2024 – The Year I Discovered True Crime Podcasts

 Catherine Dilts

This year had the usual ups and down. Some more sad than usual, like my father passing in March at the age of 89. Some stressful, like remodeling half our house.

Under the column listing happy events was discovering the wonderful world of podcasts. Especially true crime. I’m often late to the party, whether it concerns technology or current entertainment. I don’t know why it took me so long. I love multi-tasking, and podcasts are perfect when I’m running, cooking, or gardening.

Because I have only just begun to explore podcasting, my list of favorites will be limited.

Small Town Dicks: My younger sister nagged me until I gave this podcast a listen. Yeardley Smith (yes, the voice of Lisa Simpson from the animated TV show) hosts police detectives and brothers Dan and Dave, plus a revolving cast of law enforcement professionals. They discuss criminal cases in – you guessed it – small towns. Many are cases Dan or Dave were involved in, and they offer an insider view of criminal investigations, explaining terminology and procedure.

True Crime Garage: Two guys sitting in a garage, drinking beer and discussing heinous crimes. I presume Nic and the Captain are recycling those bottles, because of their one rule stated in every episode: don’t litter. Their cases can be international, but are mostly set in the US. At the end of unsolved cases, they offer their opinions on whodunit. They also cover solved cases, missing persons, and serial killers.

The FOX True Crime Podcast: host Emily Compagno has access to major players, and is backed by an investigative team. Compagno often interviews survivors of crime, with compelling episodes on people who lived to tell their stories despite horrific attacks. I’ve heard podcasts as varied as how juries are selected, serial killers, how DNA can solve cold cases, Secret Service protocol, and the Jonestown massacre.

Hell and Gone: tagline – “There is no such thing as a small town where murder never happens.” Catherine Townsend receives pleas for help from people all over the US seeking answers about their missing or murdered loved ones. Her cases seem to take her frequently to the rural South. Multiple episodes are often needed to chase down clues and suspects.

Single case podcasts: They typically follow cases from beginning to end, unfolding as new evidence is uncovered, or arrests are made.

One of the first podcasts I listened to was The Piketon Massacre. Almost an entire family was wiped out by another family, at least partly over a child custody dispute. Drug use, trailer houses, and infidelity abound in a case with hillbilly feud tones. The criminals are tried, and verdicts declared in spring of 2023. The hosts Stephanie Lydecker, Courtney Armstrong, and Jeff Shane are currently following The Idaho Massacre.

Burden of Guilt, hosted by Nancy Glass, covers the bizarre story of a two-year-old blamed for the death of her infant brother. The accused began to pursue the truth as an adult, not willing to accept her family’s blame. Glass reveals the challenges of solving a forty-year-old cold case with the forensic evidence of that era. Not to mention uncooperative family members.

Status Untraced: A missing person case. In 2016, Justin Alexander went to the Parvati Valley in India seeking adventure, enlightenment, and maybe coincidentally drugs. Host Liam Luxon retraces Justin’s route, and discusses the theories surrounding his disappearance. 

My newest discovery might be a stretch to fit in my true crime library.

Tooth & Claw: True Stories of Animal Attacks. Sounds sensationalist, but this podcast is hosted by wildlife biologist and animal behavior expert Wes Larson. His brother Jeff and friend Mike add commentary that can be juvenile, but funny. I’ve learned a lot about animals, and what to do if you encounter one in the wild. Dos and don’ts, what your chances are of surviving an attack, and whether the species is endangered or thriving. Great to listen to while I’m running trails through thick trees.

I’m missing a few that I’ve given a listen, because I’ve forgotten the podcast name and can’t find it at the moment.

A word of caution: if listening to true crime or animal attack stories while running, do not have earbuds in both ears, in case something or somebody tries to sneak up on you. And prepare for many jump scares caused by garter snakes, birds, and bunnies bursting across the trail right when you’re listening to the really scary parts. Please note the perfectly harmless snake slithering for cover in the photo, the cause of many a jump scare.

I’m certainly not the expert here. There are so many true crime podcasts, I’ve barely dipped my toe in the pond. I’m sure there are plenty you could recommend, and please do, in the comments.

What Are We Afraid Of?

I was recently asked to judge a writing contest called “Winter Hauntings”.  Local writers were invited to create eerie stories with a local flavor.  The most difficult part?  It can only be about 1,000 words. 

On January 29th, the winners will be announced, and local community theater actors will read the three finalists. It’s a great event with music and it was sold out last year. 

All of the entries were excellent and there were some that were outstanding.  Now, there were also a couple that I didn’t find scary.  

But what frightens us is subjective, isn’t it?  What scares the bejesus out of me might not have any effect on you.   

I went to Google to see what scares most of us and it, in itself, was kind of scary. Chapman University does an annual study to find out what frightens Americans the most.  Please allow me to list their findings for 2024:

1) Corrupt Government Officials (65.2%)

2) People I Love Becoming Seriously Ill (58.4%)

3) Cyberterrorism (58.3%)

4) People I Love Dying (57.8%)

5) Russia Using Nuclear Weapons (55.7%)

6) Not Having Enough Money for the Future (55.7%)

7) US Becoming Involved in Another World War (55.0%)

8) N. Korea Using Nuclear Weapons (55.0%)

9) Terrorist Attack (52.7%)

10) Biological Warfare (52.5%)

Chapman University explains that American’s fears rise and fall with current events, but they also correspond to social media.  For example, ranking high but not in the top ten was a fear of rising crime, in spite of the fact that rates of crime continue to fall. 

Other fears that scored high were serial killings and mass shootings.  Yeah, I get that. 

Going into the study, it was generally thought the number one fear would be the Fear of Public Speaking.  Nope…it came in at 29%, a few percentage points below the fear of sharks. 

I was personally disappointed that Climate Change didn’t figure higher in our list of fears. 

So, to wrap up, none of the stories I judged for the contest had anything to do with corrupt government officials. There were ghosts, killers, and ravenous birds, but no cyberterrorism or nuclear weapons.

I, however, still enjoy a good story with mists in a swamp, noises in the dark, mysterious footsteps on the stairs, and a good jump scare.  

I wish you a Happy New Year that is completely devoid of any of the listed scary items.  Vampires and zombies, we can deal with them.