The best way to improve your listening comprehension is by *drumroll*…
Listening. If your interests center more around the sinister and the darker side of humanity, then True Crime could be your jam. Read below for some of the top True Crime podacst in the German-speaking space.
#1: Verbrechen
In this podcast, Sabine Rückert, an expert in crime and its investigation from ZEIT’s editorial team, delves into intriguing questions surrounding criminal cases. She draws on her experience in major trials, award-winning court reporting, and uncovering justice system errors to explore why individuals commit crimes, how detectives obtain confessions, and why witnesses sometimes lie. With the host, Andreas Sentker, the podcast delves into the world of crime prevention, from police stations to the highest court.
Sabine Rückert shares insights into criminal psychology, forensics, credibility assessment, and profiling, and discusses the most compelling cases of her career, shedding light on the intricacies of the criminal justice system.
#2: Mord Auf Ex
Every Monday, journalists Leonie Bartsch and Linn Schütze share a true crime story in their podcast. From mysterious cults to cold cases and Mafia-related incidents, they dive into the psychological and human side of the crimes.
This isn’t your average true-crime podcast — they speak with survivors, visit crime scenes, and sometimes even enjoy a glass of wine.
With over 200 episodes, this podcast is binge-ready.
#3: Verbrechen von nebenan: True Crime aus der Nachbarschaft
Translates to “Crime Next Door: True Crime from the Neighborhood.”
The most heinous crimes often occur not in big cities, but right next door. In this podcast hosted by radio journalist Philipp Fleiter, he discusses the most sensational crimes and criminal cases of recent years. From the seemingly friendly neighbor who’s actually buried under the garage floor to the disturbing case of a young girl vanishing from her family’s farm, these are unforgettable stories explored through interviews with various guests. The podcast is available every other Monday on popular podcast platforms and one week earlier on RTL+.
#4: Lubi: Ein Polizist stürzt ab
Typically, in true crime podcasts, journalists discuss criminals, but in this unique podcast, Nino Seidel manages to interview one.
Rolf L. shares his incredible story, transitioning from a successful drug detective to a criminal, just four weeks before his four-year prison sentence. Rolf’s unflinching account becomes a perplexing exploration of reality and delusion, truth, and the difficulty in discerning reality on the dark side of crime.
With a penchant for storytelling, humor, and suspense, Rolf L. narrates his tragicomic descent, and the podcast brings his story to life with additional sound design and music, creating a cinematic experience for the audience.
#5: Mord am Mittwoch
This one is a personal favorite. Hosted by Youtuber Lucia Leona, this is the only one on this list that uploads their episodes on Youtube and Spotify.
Every Wednesday, Lucia delves into the details of some of the most famous murders, kidnappings, and cold-cases of recent history. She gives the perspective of a True Crime super-fan.