A vacation paradise where holidays end in murder – that’s the mysterious story from Thailand in a new podcast this week. There’s also a new show based on 19 hours of audio from never before heard interviews from notorious serial killer David Berkowitz aka “The Son of Sam.” Plus, a pair of cast members from the hit Bravo series “Vanderpump Rules” comes to podcasting. And Red Hot Chili Peppers’s founding member Flea launches a series about falling in love with music.
Here’s some of what’s new this week in podcasting—
Death Island is a new iHeartPodcasts true crime show that explores the mysterious deaths of tourists on a remote island in Thailand. The seemingly idyllic paradise of Koh Tao, once known as Turtle Island, has turned from beauty to horror as a string of brutal murders and unexplained disappearances have rocked the community. This show has it all: Government cover-ups, corrupt police, bungled investigations, silenced natives, cults. Find out why locals and tourists have come to call this part of the world “Death Island” with every new episode exploring a different, tragic and mysterious death. New episodes are released each Tuesday.
Transportista: Who Murdered Captain Coral? is a new show from iHeartPodcasts. The podcast features Beto Coral, a son of the war on drugs in Colombia who now lives in Miami. He shares the story of the much-anticipated peace following Escobar’s death all those years ago...a peace never truly happened for his family given that his father, el Capitán Humberto Coral, a member of the Search Block that killed Escobar, was murdered a few months after the final operation against the drug trafficker in Medellin. It is hosted by “Exile” producer Alvaro Cespedes, who takes listeners through the harrowing tale of Captain Coral’s life and tragic death. The show is available in both English and Spanish. New episodes will be released every Wednesday.
Violation is a new podcast from WBUR Boston and The Marshall project. The show is dedicated to human stories where crime and complexity collide. The first season features the case of Jacob Wideman, who was released from prison after serving more than 30 years for stabbing a fellow teen to death at summer camp in 1986. Though Wideman was released from prison on parole in 2016, he returned just nine months later — under very unusual circumstances. Episodes of Violation will be released every Wednesday. Plus, a special broadcast edition will be featured on NPR and WBUR’s syndicated public radio show “Here & Now” which airs on more than 450 stations across the country.
This Little Light is a new interview podcast series from Cadence13 and Parallel. The 15-episode show was created and hosted by Red Hot Chili Peppers’s founding member Flea. It is about falling in love with music, music education, and finding beauty in the chaos of the creative process. On the show, Flea invites musical guests from all genres to talk about how they fell in love with music, including the teachers that guided them, the influences that inspired them, and how the lessons they learned as young musicians have shaped their creativity, resilience, and careers. Guests range from legends to rising stars, and include Rick Rubin, Patti Smith, Thundercat, Margo Price and Cynthia Erivo.
This Little Light is executive produced by Flea; Parallel partners Ken Kao, Nicolas Gonda and Jocelyn Florence; and Cadence13’s Chris Corcoran.
Stiffed is a new podcast from Crooked Media and iHeartPodcasts. The eight-part documentary series follows the story of series that tells the story of Viva, an erotic magazine for women created by Penthouse magazine publisher Bob Guccione. It was staffed by female writers and editors and featured groundbreaking full-frontal male nudes, writing by feminist icons like Betty Friedan and profiles of literary legends like Maya Angelou. Its cover stars include Bianca Jagger and Shelley Duvall. The show is hosted by writer Jennifer Romolini
Killer Tape is a new true crime podcast from Audio Up and Molasses Manifesto. The series features 21 episodes based around 19 hours of audio from never before heard interviews from notorious serial killer David Berkowitz aka “The Son of Sam.” The interviews were conducted in 1980 from New York’s notorious Attica Prison shortly after Berkowitz was sentenced for his heinous crimes. Veteran Investigative Reporter Jack Jones conducted the interviews over the course of several months, handpicked by Berkowitz himself after the serial killer read a series of articles Jones had written on mental health in the prison system for the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. This would be Berkowitz’s first in depth interview since his August 1977 arrest as the .44 Caliber Killer. The result was a startling portrait of a serial killer in his own words; describing how he became “The Son of Sam.” Killer Tape is the first in a series of true crime, limited series to be released by Audio Up with distribution partner AudioBoom.
The Lesser Dead is a new scripted supernatural audio thriller from Echoverse and Wondery+. The series stars actors Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting and The Riches), Jack Kilmer (The Nice Guys, Palo Alto), Danny Huston (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) and Saul Rubinek (Hunters, Warehouse 13). Author Christopher Buehlman (The Blacktongue Thief, Those Across The River, Between Two Fires) adapted his darkly-comedic novel of the same title to audio. Set in wild-and-wooly 1978 New York, the podcast embeds listeners in a colony of vampires led by the formidable Margaret McMannis (Driver) and is narrated by one of her clan members, Joey Peacock (Kilmer), an irreverent, eternally-young 19-year-old who quite literally never grew up. When a dangerous new adversary enters their world, Margaret and Joey’s unconventional family of vampires must come together before it’s too late. The podcast debuted March 27 on Wondery+ with episodes found on other podcast apps a week later.
Inner Cosmos is a new show from iHeartPodcasts. In this podcast, Stanford neuroscientist and bestselling author David Eagleman explores wild questions to reveal how modern brain science intersects with our lives, passions, and behaviors. Through thrilling journeys into the “Inner Cosmos,” Eagleman unfolds totally unexpected facets of our brains, allowing us to see the world from new angles. New episodes will be released every Monday.Eagleman is also a writer and presenter of “The Brain,’ the Emmy-nominated television series on PBS and BBC.
When Reality Hits is a new series from PodcastOne. Hosted by Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright, the podcast will take listeners behind the scenes and show what happened when the cameras stopped rolling on the hit Bravo series “Vanderpump Rules.” The husband-and-wife reality show duo takes listeners inside their crazy lives as they explore parenthood, marriage, family, friendship, and reality TV. Nothing is off-limits in this candid look at their real lives with tons of fun, lots of laughs, honest opinions, and plenty of special guests.
Make Me Care About is a new podcast from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Acast. Hosted by bestselling author Jen Hatmaker, the podcast will feature conversations with guests from around the world who are solving some of the world’s biggest problems.
Each episode dives into a different challenge. Topics range from maternal mortality to the importance of iodized salt, the pivotal developmental stage of ninth grade to the impact of malaria on communities around the globe, from poop and outdated toilets to garbanzo beans’ role in tackling malnutrition.
“By investigating innovative but often overlooked solutions to global challenges, Make Me Care About is an invitation for listeners to be inspired by amazing people and their work on world-changing projects,” said Gates Foundation’s Susan Byrnes. “Through conversations with our partners and experts, Jen shares some of the remarkable stories that motivate our work to create a world where every person—no matter where they’re born—is able to live a healthy life and reach their full potential.”
The 13-episode series will publish on Wednesdays. Produced by Magnificent Noise, Make Me Care About will be distributed by Acast.
Lana – the Arabic word for “ours” – is the title of a new Arabic-language podcast from the Jordanian-based podcast production company Sowt and Doha Debates, an organization focused on bringing people together around global topics. The podcast, hosted by former France 24 Arabic presenter and Al Jazeera journalist Rawaa Augé, tackles debate questions for young Arabs in culture today, including: Is the Internet a healthy debate space? Is the Arabic language evolving? and, Has cancel culture gone too far? Augé and her guests will also address beauty standards in Arab culture, mental health issues affecting younger generations, and the complexities of immigration and asylum.
Math & Magic: Stories from the Frontiers of Marketing with Bob Pittman returns for a new season. The iHeartPodcasts series is hosted by iHeart CEO Bob Pittman,. In the show, he analyzes the Math and Magic of marketing in intimate and broad conversations with today's most gifted disruptors. Tune in to new episodes every Thursday.
Last Day returns for a new season. The flagship podcast from Lemonada Media hosted by co-founder Stephanie Wittels Wachs, is back for a new season to focus on the moments that changed us forever. Wittels Wachs will be joined by a different guest to share their own personal ‘last day’ – who they were before, and how they’ve found a way to exist after. Last Day is a show that spotlights stories of human resilience and transformational experiences – real conversations with real people who have lived through turning point days they will never forget, and the wisdom they have to share about surviving them. New episodes will drop each Wednesday.
Succession returns for a fourth and final season of the companion podcast to the HBO Max series of the same name. The ten-episode season, produced in conjunction with Pineapple Street Studios, will release new episodes each Sunday night following the show’s airing on television. Kara Swisher will be returning to host the new season of the podcast, featuring conversations with cast and crew, including the creator of the show, Jesse Armstrong, Executive Producer Frank Rich. Plus, Swisher taps real-life experts outside the show – like business titans, whistleblowers, and political consultants – to find out just how terrifyingly accurate the world of Succession really is.
The Lazarus Heist returns for a second season. The BBC Podcasts production podcast continues its in-depth look at what investigators claim is a secretive ring of elite North Korean hackers. They are nicknamed the Lazarus Group and have now been accused of more bank heists, teaming up with sophisticated dark web criminals. North Korea says it has nothing to do with these cybercrimes, saying the United States is making these allegations to try and tarnish its image.
Hosted by Jean Lee, who opened the first and only U.S. news bureau in North Korea, and Geoff White, an investigative journalist covering tech and organized crime, The Lazarus Heist’s new season will investigate claims that the hackers have connected with partners in crime around the world. The series begins with the story of a massive heist on ATMs, taking place in 28 countries, on the same day. Investigators say the hackers have now pivoted from robbing banks to stealing from cryptocurrency businesses – and now they're raking in billions of dollars.
An Idiot’s Guide To Saving The World has launched a second season. In the show, hosts Gail Gallie and Loyiso Madinga will answer these questions and take listeners on a journey across the globe to meet the people on the frontline; those who are affected and those making a difference. We demystify the gloomy narrative and harness some optimism to leave you feeling empowered and armed with ideas and the ability to take action.
Mind the Business: Small Business Success Stories is a new series from iHeartMedia and Intuit Quickbooks that is focused on the trials and tribulations of owning a small business. Hosted by personal finance influencer and investor, Austin Hankwitz, and Jannese Torres, the creator and host of the award-winning personal finance podcast Yo Quiero Dinero, who will share insights to help small business owners and entrepreneurs succeed. Throughout the series, they will connect with small business owners, hear their stories about managing the ups and downs of starting and growing a small business, and share advice on how to take their small businesses to the next level. The series is biweekly with episodes dropping every other Thursday.