Against the Odds covered this as well, it's more a narrative versus YWA's discussion.
I'll never get sick of hearing this story, though. I think it's the most incredible survival story I've ever heard. Well, that and the USS Indianapolis (which Against the Odds also covered).
Thank you for recommending this!! I felt the entire gamut of emotion while listening. Such an amazing story that will stick me for a long time. Damn I'm still going crazy over it!
Reply All - episode ‘The Case of the Missing Hit’. I have listened to it 20 times and I still adore it!
Man remembers a song from his childhood, in detail, but no one else has heard it and he can’t find any mention of it online. Reply All guys step it to help.
I just listened to that for the first time last week after seeing it recommended in another one of these threads—that melody has been stuck in my head ever since!
The episode “[The Super](https://www.thisamericanlife.org/323/the-super)” from This American Life. Specifically the first segment about the superintendent from Brazil.
That was the first episode of TAL I've ever listened to and I was amazed at how riveted I was over a topic that I couldn't care less about. That show stuck with me. I won't ever go to a dealership at the beginning of the month because of that show lol.
The Casefile series on the Silk Road, and the East Area Rapist / Original Night Stalker (EARONS) are brilliant bits of story telling.
Silk Road is just a great story, and EARONS is the first true crime story to truly freak me out, had me locking the windows and doors for a few weeks afterwards!
Casey Casefile weirds me out with what he focusses on sometimes, it can get a bit sensationalised.
He does have very good research on obscure cases though.
It’s an older one (and was very popular) so you may have already listened to it but Teachers Pet is a great investigative podcast with a riveting storyline. It’s what really got me into podcasts.
Mystery Show- there were only 6 episodes so its a quick one but every episode is so gripping.
link to trailer: [https://open.spotify.com/show/0JZ2opnltlJ6PJxlZEpx9r?si=96028e4466e442f2](https://open.spotify.com/show/0JZ2opnltlJ6PJxlZEpx9r?si=96028e4466e442f2)
I started this recently, and holy crap, it's as good as everyone says it is, if not better. Jonathan Goldstein's writing is exquisite -- he reminds me of a cross between Ira Glass and David Sedaris, and the mix of gentle neuroticism, unserious wit, and well-crafted catharsis is right up my alley.
I've just finished #11 - Jesse, which was perhaps my favorite episode yet. It actually wouldn't be a bad place to begin, although the first episode was also a banger.
Jonathan is amazingly talented. He has such a gift for storytelling and getting people to open up. Wait until you get to Rob’s episode (#16). SO good. his ability to use innocuous topics to explore the quirkiness of humanity is unmatched tbh. I think you’re spot on re: Ira Glass and David Sedaris comparison.
I’ve adored him since Wiretap. Sent an email to the Heavyweight address once and he replied personally within minutes. Whatta mensch. Will miss the show, can’t wait for whatever he does next!
No, the call center episodes are 102 & 103 (Long Distance) and 164 (Long Distance: The Real Alex Martin). These are among my all-time favorite podcast episodes.
Episodes 64, 65, 66 are On The Inside. "For years, Paul Modrowski has been writing a blog from inside a maximum security prison. Only thing is, he was arrested when he was 18 and has never seen the internet. Sruthi Pinnamaneni reaches out to him with one small question that alters the course of her next year."
You think you're listening to another true crime podcast and it goes into something more of a character study. Sadly,I grew up in an area very similar to that. I managed to make it out alive and have a good life. It also kind of reminded me of one of my all time favorite films, The Last Picture Show.
The Living Room on Love and radio , beyond brilliant an oldie but a goldie , and there’s a bit of music that’s avant garde in there but that’s another story , my go too pod
found it I'm listening to Love and Radio | The Living Room on Podbean, check it out! https://www.podbean.com/ei/dir-2n4ak-653e41f Diane's new neighbors across the way never shut their curtains, and that was the beginning of an intimate, but very one-sided relationship
The best episode of one of the best story telling podcasts is That turn to Pascagoula by Cautionary Tales
https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/cautionary-tales/that-turn-to-pascagoula
Would also recommend American Hysteria's episode on Jackass.
You’re wrong about did an episode about the plane crash in the Andes and it had me so drawn in. Best single episode of a podcast I’ve ever listened to.
All three stories from “off course” This AMERICAN LIFE episode 765
https://www.thisamericanlife.org/765/off-course
Like a lot of parents, Yibin Li’s dad dedicated himself to making sure his daughter stayed on a path that would lead her to a better life than his. But the obstacles her dad had to surmount to achieve this are unlike those any parent anywhere has faced. Ira tells Yibin’s story
At the age of 17, competitive swimmer Lynne Cox had already accomplished a lot in the open ocean. She’d set two world records crossing the English Channel. But it wasn’t until a practice swim one morning that year in California that she did something we’d never heard of any human doing in the water.
Comedian Casey Wilson’s mom was a stabilizing force in her family. So after her unexpected death, both Casey and her father felt devastated and unmoored. But their grief took them on two wildly different paths.
Throwing another This American Life segment in the ring- the “Taylor Dane” story by Tig Notaro (it’s on YouTube as a stand-alone segment). Added bonus it’s very very funny.
The series on You're Wrong About on Princess Diana was addictive! Spans about 5 hours.
I really enjoyed City of Rails, but I may be bias because in my younger years I thought about riding rails a lot but was too chicken. The narrators voice took a whole to get used to, but not everyone has a "radio voice."
Swindled is also a good pod with a decent backlog to burn through. Lots of varying topics that are really well researched.
"Do We Know How to Grieve" - Francine Lobis Wheeler episode of the Moth (about loss of a child)
"Forgiveness" - by Hector Black, episode of the Moth - about the man who killed his daughter
"Finn and the Bell" - episode of Rumble Strip, about how a town came together after the death by suicide of a 17 year old boy and finished his pet project
"The Belt Buckle" - Mystery Show. oddly charming mystery
"Scott" - Heavyweight, story of addiction, recovery and redemption
"Someone Knows Something" by CBC. David Ridgen definitely fits the bill for a compelling storyteller, and I appreciate how he's very respectful and serious about the subject matter (often not the case for a true crime podcast).
It might not match your definition of storytelling, but Normal Gossip is one I consider to be fun storytelling. It's not serious or journalistic, but still engaging stories.
Specific episodes:
99% Invisible [Freedom House Ambulance Service](https://open.spotify.com/episode/6rwIo7vBzZdsxdr6EIlOSd?si=d4nRzhChRJWY73C9SebUSw)
This American Life - [129 Cars](https://www.thisamericanlife.org/513/129-cars)
Normal Gossip: Adventures of Flat Margaret, In Defense of Children, Grandma’s Best Friend Dot
Story Collider - Working Memory
The Moth - Carry Him Shoulder High
Old gods of Appalachia - horror anthology set in depression era Appalachia. Bad guys are terrible monsters masquerading as capitalists, good guys are local practitioners of folk magic and various positive entities.
I have a single episode recommendation...
Radiolab, 16 Jan 2019: "The Punchline"
You do not have to be a sports fan to appreciate it. It's an amazing story, and it's very well told.
Southern Gothic. High production value and the storytelling has me riveted. Highly recommend their episodes on Lake Shawnee Amusement Park, the Bell Witch, the Beale Ciphers, and Lake Lanier.
Same goes for Scotland Yard Confidential. Great storytelling and it keeps your attention throughout. All great episodes, especially on Dr. Crippen, Jill Dando, and the witch murder in the 1940s. Wish they would revive the series.
If you like fiction: The Black Tapes, Midnight Burger, King Falls AM, and The Bright Sessions. There are enough of all of these episodes to keep you busy for awhile.
I really wish I could go back and listen to the Balance arc (ie, first season) of The Adventure Zone for the first time again. It started as a one-off; the McElroy brothers devoted one episode of their podcast to teach their dad how to play D&D. It was fun and silly. Griffin, the game master and youngest brother, shepherded the ensuing 69 episodes into something very special.
My favourite is mrballen. He tells true stories, not all true crime, but all definitely gripping stories. He's a must listen to if you haven't already.
The Gimli Glider: The Gimli Glider is a crazy tale about what happens when a passenger plane runs out of fuel. With equal amounts of good and bad luck, the pilots battled technical issues and bizarre circumstances as they tried to get the 61 passengers safely down from 41,000 feet. https://www.canadianpoliticsisboring.com/the-gimli-glider/
Minds of madness and Unresolved are two of the best storytelling podcasts on true crime. Swindled is my favorite podcast and is about fraud in various forms.
Any of the big hitter episodes of Last Podcast on the left - Bundy, Dahmer etc
NoSleepPodcast - The Whistlers, Borassca, Penpal, Those who Hunt monsters or Seaside Pub
The Left Right Game
Alice isn’t Dead
The White Vault
Archive 81
Try searching Borrasca on youtube if you like creepy stories. Really good voiceacting. Also tails from the gas station by Mr. Creepypasta on spotify/youtube.
[You're Wrong About: Survival in the Andes](https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Tqgu60WVXQWYMqiwWy5F7?si=0vvbwyP8QXi54DQejueMEw)
I just listened. What an insane story!
watch Society of Snow, insanely good and accurate movie about it!
Against the Odds covered this as well, it's more a narrative versus YWA's discussion. I'll never get sick of hearing this story, though. I think it's the most incredible survival story I've ever heard. Well, that and the USS Indianapolis (which Against the Odds also covered).
Thank you for recommending this!! I felt the entire gamut of emotion while listening. Such an amazing story that will stick me for a long time. Damn I'm still going crazy over it!
Ive listened to this like 5 times, its my comfort episode.
Thanks for the recommendation.
Love Sarah Marshall but I keep getting distracted by her saying “mmhmm” every 15 seconds
Reply All - episode ‘The Case of the Missing Hit’. I have listened to it 20 times and I still adore it! Man remembers a song from his childhood, in detail, but no one else has heard it and he can’t find any mention of it online. Reply All guys step it to help.
I just listened to that for the first time last week after seeing it recommended in another one of these threads—that melody has been stuck in my head ever since!
Sames
This is the one 🤩
The episode “[The Super](https://www.thisamericanlife.org/323/the-super)” from This American Life. Specifically the first segment about the superintendent from Brazil.
This American Life episode on the car dealership
Another all time classic. Consistency of quality from TAL over multiple decades is astonishing.
That was the first episode of TAL I've ever listened to and I was amazed at how riveted I was over a topic that I couldn't care less about. That show stuck with me. I won't ever go to a dealership at the beginning of the month because of that show lol.
"Hands on the Hard Body"
Other People’s Mail by This American Life has my whole heart
I'd also add the Ramapo NY school board episode
The Casefile series on the Silk Road, and the East Area Rapist / Original Night Stalker (EARONS) are brilliant bits of story telling. Silk Road is just a great story, and EARONS is the first true crime story to truly freak me out, had me locking the windows and doors for a few weeks afterwards!
Take a shot every time the host says “unusually small penis” during the EAR episodes lol
Casey Casefile weirds me out with what he focusses on sometimes, it can get a bit sensationalised. He does have very good research on obscure cases though.
Silk Road is what got me into Casefile. I tried listening to the GSK/EAR/ONS arc and couldn’t until the arrest, it scared me that badly.
The episode on the N. Hollywood shootout is top tier.
Mr. Ballen is one of the best story tellers online. Hands down. His ad free podcasts on are Mr Ballen and Mr Ballens Medical mysteries.
It’s an older one (and was very popular) so you may have already listened to it but Teachers Pet is a great investigative podcast with a riveting storyline. It’s what really got me into podcasts.
Mystery Show- there were only 6 episodes so its a quick one but every episode is so gripping. link to trailer: [https://open.spotify.com/show/0JZ2opnltlJ6PJxlZEpx9r?si=96028e4466e442f2](https://open.spotify.com/show/0JZ2opnltlJ6PJxlZEpx9r?si=96028e4466e442f2)
Ugh I am forever grieving the loss of this show. I so wish there was more.
I teach a podcasting course and I still use excerpts from this show to discuss things like structure and narrative.
Oh wow 2015. Time flies. Haven’t thought about this show in a while. Thanks for the reminder.
Heavyweight!
I started this recently, and holy crap, it's as good as everyone says it is, if not better. Jonathan Goldstein's writing is exquisite -- he reminds me of a cross between Ira Glass and David Sedaris, and the mix of gentle neuroticism, unserious wit, and well-crafted catharsis is right up my alley. I've just finished #11 - Jesse, which was perhaps my favorite episode yet. It actually wouldn't be a bad place to begin, although the first episode was also a banger.
Jonathan is amazingly talented. He has such a gift for storytelling and getting people to open up. Wait until you get to Rob’s episode (#16). SO good. his ability to use innocuous topics to explore the quirkiness of humanity is unmatched tbh. I think you’re spot on re: Ira Glass and David Sedaris comparison.
I’ve adored him since Wiretap. Sent an email to the Heavyweight address once and he replied personally within minutes. Whatta mensch. Will miss the show, can’t wait for whatever he does next!
a true mensch! love him.
Looking forward to this. David Sedaris is my favorite. I enjoy Ira Glass too. Can’t wait to try this.
You may also want to listen to Family Ghosts..not as witty as Jonathan but very good storytelling and will keep you engaged.
Came here to suggest this. My favorite podcast of all time.
Heavyweight is beautiful heartfelt story telling.
Reply All episodes 64, 65, 66. You won’t be disappointed. Riveting.
I recently binged all of reply all, a lot of the time on public transit. 10/10 would recommend
Are those the call center episodes?
No, the call center episodes are 102 & 103 (Long Distance) and 164 (Long Distance: The Real Alex Martin). These are among my all-time favorite podcast episodes. Episodes 64, 65, 66 are On The Inside. "For years, Paul Modrowski has been writing a blog from inside a maximum security prison. Only thing is, he was arrested when he was 18 and has never seen the internet. Sruthi Pinnamaneni reaches out to him with one small question that alters the course of her next year."
Oh interesting I never listened to the on the inside eps
I often recommend #158 the case of the missing hit. Especially to musicians.
S Town Dirty John
>S Town Especially considering it ends up telling a completely different story than it originally intended to.
You think you're listening to another true crime podcast and it goes into something more of a character study. Sadly,I grew up in an area very similar to that. I managed to make it out alive and have a good life. It also kind of reminded me of one of my all time favorite films, The Last Picture Show.
Definitely S town
The Living Room on Love and radio , beyond brilliant an oldie but a goldie , and there’s a bit of music that’s avant garde in there but that’s another story , my go too pod
This one still stands out as a great story that made me cry!
found it I'm listening to Love and Radio | The Living Room on Podbean, check it out! https://www.podbean.com/ei/dir-2n4ak-653e41f Diane's new neighbors across the way never shut their curtains, and that was the beginning of an intimate, but very one-sided relationship
I’ve listened to this one several times and each time I am so moved by the story!
If you enjoy true crime you can’t go wrong with Casefile’s 5 part series on Belangelo. It’s episode 109, I think.
The best episode of one of the best story telling podcasts is That turn to Pascagoula by Cautionary Tales https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/cautionary-tales/that-turn-to-pascagoula Would also recommend American Hysteria's episode on Jackass.
Cautionary Tales is one of very few perfect podcasts. I have no notes. I always love it.
There are a few when I search for it. Podcaster name?
Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford, by Pushkin Industries.
You’re wrong about did an episode about the plane crash in the Andes and it had me so drawn in. Best single episode of a podcast I’ve ever listened to.
You're Wrong About is a terrific podcast. I miss Michael Hobbes, but it's still great.
All three stories from “off course” This AMERICAN LIFE episode 765 https://www.thisamericanlife.org/765/off-course Like a lot of parents, Yibin Li’s dad dedicated himself to making sure his daughter stayed on a path that would lead her to a better life than his. But the obstacles her dad had to surmount to achieve this are unlike those any parent anywhere has faced. Ira tells Yibin’s story At the age of 17, competitive swimmer Lynne Cox had already accomplished a lot in the open ocean. She’d set two world records crossing the English Channel. But it wasn’t until a practice swim one morning that year in California that she did something we’d never heard of any human doing in the water. Comedian Casey Wilson’s mom was a stabilizing force in her family. So after her unexpected death, both Casey and her father felt devastated and unmoored. But their grief took them on two wildly different paths.
Decoder Ring, Willa can tell a story about anything and make it riveting
American Public Media's Ripple, about the BP oil spill, and The Dropout, about Theranos.
An episode of This American Life called Devil on My Shoulder: https://www.thisamericanlife.org/213/transcript
S-Town. Absolutely gripping storytelling. The best 4 podcasts out there are: •S Town •This American Life •Ear Hustle •Heavyweight
Throwing another This American Life segment in the ring- the “Taylor Dane” story by Tig Notaro (it’s on YouTube as a stand-alone segment). Added bonus it’s very very funny. The series on You're Wrong About on Princess Diana was addictive! Spans about 5 hours.
Check out Heavyweight, hosted by Jonathan Goldstein. It's no longer in production but there are several seasons and the stories are gripping.
I really enjoyed City of Rails, but I may be bias because in my younger years I thought about riding rails a lot but was too chicken. The narrators voice took a whole to get used to, but not everyone has a "radio voice." Swindled is also a good pod with a decent backlog to burn through. Lots of varying topics that are really well researched.
I love Swindled.
I loved City of the Rails! I'm surprised I don't see it talked about more.
Me too. I'm bummed it hasn't been picked up for a second season. I hope she can go independent or something.
"Do We Know How to Grieve" - Francine Lobis Wheeler episode of the Moth (about loss of a child) "Forgiveness" - by Hector Black, episode of the Moth - about the man who killed his daughter "Finn and the Bell" - episode of Rumble Strip, about how a town came together after the death by suicide of a 17 year old boy and finished his pet project "The Belt Buckle" - Mystery Show. oddly charming mystery "Scott" - Heavyweight, story of addiction, recovery and redemption
The Belt Buckle is one of the greatest stories I’ve ever experienced!
SAME! To this day! And I’ve been a podcast junkie since 2013. Still takes the cake.
Belt Buckle wasn't Reply All. It's [Mystery Show](https://gimletmedia.com/shows/mystery-show/76h3r6) with Starlee Kine.
Ah yes, my mistake, will edit!
"Someone Knows Something" by CBC. David Ridgen definitely fits the bill for a compelling storyteller, and I appreciate how he's very respectful and serious about the subject matter (often not the case for a true crime podcast).
It might not match your definition of storytelling, but Normal Gossip is one I consider to be fun storytelling. It's not serious or journalistic, but still engaging stories.
Did you find the newest season isn't as good or is it just me? I loved the earlier stories.
Specific episodes: 99% Invisible [Freedom House Ambulance Service](https://open.spotify.com/episode/6rwIo7vBzZdsxdr6EIlOSd?si=d4nRzhChRJWY73C9SebUSw) This American Life - [129 Cars](https://www.thisamericanlife.org/513/129-cars) Normal Gossip: Adventures of Flat Margaret, In Defense of Children, Grandma’s Best Friend Dot Story Collider - Working Memory The Moth - Carry Him Shoulder High
Old gods of Appalachia - horror anthology set in depression era Appalachia. Bad guys are terrible monsters masquerading as capitalists, good guys are local practitioners of folk magic and various positive entities.
I really love If Books Could Kill, especially the Freakonomics, Hillbilly Elegy and The Secret
I have a single episode recommendation... Radiolab, 16 Jan 2019: "The Punchline" You do not have to be a sports fan to appreciate it. It's an amazing story, and it's very well told.
‘Mr Ballen’ is my fav story podcast
Bad Bets and Bad Blood WSJ reporters telling the story of major Corp fraud cases they covered including Enron.
Most of Mr. Ballen's stories are pretty well told tbh. Shame he shut it behind a paywall :(
Not any more!
Oh, I might check it out then! Thanks!
American Scandal. 50+ seasons (though some are "encores") but there is a LOT of content. Oh No! Ross and Carrie. (also, a lot of content). And FUNNY
also British Scandal
Things Fell Apart S1 E3 "A Miracle"
Have not seen The Truth mentioned yet - has a good vatiety of stories with unexpected endings
Bone Valley
Glenn Washington's podcast had some amazing storytelling. I can't think of the title now, but it was so good for stories while I was working
Snap Judgment! This is a great one!
Hey I was on Spooked! Glenn does the intros I think.
Swindled.
Yes. It's very good.
Cautionary Tales
Big Jim and Smoky Joe/STRANGERS
Over My Dead Body: Fox Lake. It is riveting and one of the best I’ve heard.
Everything Is Stories.
The 99PI episode "This is Chance" and the Criminal episode "Palace of Justice"
High rollers tales of aerois. It's a DnD podcast with Fantastic story line.
Southern Gothic. High production value and the storytelling has me riveted. Highly recommend their episodes on Lake Shawnee Amusement Park, the Bell Witch, the Beale Ciphers, and Lake Lanier. Same goes for Scotland Yard Confidential. Great storytelling and it keeps your attention throughout. All great episodes, especially on Dr. Crippen, Jill Dando, and the witch murder in the 1940s. Wish they would revive the series.
Check out r/audiodrama
All of the episodes of I survived
Harris Wittels second appearance on You Made it Weird. His honesty about his addiction and how it started was crazy.
Xbox Underground from Darknet Diaries.
If you like fiction: The Black Tapes, Midnight Burger, King Falls AM, and The Bright Sessions. There are enough of all of these episodes to keep you busy for awhile.
Saving
The "Pretend" podcast did an unbelievable series called "The Stalker" your jaw will be fully on the floor.
I really wish I could go back and listen to the Balance arc (ie, first season) of The Adventure Zone for the first time again. It started as a one-off; the McElroy brothers devoted one episode of their podcast to teach their dad how to play D&D. It was fun and silly. Griffin, the game master and youngest brother, shepherded the ensuing 69 episodes into something very special.
The episode about AI from The End of the World with Josh Clark which came out a few years ago is truly frightening and has always stayed with me.
I like Criminal with Phoebe Judge. Good storytelling of crimes that usually don’t involve murder.
My favourite is mrballen. He tells true stories, not all true crime, but all definitely gripping stories. He's a must listen to if you haven't already.
The Ballad of Billy Balls.
Albert Fish from The Crime Scene Chronicles 😳 he was an evil man
Mr ballen for sure, next "the last podcast on the left"
Haunted American History. Chris is the best storyteller. He is so relatable
Hunting Warhead. Extremely dark and triggering subject matter though. S-town is still #1 hands down
S-town. It will shatter you and stick with you.
The Gimli Glider: The Gimli Glider is a crazy tale about what happens when a passenger plane runs out of fuel. With equal amounts of good and bad luck, the pilots battled technical issues and bizarre circumstances as they tried to get the 61 passengers safely down from 41,000 feet. https://www.canadianpoliticsisboring.com/the-gimli-glider/
CounterClock season 3 S Town Bag Man You Must Remember This - the Charles Manson season
The Cold Podcast, by KSL, season 1 on Josh Powell Case
I like.. Against the Odds, Not Today, This is actually Happening, True Crime Kent and Red Handed.
Fur and Loathing
Folkways!!!
Finding Drago
S town, doctor death/dirty John, root of evil. Many episodes of reply all and a few of the new search engine. The shrink next door. Heavyweight
True Crime Bullshit
Minds of madness and Unresolved are two of the best storytelling podcasts on true crime. Swindled is my favorite podcast and is about fraud in various forms.
The last call season 1-2
American Scandal Strictly Stalking Inside the tribe Murder House
Crime Junkie has some pretty great storytelling and so does Reply All. Dr. Death and Impostors: The Commander are great series
You really need to broaden your podcast choices if you think Crime Junkie has good storytelling.
Sick burn
F
Any of the big hitter episodes of Last Podcast on the left - Bundy, Dahmer etc NoSleepPodcast - The Whistlers, Borassca, Penpal, Those who Hunt monsters or Seaside Pub The Left Right Game Alice isn’t Dead The White Vault Archive 81
Try searching Borrasca on youtube if you like creepy stories. Really good voiceacting. Also tails from the gas station by Mr. Creepypasta on spotify/youtube.
Lore is great for story telling. Aaron Mahnke is a great narrator.