The Apology Line
For fifteen years, a Manhattan phone line let anonymous callers confess anything — until the man on the other end became consumed by his own creation.
Podcasts Like The Apology Line
If you loved The Apology Line, here are the best podcasts to try next. Matched by case type, storytelling style, and community ratings from our database of Psychological Crime, Cult, Investigative shows.
Why listeners love The Apology Line
A genuinely strange true story that doesn't fit the usual true crime mould — confession as obsession. With a binge factor of 8/10, it sits among the most compulsively listenable shows in the genre. It follows a serialized format — each season covers one case in depth, building suspense across episodes.
Binge Factor
8/10
Community-rated compulsive listenability
Format
Serialized
One story told across multiple episodes
Style
Atmospheric; historically layered; investigative; unsettling
Presentation approach
Episode Length
35-45 min
Typical episode duration
Host Style
Solo narrator
Presentation format
Verdict
Must listen
Our editorial rating
Recommendations
12 podcasts like The Apology Line
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.
Spotlight: Snitch City
The Boston Globe Spotlight Team exposes one police department's rampant abuse of confidential informants — a top critical pick of 2025.
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.
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 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.
Pipeline
The Crime Desk's investigation into four professional divers sucked hundreds of feet into a Caribbean oil pipeline in 2022 — and the failing safety standards that put them there.
Death, Lies & Cyanide
A Spotify Original narrated by journalist Sashi Kumar, chronicling how Jolly Joseph allegedly poisoned six members of her own family over 14 years in Kerala.
I Am Not Nicholas
BBC Studios tracks Nicholas Rossi, a man accused of sexual assault who spent years evading justice by claiming to be someone else entirely.
The Shrink Next Door
Veteran journalist Joe Nocera's Hamptons neighbor was a therapist to the stars — until Nocera discovered everything he thought he knew about him was wrong.
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.
Manhunt: Finding Kevin Parle
Ex-Flying Squad detective Peter Bleksley runs a live fugitive hunt for BBC Radio 5 Live, tracking a man wanted over two murders.
How they compare
| Podcast | Format | Country | Binge |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Apology Line (original) | Serialized | United States | 8/10 |
| Crime Next Door: The Beast of Birkenhead | Serialized | United Kingdom | — |
| Spotlight: Snitch City | Serialized | United States | 9/10 |
| You Didn't See Nothin | Serialized | United States | 9/10 |
| The Trial of Erin Patterson | Serialized | United Kingdom | 9/10 |
| The Missing Cryptoqueen | Serialized | United Kingdom | 9/10 |
| S-Town | Serialized | United States | 9/10 |
| Pipeline | Serialized | United Kingdom | 9/10 |
| Death, Lies & Cyanide | Serialized | India | 8/10 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What podcasts are similar to The Apology Line?
The best alternatives to The Apology Line are podcasts that share its Psychological Crime, Cult, Investigative focus and serialized format. We've matched alternatives based on case types, storytelling format, and community ratings from our database.
Why do people love The Apology Line?
The Apology Line is known for its atmospheric; historically layered; investigative; unsettling approach to Psychological Crime and Cult. It scores 8/10 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 The Apology Line?
Episodes of The Apology Line are typically 35-45 min long. It follows a serialized format, covering one story across multiple episodes.
Where can I listen to The Apology Line?
The Apology Line is available on Audible, Apple Podcasts, Spotify. You can find it by searching the show name on any of those platforms.
What is the best episode of The Apology Line to start with?
New listeners are recommended to start with Episode 1. As a serialized podcast, it's best to start from the beginning of a season.