MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories
True crime fans who love variety and unexplained mysteries; popular with fans of 'unexplained' content alongside traditional true crime.
Podcasts Like MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories
If you loved MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories, here are the best podcasts to try next. Matched by case type, storytelling style, and community ratings from our database of Missing Person shows.
Why listeners love MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories
Former Navy SEAL MrBallen has built one of podcasting's fastest-growing audiences with his hypnotic storytelling — bite-sized strange and dark stories that are impossible to stop at just one.
Binge Factor
5/10
Community-rated compulsive listenability
Format
Episodic
New case with every episode
Style
Dark, atmospheric, compelling
Presentation approach
Episode Length
~45-60 min per episode; biweekly; large backlog since 2022
Typical episode duration
Host Style
Solo narrator
Presentation format
Verdict
Must listen
Our editorial rating
Recommendations
12 podcasts like MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories
Bear Brook
True crime fans fascinated by forensic science, DNA technology, and cold cases with a genuine scientific payoff.
Casefile True Crime
Listeners who prefer documentary-style narration with high production standards and zero filler; purists who want the facts and nothing else.
Morbid
True crime fans who enjoy real forensic expertise delivered with warmth and humour; those who want both depth and a sense of fun.
The Deck Investigates
Audiochuck's deep investigation of cold case homicide victims featured on playing card decks distributed to prison inmates.
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.
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.
Charlene: Somebody Knows Something
The Crime Desk revisits the 2003 disappearance of 14-year-old Charlene Downes from Blackpool — a case that still has no resolution.
Death in Ice Valley
True crime fans who love cold case mysteries with an international dimension; people fascinated by forensic identification and the stories hidden in unidentified remains.
We Call Her Emma
Tortoise Investigates and The Observer trace how a high-achieving west London woman ended up at the centre of the Emma Caldwell case.
Southern Shadows
Community-focused true crime podcast sharing victim stories to raise awareness in Southern communities.
Trace: Murder in the Rainforest
ABC Australia's investigation into the mysterious 2001 disappearance of British backpacker Peter Falconio in the Australian outback.
True Crime South Africa
South Africa's flagship true crime podcast, hosted by award-winning journalist Nicole Engelbrecht — the country's most popular true crime show even against international competition.
How they compare
| Podcast | Format | Country | Binge |
|---|---|---|---|
| MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories (original) | Episodic | United States | 5/10 |
| Bear Brook | Serialized | United States | 9/10 |
| Casefile True Crime | Episodic | Australia | 7/10 |
| Morbid | Episodic | United States | 5/10 |
| The Deck Investigates | Both | United States | 9/10 |
| The Teacher's Pet | Serialized | Australia | 9/10 |
| Your Own Backyard | Serialized | United States | 9/10 |
| Charlene: Somebody Knows Something | Serialized | United Kingdom | 8/10 |
| Death in Ice Valley | Serialized | United Kingdom | 8/10 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What podcasts are similar to MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories?
The best alternatives to MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories are podcasts that share its Missing Person focus and episodic format. Our editorial team has hand-picked the most similar shows based on content type, storytelling style, and community ratings.
Why do people love MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories?
MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories is known for its dark, atmospheric, compelling approach to Missing Person. It scores 5/10 on our binge factor rating, reflecting how compulsively listenable listeners find it. It has earned a "Must Listen" rating from our editorial team.
How long are episodes of MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories?
Episodes of MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories are typically ~45-60 min per episode; biweekly; large backlog since 2022 long. It follows an episodic format, with each episode covering a different case.
Where can I listen to MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories?
MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify. You can find it by searching the show name on any of those platforms.
What is the best episode of MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories to start with?
New listeners are recommended to start with Any recent episode is a great entry point — the format works standalone. Episodes can generally be listened to in any order.