True crime podcasts have seemingly taken over the medium. From haunting tales about violent killers to detailed accounts of specific white-collar crimes, if there’s a felony you find intriguing, there’s likely a podcast about someone who committed it.
But if true crime isn’t your jam and you still want an enthralling podcast to geek out over, check out these four options. The stories are interesting and wild, and while they might mention a crime or two committed (the podcasts are about humans, after all), it’s not the focus.
Even the Rich
A Wondery podcast hosted by Brooke Siffrinn and Aricia Skidmore-Williams, Even the Rich takes listeners inside the lives of the ultra-rich and famous. From legendary families to notable celebrities, this podcast covers it all. Siffrinn and Skidmore-Williams have serialized the likes of Drew Barrymore, the Murdochs, JFK, Anna Wintour, the Kardashians, and more.
Even the Rich has dipped its toes in the true crime space with episodes about the Getty family kidnapping and the Gucci murder, but those can easily be avoided.
Short History Of…
From Noiser comes Short History Of…, a weekly podcast with episodes diving into some of the most important moments, eras, people, and cultural touchstones in history. The hosts choose subjects that not only changed the course of history but also had a lasting impact that still affects society presently.
The episodes are titled in such a way that it’s easy to skip around and only listen to topics you’re interested in, but you can also press play and consume everything Short History Of… has to offer. Either way, you’re bound to learn something.
Myths and Legends
If mythology and folklore trip your trigger, check out Myths and Legends. This podcast tells listeners the true stories behind tales we thought were entirely fictional. You’ll learn about world history and the cultures that have created it in a thoughtful and intriguing way.
Not Past It
The podcast Not Past It is similar to Short History Of… in that it selects someone or something significant from the past that still affects us today. But rather than picking a topic at random, Not Past It chooses topics according to the week in history. You won’t just learn about history, you’ll have a date of reference for it, as well. And generally speaking, Not Past It doesn’t go back quite as far in time as Short History Of…, and most of its topics have a pop culture tie-in.
Listen to each of these series wherever you stream podcasts.