At least, that’s what I aimed to provide with this list: a grouping of business podcasts that look at working, the workplace, and building a career from a healthy place internally. Yes, you’ll learn how to start a business, invest, and donate in a way aligned with your values, but more importantly, you’ll learn how to find out what you want and deserve in the workplace. Not only that, but there are also business podcasts for at-home creatives and people interested in designing their workplace to be a better place.

Well Workplaces

Well Workplaces features interviews with health and wellbeing leaders who help listeners find a sustainable work-life balance. They focus on all aspects of communication, wellbeing, and workplace ethics. Experts get into subjects like gamification, architecture, and even workplace design. Listeners who want to work healthily in this modern world will find a home in Well Workplaces. Well Workplaces is a great business podcast for both freelancers and in-house workers because it genuinely tries to push past barriers to make our connection to work better. I got a lot out of several episodes surrounding working from home and incorporating healthy systems to take care of my body and mind. There are also episodes surrounding addiction, mental health, and self-care that make Well Workplaces the perfect podcast for listeners interested in working in a healthier way.

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Google Podcasts | Website

Own It: Starting a Business after Prison

Own It: Starting a Business after Prison focuses on helping people who were incarcerated understand how to start their own business. Through interviews with business owners, entrepreneurs, and leaders who were previously incarcerated, Own It: Starting a Business after Prison offers something that many business podcasts don’t. The business podcast provides real-life advice from formerly incarcerated people on how to build a career and a business after not only a long time away from the workforce but with a record. Though the last episode aired back in June, Own It: Starting a Business after Prison is still a relevant and vital business podcast. My favorite newly discovered podcast is coming from the standpoint of how entrepreneurship can help recently released people find security, careers, and purpose, Own It: Starting a Business after Prison.

Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Website

Startup Stories-Mixergy

For listeners interested in startups and building their own companies based around unique ideas, Startup Stories-Mixergy gives behind-the-scenes interviews with the minds and people behind startups in a wide variety of industries. While Startup Stories-Mixergy doesn’t give listeners tutorials on how to start their own business. What Startup Stories-Mixergy does do is provide interviews with founders, business leaders, and executives where they drill into their origins and processes to give listeners tools, advice, and insight into how startups live and die. There are many multi-million-dollar businesses and startups featured, which made it seem unapproachable for the everyday worker since many featured people came from some sort of money. However, a lot of the information beneath the rich and luxurious lifestyle was helpful, like building sites that customers love or marketing sustainably.

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website

The $100MBA Show

While Startup Stories-Mixergy didn’t offer tutorials, The $100MBA Show does! To say there are a plethora of lessons on The $100MBA Show is an understatement. Everything from how to build a business, level up your career, work as a freelancer, or even money management is covered on the business podcast. There are even a few episodes on reentry and moving from working full-time to owning your own business. As a freelance creative, I do want to note that there were a fair number of episodes useful to me and other content creators or writers. I also love that all the episodes were short, quick, and actionable. In under 20 minutes, I left The $100MBA Show with new strategies for my business and writing, which is my top marker for a business podcast. 

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website

Let’s Humanize the Workplace

Let’s Humanize the Workplace is a business podcast about building a better workplace for yourself to work and live in a way that satisfies you. The host gives both employers and employees tips on incorporating more soft skills into how people interact within business spaces. Using both social justice and behavioral science, Let’s Humanize the Workplace advocates for better work conditions inside and out. For new listeners, I’d recommend the spring 2021 episode “George Floyd’s Impact on the Workplace.” For people curious about the impacts of systematic racism in the workplace and how they can fight against it to create a truly safe and inclusive, that episode is a treasure trove of complex discussions and tools for the workplace.

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website

Duct Tape Marketing

For listeners with their own business, Duct Tape Marketing provides advice from marketing experts on reaching customers and retaining them. Each episode gets into particular topics using a different expert to help listeners learn the lesson. I love that Duct Tape Marketing releases a new episode every couple of days and keeps each one relatively short. For both freelancers and in-house workers, Duct Tape Marketing teaches business owners ways to use copywriting, content marketing, and more in an easy-to-learn way. I found the episodes geared more toward people new to marketing, but Duct Tape Marketing does get into more advanced territory every now and then. There are also a fair number of episodes on general career advancement and specific workplace issues. 

Google Podcasts | Player FM | Stitcher | Website

Read more: Upgrade Your Writing Business in 2021 with These Podcasts

The Mind Your Business Podcast

The Mind Your Business Podcast is a unique business podcast focused on the metaphysical, physiological, and emotional aspects of being an entrepreneur and professional. The Mind Your Business Podcast dates back to 2016, and with over 500 episodes, it’s a business podcast with a lot to offer listeners trying to align their mind, heart, and body with their business ethics to work smarter and happier. Billing itself as a non-business business podcast, The Mind Your Business Podcast aims to take a holistic and spiritual approach to work, business, and finding a career that fuels your soul. While The Mind Your Business Podcast won’t be for a lot of people, I think it is worth a listen. Like The Smart Passive Income Online Business and Blogging Podcast, The Mind Your Business Podcast is all about authentic and intentional work. I found the episodes I listened to interesting, but not my spiritual style.

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website 

The Smart Passive Income Online Business and Blogging Podcast

From The Smart Passive Income Blog comes the companion business podcast, The Smart Passive Income Online Business and Blogging Podcast. Another long-standing podcast on how to grow your own business from home, The Smart Passive Income Online Business and Blogging Podcast combines interviews and the host’s own experience to help listeners scale their online business. As a freelancer, The Smart Passive Income Online Business and Blogging Podcast was another one of the extremely informative and helpful business podcasts. But even if you’re not a freelancer, The Smart Passive Income Online Business and Blogging Podcast is really aimed at full-time workers who want to make their side hustles lucrative so they can build secure futures. I appreciate the push for authentic business and behavior to bring in the clients and business you want.

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website

Shopify Masters

Shopify has its own podcast all about using the platform to drive continued success for business owners who use it to conduct their business. Shopify Masters offers both inspiration and practical tips for business owners involving marketing, behind-the-scenes analytics, and more. Business leaders, CEOs, and startup founders take to the mic to get down to what they did to build their business and change the game using Shopify to propel their careers. Even if you don’t use Shopify, the episodes and subjects discussed on Shopify Masters go beyond just using Shopify. While listening, I felt like Shopify Masters was a general entrepreneurial business podcast for people who want to build their businesses or pick up lucrative side hustles. 

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website

Happiness at Work

Unsatisfied at work? Happiness at Work is a business podcast for the unhappy worker. They provide interviews with authors, business leaders, and coaches to help listeners find happiness at their jobs. Both employers and workers can find episodes and lessons on Happiness at Work. Out of all the business podcasts that I listened to, Happiness at Work was my least favorite. But I’m willing to say that it could have been the episodes I chose and the guests featured. There are a lot of hot button topics and hot takes that I always feel should be done by underrepresented voices due to the fact that they will often shine more of a light on the subject and say something new. But just because I didn’t like Happiness at Work doesn’t mean that it’s a bad business podcast or that many listeners won’t find it helpful, engaging, or thoughtful. 

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website

Spacecraft—The Workplace Design Podcast

Instead of giving listeners tips on growing their business or reaching better satisfaction in the workplace, Spacecraft—The Workplace Design Podcast looks at how the design of workspaces influences all those factors. The last episode aired back in September, but there are enough episodes in the back catalog to dive into. With the unique subject matter placed on design, architecture, and the way people are affected by the spaces they inhabit, Spacecraft—The Workplace Design Podcast is a must listen to for any business owner, leader, or human resource representative. Especially those who want to change their employees’ environment to something more inclusive, accessible, and aimed toward healthy work options. As a huge fan of how design and architecture play into our emotions, mental state, and wellbeing, I was super psyched to find Spacecraft—The Workplace Design Podcast. It also focused on a business topic that isn’t often discussed on other business podcasts, making it a refreshing listen.

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher

Being Freelance

Being Freelance is a business podcast for freelancers of all types. Through interviews and introspections from other freelancers, Being Freelance gives listeners tips and advice to run their freelance business. Not only can experienced freelancers learn how to level up their business and get new clients, but I think a few of the episodes are helpful for beginning freelancers or people who are curious about how to make freelancing work for them. A few episodes also get into marketing and UI tips to help freelancers express themselves and their services better online that I found extremely helpful. New listeners are lucky, Being Freelance began in 2015, so there are TONS of episodes to catch up on. And new episodes are still dropping!

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | Transcripts
(Transcripts available by clicking on each episode)

Brown Ambition

From one of the authors of Get Good with Money, Brown Ambition gets down to the real brass tacks of what it means to be money smart. Brown Ambition teaches listeners how to budget, save, and manage their money so that they can create a sustainable business model or work toward quitting their day job or becoming an entrepreneur. Brown Ambition stands out from the other business podcasts on this list because they have over 200 episodes to get listeners in the right money mindset to handle their finances and turn their earnings into more. On top of that, they focus on helping Black professionals and highlight issues related to investing as a person of color.

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website

Being [at Work]

Aimed at business leaders and managers, Being [at Work] tries and help listeners center themselves in their business and practice. The business podcast also gives listeners tips, inspiration, and tools to help leaders in the workplace. Focusing on solving specific issues leaders and managers face, Being [at Work] blends interviews, real-world stories, and the host’s own experience to make leadership easier. Most episodes are short (under five minutes) and deliver quick and practical strategies to tackle workplace issues from the mindful leadership standpoint. For the interview portion of the show, check out the longer episodes and get a deeper look at the topic. Being [at Work] felt like one of the perfect business podcasts for small moments when leaders need a quick reality check and info throughout the workday.

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website

The Broad Experience

There are a couple of business podcasts on this list for honest conversations about working as a woman and women-related issues in the workplace. Each one I highly recommend because they offer unique perspectives on gender inequality in the workplace based on real experiences. The Broad Experience not only focuses on working women and issues of interest to them, but they also get into being a person in the workplace and dealing with other aspects like neurodivergence, working with your partner, and so much more. I really liked The Broad Experience episode “Power and Body Language,” which dug into how to hold yourself in the workplace and its connections to gender and communication. While dealing with the harsh reality of gender inequality, The Broad Experience builds toward a positive and inclusive future for everyone.

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | Transcripts

Black Tech Unplugged

Black Tech Unplugged is a business podcast about Black people working within the tech industry. Instead of giving listeners tips on how to work better, though there is some of that, Black Tech Unplugged interviews and spotlights Black tech workers and their journeys in the industry. Listeners can learn strategies, tools, and advice to work better through their stories and honest responses to the host’s questions. Starting back in 2017, Black Tech Unplugged is candid and a business podcast that I found unique. Most business tech podcasts don’t give Black people the tools and inspiration they need to enter the industry or continue working within it. Black Tech Unplugged does. And all from other Black professionals working within the technology industry. 

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website

Women at Work

Like The Broad Experience, Women at Work focuses on issues relevant to women in the workplace. While The Broad Experience and Women at Work both give listeners more than just topics on women at work, Women at Work from the Harvard British Review is more about actionable steps to end discrimination in the workplace and offer women tools to face common hurdles. But again, I highly recommend both! Listening to Women at Work was even helpful in providing me tools as a solo freelancer. Similar to many business podcasts on this list, Women at Work gets into the personal and vocational. And with episodes dating back to 2018, there are a lot of episodes to choose from to help workers take charge of themselves and their careers. 

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Google Podcasts | Website

The Unmistakable Creative

Part creativity podcast and part business podcast, The Unmistakable Creative is all about helping creatives work better at their careers, side-hustles, and passions. Using interviews from professional creatives from every industry, The Unmistakable Creative is a one-of-a-kind business podcast for understanding how to make money and live as a creative. Over 1,000 episodes make up the enormous back catalog of information available, and a new episode is released every couple of days. I found The Unmistakable Creative to help center me in my craft and business and learn how to blend my life with my creative work. If you’re at a point where you’re not sure how to be creative at work or in a career, The Unmistakable Creative has quite a few episodes focused on helping beginners. 

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website

Workplace Hugs

Don’t be put off by the name; Workplace Hugs is a comprehensive workplace podcast centered around business and work topics related to workplace culture. Fun and upbeat, Workplace Hugs dives into recent reads or topics that the hosts have discovered. Together they explore the topic and go into their personal experiences. Some of the episodes are really eye-opening, while most of them are simply interesting topics to hear the hosts talk about. While not focusing on providing listeners business or work advice, Workplace Hugs is more of a workplace talk show for people who can’t get enough of talking about how they work, where they work, and what’s out there in the world. 

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Google Podcasts | Website

The New Way We Work

From the debut editor of Fast Company comes The New Way We Work, a business podcast about upcoming changes to the world of business. The New Way We Work gets into work culture, money, and diversity in the workplace. Aiming to provide listeners with insight from workers and leaders within various industries, The New Way We Work tries to show business leaders how to create businesses and workplaces that are inclusive, safe, and made for the future. The episodes and topics are genuine and honest, with a hard and unforgiving look at where we are today and where we need to become a healthy work culture. The New Way We Work is for more than just leaders but for workers who want to learn how to see their work and career progressively. 

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website

Transform Your Workplace

Transform Your Workplace is a human resource business podcast about creating a healthy workplace and building systems within your business that facilitate care, respect, and inclusion. Like a few other business podcasts on this list, Transform Your Workplace brings together workplace experts, self-help authors, and more to create a rounded view of how to make your workplace a better place to be. Despite the title, many of the episodes were more about how to transform yourself within the workplace, like how to attract good talent, deal with anxiety in the workplace, and take control of your career. It drives home the point that it’s not just about the work you do but the person you bring to your work. 

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website

As always, please go beyond listening or reading these podcasts. If you’ve learned anything from them, consider subscribing, reviewing, and sharing the business podcast. You can even go further if you have the means. Donate or subscribe to the podcast’s Patreon or other paid subscription community.

Bonus business podcasts

These business podcasts come from versions of this article past. We still recommend them! They remain some of the greats in business podcasts.

The Journal

If The Wall Street Journal and Gimlet Media are coming together to make a podcast, you know this is the perfect recipe for a must-listen show. Despite being a fairly new podcast (it was launched in June 2019), The Journal is already one of my top favorites. Hosted by Kate Linebaugh and Ryan Knutson, this daily, narrative news show breaks down the top business and financial news of the day with the help of WSJ reporters. And while yes, this harkens back to a format institutionalized by NYT’s The Daily, you can’t ignore The Journal’s impeccable business reporting and insider scoops which makes this show stand out amongst daily news shows. If you want to catch up with the day’s top business news, while also gaining a deep insight into the topic, then give The Journal a listen. 

NPR’s Planet Money

The original podcast that introduced narrative storytelling in business and economics, making a subject that is often associated with mustachioed professors in tweed jackets seem fun. A production of NPR, Planet Money’s famous motto has been: Imagine you’re meeting a friend at a bar and you ask them to explain what’s going on in the economy. The show tackles some of the nerdiest topics in economics and finance (repo market, anyone?) and explains them in creative and eccentric ways. Case in point (and two of my favorite episodes): An episode on negative interest rates explained using…meadows and boxes of gold, and an episode on the 17th century spice trade explained while cooking an actual peacock with a Dutch recipe from 1612.

The Indicator from Planet Money

And if you are pressed for time, but would still like a dose of Planet Money fun, you can turn to their daily podcast The Indicator instead! In 10 minutes (or less) this podcast aims to succinctly explain the day’s top economic and financial news or tackles random, quirky subjects. From discussing the monthly jobs report, exploring if there was a financial crisis the year Jesus died to using a string quartet to explain rising healthcare costs, The Indicator makes keeping up with financial news digestible and fun.

Business Wars

Have you ever been in a restaurant and had to face the audacity of someone offering you Pepsi instead of Coca Cola? *cue ominous organ playing*

Whether you’ve found yourself sweating through the Pepsi taste challenge, or been kicked in the shins during the Nike versus Adidas war, as consumers we have all found ourselves caught between the crosshairs of a business feud. In a 5 to 6 part series, Business Wars looks into each of these rivalries, digging into their histories and breaking down the business tactics introduced by these companies to stay ahead of the game. 

And much like in the fashion of many Wondery productions, what makes Business Wars especially compelling to listen to is how it narrates these stories with dramatic music, re-enacting insider conversations and scenes from the past to paint why these feuds became so iconic.  

50 Things That Made The Modern Economy

The diesel engine? Paper? The disposable razor? How did these innovations become everyday items that changed our world and the economy? Originally the show was meant to be a short series with only 50 episodes (hence the title), but thanks to its immense popularity, the show has been extended, with new episodes being released weekly. This show will make sure you’re the one person at the party with all the fun facts.

How I Built This With Guy Raz

If Terry Gross is the queen of the airways, then Guy Raz is a close second as the king of podcasting. 

There are enough shows out there where an entrepreneur is interviewed about their flourishing business, and is asked the standard question, “Oh, but where did you get the idea for this?” There will be light banter, a lot of humble bragging, a few Pinterest-able motivational quotes, and you will walk away none the wiser. But Raz’s show goes beyond your standard two-way interview. He does not stop at asking about the seed of an idea, he goes on to ask how they went about transforming that idea into a reality. The show digs into the stories and people behind some of the most well-known brands such as Steve Madden, Michael Dell and Eileen Fisher. 

Every episode is a narrative, giving us a glimpse of the guest’s personality with beautiful scoring that sets the tone for every interview. Every episode also has a moment, when the interviewee lets his or her guard down and reveals an intimate detail about their life or their views on money, leaving you appreciating the guest, the brand and the story behind how they built this. 

Freakonomics Radio

A spinoff from the bestselling books, and hosted by co-author Stephen J. Dubner, this podcast aims to uncover the “hidden side of everything.” Didn’t have time to read the latest paper on why minimum wage should be raised? Tune in to Freakonomics instead, where Dubner has riveting conversations with some of the biggest names in academia and in the world of business, uncovering the latest trends, research and findings in the field. 

My favorite series from this show was The Secret Life of a C.E.O, where Dubner has candid one-on-one conversations with famous C.E.Os of multinational corporations, such as Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, Virgin’s Richard Branson and Pepsico’s Indra Nooyi. His interview with Nooyi, in particular, became infamous, as she revealed on the show how the company was looking to introduce a new line of Dorito chips designed specifically for female consumers, causing the Lady-Doritos-gate scandal online. 

Death, Sex & Money

Now I admit, this show isn’t always about money. But for the episodes that does tackle the topic, host Anna Sale uncovers personal stories about how money can affect our lives and shapes our social behaviors. What are we afraid to admit out loud when it comes to how we handle money?  

For example, the spectacular 5-part “Opportunity Cost” series, produced in collaboration with Buzzfeed News, tackles how economic class affects people’s daily lives and the kind of decisions they make, from whether one has access to fertility treatments to dealing with a sudden change in financial status after a divorce.

Business Casual

If two-way interview podcasts are your thing, then you should check out Business Casual, a new podcast launched by Morning Brew, a daily business and financial newsletter. In this show, host Kinsey Grant, sits down with C.E.Os and experts to have casual yet intriguing conversations about their work and what it’s like navigating through the ever-evolving world of business. If you want insider knowledge about cryptocurrency, the future of co-working spaces, and how TikTok is changing social media, not from analysts and observers, but from people who actually interact with and are from these industries, then Business Casual is the podcast to listen to.

Money Talks from Economist Radio

The reason I’ve included Money Talks into this list, apart from my love for British accents, is because of the breadth of its global coverage. Money Talks is a weekly podcast on markets, businesses and the world economy, and while the tone of the show is very radio-BBC-esque (it is The Economist after all), I enjoy how the show covers global business trends in every episode. This can be especially refreshing after being barraged for weeks by the endless coverage on WeWork and Adam Neumann’s shoulda-seen-it-coming failures — yes, I would instead like to hear about how Nutella is planning to take over the world, thank you very much.

This is Uncomfortable from Marketplace

Money is uncomfortable. It’s not just me, even business news behemoth Marketplace thinks so. In their show, This is Uncomfortable, host Reema Kharis looks into how money interferes with life and decisions. The show has tackled topics like: how do you navigate through the awkwardness of asking a close friend about money they owe you? Or how do ‘momagers’ strike that weird balance between being somebody’s parent and manager, and why has the term adopted a negative connotation? (Unfortunately, Kris Jenner does not make a special appearance.)

Scam Goddess

Let’s be real. The only time business news is genuinely fascinating, is when a scam gets uncovered. Whether it’s an opportunity for us all to collectively raise our fists in the air and rage against an unfair system that privileges a select few and disadvantages the masses, or whether it’s because we suffer from low-key Stokholm syndrome, scams are scandalous and fascinating. 

In this weekly show, host Laci Mosley along with a fellow comedian, digs into real-life everyday scams and historic hoodwinks — what she has dubbed “true crime without the death.” Tune in for Mosley’s quick wit and her sporadic comic outbursts, as she breaks down scams people have suffered from (and how we can avoid them ourselves) and digging into epic historic scams pulled off in the past.

The post The 21 Best Business Podcasts appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

The approach true crime aficionados and researchers often take with these crimes that affect real people and communities is insensitive, amoral, and downright disrespectful.

But I also understand that is a part of the true crime podcasts community: making heinous crimes laughable or seem like a bad late-night T.V. drama. It takes a bit of wind out of the sails of these events.

When I created this list, I wanted to find a middle ground. I wanted to offer long-time true crime listeners something new and shine a light on different approaches to talking about true crime podcasts. So below, you’ll find a blend of your typical true crime podcasts. But even more so, you’ll find a thoughtful and caring approach that reminds listeners of the real ramifications, victims, and societal involvements that led to these events. 

I also want to place a blanket content warning on all these true crime podcasts. Each show gets into brutal crimes, abuse, and other extremely sensitive topics. Keep this in mind and take care of yourself while listening.

Missing and Murdered

Missing and Murdered has appeared on previous Discover Pods’ true crime podcast lists, but I wanted to feature it again. Not only does the podcast cover indigenous crimes, but they do true crime coverage in the most informed and respectful way. Missing and Murdered is the perfect blend of dramatic coverage and true crime cases for true crime fans who love and prefer investigative reporting and interviews. The host creates a complete and comprehensive experience by using voiceovers, music, and sound effects to bring Missing and Murdered to life for listeners. Missing and Murdered is like a blend of Wounded and Welcome to Your Fantasy, both further down on the list because of its storytelling and cinematic elements and focus on cases involving indigenous people. Each season does a deep dive into a different case involving indigenous people who have been murdered or gone missing. Across the true crime podcast’s two seasons, two cases are covered.

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS | Transcripts

Darknet Diaries

Darknet Diaries is one of my favorite true crime podcasts on this list, with a particular focus on cybercrimes. It instantly reminded me of Marc Goodman’s informative and terrifying book Future Crimes: Inside the Digital Underground and the Battle for Our Connected World. I will give a bit of a warning; Darknet Diaries is not great for listeners who tend to fall down rabbit holes related to personal privacy. Darknet Diaries is going to inform you of all the ways people, governments, and businesses can hack, own, and sell your personal data, money, and even life. It’s a thought-provoking true crime podcast that helps listeners figure out how to better live and function in the modern connected age where crime can happen right before your eyes from thousands of miles away. 

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS | Transcripts

Read more: Why Your Podcast Sucks: My Favorite Murder’s Real Favorite Is the Cops

RedHanded

With a blend of true crime and the supernatural, RedHanded uses a unique combination of true crime and the paranormal to give listeners true crime of a sometimes bizarre nature. RedHanded is a paranormal podcast for true crime fans, a true crime podcast for people who believe supernatural elements play a hand in all strange and unfortunate occurrences. While not diving deep into crimes, listeners can still find new crimes discussed, dissected, and joked about each episode. I’ve written about RedHanded previously and thought true crime listeners would find it just as entertaining as paranormal listeners. There are many true crime podcasts on this list like RedHanded that try and keep things light while talking about dark topics and being respectful, like Sinisterhood and What Did You Do?! below. 

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS

Sinisterhood

Sinisterhood brings together two comedian friends who explore creepy and strange true crime cases they researched. Though it bears comedic similarities to RedHanded, Sinisterhood leans a little more toward the paranormal true crime vibes than the former. Think cults, strange disappearances, and even Santa Claus bank robberies. The banter between the hosts reminded me a lot of My Favorite Murder with tons of tangents and inside jokes and fan engagement. Sinisterhood is great for fans of true crime podcasts who want a bit of spooky without getting too far into the horror realm. And though I couldn’t get into the podcast too much, I thought it was worth recommending because they have a terrific following and community of paranormal true crime buffs. Also, there are over 150 episodes for new listeners to catch up on, with new ones releasing every week! 

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS

Ripped from the Headlines

Ripped from the Headlines is a Law and Order true crime podcast. You may be wondering what that means, and to be honest, it’s a pretty original and unique concept. Each episode looks at a case that inspired a Law and Order episode retelling. If you’re curious what era of Law and Order they choose, the show sticks to the original early seasons. That means their cases are often older ones, but the issues are still present and important. I’ve written about Ripped from the Headlines before in a full review of the true crime and T.V. podcast. Like most of this true crime podcast list, Ripped from the Headlines uses humor to add levity to the dark and sensitive subject matter. The setup also lends itself to some laughs. Each episode has one host recapping the episode while the other tells the true case that inspired it. 

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS

Ear Hustle

Ear Hustle is my favorite new find. And it’s not your average true crime podcast. Instead of focusing on the gritty and mysterious, Ear Hustle gives the mic to people incarnated to tell their stories and give listeners an unflinching look at what it’s like to be imprisoned all across the world. Ear Hustle is deeply refreshing, educating, and emotional. All the episodes offer listeners a way to connect and understand the current state of the prison industrial complex and the people it affects. Ear Hustle is an excellent podcast for activists, community members, and true crime fans—essentially, Ear Hustle is a must listen to for everyone. The hosts and guests get into topics related to getting released and re-entering society, along with how prison has affected their lives and their loved ones.

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS | Transcripts

Read more: I Am Tired of True Crime

Murder’s a Drag

I hope you’ve picked up on a theme in these true crime podcasts. They focus on the victims, the systems that lead to these crimes, and how we can help other survivors and prevent these crimes. Murder’s a Drag is no different. With a particular focus on crimes against the LGBTQ+ community, Murder’s a Drag, hosted by a drag queen, features deep dives into crimes, the people who were impacted, and how to see these crimes as more than statistics but real people with lives that were lost. Old, new, famous, and not-so-famous crimes and murders against the queer community are discussed and given the voice of someone from within the community. There is not a lot of humor on the true crime podcast, but Murder’s a Drag is a respectful podcast worth a listen. 

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS 

Web Crawlers

Like RedHanded and Sinisterhood, Web Crawlers is a humorous, slightly paranormal true crime podcast. And if you’re a fan of holiday-themed crimes, there are a few each season! And the paranormal aspect is extremely slight in Web Crawlers, so if that’s not your thing, don’t worry. The mystical or supernatural parts of the show are things like scary clowns, mysterious deaths, and spooky highways with haunting pasts. What I liked about Web Crawlers is the banter and fun the hosts have despite talking about all manner of crime, murder, and mystery. That humor might be helpful for listeners who want to delve into the world of true crime without getting scared, sad, or, in general, too affected by the content matter. 

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS

What Did You Do?!

What Did You Do?! is closer to a traditional true crime podcast with the caveat still being on taking a humane look at crimes throughout the last few decades. What makes What Did You Do?! is the hosts’ background in both mental health and social work, giving an often unlooked at portrait of what leads some people to commit such heinous acts. What Did You Do?! is the first true crime podcast that I was sucked into. The hosts use humor a lot to keep themselves from breaking down while talking about cases, and it helps. There was a note in one of their recent episodes that the earlier episodes aren’t always so sensitive to the subject matter. The last episode aired back in August and was the only 2021 episode. There is a sporadic episode release history, so I hope the hosts come back and release more.

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So Violento, So Macabro

So Violento, So Macabro is a new true crime podcast that started in September 2021. I wish I could recommend So Violento, So Macabro based more on what I heard, but this is a predominately Spanish-speaking true crime podcast, though the crimes happen all around the world. I did understand some of it because the hosts switch back and forth between Spanish and English. When I found So Violento, So Macabro, I knew I wanted to recommend it on this true crime podcasts roundup list, even if I couldn’t understand it. What I could understand showed that the hosts research deeply into the people involved in the true crime cases. I even fell into listening to the podcast, catching snippets of what was discussed. For non-Spanish-speaking listeners, some of the English sections go on for several minutes before slipping back into Spanish.

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Dreams of Black Wall Street

Dreams of Black Wall Street is the most historical true crime podcast on this list. Instead of covering new cases or singular cases, in general, Dreams of Black Wall Street investigates the history, society, and times that led to one of the most heinous domestic terrorist attacks. For people who aren’t aware of the history or events surrounding the Tulsa Race Massacre, Dreams of Black Wall Street offers listeners a historical account of the events from a historian and investigative journalist perspective. It’s a historical investigation into a society and the people who needed to destroy it. There are interviews, reports, and more, making Dreams of Black Wall Street a perfect true crime podcast for listeners who want to hear from more than just the hosts. 

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Welcome to Your Fantasy

Despite my dislike of most true crime media, I have a soft spot for Goodfellas and Casino-style true crime adaptations of money, drugs, and sex stories. Welcome to Your Fantasy tells the story of Chippendales’s sex and greed-fueled history. The structure of interviews, storytelling, and recapping made Welcome to Your Fantasy give me the same feelings and vibes of those classic films. I thought the story of Chippendales ended with scanty tuxedos and muscle dancers. Welcome to Your Fantasy opened my eyes to the deep history of desire, mayhem, and debauchery that went on behind the scenes. Hosted by a historian, Welcome to Your Fantasy looks at the roots that led to the rise and fall of Chippendales told from the people involved in the scandals, dances, and orgies. The final episode aired in August 2021, so there’s no waiting for the next part in the story. Listeners can jump in and listen to the full 11-episode true crime podcast!

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Wounded: A Native True Crime Podcast

Wounded: A Native True Crime Podcast is similar to Missing and Murdered and focuses on crimes against indigenous communities. The main difference is that instead of spending a season on one case, Wounded: A Native True Crime Podcast goes over many cases in each episode. I recommend “Missing and Murdered: Two-Spirit,” an episode that focuses on crimes against indigenous trans and two-spirit communities. I will also note that Wounded: A Native True Crime Podcast is the only true crime podcast I listened to that used content warnings to keep their listeners aware. Wounded: A Native True Crime Podcast is an eye-opening true crime podcast for true crime fans who don’t know the issues indigenous populations face today, right now. There are no jokes on Wounded: A Native True Crime Podcast because nothing about these cases is funny. Touching, informing, and handled with care, Wounded: A Native True Crime Podcast is a required listen for any true crime fan.

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Scam Goddess

If you’re like me and always on the lookout for scams to protect yourself and your loved ones, Scam Goddess is the true crime podcast for you. Each week the host gives listeners an informative heads up on current or past scams to look out for and their ramifications on communities. What I love most about Scam Goddess is the in-depth take on each scam. It’s not just a warning, but an education on how not to be fooled, how to operate safely in our modern world, and more. It’s exciting and entertaining because the host really brings the energy. And I mean Scam Goddess is hilarious. I laughed so hard during every episode I listened to; I couldn’t stop listening. It also reminded me of a humorous Darknet Diaries.

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Crime in Sports

My least favorite of the true crime podcasts I came across was Crime in Sports. Crime in Sports is a true crime podcast that blends humor and sports to fill listeners in on crimes involving players. If you want some sensitivity and thought behind your true crime, Crime in Sports is not the show. Crime in Sports is meant to entertain true crime listeners who wish to avoid the dark side of crimes and focus on stories involving sports players, fans, and coaches in the spotlight. There are almost 300 episodes, with a new one releasing every week for new listeners. What threw me off Crime in Sports was that it seemed to be insensitivity was the point. Make fun of these people, the victims, and the events surrounding the crimes in the cruelest ways possible. But I know they have a lot of fans and community, so that type of take is obviously welcomed. Just not by me.

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That’s Spooky

For fans of odd-true crime podcasts like Web Crawlers and Redhanded, That’s Spooky is a gay, funny, and unusual true crime podcast just for you. So, it’s a true crime but featuring animal stories, weird happenings, and more from around the world. While That’s Spooky is funny, I didn’t die laughing like I did with Scam Goddess, but it is more amusing and a bit more sensitive than Crime in Sports. I love the segments like Spooky Gay Bullshit and Outterwatch. But what stuck out to me about That’s Spooky is the community surrounding the podcast. People are involved in finding cases for the hosts to research and talk about, check-in on past cases, and more. Listening to That’s Spooky makes it feel like you’re part of the podcast and the true crime spookyville the hosts create.

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O.C. Swingers

For true crime podcast listeners who enjoy the cinematic and reporting experience, O.C. Swingers follows the recent case against Dr. Robicheaux and Cerissa Riley. The ten-episode series is over—or at least the first season is—so if you’re unaware of the case, this is the perfect place to start. I didn’t think I’d have a favorite theme song, but O.C. Swingers had great musical production. The theme song and undertones played during the show are all really good and rather catchy. Like many true crime podcasts on this list, O.C. Swingers features interviews, recordings of broadcasts about the cases, and more. I enjoyed how the host works to paint the picture for some of the recordings so that the listener has a clear image of the scene.

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS | Transcripts
Transcripts available on each episode’s page

Up Against the Mob

Up Against the Mob is another true crime podcast for fans of Goodfellas and Casino. From a retired attorney who prosecuted several mob members, Up Against the Mob recounts stories from the host’s past trying the mob in court. That means all the stories featured on Up Against the Mob are told from the perspective of someone who was involved in the cases. There’s humor and storytelling, so don’t think you’re just going to get the boring parts of court retellings. The host aims to give a complete look at the mobsters he has tried. It’s very dramatic and honestly does feel like listening to an audio of Casino. There’s even an episode about the real people behind Goodfellas! Since Up Against the Mob is hosted by a former federal and state prosecutor, the episodes and stories have a closer and more personal feel. 

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS | Transcripts
Transcripts available on each episode’s page

I hope you can find at least one new true crime podcast to your list of favorites. If you did, consider subscribing, reviewing, pledging to their Patreon, donating, or sharing. Your support always goes a long way.

Bonus true crime podcasts

These podcasts and blurbs come from previous versions of this list. We still recommend them! This article is routinely updated to bring you the new best of the best true crime podcasts.

Missing and Murdered: Finding Cleo

From the same CBC team that brought us Who Killed Alberta Williams? comes Finding Cleo, once again shedding light on the unsolved cases of Indigenous women in Canada, in this case that of Cleopatra Semaganis, who was taken from her family by the Canadian government’s initiative to re-home Indigenous children with white families. This is a skillfully designed podcast, from the sound to the script to the interviews, and sensitively structured. Reporter Connie Walker, an Indigenous woman as well, is a conscientious investigator who never lets the work become exploitative or sensationalist as Walker tries to help the family find closure in their missing person’s case. (Editor’s note: This blurb appeared on a previous edition of this article, written by Elena Fernández Collins.)

The Doorstep Murder

From the BBC Scotland, comes this look into Scotland’s most infamous unsolved murder: Alistair Wilson’s shooting on his doorstep in 2004. Host Fiona Walker makes it very clear up front that she is not out to solve this case, and the materials she’s collected in the podcast is restricted to what she could obtain both legally and ethically. The Doorstep Murder’s episodes are broken down into the different aspects, like an episode fully dedicated to the gun, and one on the impact the crime had on the family and the town.

Death in Ice Valley

This cooperative investigation between the BBC World Service and the Norwegian NRK is a this serialized podcast looking into the Isdal Woman, an unidentified woman who was found in the icy wilds of Norway in the 70s. The weaving of the story and the slim pickings for interviews mean they need to blend in personal stories and outside resources (such as a Norwegian crime writer who’s done a lot of research about the Isdal Woman), in ways that are sharply reminiscent of parts of S-Town.

Bundyville

OPB and Longread’s investigation into the Bundy family and the Bundy standoff is hallmarked by reporter Leah Sottile’s lengthy, in-depth interviews, sharp observations, and in-person experience of both people and place. If you don’t know about the Bundys, the super brief rundown is that Cliven Bundy, a rancher in Bunkerville, Nevada, initiated an armed standoff against the federal government due to cattle-grazing and raising livestock laws. Sottile’s approach to the Bundys is tone-perfect: factual, but empathetic; empathetic, but without approval for their actions.

Pretend Radio

Pretend Radio is not fiction; these are people’s real lives about pretending to be people they are not, fictionalizing their own existence. True crime and psychology interlock with some of the strangest interviews and audio clips I’ve heard in a while from a podcast. The anthology opens with the three-part investigation into the Word of Faith Fellowship and an interview with an escapee from an environment involving things like mass beatings and abusive discipline. Pretend Radio is one of the most innovative approaches to this realm of true crime podcast, a respectful host who builds a story from the ground up with no doubts as to what the reality is.

Bear Brook

In 2015, new forensic techniques were applied to the Bear Brook murders, a cold case surrounding the discovery of four bodies inside of two barrels, discovered in 1985 and in 2000. They went unidentified until DNA profiling determined they were all maternally related, and advanced forensic testing determined the areas in which they lived the longest. Host Jason Moon, along with the NHPR team, dive into the history, the break this case had with the advances of the twenty-first century, and the ripple effects throughout the community.

Alibi

Alibi is an award-winning radio story and true crime podcast from South Africa, a response to a desperate plea of innocence from Anthony deVries, a man incarcerated for double murder and robbery under apartheid. Follow journalist Paul McNally and co-presenter Freddy Mabitsela through these old secrets as they try to uncover what really happened at a supermarket in 1994, only a few weeks before their first democratic election. This a story about racism and skewed justice systems, about how politics touches everyone’s lives.

Undisclosed

At a time when justice runs rampant over civil rights, digging into wrongful convictions in the U.S. justice system is a necessary part of uncovering the flaws, failures, and biases in the actors participating in that system. Originally created as a spin-off of Serial and following the continuing story of Adnan Syed, Undisclosed presents cases of wrongful conviction with the careful consideration afforded by people dedicated to advocacy for marginalized peoples. They present legal matter, like court recordings and interviews, and journalistic items, like press conferences and news reports.

Darknet Diaries

Living in the digital era that we live in now, tales of cyber crimes run rampant, sensationalized and overblown or underrated and underreported. Indie true crime podcast, Darknet Diaries, dives deep into the types of crimes that hit very close to home right now. The technological aspect is explored in depth and in an accessible fashion for all listeners with stellar production values. Jack Rhysider is an incredible host with both a flair for the dramatic and a conscientious mind for fact-checking and narrative building. (Editor’s note: This blurb appeared on a previous edition of this article, written by Elena Fernández Collins.)

The Dream

Hailed as one of the best investigative podcasts of 2018, The Dream goes deep into what it means to be involved in MLMs, multi-level marketing companies. Jane Marie is the host of a podcast that dives into pyramid schemes that often target women, who invest large amounts of sums and never make any of that investment back. The research, investigation, and undercover work involved in this podcast is breathtaking, especially considering the dangerously litigious nature of several of these companies.

The Lost

This five-part miniseries from Radio New Zealand is a cautiously intimate exploration of five missing people cases in by Canadian-Peruvian reporter Paloma Migone. This is a sensitive podcast, built up from interviews with witnesses and remaining family members, that hopes to both re-examine the evidence and bring out the beating heart of these lives left bereft so they are more than just the paperwork.

The Dropout

The story of Elizabeth Holmes has attracted attention since 2015, when a journalist first questioned the validity of their revolutionary blood-testing methods. The Dropout is one of the must-listen investigative podcasts of 2019, which goes deep into Holmes’ conspiracy and the Theranos company. This podcast contains edited testimony from the Holmes trials, a fascinating look into the con artistry involved in science and business, and how the word genius leverages trust.

Curtain

Out of Australia comes Curtain, an independent podcast about the racism faced by Indigenous Australians in the justice system, hosted by Amy McQuire, an Indigenous Darumbal reporter, and Martin Hodgson, an advocate for Indigenous prisoners. This serialized investigation is about Kevin “Curtain” Henry, accused of murder in 1992, but takes as its big picture the rampant issue of wrongful convictions of Indigenous people. It’s a smartly designed podcast, with descriptive, clear storytelling on the part of the hosts, spine-tingling musical choices, and an extremely respectful approach to talking about the murder and the victim.

Sound Africa: They Killed Dulcie

The newest season of this radio documentary podcast out of South Africa deals with the unresolved assassination of Dulcie September, an anti-Apartheid activist. Sound Africa, in conjunction with Open Secrets, calls out the systematic forces that exiled her, from her work, her country, and her history. This is a heart-wrenching, incisive look into the life of an erased activist, who deserves justice and respect for the struggles she endured to help end Apartheid, and the power of government-enforced espionage over political activists.

74 Seconds

A Peabody-winning podcast from Minnesota Public Radio, this is the story of the 74 seconds of Philando Castile’s death and every painful second afterward. They are straightforward coverage of the trial of Jeronimo Yanez with a second-by-second narrative of Castile’s death and deep coverage into the cultural and societal context surrounding both Castile and Yanez. Even knowing how this ends, 74 Seconds is a must-listen for anyone who wants an in-depth understanding of the current face of racism in policing and the courts.

Sick Sad World

Sick Sad World is a podcast hosted by two Black hosts, Jasmine and Mari, look at both true crime and paranormal, bringing many much-needed perspectives, including actively participating in creating a non-ableist space within the true crime community. I highly encourage listening to the episode “Marginalized in True Crime”, between Mari and guest speaker Kitty, where they discuss how privileged lenses approach true crime stories and investigations and why there’s a need to support marginalized voices.

The Fall Line

The Fall Line focuses on the missing people of marginalized communities in the Southeast, on uncovering information and presenting their family’s stories so that anyone who may have information can come forward. The first season, about missing twins Dannette and Jeannette Millbrook in 1990, is an experience in frustration and despair as law enforcement appears uninterested in helping the family and, when the girls turn 17, remove them from the missing children’s database. It’s infuriating and depressing, but necessary work, and the people behind this podcast execute it with passion and tenderness.

Fruit Loops

This energetic, high-powered podcast covers the subject of serial killers of color, which are often either ignored or totally skewed in media coverage. Hosts Wendy and Beth have such magnetic chemistry and infectious laughter on mic that it’s hard to not get swept up into their ventures. Their racial and gender analysis is crucial to their breakdowns, especially when tackling cases where certain angles are overlooked due to systemic racist barriers.

Uncover: The Village

The third season of the CBC’s Uncover tackles the serial killer lurking in Toronto’s Gay Village, where for eight years, men disappeared and no murderer was sought until the arrest of Bruce McArthur in 2018. The police are now looking into cases going back to 1975. Justin Ling covered the story at the time, and is now here to investigate deeply into the case that went ignored due to sexuality, skin color, and systematic oppression. Ling’s treatment of this case falls in line with the CBC’s classic honest and respectful handling of true crime, while creating a riveting experience.

The Unseen

Out of the UK comes this calm, clear podcast covering missing people and unsolved cases. Host Caprice has a very precise and structured manner of speaking, partly using a script that has been carefully written to have a strong narrative arc. Caprice has ensured a solid presentation of facts without lingering on gory details, a small amount of speculation, and overall, a very respectful and kind discussion of cases that deserve to be heard and known.

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