#anyway this is just known as “alix shills for investigative journalists again”

[shu-of-the-wind]

the only true crime podcasts i think are ethical

it's a short list. as an attorney with a few years (not many) experience in criminal defense, as well as being a long-term abolitionist, i have extremely high standards when it comes to true crime podcasts and i will absolutely talk shit about a lot of the really popular, well known ones for being exploitative and disgusting. however, these are the ones that i personally value, and would recommend, despite my general revulsion of the true crime industry in general, precisely because of their ethical treatment of the topics involved. (you'll notice most of these are run/written by investigative journalists who work for or formerly worked for public radio; this is not a coincidence.)

someone knows something. this specific podcast can waver sometimes but its centering of victims and survivors over the police narrative is something i value deeply. each season is focused around an unsolved case, often with the podcasting team re-investigating the case and uncovering new leads while analyzing why the police have failed up until their coverage.

bear brook. a podcast about three murder victims, a woman and two children, who were found in barrels in a new hampshire park. absolutely incredible investigation work, and highly respectful of victims and survivors the whole way through.

missing and murdered: finding cleo. both seasons of this show are excellent. stories about mmiwg2s by connie walker, a cree journalist. the first season is about an unsolved murder; the second season is about a child missing after the sixties scoop.

accused. another investigative journalism podcast where each season is focused around an unsolved murder.

undisclosed. unfortunately this podcast is not producing new episodes anytime soon to my knowledge, but each season is an in depth examination of a wrongful conviction by three attorneys who specialize in that practice. one of those attorneys is rabia chaudry, who is intimately involved in the adnan syed case.

finally. the big one. the Forever Favorite:

in the dark is a podcast that has released such important stories that they've literally pushed a case up to the supreme court. i have never heard any true crime podcast that has been so thorough in its research; careful in its analysis; and been so respectful of survivors.