Top 11 Must-Hear Podcasts to Add to Your Playlist

In 2013, John Nuttall and Amanda Korody attempted to detonate a bomb at British Columbia’s legislature during Canada Day festivities, aiming to cause mass casualties. Fortunately, the explosives failed to ignite. Their journey—from battling homelessness and addiction to becoming central figures in an extensive RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) terrorism probe—is already astonishing. However, the plot thickens: the B.C. Supreme Court ruled that the RCMP had entrapped the duo, who are now pursuing legal action against the police. Pressure Cooker dives deep into their story, featuring actual RCMP recordings. Listeners are treated to jaw-dropping exchanges between the bumbling would-be terrorists and the officers who may have manipulated them into the scheme.

Lauren Ober, a prominent voice in podcasting known for her work on Spectacular Failures and The Big Listen, embarked on a deeply personal project after discovering at age 42 that she is autistic. Her latest podcast, The Loudest Girl in the World, is a candid, diary-style exploration of her journey. Listeners are invited into intimate conversations with her family and partner as she reflects on lifelong signs of autism, such as being reprimanded for talking excessively in class. This podcast not only serves as an accessible introduction to autism but also fills a gap in neurodivergent storytelling. While EarBuds recently highlighted similar narratives, Lauren’s raw and heartfelt account feels like a heartfelt chat with a close friend.

Lemonada, known for flipping the script on true crime with Believe Her, delivers another gripping narrative in The Letter. This eight-part series delves into the tragic murder of Zachary Snarr in Salt Lake City on August 28, 1996. His girlfriend, Yvette Rodier, survived the attack, but Zachary did not. The podcast explores an unexpected friendship between Sy, Zachary’s mother, and the gunman, who remains incarcerated for the crime. Host Amy Donaldson paints a vivid picture of the murder’s ripple effects on the community, Yvette, Zachary’s family, and even the gunman’s relatives. This rare tale of forgiveness and redemption stands out in the true-crime genre, resonating deeply with audiences and signaling a demand for more stories like it.

Over a century ago, the Osage Nation acquired a parcel of oil-rich land in present-day Oklahoma. Today, however, much of this land is owned by individuals with no connection to the Osage people. In Trust delves into how this land was systematically stolen, tracing the origins back to the Reign of Terror, a period when the Osage were coerced into relinquishing their land. Bloomberg’s Rachel Adams-Heard meticulously uncovers this history, interviewing descendants of those who seized the land and examining the lasting economic impact on the Osage community. The podcast vividly reconstructs early 20th-century Oklahoma, revealing unsettling truths that were meant to remain hidden—some of which are linked to The Pioneer Woman and the controversial history of the Drummond family.

Rebecca Lavoie, a co-host of the true-crime review series Crime Writers On…, has turned her sharp analytical eye to a new venture. Alongside her son Henry, she’s launched Celebrity Podcast Podcast, a show that dissects celebrity-hosted podcasts episode by episode. With a keen focus on audio quality, production choices, and editing quirks, Rebecca and Henry provide honest critiques of what works—and what doesn’t. Their dynamic is lively and humorous, but don’t mistake their lighthearted tone for leniency; they’re unafraid to critique even high-profile figures like Meghan Markle, as seen in their debut episode.

Kate Winkler Dawson, the host of Wicked Words, teams up with Paul Holes, the retired cold case investigator who cracked the Golden State Killer case, for Buried Bones. This podcast revisits historical cases spanning from the 1700s to the 1960s. Each episode features Kate presenting a case, while Paul provides a modern investigative lens, questioning the methods and outcomes as if he were handling the case today. The series kicks off with the mysterious death of William Marsh Rice, a Manhattan millionaire and founder of Rice University. Was he murdered by his lawyer Albert T. Patrick and valet Charles F. Jones? Kate and Paul meticulously analyze the evidence, evaluating the investigation’s strengths and flaws, and questioning whether justice was truly served. The funds Patrick and Jones sought to steal ultimately funded Rice University, weaving a tale of murder and the hidden history of a prestigious institution.

True crime podcasts often delve into the lives of monstrous figures, but Marc Dutroux, infamously dubbed “Le Monstre,” stands out as one of the most horrifying. In June 1995, he kidnapped and killed two eight-year-old Belgian girls, Julie Lejeune and Mélissa Russo, plunging the nation into fear and eroding public trust in law enforcement after they failed to stop him before he claimed three more young victims. Le Monstre explores the chilling story of one of history’s most depraved serial killers and the flawed investigation that followed. Dutroux’s 2004 arrest sparked massive protests, with 400,000 Belgians taking to the streets, ultimately driving significant reforms in the country’s justice system.

FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) invites young individuals from the UK to share audio explorations of topics they feel were overlooked in their education. The debut episode features 17-year-old Atlanta from Glasgow, who spent her early years in Uganda, her mother’s homeland. Atlanta delves into the often-ignored history of the British Empire, revealing the harsh realities of colonial violence. Subsequent episodes tackle issues like media representation of queer communities and the roots of over-policing in childhood. Even if you’re familiar with the subject matter, the engaging storytelling, insightful interviews, and polished production will captivate you.

Every week, Missing Pages, hosted by Bethanne Patrick, dives into the fascinating and often scandalous world of publishing, blending true crime elements with insider stories. The debut episode uncovers the juicy backstory of The Woman in the Window, while another episode reveals a young woman caught in a plagiarism controversy that raises questions about book packaging. A two-part deep dive into Caroline Calloway’s saga will either astonish you or fill in gaps you never knew existed. Bethanne masterfully weaves together interviews, historical context, and sharp commentary, creating a podcast that appeals not only to book lovers but also to true crime enthusiasts and those fascinated by scams.

Invisibilia, a podcast exploring the “invisible forces shaping human behavior, beliefs, and assumptions,” focuses its new season on the theme of unseen mechanisms of control. It delves into the narratives we construct about control—its presence, absence, and the coping mechanisms we rely on to reclaim it. In the aftermath of prolonged lockdowns and an ongoing pandemic, our lives have been profoundly disrupted, leaving no one untouched. (Some, of course, more than others.) Through stories like a dominatrix helping a comedian confront their power struggles or a deep dive into the mysteries of the sea, Invisibilia uncovers profound lessons about resilience and liberation. By sharing intimate, globally sourced tales, the podcast reveals that while we crave control, its absence might be the key to true freedom.