The Bakersfield Three
Three people dead or missing in Bakersfield, California — Casefile Presents investigates the links between the cases of Baylee Despot, Micah Holsonbake, and James Kulstad.
Podcasts Like The Bakersfield Three
If you loved The Bakersfield Three, here are the best podcasts to try next. Matched by case type, storytelling style, and community ratings from our database of Murder, Missing person, Cold case shows.
Why listeners love The Bakersfield Three
The Bakersfield Three investigates the deaths and disappearances of three people in Bakersfield, California — and asks the question that links them all. Casefile Presents brings their signature methodical rigour to a case that's as much about a city's dark currents as three individual tragedies. Listeners rate its binge factor at 7/10.
Binge Factor
7/10
Community-rated compulsive listenability
Format
Serialised
Mix of serialized and standalone episodes
Style
Methodical; evidence-based; sombre; serious
Presentation approach
Episode Length
30-45 min
Typical episode duration
Host Style
Solo host
Presentation format
Verdict
Good if multi-victim connected cases interest you
Our editorial rating
Recommendations
12 podcasts like The Bakersfield Three
Casefile True Crime
Listeners who prefer documentary-style narration with high production standards and zero filler; purists who want the facts and nothing else.
Counter Clock
True crime fans who appreciate slow, careful investigation over quick-hit anthology formats; listeners who want journalism-quality research and original reporting.
The Fall Line
True crime fans who care about representation and want to counter the media focus on white, middle-class victims; advocates for rural and marginalised missing persons.
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
<p><em>Foggy</em> <em>gaslit</em> <em>streets.</em> <em>A</em> <em>quiet</em> <em>courtroom.</em> <em>And</em> <em>crimes</em> <em>that</em> <em>history</em> <em>tried</em> <em>to</em> <em>bury.</em><
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.
Murdaugh Murders Podcast
Journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell broke the Murdaugh family saga before it became a national story, and kept reporting it deeper than anyone else.
Missing and Murdered: Finding Cleo
CBC's Connie Walker investigates the Sixties Scoop through the disappearance of Cleo Semaganis Nicotine.
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.
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 Teacher's Pet
True crime fans who like journalism-driven investigations with massive real-world impact; anyone fascinated by domestic crime and institutional failure.
How they compare
| Podcast | Format | Country | Binge |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Bakersfield Three (original) | Serialised | United States | 7/10 |
| Casefile True Crime | Episodic | Australia | 7/10 |
| Counter Clock | Serialized | United States | 7/10 |
| The Fall Line | Both | United States | 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 |
| Murdaugh Murders Podcast | Serialized | United States | 9/10 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What podcasts are similar to The Bakersfield Three?
The best alternatives to The Bakersfield Three are podcasts that share its Murder, Missing person, Cold case focus and serialised format. Our editorial team has hand-picked the most similar shows based on content type, storytelling style, and community ratings.
Why do people love The Bakersfield Three?
The Bakersfield Three is known for its methodical; evidence-based; sombre; serious approach to Murder and Missing person. It scores 7/10 on our binge factor rating, reflecting how compulsively listenable listeners find it.
How long are episodes of The Bakersfield Three?
Episodes of The Bakersfield Three are typically 30-45 min long. The format varies between serialized arcs and standalone episodes.
Where can I listen to The Bakersfield Three?
The Bakersfield Three 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 The Bakersfield Three to start with?
New listeners are recommended to start with Episode 1 — essential to establish all three cases and their context. Episodes can generally be listened to in any order.