We Were Three
From Serial Productions and This American Life producer Nancy Updike: a woman's father and brother die two weeks apart from Covid, and she uncovers what she wasn't told.
Podcasts Like We Were Three
If you loved We Were Three, here are the best podcasts to try next. Matched by case type, storytelling style, and community ratings from our database of Institutional failure, Investigative shows.
Why listeners love We Were Three
A short, devastating Serial Productions series about institutional and family silence during Covid — not a traditional crime story, but a natural fit for listeners of We Were Three's sister shows. Listeners rate its binge factor at 7/10. It follows a serialized format — each season covers one case in depth, building suspense across episodes.
Binge Factor
7/10
Community-rated compulsive listenability
Format
Serialized
One story told across multiple episodes
Style
Personal, reflective, profound
Presentation approach
Episode Length
35-45 min
Typical episode duration
Host Style
Solo narrator
Presentation format
Verdict
Good if you want a short, devastating story about institutional failure rather than a crime in the traditional sense
Our editorial rating
Recommendations
12 podcasts like We Were Three
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.
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.
Spotlight: Snitch City
The Boston Globe Spotlight Team exposes one police department's rampant abuse of confidential informants — a top critical pick of 2025.
The Missing Cryptoqueen
BBC journalist Jamie Bartlett tracks down Dr Ruja Ignatova, who persuaded millions to invest in OneCoin before vanishing without a trace.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Crime Story
CBC's Kathleen Goldhar brings journalistic integrity and a conversational edge to white-collar scandals, high-profile trials, and under-the-radar Canadian stories.
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.
Five Miles From Home
Keith Morrison and Dateline investigate the disappearance of high school junior Micaela Costanzo on her way home from track practice in a small Nevada casino town.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| We Were Three (original) | Serialized | United States | 7/10 |
| Crime Next Door: The Beast of Birkenhead | Serialized | United Kingdom | — |
| S-Town | Serialized | United States | 9/10 |
| Spotlight: Snitch City | Serialized | United States | 9/10 |
| The Missing Cryptoqueen | Serialized | United Kingdom | 9/10 |
| The Trial of Erin Patterson | Serialized | United Kingdom | 9/10 |
| Pipeline | Serialized | United Kingdom | 9/10 |
| Murdaugh Murders Podcast | Serialized | United States | 9/10 |
| You Didn't See Nothin | Serialized | United States | 9/10 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What podcasts are similar to We Were Three?
The best alternatives to We Were Three are podcasts that share its Institutional failure, 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 We Were Three?
We Were Three is known for its personal, reflective, profound approach to Institutional failure and Investigative. It scores 7/10 on our binge factor rating, reflecting how compulsively listenable listeners find it.
How long are episodes of We Were Three?
Episodes of We Were Three are typically 35-45 min long. It follows a serialized format, covering one story across multiple episodes.
Where can I listen to We Were Three?
We Were 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 We Were Three 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.