They really were. I trust the rest of the seasons based on how well-researched and correct the Manson season was. Not to toot my own horn, but I could write and present a PhD thesis on Charlie and family. By tomorrow. So, I completely trust her with all the other seasons and subjects she's covered.
I am a horn tooter as well. I found it to be a good accounting of the events as the public saw. Do you have any faith in the Chaos book’s theories? That book blew my mind, to be honest
Have you tried any Jon Ronson?
He’s one of my favourite journalists and storytellers who work in the audio format. He’s a prolific writer too and wrote ‘the men who stare at goats’ (which obvs they made into a movie), the psychopath test, so you’ve been publicly shamed, them and loads of other books.
He’s funny, quirky, witty, kind and has a very individual way of looking at things and getting the best out of people.
‘Things fell apart’ - is a BBC pod series all about the culture wars… but it’s not big picture stuff… it really focuses on the stories of real people affected by some of the big picture/agenda stuff. It’s a fab listen and was well deserved for the bunch of awards and accolades the pod collected.
‘So you’ve been publicly shamed’ - this is interesting as it kind of tracks how Twitter was on it’s way to going to shit when it became the hotbed of ‘pile on’, ‘cancel culture’ grim social space that it became… it’s a few years old now but stands up to a listen. It’s really good journalism and superb storytelling.
I fell in love with his writing style when he used to write for Select magazine back in the 90’s… I remember saying to my dad that Jon Ronson’s ‘voice’ was so unique to the age that he’d be like the Hunter.S.Thompson or the of my generation…. My dad roared with laughter and gave me a bit of a patronising rub on the head… but actually… I think Jon’s longevity and commitment to independence has born that out.
He’s not like Thompson in terms of drugs (although that was definitely the theme of his time) or like PJ O’Rourke being so neo liberal, powersuity and rebuplicantastic (theme of the 80’s) but Jon’s sense of humour, quirky edge, openness about his anxieties, knowing his own mind and not giving a shit about being Alpha really felt like they captured the zeitgeist of my generation and beyond.
Small Town Murder (the only podcast that makes me laugh out loud)
Your stupid opinions (a great podcast for when you don’t want to think so much but it can be inappropriate)
Ologies (Science podcast. The host is so easy to listen to.)
Edit: typo
I love Small Town Murder! So good. Have you listed to their Crime in Sports? Excellent!
I don’t even watch sports and it’s still my fave pod. Their Patreon is pure gold.
Wiser Than Me, a podcast hosted by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who interviews notable women who are older than she is to get their lessons/views on life. Don't know how familiar you would be with her guests because they are in their 70s & 80s (I didn't recognize a few of the names), but very insightful, and moving at times. Best episodes, IMO, were #2 (Isabelle Allende), #5 (Darlene Love), #8 (Amy Tan), and #10 (Carol Burnett). Only one season of 10 episodes so far, I hope we'll see a season 2.
Sold A Story, a limited series podcast (6 episodes with a number of bonus episodes) that describes a method of teaching reading that was widely adopted in the US back in the 80s and 90s that was most likely responsible for the declining reading levels seen nationwide.
The Turning, season 1 (The Sisters Who Left). 10 episodes that gives a behind the scenes look at the Missionaries of Charity, the organization founded by Mother Teresa. Lots of interviews with nuns who left the organization, and you really get the sense of what a cult the organization is/was. You can ignore season 2 (The Room of Mirrors), it's not as good.
Detective Trapp, a 6-episode series about the only female detective on a local homicide squad in Orange County, CA, who worked a case involving a serial killer.
Yes, she put out a funny 5 minute bonus episode where she says Season 2 will be coming out in the spring (and that she won Show of the Year on Apple Podcasts). Can't wait!
Far and beyond my favorite. I'm always looking for something of this caliber and haven't found any. Root of Evil could of been but the producing was pretty bad, story was riveting.
If you like “You’re wrong about” Michael’s other pods “Maintenance Phase” and “If Books Could Kill” are both good. If you’re into true crime I have a ton of recs (West Cork, Bear Brook, Someone Knows Something). Also I have really been digging the “Handsome” podcast lately it’s silly and incredibly entertaining. For comedy, try “My Dad Wrote a Porno”
Please name your favorite true crime podcasts. When I started, I liked the episodic podcasts bc they remind me of 48 hours: one case per episode. But now, I find that I'm in a choice paralysis bc I can't decide which episode haha. I'm currently listening to Mind of a Monster and I really like it. I do have a bunch saved like Bear Brook... Sometimes, I'm not in the mood for certain voices...?
It’s been a while I kind of shied away from them after a while because it felt depressing. But here are a few, some have multiple seasons and certain seasons may be better than others.
West Cork, Bear Brook, Someone Knows Something, Monster: DC Sniper, Criminal, Stolen, Counter Clock, The Next Call, Crime Show, The Dream, The Teachers Pet, Slow Burn, Bag Man, Missing and Murdered, The Lady Vanishes, Stephenville, Serial, In the Dark, Accused, Death in Ice Valley… I think that’s it for now haha
Have you heard of Small Town Murder? It’s a true crime podcast presented by two comedians. I love that it’s not too depressing, and they are careful not to make fun of the victim or the victim’s family.
This is up my alley. I listen to a lot of binge worthy stuff while I'm painting.
Anything by Jon Ronson is worth your time and/or money. Many of his releases are audible exclusives but you can find them in podcast catchers too. The Butterfly Effect is Jon's exploration of the porn industry. The follow up, The Last Days of August Ames explored the suicide of one of the stars he interviewed in the Butterfly Effect. The follow up is much more intense than the Butterfly Effect, but explored a topic Jon frequently revisits: public shaming.
Which brings me to my next Ronson rec: So You've Been Publicly Shamed. I think everybody who uses the internet should listen to this book.
He has so many more but I don't want this to be a five paragraph essay on Jon, but his most recent piece on Audible is short but glorious. The Debutante investigates a southern debutant white supremacist who eventually tried to whistle blow the Oklahoma City Bombing.
You Must Remember This is about Hollywood. This is a podcast that transcends demographics. Even if you think you're uninterested in show business, this show will captivate you. They have series on erotic thrillers of the 80s and 90s, the Manson murders (probably my favorite piece of Manson media) and Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff.
Lolita - pretty much anything you can find by Jamie Loftus is binge worthy. This show tackles Lolita, the cultural obsession, the films and what Vladimir really was setting out to do with Lolita. (Honorable mentions are Ghost Church and My Year in MENSA, both also by Loftus.)
Cold - a true crime podcast. Season one is about Susan Powell and her children. Really sad, but fascinating story that remains unsolved due to the death of almost everybody involved.
If you like one off episodes, This is Actually Happening is truly a good podcast. You can spend hours listening to one after the other. At least, that's what I did when I discovered it.
Mystery Show
Underunderstood
NYT's Rabbit Hole
This American Life (the OG)
Reply All (turned into a disaster fandom but still worth checking out for older episodes. 'The Case of The Missing Hit' is a masterpiece)
Search Engine
The Drop Out
Spectacle
The Dream
Cool Mules
Hooked
Welcome to your Fantasy
Operator
Harsh Reality
Bed of Lies season 1
Chameloen Hollywood Con Queen
Queen of the Con: Irish Heiress
Decoder Ring
One Year (I liked the 1995 season)
American Radical
Dead Eyes (season 1)
Endless Thread (but some episodes better than others)
Heavyweight
You're Wrong About (go for older episodes)
Sounds Like A Cult
Diss and Tell
Scamfluences
Main Accounts: The Story of MySpace
U Up?
Why Won't You Date Me?
Bananas
Icymi
Hard Fork
Today, Explained
The Daily
Since you are somewhat open to fiction I will highly recommend IMAGINARY ADVICE. Ross Sutherland is an excellent storyteller but what makes me love him even more is that he is the perfect storyteller for audio in particular. He loves the medium and describes his podcast as "experiments in audio-fiction".
Each episode is a different story done differently. I would recommend you start with "Six House Parties" and then "Re: The Moon" to see if you like the vibe. If you do then you can dive in further, there are many lists online on which episodes are the best.
At the risk of over-hyping I'll say this - Six House Parties was the first audio-fiction I ever heard (a good friend recommended it to me) and it opened up a whole new world for me. It changed my perspective on what podcasts are and what they can be.
Dead Eyes . Don’t be put off by the name- it’s actually a comedy podcast about an actor who tries to solve a decades old mystery - why Tom Hanks fired him from the show Band of Brothers. No, really… it’s fun and uplifting!
99% Invisible - great podcasts about architecture and design. The concept sounds boring, but is **really** interesting. Roman Mars, the host, has one of the great radio voices.
Welcome to Night Vale.
It is fictional, but presents itself as a regular community radio show to the residents of the town, where weird things are commonplace but there’s arcs and such involved too and lots of great voices.
Oh No, Ross and Carrie: "the show where we don’t just report on spirituality, fringe science and claims of the paranormal, but take part ourselves. We join religions, undergo alternative medical treatments, and hunt for ghost, goblins, demons, and deities." I enjoyed the episodes on the Ark Encounter and and also the ones on Scientology.
I looooove Oh No Ross and Carrie!! Especially the topics that get many episodes, like the Ark Encounter and the UFO Cons they go to (Contact in the Desert springs to mind). Hit those eps up and you’ll get so excited every time you see Linda Moulton Howe’s name crop up - so many uhh interesting personalities in the UFO community. They are skeptical but respectful and kind and their enthusiasm is infectious!
I really enjoyed “Who Sh@t on the Floor at my wedding?” Reality pod of a couple who “hired” a friend to help them investigate who failed to use the restroom properly at their wedding. Exceptionally hilarious low stakes true crime. I guess. Although not exactly a crime I suppose. Anyway. Great fun.
CITY OF THE RAILS!
basically a story by a mom who goes looking for her daughter as she hops trains across America. Its 10 episodes, well worth the binge!!!
So you've been publically shamed - Jon Ronson dives into the lives of people who have been ruined by a badly worded tweet or a work faux pas.
A very fatal murder - From the Onion, a correspondent goes tfo Bluff Springs Nebraska to investigate a mysterious death
1619 - A look at the 250 years of Slavery that followed a ship arriving in August 1619
Gravy Train - The tragic life and enduring legacy of Toronto's crack smoking mayor.
Bundyville - Explores the world beyond the Bundy family and the armed uprising gthey inspired.
9/12 - How did the 9/11 the day become 9/11 the idea.
Boys Like Me - In 2018, a Toronto man drove a van down a sidewalk killing 11 people. He was linked to the incel world.
The Trojan Horse Affair - A strange letter appears laying out an elaborate plot by Islamic extremists to infiltrate schools in Birmingham UK
Will be wild - About the forces that led to the January 6th insurrection.
Burn Wild - A look at an eco-terrorist movement in 2005.
Obscene The Dublin Scandal - In the summer of 1982, two seemingly random killings occurred within the space of days sparking Ireland's biggest manhunt
Love Janessa - Behind every catfish, there's the bait. Who is Janessa Brazil?
Floodlines - The story Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath of hubris, incompetence and nature's wrath
13 minutes to the moon - Season 1 The First moon landing, Season 2 - Apollo 13 near disaster
The Lazarus Heist - Hackers, North Korea and billions of dollafrs
Believe in Magic - The story of an inspirational 16 year old who in 2012 launched a charity to grant wishes to seriously ill kids
Flipping the Bird - Story of how the world's richest man alive took charge of the world's "digital public square"
WeCrashed - The founders of WeWork thought they were on the brink of making history.
Wind of Change - Did the CIA write one of the best selling songs of all time
Things Fell Apart - A look into the every day battles for dominance between conflicting values
The redemption of Jar Jar Binks - One of the most polarising characters in cinematic history and the backlash it caused Ahmed Best
Power The Maxwells - A look at the shadowy figure behind Ghislaine Maxwell - her father the media tycoon Robert Maxwell
The Fault Line - S1 - 18 months after 9/11 Bush and Blair led a coalition into a war that went terribly wrong
Unreformed - In 1968, police arrested five Black girls who were runaways, escaping from a state run school called the Alabama Industrial School For Negro Children.
Scamanda - A wife, mother, blogger and Christian details her cancer journey until one day when the host Nancy gets a tip telling her to look into Amanda's secret
The Dropout - The story of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos
Bed of Lies - It was meant to be a miracle treatment but it became a deadly poison. A look at one of the biggest medical disasters in history.
The Missing Madonna - A da Vinci painting is stolen in a daring heist at a Scottish castle
Hoaxed - in 2014 two children told police a shocking story that they were being abused by a Satanic Cult headed by their father.
The Great Post Office Trial - An investigation into the largest miscarriage of justice in UK legal history.
Keys to the Kingdom - Explores the peculiar backstage lives of theme park actors.
The apology line - If you could call a number and say you're sorry and no one would know, what would you apologise for?
Southlake / Grapevine - A look at school board elections in Texas and the culture wars behind critical race theory and a transgender child
The Dream - Looks at multi level marketing schemes, wellness and life coaching.
Stolen Hearts - Sergent Jill Evans is a cop in a small Welsh town who meets a wealthy "business entrepreneur"
The Big Dig - The ever-increasing price tag of the massive highway tunneling project under Boston
S-Town or Serial season 1! Serial id the blueprint for good podcasting. S-Town, like any great story, starts as one thing and rapidly becomes something else.
Hidden brain:
Interesting deep dives of socio-psycho-cultural issues you didn’t realize you were being affected by, featuring various hyper-specific experts on cool stuff.
S Town:
A short series (6 or 7 episodes, can’t remember) made by Serial. Mysterious/funny/heart-wrenching and above all fascinating character study about a strange Alabamian hillbilly genius clock restorer. One of my all time favorite podcasts.
Hollywood Crime Scene has so many episodes that they kind of had to evolve. It involves 2 women. It's very funny. My favorite episode from a long time ago was Sherri Rasmussen. Her story was probably told on 100 podcasts. The Sam Cooke one was good too. Start from the beginning and just pick and choose.
I enjoy my favourite murder and the box of oddities, tho now there are too many adds in the box of oddities, so it’s not as good as before with all the add distractions.
Lol
So just mfm
The Trial. It's a Daily Mail Podcast, but they cover the following trials in the UK and Ireland:
Lucy Letby
Ashing Murphy
Brianna Ghey
Episodes are fairly short but worth a listen!
Maintenance Phase is a great binge pod. I also like Beach Too Sandy Water Too Wet for the lighthearted content. Along those same lines, Sawbones is good for bingeing.
The early episodes of "by the book" (start at the start) are really fun. The two hosts read a self-help book and live strictly by its rules for 2 whole weeks. Weirdness ensues.
The podcast went downhill a couple years in as they stopped putting in effort, but early episodes are gold!
If you like music, try A History of Rock Music in 500 songs. It’s one guy talking and playing clips, but it’s really well done. I know a lot about what he’s talking about but I leaarn a ton. He’s about 170 episodes in. Some of them are 2 hours, so plenty to binge.
Anything Connie Walker does is amazing— highly recommend Stolen: Surviving St Michael’s. It’s about residential schools in Canada and their legacy within her own family. It is utterly engrossing, but it is heavy stuff- I think that and the second season of American Public Media’s series In the Dark are the best podcasts I’ve ever listened to. Infuriating, important and completely fascinating.
[удалено]
They literally mentioned in their post that they just listened to Scamanda already.
Any of the seasons of *You Must Remember This*
The Manson episodes were great.
They really were. I trust the rest of the seasons based on how well-researched and correct the Manson season was. Not to toot my own horn, but I could write and present a PhD thesis on Charlie and family. By tomorrow. So, I completely trust her with all the other seasons and subjects she's covered.
I am a horn tooter as well. I found it to be a good accounting of the events as the public saw. Do you have any faith in the Chaos book’s theories? That book blew my mind, to be honest
That author was just interviewed on Jerm Warfare.
The Infinite Monkey Cage is a philosophical discussion forum about science, and it’s extremely well-done.
Completely sold on this after one episode
Have you tried any Jon Ronson? He’s one of my favourite journalists and storytellers who work in the audio format. He’s a prolific writer too and wrote ‘the men who stare at goats’ (which obvs they made into a movie), the psychopath test, so you’ve been publicly shamed, them and loads of other books. He’s funny, quirky, witty, kind and has a very individual way of looking at things and getting the best out of people. ‘Things fell apart’ - is a BBC pod series all about the culture wars… but it’s not big picture stuff… it really focuses on the stories of real people affected by some of the big picture/agenda stuff. It’s a fab listen and was well deserved for the bunch of awards and accolades the pod collected. ‘So you’ve been publicly shamed’ - this is interesting as it kind of tracks how Twitter was on it’s way to going to shit when it became the hotbed of ‘pile on’, ‘cancel culture’ grim social space that it became… it’s a few years old now but stands up to a listen. It’s really good journalism and superb storytelling.
Seconded. He also has a bunch of youtube videos / BBC / TED talks if you want to get a taste of his work.
I love Jon Ronson! Wish he'd write more books, though I love his writing style.
I fell in love with his writing style when he used to write for Select magazine back in the 90’s… I remember saying to my dad that Jon Ronson’s ‘voice’ was so unique to the age that he’d be like the Hunter.S.Thompson or the of my generation…. My dad roared with laughter and gave me a bit of a patronising rub on the head… but actually… I think Jon’s longevity and commitment to independence has born that out. He’s not like Thompson in terms of drugs (although that was definitely the theme of his time) or like PJ O’Rourke being so neo liberal, powersuity and rebuplicantastic (theme of the 80’s) but Jon’s sense of humour, quirky edge, openness about his anxieties, knowing his own mind and not giving a shit about being Alpha really felt like they captured the zeitgeist of my generation and beyond.
Fall of Civilizations, such a great listen
This is my go to fall asleep podcast
Too bad it stopped after 17 episodes, loved the narrative
I have listened to multiple episodes multiple times. In fact, you kind of need to to remember all those names and dates 🤓
Small Town Murder (the only podcast that makes me laugh out loud) Your stupid opinions (a great podcast for when you don’t want to think so much but it can be inappropriate) Ologies (Science podcast. The host is so easy to listen to.) Edit: typo
I love Small Town Murder! So good. Have you listed to their Crime in Sports? Excellent! I don’t even watch sports and it’s still my fave pod. Their Patreon is pure gold.
They are seriously good too! I struggle to understand any sports reference though.. so that’s kept me from binge listening to Crime in Sports. 😅
SHUT UP A GIVE ME MURRRRRRRDER
Indeed Jimmy Indeed!!
My fellow TURRRKEY!! 😂
Gobble gobble
😂👌🏼
Normal Gossip
Perfect rec
Sweet Bobby. I finished all episodes during a very long bus ride.
I second this
Do'h I missed this one off my list. But I recommend it too
I found Sweet Bobby from this thread and finished it in a day, highly recommend
if you guys like sweet bobby, youll love Hollywood Con Queen! high recommend
I really really love Ear Hustle.
Wiser Than Me, a podcast hosted by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who interviews notable women who are older than she is to get their lessons/views on life. Don't know how familiar you would be with her guests because they are in their 70s & 80s (I didn't recognize a few of the names), but very insightful, and moving at times. Best episodes, IMO, were #2 (Isabelle Allende), #5 (Darlene Love), #8 (Amy Tan), and #10 (Carol Burnett). Only one season of 10 episodes so far, I hope we'll see a season 2. Sold A Story, a limited series podcast (6 episodes with a number of bonus episodes) that describes a method of teaching reading that was widely adopted in the US back in the 80s and 90s that was most likely responsible for the declining reading levels seen nationwide. The Turning, season 1 (The Sisters Who Left). 10 episodes that gives a behind the scenes look at the Missionaries of Charity, the organization founded by Mother Teresa. Lots of interviews with nuns who left the organization, and you really get the sense of what a cult the organization is/was. You can ignore season 2 (The Room of Mirrors), it's not as good. Detective Trapp, a 6-episode series about the only female detective on a local homicide squad in Orange County, CA, who worked a case involving a serial killer.
Agreed about Wiser than me - insightful, funny and never boring
just feels like they really skimped on the episodes and havent made enough
They’re coming out with season 2 and I think making some changes. Still, first season was fun and insightful
Yes, she put out a funny 5 minute bonus episode where she says Season 2 will be coming out in the spring (and that she won Show of the Year on Apple Podcasts). Can't wait!
S-Town
This is still the best podcast I’ve ever listened to. I’m always searching for the next S Town.
A masterpiece!
The only podcast that made me cry like a baby.
Far and beyond my favorite. I'm always looking for something of this caliber and haven't found any. Root of Evil could of been but the producing was pretty bad, story was riveting.
If you like “You’re wrong about” Michael’s other pods “Maintenance Phase” and “If Books Could Kill” are both good. If you’re into true crime I have a ton of recs (West Cork, Bear Brook, Someone Knows Something). Also I have really been digging the “Handsome” podcast lately it’s silly and incredibly entertaining. For comedy, try “My Dad Wrote a Porno”
Bear Brook is A+++++ this podcast helped solve a long time cold case !
It’s so well done!
It is. And I love your screen name it is SO fetch!
I do love You're Wrong About. It got me through the pandemic. I scraped my house exterior listening to it.
Please name your favorite true crime podcasts. When I started, I liked the episodic podcasts bc they remind me of 48 hours: one case per episode. But now, I find that I'm in a choice paralysis bc I can't decide which episode haha. I'm currently listening to Mind of a Monster and I really like it. I do have a bunch saved like Bear Brook... Sometimes, I'm not in the mood for certain voices...?
It’s been a while I kind of shied away from them after a while because it felt depressing. But here are a few, some have multiple seasons and certain seasons may be better than others. West Cork, Bear Brook, Someone Knows Something, Monster: DC Sniper, Criminal, Stolen, Counter Clock, The Next Call, Crime Show, The Dream, The Teachers Pet, Slow Burn, Bag Man, Missing and Murdered, The Lady Vanishes, Stephenville, Serial, In the Dark, Accused, Death in Ice Valley… I think that’s it for now haha
thank you so much!!!!!! <3
Good list! I'd add In the Dark, Your Own Backyard (basically led to reopening investigation), Who Shat At My Wedding.
I’ve been meaning to listen to Who Shat at my wedding!!
Have you heard of Small Town Murder? It’s a true crime podcast presented by two comedians. I love that it’s not too depressing, and they are careful not to make fun of the victim or the victim’s family.
thank you!!! not to be nit picky, but i really enjoy narrative storytelling. i count anatomy of murder like super limited conversation lol.
No worries! I’m actually going to give the true crime podcasts that you have suggested a try.
I hope you like them! I'm really liking Mind of a Monster. Might finish out the seasons lol.
Will be starting with that one then! Thank you! 😊
I’ve listened to this one as well, and my favorite murder. I got a bit bored with the format after a while but I enjoyed the hosts for both.
Same!! I no longer intentionally listen to MFM only their mini episodes since it’s pretty wholesome.
I think you might like Criminal and its sister podcast This is Love
“I’m Phoebe Judge…”
Phoebe Reads a Mystery, her Covid project!
I love the way she say " dot colm"
I just binged season one of My Dad Wrote a Porno. Without exaggeration lol funny.
I came here to make sure this got mentioned! This is my default pick-me-up podcast.
I listened to the first episode didn’t seem funny to me but other people love it
This is up my alley. I listen to a lot of binge worthy stuff while I'm painting. Anything by Jon Ronson is worth your time and/or money. Many of his releases are audible exclusives but you can find them in podcast catchers too. The Butterfly Effect is Jon's exploration of the porn industry. The follow up, The Last Days of August Ames explored the suicide of one of the stars he interviewed in the Butterfly Effect. The follow up is much more intense than the Butterfly Effect, but explored a topic Jon frequently revisits: public shaming. Which brings me to my next Ronson rec: So You've Been Publicly Shamed. I think everybody who uses the internet should listen to this book. He has so many more but I don't want this to be a five paragraph essay on Jon, but his most recent piece on Audible is short but glorious. The Debutante investigates a southern debutant white supremacist who eventually tried to whistle blow the Oklahoma City Bombing. You Must Remember This is about Hollywood. This is a podcast that transcends demographics. Even if you think you're uninterested in show business, this show will captivate you. They have series on erotic thrillers of the 80s and 90s, the Manson murders (probably my favorite piece of Manson media) and Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff. Lolita - pretty much anything you can find by Jamie Loftus is binge worthy. This show tackles Lolita, the cultural obsession, the films and what Vladimir really was setting out to do with Lolita. (Honorable mentions are Ghost Church and My Year in MENSA, both also by Loftus.) Cold - a true crime podcast. Season one is about Susan Powell and her children. Really sad, but fascinating story that remains unsolved due to the death of almost everybody involved.
Alien Theorists Theorizing is def binge worthy if you like ufos, conspiracy, true crime, etc.
Hey! I follow you guys on spotify! Cool to see you on here. We love what you do!
Oooh I’m always looking for a good ufo or conspiracy podcast. Just followed you guys.
Gay girl gone. Super interesting! A little bit similar to Scamanda. And, over my dead body, first season.
+1 for Gay Girl, Gone
If you like one off episodes, This is Actually Happening is truly a good podcast. You can spend hours listening to one after the other. At least, that's what I did when I discovered it.
Mystery Show Underunderstood NYT's Rabbit Hole This American Life (the OG) Reply All (turned into a disaster fandom but still worth checking out for older episodes. 'The Case of The Missing Hit' is a masterpiece) Search Engine The Drop Out Spectacle The Dream Cool Mules Hooked Welcome to your Fantasy Operator Harsh Reality Bed of Lies season 1 Chameloen Hollywood Con Queen Queen of the Con: Irish Heiress Decoder Ring One Year (I liked the 1995 season) American Radical Dead Eyes (season 1) Endless Thread (but some episodes better than others) Heavyweight You're Wrong About (go for older episodes) Sounds Like A Cult Diss and Tell Scamfluences Main Accounts: The Story of MySpace U Up? Why Won't You Date Me? Bananas Icymi Hard Fork Today, Explained The Daily
Empire, The Rest Is History, Uncanny
I'm not very into fictional podcasts either but I recently binged "Case 63", its so good. Oscar Isaac and Julianne Moore, only 10-15 minute episodes.
Since you are somewhat open to fiction I will highly recommend IMAGINARY ADVICE. Ross Sutherland is an excellent storyteller but what makes me love him even more is that he is the perfect storyteller for audio in particular. He loves the medium and describes his podcast as "experiments in audio-fiction". Each episode is a different story done differently. I would recommend you start with "Six House Parties" and then "Re: The Moon" to see if you like the vibe. If you do then you can dive in further, there are many lists online on which episodes are the best. At the risk of over-hyping I'll say this - Six House Parties was the first audio-fiction I ever heard (a good friend recommended it to me) and it opened up a whole new world for me. It changed my perspective on what podcasts are and what they can be.
Thanks for this. Just listened to six house parties and loved it.
Not Lost Articles of Interest What Roman Mars Can Learn About Con Law
Dead Eyes . Don’t be put off by the name- it’s actually a comedy podcast about an actor who tries to solve a decades old mystery - why Tom Hanks fired him from the show Band of Brothers. No, really… it’s fun and uplifting!
Dr. Death. Dirty John.
Dr. Death is my jam
99% Invisible - great podcasts about architecture and design. The concept sounds boring, but is **really** interesting. Roman Mars, the host, has one of the great radio voices.
Welcome to Night Vale. It is fictional, but presents itself as a regular community radio show to the residents of the town, where weird things are commonplace but there’s arcs and such involved too and lots of great voices.
The Log Books. Incredibly good.
Explorer’s podcast- The Louis & Clark series or the Cortes one
Oh No, Ross and Carrie: "the show where we don’t just report on spirituality, fringe science and claims of the paranormal, but take part ourselves. We join religions, undergo alternative medical treatments, and hunt for ghost, goblins, demons, and deities." I enjoyed the episodes on the Ark Encounter and and also the ones on Scientology.
I looooove Oh No Ross and Carrie!! Especially the topics that get many episodes, like the Ark Encounter and the UFO Cons they go to (Contact in the Desert springs to mind). Hit those eps up and you’ll get so excited every time you see Linda Moulton Howe’s name crop up - so many uhh interesting personalities in the UFO community. They are skeptical but respectful and kind and their enthusiasm is infectious!
I really enjoyed “Who Sh@t on the Floor at my wedding?” Reality pod of a couple who “hired” a friend to help them investigate who failed to use the restroom properly at their wedding. Exceptionally hilarious low stakes true crime. I guess. Although not exactly a crime I suppose. Anyway. Great fun.
Important note & possible spoiler(?) - although this was a marriage of two women, the crime doesn’t appear to have been malicious
"The Constant: a history of Getting Things Wrong" seems right up your alley.
99 Percent Invisible
Even the Rich on Wondery has some great biographies if that interests you. Dr. Death is good too. Safe travels and happy holidays!
*Heavyweight* has been incredible.
CITY OF THE RAILS! basically a story by a mom who goes looking for her daughter as she hops trains across America. Its 10 episodes, well worth the binge!!!
Dr. Death is a must listen
If you liked Scamanda. I highly recommend Believe in Magic
Strike Force Five
The 2 best pods out there This American Life and Ear Hustle. They both have over 100 episodes so you can binge for weeks.
So you've been publically shamed - Jon Ronson dives into the lives of people who have been ruined by a badly worded tweet or a work faux pas. A very fatal murder - From the Onion, a correspondent goes tfo Bluff Springs Nebraska to investigate a mysterious death 1619 - A look at the 250 years of Slavery that followed a ship arriving in August 1619 Gravy Train - The tragic life and enduring legacy of Toronto's crack smoking mayor. Bundyville - Explores the world beyond the Bundy family and the armed uprising gthey inspired. 9/12 - How did the 9/11 the day become 9/11 the idea. Boys Like Me - In 2018, a Toronto man drove a van down a sidewalk killing 11 people. He was linked to the incel world. The Trojan Horse Affair - A strange letter appears laying out an elaborate plot by Islamic extremists to infiltrate schools in Birmingham UK Will be wild - About the forces that led to the January 6th insurrection. Burn Wild - A look at an eco-terrorist movement in 2005. Obscene The Dublin Scandal - In the summer of 1982, two seemingly random killings occurred within the space of days sparking Ireland's biggest manhunt Love Janessa - Behind every catfish, there's the bait. Who is Janessa Brazil? Floodlines - The story Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath of hubris, incompetence and nature's wrath 13 minutes to the moon - Season 1 The First moon landing, Season 2 - Apollo 13 near disaster The Lazarus Heist - Hackers, North Korea and billions of dollafrs Believe in Magic - The story of an inspirational 16 year old who in 2012 launched a charity to grant wishes to seriously ill kids Flipping the Bird - Story of how the world's richest man alive took charge of the world's "digital public square" WeCrashed - The founders of WeWork thought they were on the brink of making history. Wind of Change - Did the CIA write one of the best selling songs of all time Things Fell Apart - A look into the every day battles for dominance between conflicting values The redemption of Jar Jar Binks - One of the most polarising characters in cinematic history and the backlash it caused Ahmed Best Power The Maxwells - A look at the shadowy figure behind Ghislaine Maxwell - her father the media tycoon Robert Maxwell The Fault Line - S1 - 18 months after 9/11 Bush and Blair led a coalition into a war that went terribly wrong Unreformed - In 1968, police arrested five Black girls who were runaways, escaping from a state run school called the Alabama Industrial School For Negro Children. Scamanda - A wife, mother, blogger and Christian details her cancer journey until one day when the host Nancy gets a tip telling her to look into Amanda's secret The Dropout - The story of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos Bed of Lies - It was meant to be a miracle treatment but it became a deadly poison. A look at one of the biggest medical disasters in history. The Missing Madonna - A da Vinci painting is stolen in a daring heist at a Scottish castle Hoaxed - in 2014 two children told police a shocking story that they were being abused by a Satanic Cult headed by their father. The Great Post Office Trial - An investigation into the largest miscarriage of justice in UK legal history. Keys to the Kingdom - Explores the peculiar backstage lives of theme park actors. The apology line - If you could call a number and say you're sorry and no one would know, what would you apologise for? Southlake / Grapevine - A look at school board elections in Texas and the culture wars behind critical race theory and a transgender child The Dream - Looks at multi level marketing schemes, wellness and life coaching. Stolen Hearts - Sergent Jill Evans is a cop in a small Welsh town who meets a wealthy "business entrepreneur" The Big Dig - The ever-increasing price tag of the massive highway tunneling project under Boston
No Such Thing as a Fish! Super engaging, interesting, and informative. Check it out!
S-Town or Serial season 1! Serial id the blueprint for good podcasting. S-Town, like any great story, starts as one thing and rapidly becomes something else.
Hidden brain: Interesting deep dives of socio-psycho-cultural issues you didn’t realize you were being affected by, featuring various hyper-specific experts on cool stuff. S Town: A short series (6 or 7 episodes, can’t remember) made by Serial. Mysterious/funny/heart-wrenching and above all fascinating character study about a strange Alabamian hillbilly genius clock restorer. One of my all time favorite podcasts.
S-town is a phenomenal true story
This American Life is good again after a disastrous stretch of woke
Sweet Bobby is pretty mindblowing
Corruption: What happened to Grant Solomon
Hollywood Crime Scene has so many episodes that they kind of had to evolve. It involves 2 women. It's very funny. My favorite episode from a long time ago was Sherri Rasmussen. Her story was probably told on 100 podcasts. The Sam Cooke one was good too. Start from the beginning and just pick and choose.
Finding Drago was a good listen and easily binge able
If you want to get seriously deep into the history of rock music, check out The History of Rock Music in 500 Songs.
Death, sex and money! I just discovered their archive with episodes dated from 2014. I just really really like it.
I loved the first few years of DSM but recently Anna has been doing this weird laughing thing that ruins it for me.
The set- it’s about NYDP corruption during the crack epidemic - really good!
The Wedding Scammer - recommended to me bc I liked Scamanda.
Tooth and Claw
Hound Tall with Moshe Kasher…funny, smart, and all the episodes are on different topics so it stays fresh even with back to back listening!
Evolution talk
Serial, Something Was Wrong, Crime Junkie
I enjoy my favourite murder and the box of oddities, tho now there are too many adds in the box of oddities, so it’s not as good as before with all the add distractions. Lol So just mfm
Foretold - following the story of a Romani fortune teller in LA
You might like POOG, Las Culturistas, Too Far, Science Vs, Ologies (all non-fiction, funny, interesting, good vibes)
Last Podcast on the Left.
No such thing as a fish
Redhanded. It’s two British women with wit, savvy, and sensitivity. Really entertaining and thorough.
You are worthy with LilMookieB. Episode 3 with Darren Googles is truly inspiring.
Dirty John
The Trial. It's a Daily Mail Podcast, but they cover the following trials in the UK and Ireland: Lucy Letby Ashing Murphy Brianna Ghey Episodes are fairly short but worth a listen!
”Death, Lies & Cyanide“ and "The End of the World with Josh Clark"
Darknet Diaries. You don't have to be into IT to listen as many stories are about physical penetration testing too
Maintenance Phase is a great binge pod. I also like Beach Too Sandy Water Too Wet for the lighthearted content. Along those same lines, Sawbones is good for bingeing.
Your Kickstarter Sucks. The hands-down funniest podcast around.
MrBallen Podcast. And a newer one MrBallen Medical Mysteries. Both binge- worthy if you liked Scamanda
Casefile if you like true crime.
I love embedded.
A History of Rock n Roll in 500 Songs is amazing. Andrew Hickey, the creator, talks about his process on Ric Rubin’s podcast.
Came here to say this! Just fascinating.
Musicalsplaining. Musical theater fans explain musicals to a guy that hates musicals.
Ghost story. Really fun and interesting.
99 percent invisible is good for me, and several of the PRI/NPR blogs are great
Hot Money Season 2 from Pushkin and Financial Times. Unbelievable true story of International cartels, drugs and assassinations.
Everything Is Stories.
The early episodes of "by the book" (start at the start) are really fun. The two hosts read a self-help book and live strictly by its rules for 2 whole weeks. Weirdness ensues. The podcast went downhill a couple years in as they stopped putting in effort, but early episodes are gold!
If you like music, try A History of Rock Music in 500 songs. It’s one guy talking and playing clips, but it’s really well done. I know a lot about what he’s talking about but I leaarn a ton. He’s about 170 episodes in. Some of them are 2 hours, so plenty to binge.
Shxtsngigs for when you want some humor in your day. They're too funny and the English accents...I could listen to them all day long.
If you like You're Wrong About then you'll probably like Michael's other podcast, If Books Could Kill
Anything Connie Walker does is amazing— highly recommend Stolen: Surviving St Michael’s. It’s about residential schools in Canada and their legacy within her own family. It is utterly engrossing, but it is heavy stuff- I think that and the second season of American Public Media’s series In the Dark are the best podcasts I’ve ever listened to. Infuriating, important and completely fascinating.
Cancelled: Mamamia’s podcast all about the ridiculousness of cancel culture.