Thanks to the two hours I spend each day on public transit, I listen to a lot of podcasts. While I dabble in a bit of everything, I particularly enjoy true crime or investigative podcasts that are scripted, that is, that aren’t conversational or improvisational in nature. Listening to two people babble and joke around in a sound booth just isn’t my cup of tea, but thoroughly researched, well-produced podcasts with fascinating stories make my heart skip a beat.
Here are a handful of podcasts that I’ve been enjoying recently.
Criminal is a true crime podcast unlike any other. It “understands crime as something sociological, historical, even anthropological – that crime is a function of people, time and place.” Past episodes include The Job, which tells the story of the prison superintendent who was tasked with writing a new manual for lethal injections in the state of Oregon, and Masterpiece, which revolves around the poodle craze of the 1950s, and the dog-napping that had 13 states on the lookout for a very special pooch.
Coming at you from San Quentin State Prison, Ear Hustle “brings you the stories of life inside prison, shared and produced by those living it”. Hosts Earlonne Woods and Nigel Poor tackle tough topics with honesty, compassion and even humour, and episodes are filled with fascinating guests and incredible stories. Being relatively unfamiliar with the American justice system, Ear Hustle continues to blow my mind and open my eyes. Season three starts up again in September, and I cannot wait.
Season two of the investigative podcast In the Dark follows the case of Curtis Flowers, a man who has been tried and convicted six times for the same crime, only to have his convictions overturned again and again and again. It’s the story of a black man in the south who has been fighting for his freedom for over two decades, and of a white prosecutor who has been fighting for just as long to have him executed. Mr. Flowers’ case is shocking, and at times almost unbelievable, and the podcast is a powerful example of the power and necessity of independent investigative journalism.
Let’s get this out of the way – I don’t like soccer. Frankly, I think it’s a snoozefest. So you wouldn’t necessarily think that a podcast about the World Cup soccer tournament would hold all that much appeal. But this isn’t just any soccer podcast. We Came to Win highlights some of the strangest, most interesting and most inspiring stories in the history of the beautiful game, and it’s addictive listening. Whether you’re a hardcore footie fan or couldn’t care less about the sport, you need to give this one a listen.
“Growing up, Jonathan’s family was a little different. They followed a controversial spiritual leader named Franklin Jones. To Jonathan’s parents, Franklin Jones was a god, but to people outside the group, Jones was a cult leader. Now, Jonathan is going back, trying to find out what happened — and whether the group really did become a cult.” A fascinating look at the ongoing search for meaning and enlightenment that many of us experience, and the unconventional family that found their meaning in the most unlikely of gurus.
In 1997, 39 members of the Heaven’s Gate cult took their own lives in a mass suicide. Heaven’s Gate wants to understand how that could have happened, and what could possibly have inspired so many people to subscribe to the cult’s peculiar blend of science fiction and mysticism. This 10 episode limited series is gripping, entertaining, thought-provoking and educational, with a well-spoken, engaging host – everything I look for in a podcast.
In case you think everything I listen to is dark and series, I present Everything is Alive, in which each episode takes the form of an unscripted interview between a human host and an inanimate object. It’s a newer show with only a few episodes available, but previous “guests” have included a can of soda and a streetlamp. At times moving and hilarious, Everything is Alive will definitely get you looking at the objects around you in a different light.
Are there any other great scripted podcasts you think I should check out? I burn through episodes at a staggering rate, and I’d love any recommendations you might have!
Thanks so much for reading!
Criminal sounds just like my kind of podcast but I have to admit that Everything is Alive is the one that caught my eyes (or ears) the most from your list! I HAVE TO LISTEN TO IT NOW!
They just released a new episode! 😀
I found Bundyville fascinating. I’m definitely adding some of these to my listening list.