“I didn’t want to hurt them. I only wanted to kill them.” ~ David Berkowitz, aka “Son of Sam”
Domiano, Justine. September 5, 2018. “Serial Killers in America: Quotes From the Darkest Criminal Minds. Magellan TV. https://www.magellantv.com/articles/serial-killers-in-america-quotes- from-the-darkest-criminal-minds. Accessed July 2, 2023.
Why we love True Crime podcasts
Ok, I am not the only one. The world has an obsession with true crime and most specifically in the last few years, true crime stories in the form of a podcast. Between Apple Podcasts & Spotify alone there are over a hundred true crime pods. One of the hottest TV shows in the last three years has been Only Murders in the Building which is a story of people listening to a true crime podcast who, after having residents murdered within their apartment building, decide they will start a true crime podcast! I’m not making this up. And for reals, you should check out that show it’s so fabulous! It stars Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez and the third season just started on August 9th on Hulu.
Some researchers have discovered that a big part of why we are so smitten with true crime pods, with women being the largest demographic of listeners, is because we think it helps us feel more prepared if we find ourselves in a dangerous situation. There’s a pretty great article you can check out from The Independent that digs into this a little more. Thinking about that, I realized that why I am perhaps just morbidly curious , it does make a lot of sense. When I listen to some of the stories, I’m also thinking about how I would react in that situation and ideas for fighting back, escape, you name it. Next time you listen to your fave true crime pod, notice if you see yourself doing the same. If not, think about what does interest you about true crime and maybe it will lead to a new career or even crazier, to making your own true crime podcast!
The OG of True Crime pods: Serial Season One
I’m going to take it way back to the first true crime pod that got me hooked and that most people today have heard of: Serial Season 1. This was released in 2014 and followed the case of Adnan Syed who was accused of killing his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee in 1999 when he was just 17 years old. In 2000, he was convicted of first-degree murder, robbery, kidnapping, and fall imprisonment, being sentenced to life in prison. This one had the world riveted and honestly, I think it is still the best true crime pod I’ve heard which is why I’m starting here.
Sarah Koenig did this first season and she did a phenomenal job. At the time of her work on the pod, she was a journalist for the Baltimore Sun. She presents the story in a chronological timeline where she paints the picture in detail of the relationship between Hae and Adnan and the events leading up to her death. She questions bits of evidence in the case that don’t make sense, drawing you in with her on the journey as she tries to piece together what happened back in 1999. She did such a great job that her podcast brought life back to Adnan Syed’s legal case. The rest of the story can easily be found online but I urge you to resist doing that and first listen to the entire podcast, then circle back to where the case is now. You will not be disappointed with this one. Below is a little tasty nugget from the pod.
“It’s Baltimore, 1999. Hae Min Lee, a popular high-school senior, disappears after school one day. Six weeks later detectives arrest her classmate and ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, for her murder. He says he’s innocent – though he can’t exactly remember what he was doing on that January afternoon. But someone can. A classmate at Woodlawn High School says she knows where Adnan was. The trouble is, she’s nowhere to be found.” (serialpodcast.org; 8/10/23)
You can listen directly through the Serial website link or wherever you get your pods such as through Apple Podcasts or Spotify, all of which are free.
The fresh take on cold cases: Crime Junkie
This next one, Crime Junkie, is hosted by two friends obsessed with true crime who decided to start a podcast together. Their unique niche is a focus is on bringing attention to stories of missing persons and unsolved cold cases. They partner with organizations like CrimeStoppers in the hopes that someone who hears an episode may come forward with information that could help solve some of these cases.
I listen to this pod when I’m in the mood for a good story that I know will have no resolution. If you do not get satisfaction from hearing a story that is unfinished or unsolved, this may not be your bag. However, I will say these two do a great job of telling the story and building intrigue. They play off each other well and you can tell they care about making a difference through their pod. As their byline says, “Can’t get enough of true crime? Congratulations! You’ve found your people!”
One of their more recent stories is that of the Mysterious Death of Adrienne Salinas. Here’s a morsel to get you started:
“When a promising young woman fails to show up for a Father’s Day celebration in 2013, her dad knows immediately that something is very wrong. And as investigators work to unravel the chaotic timeline of the night she went missing, they find no lack of viable persons of interest. But when her case goes ice cold, they’re forced to ask if they’ve been overlooking a monster in their midst.” (https://crimejunkiepodcast.com; accessed 8/10/23)
You can listen wherever you get your pods such as through Apple Podcasts or Spotify, all of which are free.
For my outdoor lovers: National Park After Dark
This last one, National Park After Dark, is really my top true crime pod for the past couple years. My sister introduced me to it when we were on a roadtrip and I’ve been hooked ever since. This one is also two friends who love true crime but also love the outdoors. They are both avid outdoor adventurers who camp, bike, hike, and backpack together all over the U.S. and abroad. All of their stories are of crimes that have occurred in National Parks. It turns out that National Parks are the perfect crime scenes because the evidence is difficult to preserve due to the elements. You will never look at a day hike the same again but I truly think it creates a better sense of awareness of surroundings and general safety. Their motto is, “Enjoy the view. But watch your back.”
One of my fave things about this one is actually the camaraderie between the two hosts. You can tell they have many years of friendship and adventure together and they are having a blast doing this pod. This joy is passed along to the listener, even when they have very dark stories to tell.
One of my personal favorite episodes has to do with a State park that hits close to home, a trail that my sisters and I have been going on for many summers in a row now. This one is episode 70 The Trailside Killer. Point Reyes National Seashore. It’s about a serial killer in the 70’s who committed several murders on the Sky Trail in this park and then some other murders at State parks in the neighboring area. We actually listen to this episode every time after we hike this trail, which yes is crazy, but also makes us appreciate the importance of safety when hiking and just out in nature in general.
They have lots of fun merch on their site and I hope you’ll check them out!
You can listen wherever you get your pods such as through Apple Podcasts or Spotify, all of which are free.
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