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Best Narrative True Crime Podcasts

May 12, 2021 Chris Powers True Crime 0 Comments

The Spring Collection: Best Narrative True Crime Podcasts

Each season we release our favorite narrative true crime podcasts. There are hundreds of different podcasts in this space. The five podcasts below are our picks for the Spring. Enjoy! 

It’s easy to forget that all crimes don’t end in a gruesome murder. With the variety of true crime podcasts available to listeners that cover crimes like missing persons, serial killers, and crimes of passion; we can lose focus on some of the worst criminals out there in the real world. The white-collar criminals. The rich politicians and business people who use their power to advance themselves while ruining others. In the truest sense of the phrase, Swindled keeps it real. If you like the show “American Greed”, then you’ve just found your new favorite podcast

Check out the podcast review and our favorite episode here

Hosts Emily and Alisha present their podcast in a fantastic narrative form and do a great job of incorporating authors, psychologists, detectives, and other special guests along the way.  There are a variety of two parter episodes, which include case discussions with authors, victim advocate interviews, and other types of pods. Recently, they shared a 90-minute episode that covered 3 different unsolved cases that all happened around bodies of water. Of course, that was to help kick off the summer and is one of the best true crime podcasts. 

Check out the podcast review and our favorite episode here

Going West is a no non-sense podcast hosted by Daphne and Heath. Each week this duo dissects and discusses a new case in under an hour. My favorite aspect of listening to true crime podcasts is the variety of stories than you open yourself up to. You can easily break down this category to sub-genres like serial killers, missing persons, unsolved crimes, etc.

Check out the podcast review and our favorite episode here

We love independent podcasts, and They Walk Among Us is one of the best true crime podcasts available today. The awards are numerous, including mentions from the vulture and a Lovie Award. The couple recently released their first book as well. All of the cases this duo explores are based in the UK. Lovers of true crime will be instantly addicted. If you These may sound like fighting words, but They Walk Among Us is one of the best-researched pods out there. The details that Ben provides are always fascinating and add to the allure of the case being covered. They cover some of the most disturbing and graphic cases I’ve heard on any podcast and probably why its a top podcast. 

Check out the podcast review and our favorite episode here

In the late ’80s, there was a popular television show called Unsolved Mysteries. And if you were a true crime fan back in the stone age then you are aware it was the holy grail. Although the show had a heavy dose of 80’s overproduction and corniness, the stories were interesting and captivating. Trace Evidence is one of the favorite podcasts of r/truecrimepodcasts.

The reason for all of my 80’s true crime television nostalgia? Trace Evidence strictly focuses on unsolved mysteries. Episodes vary from chilling murders to mysterious disappearances. Trace Evidence does a great job of keeping the listener on their toes as you likely will not know many of the cases reviewed. Check out our favorite episode and podcast review here. 

Do you have know a great comedy true crime? Do you have a podcast? Drop us a note to be considered for either True Crime Tuesday or our Summer picks! Check out our entire library of true crime comedy podcasts here. 

Best True Crime Podcasts for May

May 12, 2021 Chris Powers Blog, True Crime 0 Comments

New True Crime Podcasts in May

Each month we review dozens of new podcasts from both independent and large studios. In May, we identified four podcasts we love. Check out Counter Clock, That’s Messed Up, Morbidology and Confronting Columbine. 

Delia’s year-long investigation into the infamous Pelley family massacre in Lakeville, Indiana includes never-before-heard interviews from people closest to the victims and the initial police investigation. After reviewing more than 6,000 court documents, depositions, transcripts, and photographs, Delia has traveled from Northern Indiana to South Florida following leads that connect unsolved crimes in the Sunshine state to the Pelley family.

Each week, comedians and amateur detectives Liza Treyger and Kara Klenk break down episodes of Law & Order: SVU, deep dive into the true crimes they’re based on, and interview on-screen talent, ranging from big stars to joggers who find the body. These are their stories. Dun dun!

Morbidology is a weekly true crime podcast created and hosted by Emily G. Thompson, author of many true crime books. Using investigative research combined with primary audio including 911 calls, interviews and trial testimony, Morbidology takes an in-depth look at some of the world’s most heinous murders.

The events of April 20th, 1999 shaped our nation and altered the American narrative. One of America’s deadliest school shootings took place in a small town in Colorado, leaving thirteen dead and another twenty-one severely injured. And it was all broadcast over national tv for the nation to see

Do you love true crime podcasts? Check out our list curated for investigative, narrative and comedy true crime podcasts. 

Let us know what you think. If you want Podfluence to feature or review a podcast, drop us a note at Chris@podfluence.co. 

Blog Post: The Business Behind Crime Junkie

May 7, 2021 Chris Powers Blog, Featured Categories, Featured Reviews 0 Comments

Behind the Noise

Whether you love it or hate it, Crime Junkie is the largest true-crime podcast in the United States. The pod was launched in December 2017 out of a garage in Indiana by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat. Each week the duo covers a new case. Love it or hate it, Crime Junkie represents any independent podcaster’s dream. Fast forward four years later, and their studio, Audio Chuck, is responsible for five of the top ten true crime podcasts.

What’s so great about them? They emulate the four key ways any podcaster should focus on growing their podcast.

 

  1.  Audience Engagement: In every episode, Ashley and Brit give a minor update on their lives, share personal experiences and stories about their following. By doing so, they create a community.

  2. Consistency: A new episode drops every week. Sounds simple, but never missing a deadline is easier than it sounds. 

  3. Leverage Following: Brit and Ashley focused solely on Crime Junkie for a few years. They have since launched multiple other shows. Their following is the first to hear of the podcast and subscribe before the podcast officially launches. This is an example of Network Effect at its best.

  4. Engaging Content: They are some of the best storytellers in the business.

     

What Next? 

What will happen next? I see two different paths for AudioChuck. The first would be to sell to a larger studio like Amazon or Spotify. I see any crime junkie fan paying a subscription fee to either of those platforms. The second would be to continue to produce content while vertically integrating. The great thing about podcasts is that you do not need a distribution channel to reach fans. Maybe we will see AudioChuck launch an ad service arm and move into other Mediums.

P.S. I also think RedHanded will follow a similar path in the year to come.

Best True Crime Comedy Podcasts

May 6, 2021 Chris Powers Featured Reviews, Featured Shows 0 Comments

The Spring Collection: Best True Crime Comedy Podcasts

Each season we release our favorite comedy true crime podcasts. There are hundreds of different podcasts in this space. The five podcasts below are our picks for the Spring. Enjoy! 

Host and producer Gordon Rochford has done a tremendous job carving out a special place in the podcast universe. Gordon and a guest(s) typically discuss a case with a conspiracy angle. Gordon is a natural interviewer, and draws comedy out of his guests. The first half hour or so is used by Gordon to catch up with his guests and introduce them, and then dive into the discussion. Some guests are better known comedians, tour guides etc.  Once the stage is set, the conversation naturally flows into the actual case. This is one of our favorites.

Check out the podcast review and our favorite episode here. 

Take everything that you thought you knew about a true-crime podcast, and throw that out the window. Even the Podcast is Afraid is a game-changer to the Comedy True Crime sub-genre. Some podcasts struggle to find their footing walking the balance beam of true crime and comedy, but Even the Podcast is Afraid has laid the groundwork on how to do this respectfully.

Check out the podcast review and our favorite episode here

NECRONOMiPOD podcast (try saying that five times fast) is a weekly true crime podcast with three friends, Ian, Mike, and Dave. The trio meet to crack some beers and talk about serial killers, Scientology, area 51, cults, UFOs, conspiracies, and domestic terrorists. Cases include famous serial killers Jeffrey Dahmer, John Wayne Gacy, and the Golden State Killer and Order of the Temple, Chris Benoit, and the Bell Witch. My favorite episodes were about the Oklahoma City Bombing podcast. I found this to be particularly interesting because I was not familiar with the lead up of Timothy McVeigh. 

Check out the podcast review and our favorite episode here

Morbid is an anthology-style true-crime podcast that blends case discussions with a hint of comedy. This is a podcast that is truly a labor of love by its hosts. Hosts Alaina Urquhart and Ashleigh “Ash” Kelley bring a ton of personality to their podcast. Morbid is basically made for true crime fans. Alaina and Ash have a “love” for true crime, horror, creepy history, and “anything spooky as hell.” 

Check out the podcast review and our favorite episode here.

Small Town Murder is hosted by comedians James Pietragallo and Jimmie Whisman. The duo is upfront about the purpose of the show – it’s strictly comedy. Each week the pair focus on a crime that takes place in a small town—and  pick on the people who live there, the crappy detective work, and the cultural nuances.

Check out the podcast review and our favorite episode here.

Do you have know a great comedy true crime? Do you have a podcast? Drop us a note to be considered for either True Crime Tuesday or our Summer picks! Check out our entire library of true crime comedy podcasts here. 

Podfluence Podcast Reviews: Our Approach

May 4, 2021 Jon Rouillard Blog 0 Comments

A Podfluence Podcast Review

It’s not lost on us that creating a podcast is an immense amount of work. Podfluence itself was an idea that was born out of a failed podcast. Podcasters labor for hours to create great content for listeners across the globe. We understand the effort and work that goes into creating a podcast, even before hitting the record button. That’s why we created Podfluence. To help listeners find their next favorite true-crime podcast through our curated content and reviews.
 

 

 

With all of the hard work that goes into creating a podcast, we don’t feel that it’s beneficial for podcasters to receive one-star reviews on the iTunes reviews just because someone was having a bad day. In short, there is too much negativity in the comments section of podcast reviews and we want to make a change. 

That’s why we select podcasts that we enjoy and provide positive reviews. Don’t get us wrong, we listen to plenty of podcasts that we are not exactly “vibing,”  but being negative doesn’t benefit anyone. We try to bring a positive outlook to each of our reviews. You may think that we view podcasts through rose-colored glasses, but we are okay with that. Podcasters work too hard to put content together and we believe that effort should be highlighted, even if the podcast may not be for everyone. 

Over the course of the past year, as podcasting popularity has grown, so have the negative comments in the charts and review sections of podcasts. When you begin to scroll through negative comments, you can see that people are leaving bad reviews simply because they may not agree with something that was said on the podcast, or don’t like a particular approach to a certain episode. In our opinion, those aren’t valid reasons to leave a negative comment. 

At Podfluence we believe in highlighting the hard work of podcasters through our reviews and podcaster features. Even though we may be critical at points, our ultimate goal is to promote podcasts with a positive attitude and ultimately let the listener decide if they want to subscribe to the podcast. 

Check out our Discover True Crime Podcasts page and find your next favorite true crime podcast today!

 
 
 

Podfluence Acquires Spotify and Rogan

April 1, 2021 Chris Powers Blog, Comedy 0 Comments

Podfluence Makes First Acquisition and its a BIG ONE

Podfluence, a Boston based podcasting ad-agency, announced today their acquisition of Spotify’s podcasting business. While the details are still being worked out, it is rumored Joe Rogan is part of the deal. “We love Rogan, even though he has never returned our calls”, said co-founder Chris Powers. It’s also been whispered that Mike Rappaport is joining the company. 

 

What’s next for Podfluence?

In all jokes aside, we will be running a number of different campaigns in the coming months. If you have a podcast and are looking for advertisers, please contact us at chris@podfluence.co 

 

Also thought this clip was pretty funny…enjoy

Podfluence: Frequently Asked Questions

March 31, 2021 Chris Powers Blog 0 Comments

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

We receive many questions about Podfluence…here is an FAQ List about us for podcast listeners and podcasters: 

 

What is Podfluence? 

  • · Podfluence connects listeners to true crime podcasts. Podfluence delivers curated true crime podcasts to fans. Ever want to find a new true crime podcast but do not know where to begin? We are independent of the big publishers and networks. Our podcast picks range from large podcasts to lesser-known podcasts. Check out our subgenre library, weekly recommendations, podcaster interviews, and Spotify playlist. 

Why check out Podfluence

  •  Podfluence is for people who love true crime podcasts. Check out our curated library of true crime podcasts. We deliver a new podcast each week for subscribers. Check us out to learn more about your favorite podcasts through our newsletter or podcaster interviews. Give us a follow or sign up for our newsletter to keep up to learn more about the best true crime podcasts. 

Podfluence Monthly Featured Podcasts 

  • Each month we select four different podcasts. These are some of the best true crime podcasts. We feature the podcasts in our newsletter, website and on our Spotify Playlist. 

True Crime Tuesday 

  • Each week we feature a new true crime podcast. We release a podcast review each week. The goal is to introduce the podcast to a new group of listeners. If you want to be featured, drop us a note or DM. 

Are you looking for advertisers? 

  • Podfluence works with brands across the United States and the United Kingdom today. If you are a podcaster who is looking for advertising, drop us a note! 

True Crime Podcast Picks for March

March 17, 2021 Chris Powers Uncategorized 0 Comments

Podcasts to Check out in March

This is our first time releasing new featured picks. We listen to many, many podcasts. We always try to feature lesser-known or new podcasts during our true crime Tuesday. But that does not mean other podcasts do not deserve mention. Large studios also make kick-ass content, and the podcasts below are an example. These are some of the best true crime podcasts and top podcasts of 2021.
Let us know what you think about the picks below by dropping us a note at chris@podfluence.co or signing up for the newsletter. Interested in being featured? Drop a note!

Mommy Doomsday by Dateline

Middle age woman with two husbands who passed under mysterious circumstances is the plot of a podcast. Now enters her fifth husband, who believes he was put on the earth to lead man out of Doomsday. Keith Morrison investigates the on-going case of Lori Vallow, who is accused of murdering her daughter and her fifth husband’s son. The case is disturbing, but the podcast is excellent

Unraveled: The Long Island Serial Killer

My personal favorite podcast out of the group. Billy Jensen and Alexis Linkletter take a new angle in the investigation of LISK. Was the original LISK investigation covered up or at least mishandled? The duo looks at the Suffolk County police and administration when the identification of LISK in 2011. At the center of the podcast is James Burke, who was the Chief of Police at the time. Sexual misconduct, civil rights violations, police corruption, are just some of the topics brought to light. A documentary also just dropped on Discovery+, and the last episode is this week!

Twisted History

This is our first recommendation for a Barstool podcast and likely not the last. Twisted History is not your typical true-crime podcast. Each episode, Large and Vibbs, cover the history of a certain topic–the death penalty, weapons, comedians, etc. They look to bring attention to some of the dark and swept-over parts of history. The recent History of Weapons is one of my favorite episodes so far. 

What’s Missing

Casefile is my favorite true-crime podcast, so naturally, I immediately checked out What’s Missing. The podcast is hosted by Loren O’Keeffe, who interviews family members who are missing loved ones. Loren herself knows the impact, as her brother disappeared in 2011. The stories told are heart-wrenching but give family members a platform. A very well-researched podcast, and Loren is an excellent narrator.

What Will Happen in the Podcast Industry in 2021?

January 7, 2021 Chris Powers Blog 0 Comments

2021 will be the year of content acquisition. Netflix, Disney+ and others are about to enter podcasting

Podfluence Top 10 of 2020

December 19, 2020 Chris Powers Blog, True Crime 0 Comments

The 2020 Countdown

Well, here we are. This long, brutal, weird, year is finally coming to an end. There’s no doubt that 2020 sucked, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t some highlights. We wouldn’t have been able to get through this year if podcasts didn’t allow us the avenue to escape from the real world for a little bit. 

At Podfluence we have had the opportunity to work with and feature a ton of awesome podcasts this year. Full stop – the podcast world has never been in a better place than it is exiting 2020. We’ve also heard the phrase “everyone has a podcast” more this year than likely ever before. That’s why we wanted to end the year with our Podfluence Top 10 Podcasts of 2020. We will list these in no particular order as we aren’t Chartable or Spotify, and we definitely aren’t Apple. We’re just a few podcast fans that love true crime podcasts. 

Those Conspiracy Guys is my favorite true crime comedy podcast. The podcast is hosted and produced by Gordon Rochford, who typically has a guest on. The Dublin based podcast investigates conspiracy angles in some of the most and least famous cases. 

LISK is hands down one of the best podcasts in a long time. The single season podcast investigates the Long Island Serial Killer. An ideal podcast for a long drive or flight over the next few days. Contains interviews and first hand accounts of the grizzly murders, and the discovery of body bags on a beach. 

At this point I hope you’ve heard of red handed. The duo is the number one podcast in the United Kingdom and quickly growing in the United States. They remind me of Crime Junkie in the early days. I’m excited to see how they grow in 2021. It’s a must check out for any true crime podcast fans. 

If there was a podcast stock market, we would be buying stock in pi_rational. It’s one of our personal favorites here, and we expect big things in 2021. he anthology-style format not only keeps things exciting but makes for the perfect binge-listen. Each season is accompanied by a different narrator, all of who add to the mystique and lore of each story.

Looking to take a break from listening to murder? Check out Swindled. The podcast focuses on white collar crime, and sometimes it’s even more heinous than your typical crimes.  Check out the Bayer episode to start. 

When the quarantine fist hit in March, I was in a dark place. That dark place was a stale podcast library. But Cool Mules changed all of that. Seriously though, what’s more interesting than a couple of Vice employees trying to start a drug-smuggling ring and getting caught in the act. If you are either having a slow day at the home office or just relaxing on a Saturday, this is one of the most #bingeworthy pods we can recommend. 

Season one of Counter-Clock was simply fantastic. Host Delia D’Ambra explores a 23-year-old cold case that took place in her hometown on the coast of North Carolina. But in one of the small bright spots of 2020, a second season dropped in September and took this pod to the next level, as Delia investigates another case in her hometown. Needless to say, this is one of our favorites from this bizarre year.

It’s merely a coincidence that two drug smuggling podcasts have cracked our top 10 list this year. The Syndicate is 8 episodes of good old adrenaline pumping podcasting content. Host Chris Walker is an award-winning journalist that sheds light on one of the lives of varying members of one of the largest smuggling rings in the US. You won’t be disappointed by hitting play on The Syndicate. 

Another bright spot of 2020 is the growing popularity of Always Time for True Crime. Since its launch in February Always Time has skyrocketed up the charts and now comfortably sits within the top 200 true crime podcasts. Join host Julia as she dives deeper into the details of lesser know cases ranging from murders to missing persons. 

Hosted by journalist Josh Bloch, the Lost Kids explores the disappearance and search of a missing teen who mysteriously disappeared from a tough-love program his parents sent him to. Josh explores how some institutions prey on the idea of the “troubled teen” and what effects these programs have on the long term psyche of the kids who are sent to these dreadful programs. 

Check these out on Podfluence Spotify Playlist