October Podcast Roundup: Blood-Curdling True Crime Podcasts

It’s officially spooky season, which means tricks, treats, and lots of horror and true crime podcast listening! True Crime is the #1 genre among women and SXM Media houses some of the biggest titles of the genre. This month, we’re walking you through a few of our most blood-chilling shows. So grab your headphones, lock your doors, and read on for more.

Full Body Chills

Ever miss those spooky campfire stories you heard growing up? Well, gather round, and listen closely. This hair raising seasonal podcast is produced and hosted by Ashley Flowers, debuting at #1 in fiction on the Apple charts. Millennial mothers are curling up under their blankets and tuning in to hear nostalgic, haunting tales just like the ones you used to share as a kid. Think Goosebumps meets Black Mirror. Many of the stories featured in Full Body Chills were written and submitted by Audiochuck’s devoted fans. Voice actors and surround sound to add an engaging, eerie twist. 

Dateline

Praised by The New Yorker as the “True Crime King,” there’s a reason Dateline has been around for 30 seasons. Borrowing audio from the TV series, the chart-topping Dateline podcast highlights current and classic episodes featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries, and in-depth investigations. Each case is thoroughly examined and expertly reported, which may be why the show has attracted a certain audience: highly educated females who skew slightly older than the average true crime listener, over-indexing for being parents and spending on investment products. 

Last Podcast on The Left

The Last Podcast On The Left covers otherworldly topics that keep listeners on the edge of their seats. Despite the titles ghoulish reputation, fans are finding humor in the darkness, awarding LPOTL the People’s Voice Webby for Best Comedy Podcast. Since 2011, hosts have built a cult-like following, often selling out live events and taking their book to the top of the NYT best seller list.  Each outlandish episode attracts a very distinct audience of men and women who love to travel, eat organic, and express an interest in Esports.

The Deck 

This deck of cards isn’t just a game–it solves violent crimes. The Deck, from Audiochuck, reveals the stories behind some of these cards in the hope that justice will finally be served. Each week, Ashley Flowers talks to the detectives and the victims’ family members to review the details of these cold cases. You’ll hear from current investigators and community advocates who have never given up their belief that these cases can be solved. The heavily female audience is likely to spend on pets and books.

Crime Junkie

It wouldn’t be a SXM Media true crime list without mentioning our largest podcast! Rolling Stone named Crime Junkie the best true crime podcasts of 2018, just one year after its launch. Four years later, it remains at the top of podcast charts—the number one podcast in the world. 

Every Monday, it feels like you’re sitting around talking about crime with your best friends as hosts Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat detail a crime. Elle Magazine recently declared Flowers “The Queen of True Crime,” and we couldn’t agree more. Her podcast network, Audiochuck, is loaded with true crime chart toppers with over 1 billion podcast downloads. 

That's Why We Drink 

Hosted by Em Schulz and Christine Schiefer, And That's Why We Drink is an award-winning comedy podcast where the paranormal, true-crime, and comedy meet. Since February 2017, each new episode is a deep dive into the paranormal and true crime stories the hosts are obsessing on that week. The podcast has over 124 million lifetime downloads and is consistently ranked in the top 20 on the comedy podcast charts. 60% of listeners have bought a product they heard advertised on a podcast - that’s a highly engaged audience! 

Anatomy of Murder

If you’re looking for a true crime podcast that’s ingestivation first, featuring professionals who worked closely on the case, look no further than Audiochuck’s Anatomy of Murder. Hosted by Anna-Sigga Nicolazzi, a former NYC homicide prosecutor and investigative reporter, and former Deputy Sheriff, Scott Weinberger. They believe a murder case has many layers: the victim, the crime, and the investigation. To truly understand it, you need to dissect each piece of a tragic puzzle. The audience is primarily women, who are likely to spend on travel and live entertainment.