What are the best true crime podcasts on Spotify?

Who can resist the draw of a riveting narration spiked with real instances of human malfeasance? For you, our fellow pop-culture connoisseurs, who appreciate the blend of suspense and crime in your everyday audio indulgence, we’ve dared to dip into the darker corners of Spotify’s offerings to curate a list of the juiciest true crime podcasts. Leveraging the collective wisdom of the internet (reviews, ratings, and raw obsession), we’ve sifted the wheat from the chaff to present you with the crème de la crème of these spine-chilling stories. Get ready for a goosebump-inducing journey.

Chilling tales for eager ears

The world of true crime podcasts is intensifying and Spotify is brimming with riveting examples. Thrilling, queasy, eerily delightful, they serve up a smorgasbord for all crime enthusiasts. Consuming these can be, dare we say, habitual, like reruns of Peaky Blinders on a rainy Sunday.

Serial, an investigative journalism podcast which first aired in 2014, remains a chart-topper, echoing its television counterparts in popularity akin to The Crown reigning supreme on Netflix. Serial takes its listeners through a tantalizing, week-by-week investigation that has captivated millions and confirmed the staying power of this fascinating genre.

No list is complete without mention of Crime Junkie. A bit of a renegade, eschewing the traditional storytelling form for a conversational approach. Not dissimilar to watching an episode of reality TV with a friend, it takes an unfiltered dive into the eerie and inexplicable corners of criminal history. Addictive is an understatement, darling.

Diving into the darkness

As William Shakespeare once wrote, Murder, though it hath no tongue, will speak with most miraculous organ. And these true crime podcasts are certainly doing the talking. My Favorite Murder has, in its quirky, often irreverent way, taken us down many an eerie alley with hosts Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Their chatty, girlfriend-to-girlfriend style adds an unexpected flavor to the gruesome tales they narrate, making it one of the most popular picks on Spotify.

Not to be outdone is Sword and Scale, a podcast that ventures deep into the murky underbelly of society, unearthing stories about the worst that humans can do. This podcast doesn’t hold back, and the chill factor is off the charts. Impeccably researched and professionally produced, it’s designed to keep you on the edge of your seat, hitting all the right buttons for fans of gritty, real-life horror.

Lastly, we can’t overlook Criminal, a finely woven tapestry of riveting crime stories that span the globe. Hosted by Phoebe Judge, this podcast manages to be both factual and heart-rending, showing human fallibility in all its tragedies and triumphs. A veritable smorgasbord of true crime goodness, Criminal offers an evocative blend of mystery, history, and psychology, making it a richly rewarding aural experience.

Deliciously dark listening treats

Third on our must-listen list, My Favorite Murder stand as the British Baking Show of true crime podcasts. Carefully blending comedy and crime, hosts Georgia Hardstark and Karen Kilgariff bake each tale into a well-risen exploration of society’s darkest corners, with an extra dollop of affability and deadpan wit to boot.

Fancy a bit of CSI peppered with some academia? Look no further than Criminal. This podcast isn’t just a revisit of grisly murders but fabricates narratives around people who’ve done wrong, been wronged, or stumbled on the wrong side of the law.

Finally, we propose you lend your ears to Sword and Scale. Unlike the bard’s Macbeth, this one spares no gruesome detail, plunging boldly into the chilling abyss of humanity’s propensity for evil. It’s a hard-hitting uncensored review of how dark human nature can truly get, catering to the listener’s morbid curiosity.

Diving deep into criminal minds

Swimming in this sea of chilling true crime podcasts, one can’t simply turn a blind eye to Serial. Lauded as the very godfather of the genre, Serial has brought a sense of ‘Downton Abbey’ style grandeur and gravitas to true crime storytelling. Each season unfurls a complex narrative, carefully constructed as an ITV drama series, inviting listeners to probe deeply into the cases covered.

Fans of Breaking Bad will appreciate Criminal, which cracks the nutshell of crime through a distinctive blend of psychology and storytelling. Think of it as a mad scientist experiment: marrying the true crime genre with a touch of literary flair. The result is a bomb of moral dilemmas and thought-provoking queries, propelled by Phoebe Judge’s mesmerising narration.

Then there’s My Favorite Murder, an unmissable gem sparkling in the spotlight of Spotify’s true crime section. Often labeled as the ‘Gogglebox’ of true crime, this podcast is driven by the witty banter between hosts Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Delving into grizzly tales with tongue firmly in cheek, they’re your pop-culture-savvy pals, chaperoning you through the macabre underbelly of society.

Finale: Audiophile-approved horrors

We’ve taken you through the best Spotify has to offer in the ever-green true crime podcasts category. Whether you crave a psychological deep-dive a la Criminal, or prefer the kitchen-chat reality of My Favorite Murder, you now have a ticket to some of Spotify’s unique audio adventures. Whatever your palate, these podcasts are bound to satiate your true-crime hunger, and bring a dash of The Handmaid’s Tale macabre realism to your everyday. Go on, dive in: after all, who doesn’t love a story so bone-chilling it might even daunt Dickens?