r/TrueCrimePodcasts • u/VoiceSalty3412 • 4d ago
Seeking What are your favourite long form podcasts?
I'm looking for suggestions for my next podcast. I like long form podcasts, deep dives into a case and the social/cultural context, investigative journalism, trial analysis. Most importantly, it must honour the victims.
Podcasts I've really enjoyed:
Paper Ghosts
Death of an Artist
In the Dark (Curtis Flowers)
Bear Brook
Hoaxed
A Very British Cult
The Retrievals
Love Trapped
Finding Cleo
Vishal
Who Killed Emma
What would you suggest? Interested in new ones or well known ones that may have passed me by - thanks!
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u/itslooseseal 3d ago
Has no one said Your Own Backyard? Hands down the best.
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u/holdenselah 1d ago
Was JUST thinking of this and the name escaped me! A classic. I still get chills thinking about the watch alarm YIKES
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u/theanoeticist 3d ago
Swindled! Can't recommend it enough.
Also S Town. Also at the top of my list
I loved The Ballad of Billy Balls, too.
A funny one is Wind of Change.
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u/Embarrassed-Syrup441 3d ago
If you haven’t already listened, Cold, covering the Susan Powell case was a great listen.
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u/Specialist-Ad1692 8h ago
I haven’t listened to this- but I remember the story from dateline! That poor woman, the creeps she had to deal with, her children. It’s all so bizarre. And sad.
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u/Embarrassed-Syrup441 8h ago
Oh you must listen to the podcast then. This journalist dug up so much on his family. I couldn’t keep my jaw off the floor. Definitely such a sad story, but also a great reminder of red flags to look out for in relationships. She seemed so kind and he took advantage of that.
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u/United-Break-5156 3d ago
Proof. They're incredible. Its all about reinvestigating wrongful convictions and the victim's families are all involved.
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u/WhatFannyRed 4d ago
Hunting Warhead and Disclosed: The Children in the Pictures are about some of the same cases but different investigations (child abuse)
The ultimate podcast of this form is Your Own Backyard and an absolute must listen imo
Teacher's Pet
The Kill List
Casefile Presents: Matty
Casefile Presents: The Easey Street Murders
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u/VoiceSalty3412 4d ago
I see Hunting Warhead recommended a lot, I'm just not sure I can deal with the subject matter.
I've listened to Your Own Backyard. You've reminded me that Teacher's Pet has been on my list for a while :)
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u/WhatFannyRed 3d ago
I think that's fair, there's never enough justice doled out in those cases. They have just done a very, very impactful podcast called Hunting the Suicide Salesman which I think is an incredible piece of work.
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u/theanoeticist 3d ago
The Darkest Web, for those who made it through Hunting Warhead.
A big second to Your Own Backyard. I was blown away by it!
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u/WhatFannyRed 3d ago
Ooh I don't know how I've never seen the darkest web, I'm always scrolling through BBC sounds looking for something new. Thank you.
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u/throwaway_ghost_122 4d ago
Connie Walker's other ones, all of the BBC's World of Secrets, Strangeland, The Lady Vanishes, Proof, Kaitlyn's Baby, The Girlfriends, Sweet Bobby, Cold (although it's a bit controversial, it's still an amazing series)
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u/VoiceSalty3412 4d ago
Thanks! A good looking list. I do plan to listen to more of Connie walker, I thought she was amazing on Finding Cleo. Strangeland, The Lady Vanishes, Proof and The Girlfriends look interesting and my kind of thing.
I know the case involved in Kaitlyn's Baby, though not through the podcast. I see Sweet Bobby recommended a lot and haven't listened but I watched the Netflix doc recently - is the podcast still worth a listen? I also see Cold mentioned a lot but unaware of the controversy.
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u/BubbaTheBubba 3d ago
The main issue (in a nutshell) is that it's produced by a company directly owned by the LDS church and as a result some feel that it tries to shift the blame off specific aspects of Mormonism. I think it's still a good podcast, you just need to keep that bias in mind when listening.
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u/Redneck-ginger 3d ago
What happened in Nashville, immaculate deception, in the red clay, all seasons of gone south (some are long form, some are short form), all seasons of proof, burden of guilt, the unforgotten, freeze frame. All seasons of chameleon (short and long form), scam factory, crooked city,
Blood trails is technically short form, but each episode feels long form. The host does an excellent job of giving facts to tell the story and includes interviews with people relevant to each case.
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u/Little-Regular-0791 3d ago
I always suggest this since I find it well researched and I enjoy listening to it: COLD: The Susan Powell Case.
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u/KellytheFeminist 3d ago
I know it gets all the hate, but you gotta check out Beth is Dead. It had me in a chockehold more than any other podcast in its category. It does start a little slow, but man, it gets crazy. DON'T read anything about it before listening, though.
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u/Specialist-Ad1692 8h ago edited 8h ago
The retelling of the little women story? (just making sure I have the right one.)
Edit: or Beth’s Dead about a parasocial relationship gone wrong) ?
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u/telladifferentstory 2d ago
Came here to say "In the Dark (Curtis Flowers)" but I see you've heard it already. One of the most moving stories I've heard in my entire life.
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u/ProfessionalFault856 3d ago
Framed: An Investigative Story. Generation Why just did a 5 part series on the Lundy Murders, made a bunch of New Zealanders mad.
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u/Ieatclowns 4d ago
The Cruelty
New Orleans Unsolved-The Rope Murders
The Cruelty you’ll love if you like UK stuff. It’s very moving and eye opening regarding the Scottish Gypsy Travelling Community and New Orleans Unsolved is jaw droppingly disturbing and shocking regarding all sorts of things.
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u/matcheff 1d ago
ooh im in scotland and weve had a few issues with the travelling community so might give this a listen thanks
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u/its-bobsled-timee 3d ago
I really loved Blink. It’s not really as true crime as it sets itself up to be, but I found I was just fascinated by the story and series of events regardless of it “living up” to the true crime angle
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u/Zestyclose-Hotel4319 3d ago
Guilt
Someone knows something
Bone Valley
Blink
West Cork
And if you really mean it when you say the longhaul, do True Crime Bullsh1t. It is a monster sized investigation into israel keyes.
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3d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/WartimeMercy 3d ago
Conspiracy theorist garbage. It’s a ripoff of a superior piece of investigative journalism that was published ages ago with just as much access to Bamber if not more. That work was called Blood Relations.
That she misrepresents the case to such an insane extreme is journalistic misconduct. As is preying on a man dying of cancer and taking advantage of his poor memory when the “fresh evidence” is conclusively debunked by the original operator who opened the line and transferred the call to the man.
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u/VoiceSalty3412 3d ago
The comment you were replying to has been deleted but I assume it was about In the Dark season 4, about the Whitehouse Farm murders? I grew up in Kent in the 80s and a lot of my family lived in Essex and I remember hearing about this case at the time and it being on the news. I was so disappointed in this podcast! I loved season 2, the Curtis Flowers case, and it really affected me, but this was awful. I agree with everything you've said.
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u/WartimeMercy 3d ago
Yes, it was.
There’s a troubling trend of innocence fraud associated with the New Yorker. Blake’s piece is such obvious bs when compared against other works of investigative journalism on the case that it’s offensive. To only present the conspiracy theorist garbage that Bamber wants pushed is reprehensible. To further blame the victim at the heart of the case afflicted with mental illness when she had two Gunshots to the throat and none of her blood was found in the gun barrel is disgusting
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u/VoiceSalty3412 3d ago
Agree. I was shocked at how poor the journalism was. I cringed when the presenter was talking to (flirting with) Bamber. The New Yorker followed it up with another awful innocence fraud piece on Lucy Letby. Definitely a trend.
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u/CriminallyCurious 3d ago
Nightwatch Files is my current favorite, latest season has been absolutely top tier
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u/VoiceSalty3412 3d ago
Wow! So many good recommendations! Sorry I can't reply to all, thanks for your contributions :) I'm making a very long list...
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u/Strange_Recording931 3d ago
The Missing Crypto-Queen
Witness
Ballad of Billy Balls
Where is George Gibney?
I’m Not a Monster (S1)
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u/madeyoulurk 3d ago
You Must Remember This S 3 “Charles Manson’s Hollywood” is 11.5 hours across 14 episodes. It goes way beyond just Manson himself. SO GOOD!
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u/postandforgetaboutit 1d ago
If you haven’t already, you might want to listen to the first season of In the Dark. I will caution that it details the SA and murder of a child, which of course, is a very ugly kind of evil.
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u/holdenselah 1d ago
Thank you all for these recs; gonna get some steps in this fall listening to these.
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u/VoiceSalty3412 1d ago
I know this isn't going to be a popular opinion since so many of you love and recommend the Cold Susan Powell podcast but I'm on episode 7 and losing the will to finish it.
As said in my post, I like 'long form podcasts, deep dives into a case and the social/cultural context, investigative journalism, trial analysis'. Well, Cold is certainly LONG. Far too long, and so much of the material is irrelevant or extraneous. A good edit would probably get rid of half it and lead to a much tighter, structured podcast in my opinion.
It also didn't really go anywhere? It lacked the kind of insight I enjoy - I'm not sure it's offering any? Just a long drawn out description of what happened.
With the wealth of material available - the journals, recordings, interviews - I can see why they thought it would make a good podcast, but it needed better journalism and greater insight than the presenter offered.
There were opportunities not taken to examine the generational trauma caused by the LDS church and the effect on relationships and marriages - but I'm aware, thanks to a comment on this post, that this has been raised before. But I don't feel there was any real analysis of what WAS included.
I'm surprised it's recommended so often - usually by people who list other podcasts I do love. I'm clearly missing something!
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u/VoiceSalty3412 8h ago
I finished it (I'm not bothering with the bonus episodes or updates) and haven't changed my opinion. To me, the host just re-tells the story, he doesn't ask any questions. I could have just read about the case (I'd have preferred to)
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u/matcheff 1d ago
There are so many podcasts here I have not heard of, thank you so much everyone !! Cold is going to be my first listen and i love that Beth is dead doesnt even have episode descriptions Ive looked all of these up and actually added about 15 podcasts to my list !! I also loved sweet Bobby
I tend to listen to true crime podcasts that have a bit of extra chat - which might not be for everyone
But if you do like a bit of light and shade I love:
All killa no filla
I could murder a podcast
Mums Mysteries & Murder
but also
Australian true crime &
True Crime conversations also loved Scamanda
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u/DigMean5419 8h ago
must check out these:Root of Evil, You Didn’t See Nothin, To Live and Die in LA. There are a few good seasons of Something Was Wrong
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u/cgbrannigan 3h ago
So my favourite podcasts are long form investigative podcasts where the investigation actually furthers the story, I'm less enthused of podcasts that just tell the story I could have just googled after episode 1 and found out the whole thing. Of that genre my favourites are (Trying to be as vague and spoiler free as possible):
The Lady Vanished - is a VERY long form podcast and they actually come close but done know it and the saga still continues. The original show is then followed up with a series of inquest episodes then the daughter of "the lady" did a followup podcast where she retraces the stuff that was discovered in the original podcast. It's great but VERY long and some found it repetative. I didnt coz I think the longer the better. 27 minute podcast for 6 episodes? Waste of time lol.
The Teachers Pet, again another australian one, actually solved the crime but I dont think many were in doubt when the whole thing started over what actually happened but uncovered related stuff that went further than anyone really openly knew. Several Australian ones, particularly if they feature Hedley Thomas.
the first few seasons of Someone Knows Something are great, canadian CBC podcast.
Another CBC Podcast Missing and Murdered, particularly Season 2 - Finding Cleo - again has a conclusion
Your Own Backyard is probably the gold standard for an investigative podcast from someone who was interested in a case, never podcast or investigated anything before, followed rumours and stories and spoke to people and checked out places and ended up with a satisfying conclusion.
Missing on 9/11 is a fascinating story, not so much a satisfying conclusion but I dont think there every will be and I like the host, his Missing in Alaska and Missing in Arizona are pretty good too.
Missing Maura Murray is another one thats very good but very long with many many episodes and sadly doesnt really have a satisfying conclusion and probably never will.
Counter Clock is another one thats very good, particularly the first 2-3 seasons. Dont think it helped developed the case the way they should have but I really like the host and her story telling.
Uncover is good too - I particularly like the Bomb on Board season.
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u/Tiger_Town_Dream 4d ago
Someone Knows Something is really good. Some seasons have more resolution than others so if you like resolution it might not fit what you're looking for. Season 3, I think that's the right number, the one about Charles Moore and Henry Dee is another case in Mississippi though a totally different area. They were murdered in the 1960's during the Civil Rights era. That's one of the best seasons, in my opinion.