Five true crime podcasts you need to listen to now

It seems as though we’ve got an endless appetite for audio accounts of sordid tales. Whether it’s a new spin on a well-known story, or an attempt at solving a mystery by piecing the puzzle together themselves, true crime podcast hosts know how to keep an audience in the palm of their hands.

The realm of podcasting is a heavily saturated space, with various iterations of suspenseful and thrilling subject matter joining the ranks on the daily. So, naturally, it can be tricky to weed out the stellar storytelling from the overdone drivel.

Whether you’re just dipping your toe in, or you’ve been a true crime addict since the days of Serial, here are five recommendations you won’t regret adding to your podcast rotation.

The Teacher’s Pet

A podcast begun in 2018, The Teacher’s Pet is a 14-part series that sees Australian journalist Hedley Thomas investigate the 1982 disappearance of Lynette Dawson, wife of rugby league player Chris Dawson. Throughout the deep dive, Thomas uncovers a whole lot of new information, and there is a renewed interest in the podcast given that Dawson has been accused of the murder of his wife, and is currently on trial in Australia. Birthing a spin-off show The Teacher’s Trial, Thomas is releasing new episodes every Friday with updates from the courtroom.

Sweet Bobby

A podcast that poses the question ‘how much do you really know about the person you love’, Sweet Bobby is a six-part investigation into one of the world’s most sophisticated catfishers. Kirat, a successful radio presenter, meets a handsome cardiologist named Bobby on Facebook. Getting tangled up in a love affair full of lies and manipulation, Kirat discovers a deception of almost unimaginable proportions.

Where is George Gibney?

This ten-part investigative podcast was produced by BBC Sounds and Second Captains, an Irish production company. Centred on the survivors of sexual abuse suffered at the hands of Irish Olympic swimming coach George Gibney, the podcast not only prompted new survivors to come forward, but incited a fresh Garda investigation. With over a million downloads, this is one podcast series you’ve got to listen to.

Bad Blood: The Final Chapter

If The Dropout inspired a renewed interest in the story of infamous Elizabeth Holmes in you, this podcast will be right up your alley. Told by the reporter who exposed the Theranos scandal, John Carreyrou brings the listener into the courtroom as he examines Silicon Valley’s ‘fake it ‘til you make it’ culture, and the case against Holmes.

The Witness: In His Own Words

Following the publication of Nicola Tallant’s best-selling book The Witness this documentary podcast series gives Joseph O’Callaghan the opportunity to tell his story, his way. In 2005, O’Callaghan gave testimony that helped convict two drug-dealing gangsters for murder, becoming the youngest person ever to enter the Witness Protection Programme in Ireland. A truly powerful listen, all ten episodes and bonus material are incredible.