S-Town
True crime podcast review — 2026
Reviewed
"The first podcast ever to win a Peabody Award — still one of the genre's most singular pieces of audio storytelling."
Who is this podcast for?
- ✓Listeners who enjoy following a single case from start to finish
- ✓Fans of original investigative journalism over retold news
- ✓Binge listeners who want something they can't stop at one episode
Pros & cons
- +Rated "Must Listen" by our editorial team — exceptional across all dimensions
- +Exceptional binge factor — near impossible to stop at one episode
- +Serialized format builds a compelling, sustained narrative arc across episodes
- −Must listen in order — cannot dip in and out between episodes
About this podcast
S-Town began when a man named John asked Brian Reed to investigate a wealthy family's son who was allegedly bragging about getting away with murder in his small Alabama town. When someone else ends up dead, the search for the truth leads through a nasty feud, a hunt for hidden treasure, and the unearthing of one man's extraordinary life. From Serial Productions, it won the first-ever Peabody Award given to a podcast.
Best episode to start with
Chapter I
Serialized format — listen from the beginning for the full experience
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Frequently Asked Questions about S-Town
What is S-Town about?
S-Town began when a man named John asked Brian Reed to investigate a wealthy family's son who was allegedly bragging about getting away with murder in his small Alabama town. When someone else ends up dead, the search for the truth leads through a nasty feud, a hunt for hidden treasure, and the unearthing of one man's extraordinary life. From Serial Productions, it won the first-ever Peabody Award given to a podcast.
Is S-Town worth listening to?
Our editorial verdict is "Must listen". It scores 9/10 on binge factor. 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.
Who is S-Town for?
S-Town is ideal for: Listeners who enjoy following a single case from start to finish; Fans of original investigative journalism over retold news; Binge listeners who want something they can't stop at one episode.
What is the best episode of S-Town to start with?
We recommend starting with Chapter I. As a serialized show, it's best to listen from the beginning of a season.
Where can I listen to S-Town?
S-Town is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify. Search for it by name on any of those apps.
What podcasts are similar to S-Town?
If you enjoy S-Town, you might also like: The Trial of Erin Patterson, Pipeline, The Missing Cryptoqueen, Crime Analyst. See our full "Podcasts Like S-Town" page for more recommendations.
Quick facts
- Format
- Serialized
- Host style
- Solo narrator
- Style
- Novelistic, immersive, compelling
- Episode length
- 45-60 min
- Episodes
- 7 episodes
- Binge factor
- 9/10
- Country
- United States
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