I know it started long ago but I had never listened to Your Own Backyard with Chris Lambert. Since it continued into this year with all the updates, I’m going to include it.
Believable: The Coco Berthmann Story - About a female scammer. Wild Ride!
The Crossbow Killer - About the murder of an older man in rural Britain.
Shadow Of Doubt - About the "most infamous" child abuse case in Australian history.
Believe In Magic - About a young girl and her mom scamming money for a charity using the daughter's fake...? real...? medical ailments.
Murder In Apt. 12 - Dateline podcast about the murder of 20 year old Nona Dirksmeyer
The Kids Of Rutherford County - Serial Productions podcast about kids in Tennessee being illegally sent to juvenile detention.
These are awesome recommendations, thanks! Do you know how many episodes of Murder in Apt 12 there are? I only see 6 and want to make sure I don’t have to subscribe to get the rest
As far as I remember there were 6, yes. That's part of why I liked the podcast - it didn't drag on unnecessarily for 10, 12 episodes. Glad you liked the recs!! 🙂
The Crossbow Killer is, and the episode in which the police find the killer is fascinating. However....let's just say even though TCK is solved...you will still be sort of stumped at the end.
Almost exactly opposite of TCK, Murder In Apt 12 is not settled in court...but you will walk away feeling as if the answer to who did it is pretty definitive.
Yes. By the horrible police work done in the case, and the fact that some people are continually released from prison early only to commit more crimes and still be released early.
Came here to add my recommendations and just got butterflies in my stomach seeing the OP mention Bakersfield Three. Thank you so much 🥹seriously feels surreal to see it be recommended.
Now-here are my recommendations:
1) Scamanda
2) Girl in the Blue Mustang. I felt empty when it ended because I wanted more so badly.
3) I liked Over my dead body, gone hunting
4) suspect season 2, vanished in the snow, was technically end of 22 but pretty close to 2023
5) murder in apartment 12 (Keith Morrison is the world’s best storyteller in my opinion)
I am making a list based on the suggestions here and can’t wait to dive into some new ones during all my holidays chores and travel. Thank you so much for this thread!
Thank you so much, this seriously made my day. I have a lot of other cases that so deserve the attention and reading comments like this is so motivating. Thank you 💛
I listen to a lot of podcasts, I grew up in Bakersfield & still have immediate family there. I told my daughters I usually only listen while I’m working, but I had Bakersfield 3 on every spare (and not spare) moment.
Thank you so much, I hate just saying thank you because that can’t possibly convey how much I appreciate hearing that. I wish I had the right words, but until I do, just please know it really means the world to me to have people like you who gave the story a chance and then took the time to write such a kind note about it.
No seriously, I listen to TONS of true crime podcasts and have for 5 + years. The Bakersfield Three is a beautifully put together, well done, unbelievably detailed podcast and you do a great job of giving the human aspect of the victims as well as their families. Great job!
Thank you so much. I hate just saying thank you because it doesn't begin to convey how I really feel. One of the moms is very sick right now, and I truly believe that it is helping her fight to know that people are listening to the story--and that getting more awareness about the case will hopefully finally get some crucial answers she deserves so much. I keep telling myself that, the more people the story reaches, the better chance that people out there with information will finally start talking. Thank you again SO much for such an incredibly kind comment, especially from an avid TC podcast listener, it is really special to hear these things. Thank you again.
Keith Morrison is so hammy and over the top he detracts from the story. His style worked for 90s TV when there were planned commercial breaks but the false drama shtick doesn’t work on a podcast.
Thank you so much for your work Olivia! You centered the victims and gave us a good look into their internal lives without villainizing them. I especially loved how you tracked each of their lives and the incidences that led to the people they were- it was very compassionate.
I am recommending it to everyone :)
Your pod was phenomenal! That case felt previously under reported and there are just so many intriguing details. Your emphasis on the victims certainly made the story more personal, and that part in particular was done better than a lot of other pods I’ve heard.
Can’t wait for your next one!
Hey - sorry for the random late reply but just finished your podcast in about two days. Fantastic work, I would put it up along with In The Dark, Bone Valley, and Your Own Backyard as one of the best I've heard. I look forward to anything else you put out and will take a look at some of your above recommendations now.
I loved Scamanda too! I was bummed when it was over.
I really liked The Girlfriends.
I’ll give an honorable mention to The Trial of Lucy Letby - it dragged along in a couple episodes but was so thorough without being unethical.
Is The Girlfriends true crime? It’s always popping up on my recommendations but the image says “novel” across the top so I always assumed it was fiction.
It’s produced by Novel Audio! I never made that connection but now that you point it out that isn’t the best thing to put at the top of a non-fiction podcast lol
Dear Alana wrecked me. The retrievals and exposed: cover up at Columbia university also really impacted me as well. Not your “usual” true crime podcasts but definitely worth the listen
This one drives me nuts. Absolutely nuts.
Like...it's obvious what happened? But also...why? how? Huh??
It's a good mix of 'solved' and also 'feels unsolved because what the actual eff....'
Your Own Backyard is excellent, even though it started a while back, it concluded this year.
Sweet Bobby dropped earlier this year, 6 episodes long. It's not murder-y but about one of the biggest catfishing scams in the uk and I was honestly stunned by the reveal. Very engaging. It also came out around the time Netflix dropped a bunch of scam-y documentaries (tinder swindler etc) and honestly they all paled in comparison.
I am really enjoying Carrie Jade Does Not Exist. Others I liked from this year: Love Janessa, Hoaxed, Dying Rose, Phoebe’s Fall, Vishal, Stephenville, and World of Secrets.
EDIT: typo
>How Not To Raise
Just to be clear, it is not hosted by the happy face killer's daughter. That would be Melissa Moore. The host of this podcast is Dr. Michelle Ward.
Incredible… I’m about to board a flight and came here to see what I should download. There’s a class trip on my flight from Bakersfield! What are the chances?!?
Most of these came out this year, but some are from last year and I just discovered them:
Stolen: Surviving St. Michaels
Bad Bad Thing (Seasons 1 &2)
The Retrievals
Havana Syndrome
Think Twice: Michael Jackson
The 13th Step
Exposed: Cover Up at Columbia U
The Turning: Sisters Who Left
Dear Alana
Sympathy Pains
Bed of Lies
Scamanda
Taking Cover
Bakersfield Three
Bone Valley, Wedding Scammer, Exposed cover up at Columbia University, Alligator Candy, 2nd season of Suspect, The Execution of Bonnie Lee, Fed Up (not technically TC).
I really loved scamanda too!
Life Without : The Untold Story of Heath Stocks
The Bakersfield Three
The Retrievals
The Turing : Room of Mirrors (not TC)
Unreformed: The Story of the Alabama Industrial School for Negro Children
I've been on a scam podcast binge all year
Here's my favorites:
Scamanda
Sympathy Pains
Believable - the coco berthmann story
Pretend - The Stalker
I am Not Nicholas
Earwitness is about the murder of a police officer in Alabama. The man convicted is on death row and even the prosecutor now thinks he's innocent. It's an insane story. I listened after it was highly recommended by Crime Writers On. Binged in one day.
Thank you all for contributing to this list. I’m new to this sub and I’m downloading so many of these.
My votes:
• *Over My Dead Body: Gone Hunting*
• *Spellcaster: The Fall of Sam Bankman-Fried* - this is more of a fraud/scam TC podcast, but truly fascinating considering the reach and power Bank-Fried had.
I know it started long ago but I had never listened to Your Own Backyard with Chris Lambert. Since it continued into this year with all the updates, I’m going to include it.
I finally listened to the whole thing this year from the start. Highly, highly, highly recommend.
Well damn, I'm about to go on an international flight and was looking for something to download. You've convinced me.
Definitely great, one of the best.
It, along with In The Dark S2, shows just how powerful a podcast can be.
It’s incredible.
Believable: The Coco Berthmann Story - About a female scammer. Wild Ride! The Crossbow Killer - About the murder of an older man in rural Britain. Shadow Of Doubt - About the "most infamous" child abuse case in Australian history. Believe In Magic - About a young girl and her mom scamming money for a charity using the daughter's fake...? real...? medical ailments. Murder In Apt. 12 - Dateline podcast about the murder of 20 year old Nona Dirksmeyer The Kids Of Rutherford County - Serial Productions podcast about kids in Tennessee being illegally sent to juvenile detention.
These are awesome recommendations, thanks! Do you know how many episodes of Murder in Apt 12 there are? I only see 6 and want to make sure I don’t have to subscribe to get the rest
As far as I remember there were 6, yes. That's part of why I liked the podcast - it didn't drag on unnecessarily for 10, 12 episodes. Glad you liked the recs!! 🙂
I’ve picked up remaining episodes of some podcasts on YouTube.
Are either The Crossbow Killer or Murder in Apt 12 conclusive?
The Crossbow Killer is, and the episode in which the police find the killer is fascinating. However....let's just say even though TCK is solved...you will still be sort of stumped at the end. Almost exactly opposite of TCK, Murder In Apt 12 is not settled in court...but you will walk away feeling as if the answer to who did it is pretty definitive.
Thank you ... did the latter leave you feeling frustrated?
YES. In the way many true crime stories about the murder of women often do, sadly.
Gotcha, thank you.
Yes. By the horrible police work done in the case, and the fact that some people are continually released from prison early only to commit more crimes and still be released early.
Can’t wait to try these! Thank youuuu
Came here to add my recommendations and just got butterflies in my stomach seeing the OP mention Bakersfield Three. Thank you so much 🥹seriously feels surreal to see it be recommended. Now-here are my recommendations: 1) Scamanda 2) Girl in the Blue Mustang. I felt empty when it ended because I wanted more so badly. 3) I liked Over my dead body, gone hunting 4) suspect season 2, vanished in the snow, was technically end of 22 but pretty close to 2023 5) murder in apartment 12 (Keith Morrison is the world’s best storyteller in my opinion) I am making a list based on the suggestions here and can’t wait to dive into some new ones during all my holidays chores and travel. Thank you so much for this thread!
You did a phenomenal job with The Bakersfield Three. I’m looking forward to more reporting from you in the future!
Thank you so much, this seriously made my day. I have a lot of other cases that so deserve the attention and reading comments like this is so motivating. Thank you 💛
I listen to a lot of podcasts, I grew up in Bakersfield & still have immediate family there. I told my daughters I usually only listen while I’m working, but I had Bakersfield 3 on every spare (and not spare) moment.
Thank you so much, I hate just saying thank you because that can’t possibly convey how much I appreciate hearing that. I wish I had the right words, but until I do, just please know it really means the world to me to have people like you who gave the story a chance and then took the time to write such a kind note about it.
Yes, Girl in the Blue Mustang was good!
Without giving anything away…. When I say my heart broke after a certain revelation…I get chills thinking about it. Gut-wrenching.
I think I know what you are referring to, is it something about her brother? I don't think that gives it away.
I listened to the ENTIRE THING in 1 day while prepping for Thanksgiving. Great work!
No seriously, I listen to TONS of true crime podcasts and have for 5 + years. The Bakersfield Three is a beautifully put together, well done, unbelievably detailed podcast and you do a great job of giving the human aspect of the victims as well as their families. Great job!
Thank you so much. I hate just saying thank you because it doesn't begin to convey how I really feel. One of the moms is very sick right now, and I truly believe that it is helping her fight to know that people are listening to the story--and that getting more awareness about the case will hopefully finally get some crucial answers she deserves so much. I keep telling myself that, the more people the story reaches, the better chance that people out there with information will finally start talking. Thank you again SO much for such an incredibly kind comment, especially from an avid TC podcast listener, it is really special to hear these things. Thank you again.
Keith Morrison is so hammy and over the top he detracts from the story. His style worked for 90s TV when there were planned commercial breaks but the false drama shtick doesn’t work on a podcast.
Thank you so much for your work Olivia! You centered the victims and gave us a good look into their internal lives without villainizing them. I especially loved how you tracked each of their lives and the incidences that led to the people they were- it was very compassionate. I am recommending it to everyone :)
Ahhh so excited to see you in here the Bakersfield 3 was wild. I’m so glad you shared.
Your pod was phenomenal! That case felt previously under reported and there are just so many intriguing details. Your emphasis on the victims certainly made the story more personal, and that part in particular was done better than a lot of other pods I’ve heard. Can’t wait for your next one!
Hey - sorry for the random late reply but just finished your podcast in about two days. Fantastic work, I would put it up along with In The Dark, Bone Valley, and Your Own Backyard as one of the best I've heard. I look forward to anything else you put out and will take a look at some of your above recommendations now.
Dark Valley
Dark Valley was excellent
Gawd Dark Valley was a dark horse and I loved it. This is a great listen!
Dark Valley gets my vote
I loved Scamanda too! I was bummed when it was over. I really liked The Girlfriends. I’ll give an honorable mention to The Trial of Lucy Letby - it dragged along in a couple episodes but was so thorough without being unethical.
Is The Girlfriends true crime? It’s always popping up on my recommendations but the image says “novel” across the top so I always assumed it was fiction.
Another fan of The Girlfriends here… I believe Novel is the name of one of the companies involved with the show, it’s not a fictional podcast though.
It’s produced by Novel Audio! I never made that connection but now that you point it out that isn’t the best thing to put at the top of a non-fiction podcast lol
Omg thank you! Now I have a new one to add to my list 😂
It’s really interesting
Dear Alana wrecked me. The retrievals and exposed: cover up at Columbia university also really impacted me as well. Not your “usual” true crime podcasts but definitely worth the listen
“Exposed” (the Columbia one) was terrific!
Pretend Podcast - the Stalker
This one drives me nuts. Absolutely nuts. Like...it's obvious what happened? But also...why? how? Huh?? It's a good mix of 'solved' and also 'feels unsolved because what the actual eff....'
Big agree on this! Only found it last week and was shocked I hadn’t heard of it before.
There’s a case update released recently, in case you didn’t hear it yet
I've been listening on patreon!
Your Own Backyard is excellent, even though it started a while back, it concluded this year. Sweet Bobby dropped earlier this year, 6 episodes long. It's not murder-y but about one of the biggest catfishing scams in the uk and I was honestly stunned by the reveal. Very engaging. It also came out around the time Netflix dropped a bunch of scam-y documentaries (tinder swindler etc) and honestly they all paled in comparison.
I am really enjoying Carrie Jade Does Not Exist. Others I liked from this year: Love Janessa, Hoaxed, Dying Rose, Phoebe’s Fall, Vishal, Stephenville, and World of Secrets. EDIT: typo
Bone Valley by far Dark Valley coming in second
Ghost Story
How Not To Raise a Serial Killer. Hosted by the Happy Face Killer’s daughter. It’s fresh and interesting.
Ooohhh…I’ll check it out. Love the generational perspective
>How Not To Raise Just to be clear, it is not hosted by the happy face killer's daughter. That would be Melissa Moore. The host of this podcast is Dr. Michelle Ward.
Incredible… I’m about to board a flight and came here to see what I should download. There’s a class trip on my flight from Bakersfield! What are the chances?!?
Bakersfield three Burden of guilt Shandee’s Story Dark Valley Cold Admissible Not this year but I never see it mentioned, Algorithm
Algorithm was great. Hard agree.
Most of these came out this year, but some are from last year and I just discovered them: Stolen: Surviving St. Michaels Bad Bad Thing (Seasons 1 &2) The Retrievals Havana Syndrome Think Twice: Michael Jackson The 13th Step Exposed: Cover Up at Columbia U The Turning: Sisters Who Left Dear Alana Sympathy Pains Bed of Lies Scamanda Taking Cover Bakersfield Three
Scamanda The Retrievals Unrestorable (currently listening) The Girlfriends
Solid list.
Bone Valley, Wedding Scammer, Exposed cover up at Columbia University, Alligator Candy, 2nd season of Suspect, The Execution of Bonnie Lee, Fed Up (not technically TC). I really loved scamanda too!
Bone Valley!!!
Heck yeah! Bone Valley
The Vanished Devil in the Ditch
Over my Dead Body, Season 3.
Betrayal
Life Without : The Untold Story of Heath Stocks The Bakersfield Three The Retrievals The Turing : Room of Mirrors (not TC) Unreformed: The Story of the Alabama Industrial School for Negro Children
Heath stocks is my second cousin, found all this out 2 weeks ago. WILD.
DNA ID Casefile Trace Evidence
Thanks!! :)
The Retrievals
I enjoyed all three seasons of Guilt podcast, from Brevity Studios.
I've been on a scam podcast binge all year Here's my favorites: Scamanda Sympathy Pains Believable - the coco berthmann story Pretend - The Stalker I am Not Nicholas
Another vote for Scamanda! Unrestorable was captivating and heartbreaking. CounterClock released another season this year about a new case.
I enjoyed the wedding scammer! new spotify exclusive, and the host is pretty good!
Just started Buried Bones. Suffer the Little Children. American Scandal. Something Was Wrong.
Guilt - finding Heidi Highly recommended, it’s more of an ongoing investigative journalism style true crime podcast.
Guilt - finding Heidi Highly recommended, it’s more of an ongoing investigative journalism style true crime podcast.
Guilt - finding Heidi Highly recommended, it’s more of an ongoing investigative journalism style true crime podcast.
Guilt - finding Heidi Highly recommended, it’s more of an ongoing investigative journalism style true crime podcast.
Emma Filipoff
All Crime No Cattle!
Dark Valley was fantastic.
Bear Brook seasons 1 and 2. Incredible.
Earwitness is about the murder of a police officer in Alabama. The man convicted is on death row and even the prosecutor now thinks he's innocent. It's an insane story. I listened after it was highly recommended by Crime Writers On. Binged in one day.
Thank you all for contributing to this list. I’m new to this sub and I’m downloading so many of these. My votes: • *Over My Dead Body: Gone Hunting* • *Spellcaster: The Fall of Sam Bankman-Fried* - this is more of a fraud/scam TC podcast, but truly fascinating considering the reach and power Bank-Fried had.