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.

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Google Podcasts | Website | RSS

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.

Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Website | RSS

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. 

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

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!

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS

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.

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS

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.

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS

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.

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS

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.

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS

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.

The post The 20 Best True Crime Podcasts (Beyond Serial and S-Town) appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

S-Town came out, a lot of people listened to it, and then we all had to sit in its dank humidity and process what the hell just happened without a storm in sight. The Reception section of S-Town’s Wikipedia page claims reception was “mixed” yet the best the original author could find for positive reception was half-hearted praise inside of otherwise negative reviews. This spawned a year-long game of Wikipedia telephone between three users, all trying to figure out how to not be one-sided in the page’s coverage. User Sdkb ends the conversation with a proposition that they “may get around to revising the section” in October of 2018. Nothing has changed since.

Much like the podcast-listening public, Wikipedia power users haven’t really looked back at the legacy of S-Town since the dust settled. The movie rights were sold and currently sit on a shelf. Some of the residents of Woodstock attempt to make a documentary about McLemore and suicide prevention that crowndfunded 2% of its goal just as the U.S. entered lockdown. 

Well, I’ve just listened to this s-show of a s-cast twice-over, giving it every opportunity to surprise me with hidden depths I hadn’t noticed in 2017 when I was a younger, straighter person. The headline might betray how that little adventure went. 

Here’s why S-Town sucks s-, actually. This article will discuss suicide, homophobia, and ableism.

“S-Town” is a coward’s name. 

John B. McLemore’s pet name for Woodstock, AL of “shittown” stuck in host Brian Reed’s craw for some reason, and I cannot for the life of me figure out why. Serial as a company didn’t have the guts to actually name the podcast feed Shit-Town. The show attempts to have its cake and eat it too by having Reed introduce the podcast as Shit-Town, but no mainstream coverage of the show would be able to call it Shit-Town, and they knew that. Nobody at Serial or This American Life had the fortitude to put a swear in the podcast title. It’s a pointless act of rebellion against oneself to even attempt to imply the real name of S-Town is, in fact Shit-Town. 

In a way, their cowardice and non-commitment saves the show, because “Shit Town” is… not a winning title, while “S-Town” comes with a free little mystery. 

Nobody knows what the hell that means and will naturally be curious. Reed deploys footage of John B. McLemore in the first chapter, listeners buy in to the spectacle of this odd Alabama man, then the title-drop happens.  A masterful setup and payoff that uses the same amount of interview tape as would’ve been necessary if S-Town had lived out its original life of a This American Life segment (likely with a quirky TAL title like “A Different Kind of Woodstock”). 

Read more: The 20 Best True Crime Podcasts (Beyond Serial and S-Town)

S-Town is overcooked mush.

Flash back to July 2015. Serial is about to start its second season in December, during which the production will quickly discover the most popular podcast in the world had far more people in the United States Army fandom than previously expected. The Bergdahl season becomes the Halloween 3: Season of the Witch of the Serial-verse. A not-well-received new direction in a franchise that, ironically, was originally constructed to go in new directions. 

To the five people who got that reference: you’re welcome.

Alongside season two, a joint venture between Serial and This American Life has begun work, with a crack team of journalists all putting their heads together to massage a story out of a messy situation. As S-Town comes to fruition two important things happen: 

1. Serial 2: Buy Other People’s Interview Tapes-oogaloo confirms that even a meh season of Serial can carry season one’s momentum. 50 million downloads in four months’ worth of momentum.  
2. The 2016 election brings slice-of-life stories from the south back with a vengeance.  

Left-leaning outlets the country over love a good story that quote-unquote humanizes people who live in a place that is considered low-class, and the South fits that bill. They either dig up somebody who breaks so many molds it boggles the mind (“check out this kid, he’s Black and gay and is campaigning for Trump!”) or they find somebody with a thick accent who dispenses nuggets of down-home wisdom. 

John B. McLemore ticks both boxes, and the Serial and This American Life crew see that. This is it: Serial will have its Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

There is little reporting as to who did what specifically on S-Town, but the credits betray how many distinct cooks are in the kitchen. The first episode has two credited producers, four editors, and a fleet of staff. A stark contrast to Serial season one’s three producers and seven other people name-checked in the credits in total. 

Annual video game franchises these days tend to sacrifice things like music in favor of output. Where productions that have one person with a distinct voice tend to have memorable soundtracks, the good tunes are outliers in homogenized media gauntlets like Assassin’s Creed. S-Town’s editorial voice is the Call of Duty soundtrack of podcasting. It’s there, but I couldn’t tell you anything about it five minutes after turning it off. They threw the stylistic choices of The Mystery Show, This American Life, and Serial in the teleporter from The Fly and what came out wasn’t human.

Brian Reed isn’t a reporter; he’s a character.

Setting aside the Deadspin-inspired snark for a moment: it would be disingenuous to approach S-Town from the perspective This American Life reporter and Sarah Koenig surrogate Brian Reed chased this story in hopes of shifting a metric ton of Blue Apron subscriptions. In media res he appears to have just been a doe-eyed little journo ready to host Serial: Alabama Nights, in which we learn the legal system and cops can also suck outside of Baltimore.

(Editor’s note: Rest in peace, Deadspin, and godspeed, Defector. We love you.)

Koenig got Adnan Syed and a murder case to pick apart.  All he’s got is a captivating motormouth with a thick accent and opinions by the bushel. The audience quickly comes to understand what McLemore’s whole deal is because, arguably, there’s more than enough tape of him talking about himself. 

I’ve listened to S-Town twice in two weeks and have poked around the internet a fair bit. All I can tell you about the guy is he’s an award-winning journalist who occasionally visits conferences, uses he/him pronouns, is monogamous, and straight (maybe?). There’s two versions of Reed at odds with each other throughout the podcast, yet they rarely reveal any actual information about him that adds to his own case. They seemingly exist just to fight. 

There’s post-production Reed, with a script and gift of hindsight that allows him to project a This American Life host persona. Confident in everything, sounds like he has a stack of papers in front of him. 

Then there’s boots-on-the-ground Reed. This version of Reed has a singular goal of talking and pursuing talking to people. He’s armed with the tools and practice of a seasoned journalist, yet seemingly unaware of how his actions are visible to other human beings. At one point in the story Reed walks past one of the Florida Cousins at his hotel. Time freezes as post-production Brian explains that, at the time, he has realized who the cousin was too late to initiate conversation without seeming creepy. He specifically cites a worry about coming off as stalking her. 

We’re then told boots-on-the-ground Reed decides the best way to not seem like a stalker is to get the cousin’s room number from the front desk and then slip a message under the door. Y’know, the exact thing a stalker would do. 

At one point he makes the comment “I don’t like to judge the way people live, and so I hadn’t the few days I was there with Mary Grace and John.” A hell of a statement to make in the middle of a highly-edited podcast in which every clip, every morsel of information provided, exists because it was judged to benefit S-Town. I don’t judge the way people live (until we’re in the edit bay). 

S-Town tells the story of a queer disabled man through a straight(?), abled lens. 

Thousands of words have been written on how S-Town monumentally fucked up reporting the story of a queer neurodivergent man who takes his own life. Twitch streamers who see a video game character kill themselves and stop the stream to give out suicide prevention resources and talk about what just happened do more due diligence than Reed or anyone on his team did in S-Town.  

There’s a lack of seeking outside sources and perspectives that’s so pervasive it feels… intentional. Like an episode of television filmed during COVID lockdown that has a marked lack of side characters or extras due to on-set limitations. Reed crams all of McLemore’s personal experiences with sexuality into the show without onboarding anyone to act as a liaison for the queer experience. No bisexual people from similar upbringings (and there are many) are brought on to speak about being queer in the south. We instead get a kindly old gay man who has only seen a fraction of himself represented in media through Brokeback Mountain. A man who Reed only found accidentally. 

If the story of John B. McLemore must have been told, there’s so much more to contextualize and discuss about him. More people could have been interviewed. Real discussions about queerness and mental health could’ve happened. S-Town could have actually said something. 

Instead it’s a bland nothingburger. A journalist pokes around a small town long enough to force a vague narrative out of effectively nothing. He gets to have his big Sarah Koenig’s Best Buy phone booth moment by revealing his decision that McLemore’s mental struggles are all wrapped up in a neat bow labeled “mercury poisoning,” despite mountains of evidence to suggest there’s more at play. 

This show’s approach to mental health is so backwards it’s embarrassing. Doubly so when one reminds themselves this only came out four years ago. 

Read more: Ripped from the Headlines: A Review

The reveal of the B in John B. McLemore is such weak sauce they serve it at Fazoli’s.

After several years of reporting and trying to figure out how to land the S-Town plane, someone somewhere has the idea to wrap everything in a bow by having Reed recite a particularly Berendt-esque monologue to act as a button on John B. McLemore’s life. After seven hours of tomfoolery, the one thing left to do is explain what the B. in his name meant.

The fact that the B in his name is a vestigial connection to the lineage is pointless fluff in comparison to the fact Reed seemingly has testimony that McLemore’s mother literally prayed for “a genius.” 

If there ever was a smoking gun on an environmental influence for what might have fucked up McLemore, a mom obsessed with having a “smart” child and zero idea what undiagnosed neurodivergencies look like is a goddamn just-fired Howitzer. Much like the pre-thunderstorm heat wave analogy at the beginning of this piece, the one thing S-Town does best is establish a concept before swiftly abandoning it for something else. S-Town begins as yet another murder mystery. It then discovers there is no murder to be found. It then continues for five more episodes, for some reason. 

Neither fiction nor responsibly-reported nonfiction, S-Town now exists as this nebulous thing that few remember fondly. In short: it’s shit.

(Editor’s note 5/19/21: This piece has been updated to correct the spelling of John B. McLemore’s name.)

The post Why Your Podcast Sucks: S-Town appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

But what exactly is a documentary podcast? They tell true stories through a heavily produced / polished style consisting of music, many interviews and tight editing that feels like a documentary film. They’re the most difficult and most time consuming podcasts to create. Many exists but only a few pass as the best. The following list is a glance at some of the very best documentary podcasts.

This American Life

Episode: When Patents Attack!

About: Who knew patents were so mysterious and twisted? This episode sheds light on the dark side of patent trolls and how they can bankrupt a company or make a company billions. This episode was so popular This American Life produced a sequel appropriately titled, When Patents Attack Part 2! The runtime is about one hour.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

American Fiasco

Episodes: Season 1

About: United States has always been on the cusp of a soccer revolution but soccer fever never seems to fully arrive before the excitement burns off. This was never more true than in 1998. The U.S. men’s World Cup team had a golden opportunity to create magic but the team’s internal drama destroyed their chances of becoming soccer royalty. Cinderella story to Fiasco. Disclaimer: You do not need to be a soccer fan to enjoy this show! Each episode is easily digestible, running about 30 minutes each.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

Criminal

Episode: Deep Dive

About: Criminal tells one-off stories each episode and one of their finest productions is Deep Dive. A Los Angeles rescue diver who never turns down a dive mission meets his match in this suffocating and heart pounding story. The runtime is only 20 minutes.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

Related reading: Phoebe Judge Pulls Double Duty with Criminal and This is Love

The Leap

Episode: 17 and Me

About: A college student needs money. So he donates sperm. Every week for years. Fast forward twenty years later, that poor college student is now a loving husband and dad. But his college “job” soon catches up with him as dozens of teenagers began to seek out their biological father. An easy listen in less than one hour.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

Mystery Show

Episode: Belt Buckle

About: Mystery Show was one of those rare podcast that broke the mold for what a podcast could be… unfortunately it was plagued with it’s own internal dramas and was canceled. But fortunately for us, the first season will always be online — I highly suggest Belt Buckle be your first listen of this Mystery Show. It’s a simple story with incredible heart and soul. Runtime is roughly one hour.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

Planet Money

Episode: How Four Drinking Buddies Saved Brazil

About: How does a country re-establish a new currency? For Brazil, all it took was four buddies drinking beer at a bar and advising a plan. This is truly a fascinating look into how the Real was created out of thin air — This episode is a short listen and you don’t need to be an economics geek to enjoy!

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

Reply All

Episode: Long Distance pt. 1 and pt. 2

About: Reply All creates shows around a very wide theme: the internet. These two episodes are mysterious and eye-opening that pull back the curtain on international tech scammers. Who are these people who spam for a living and why do they do it? Each part runs about one hour.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

S-Town

Episode: Season 1

About: From the producers of This American Life and Serial podcasts, S-Town is a strange one. I can’t describe it without giving anything away so just give it a listen and enjoy. A NSFW heads up, there are many F-bombs dropped and it pours with vulgar language. S-Town is a seven part series, each part running roughly one hour.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

Related reading: The 20 Best True Crime Podcasts (Beyond Serial & S-Town)

Serial

Episode: Season 1

About: This is the most popular podcast of all time so if you haven’t listened to it, you’re probably on this page by mistake. Can’t recommend season one enough. It was the OG that started the true crime podcast craze that’s been ignited over the last couple of years. The season is 12 episodes and each episode runs about one hour.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

Related reading: 8 of the most chilling podcasts like Serial

Snap Judgement

Episode: Bait and Switch

About: Snap tells different gripping stories every episode. If sneaky drug smuggler stories are your thing, then this episode is all you! It’s like an episode of Narcos in podcast form. Sketchy characters, big money, and the true tale of a man who always had to keep one step ahead. This is a one-off episode running about 30 minutes.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

StartUp

Episode: S3 E4 Dear Music Fans

About: StartUp tells the stories of you guessed it, tech startups. Grooveshark was an illegal music website that attempted and (almost) succeeded in changing the music industry forever. The creators of this site saw an unbelievable rise to fame but also a heartbreaking crash to reality. This episode runs about one hour.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

Embedded

Episode: The League

About: Embedded is an extremely polished show that tells many stories pressing in today’s political climate but they also tell non-political stories about hidden worlds. Like this episode about the NBA D-League and the struggle of many players trapped in this world of almost making it to the big court of the NBA. So much hard work and sacrifice, this episode follows two players as they try to earn their way out of the D-League. This episode runs about 45 minutes.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

30 for 30

Episode: The Trials of Dan and Dave

About: ESPN’s series consistently incredible stories and The Trails of Dan and Dave is one their best. This story falls back to the 1992 ad campaign by Reebok promoting two athletes. A campaign that equated to the company’s entire year’s marketing budget of 25 million. The campaign was supposed to be a massive lift ended up being a complete bust, ending in gut wrenching embarrassment. This episode runs about one hour.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

Related reading: Jody Avirgan can’t just stick to sports hosting both ESPN’s 30 for 30 Podcast and FiveThiryEight Politics

Up and Vanished

Episode: Season 1

About: Serial spawned a slew of true crime podcasts but only one has caught similar attention and its for good reason. Up and Vanished starts like any other true crime show but as the show progresses more information comes to light and suddenly (almost in real time) the case begins to unravel. It’ll be hard to top the ending to this season, it was spectacular and if you haven’t heard this one and are a fan of mysteries — go listen now. There’s a reason it’s still on the top charts two years later. Each episode runs about one hour.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

The post The 14 Best Documentary Podcasts appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

Pods Review Pods is a weekly segment where podcasters review fellow podcasts.

The Joe Rogan Experience

Recommended episode: #958 — Jordan Peterson

Hardcore History

Recommended episode: Show 48 — Prophets of Doom

Synopsis of Prophets of Doom: “Murderous millennial preachers and prophets take over the German city of Munster after Martin Luther unleashes a Pandora’s Box of religious anarchy with the Protestant Reformation.”

LONG….but so worth it. Dan Carlin is the best history teacher you’ll ever have. His delivery is impeccable..and his knowledge is unmatched. He tells true stories from the bookshelves of history…that seem completely fictional. And if you’re able to make it to the end of this podcast, you’ll hear about one of the most tumultuous torture acts ever committed. It is stomach churning.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

S-Town

Incredibly popular…and you’ve probably listened to it…but I really liked it. It’s a story about a small town in Alabama. The podcast makes you fall in and out of love with the characters (real people) and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Here is the description from the host website:

John despises his Alabama town and decides to do something about it. He asks a reporter to investigate the son of a wealthy family who’s allegedly been bragging that he got away with murder. But then someone else ends up dead, sparking a nasty feud, a hunt for hidden treasure, and an unearthing of the mysteries of one man’s life.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

The post Pods Review Pods: The Joe Rogan Experience, Hardcore History, S-Town appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

Though relatively harmless and not all that memorable, this line from 2014 reshaped entertainment media and thrust podcasts into the popular mainstream. It’s no “call me Ishmael”, but neither This American Life, Sarah Koenig, the rest of the Serial staff, nor hundreds of thousands of people who initially heard this line realized at the time the importance of what they were experiencing. Before Serial, only 27% of the US had listened to a podcast.

Podcasts became a thing. At least for the time being.

Podcasts existed and were popular with a segment of the population well before Serial launched, but now they were a thing in a more grandiose manner. For the first time, podcasts were part of the monoculture. There was even an SNL skit parodying Serial.

See the Serial spike in search volume in late 2014.

Serial was a true crime podcast analyzing the possible crime, but definite conviction, of Adnan Syed who was accused of killing his girlfriend in 2010. He was issued life in prison without the possibility of parole. Due to the ambiguity in the case, many unanswered questions, and apparently enough reasonable doubt the podcast producers deemed his story compelling enough to be made into a 12-episode podcast.

The monoculture Serial created hasn’t quite been replicated since. The second installment of Serial was popular, but not to the same extent. So was 2017’s hit from the same studio, S-Town. But still not quite the same. Instead, imitators emerged trying to resurrect Serial’s success. Though no podcast succeeded with this mission, the combined force of true crime podcasts came to define the podcast medium as a whole. True crime podcasts reign supreme. Look at the Apple Podcast charts on any given day and you’ll likely see a few inside the top 10.

Currently, Atlanta Monster is the true crime du jour. Before that it was Dirty John. Before that it was S-Town. Before that it was Up and Vanished. You also have the episodic true crime podcasts like Criminal, My Favorite Murder, and others constantly producing podcasts and compelling stories, subsequently keeping the true crime genre top of mind.

How did we get here though? Serial was supposed to propel all podcasts to the mainstream, not just true crime.

Though it’s tough to quantify how this happened, we have qualitative examples of how this happened with other mediums. The easiest proxy is to compare HBO’s The Jinx, and Netflix’s Making a Murderer — two true crime documentary series that in their respective moments entered the monoculture and became watercooler conversation.

For all their marketing firepower, HBO and Netflix have also become incredible engines propagating word of mouth recommendations. Think back to when you first viewed one of those series, chances are your interest was piqued with someone asking “Have you seen The Jinx yet?!” Despite being major names with literally millions of subscribers, both networks still rely on inter-personal recommendations that an algorithm can’t quite reproduce. For whatever reason, true crime lends itself the best to stoking word of mouth recommendations. Maybe it’s people’s desires to talk about their thoughts on the case. Or maybe it’s that weird unspoken social currency of knowing the ending before someone else. Either way, the true crime genre is somehow manufactured to encourage people to share it with others.

The last few years the general public has said “there’s too much tv” and on any given week there are new shows from HBO, Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, FX, Starz, Showtime, Bravo, Comedy Central and a couple other channels you’d like to try out. Actual dozens of new shows you’d like to watch.

Podcasts take this example to the extreme. By most estimates, we’re approaching 500,000 podcasts, and they’re still growing extremely fast. It’s impossible to keep up with all the new podcasts, and because there’s no real discovery mechanism to find new podcasts, word of mouth remains the main driver for new listeners.

While Serial was looked at as propping up podcasts as a whole, instead it became the first real example of how much a podcast’s success is dependent word of mouth recommendations. Though this is largely still the case, there are now more quality true crime examples to diversify the listener base and the fragmentation has quelled any more monoculture podcasts from entering the mainstream limelight.

Podcasts, at least for now, remain a true crime-dominant medium.

The post The Serial Effect: How True Crime Came to Dominate Podcasts appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

Few podcasts have penetrated the mainstream the way Serial has. The team behind the biggest podcast success launched their newest show S-Town, and I told you all about it in my previous article. S-Town only took one week to reach 16 million downloads, which is a fourth of the time it took Serial season two and an eighth the time it took Serial season one.

(If you’d like to listen to my full podcast on this subject, click here or through the player at the bottom of this article.)

S-Town is the love child of Serial and This American Life, taking after both, and standing on its own in a brilliant way. These producers created a new experience for listeners, not only familiar but also a remarkable blend of genres. Let’s go back to the sources and see why their collaboration works so well.

This is Brian Reed’s first podcast as the full time host. Previously, he produced a few of my favorite segments for This American Life including articles from episode 513 “129 Cars,” episode 524 “I Was So High,” and episode 547 “Cops See It Differently.” Brian’s delivery has a genuine and affable quality, and he charms people to acquire the real story someone may be reluctant to share.

On the episode “129 Cars,” This American Life goes to a car dealership to get the real story about the different tactics salesmen use to meet their monthly quota. Brian tries to interview Manny, the top car salesman on the lot, who wants no part of the radio interviews, but Brian persists and finds an opening. Brian’s ability to read anything his subject throws at him, and that he keeps coming back for more, allows him to get close, personal, and emotional stories. Similarly, in S-Town, Brian reads John McLemore’s recommended short stories by Shirley Jackson, Guy de Maupassant, and William Faulkner the first night they meet in Alabama. Brian just picks up “The Art of War” and jumps back into interviewing Manny, showing his dedication to understanding the subject he’s covering

“129 Cars” of This American Life actually has a web-exclusive clip by Sarah Koenig, his future partner on S-Town.

Sarah Koenig is an award-winning journalist and worked at This American Life for a few years, but she may be most well known for her reporting on what was the biggest podcast before S-Town, Serial. The first season covered the flawed case against Adnan Syed for the murder of Hae Min Lee. The second season focused on the story of Bowe Bergdahl who was charged for leaving his post in Afghanistan. Both seasons of Serial are some of the best podcasting in terms of compelling narratives and amazing reporting.

Sidenote: If you enjoyed following Hae and Adnan’s story from Serial season one, check out the podcast Undisclosed. Undisclosed is hosted by three lawyers including Rabia Chuadry who originally brought the Adnan case to Sarah Koenig. They dive deep into the minutia of one case per season and uncover all the details that the state fails to reveal in criminal cases against the wrongfully convicted. Also, my colleague compiled and wrote about 18 true crime podcasts (including Undislosed) if you’re interested.

Starlee Kine is the story consultant for S-Town, so I’m going to take this opportunity to share her previous podcast, Mystery Show, as it also includes long unedited phone calls, exposing quirks and passions, and has multiple mysteries that have satisfying resolutions. I hadn’t re-listened to Mystery Show until I was pulling clips for this episode, and it made me laugh so hard I cried.

Mystery Show was my favorite podcast of 2015. Produced by Gimlet Media for one season, Starlee narrates her quirky adventures as she attempts to solve weird mysteries in her guests’ lives. The first episode is about how Laura rents a video from a store, and the next day the store is shut down and empty! What happened?

My favorite episode by far is called “Britney” where Andrea, a not-so-well-known author, sees a photo of Britney Spears holding Andrea’s book! How’d she get it? Did she like it? Starlee goes to awesome lengths to answer these questions and more. Similar to S-Town, many books are mentioned during the episode. The part that I love best about Starlee’s production style is the long conversations and therapist-style probing questions.

Many of the S-Town producers that you don’t hear on the show are seasoned professionals from This American Life. Julie Snyder is the executive producer of S-Town and is the co-creator of Serial. Before that she was a senior producer at This American Life. Ira Glass, the host of This American Life, was an editorial advisor for S-Town, as was Neil Drumming who is a producer at This American Life, often covering race and family. The whole production team is top notch and it permeates through almost every moment of the show.

Through the combined work of many great producers, and Ira Glass insisting that Brian record everything always, pod-listeners were all able to experience a new level of audio storytelling and start the next chapter of podcasting with S-Town.

I’ve seen many requests on Facebook and Twitter for other podcasts to listen to that can fill the void left after listening to S-Town, but for the same reasons S-Town is special, it’s impossible to give a good recommendation of another podcast. I could list some true-crime podcasts, or human-interest podcasts, or narrative podcasts, but none of them have that literature quality. As much as it pains me to say it, to fill the void left by S-Town, you may need to look into audiobooks.

Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood and Norman Mailer’s The Executioner’s Song are recommendations from my wife Sarah. They’re both close journalistic examinations of murderers, great for anyone who wanted more murder mystery than S-Town provided.

You can find more about S-Town at http://stownpodcast.org. There is also a Facebook group and a sub-reddit, http://Reddit.com/r/stownpodcast.

The post Meet the S-Team, The Producers Behind Serial and S-Town appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

S-Town, an audio masterpiece that takes podcasting to a new level more akin to literature than you may expect, is by the producers of This American Life and Serial. S-Town is a seven-part series, ranging from 48-63 minutes per episode, released all at once, for a total of six and a half hours. It’s binge’able, right now.

The main premise is about John B. McLemore, a clockmaker, in Alabama who contacts Brian Reed at This American Life about a murder that he believes was covered up by the police. However, the show is more about understanding the people of Woodstock, Alabama, what John calls Shit-town, their misunderstandings, their feuds, and their humanity.

Should you listen to it? Yes. The crew behind this show is a group of seasoned producers and hosts, the audio quality and production is top of the line, and it’s just a great story that you’ll want to hear to the end and talk about with all your friends, and hopefully me! I’m @ThePodPlaylist on Twitter.

The podcast This American Life brought the established radio show to the medium of on-demand audio programming, which has always felt like the podcast equivalent of a magazine. Serial tweaked and played with that format to bring podcasts to a new level of popularity and awareness. According to an article in Wired, Serial was modeled after television, ending each episode with a cliffhanger. S-Town is the refinement of the medium to the mature artistic level podcasting deserves.

I compare S-Town to This American Life and Serial not just because they’re from the same creators, but because they are two of the most well-known podcasts, and they produce high-quality programming.

To keep with the theme of a literary novel, each episode of S-Town is a chapter. Through the series and in each chapter, S-Town illustrates the human condition.

In the first chapter, Brian defines proleptic, a word that John uses to describe the town. Proleptic, meaning the representation or assumption of a future act as if presently existing, is a theme throughout the series, with person after person declaring or claiming something to be true, when it hasn’t happened, or at least not yet.

Another prominent theme is horology, the study of time and making clocks. With this, Brian is building a great analogy that sets a couple themes and ideas to hook the listener, but quickly the podcast is no longer following the original investigation. S-Town is about a dead man, but that only scratches the surface.

S-Town isn’t about a town. It isn’t about a murder. It isn’t about a mystery. It’s about people, the people of S-Town, specifically, one person from that town, an amazingly talented and troubled person—John B. McLemore, an antique horologist, conspiracy theorist, poet, semi-homosexual, chemist, masochist, canine caretaker, horticulturalist, altruist, mentor, pessimistic idealist, and atheist, yet he won’t let any of those things define him. He is most often simply described by his friends as a genius, but he is also known by the townspeople for how he can talk for hours and is exhausting and he is not without his quirks. At one point John pisses in his kitchen sink, and this may seem like a random or gross thing to do, but he’s actually conserving water and fighting for his environmental beliefs.

Halfway through the second episode, John becomes a friend, a person who you want to get to know deeply but shield your kids from, a person who is relatable, yet is fascinatingly new and different. S-Town is about the literal and metaphorical maze that John has made, not just for Brian, but for everyone he’s ever contacted, for the townspeople in S-Town, and now for everyone listening. The flow of the show is steady, starting new threads but wrapping up others along the way, and the season ends with a great resolution that is both bittersweet and utterly fascinating.

There’s a lot of commentary in this show about small towns. When I was young, I lived in a small town here in Oregon, and this show has wonderfully captured that small town feel. But there’s a fascinating other side to John’s hatred for the town and people in it. He hates it because he loves it. It’s two sides of the same gold-plated dime.

S-Town is a great name for the show. Throughout that S has different meanings. Here is how I break down the chapters:

1. Chapter I Shittown
2. Chapter II Social
3. Chapter III Self-destruction
4. Chapter IV Scavenger hunt
5. Chapter V Strife
6. Chapter VI Sexuality
7. Chapter VII Struggle

During chapters IV and V, the people of John’s Shit-town try to make their way through the maze of John’s mind, and the world he has created, putting them through tests of will and morality and even making them question themselves and their actions. This may be exactly what John is hoping for. John relays a story of how the people around him see the world and the other people in it, and it takes some time for Brian to fully grasp John’s analogy.

Some people argue that this series exploits the people in and around the story, but everyone agreed to be on the record for their interviews. John, after pushing away the friends in his life, reached out to Brian as a new companion. John not only uses Brian to help solve a murder, and expose the town of Woodstock to the light of day, but John also shares his 53-page manifesto while they were sitting together. John uses Brian as a biographer.

In addition to the incredible story, I find myself moved by the instrumental music used throughout as transitions and interludes. My head bobs as the plucked cello leads into the heavy beat. The music transports and engulfs me into the story.

Even though clips of interviews are played out of order for narrative effect, I can tell when Brian is interviewing based on his skill level, his comfort, and his questions, because during the three years that he devoted to this man and this town, he grows as an investigator and a reporter. I am very excited to see more from Brian Reed and the rest of the crew.

S-Town is neither Serial nor a true-crime podcast. It’s a journey through the degrading mind of a troubled genius. This podcast shines from its use of storytelling and analogies to convey morals and humanity. This isn’t light listening but something that reflects a mirror on yourself and your community. S-Town is a well-produced, enthralling, and thoroughly entertaining podcast. Like a great book, I didn’t want to put it down; in fact, I listened through seven times. S-Town gets better with each repeat experience. I’m so glad that John reached out to Brian, and they went on this journey together.

Listen: iTunes | Stitcher

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The post A Comprehensive Review of S-Town appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

Well, here’s your chance to give another podcast a try.

In talking with several people about their favorite podcasts, unsurprisingly there were a few podcasts that kept popping up: Serial, S-Town, 99 Percent Invisible, The Moth, Pod Save America, Stuff You Should Know, and several others. So, if you like these, what other podcasts might you enjoy?

If you love S-Town and Serial, you’ll enjoy Untold

Serial and S-Town popularized mainstream true crime podcasts, and some can even say they’re responsible for the latest surge in podcasts overall.

Untold tells the story behind the murder of Daniel Morgan that involves both police and political corrupt that lays the foundation for the “most investigated murder in British history.”

If you’re into the true crime genre, and enjoy British accents (who doesn’t?), this is a podcast for you.

Listen: iTunes | Stitcher

Honorable mention(s): They Walk Among Us

If you love 99% Invisible, you’ll enjoy Twenty Thousand Hertz

99PI is one of those great podcasts if you want to learn something new or gain a new perspective on things you encounter on a daily basis. It’s on my short-list for top podcasts available.

Twenty Thousand Hertz tells stories in a similar fashion, however, they’ve narrowed their focus on all things sound and sound design. Ever wonder about the story of the sounds behind the NBC Chimes, Siri, or car engines? This is a podcast for you — I promise you’ll learn something new.

Listen: iTunes | Stitcher

Honorable mention(s): The Memory Palace, Gravy

If you love Pod Save America, you’ll enjoy Grab Them By The Pod

Political podcasts are taking over talk radio (see Podcasts: The New Talk Radio?). Right now, nobody does it better nor is more popular than the folks at Crooked Media who host Pod Save America, Pod Save the World, Lovett or Leave It, and With Friends Like These.

What makes Pod Save America so popular is the combination of the hosts’ intellect, insider knowledge, and humor. If you agree, then Grab Them By The Pod should be your next listen. A former lobbyist and staffer by trade, Jesse was compelled to start a podcast following the latest election. Plus, if the name gives any indication, this podcast is riddled with humor.

Related reading: Podcast Spotlight: Grab Them By The Pod

Listen: iTunes | Stitcher

Honorable mention(s): On The Media, Pod Save the World, Lovett or Leave It, With Friends Like These

If you love Stuff You Should Know, you’ll enjoy No Such Thing As Fish

A lot of people tune into podcasts simply to learn about something new, there’s no shame in that. Stuff You Should Know provides these listeners with vital trivia and backstories to satiate this yearning.

No Such Thing as Fish is a podcast from the Quite Interesting crew. It’s part bar trivia, part Jeopardy, and part stand-up comedy. If you’re one of those people who looks towards their podcasts to learn something new and expand their trivia knowledge base, add this to your list.

Listen: iTunes | Stitcher

Honorable mention(s): We Have Concerns

If you love The Moth, you’ll enjoy Risk!

The Moth has become renown for telling compelling true stories. Recent episodes tell personal experiences with the Berlin Wall and another tells of his encounters with Laurence Fishburne.

Risk! is a hilarious podcast on a similar note. It’s similar to The Moth in that it’s people telling their personal stories, however, Risk! focuses on stories people never thought they’d share in public. It’s also featured some of the most popular names in comedy including Sarah Silverman, Marc Maron, Lisa Lampanelli, and several others.

Listen: iTunes | Stitcher

Honorable mention(s): 2nd Story, True Story, The Monti, Snap Judgment, Story Collider

Special thanks to the Reddit Podcasts community

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