"So I was listening to a podcast..."

It’s 1995 when Carole Fisher meets Bob Bierenbaum - a plastic surgeon who flies planes and speaks several languages. He’s perfect on paper but he’s quick to anger and he never talks about his ex-wife. Who, it turns out, is missing and presumed dead.

In this super interesting series, Carole and some of Bob's other ex-girlfriends uncover the truth of Gail Katz’s death and the systems that failed her.

Kim Barker, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter for The New York Times, revisits an unsolved murder that took place while she was in high school in Laramie, Wyoming, nearly 40 years ago. She confronts the conflicting stories people have told themselves about the crime because of an unexpected development: the arrest of a former Laramie police officer accused in the murder.

This one was a weird one one, but quite the tale. It all starts when a letter appeared on a city councillor’s desk in Birmingham, England, laying out an elaborate plot by Islamic extremists to infiltrate the city’s schools. The plot has a code name: Operation Trojan Horse. The story soon kicks off a national panic. By the time it all dies down, the government has launched multiple investigations, beefed up the country’s counterterrorism policy, revamped schools and banned people from education for the rest of their lives. However, no one has ever bothered to answer a basic question: Who wrote the letter? And why? 

Dawn and Nick Hacheney were the perfect couple: spiritual, loving, and devoted to the church where Nick was a pastor. When Dawn was killed in a house fire the day after Christmas, the pastor and his flock were devastated. However, her death was hardly what it seemed and the entire truth wasn't anything I could have predicted.

Here is a fascinating overlap between psychology and true crime. In September 2014, 3-year-old Sarah and 2-year-old Jacob were seen for the last time in the care of their mother, Catherine Hoggle. Catherine was arrested and charged with the children’s murder. However, she was declared not competent to stand trial and has been committed to a psychiatric facility until her competency can be restored. This podcast raises issues about mental health and the justice system and the unintended consequences of well-intentioned laws. 

Mommy Doomsday is a story of how religious extremism can drive people to do unspeakable things. It is the story of Lori Vallow, her fifth husband Chad Daybell,  and a chain of strange and deadly events that began when they met. It is also the story of their victims - Daybell's ex-wife and Vallow's two younger children. 

Smoke Screen is a podcast about swindlers, con artists, cult leaders, corrupt politicians. People with complex motives and morals. Each season of Smoke Screen focuses on a different con, all of which cause grievous harm to their victims.

You have Father Ryan, a fake priest. Rama, a cult leader with a taste for fine things. A puppy mill owner with unethical business practices.  The man who sold bleach as a cure for COVID-19.

How much do you know about the person you love? Sweet Bobby is the investigative series in search of the world's most sophisticated catfisher.

Nona Dirksmeyer was a young beauty queen. Smart and talented, her future was bright. But just days before her 20th birthday, Nona was murdered in her apartment. Police quickly decide their primary suspect is her boyfriend, Kevin. After all, his bloody palm print is at the crime scene. This is the story of three trials, two suspects, and one small town where things are not always what they seem. 

This is one of my absolute new favorites - having to wait for new episodes is the worst! 

Amanda is a charming young woman who lives life to the fullest. But Amanda is dying, with a secret she doesn’t want anyone to know. She starts a blog detailing her cancer journey, and becomes an inspiration. Until one day an investigative journalist gets an anonymous tip telling her to look at Amanda’s blog. This unbelievable and bizarre, but all-too-real tale, story of a secret that ripped a family apart and left a community in shock is a must listen!

Something Was Wrong is an Iris Award-winning true-crime docuseries about the discovery, trauma, and recovery from shocking life events and abusive relationships.

There are numeous seasons that give so many different persepctives on each story - I highly suggest starting from the beginning and hold on for the ride.

In 1996, Sue Knight was found dead in her Athens, TX, home. Her will named an acquaintance as the executor of her estate, but after an alleged phone call from the CIA and a warning from the local sheriff, the executor stopped asking questions. Who was Sue, really? Why did this English expat settle in small-town Texas? And could she still be alive?

Season 1 - Three boys kick over a mysterious barrel in the woods. A small town cop fishes for answers. Evidence is buried, and the case goes cold.

Season 2 - Jason Carroll is serving life in prison for a murder he says he didn’t commit.  The only evidence against him? His own taped confession. 

News of the mysterious deaths of billionaire Canadian pharma giant Barry Sherman and his philanthropist wife Honey in December 2017 reverberated around the world. Five years later, with no arrests and little news from the police, their deaths remain shrouded in mystery and conspiracy theories, with too many lingering questions. Not just who killed them, but what kind of life do you have to live that when you’re found dead, there are multiple theories, including some involving your own family? 

A major investigation by The Age newsroom in Melbourne, Australia, into the death of Phoebe Handsjuk, who was found at the bottom of a garbage chute in a luxury apartment building.

Season 1 - In the fall of 1888, five women were brutally murdered in the slums of London. But everything you think you know about Jack the Ripper and those murdered women is wrong. Hallie reconstructs the lives of the five victims - revealing the appalling treatment they faced as women in the 1880s, and completely overturning the accepted Ripper story.

Season 2 - The streets of wartime London are pitch black and the darkness offers cover to a murderer every bit as terrible as Jack the Ripper. During one awful week in February 1942 he viciously attacks women night after night. But the victims of the so-called Blackout Ripper are now all but forgotten.  

They were the very picture of a perfect couple in the land of Spanish moss and sweet magnolias. But when a hit man targets one of them, a story of betrayal and murderous intent unfolds.

In 1982, the nation was living in fear. One by one people in the Chicago area were dying. No one knew why — or who would be next. Law enforcement mobilized to answer the what, who and why. The what was Tylenol, laced with cyanide, placed randomly on store shelves to kill unsuspecting victims. But the who and the why? That would elude investigators for decades. If you think you know the story of the Tylenol Murders, think again.

It was a January afternoon in 1981 when a man’s German Shepherd came upon a grisly discovery in the woods outside of Houston: the badly decomposed remains of a young man, beaten to death, and a woman, who was strangled. For 40 years, the victims were nameless – until late 2021, when a team of genetic genealogists identified the pair as 21-year-old Harold Dean Clouse and 17-year-old Tina Gail Clouse, a married couple who had moved from Florida to Texas with their infant daughter. But the discovery of the identities only deepened the mystery: who killed the couple and why? And where is their daughter, Holly, who would be 42 years old if alive today?  

Truth is stranger than fiction - two days after Christmas, 2011, Russ Faria came home from game night to find his wife, Betsy, dead. He was soon charged and convicted of her murder. But Russ Faria insisted he did not kill his wife. Betsy’s brutal murder set off a chain of events that would leave one man dead, another man implicated, and expose a diabolical scheme. 

Suspect Season 2 chronicles the disappearance of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews. For three and a half decades, her disappearance was a mystery. The residents of her Colorado hometown had scoured every inch of prairie. Jonelle’s smiling face was printed on milk cartons nationwide. Then, in 2019, Jonelle’s remains were unearthed near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. With the discovery came troubling new questions: a man obsessed with the case also be her abductor and murderer? Had the truth been hiding in plain sight the entire time?

For years the Buffalo Diocese has been covering up abuse, hiding money, exploiting children and adult men alike - This podcast investigates, boots on the ground in Buffalo, and unravels the cover up of the mysterious death of Father Joe Moreno. Driven by Father Joe’s twin sister’s unwavering determination to get justice for her brother, an unlikely friendship with an outcast Priest and the autopsy tech who alongside the famous Dr. Cyril Wecht, exhume the body, perform a second autopsy and find disturbing evidence that should prove this could not have been a suicide

When we face challenges in life, we seek answers from people we believe can help us. When tragedy strikes an exclusive retreat with a self-help superstar, many people are left to wonder: how far is too far? James Arthur Ray was an Oprah-endorsed self-help teacher who achieved fame, fortune, and influence. But friends and family members of his followers questioned his unorthodox methods, and tried to stop him. 

Sergeant Jill Evans is a small town cop in Wales with an impressive record in her job, and a less than impressive record in her love life. After three engagements, two divorces and one affair, she’s beginning to worry that love is only true in fairy tales. That is until she meets: Dean. He’s a wealthy beauty entrepreneur with his own range of toiletries. This is a love story like no other. It’s all going so well for Jill and Dean, until Halloween night, when Dean disappears. And Sgt. Jill is left to pick up the pieces.

History and murder. A combination made by the gods. Buried Bones dissects some of history’s most dramatic true crime cases from centuries ago through a 21st century lens. How else could these crimes have been investigated? What could new technology change? How did the time period impact the crime? 

More cults!! This podcast gives me stories of cults, crime, and televangelists gone wild - you never really know what you're going to get. It's one of my favorites to just pick a random episode of and enjoy while cooking or food shopping. Weird, I know, but I embrace it. 

A podcast that combines my love of hiking in national parks and true crime was clearly made for me. People from all over the world are visiting National Parks in record numbers, and for good reason! They are beautiful and calming. But with more and more people entering our parks, more and more of them never leave. Enjoy the view, but watch your back...

Warning ahead of time - there is definitely some non-PG language in this series. Bad guys (and gals) are eternally fascinating. Behind the Bastards exposes the bizarre realities of the lives of some of the worst people in history. I highly suggest the series on Columbus to start with - it is eye opening!

We know I love a good cult story and I binged this series in like 2 days. I couldn't wait to hear more. The Sunshine Place tells the mind-blowing, true-story of Synanon - one of America’s most cutting edge social experiments, turned into one of its most dangerous and violent cults - as it’s never been told before: by the people who lived it. 

When a car bomb kills Daphne Caruana Galizia on the beautiful Mediterranean island of Malta, the hunt for her killers exposes secrets with consequences that go far beyond its shores. In the aftermath of her death an international team of journalists comes together to continue her work. Along the way they start to uncover clues that might lead to her killers. From Wondery, comes a new story about power, corruption and one woman’s fight for the truth. Hosted by investigative reporter Stephen Grey.

Ever wondered what it would feel like to pick up the phone and scam someone out of $50 million? This is the story of Gilbert Chikli, one of the greatest con artists of all time.  It's a wild ride to find out how even the leaders of countries and major businesses can be conned out of millions.

Humans are resilient. In our toughest moments, we will fight, we will struggle, and we will triumph...often against the odds. In this immersive series you experience share thrilling stories of survival. I definitely suggest the Fukushima nuclear disaster season to start with!

More NJ crime sagas! In 1971, a mild-mannered accountant and Sunday school teacher from Westfield, NJ murdered his wife, mother and three children — only to disappear and begin a new life entirely on the other side of the country. The first episode starts slow, but it gets way better after that!

Shut up and give me murder! Small Town Murder features a comedic look at a small town, what makes them tick, and murders. In depth research, horrible tragedy, and the hosts' comedic spin on the whole thing. I highly suggest searching and starting with one of the NJ episodes - especially the Chatham or East Hanover ones!

We know I love a good crime podcast, and this one adds in that cult aspect. I kept looking around while listening to see if anyone else was hearing the wildness I was (they weren't). Jeff and Shaleia teach about ‘Twin Flames" - but the path perfect love isn’t so simple. Twin Flames is a podcast about what happens when the quest for love turns into a dangerous obsession. 

This was a fun one living in NJ - Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery shows that NJ politics aren't for the faint of heart. The brutal killing of John and Joyce Sheridan, a couple with ties to three governors, shocks even the most cynical. The mystery surrounding the crime sends their son on a quest for truth. 

If you're a self described true crime weirdo, this is the listen for you. Ash and Alaina take you through some very weird, very disturbing crimes (with some hauntings thrown in too) but in such a way that you think you're listening to your friends tell you a story and that you're in on the conversation. I'm hooked. 

If you're someone who loves the outdoors, or you're like hard nope on nature, but also seriously into true crime I have found you a podcast. "Sometimes the most beautiful places hide the darkest secrets" is the basis for this true crime listen based in national parks and forests around the U.S. and Canada. 

Want to know how best to do your laundry? Done. What about the different types of chutzpah? Got one on that.  As we know, I am a proud history nerd. But even if you aren't as effusive about history as I am, this is quite the listen.  This podcast focuses on the overlooked and the misunderstood parts of our everyday lives. 

Each season of this podcast delves into a different cold case. And each season is fantastic. Season 1 looks at the who killed Denise Johnson, season 2 looks at who really killed Stacey Stanton, and season 3 delves into the  infamous Pelley family massacre.

I listened to the whole first season in probably 2 and a half days and took about as long to binge each of the other seasons. 

This is a really interesting look at the impact of imperialism on different regions of the world. Throughout its reign, the British Empire stole a lot of stuff. Today you can find those objects in museums across the UK and the world. This podcast tells the not-so-polite history behind those objects and how they got where they are today. Each episode tells the story behind one artifact and takes you on the wild, evocative, sometimes funny, often tragic adventure of how it got to where it is today.

This one combines psychology with criminology in the best way. The Opportunist tells true stories of regular people who turn sinister simply by being opportunistic. Season 3 is about to start and I cannot wait. These stories are fascinating. 

This is one of my newest finds and it's fantastic (and shockingly NOT about true crime). As children we're told unsettling fairy tales to teach us valuable life lessons, but these Cautionary Tales are for our education as grown ups – and they are all true. These are stories of awful human error, tragic catastrophes, daring heists and hilarious fiascos. They'll delight you, scare you, but also make you wiser. And every story draws you in from start to finish.

In this short series, you get to follow along within the reinvestigation into one of Indianapolis' most infamous unsolved cases - the Burger Chef Murders.  One of the most interesting aspects of the podcast was how complicated the making of this podcast actually made things for the State police. 

I recently learned about this podcast in a teacher event I went to and I think it's a great listen for all of you interested in the stories we have been studying about the Holocaust. We Share The Same Sky tells the stories of two young women—Hana as a refugee who remains one step ahead of the Nazis at every turn, and Rachael, her granddaughter, on a search to retrace her grandmother’s history. 

Take a gruesome trip through history with chilling campfire stories of true crime with one of my new favorite authors, Kate Winkler Dawson. This podcast does a great job of combining really well researched history of crimes with investigative journalism to tell you the story of the lives of victims and their killers. Currently there are interviews of other authors and their best crime stories and it's so interesting. 

If you're looking for a true crime podcast that looks at homicide cases from the insider view of a former prosecutor and cop - this is your option. You also get to hear from family members, the prosecutor, or a member of law enforcement directly involved in the investigation to give you even more insight into each specific case itself.

I'm still trying to figure out exactly where this story is going, but part of the reason for that is is that so much of it was being recorded as the case and story was actually unfolding and not after the fact. On June 22, 2018, Tristan Beaudette was brutally murdered in front of his two young daughters while camping in idyllic Malibu Creek State Park. The killing stuns the tight-knit, privileged community of Malibu but it really shouldn't have - there has been a number of near misses before this and the man that was eventually arrested swears he is being framed.

Another great series from Wondery looking at the life of serial killer Rodney Alcala. Want to know how did this predatory monster fooled producers, employers, prison psychiatrists, and parole boards alike – all while committing heinous crimes from coast to coast? Opt for this as your summer listen. 

Over 700,000 people in America have been subjected to conversion therapy, the dangerous and controversial ex-gay treatment. UnErased tells their stories. This series, produced with RadioLab from WYNC, is so well done and an important listen for anyone to be not only more aware of the history behind conversion therapy, but also the modern day context for our LGBTQ+ community and to be better allies and supporters.

This is another multi-season investigative podcast in which each season delves into a different mystery - knowing that someone out there must know something. Now onto Season 6, this is another great option for a summertime binge to keep you both guessing and your brain wondering. 

This is another fantastic podcast series from Wondery that about real-life stories of people who came face to face with death - all stories have a survivor but not everyone who starts the adventures makes it to the end. It's a fascinating listen, and a switch from my normal, to hear what these people went through and how they made it though this mind boggling incidents. There were lots of wide eyed faces staring around my kitchen to check if anyone else heard what I heard (no one had, thanks quarantine...)

During the time of COVID and stay at home orders, I have really enjoyed this new podcast looking back on some of the most historic and trying times in the last 100 years (starting with the Flu Pandemic of 1918 - seems like a legit starting place), how we've dealt with these moments, and their impact. I admittedly started with the episode on my man Winston and WWII because duh...

Oh wow, this podcast has been amazing. It's on season 7 now and every season, which covers a different topic, has been amazing. Examples - escaping the cult that was Nxivm, the Satanic Panic, the Cat Lady Case, finding out who put a bomb on board a plane that exploded and killed everyone on board, and more. Seriously - this should be your summer binge. Like the whole podcast. 

The Memory Palace is a storytelling podcast about the past, focusing on forgotten moments. The episodes are short, but that can make for a great listen too.So basically my happy place. Interesting unknown stories.

If you're interested in some of the world's most infamous serial killers and what made them tick, this is an option for you. This podcast looks into the life and crimes of the killers including John Wayne Gacy and Jeffrey Dahmer to the “Night Stalker” Richard Ramirez and the Butcher of Plainfield, Ed Gein. It uses interviews with family members, forensic experts, law enforcement, and witnesses to help take a deeper look at their actions. 

I binged this entire podcast series in I think two days. And I have OPINIONS. Please listen so we can talk. When 17 year old Alissa Turney went missing from Phoenix in 2001, most agreed she had run away. As more facts about her life started to surface over the years, it now appears likely that she never made it far from her home. This podcast documentary seeks to have a fresh look at this unsolved case.

This may come as a shock, but I don't just listen to True Crime podcasts. Did you know we tattooed the blood type of teenagers on their sides during the Cold War in case of a nuclear strike ... at school?! Why Sigmund Freud opted for a couch over an armchair (seriously who DOESN'T WANT TO KNOW THIS?!)? 99% Invisible is about all the thought that goes into the things we don’t think about and I am loving it. 

This case is a serious rabbit hole that you can disappear down and just never come out of. There are SO MANY THEORIES and so few answers. On February 9th, 2004, in Haverhill, NH, 21 year old Maura Murray got into a single car accident and disappeared. There has been no credible sighting of her since. Listen and see what YOU think. 

More than 154 million treasures fill the Smithsonian’s vaults, but where public view ends, the Sidedoor podcast begins telling some amazing stories. Some fascinating stories so far - a feather detective who created the first forensic ornithology lab for the identification of birds who hit planes and an heiress, divorcee, and forensic scientist who helped create revolutionize crime scene investigation in a time when women were expected to stay home and have hobbies. 

The podcast covers the impact of a book called Hit Man: A Technical Manual for Independent Contractors, which gave very specific tips for potential hit men, and was in fact used in actual killings. How such a book could be published, used, and protected under the 1st Amendment is all here for you to discover. Sometimes you aren't always sure where each episode is going to take you, it's a bit of a winding path, but I enjoyed it.

Here's your new motto: ask smart people stupid questions. You never know what fascinating information you might find out! That's the basis of ologies, where Alie Ward (who I know I could be friends with) asks different ologists tons of questions to help us regular people get to know a little more about bees, sea turtles, volcanos, avalanches, POTTTEROLOGY, or anything else you can think of. 

This folks is what is known as a true crime comedy podcast, which seems like it shouldn't go together, but the laughter comes at the expense of the dumb mistakes criminals make, never the victims. Oh and at the hosts themselves who I definitely know I could be friends with. This podcast also does a fantastic job of destigmatizing mental health issues and seeking treatment for mental health issues, which is astoundingly important. SSDGM.  

30 for 30 Podcasts feature stories from the world of sports and beyond. The show offers captivating storytelling for sports fans and general interest listeners alike, going beyond the field to explore how sports, competition, athleticism and adventure affect our lives and our world.

You are obsessed with all things crime related. It started out as a general interest but now you have this true-crime-shaped-hole in your life that no amount of radio segments, podcasts, or documentaries can fill. And the more true crime media you consume the more you crave it. You’re pretty sure you missed your true life’s calling to be a detective. THIS is the podcast for you. 

Want to know more about accuracies and inaccuracies of the portrayal of mental health in movies and tv? Mad Chat is a podcast that unpacks what our pop culture is telling us about madness & mental health.

This was a fantastic series, and also made me even more convinced of the serious need to research ANY medical treatment you might get. If you listened to Dr. Death and enjoyed it, you'll like this. Patients, having been offered miracle cures from stem cell treatment, are instead being rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Investigations lead to a stem cell company with a charismatic CEO and to an entire multibillion dollar industry where greed and desperation collide.

This is an interesting twist on true crime, since many of the cases are Australian cases that I'm not as familiar with and a more interesting listen (plus I enjoy the Aussie accent, it makes me miss Melbourne). There are a number of cases from the US and UK as well though and if you like a more factually based podcast, you'll enjoy this one. 

This is a another new true crime one. In January of 1989 the director of Oregon’s Department of Corrections, Michael Francke, was stabbed to death outside his office in Salem. The murder was quickly ruled a “car burglary gone wrong” and pinned on Frank Gable. However, Franke's brother and reporter Phil Stanford think it was a wrongful conviction and that Francke had uncovered a trail of corruption in the prison system. The real question is who really killed Michael Francke?

Criminal is a true crime podcast hosted by the incomparable Phoebe Judge. Each episode delves into very different aspects of a crime, with interviews from those involved, always leaving you with a much different outlook than when you started. And the interview subjects are *always* fascinating.  

The Internet is a wide and often very weird place. Endless Thread delves into the world of Reddit, looking at some of the most compelling (and some of the oddest) stories that the Internet has to offer us. It's a wonderful break from an otherwise overwhelming day.

What would Ms. Schram's day be without an extra dose of brains :) Hidden Brain combines science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices and direct our relationships.

Radiolab is a great option to learn a little (or a lot) about science, psychology, philosophy, and nature. Radiolab acknowledges we live in a pretty weird world, so it's best to try to understand it better. They did a fantastic series this summer on intelligence that everyone should listen to. 

Two of the most important pieces of advice you will read: cure-alls cure nothing and don't drill a hole in your head. This is one of my go-to favorites. Dr. Sydnee McElroy and her husband Justin McElroy explain all the weird ways we humans have tried to cure ourselves in the past - and by weird I mean idiotic, super gross, questionable, and dog head tilt inducing. It's definitely good for a laugh though. And can teach you something about some treatments we still use today... (eep).

So far there are two seasons covering two different stories. I loved season 1. When the marriage of "perfect" couple Dan and Wendi fell apart, it led to bad breakup, a worse divorce, and a murder case involving a murder for hire plot, potential in-law co-conspirators, and trial updates going on even today. Season 2 is totally different. It looks at the feud between Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin over the ownership and treatment of big cats, which gets completely absurd.

Have you washed your hands lately? In this podcast the Erins, both epideimiologists (seriously can we be friends?), will delve into the history, evolution, and modern day implications of some of the worst diseases out there. You will then probably go buy even more Lysol wipes for your home ( and room 203) because ick. If you're like me though you will also be adding books to your never ending list because epidemics and plagues are fascinating and the Erins have great suggestions.  

Season 3 of Dr. Death just finished and I swear each season gets both more interesting but also creepier in terms of the things that people can get away with. I HIGHLY recommend any of these seasons. I almost paid to hear all the episodes at once I was so curious and that never happens. 

There is a reason this got made into a Lifetime movie - it basically was one to begin with. I binged this in 3 days. Debra Newell met John Meehan and thought she had met the man of her dreams, and their relationship moved fast. But her family didn't like John with good reason - he was a creepy, controlling, lying mess. And things got even more manipulative, deceptive, and deadly from those initial meetings.

This ongoing investigative series by WNYC (our local NPR station) and ProPublica looks at basic questions about how the Trump businesses works: what deals are happening, whom they’re happening with, and if the president and his family are keeping their promise to separate the Trump Organization from the Trump White House.

This podcast has 2 seasons, but I preferred season 1. Season 1 focused on the 2005 disappearance of high school teacher Tara Grinstead. There had been no real leads or arrests in 11 years, so what was really interesting was that with the amount of attention brought by the podcast a LOT of things changed in the case quickly. It went from a cold case investigation to a very active case, making it quite a fascinating and real-time listen, with updates still happening on trial information. For those of you taking class with Tambo, there would be some definite overlaps here!

This one is a mess of a story, and what's even more interesting is the podcast has been taken down in Australia to not bias jurors in the murder case against Chris Dawson. This is a sordid story of strangely close twin brothers, a school teacher and his student mistress, and a probable murder of a devoted wife and mother that has been unsolved for 36 years. It's a fascinating listen, definitely bingeworthy, and the Australian accents make is so much better.

Whether you are a fan of true crime, unsolved mysteries, the haunted, or the abandoned, Ghost Town has something for you. Jason Horton & Rebecca Leib discuss and explore some of the most mysterious and interesting places on earth. Take a trip to haunted hotels, abandoned malls, deserted amusement parks, locations of infamous true crimes, and more. 

Ever walked by that bulletin board outside room 20 and wondered, "what exactly have I missed in history class?" Well Holly and Tracy are to the rescue with the strange, the great, the spooky, and even the unearthed to help clarify all those things you might have missed, or those things you just want to know more about. This is one of my personal favorites to just jump around to topics I'm interested in, or do a scroll through and pick something I know nothing about (shocking I know) and find out something new. 

If you're a fan of TED Talks, you will definitely enjoy this podcast. Using excerpts from different TED talks, along with bringing in the speakers for additional questions and conversation, Guy Raz helps listeners explore what make us human and new ways to think and create.

If you're the type of person who has questions about, well anything and everything, this is your podcast. Ever wonder how to be a beekeeper, what human zoos were, what bedbugs actually are, or what dolphin detectors are? There are answers for that and A LOT more! Like a lot... 

I was not expecting to find this one as interesting as I did, but I kept yelling at my phone when listening and getting in very engaged conversations with friends based on this podcast. The podcast investigates COPS, the longest running reality show in TV history, and its cultural impact on policing in America. I highly suggest this one as a listen, because as you know reality on tv is never actually reality, but pulling aside the curtain reveals far more than you might have anticipated. 

If you're interested in psych, serial killers, or the combo - pick this one. When April Balascio was 40 years old she found out her father, Edward Wayne Edwards, was a murderer. The twist: she's the one who called the police to tell them about her suspicions, a call that led to her father’s arrest and eventual conviction on multiple murders. Now she is trying to dig back into her childhood to discover what other crimes her father may have been responsible for, and what he isn't responsible for. Quite the listen!!

This is another two season podcast, and season 2 has had impacts in the news recently (look up the case of Curtis Flowers). I have admittedly only listened to season 1, but it was very well-done and made me question my stance on a number issues, which is always what we should be doing when learning. It focuses on the investigation into the abduction of Jacob Wetterling. They look at how law enforcement mishandled the case and how those failures fueled anxiety about stranger danger, led to the nation's sex-offender registries, and raised questions about crime-solving accountability.

I opted to listen to this one because I loved the book "I'll Be Gone in The Dark". Man in the Window uncovers never before revealed details about the Golden State Killer by tracing his crimes through the perspective of his victims. The interviews in this podcast are sometimes heart-wrenching, can be difficult to listen to, but demonstrate the bravery of the victims and the dedication of the law enforcement officers involved in the case to not allow the Golden State Killer get away.

Ever wonder how people fall victim to con men? How they can be so successful? I highly suggest listening to Who The Hell is Hamish? Hamish's spree is coming to an end in 2019 when he will be sentenced for swindling a handful of victims out of more than $7m, but that's just the end of a long list of cons. For decades he’s duped victims in the US, Canada, Britain, Hong Kong and Australia. It is believed he stole tens of millions during this time, and the money is unaccounted for...

I love my subscription to The New Yorker, so a podcast of the same caliber makes me happy when stuck in traffic, and that says something. However, it isn't just an audio version of the magazine - it's its own mix of interviews, profiles, storytelling, humor when needed.

Inspired by the books of the same name, Freakonomics Radio explores "the hidden side of everything" - which is true. Two episodes I'm particularly fond of: "5 Psychology Terms You're Probably Misusing" and "the Demonization of Gluten". Not related but definitely hit the areas of my life in two podcasts :) 

Host Kelly McEvers takes a story from the news and goes deep. Whether that means digging into the Trump administration's past, the stories behind police shootings caught on video, or visiting a town ravaged by the opioid epidemic, Embedded takes you where the news is happening.

If October hits and you immediately get excited because that means it's haunted house season, I do not understand you. However, I do have a podcast suggestion for you to live in the land of creepy year round. Because sometimes the truth is more frightening than fiction. Each episode looks at mysterious creatures, tragic events, and unusual places that fill the pages of history.

If you've been watching season 2 of Mindhunter on Netflix, definitely listen to season 1 of Atlanta Monster. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, listen and watch Mindhunter. Season 1 focuses on The Atlanta Child Murders. Forty years after these horrific crimes, Wayne Williams sits in prison, but true justice has never been served, and closure for the victims families has never been found. Season 2 focuses on the Zodiac Killer, so also can't go wrong there.  

My true crime and psych brain were in SUCH a nerdy place when listening to this one. I couldn't wait for new episodes to come out. Happy Face is the story of Keith Hunter Jesperson, the Happy Face killer, his brutal crimes, and the games he played with detectives and the media. But it’s also the story of the horrific legacy he left his children - when you look like, share personality traits and genetics with your serial killer dad, how do you know you aren't also a psychopath?

History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History.

I'm running out of episodes of this one which makes me sad. If you want to hear about both the historical and modern day shenanigans of crime in the South, and there are some gems, then this is for y'all. 

From UFOs to psychic powers and government conspiracies, history is riddled with unexplained events. This podcast delves into all the weird options out there and evaluates - what really happened?

Hell And Gone is an on-going cold-case investigation of the 2004 Arkansas murder of Rebekah Gould. Catherine Townsend, writer and investigator, moves to the small town of Mountain View, Arkansas to investigate who killed 22-year old Rebekah Gould 14 years ago. Each week the investigative team tracks down suspects, embeds themselves in the town, and tries to finally bring Rebekah’s killer to justice.

We all can use advice at times on how to make life a little more manageable and happier. One of my favorite pieces that I learned is the "one-minute rule": if I can do a task in one minute, do it. Don't put that task off. It has helped to keep things from piling up, and if I'm waiting on something else, is a good use of time. I don't need to tackle my entire to-do list at once. 

This one made me miss living in Boston and prompted a book purchase (I'm happy to loan it out if you're interested after you listen). Last Seen is about the most valuable art heist in history: the theft of 13 artworks from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. So why, 28 years later, does this still unsolved crime exert it irresistible pull over people? With a $10 million reward on offer, how is it that not even a single piece in a haul estimated to be worth half a billion dollars has surfaced? Gone in 81 minutes, the Gardner art, and the thieves, remain at large.