Bad People
Dr Julia Shaw applies criminal psychology to real cases for BBC Radio 5 Live — murderers, fraudsters and internet trolls, explained.
Podcasts Like Bad People
If you loved Bad People, here are the best podcasts to try next. Matched by case type, storytelling style, and community ratings from our database of Psychological Crime, Murder, Fraud shows.
Why listeners love Bad People
The 'why do people do this' show — hosted by a working criminal psychologist, not a narrator. Listeners rate its binge factor at 7/10.
Binge Factor
7/10
Community-rated compulsive listenability
Format
Episodic
New case with every episode
Style
Analytical, psychological, accessible
Presentation approach
Episode Length
40-50 min
Typical episode duration
Host Style
Dual host
Presentation format
Verdict
Good if you want the psychology behind real cases explained by an actual scientist
Our editorial rating
Recommendations
12 podcasts like Bad People
Crime Next Door: The Beast of Birkenhead
BBC’s Olivia Graham revisits the 1986 Diane Sindall murder and the 2025 quashing of Peter Sullivan’s conviction. Sullivan quashed 13 May 2025; killer unknown.
Foul Play: A Historical True Crime Podcast
Foggy gaslit streets. A quiet courtroom. And crimes that history tried to bury. <
Serial
Anyone interested in journalism, legal procedure, and deep investigative dives into morally ambiguous cases with no easy answers.
In the Dark
Listeners who want journalism-grade investigation into wrongful convictions, systemic racism, and institutional failures — more 60 Minutes than true crime thriller.
The Trial of Erin Patterson
The Crime Desk's courtroom coverage of the Erin Patterson 'mushroom murders' trial — one of the biggest cases of the decade.
The Retrievals
True crime fans interested in medical crime, systemic bias, and the treatment of women in healthcare; essential for anyone who has ever been dismissed by a doctor.
The Missing Cryptoqueen
BBC journalist Jamie Bartlett tracks down Dr Ruja Ignatova, who persuaded millions to invest in OneCoin before vanishing without a trace.
S-Town
From Serial Productions: a man convinced his Alabama town is covering up a murder pulls host Brian Reed into a story that becomes something else entirely.
Your Own Backyard
Listeners who want investigative true crime with real-world consequence and single-minded, passionate focus from a creator who refused to let a case die.
The Teacher's Pet
True crime fans who like journalism-driven investigations with massive real-world impact; anyone fascinated by domestic crime and institutional failure.
You Didn't See Nothin
Pulitzer Prize and Peabody Award-winning series in which Yohance Lacour revisits a violent Chicago incident from 25 years earlier that shaped his path into journalism.
Bone Valley
True crime fans who care deeply about wrongful conviction, prosecutorial failure, and the fight to free innocent people; fans of In the Dark will find this essential.
How they compare
| Podcast | Format | Country | Binge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bad People (original) | Episodic | United Kingdom | 7/10 |
| Crime Next Door: The Beast of Birkenhead | Serialized | United Kingdom | — |
| Foul Play: A Historical True Crime Podcast | — | — | — |
| Serial | Serialized | United States | 10/10 |
| In the Dark | Serialized | United States | 10/10 |
| The Trial of Erin Patterson | Serialized | United Kingdom | 9/10 |
| The Retrievals | Serialized | United States | 9/10 |
| The Missing Cryptoqueen | Serialized | United Kingdom | 9/10 |
| S-Town | Serialized | United States | 9/10 |
Newsletter
Get recommendations like this weekly
Curated picks, new reviews, and hidden gems. Find your next obsession.
You can unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently Asked Questions
What podcasts are similar to Bad People?
The best alternatives to Bad People are podcasts that share its Psychological Crime, Murder, Fraud focus and episodic format. We've matched alternatives based on case types, storytelling format, and community ratings from our database.
Why do people love Bad People?
Bad People is known for its analytical, psychological, accessible approach to Psychological Crime and Murder. It scores 7/10 on our binge factor rating, reflecting how compulsively listenable listeners find it.
How long are episodes of Bad People?
Episodes of Bad People are typically 40-50 min long. It follows an episodic format, with each episode covering a different case.
Where can I listen to Bad People?
Bad People is available on BBC Sounds, Apple Podcasts, Spotify. You can find it by searching the show name on any of those platforms.
What is the best episode of Bad People to start with?
New listeners are recommended to start with Episode 1. Episodes can generally be listened to in any order.