The Best True Crime Podcasts Of 2020 That Will Keep You Guessing

If you’re looking for some spine-tingling escapism to take your mind off 2020, look no further than a true crime podcast. This year has delivered some seriously chilling episodes that are practically guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Ever since Sarah Koenig basically invented the genre with Serial, true crime pod hosts all over the world have helped solve cold cases, highlight issues in criminal justice system, and even contribute to ongoing criminal investigations in real time. Fan favorites like My Favorite Murder and Crime Junkie have spawned production companies and spinoffs, plus devoted fan bases and merch galore that all (normally) come together at CrimeCon in Las Vegas.

From snipers to serial killers to Taco Bell Stranglers, these 55 best true crime podcasts of 2020 offer something for every listener. There’s one about a missing starlet in L.A., and another focusing on a Bachelor-esque game show gone horribly wrong. (True story!) There’s even one about the false convictions during the Satanic Panic of the 1980s, and a few episodes about the actual Satanism of the era.

On Ashley Flowers’ new show, Supernatural, she takes a close look at the stories that seem too weird to be true, like twins claiming to be from ancient Egypt. And of course, there’s Criminal, a lovely, literary podcast featuring cultural analysis uncovering the societal factors that may have contributed to the crimes. But while all of these picks are wickedly thrilling, a word of advice: Don’t listen before bed.