not only was she right, but she turned her father in. The Clearing spares no details of the eerie story. The eight-episode series wrapped in August 2019.

09Over My Dead Body: Joe Exotic

For fans of Tiger King, this podcast couldn't be more timely. The series follows the same story as told in the wildly popular Netflix documentary, and is hosted by Matt Shaer of the New York Times. Seeing as the series dropped more than a year before the Netflix documentary did, many fans already were familiar with the story.

The final episode of the 12-part series aired in November 2019.

10The Dropout

Elizabeth Holmes' story sounds so far-fetched it's almost impossible to believe it's a "true" crime tale. And yet it is.

The Dropout explores the downfall of Holmes' multi-billion dollar health technology company that was all based on a lie, and even features interviews with some of the whistle-blowers who exposed her deceptive ways. The series wrapped in February 2019.

11Accused

With Accused, reporter Amber Hunt and photographer Amanda Rossmann team up to analyze a different suspicious death case with each episode. The final episode in the series arrived in March.

12The Murder Squad

This series takes a look back at crime cases that weren't ever solved. With retired cold case investigator Paul Holes and investigative journalist Billy Jensen as hosts, the pro duo make one hell of a sleuthing team.

Episodes of The Murder Squad air every Monday.

13Unsolved Murders

True to its title, Unsolved Murders is a podcast drama with a modern twist, and focuses solely on murder cases. New episodes are generally released every Tuesday, but listeners should start with episode one to get the full picture, as cases can be ongoing.

14Happy Face

Happy Face is the story of Keith Hunter Jesperson, aka, the Happy Face Killer, and his brutal crimes. With his own daughter Melissa Moore at the helm of the podcast, it takes listening an intensely personal look back at his life, as well as hers. Happy Face wrapped in October 2020.

15UK True Crime

The U.S. isn't the only nation breeding mysterious crime stories. UK True Crime sheds light on some of the lesser-known crime stories from across the pond.

UK True Crime episodes air weekly on Tuesdays.

16Sword And Scale

Sword and Scale is described by host Mike Boudet as "a show that reveals that the worst monsters are real," and it couldn't be more true. The crime series recounts real crimes... but only the darkest kinds.

There are around two to three new episodes of Sword and Scale per month.

17Detective Trapp

Anaheim investigator Julissa Trapp has built her career on solving hard-to-crack crimes, and Detective Trapp gives listeners a close-up look at her life. For those who have ever dreamed of being an investigator, this is your chance to live vicariously through one. The series wrapped up in December 2019.

18Murderific

The Murderific true crime podcast covers "serial killers, mass murders, the missing and unsolved cases," so basically, it covers all the bases a crime junkie could want.

The Murderific podcast drops a new episode approximately once a week.

19The Officer's Wife

There's nothing more eerie than a small town crime where murder was the last thing citizens expected, but that's exactly what The Officer's Wife explores. The podcast takes a look at the death of Jessica Boynton, who was found inside a locked closet with a gunshot wound to her head in Griffin, Georgia.

The final episode in the series aired in February 2020.

20Morbidology

Morbidology takes an in-depth look at some of the world's most notable crime cases. With an analysis of 911 calls, testimonies and every true crime detail, there is no stone left unturned here. Plus, host Emily G. Thompson has authored books such as Unsolved Child Murders and Unsolved Murders: True Crime Cases Uncovered, so she really knows her stuff.

New episodes of Morbidology usually drop once a week.

21Serial

The Serial podcast is hosted by Sarah Koenig and is known to keep listeners on their toes. The first season of the weekly podcast told the true story of the conviction of Adnan Syed. The following seasons moved away from murder stories, but still promised “plenty of twists and turns.”

22Unraveled

Unraveled, a podcast from Discovery +, is all about the eerie reality of cyberstalkers. Co-hosts Alexis Linkletter and Billy Jensen tell the story of an internet stalker that was relentless in his pursuit of cyberbullying his victims, often to the point of destroying their personal lives.

23Son of a Hitman

Son of a Hitman was a short but enticing minted series about the armed robberies and murders committed by Charles Harrelson, father to actor Woody Harrelson. Hosted by journalist Jason Cavanagh, the series included evidence that was never shared publicly.

The final episode aired in July 2020.

24The Apology Line

If you’ve ever lived in New York City, you may have heard of Mr. Apology. The man behind The Apology Line fielded anonymous calls from guilty citizens who unearthed their darkest secrets, until it became too much to handle. Some callers rang up to confess acts of violence, and some even confessed to murders. The Apology Line tells his story and is hosted by Mr. Apology’s own friend, Marissa Bridge.

25Hollywood Crime Scene

If you can’t get enough of celebrity culture, this one’s for you. Hollywood Crime Scene is all about the missteps made by celebrities that landed them in serious heat.

New episodes air bi-weekly.

Editor's Note: A previous version of this post misstated the publishing schedule of Sword and Scale. It has been updated.

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