Criminal

Criminal takes a refreshingly thoughtful approach to the true crime genre. Hosted by Phoebe Judge, whose calm and measured voice has become one of the most recognizable in podcasting, the show explores stories about people who have done wrong, been wronged, or found themselves caught somewhere in the moral middle. It is not a show built on shock value or graphic details, which makes it a strong pick for families traveling with older teens. Episodes cover an enormous range of subjects, from a woman who stole high-end purses to fund her life on the run to the complicated history of forensic science to a man who accidentally bought a high school at auction. Judge treats every subject and every person she interviews with genuine curiosity and respect, and that tone sets Criminal apart from most shows in the category. Each episode runs about thirty minutes and tells a self-contained story, so you can jump in anywhere without needing to start from the beginning. The New York Times named it one of the best podcasts of 2023, and with over 400 episodes stretching back to 2014, the catalog is deep enough to fill a cross-country drive. The stories tend to raise interesting moral questions without hammering a conclusion, which makes them natural conversation starters for parents and teenagers who are still figuring out the gray areas of the world together.