I’m not a great podcast listener. I usually only listen when I’m traveling. Since I’ve been on the road a lot this summer, I’ve had the opportunity to catch up and finish a few podcasts and also to discover a couple of new ones.
Here’s some must-listen podcasts for you:
Lawless by World News Group
“Lawless is a true crime podcast that examines a frightening fact of American life: That not every crime is against the law. Season 1 investigates a story that in 2005 riveted the world: the case of Terri Schiavo, a brain-injured woman whose husband and parents fought a bitter legal war over Terri’s right to die, or…. right to live.”
I didn’t follow Terri’s story back in the late 80s when it was developing. I remember it, but since those were days when I was graduating high school and entering college, my myopia to national events was off the charts. This is such a gripping and also sobering podcast that asks us again, “What is life?” Hosted by New York Times bestselling author and investigative journalist, Lynn Vincent, you’ll be engaged from the first episode. Listen to the trailer here.
X Marks the Spot by Calvary
“The first and only podcast series that investigates the real life treasure hunt that captivated the globe. The podcast follows the incredible story of Forrest Fenn, a New Mexico art dealer who, in 2010, reportedly buried $2 million in gold somewhere in the Rocky Mountains. Fenn then published an autobiography that contained a six stanza poem that allegedly gave clues to the exact location to anyone clever enough and brave enough to figure it out. The hunt enticed hundreds of thousands of searchers from around the world, cost five unfortunate souls their lives, and spawned at least three lawsuits in the wake of the treasure’s discovery in June of 2020. The series contains never-before-heard interviews from people who were close with Fenn, treasure hunters who spent years in the chase, and even a few who claim to know where the treasure chest was buried.”
All along the way, you’ll be scratching your head in amazement. When you get to episodes 8 and 9 though, you will be astonished. Get ready to be thrilled, and maybe even become a treasure hunter yourself. Listen to the trailer.
Great listens with unsatisfying endings
Don’t let that description prevent you from getting into these two podcasts by Jon Walczak. They’re full of interviews, history and will most definitely leave you wanting more.
Missing in Alaska
“Missing in Alaska is a deep dive into the mysterious disappearance of Congressmen Hale Boggs and Nick Begich, whose plane vanished in Alaska in 1972. Despite the largest search in American history, no sign of the men ever surfaced. Officials blamed ice, and a nation consumed with Watergate and Vietnam quickly moved on. Two decades later, a murderer and bomber with mafia ties made a startling claim to the F.B.I.: The plane was bombed. Was he lying? Journalist Jon Walczak, who has investigated the case since 2011, travels from Arizona to the Arctic Circle trying to uncover the truth.”
I was absorbed with this podcast. I still check for more episodes because Wolczak is still following leads. Crazily enough, this story appears in the Conspiracy JFK podcast I recommend below. Listen to the trailer:
Missing on 911
“Sept. 10, 2001. One block from the World Trade Center. Security cameras capture the last known images of Dr. Sneha Anne Philip, shopping. The next day, chaos. What happened to Sneha?Brought to you by the team behind ‘Missing in Alaska.’”
Conjecture and strangeness saturate this podcast. While Wolczak tries to prove that something strange happened to Sneha, the podcast is worth listening to recapture the surreal and unsettling moments of 9/11 that changed our world. Listen to the trailer:
Here’s one that’s “out there”
Conspiracy JFK
“Deep diving down the rabbit hole into who assassinated John F. Kennedy... the result will surprise you. What will you believe?”
This description is beyond tame compared to what this podcast explores. For starters… it begins with UFO sightings, Area 51 and government coverup. If you say “aliens,” I’m going to listen to it. ;) Or zombies. While this podcast is a monologue, don’t let that put you off. It’s chock-full of documentation, research, and may leave you wondering if Oswald really did act alone in the assassination of President Kennedy. When he weaved in a mysterious plane crash in Alaska into the narrative, I literally said out loud, “No way!!!” (See the Missing in Alaska podcast above.) Listen to the trailer:
What podcasts do you listen to or recommend?
It will be a while before I’m on the road again, but I’d love to hear what you’re listening to!
P.S. One other podcast you should listen to, but I’ve already written about is the Mars Hill podcast. It’s about the collapse of a megachurch. Stunning and sad, but it’s a 2x4 to the side of the western church, warning us about the dangers of celebrity.
Lawless Podcast homepage. Listen to the trailer here.