27 Best California True Crime Podcasts

1. Hollywood & Crime

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The Hollywood & Crime series explores notorious true crime stories from the heart of Hollywood, delving into the dark underbelly of fame and uncovering infamous murders, scandals, and unsolved mysteries. Season 8: The Cotton Club Murder: On June 10th, 1983, the decomposing body of a well-dressed man was found in a desolate canyon near Los Angeles. John Doe #94 would soon be identified as missing variety show producer Roy Radin. He'd last been seen after meeting with a mysterious woman in a gold dress...more Host Tracy Pattin
Producer/Network Wondery
Email ****@wondery.com
Location Los Angeles, California, United States
Estimated Monthly Listeners 250k-1M
Recent Guest Ed Shohat
Apple Rating 4.3/5Apple Reviews 4.7K Avg Length 23 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact Get access to full database of 2.7M podcastsCreate podcast lists, export in spreadsheet or CSV file with email contacts and start your podcast outreach in minutes.Sign Up for Free with Email Continue with Google

2. The Trials of Frank Carson

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From Christopher Goffard, the Los Angeles Times reporter and host behind the hit podcasts 'Dirty John' and 'Detective Trapp,' comes a new eight-episode true crime podcast, 'The Trials of Frank Carson.' 'The Trials of Frank Carson' is a story of power, politics and the law in California's Central Valley. Frank Carson was Stanislaus County's most controversial defense attorney, a wizard with juries and a courtroom brawler with an unapologetically caustic style. He racked up legal wins for decades. He was the terror of police and prosecutors, often accusing them personally of corruption...more Host Christopher Goffard
Producer/Network Los Angeles Times
Email ****@latimes.com
Location Los Angeles, California, United States
Estimated Monthly Listeners 50k-250k
Recent Guests Liam Dillon, Kelsey Szamet +4 more
Apple Rating 4.4/5Apple Reviews 1.3K Avg Length 29 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

3. Notorious Bakersfield

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Notorious Bakersfield is a podcast that steps back in time to look at some of Bakersfield's most notorious crimes, events, and characters that have impacted this Central California Valley community.more Host Robert Petersen
Email ****@gmail.com
Location Bakersfield, California, United States
Estimated Monthly Listeners 10k-50k
Apple Rating 4.9/5Apple Reviews 253Facebook 6KTwitter 287 Avg Length 18 min Format Short form Get Email Contact

4. California True Crime

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A true crime podcast taking you through different stories and locations all around California.
Hosts Sean Duncan, Jessica, Charles
Producer/Network California True Crime
Email ****@gmail.com
Location California, United States
Estimated Monthly Listeners 10k-50k
Apple Rating 4.4/5Apple Reviews 267Facebook 976Twitter 4.7KInstagram 1.1K Avg Length 62 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

5. In the Shadows

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In The Shadows delves into a riveting unsolved mystery from 1991. When the body of a young woman is discovered by two terrified boys in the desert near Bakersfield, California, authorities quickly target her popular star-athlete boyfriend. The case - one of the most controversial in Kern County's history - quickly drew national media attention, and the ensuing trials divided the community and sparked a heated debate. Despite that, the perpetrator of this horrific crime remained unpunished...more Host Ottavia McHenry
Producer/Network Wondery
Location Los Angeles, California, United States
Estimated Monthly Listeners 10k-50k
Apple Rating 3.9/5Apple Reviews 294Facebook 165.4KTwitter 107.1KInstagram 197.6K Avg Length 26 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

6. My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

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My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921.  My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network..more Hosts Karen Kilgariff, Georgia Hardstark
Producer/Network Exactly Right
Email ****@gmail.com
Location Los Angeles, California, United States
Estimated Monthly Listeners 1M+
Recent Guests Guy Branum, Jake Brennan +4 more
Apple Rating 4.6/5Apple Reviews 209.3KFacebook 499.7KTwitter 300.7KInstagram 888.5K Avg Length 62 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

7. Once Upon A Crime

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Step into the darker side of history with Once Upon A Crime, a true-crime podcast that delves deep into some of the world's most gripping cases. Hosted by an expert storyteller, Esther Ludlow, each episode unravels the mysteries behind notorious crimes, exploring the lives of victims, perpetrators, and the intricate details of the investigations that followed. With carefully researched narratives, thematic series, and thoughtful insights, Once Upon A Crime offers listeners a captivating blend of suspense, history, and human psychology...more Host Esther Ludlow
Email ****@truecrimepodcast.com
Location San Jose, California, United States
Estimated Monthly Listeners 250k-1M
Recent Guests William J. Mann, Crystal Gutierrez
Apple Rating 4.6/5Apple Reviews 6.3KFacebook 7.3KTwitter 9.7KInstagram 8.5K Avg Length 33 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

8. MURDERISH

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Hosted by Jami Rice, MURDERISH is a true crime podcast that delivers deeply researched, meticulously detailed accounts of real-life cases from start to finish. Each episode begins with the crime itself, unfolding the events with clarity and precision before guiding listeners through the investigation, the trial, and ultimately the aftermath. Jami presents these stories in a straightforward, no-frills style. There's no banter or distraction, just carefully organized facts that allow the gravity of each case to speak for itself...more Host Jami Rice
Producer/Network Cloud10
Email ****@murderish.com
Location Los Angeles, California, United States
Estimated Monthly Listeners 250k-1M
Recent Guests Rebecca Grossman, Giorgio Gallara +15 more
Apple Rating 4.3/5Apple Reviews 4.2KTwitter 7.1KInstagram 18.2K Avg Length 44 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

9. The Bakersfield Three

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When two friends go missing back-to-back, and in between their disappearances, a third friend is murdered, their mothers begin their own investigation. As the connections between the three cases are explored, the mothers navigate devastating twists and turns, including one revelation that shakes the community to its core. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.more Host Olivia LaVoice
Producer/Network Casefile Presents
Email ****@q13.com
Estimated Monthly Listeners 50k-250k
Apple Rating 4.6/5Apple Reviews 2.5K Avg Length 29 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

10. Going West: True Crime

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Daphne Woolsoncroft and Heath Merryman discuss haunting details of different disappearance and murder cases week by week. New episodes released every Tuesday and Friday.
Hosts Daphne Woolsoncroft, Heath Merryman
Producer/Network Dark West Productions
Email ****@gmail.com
Location Los Angeles, California, United States
Estimated Monthly Listeners 250k-1M
Apple Rating 4.6/5Apple Reviews 12.4KFacebook 32.3KInstagram 100.6K Avg Length 51 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

11. Crimes of the Times

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L.A. Times reporter Christopher Goffard of 'Dirty John' is back with another riveting podcast from L.A. Times Studios. In 'Crimes of the Times,' Goffard goes deep behind the scenes of a new story each week, cutting through common myths and misconceptions to uncover what really happened in the most compelling cases from L.A. and beyond.more Host Christopher Goffard
Producer/Network L.A. Times Studios
Email ****@latimes.com
Location Los Angeles, California, United States
Estimated Monthly Listeners 1M+
Recent Guests William J. Mann, Rick Caruso +7 more
Apple Rating 4.6/5Apple Reviews 50.6KFacebook 165.4KTwitter 107.1KInstagram 197.6K Avg Length 32 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

12. The Killafornia Dreaming Podcast

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A deep dive into the darker side of the Golden State hosted by Roseanne with a quietly intense storytelling style and is always ad-free
Host Roseanne Sinclair
Producer/Network Roseanne
Email ****@gmail.com
Location California, United States
Estimated Monthly Listeners 50k-250k
Apple Rating 4.3/5Apple Reviews 2.4KTwitter 6.4KInstagram 2.3K Avg Length 97 min Format Extended Get Email Contact

13. The Thing About Helen & Olga

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Helen and Olga are kindly old ladies who open their hearts and wallets to down-and-out men in Los Angeles. In a city named for angels, the two women seem heaven-sent. After one of the men is killed by a hit-and-run driver -- and then another suffers the same fate -- investigators uncover a horrifying and twisted plot that stuns even the most seasoned detectives.Listen to all episodes of The Thing About Helen & Olga now completely free, or subscriber to Dateline Premium to listen ad-free: DatelinePremium.commore Host Keith Morrison
Producer/Network NBC News
Email ****@nbcuni.com
Location Los Angeles, California, United States
Estimated Monthly Listeners 50k-250k
Apple Rating 4.7/5Apple Reviews 3.3KFacebook 3.5MTwitter 9.3MInstagram 534.2K Avg Length 13 min Format Short form Get Email Contact

14. It Was Simple: The Betty Broderick Murders

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These were murders that would turn any town on its head, but La Jolla, Calif? That rich jewel by the sea? Thirty years ago, a man and his new wife were murdered in their bed. That's a long time for a double homicide to stay in the public eye and imagination, but these were no ordinary murders. The killer was the man's first wife, Betty Broderick. Betty and Dan Broderick had looked like the perfect couple, right up until they weren't...more Host Patt Morrison
Producer/Network Los Angeles Times
Email ****@latimes.com
Location Los Angeles, California, United States
Estimated Monthly Listeners 50k-250k
Recent Guests Kelsey Szamet, Liam Dillon +2 more
Apple Rating 3.8/5Apple Reviews 2.5KFacebook 3MTwitter 3.7MInstagram 1.3M Avg Length 17 min Format Short form Get Email Contact

15. Detective Trapp

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Anaheim investigator Julissa Trapp is not like other detectives. She's the only woman on the homicide squad, and a skilled chameleon: undercover cop in vice stings, crime-scene commander, patient confidante of killers. A master interrogator, she invokes her personal experience and deepest griefs as a tool to elicit confessions. When a young woman's body is found at a trash-sorting plant, Trapp learns the murder may be linked to the disappearance of three other women in nearby Santa Ana...more Host Christopher Goffard
Producer/Network Los Angeles Times | Wondery
Email ****@latimes.com
Location Los Angeles, California, United States
Estimated Monthly Listeners 250k-1M
Recent Guests Richard Winton, Josh Mankiewicz
Apple Rating 4.7/5Apple Reviews 10.7K Avg Length 23 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

16. Zodiac Speaking

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Zodiac Speaking explores the infamous Zodiac Killer case which is one of America's greatest unsolved Mysteries. Hosts Mike Morford and Richard Grinell have spent thousands of hours analyzing every aspect of the Zodiac case, and in each episode of Zodiac Speaking, they explore a different piece of the mystery. Whether you are new to the Zodiac case, or well-versed in its lore, listeners are bound to learn something new.more Hosts Mike Morford, Richard Grinell
Producer/Network AbJack Entertainment
Email ****@gmail.com
Estimated Monthly Listeners 10k-50k
Recent Guests Julia Cowley, Andrew Osborne +10 more
Apple Rating 4.5/5Apple Reviews 272Facebook 69Twitter 373 Avg Length 56 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

17. Man In The Window: The Golden State Killer

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In Man in the Window, Paige St. John, a Pulitzer Prize winning investigative reporter has uncovered never before revealed details about the man who would eventually become one of California's most deadly serial killers. From Wondery and the L.A. Times comes a new series that traces his path of devastation through his victims' eyes.more Host Paige St. John
Producer/Network Los Angeles Times | Wondery
Email ****@latimes.com
Location Los Angeles, California, United States
Estimated Monthly Listeners 1M+
Recent Guests Josh Mankiewicz, Richard Winton
Apple Rating 4.6/5Apple Reviews 18.3K Avg Length 26 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

18. The Girl in the Blue Mustang

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When 18-year-old Michelle O'Keefe is found murdered in her shiny new blue Mustang in a California park and ride, investigators encounter a confusing crime scene and a witness who seems to know too much. In Dateline's latest original podcast series, Keith Morrison takes us to the High Desert outside Los Angeles for a story featuring twists, turns and a sharp-eyed Dateline viewer who steers the case in an entirely new direction.Listen to all episodes of The Girl in the Blue Mustang now completely free, or subscriber to Dateline Premium to listen ad-free: DatelinePremium.commore Host Keith Morrison
Producer/Network NBC News
Email ****@nbcuni.com
Location Los Angeles, California, United States
Estimated Monthly Listeners 50k-250k
Apple Rating 4.3/5Apple Reviews 2.5KFacebook 3.5MTwitter 9.3MInstagram 534.2K Avg Length 13 min Format Short form Get Email Contact

19. Chameleon: Hollywood Con Queen

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The story of and hunt for the notorious scam artist known as the Hollywood Con Queen. Chameleon: Hollywood Con Queen is part of The Binge - subscribe to listen to all episodes, all at once, ad-free right now. From serial killer nurses to psychic scammers The Binge is your home for true crime stories that pull you in and never let go. Follow The Binge Crimes and The Binge Cases wherever you get your podcasts to get new stories on the first of the month, every month. Hit 'Subscribe' at the top of the Chameleon: Hollywood Con Queen show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com...more Host Josh Dean
Producer/Network Sony Music Entertainment / Campside Media
Email ****@sonymusic.com
Estimated Monthly Listeners 10k-50k
Apple Rating 4.6/5Apple Reviews 637 Avg Length 11 min Format Short form Get Email Contact

20. Murder in the Hollywood Hills

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Kristi Johnson was shopping at a mall in Los Angeles when a man invited her to a photo shoot for the next Bond film. That afternoon, the 21-year-old got into her little white sportscar and drove to the shoot location up in the Hollywood Hills. She was never seen alive again. In Dateline's latest podcast, Keith Morrison takes us to the city of dreams for the story of a smooth-talking predator who lured young women into a nightmare with promises of fame and fortune. It's the story of how he evaded justice for years...more Host Keith Morrison
Producer/Network Dateline NBC
Email ****@gmail.com
Location Los Angeles, California, United States
Estimated Monthly Listeners 50k-250k
Apple Rating 4.6/5Apple Reviews 941 Avg Length 17 min Format Short form Get Email Contact

21. Your Own Backyard

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A documentary podcast series investigating the 1996 disappearance of Cal Poly student, Kristin Smart.
Host Christopher Lambert
Producer/Network Chris Lambert
Email ****@gmail.com
Estimated Monthly Listeners 1M+
Apple Rating 4.9/5Apple Reviews 31.4KFacebook 45KTwitter 21.3KInstagram 124.1K Avg Length 58 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

22. Murder Book

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Sam Little, the FBI's most prolific serial killer roamed free for five decades, murdering women at will. But in 2012 he came to the attention of Detective Mitzi Roberts and everything changed. This opportunistic killer had long stayed below law enforcement's radar because of the victims he chose: Women from the fringe — drug users and sex workers paid little attention to by society...more Host Michael Connelly
Email ****@michaelconnelly.com
Location Los Angeles, California, United States
Estimated Monthly Listeners 250k-1M
Apple Rating 4.6/5Apple Reviews 5.9KFacebook 1.6KTwitter 2.1KInstagram 1.1K Avg Length 36 min Format Medium form Since Oct 2018 Get Email Contact

23. To Live and Die in LA

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In Feb 2018, an aspiring actress vanished from her Hollywood apartment. Rolling Stone journalist Neil Strauss was asked to help the family get answers. Together, they found them...sometimes at great personal risk. Now the award-winning true crime podcast returns, unraveling the baffling and tragic case that started Neil Strauss down the rabbit hole of true crime investigation, along with his wife and his neighbors, Incubus guitarist Mike Einziger, and concert violinist Ann Marie Simpson. To Live and Die in LA Season 2 is available now.www.livediela.commore Host Neil Strauss
Producer/Network Tenderfoot TV & Audacy
Email ****@gmail.com
Location Los Angeles, California, United States
Estimated Monthly Listeners 1M+
Apple Rating 4.6/5Apple Reviews 35.5KFacebook 7.3KTwitter 3.6KInstagram 27.8K Avg Length 32 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

24. Root of Evil: The True Story of the Hodel Family and the Black Dahlia

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When Elizabeth Short, also known as The Black Dahlia, was brutally killed in 1947, it gripped the entire country. More than 70 years later, it remains America's most infamous unsolved murder. Many believe Dr. George Hodel was the killer, thanks to an investigation by Hodel's own son. But murder is just part of the Hodel family story, one filled with horrifying secrets that ripple across generations. Now, through never-before-heard archival audio and first-time interviews, the Hodel family opens up to reveal their shocking story...more Hosts Rasha Pecoraro, Yvette Gentile
Producer/Network TNT / Cadence13
Email ****@gmail.com
Location San Francisco, California, United States
Estimated Monthly Listeners 1M+
Apple Rating 4.6/5Apple Reviews 21.4KFacebook 3.3MTwitter 168.3KInstagram 149.7K Avg Length 44 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

25. The Dropout

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Money. Romance. Tragedy. Deception. The story of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos is an unbelievable tale of ambition and fame gone terribly wrong. How did the world's youngest self-made female billionaire lose it all in the blink of an eye? How did the woman once heralded as 'the next Steve Jobs' find herself facing criminal charges - to which she pleaded not guilty - and up to decades in prison? How did her technology, meant to revolutionize health care, potentially put millions of patients at risk? And how did so many smart people get it so wrong along the way? ABC News chief business, techn..more Hosts Rebecca Jarvis, Taylor Dunn, Victoria Thompson
Producer/Network ABC News
Email ****@abc.com
Estimated Monthly Listeners 1M+
Apple Rating 4.6/5Apple Reviews 32.1KFacebook 131.9KInstagram 22K Avg Length 41 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

26. Monster: The Zodiac Killer

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'Monster: The Zodiac Killer' dives into one of the most notorious, unsolved serial killing sprees in history. Despite sketches, cyphers and taunting letters to the press, the question still remains: who is the Zodiac?more Hosts Matt Frederick, Payne Lindsey
Producer/Network iHeart True Crime
Email ****@gmail.com
Estimated Monthly Listeners 50k-250k
Apple Rating 4.1/5Apple Reviews 1.3K Avg Length 22 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

27. The Doodler

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The Golden State Killer. The Unabomber. Ted Bundy. You're probably familiar with these serial killers. But in the mid-1970s, another monster terrorized San Francisco's gay community. He was coined 'The Doodler,' and he may have been responsible for as many victims as the Zodiac Killer, yet you've probably never heard of him. Plagued by a complicated investigation, a frightened public, and the hesitation of many to come forward, the case went cold, and a killer walked free...more Host Kevin Fagan
Producer/Network San Francisco Chronicle / Ugly Duckling Films / Sony Music Entertainment
Email ****@sonymusic.com
Location San Francisco, California, United States
Estimated Monthly Listeners 50k-250k
Apple Rating 3.8/5Apple Reviews 953 Avg Length 10 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact