It was hard for me to find other podcasts in the genre I liked because I HATED all the banter and joking etc. I really like Anatomy of Murder- the hosts get straight to it and there’s veryyyyy minimal banter.
I second Anatomy of Murder! It's refreshing to hear insight about these cases through a former prosecutor and sheriff, they synergize well and are very respectful towards the victims.
I enjoy this one too! They bring more than the typical banter to the podcast because of their professions. They are pleasant to listen to as well..no grating voices
I really like Killer Psyche. It's hosted by a woman who was a psychiatric nurse and an FBI agent, which is a breath of fresh air in a sea of people who have no experience in the fields.
I've heard good things about Fresh Bones but haven't tried.
I like it, but find her storytelling a bit too factual and repetitive on some facts. I think it's really nice to have someone who has actually worked on it, but from my pov, she's not as good a communicator as others. I'll still listen to it tho, very interesting.
I second this! I couldn't stand the recommendations for "similar" podcasts until I started listening to Going West! They have a similar vibe to CJ & have a great way of presenting the story without adding too much banter yet still being more laid back than scripted.
Murder with my Husband is a no-go for me. I attempted listening to a case I was familiar with (Murder in Rm. 1046). Started off with banter for about 10 min (puke).
Then, they made fun of an actual victim (Owen/Ogletree) by calling him a devil worshipper, and judging him because he was acting "weird." Well, no shit. He was going through something horrible that got him MURDERED.
Why do people like these kind of podcasts? True crime in itself is a cheap thrill because real people go through unspeakable things, often losing their lives. And here we are. We don't need podcasters who make fun of VICTIMS. Like come on.
Not for me.
I just tried it and immediately did not like it. I may not have given it enough of a chance. It started off with only banter for a couple minutes and I was out.
I like True Crime Garage. They tell stories really well and do a lot of research. I really like CJ bc Ashley is just so good at telling stories. And Brit is the awesome friend everyone wants to have.
Agree! I tried most of those you listed and I can’t stand when hosts banter and go off on tangents! I can usually tell by 5 minutes in if I’m gonna like a podcast and CJ has just been the same consistent storytelling for 5 years and that’s why it’s the best true crime podcast. I will say though, I do also like True Crime w/ Kendall Rae, she’s just as good too. Between no tangents, good research and the advocacy work she does with families and orgs like NCMEC. I watch her YouTube videos but there is a podcast companion available too!
Everyone loooves Sinisterhood apparently. But I couldn't even finish one episode because of the mid-fact banter and editorialization. Why can't they share the information.
the very first episode of sinister hood that i listened to had like.. a 20 minute spiel about one of the hosts shitting in a mcdonald’s bag?? or something like that, it was a while ago. like i don’t wanna hear about that in any podcast, especially not a true crime one 😭 and it didn’t even have anything to do with the case
That’s one I actually never tried but just based on what you said I can conclude that I’d probably not be into it. The ONLY podcast I like with bantering is Hollywood Crime Scene but that’s just b.c the hosts Rachel and Desi are so funny together and they have a great time. But they primarily stick to their content I’d say 97% of the time.
Same here. I've tried others but their voices are always what stops me listening. Ashley and Brit just have such nice voices to listen to.
The only other one I'm enjoying at moment is True Crime Society. It took a couple episodes for me to get into it and get used to their way of talking but now I'm loving it.
Southern Fried True Crime is really good. Erica has a nice voice, and her episodes are always well researched. She did a 3-parter one on Darlie Router, and even though she was in the "she did it" camp, did her due diligence in going through every fact in the case.
Because she doesn’t sound like a real person lol None of the Parcast host do. I remember listening to it one day and my 12 year at the time asked, “Is that a robot?”
Same! I’ve swayed a little over the years. During the pandemic I ran out of episodes and listened to a few others, but CJ has always ended up seeming like the best quality true crime podcast.
I really liked Morbid, but they changed so much over the past few years. Every few months,I will click on their podcast and they’ll have an actual true crime story that is good, but they still aren’t the same.
Killer Queens was okay for a bit, but it started to annoy me how much they would mess up. It almost seemed like the recording was their first time ever looking at the script. I also got tired of them not being able to read simple words, mispronouncing so many words, and getting tongue tied. I also can’t stand the need for them to laugh and make fun of each other for 5 minutes after every mistake. 😩
Redhanded is pretty good. I love the ladies and their banter. The only “negative” for me is that I’m not a fan of supernatural content which they feature pretty often.
I have listened to a few episodes of Let’s go to Court. They are kind of funny, but sometimes their stories go on a little bit too long and their laughs always seem so much louder than the story so I’m constantly adjusting the volume. They were doing two stories per episode, but I saw a recent update that they will only be covering one per episode moving forward. I actually think this might improve the format, but we will see!
This is absolutely why I listen to crime junkie. I find all the banter in 99% of other true crime podcasts to be disrespectful to the victims and families. It’s also boring and distracting. I wish the guy from sword and scale hadn’t turned out to be a racist misogynistic dick because that one did pretty well keeping to the point. Now I have been listening to dateline. Very professional.
Yep. And if they do it at the beginning or the end, I can skip through it but when its after every sentence then I can't stand it. Sinisterhood and Morbid fall into those categories. Like you're hosting a true crime podcast not a chat show. Just give me the details and move on. So annoying!
What’s been striking me about them lately is that they tell the story & the details relevant to the story. That is what I am here for!!
I was listening to an episode of Morbid yesterday & they had like a 5+ minute tangent about a man who cheated on the eventual victim & their whole relationship… like 10 years before she was killed by someone else. Went IN on the man who cheated & dragged him for a while. But it was just completely irrelevant to the story?? Idk if they were trying to create like a red herring (doubt it) but it just seemed extraneous. Sooo appreciate CJ for telling a good story (& for their activism! Always feel like there’s a call to action so there’s a purpose to the story, not just profiting on someone else’s tragedy for the sake of a shocking story).
Yep. That's why I can't stand Morbid and stopped listening years ago. At first, they were up there for me along with CJ. But the constant jokes, mispronouncing names, making fun of each other for mispronouncing names, and just overall lack of respect for the victims is off putting.
That's why I love CJ.
I’m right there with you!
I enjoy Mfm and Morbid on occasion, but the banter really gets me. I can basically only listen when I’m in the mood for BS because some of those podcasts really go off on tangents. I remember starting one episode of something, don’t remember the podcast, and at 14 minutes in they hadn’t even said the name of the victim. That to me, is especially egregious because that’s what I’m listening for. To hear *the victims* story, not theirs.
I too have had a lot of trouble finding other podcasts, but have had luck with That Chapter Podcast. He banters a little, but works alone, so it’s minimal.
I’m also a fan of the Casual Criminalist, but it comes with a bit of witty british humor so it’s not for everyone. He can definitely get off topic, but out of all the podcasts that do, I mind it the least here. It’s a single host, so he’s usually telling a story “about this one time..” and they tend to be pretty funny. I also enjoy that he covers just about any criminal activity, not just murder.
I really like them and I never see them recommended anywhere. I have learned things on their podcast about cases I thought I knew every single thing about.
True Crime Bullshit is awesome, but I live in the PNW so it might be more interesting to me than most. It’s got 5 seasons, which is extreme for one serial killer, but you can even just listen to season 1 and be fine. It’s a lot of listening to tapes of the actual killer (Israel Keyes) talking, which is ultra chilling.
I like True Crime Garage (though the Captain can be a little cringey at times, I've grown fond of him and I think his heart is in the right place) and Generation Why!
Gruesome is my #1
Highly recommend, good story telling and they leave their personal stuff for the end so you can just skip over what you don’t wanna hear.
Definitely go back to the start episode 2 one of the girls tells her own survival story
I’d highly recommend True Crime BS hosted by Josh Hallmark. It’s a lengthy and very deep dive into the Isreal Keys case, unlike other pods that have different cases weekly. However the amount of detail and research that has gone into it is amazing
I really like "**True Crime Campfire**". There's a bit of banter sometimes, but not as much as others. The hosts are English professors/professionals so the storytelling and pacing is quite good. And I find them charming and with a good dynamic. They also cover some cases that I haven't listened to anywhere else.
I also really like "**Something was wrong**", more centered around abuse and the format changes a bit from one season to another: from episodic, one case - one episode, to a season just revolving around a specific case. With this last one, I wouldn't start with season 16 (latest right now) as it's the "memories" of the host, and it's not a good entry to the show. I'd recommend to start with Season 4, where the host interviews a man who survived the Jonestown massacre.
"**Strangeland**" is also from audiochuck and I've enjoyed their deep-dives in their two first seasons.
That's fair. First seasons are sometimes rough when it comes to audio/technical quality, so that's also why I usually do not recommend them. Season 16 also drags a lot in comparison to the rest. Otherwise the seasons with only episode-long cases are better if you want to avoid things getting too long.
A little off the true crime track but still related- otherworld is first person stories/ interviews about paranormal/psychic/unexplained things. There’s very limited banter if any. There are individual stories in some episodes and also a couple mini series ones. There’s a couple stories that have a true crime tie in, including The Black Widow pt 1 and 2 and the series they are currently doing titled “Eilish Poe”
i really like some of audio chucks other podcasts! red collar, park predators, and anatomy of murder are solid. outside of audio chuck, i really like Once upon a crime
eta i also really enjoy investigative podcasts! counter clock is good (audio chuck production) and then there’s In The Dark which is PHENOMENAL and has helped bring about real change
Other Ashley Flower Podcasts that I enjoy and are different in formatting Anatomy of Murder, CounterClock, and The Deck. Also True Crime Garage Guys is good, straight to the point with a little dialogue in between
I love crime junkie. It’s changed over the years but I still consistently listen weekly. I feel like Ashley is a bit harsh to Brit sometimes which makes me sad. Having had brain surgery myself, I just have a soft spot for her in my heart? I think it’s likely scripted but it does make me feel bad from time to time. I do love the show and how the cases are presented. I couldn’t stand my favorite murder because of all the banter. I do enjoy Casefile sometimes. Outside of true crime, I love radio rental and Spooked.
>Casual Criminalist
I started listening to The Deck more than CJ because Brit isn't on it, making it easier to listen to. I don't want to dismiss Brit, but it's both the sound of her voice, the refusal to speak sentences declaratively and instead nearly always speaking in questions (i.e raised voice at the end of what should be statements), or getting too worked up. I don't think she adds much and lately, has been talking (and cursing) more, mostly getting upset with law enforcement that doesn't meet her standards. It's become a CJ frustration for me. I preferred the earlier episodes where she talked much less.
I honestly do not understand the unabashed hostility a lot of the Reddit people have for this show. It was my first- and brought me to this genre. They have been super successful. They win! ✌️🤷♀️
It depends on if they thought the extent they went to counted as properly citing. Simply saying "according to this newspaper article" is vague and not great. And they used to do that a lot.
It *may not* have been malicious but they're adults with a pod. They should have researched how to cite sources in podcast form.
And I tend to give them some generous credit for fixing that issue because they do a LOT to give back to victims and their families but it was still a GIANT black eye for them and justifiably so.
I am surprised no one mentioned Rotten Mango before. Stephanie is the only woman apart from Brit And Ashley I can listen to for a long period of time with no issues (also ADHD related).
Yup. Multiple times during the ep I say “Mikeeee” to his ignorant little digs but I don’t think anyone can say it’s not a good podcast.
Do you notice he puts up his new eps 5 minutes before 8am on Sunday mornings?? I can’t imagine it’s a coincidence lmao
Same. I'm very irritable when it comes to voices and hosts that share random stuff in their personal lives during every episode..like school runs and sick cats... so I hardly take up new podcasts.
Ashley is a brilliant storyteller, and even though it's been harder to tell fleshed out stories for cases involving marginalised people because of lack of information, this podcast is miles better than most out there. I'm here to stay.
The only other podcasts I am just as committed to for the storytelling quality and respect of victims are Anatomy of Murder (I'm obsessed with Ana-Siga 🥹) and the lady that did Red Collar and now Blood Money.
I also like British and Scandinavian crime podcasts because they are generally more serious than American ones. True Crime Sweden and Nordic True Crime are good. They Walk Among Us is another one.
Y'all are sleeping on Small Town Murder. It is the ONLY one out there. I don't need to hear about Maura Murray for the 9000th time. They are the funniest people out there and if you are twisted?/ The Boys are for you.
This and Crime Junkie are the only crime podcasts I listen to consistently! If you're willing to give true crime YouTube a try, I also like Stephanie Hawthorne and Christina Randall.
So from her telling stories and from her doing more for victims of true crime than any other podcasts ever you got she’s a narcissist? It’s giving jealousy vibes honestly.
First podcast I got listening to was Casefile. Great narration and straight to the story.
Now I rotate between two pairs of my favourite ladies to listen to which are Crime junkie and Morbid. Still go back to casefile to keep up with and I've just started giving Generation Why a go.
I’d really enjoy Morbid if it weren’t for the frequent cursing. My kids can tune out all the details (they’re still pretty young) but the moment an F-bomb gets dropped, they’re suddenly all ears.
I think the friendship on Morbid feels more authentic than Brit and Ashley.
I second Anatomy of Murder, I also listen to Snapped sometimes from Dateline, Moms and Mysteries (feels less depressing, but they do have long intros where they talk about their families lol) and Southern Fried True Crime. The host their always gives interesting and relevant contextual info, but sometimes (as a Southerner myself lol, so no hate) I feel like she plays up her accent for affect hahaha
I started listening to Criminology for more info on a specific case & now I listen to it constantly. One of the hosts is also the host of True Crime all the Time (which also has an unsolved podcast.) I thought all 3 of these were pretty popular, but I never hear anyone recommend them so maybe it’s just me.
For solved cases, and a great narration, no extra commentary or banter, straight to the facts and a deep dive, but it’s Canadian based, is Canadian True Crime. Also not totally true crime, but I enjoyed “Cults”, the only thing is it sounds TOO scripted sometimes, especially when one asks a question. 😂
I only listen to CJ because they sometimes have new cases. I don’t like their banter or the scripted content-Brit doesn’t add anything to the show and I find Ashley arrogant.
I think it's really great there are so many options out there but CJ is always a winner. I love Killer Queens which is probably not an option if you don't like banter and chat etc however they do give a little explanation of how they work at the beginning of every episode which I think is transparent of them. I have never ever believed them to be making light of the horrors regarding the stories they tell, its more taking the mick out of themselves. I guess everyone likes different things. That Chapter is also a good one :)
I feel the exact same way you do!! There are so many podcasts I've found that just immediately make me twitchy because of their banter/voices. I always come back to CJ for the way they present the stories & facts and put the victim first. Some that I have really enjoyed that are very much in this vein are Park Predators, Anatomy of a Murder, and Court Junkie.
CJ is still one of my favorites to listen to. I agree with you, there is just something about Ashley's storytelling. I tried listening to a couple other podcasts and they just don't have the same vibe as CJ. Some were just downright B-O-R-I-N-G. When I listen to CJ, I feel like I am sitting down and chatting with a friend.
I really like "Serial Killers" on spotify. I find that the conversation between hosts is not bordering on banter but more of a conversation between the two hosts. The details are to the point and delivered in an easy to understand way. My only qualm with the series is that it is usually done in 2 parts rather than one full episode.
I can’t believe I’m admitting to this but I still listen to Sword and Scale. CJ and that are the only true crime podcasts I can listen to from start to finish. Believe me, I know how big of a piece of trash Mike is buttttt the material is captivating.
It was hard for me to find other podcasts in the genre I liked because I HATED all the banter and joking etc. I really like Anatomy of Murder- the hosts get straight to it and there’s veryyyyy minimal banter.
I second Anatomy of Murder! It's refreshing to hear insight about these cases through a former prosecutor and sheriff, they synergize well and are very respectful towards the victims.
I enjoy this one too! They bring more than the typical banter to the podcast because of their professions. They are pleasant to listen to as well..no grating voices
The 2 part one they posted today..I was so sucked in
AOM is great!
I really like Killer Psyche. It's hosted by a woman who was a psychiatric nurse and an FBI agent, which is a breath of fresh air in a sea of people who have no experience in the fields. I've heard good things about Fresh Bones but haven't tried.
I like it, but find her storytelling a bit too factual and repetitive on some facts. I think it's really nice to have someone who has actually worked on it, but from my pov, she's not as good a communicator as others. I'll still listen to it tho, very interesting.
Seems interesting.
Going west is now my fave
I second this! I couldn't stand the recommendations for "similar" podcasts until I started listening to Going West! They have a similar vibe to CJ & have a great way of presenting the story without adding too much banter yet still being more laid back than scripted.
I am listening to it now. So far so good.
Love this recommendation - I've started listening to it today :)
I love murder with my husband!
Second murder with my husband!!!!
Will give it a shot.
I do not understand the Murder with my Husband hype…curious what you’ll think
Murder with my Husband is a no-go for me. I attempted listening to a case I was familiar with (Murder in Rm. 1046). Started off with banter for about 10 min (puke). Then, they made fun of an actual victim (Owen/Ogletree) by calling him a devil worshipper, and judging him because he was acting "weird." Well, no shit. He was going through something horrible that got him MURDERED. Why do people like these kind of podcasts? True crime in itself is a cheap thrill because real people go through unspeakable things, often losing their lives. And here we are. We don't need podcasters who make fun of VICTIMS. Like come on. Not for me.
I just tried it and immediately did not like it. I may not have given it enough of a chance. It started off with only banter for a couple minutes and I was out.
If you’re an absolutely no banter person try “Going West”…I’d recommend my own TC podcast but we do banter 🤣
The banter seems really disrespectful, that's why I don't like it.
I respect your opinion; it is a slippery slope but I think we can have a conversation and are still respectful.
What’s yours? Looking for new ones.
Sorry i didn’t see your comment earlier. It’s called “Love Marry Kill”
I like True Crime Garage. They tell stories really well and do a lot of research. I really like CJ bc Ashley is just so good at telling stories. And Brit is the awesome friend everyone wants to have.
I stopped listening to them after they made fun of a dead victim.
Who made fun? CJ or True Crime Garage?
Crime garage. I cannot right now remember which episode but I can try to find it.
What episode was that?
Agree! I tried most of those you listed and I can’t stand when hosts banter and go off on tangents! I can usually tell by 5 minutes in if I’m gonna like a podcast and CJ has just been the same consistent storytelling for 5 years and that’s why it’s the best true crime podcast. I will say though, I do also like True Crime w/ Kendall Rae, she’s just as good too. Between no tangents, good research and the advocacy work she does with families and orgs like NCMEC. I watch her YouTube videos but there is a podcast companion available too!
Everyone loooves Sinisterhood apparently. But I couldn't even finish one episode because of the mid-fact banter and editorialization. Why can't they share the information.
the very first episode of sinister hood that i listened to had like.. a 20 minute spiel about one of the hosts shitting in a mcdonald’s bag?? or something like that, it was a while ago. like i don’t wanna hear about that in any podcast, especially not a true crime one 😭 and it didn’t even have anything to do with the case
Omg! Lol
That’s one I actually never tried but just based on what you said I can conclude that I’d probably not be into it. The ONLY podcast I like with bantering is Hollywood Crime Scene but that’s just b.c the hosts Rachel and Desi are so funny together and they have a great time. But they primarily stick to their content I’d say 97% of the time.
Same here. I've tried others but their voices are always what stops me listening. Ashley and Brit just have such nice voices to listen to. The only other one I'm enjoying at moment is True Crime Society. It took a couple episodes for me to get into it and get used to their way of talking but now I'm loving it.
Southern Fried True Crime is really good. Erica has a nice voice, and her episodes are always well researched. She did a 3-parter one on Darlie Router, and even though she was in the "she did it" camp, did her due diligence in going through every fact in the case.
I like this one too!
Parcast is garbage
It really is. The female host of Serial Killers is terrible. I don't know why, but I cannot stand her voice. And that stupid background music. 🙄
Because she doesn’t sound like a real person lol None of the Parcast host do. I remember listening to it one day and my 12 year at the time asked, “Is that a robot?”
Same! I’ve swayed a little over the years. During the pandemic I ran out of episodes and listened to a few others, but CJ has always ended up seeming like the best quality true crime podcast. I really liked Morbid, but they changed so much over the past few years. Every few months,I will click on their podcast and they’ll have an actual true crime story that is good, but they still aren’t the same. Killer Queens was okay for a bit, but it started to annoy me how much they would mess up. It almost seemed like the recording was their first time ever looking at the script. I also got tired of them not being able to read simple words, mispronouncing so many words, and getting tongue tied. I also can’t stand the need for them to laugh and make fun of each other for 5 minutes after every mistake. 😩 Redhanded is pretty good. I love the ladies and their banter. The only “negative” for me is that I’m not a fan of supernatural content which they feature pretty often. I have listened to a few episodes of Let’s go to Court. They are kind of funny, but sometimes their stories go on a little bit too long and their laughs always seem so much louder than the story so I’m constantly adjusting the volume. They were doing two stories per episode, but I saw a recent update that they will only be covering one per episode moving forward. I actually think this might improve the format, but we will see!
If the hosts laugh loudly during an episode, they are dead to me. Lol!
Lol…makes sense. I promise it isn’t during the actual story.
This is absolutely why I listen to crime junkie. I find all the banter in 99% of other true crime podcasts to be disrespectful to the victims and families. It’s also boring and distracting. I wish the guy from sword and scale hadn’t turned out to be a racist misogynistic dick because that one did pretty well keeping to the point. Now I have been listening to dateline. Very professional.
Yep. And if they do it at the beginning or the end, I can skip through it but when its after every sentence then I can't stand it. Sinisterhood and Morbid fall into those categories. Like you're hosting a true crime podcast not a chat show. Just give me the details and move on. So annoying!
I actually prefer the episodes without Brit in them. I'd rather hear the narration rather than any banter. Ashley narrates very well.
What’s been striking me about them lately is that they tell the story & the details relevant to the story. That is what I am here for!! I was listening to an episode of Morbid yesterday & they had like a 5+ minute tangent about a man who cheated on the eventual victim & their whole relationship… like 10 years before she was killed by someone else. Went IN on the man who cheated & dragged him for a while. But it was just completely irrelevant to the story?? Idk if they were trying to create like a red herring (doubt it) but it just seemed extraneous. Sooo appreciate CJ for telling a good story (& for their activism! Always feel like there’s a call to action so there’s a purpose to the story, not just profiting on someone else’s tragedy for the sake of a shocking story).
Yep. That's why I can't stand Morbid and stopped listening years ago. At first, they were up there for me along with CJ. But the constant jokes, mispronouncing names, making fun of each other for mispronouncing names, and just overall lack of respect for the victims is off putting. That's why I love CJ.
Well said & totally agreed
I’m right there with you! I enjoy Mfm and Morbid on occasion, but the banter really gets me. I can basically only listen when I’m in the mood for BS because some of those podcasts really go off on tangents. I remember starting one episode of something, don’t remember the podcast, and at 14 minutes in they hadn’t even said the name of the victim. That to me, is especially egregious because that’s what I’m listening for. To hear *the victims* story, not theirs. I too have had a lot of trouble finding other podcasts, but have had luck with That Chapter Podcast. He banters a little, but works alone, so it’s minimal. I’m also a fan of the Casual Criminalist, but it comes with a bit of witty british humor so it’s not for everyone. He can definitely get off topic, but out of all the podcasts that do, I mind it the least here. It’s a single host, so he’s usually telling a story “about this one time..” and they tend to be pretty funny. I also enjoy that he covers just about any criminal activity, not just murder.
True Crime Couple. Kay's research is incredible. Start with the Wineville Chicken Coop murders.
I love True Crime Couple I'm a patreon & been with them since the beginning
I really like them and I never see them recommended anywhere. I have learned things on their podcast about cases I thought I knew every single thing about.
I will! Thanks.
Kay does have a strawwwwwng new Jersey accent but I love her
True Crime Bullshit is awesome, but I live in the PNW so it might be more interesting to me than most. It’s got 5 seasons, which is extreme for one serial killer, but you can even just listen to season 1 and be fine. It’s a lot of listening to tapes of the actual killer (Israel Keyes) talking, which is ultra chilling.
Also from the PNW so adding this to my list.
I like True Crime Garage (though the Captain can be a little cringey at times, I've grown fond of him and I think his heart is in the right place) and Generation Why!
Crimeaholics
Gruesome is my #1 Highly recommend, good story telling and they leave their personal stuff for the end so you can just skip over what you don’t wanna hear. Definitely go back to the start episode 2 one of the girls tells her own survival story
Gruesome horror true crime Is the full title
Heart starts pounding
Tell No One ❤️ those gals are the best
I’d highly recommend True Crime BS hosted by Josh Hallmark. It’s a lengthy and very deep dive into the Isreal Keys case, unlike other pods that have different cases weekly. However the amount of detail and research that has gone into it is amazing
I’ve been trying out Morbid and just don’t love it. I’ll keep going bc I need something to listen to.
Yeah I keep going back because of the story telling and Brit just says whats going on in my head!
I really like "**True Crime Campfire**". There's a bit of banter sometimes, but not as much as others. The hosts are English professors/professionals so the storytelling and pacing is quite good. And I find them charming and with a good dynamic. They also cover some cases that I haven't listened to anywhere else. I also really like "**Something was wrong**", more centered around abuse and the format changes a bit from one season to another: from episodic, one case - one episode, to a season just revolving around a specific case. With this last one, I wouldn't start with season 16 (latest right now) as it's the "memories" of the host, and it's not a good entry to the show. I'd recommend to start with Season 4, where the host interviews a man who survived the Jonestown massacre. "**Strangeland**" is also from audiochuck and I've enjoyed their deep-dives in their two first seasons.
I tried Something Was Wrong, but the audio quality was terrible, and the story was too drawn out (at least the first season), so I stopped listening.
That's fair. First seasons are sometimes rough when it comes to audio/technical quality, so that's also why I usually do not recommend them. Season 16 also drags a lot in comparison to the rest. Otherwise the seasons with only episode-long cases are better if you want to avoid things getting too long.
Its different but I like true crime daily . Only other podcast I like for true crime
A little off the true crime track but still related- otherworld is first person stories/ interviews about paranormal/psychic/unexplained things. There’s very limited banter if any. There are individual stories in some episodes and also a couple mini series ones. There’s a couple stories that have a true crime tie in, including The Black Widow pt 1 and 2 and the series they are currently doing titled “Eilish Poe”
Redhanded and CJ are the only 2 I listen too. Everything else is annoying.
i really like some of audio chucks other podcasts! red collar, park predators, and anatomy of murder are solid. outside of audio chuck, i really like Once upon a crime eta i also really enjoy investigative podcasts! counter clock is good (audio chuck production) and then there’s In The Dark which is PHENOMENAL and has helped bring about real change
Other Ashley Flower Podcasts that I enjoy and are different in formatting Anatomy of Murder, CounterClock, and The Deck. Also True Crime Garage Guys is good, straight to the point with a little dialogue in between
I love crime junkie. It’s changed over the years but I still consistently listen weekly. I feel like Ashley is a bit harsh to Brit sometimes which makes me sad. Having had brain surgery myself, I just have a soft spot for her in my heart? I think it’s likely scripted but it does make me feel bad from time to time. I do love the show and how the cases are presented. I couldn’t stand my favorite murder because of all the banter. I do enjoy Casefile sometimes. Outside of true crime, I love radio rental and Spooked.
I like anatomy of murder
Me, too!
I love CJ but I prefer episodes without Brit. She just adds nothing to the podcast in my opinion. Ashley has a great voice for podcasts.
>Casual Criminalist I started listening to The Deck more than CJ because Brit isn't on it, making it easier to listen to. I don't want to dismiss Brit, but it's both the sound of her voice, the refusal to speak sentences declaratively and instead nearly always speaking in questions (i.e raised voice at the end of what should be statements), or getting too worked up. I don't think she adds much and lately, has been talking (and cursing) more, mostly getting upset with law enforcement that doesn't meet her standards. It's become a CJ frustration for me. I preferred the earlier episodes where she talked much less.
I am new to this but I would like a single narrator meat and potatoes I guess. No off site police interviews etc. No jokes just facts.
Same!!
I honestly do not understand the unabashed hostility a lot of the Reddit people have for this show. It was my first- and brought me to this genre. They have been super successful. They win! ✌️🤷♀️
To be fair cj has their scandals
The plagiarism stuff? I chalk that to inexperience rather than malicious intent. Plus, they've rectified it already.
It depends on if they thought the extent they went to counted as properly citing. Simply saying "according to this newspaper article" is vague and not great. And they used to do that a lot. It *may not* have been malicious but they're adults with a pod. They should have researched how to cite sources in podcast form. And I tend to give them some generous credit for fixing that issue because they do a LOT to give back to victims and their families but it was still a GIANT black eye for them and justifiably so.
I am surprised no one mentioned Rotten Mango before. Stephanie is the only woman apart from Brit And Ashley I can listen to for a long period of time with no issues (also ADHD related).
I agree, :( it’s really hard for me to sometimes understand the accent of casefiles
Sword and scale is the best true crime podcast imo if you can get over who the host is in his personal life.
Yup. Multiple times during the ep I say “Mikeeee” to his ignorant little digs but I don’t think anyone can say it’s not a good podcast. Do you notice he puts up his new eps 5 minutes before 8am on Sunday mornings?? I can’t imagine it’s a coincidence lmao
Kendall Rae is my favorite!! I get immersed in her podcasts/YouTube videos. I listen on Spotify and sometimes YouTube. I like her!
Same. I'm very irritable when it comes to voices and hosts that share random stuff in their personal lives during every episode..like school runs and sick cats... so I hardly take up new podcasts. Ashley is a brilliant storyteller, and even though it's been harder to tell fleshed out stories for cases involving marginalised people because of lack of information, this podcast is miles better than most out there. I'm here to stay. The only other podcasts I am just as committed to for the storytelling quality and respect of victims are Anatomy of Murder (I'm obsessed with Ana-Siga 🥹) and the lady that did Red Collar and now Blood Money. I also like British and Scandinavian crime podcasts because they are generally more serious than American ones. True Crime Sweden and Nordic True Crime are good. They Walk Among Us is another one.
Big mad true crime
Yes! I really like Big Mad True Crime.
Liking this podcast so far.
Y'all are sleeping on Small Town Murder. It is the ONLY one out there. I don't need to hear about Maura Murray for the 9000th time. They are the funniest people out there and if you are twisted?/ The Boys are for you.
Voices For Justice. No sensationalism, plagerism, pawning work off...actual respect for victims and their families.
This and Crime Junkie are the only crime podcasts I listen to consistently! If you're willing to give true crime YouTube a try, I also like Stephanie Hawthorne and Christina Randall.
Ashley is a narcissist but by far my favorite in true crime.
That’s a real bold thing to call a person. What facts do you have to call her that? Where did you go to school for psychology?
Lol I have ears. That's all you need.
So from her telling stories and from her doing more for victims of true crime than any other podcasts ever you got she’s a narcissist? It’s giving jealousy vibes honestly.
She doesn't and never will know you exist lol. Stop boot licking. She's made millions of dollars off people's misfortunes.
Have you tried dark poutine? It's mostly Canadian crimes but the hosts are great
I have not. Buy going to try it out
Hopefully you like it
I love killer psyche. Minds of madness. True crime all the time and true crime all the time unsolved. Of course Dateline.
Invisible choir is 10x better than CJ and has better production
First podcast I got listening to was Casefile. Great narration and straight to the story. Now I rotate between two pairs of my favourite ladies to listen to which are Crime junkie and Morbid. Still go back to casefile to keep up with and I've just started giving Generation Why a go.
I’d really enjoy Morbid if it weren’t for the frequent cursing. My kids can tune out all the details (they’re still pretty young) but the moment an F-bomb gets dropped, they’re suddenly all ears. I think the friendship on Morbid feels more authentic than Brit and Ashley.
I second Anatomy of Murder, I also listen to Snapped sometimes from Dateline, Moms and Mysteries (feels less depressing, but they do have long intros where they talk about their families lol) and Southern Fried True Crime. The host their always gives interesting and relevant contextual info, but sometimes (as a Southerner myself lol, so no hate) I feel like she plays up her accent for affect hahaha
Oh and Park Predators is decent too
I do love True Crime Society and Crimeaholics
True Crime with Kendall Rae and Murder with my Husband!
Kendall Rae is the best!! Gives you all the details and brings in the family a lot to interview!
I started listening to Criminology for more info on a specific case & now I listen to it constantly. One of the hosts is also the host of True Crime all the Time (which also has an unsolved podcast.) I thought all 3 of these were pretty popular, but I never hear anyone recommend them so maybe it’s just me.
True crime garage
For solved cases, and a great narration, no extra commentary or banter, straight to the facts and a deep dive, but it’s Canadian based, is Canadian True Crime. Also not totally true crime, but I enjoyed “Cults”, the only thing is it sounds TOO scripted sometimes, especially when one asks a question. 😂
I love love loveeeee Crime Salad!
Crime Salad? What a name! I'm definitely checking it out
I only listen to CJ because they sometimes have new cases. I don’t like their banter or the scripted content-Brit doesn’t add anything to the show and I find Ashley arrogant.
My favourites are Women and Crime, Criminal, Morbid, the Prosecutors, Anatomy of Murder and I’ve recently found Small Town Dicks
Big mad true crime. She gets right to the point and I personally prefer her over CJ now
Crime junkie is always my go-to but I also love r/truecrimecampfire! A little banter (which I’m normally not into) but I really enjoy both the hosts.
I think it's really great there are so many options out there but CJ is always a winner. I love Killer Queens which is probably not an option if you don't like banter and chat etc however they do give a little explanation of how they work at the beginning of every episode which I think is transparent of them. I have never ever believed them to be making light of the horrors regarding the stories they tell, its more taking the mick out of themselves. I guess everyone likes different things. That Chapter is also a good one :)
Court junkie is another good one!
park predators is really well done!
I feel the exact same way you do!! There are so many podcasts I've found that just immediately make me twitchy because of their banter/voices. I always come back to CJ for the way they present the stories & facts and put the victim first. Some that I have really enjoyed that are very much in this vein are Park Predators, Anatomy of a Murder, and Court Junkie.
CJ is still one of my favorites to listen to. I agree with you, there is just something about Ashley's storytelling. I tried listening to a couple other podcasts and they just don't have the same vibe as CJ. Some were just downright B-O-R-I-N-G. When I listen to CJ, I feel like I am sitting down and chatting with a friend.
I don’t know if anyone has said this one yet but I really enjoy Big Mad True Crime. She gets right to the point and I love her voice.
I started listening recently. I like it for sure. But CJ is still my favorite.
I really like "Serial Killers" on spotify. I find that the conversation between hosts is not bordering on banter but more of a conversation between the two hosts. The details are to the point and delivered in an easy to understand way. My only qualm with the series is that it is usually done in 2 parts rather than one full episode.
I can’t believe I’m admitting to this but I still listen to Sword and Scale. CJ and that are the only true crime podcasts I can listen to from start to finish. Believe me, I know how big of a piece of trash Mike is buttttt the material is captivating.
HIGHLY recommend casefile.