2016 has been rough for everyone involved. Let’s be honest. It’s a garbage year and we need to pretend it never happened (no offence to my friends who got married this year – may your lives be filled with love and happiness and I’ll agree to pretend you went for 2017).
As the sheep that I am in my soul (lol, no I’m not but just go with it) I have been hitting my own personal rock bottom this year to go along with the theme of this year. But before you guys make me hate you by trying to awkwardly argue that “the only way is up” (there are so many other directions, I’m a creative soul) I’ll just go ahead and talk about something that’s really been helping me get through… TRUE CRIME PODCASTS.
Nor do I, Katie.
As a woman of a certain (read: any) age I have at times been called a “psycho” and, frankly, I’ve always taken it as a complement. Put that bunny in that hot water, girl, it’s no better than a lobster!
But little did I know that it would be the real, people-wearing, face-eating scourge of hitchhikers everywhere that would provoke and calm my anxiety enough to get me through one of the darkest periods of my life. (Although, I was perhaps given a clue]. Here is a selection of my favourite True Crime Podcasts which have been scaring the living daylights out of me (and strangely not haunting my dreams) for the last few months:
THE COMEDIES
MY FAVORITE MURDER
Name as sensitive as the activities they describe....
It shows my love of these women that I was willing to leave the “u” out of “favourite” (they’re called micro-aggressions, America!).
I first started listening to this podcast after it was mentioned on Another Round (thank you Tracy, thank you) and my life is forever changed. Let’s be clear, this is a comedy podcast and its irreverent take is not for everyone. But there are crazy people in the world who are routinely doing awful things (especially in California apparently) and getting very short sentences, getting out and learning to leave no witnesses...
If you listen to this podcast in the right way, it’ll stress you out, calm your nerves and teach you how to avoid serial killers (hint: NEVER be polite). Remember: stay sexy, don’t get murdered.
Episode to try:- I’d say start with episode one. You’ll need to get into the groove.
LAST PODCAST ON THE LEFT
Going the other way from My Favorite Murder, these guys have a very masculine energy and (seem to) do a lot of research. Their episodes tend to run quite long (and to quite a few parts) but they are hilarious and terrifying at the same time.
I (for some unfathomable reason) started with the four part series on Aum Shinrikyo, which was bloody insane and was also the rare example of something I had never heard of at all. (And trust me, it’s horrifying).
Their style is very involved and I have to say, bloody hilarious (I’m ashamed of myself that that pun wasn’t deliberate). Again, for people who think discussing murders, cults and other unsavoury actions is not the place of entertainment… this isn’t one for you…
Episode to try:- 171-3: Ed Gein. A perfect example of the mix between humour and horrific details, their take on the life and times of the man who inspired most of the pop culture murders of the 20th century is a must.
Honourable Mentions:
Lore
Though not technically a "Comedy", this one is definitely more on the entertainment end. A collection of true crime/ magical/ mysterious stories with a fairytale-like tone, this is a great podcast for people who enjoy being lightly creeped out...
This post has become a wee bit gigantic... So I'll continue with the more serious (I know, I know) podcasts in a separate post...
LATERZ.