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.
Podcasts Like The Retrievals
If you loved The Retrievals, here are the best podcasts to try next. Matched by case type, storytelling style, and community ratings from our database of Medical Crime, Fraud, Systemic Injustice shows.
Why listeners love The Retrievals
The Retrievals is a short, devastating masterpiece from Serial Productions — five episodes about the women whose pain was stolen from them and the medical system that allowed it to happen. It follows a serialized format — each season covers one case in depth, building suspense across episodes.
Binge Factor
9/10
Community-rated compulsive listenability
Format
Serialized
One story told across multiple episodes
Style
Serious, measured, profoundly important
Presentation approach
Episode Length
5 episodes; bingeable in one afternoon
Typical episode duration
Host Style
Solo narrator
Presentation format
Verdict
Must listen
Our editorial rating
Recommendations
12 podcasts like The Retrievals
Believed
Listeners who want to understand systemic institutional failure, survivor stories, and how Nassar's abuse was enabled so long; essential for anyone working in safeguarding or sports.
Dr. Death
True crime fans interested in medical crime, institutional failure, and white-collar predators — compelling for anyone who has ever trusted a doctor blindly.
In the Dark
Listeners who want journalism-grade investigation into wrongful convictions, systemic racism, and institutional failures — more 60 Minutes than true crime thriller.
Anatomy of a Scam
Explains how scams work in Australia and who runs them.
Sweet Bobby
Tortoise Media's definitive account of a years-long catfishing scheme — one of the most-discussed UK true crime podcasts 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.
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.
Spotlight: Snitch City
The Boston Globe Spotlight Team exposes one police department's rampant abuse of confidential informants — a top critical pick of 2025.
Crimetown
True crime fans who want novelistic, character-driven storytelling about organised crime and institutional corruption; listeners who want something that feels as much like great drama as documentary.
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 Clearing
Amanda Knox and Jon Ronson examine cult psychology through the prism of Knox's own experience.
Catch and Kill: The Podcast Tapes
Ronan Farrow's raw tapes from the Weinstein investigation — including what NBC refused to broadcast.
How they compare
| Podcast | Format | Country | Binge |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Retrievals (original) | Serialized | United States | 9/10 |
| Believed | Serialized | United States | 9/10 |
| Dr. Death | Serialized | United States | 8/10 |
| In the Dark | Serialized | United States | 10/10 |
| Anatomy of a Scam | Serialized | Australia | — |
| Sweet Bobby | Serialized | United Kingdom | 9/10 |
| The Missing Cryptoqueen | Serialized | United Kingdom | 9/10 |
| You Didn't See Nothin | Serialized | United States | 9/10 |
| Spotlight: Snitch City | Serialized | United States | 9/10 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What podcasts are similar to The Retrievals?
The best alternatives to The Retrievals are podcasts that share its Medical Crime, Fraud, Systemic Injustice focus and serialized 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 Retrievals?
The Retrievals is known for its serious, measured, profoundly important approach to Medical Crime and Fraud. It scores 9/10 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 Retrievals?
Episodes of The Retrievals are typically 5 episodes; bingeable in one afternoon long. It follows a serialized format, covering one story across multiple episodes.
Where can I listen to The Retrievals?
The Retrievals is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR. You can find it by searching the show name on any of those platforms.
What is the best episode of The Retrievals to start with?
New listeners are recommended to start with Episode 1 — must listen in order. As a serialized podcast, it's best to start from the beginning of a season.