It’s no secret: true crime podcasts are huge in 2025. And it’s no surprise, really. Fascination with the macabre has been prevalent for hundreds of years, so it’s always seeped into our collective cultures and what kind of media we like to consume. Currently podcasts are the #1 most popular way to entertain, educate, and…well, terrify those interested in crime content. As such, this morbid fascination has created a massively saturated market of true crime podcasts. With it consistently topping listeners’ favourite podcast genres around the world, there are a staggering 23,000 true crime podcasts out there.

But with so many excellent true crime podcasts out there, how do you know which are the very best? Which will scratch your educational (and grisly) itch just right?

Well, whether you’re a true-crime aficionado looking for something new to sink your teeth into, or whether you’re a newbie wanting to dip your toe into the crime podcast pool, we’ve got you covered. In this article we’ve chosen 19 of the best true crime podcasts to listen to in 2025. With a wide range of niches, hosts, and approaches, there should be something for everyone here.

19 of the Best True Crime Podcasts to Listen to in 2025

Here are our handpicked 19 best and most chilling true crime podcasts to listen to in 2025. Without further ado, let’s get straight into it…

1. Anatomy of a Stalker

Hosted by: Ruchira Sharma

The best true crime podcast to listen to in 2025 is a sensitively handled and deeply informative entry. Yes, the brand new Crime+Investigation Original Podcast, Anatomy of A Stalker, from Cue Podcasts tops our list. Who are the people that set out to stalk? What motivates their actions? Can they be rehabilitated? These are the questions journalist Ruchira Sharma seeks to answer and more, as she speaks with survivors, forensic and clinical psychologists, and interestingly, stalkers themselves. Not only is the podcast educational, it’s strikingly relevant in the face of Baby Reindeer’s success.

Currently 4% of the UK population will experience stalking this year. Helping to understand why and how stalking happens can help us learn how we can appropriately safeguard people from it, and limit this in the future. Sharma’s podcast makes for an excellent listen overall, and is our top pick on this list of the best true crime podcasts to listen to in 2025.

2. June: Voice of a Silent Twin

Hosted by: June Gibbons (narrated by Linda Mitchell)

This true crime podcast is one of the most fascinating on this list because we hear the direct perspective of one of Britain’s most notorious Broadmoor patients - moreover, someone who didn’t speak at all for 12 years. June Gibbons was not notorious because of the severity of her crimes, rather that both she and her twin sister were locked up with the likes of Ronnie Kray and the Yorkshire Ripper at the age of 19 for only vandalism / arson. Communicating between them in their own adapted language, and speaking to nobody but each other, their story took a darker turn when living in Broadmoor.

This podcast unpacks the entire tragic story chronologically in June’s own words, and Linda Mitchell’s narration helps to support the podcast in being a really insightful and emotional listening experience. June speaks entirely from the heart in such a raw and unfiltered manner, so much so that you can perfectly imagine the locations and situations she talks about. Extremely evocative stuff.

3. Vanished: The Arlene Fraser Murder

Hosted by: Dale Haslam

Late last year, Vanished: The Arlene Fraser Murder, dropped. Chronicling the devastating passing of 33-year-old mother-of-two, Arlene Fraser, in Scotland 1998. The podcast breaks down the events that culminated in Arlene never being found and her husband, Nat, being charged with murder. It’s such an upsetting but vital story that needs to be told, and host Haslam does such with grace and consideration of Arlene’s memory.

Having spoken and gotten consent to discuss certain elements of the case from her family and loved ones, it’s refreshingly respectful in a genre where often really painful stories can be told in a blasé, disconnected way. This podcast feels personal in a way due to its input by those close to Arlene, and it makes it feel all the more a privilege to listen to.

4. Serial

Hosted by: Sarah Koenig

Serial has been around a fair while in the true crime podcast world, but it’s just as fresh and biting as it was in 2014. To be honest, most true crime fans would be aghast if we didn’t put this one on the list, so we just had to. The acclaimed podcast has been the recipient of multiple awards and has topped the Apple Podcasts charts year after year - and with good reason, too. Episodes are organised into case study formats, and the turnaround of each series takes a few years, typically due to the vast wealth of information in them. Exploring a variety of miscarriages of justice and murders - with the recent 2024 series covering Guantánamo - the research, time, and care put into this show is a huge part of what makes it so compelling.

As illuminating as it is moving at times, the blend of personal stories with news-like delivery makes Serial come off as a serious and important piece of media, let alone a really good true crime podcast.

5. In The Dark

Hosted by: Madeleine Baran

In the Dark was an award-winning investigative-journalism podcast that started in 2016, and while it unfortunately got cancelled in 2020, worry not. It was recently announced that Season 3 has been picked up and is in production.

Journalist Madeleine Baran has a great presenting style and cadence, and the content of each episode is straight-forward and fact-heavy. It’s the kind of true crime podcast that makes you as a listener feel as though you’re solving the crimes in real-time along with your host, like a detective duo. So, go on, catch up on the previous seasons and get back to us - you’re welcome.

6. Bruh Issa Murder!

Hosted by: Andre M et al.

In host Andre’s own words, if you've ever been caught up in late-night conversations at a house party, Bruh Issa Murder! feels like home. Its informal, unpretentious, and frank deconstructions of cases are unlike any other podcast’s. This show dives deep specifically into true crime cases involving people of colour; cases which have notoriously been mishandled by law enforcement in America.

With a plethora of hosts of all different perspectives - Andre, Battle, Kelly, and Robert - it always ends up being a really well-rounded show. Commentary is especially focused on the social issues and wider cultural context surrounding the cases themselves, and each host has differing theories. These factors combined with the fact the hosts themselves are naturally likeable and make you want to tune in for their insights and witticisms alone, Bruh Issa Murder! feels at times like a balanced debate show as well as a true crime podcast. We can’t recommend this one enough.

7. Letters from Sing Sing

Hosted by: Dan Slepian

Way back in 2002, NBC News producer Dan Slepian received a letter from a New York state prison. It was from a man serving a 25-year-to-life sentence for murder, ending with a desperate plea: “please, investigate my case.” JJ Velazquez had been convicted of killing a retired New York City police officer, but he maintained his innocence. Dan was sceptical, naturally, as prosecutors had presented five eyewitnesses who swore that JJ was the killer. After all, what were the chances that all five could be mistaken? Well, higher than you’d think.

Letters from Sing Sing recounts the story of a man convicted of murder, a journalist, and the letter that transformed both of their lives. Through a narrative journey into Dan’s investigative process, and snippets of interviews with JJ and those involved in the case, this true crime podcast has become one of the most heart-wrenching of its kind out there. Spoiler alert: the ending had us in floods of tears.

8. Morning Cup of Murder

Hosted by: Korina Biemesderfer

Nowadays, it’s all about short-form content. TikTok, Instagram Reels, 5-minute reads - whatever the format, short-form favours long-form any day. Adapting to this new type of content consumption is key in maintaining your podcast’s popularity in 2025.

In this respect then, Morning Cup of Murder is a genius concept for a true crime podcast - bite-size (or rather, sip-size) snippets of true crime stories ranging from five to fifteen minutes max. Presented by Korina Biemesderfer, who speaks in a clear but speedy stream, Morning Cup of Murder lasts about as long as a morning cup of coffee does, and gives true crime fanatics a similar crime-caffeinated buzz. It means people can get their fix on the go or amidst a busy day-to-day lifestyle. It also means that content can be churned out quickly without any sacrifice to its overall quality - there’s currently 1,038 episodes already out there thanks to their snappy lengths, so fans will never go hungry (or, thirsty?).

9. MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories

Hosted by: John Allen, aka MrBallen

MrBallen is a massively popular YouTube channel with 9.5M subscribers and an established fanbase - but his true crime podcast, MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories, brings in listeners from beyond his channel and around the world. One could argue that this podcast exploded due to his status as an internet personality, but it’s much more than that.

Certainly, John Allen presents with panache and has a magnetic on-screen persona, but the show is so massive simply because it’s one of the best true crime podcasts out there. It gets straight to the point, there’s never any waffling or tonal faux-pas, and it covers a wide breadth of cases and stories to satisfy even the most seasoned of true crime buffs. His work centres heavily on the victims rather than those who committed the crimes against them, and it makes for far more authentic listening. We find ourselves really connecting with this one, and we know you will too.

10. Bad People

Hosted by: Sofie Hagen and Amber Haque

A fan of true crime? Science too? If so, you’ll love this entry on our list. Bad People is hosted by Amber Haque and Dr. Julia Shaw, and it’s a BBC Sounds podcast looking at the psychology side of true crime. Oftentimes it’s comedic, other times it’s serious, but every time it’s backed up by the proper research and statistics. It has some serious credibility thanks to psychologist Dr. Shaw and the experience of true crime documentary maker Amber Haque. Bad People is an intelligently pieced together podcast that really gets under the skin of those who commit crimes, and helps us get at least a step or two closer to deciphering the indecipherable. You might even get a laugh or two in the process. Whatever the case, it’s a challenging and stimulating listen beyond a mere background babble pod.

11. Gangster: The Story of Viv Graham

Hosted by: Livvy Haydock

Viv Graham was, in host Livvy Haydock’s words, a “17-stone man mountain, feared and revered, who came to dominate Tyneside’s nightlife through brutal and uncompromising violence”. His murder by “organised hit” has never been solved and has had lasting repercussions on his community even today.

Haydock’s podcast relies heavily on the stories from Graham’s son, so it has a personal and poignant tinge to ground it - making sure the podcast doesn’t just become a typical outlandish gangster yarn, but more a developed view of a troubled individual’s life and violent actions. The story is quite anxiety-inducing in itself to listen to. Haydock states that certain people were too frightened to talk about him on the grounds of feeling unsafe, despite Graham being dead since 1993. It’s hoped that the resurfacing and retelling of this case might open leads back up to find out who was responsible for his murder once and for all; Graham’s son and mother are keen for closure. As we’re watching this story unfold in real time it’s hard to comment what will happen, but we’re all on tenterhooks here at Podcast.co.

12. Fake Heiress

Hosted by: Chloe Moss and Vicky Baker

A lighter entry on our list, Fake Heiress is about exactly what it says on the tin. Anna Sorokin (aka Anna Delvey) posed as a wealthy heiress in order to build a lavish lifestyle for herself. She scammed countless people, businesses, and banks - the list goes on. Through a series of fake cheques, bank statements, and documents, Delvey walked her way straight into a brand new A-list NYC socialite life. Though many will be familiar with Anna from Netflix’s Inventing Anna, this podcast predates the series.

But, we hear you ask, it’s not new - so why are we telling you to listen to this in 2025? Because not only is it a scandalous story that’s still difficult to believe really happened, but because Fake Heiress is a perfect example of how to do a limited podcast series right. It would be a shame for time to forget about this one, so we’re bringing it back. Chloe Moss and Vicky Baker are just as incredulous as we are as listeners, and bounce off each other well. Each episode is tight-knit and focused, and is totally accessible to those with zero knowledge of Delvey and to those who are superfans. Anyway, dig this one back out and give it a chance, you won’t regret it.

13. Voices For Justice

Hosted by: Sarah Turney

Beyond just interest or entertainment purposes, crime podcasts can be used to seek justice for the victims involved in the cases discussed - and Sarah Turney’s Voices For Justice aims to do just that.

Turney is an incredibly brave host whose traumatic experiences have shaped the concept of her podcast. In 2001 her sister Alissa went missing at the age of 17, and has tragically never been found. So, in 2019, Sarah began a podcast called Voices for Justice, with the first season detailing what happened to Alissa. It was so successful that it even led to a major breakthrough in the case at the time. While Alissa’s case is pending, Sarah has gone on to cover other cases in need of justice. Her podcast makes listeners feel proactive and like they can make a difference. As Turney herself encourages, “don't just listen to their stories, be a voice for them.” We can’t express how much we admire the hard work Sarah puts into not only her podcast, but in supporting survivors.

14. Southern Fried True Crime

Hosted by: Erica Kelley

A true crime podcast with, let’s face it, an excellent name, Southern Fried True Crime comes from native Tennessean Erica Kelley. With over 6 years and 200+ episodes under her belt, Kelley’s podcast is an absolute favourite. Her voice has a calming Southern twang, which is perfect for the storytelling vibe of the show. It doesn’t aim to provide extensive critical analysis, rather to just create quality content for those interested in true crime. And it certainly delivers on that front as she recovers historical and contemporary true crime cases from the South and beyond. Many listeners describe this podcast as their first foray into full-blown fascination with true crime. So, listener discretion is advised - with true crime, once you go full whack, you never go back.

15. The Deck

Hosted by: Ashley Flowers

True crime podcast enthusiasts should be no stranger to Ashley Flowers, the infamous Crime Junkie herself. Her career kickstarted from a keen interest in another podcast on this list, Serial. And if you enjoy her presenting style you should enjoy The Deck, which covers cold cases.

Why is it called The Deck? Well for years, some American law enforcement agencies have replaced the faces of traditional playing card decks with images of missing persons. The aim here being distribution throughout prison commissaries, in the hope that an inmate might recognise someone and come forward with helpful information. Every week, The Deck focuses on a different cold case that has ended up in one of these decks, whilst always keeping it respectful rather than exploitative. Using interviews (and permissions) from the victims’ loved ones, and statements from detectives, The Deck works to raise awareness about the missing people. The goal is that one day, these cards will end up in the right hands, and justice will finally be served for these victims.

16. Bear Brook

Hosted by: Jason Moon

1985, summer, a place called Bear Brook State Park. Three boys are playing hide and seek and tag when they find a barrel, which they kick over. Important to note, they don’t look inside. Nearly two decades later, a second barrel is recovered just 300 ft away from the first. The barrels’ contents lead to the finding of four bodies. Bear Brook launches an investigation into this case that ultimately culminates in New Hampshire Public Radio host, Jason Moon, uncovering a serial murderer, Terry Peder Rasmussen. The search for this killer and its epic conclusion are really powerful, and Moon’s personal connections to the area make it all the more meaningful.

The second season covers another 90s New Hampshire murder, and we’re currently waiting on Season 3 which will no doubt follow suit. This case is a really horrible one when you work out the details, so tread carefully.

17. Can I Tell You A Secret?

Hosted by: Sirin Kale

Recently adapted into a Netflix mini series, the story behind Can I Tell You A Secret? is nothing short of spine-chilling. Journalist Sirin Kale investigates the story of prolific criminal cyberstalker, Matthew Hardy, whose harassment would cause untold fear and terror to over 63 victims. It would always begin with the creation of a fake profile and asking an unsuspecting woman: “hey hun, can I tell you a secret?” His hacking, stalking, and fear-inducing tactics are unravelled in this revelatory podcast, and it was named one of the best podcasts of its year. Given the Netflix doc has just dropped, we recommend you listen to this first for a full, comprehensive overview - this story’s massive.

18. Murder They Wrote, with Laura Whitmore & Iain Stirling

Hosted by: Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling

Murder podcasts are aplenty out there these days, so to really stand out in the crowd you need to have a niche. Murder They Wrote, with Laura Whitmore & Iain Stirling’s offers a more light-hearted, black comedy approach to talking about true crime. Talking about murder, mayhem, blackmail, and more, the pair navigate heavy topics in a uniquely upbeat way. This tone might not be to everyone’s tastes (particularly given the dark subject matters discussed), but if you like to soften difficult subjects with a laugh here and there, Murder They Wrote could well be the true crime podcast for you.

19. Sweet Bobby

Hosted by: Alexi Mostrous

The best true crime podcasts always have to have a strong story at their core, and Sweet Bobby certainly has that. Sweet Bobby is a testament to the terrifying potential of the internet, as episodes seek to understand the actions and identity of one of the world’s most sophisticated catfishes. Not only is it bolstered by the seasoned presenting of Hoaxed’s Alexi Mostrous, it has one of the most shocking final reveals we’ve ever heard in a podcast. Like, mouth dropping.

If you haven’t listened to Sweet Bobby yet, where have you been? This is one that’ll have you and your colleagues chatting round the water cooler on a Monday about it, believe us.

True Crime Quota Filled?

Our list of 19 of the best true crime podcasts to listen to in 2025 is complete - but what did you think about our picks? Seen something you like?

This isn’t an exhaustive list of the best true crime podcasts, but rather a handful of the team’s favourites here at Podcast.co. Whatever stage you’re at in your true crime listening journey, there’s always plenty of great shows out there to choose from, all with different angles, perspectives and insights.