True Crime Podcasts

Perhaps no other genre has found its home on Podcasts quite like True Crime. There are hundreds of crime related podcasts available covering anything from gruesome murders to unexplained disappearances and wrongful convictions. Here’s our selection of some of the best.

That’s Messed Up, An SVU Podcast

On-going series, new episodes released on Tuesdays

A relative newcomer on the scene, That’s Messed Up takes a deep dive into episodes of Law and Order, Special Victims Unit. Comedians and amateur detectives Liza Treyger and Kara Klenk take the listener through the plot points of an episode and then detail the real crime or crimes on which the original story was based. The real crimes are often as, if not sometimes even more, horrific than the fictional ones. They finish with an interview of an actor from the programme, ranging from “big stars to the joggers who find the body”. Their biggest scoop to date was an interview with Dann Florek who played SVU’s original captain, Donald Cragen. It’s a great format, particularly for SVU fans. There’s a smattering of humour along with occasional rants about the failings of the criminal justice system when it comes to sexually based crimes. While we’d all like to believe rape victims had someone like Captain Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) on their side that isn’t always the case.

My Favorite Murder 

On-going series, new episodes released on Thursdays, mini-episodes released on Mondays.

My Favorite Murder has a huge following and in the last year averaged 35 million downloads a month. It’s a comedy show about true crime, hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. While there are plenty of jokes, genuine compassion is shown for the victims of the crimes and there’s a smattering of self-care tips. 

The Teacher’s Pet

17-episode series on the disappearance of an Australian mother of two Lynette Dawson in 1982

This is a riveting series which made news when it was first broadcast in 2018. From being a largely forgotten story of a young housewife going AWOL, The Teacher’s Pet catapulted Lynette’s case into headlines. The series initially finished in August 2018 but two extra episodes were recorded in December of that year, her husband Chris Dawson was arrested and charged with killing his wife. Dawson is now 72 and is due to face trial sometime after June this year. Even aside from Dawson’s arrest, The Teacher’s Pet is an eye opener. Dawson, a teacher, moved one of his 16-year-old students into the family home after Lynette supposedly disappeared. While the series was being broadcast, former students at the high-school made contact with the host Hedley Thomas with allegations of widespread sexual abuse of students by teachers in several public high schools in the area. Other people came forward alleging that Lynette had been a victim of domestic violence. They said nothing at the time because this was era when what went on behind closed doors was nobody else’s business. The local police, star struck by Dawson’s fame as a rugby league player, entirely bought Dawson’s story that the devoted mother of two abandoned her kids and, with no money of her own, started a new life elsewhere.

Mens Rea

On-going series on Irish and UK cases, new episodes every fortnight

It goes without saying that Ireland produces its fair share of gruesome murders. Sinead McHugh, host of the Mens Rea podcast, does an excellent job of putting the spotlight on homegrown killers. Recent episodes covered the murder of Patricia Murphy in 1996,  the murder of 7-months pregnant Philomena Gillane in 1994 and the disappearance of school boy Philp Cairns in 1986. Mens Rea is Latin for ‘guilty mind’ and in legal terms is the criminal intent required for murder. 

Out on Audible

My Name is Eva by Suzanne Goldring (Sphere)

Evelyn Taylor-Clark is a woman with secrets. She remembers everything, unlike others in her care home. She can never forget the promise she made to the love of her life, to discover the truth about the mission that led to his death, no matter what it cost her. Expect a tale of love, courage and being brave in the most dangerous of times.