Best true crime podcasts running in 2026 - recommendations thread

[ProperMadlad20]

True crime podcasts have gone from a niche genre to one of the most competitive spaces in audio. Quality varies wildly. Looking for recommendations of shows that are still going in 2026 that do the journalism properly and do not exploit victims for entertainment. What are the ones worth subscribing to?

[HiggsField29]

Your Own Backyard is still running and the quality of the investigation has been extraordinary. Chris Lambert has done more for the Kristin Smart case than any official investigation

[Cole_25]

Casefile is the gold standard for consistent quality and respectful treatment of victims. Australian production values and no sensationalism

[GoldbergFan86]

Bear Brook from New Hampshire Public Radio is old now but if you have not heard it, it redefined what a true crime podcast can do with proper forensic reporting

[Sequence19]

Crime Junkie is popular but the pacing is too brisk for me. They cover a lot of ground but rarely go deep enough on any single case

[Adam2]

Hunting Warhead about child exploitation material online is harrowing and important. The journalism is exceptional and it actually respects the gravity of what it is reporting

[GlassKnight35]

Dr Death and its follow-ups from Wondery showed that medical crime is an underreported category. Some of the most chilling material in the genre