After nearly a decade of broadcasts, Last Podcast On The Left has become a household name in the world of true crime podcasts. Though they specialize in true crime, what sets the show apart is its explorations of other topics such as the paranormal and UFO research.
One thing that helps the show stand out from a sea of other true crime podcasts is its unique brand of gallows humor. Despite being a comedy podcast series, the topics they cover are often incredibly dark and some of them are legitimately terrifying.
Episodes 323-325 - "The Men In Black"
The paranormal phenomena of "Men In Black" has become a staple cliche of the conspiracy science fiction genre. However, in their three-part series about the "Men In Black," Last Podcast explored the modern mythology of the phenomena as well as the historical references to similar sightings.
Though the episode features a fair smattering of the familiar Last Podcast humor, listeners couldn't help but be shaken by the chilling tales. What makes the episode so frightening is the depth of research presented and the frequent prevalence of the strange beings. The connection between the paranormal and the extraterrestrial is right in the wheelhouse of Last Podcast.
Episodes 352-354 - "Skinwalker Ranch"
The notorious parcel of land in the American west known as Skinwalker Ranch has become a bastion of paranormal activity and is the source of numerous books and podcasts. The boys from Last Podcast tackled the subject in a three-part series that explored the history of the area, the hauntings, and finally the various paranormal investigations that have taken place there.
For anyone spooked by the paranormal, the Skinwalker Ranch episodes are enough to keep the listener up at night. The story is filled with a plethora of different accounts that vary from more traditional ghost stories all the way to UFO-style phenomena.
Episodes 335-337 - "The West Memphis Three"
Though Last Podcast On The Left has covered their fair share of true crime stories over the years, few were as uniquely frightening as that of the West Memphis Three. The three-part series covers the events of a real life murder in West Memphis Arkansas and three teenage boys who were railroaded into prison for a crime they didn't commit.
The episodes are terrifying because of the many injustices that led the young men to be put in prison. Usually, the stories that Last Podcast covers end in the killer being arrested and tried for their crimes. However, in the case of the West Memphis Three, not only did the real killer go free but three innocent people lost years of their lives to injustice.
Episodes 169-170 - "Betty And Barney Hill"
Usually, the UFO stories covered on Last Podcast have a rather innocuous feeling. Though the supposed witness is shaken by their experience, they are largely left unharmed, but the case of Betty and Barney Hill was different. The two-part series covers the experiences of a real life couple whose supposed abduction ruined their lives.
The research conducted by host Marcus Parks provides the listener with gruesome details of the physical symptoms suffered by the Hills and it paints a terrifying picture. The Hill case is particularly frightening because no matter how true or untrue their story was, something ruined their lives in a painful way.
Episodes 50-60 - "BTK"
It took a while for Last Podcast to find its footing but their BTK series was the first glimpse of what the show would become in the future. While most of their early series were brief explorations of topics, their two-part series on the BTK killer showed a new depth of research for the fledgling podcast.
Though the episodes are filled with hilarious moments from host Henry Zebrowski, it doesn't lessen the terrible impact of the case. While serial killer cases are Last Podcast's bread and butter, the BTK killer is a particularly dark example that is one of the more terrifying entries in the true crime genre.
Episodes 331-332 - "The Donner Party"
Over the years, Last Podcast On The Left has shown growth as a show and has progressed into more historical topics. One of their first forays into history was their harrowing two-part series on the Donner Party and the various calamities that befell the travelers.
The episodes are particularly frightening because of the depth of research and the detail provided by the hosts. While the story of the Donner Party is somewhat well known, Last Podcast does a terrific job of giving context to the many horrors that came to define the Donner Party expedition. Like most of the scariest episodes, it's terrifying because it is true.
Episodes 300-304 - "Jonestown"
One of the other areas explored by Last Podcast is the strange and terrifying world of cults. In their extensive five-part series, Last Podcast tackled one of the world's most famous cults, the People's Temple, and followed the story from the humble beginnings to the gruesome end.
The research is top-notch and provides the listener with a clear picture of what life was like within the group. The inclusion of historical audio only helps to ratchet up the terror and with over five hours of podcast on the subject, the listener begins to feel immersed. The extensiveness of the research and the size of the series make it all the more frightening because no detail is left out.
Episodes 245-246 - "Richard Chase"
Many of the true crime cases covered on the show are terrifying and leave an impression on the listener. However, few were as gruesome or memorable as the two-part tale of serial killer Richard Chase, and his strange personal life.
Where it would have been easy to skimp on backstory in favor of the gruesome bits, Last Podcast proves it is great by presenting the whole story and it is all the scarier because of it. Though humor is added in an attempt to soften the blow, the true crime tale is too horrible to be forgotten.
Episodes 456-460 - "The Black Death"
Last Podcast proved that some of the most horrifying stories from the past come not from true crime, but from the day-to-day lives of ancient peoples. Their immersive series about the Black Plague details the entire centuries-long event from its origins to its eventual decline.
What makes the episodes so terrifying is not only the plague itself but the picture of scale that is presented by the podcast. The series dives deep into the gritty details to provide the listener with a true picture of the event which is more terrifying than most history books make it out to be.
Episodes 234-236 - "Albert Fish"
Though other historical monsters were more well known, few were as terrifying as Albert Fish. The Last Podcast three-part series about the serial killer dives deep into his past and explores his various crimes in unflinching detail. Not leaving a single detail out, the hosts draw from historical documentation in their series including letters from the man himself to paint an eerie picture.
Despite the presence of humor, there is little the hosts can do to alleviate the horror of the true crime story. The episodes are chilling but they also show the strength of the podcast because they are able to present a well-researched story that is informative and horrifying at the same time.