Best Unsolved Mystery Podcasts (2026)
Some cases never get closed, and something about that keeps pulling us back. These 8 podcasts dig into disappearances, cold cases and unsolved crimes with the kind of detail that keeps you thinking long after the episode ends.
Waking up with a podcast on iOS
Podcast Alarm is a fully featured podcast player and alarm. You can set up queues of your favourite episodes and listen to them whenever you like. Why not subscribe to your favourite podcast and have the latest episode wake you up every weekday morning. There are lots of screenshots and videos in our "How to set a podcast as an alarm on iphone?" blog post.
1. Crime Junkie
Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat deliver weekly true crime stories with tight pacing and clear storytelling. Their unsolved episodes are some of the best — they lay out the evidence, flag the gaps, and leave you genuinely wanting answers. One of the most popular true crime podcasts for good reason.
2. The Trail Went Cold
Robin Warder focuses on lesser-known cold cases that deserve more attention. Episodes run about 30 minutes, which makes them easy to fit into a commute. His research is thorough and he presents multiple theories without pushing you toward one conclusion.
3. My Favorite Murder
Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark built a true crime empire by being funny, honest and deeply human about dark subjects. The show covers both solved and unsolved cases, but their unsolved episodes hit differently because they genuinely care about the victims. The "murderino" community is massive for a reason.
4. Thin Air Podcast
Thin Air focuses exclusively on missing persons cases. The hosts treat every case with genuine empathy and often speak directly with families of the missing. It fills a gap that most true crime shows overlook — the people who vanished and were never found.
5. The Vanished Podcast
Marissa Jones has been covering missing persons cases since 2016, often working directly with families to bring attention to cases the media has ignored. The show has actually helped generate tips that led to breaks in real investigations.
6. True Crime Garage
Nic and the Captain crack open a beer and work through a case over two episodes. The format gives them room to really dig into the evidence and timelines. Their tone strikes a good balance between casual and respectful — it feels like sitting in with friends who take the cases seriously.
7. Already Gone
Nina Innsted covers cold cases and unsolved murders primarily from the Great Lakes region of the US. Her solo narration style is calm and factual, letting the details of each case speak for themselves. A hidden gem in the true crime space.
8. Trace Evidence
Steven Pacheco examines unsolved cases with a focus on evidence analysis and logical deduction. He walks through timelines, witness statements and physical evidence methodically. Each episode ends with his own theory, which is always well-reasoned even when the case seems impossible.
Start Your Morning with a Great Podcast
Set any of these podcasts as your alarm with Podcast Alarm and wake up to something worth listening to.
Waking up with a podcast on iOS
Podcast Alarm is a fully featured podcast player and alarm. You can set up queues of your favourite episodes and listen to them whenever you like. Why not subscribe to your favourite podcast and have the latest episode wake you up every weekday morning. There are lots of screenshots and videos in our "How to set a podcast as an alarm on iphone?" blog post.
