Top 3 Chilling True Crime Podcasts for a 40 Minute Commute
Traffic can be a drag. If you are one of those unfortunate souls who have to brave a half-hour or longer commute, you need something to help pass the time. Instead of listening to the same music over and over again, take the commute as an opportunity to listen to your favorite true crime podcast. You may be surprised at how bearable your drive suddenly becomes. If you’re worried that you will arrive at work before the podcast ends, don’t worry. We have you covered.
Here are three of our best true crime podcasts that you can finish during your commute to work.
Crime Junkie
Do you have a thing for unsolved crimes? Do you find yourself discussing facts about notorious serial killers to friends who just want to finish their dinner? Do you spend hours on the internet digging up evidence to prove that JonBenét Ramsey’s murder was a cover-up? Then you are a Crime Junkie.
Crime Junkie, hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit, is a serial crime podcast that examines a new murder case, kidnapping, and conspiracy during each episode. Episodes range from 30 to 50 minutes, giving you enough time to finish the podcast before arriving at work. You aren’t left waiting for your lunch break to tune back in. The women keep it short and sweet while covering all of the facts. Plus, as cases are solved and suspects are captured, they will upload updates on previous cases they covered.
Check out our top recommendations to get you started.
- MURDERED: Annamarie Cochrane Rintala: “Just like love knows no gender, neither does jealousy, dysfunction, or murder.” Follow the tragic murder of Annamarie Cochrane Rintala and the domestic abuse she suffered at the hands of her partner before her untimely death.
- MISSING: Brian Shaffer: 13 years ago, Brian Shaffer disappeared during a night out with friends. To this day, no one knows for sure what happened to him.
- SERIAL KILLER: The Hillside Strangler: During the late 70’s a mysterious serial killer terrorized women in Southern California. While the killer originally targeted sex workers, he soon targeted young women from a variety of backgrounds.
You can listen to episodes of Crime Junkie on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and the Crime Junkie website.
Serial
Do you enjoy following different cases over a long period of time? Do you find yourself clamoring to learn all the facts of a case, but just don’t have time to digest it all in one sitting? Check out Serial.
Serial is considered to be one of the best true crime podcasts out there. Hosted by Sarah Koenig, Serial examines a singular case over the course of a season. Each season examines a different true crime case. Thanks to its stellar reporting, Serial has garnered a variety of awards over the years, including the Scripps Howard, Edward R. Murrow, and Peabody awards.
While we wait for Season 4 to premiere, here are the first three seasons of Serial you can binge during your morning drive to work.
- Season 1: The disappearance of Hae Min Lee: The year is 1999. We are in Baltimore, MD where high school senior Hae Min Lee suddenly vanishes after school one day. Police arrest her ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, who claims he is innocent. The only person who can offer a solid alibi on his whereabouts during Hae Min’s disappearance is gone.
- Season 2: The conspiracy of Bowe Bergdahl: Is Bowe Bergdahl an American war hero or a cowardly traitor? After being held prisoner by the Taliban for five years, Bergdahl returned to the United States. The public originally opened him with open arms, only to turn against him once allegations of desertion surfaced. Now, years after Bergdahl’s capture, we finally get to hear his side of the story.
- Season 3: Extraordinary cases that went down in the Cleveland courthouse: For season 3, Serial examines the extraordinary cases that went down in the Cleveland courthouse.
As of now, you can listen to all three seasons of Serial on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Pandora, and the Serial website.
My Favorite Murder
Since its start in 2016, My Favorite Murder has gained a cult-like following from true crime listeners, both new and old. Filled with an equal mix of true crime and comedy, this podcast is one of the best true crime podcasts to listen to if you are in for some dark humor on your way to work.
While traditional episodes are usually over an hour long, their mini-sodes tend to remain on the short side, ranging from 20 to 40 minutes in length. If you are just as hooked on My Favorite Murder as we are, you can use the commute both to and from work to finish the longer episodes. It will definitely be worth it.
To get started, we recommend listening to these three episodes:
- MFM Minisode 152: Mini-sodes are comprised of stories submitted by MFM listeners. For this episode, Karen and Georgia discuss babysitting misadventures and, of course, murder.
- 97 The Hague: David Meirhofer and Randall Saito were serial killers based in rural Montana. Listen to their story in episode 97, The Hague.
- 159 – Live at the Lyric in Baltimore: During this episode, Karen and Georgie cover the murder of Carolyn Wasilewski and the Baltimore Plot.
If you already find yourself becoming a “Murderino,” check out the My Favorite Murder website to see when their next show comes to your town. Until then, you can listen to them on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and the My Favorite Murder website.
Commuting to work isn’t so bad when you are enraptured by your favorite true crime podcast. Crime Junkie, Serial, and My Favorite Murder are just several of the best true crime podcasts to listen to. What are your favorite podcasts to listen to during your morning commute to work? Let us know in the comments below!
