15 Best Death Penalty Podcasts to Listen to (2026)

One July night in 1995, Deputy Sheriff William G. Hardy was shot behind the Crown Sterling Suites hotel in Birmingham, Alabama. At the same time as the murder, at least ten people saw Toforest Johnson four miles away, at a popular nightclub called Tee's Place. But detectives zeroed in on him as a main suspect in Deputy Hardy's murder anyway, ultimately resulting in Toforest being tried, convicted, and sentenced to death. For over a quarter century, Toforest has been confined to a 5' by 8' cell on Alabama's death row.In 2019, investigative journalist Beth Shelburne began covering the case, going down a disturbing rabbit hole revealing many unsettling facts that cast grave doubts about Toforest's guilt. The facts she found tear at the very foundation of the American criminal justice system: No eyewitnesses or physical evidence tied Toforest to the murder; the state tried to convict a different man for the same crime; and perhaps most disturbing of all, Toforest's conviction relied on an 'earwitness' a woman who claimed to have eavesdropped on an incriminating phone call, a woman whom prosecutors paid for her testimony, in secret. That payment was not disclosed to the jury, Toforest, or his lawyers until after he had been on death row for 17 years.From the team behind the award-winning hit podcast Bone Valley, Lava for Good's Earwitness is an 8-episode docuseries that asks the question, 'How did an innocent man end up on death row — and why is the state still trying to execute him over the objection of the prosecutor who put him there?' Shelburne's unprecedented access to key players—the lead detective, lead prosecutor, witnesses, jurors, and the earwitness herself— illuminate a story filled with disturbing twists, frustrating ambiguities, and shocking admissions. The story of Toforest Johnson and the state's enthusiasm for the death penalty in the face of such troubling evidentiary flaws brings to light the failings of a criminal justice system run amok.Earwitness is available every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts. To hear episodes 1 week early and ad free, subscribe to Lava for Good+ on Apple Podcasts. more

On a pitch-dark night in April 1989, a young man named Chip Flynn was shot in a Florida orange grove. His ex-girlfriend Kim was the only surviving witness and claimed a Black man had robbed, kidnapped, and killed Chip. A year later, Crosley Green was sentenced to death by an all-white jury for Flynn's murder—a crime Green insists he didn't commit. '48 Hours' correspondent Erin Moriarty has followed this controversial case for 25 years, delving into inconsistencies — from coerced confessions to allegations of a racial hoax — that challenge the integrity of the verdict. Now, Moriarty shares exclusive recordings and new interviews with forensic experts, legal analysts, and Green himself from prison. Murder in the Orange Grove, an 8-episode series from '48 Hours,' offers the most comprehensive deep dive into this shocking case that leaves one man fighting desperately for his freedom.Access more limited series from 48 Hours and listen ad-free by subscribing to 48 Hours+. Subscribe at ⁠⁠48HoursPodcasts.com⁠⁠, then listen in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or use your private link in your favorite podcast app. more

Torture. Execution. Death. Listen as two die-hard fans chat about some of history's most gruesome death sentences. From famous queens and kings to the uncommon names in history, no conviction will be left untouched. Try not to lose your head over this comical approach to the shocking and disturbing stories of treason and crime (whether found guilty or not).  more

Hosted by celebrated criminal justice reform advocate and founding board member of the Innocence Project Jason Flom, Pulitzer prize-winning podcast host and producer Maggie Freleng, and Emmy Award-winning writer, producer and podcast host Lauren Bright Pacheco, Wrongful Conviction features intimate conversations with men and women who have spent years in prison for crimes they maintain they did not commit. Some have been fully exonerated and reunited with family and friends while others continue to languish, with some even facing execution on death row. Each episode peels back the layers behind the stories of those who have found themselves caught in a legal system gone wrong, with illuminating insights from lawyers and leading experts sharing their in-depth knowledge about each case, from prison visits and courtroom battles to reexamined crime scenes and witness interviews. This gripping series reveals the tragedy of injustice…as well as the triumph that is possible when people step up and demand change. more

Cousins By Blood is a true crime podcast investigation, unfolding episode by episode. In 2000, Ivan Cantu was arrested for the murders of his cousin James Mosqueda and Amy Kitchen, James's fiancé. Now 20 years later, questions about Ivan's guilt or innocence remain and the case has been reinvestigated. New suspects are uncovered, new evidence has been discovered, and the clock is ticking to Ivan's Execution Day. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/matt-duff9/support more

Dead Man Talking, led Alex on an investigation into the crimes and confessions of The Railroad Killer, Angel Resendiz. more

Lester Holt takes listeners inside the urgent case of Robert Roberson, a Texas father set to be executed on October 16th for the 2002 death of his 2-year-old daughter. Lester is on the ground in Texas, where he examines the evidence against Roberson and talks to the people closest to the case, including the lead detective, who now believes he helped put an innocent man behind bars. Lester's exclusive interviews reveal critical information the jury never heard. This series will confront listeners with questions about justice and truth, and perhaps the most haunting question of all: Is an innocent man about to be put to death? more

Become a Paid Subscriber: https://anchor.fm/deathrow/subscribeThe only podcast hosted live from Death Row. William A Noguera has been on San Quentin Prison's notorious Death Row for over thirty years. During that time he's seen things that few have seen, or should see. Matt Ralston co-hosts the show. Matt is not in prison, though, some people think he should be.Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/deathrowdiariesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/deathrowdiaries/ more

Examining issues in the death penalty system. Brought to you by the Death Penalty Information Center, a non-profit organization serving the media and the public with analysis and information on issues concerning capital punishment. more

Welcome to Death Row Stories, a podcast dedicated to exploring the complex and often harrowing world of the death penalty in the United States. I'm François Picard, a journalist and documentary director with over 20 years of experience. Throughout my career, the most impactful reports I produced were those about death row. In this podcast, I shed light on the human stories behind the death penalty, offering firsthand accounts and in-depth analysis. Join me as we uncover the realities behind these 2 words. Discover our stories on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Death-Row-Stories more

Step behind the walls of Folsom Prison where author and criminal justice professional, April Moore, delves into the haunting, yet profoundly human stories of the 93 men executed between 1895 and 1937. Join us as we explore the paradoxes of justice, taking a deeper look at the death penalty, and re-humanizing those that history might have left behind. One to two new episodes each month; Fridays. apriljmoore.substack.com more

The Final Appeal Files examines cases where life, death, and justice hang in the balance. Behind every verdict is a story, a person, and a question: Was justice served, or did the system fail? This true‑crime channel dives into death‑penalty cases, wrongful convictions, controversial trials, and the investigations that changed lives. Join me as we search for truth beyond the verdict. more

Thomas Creech is Idaho's longest-serving death row inmate — a man whose crimes, confessions, and survival have made his case one of the most controversial in modern true crime.After a multi-state murder spree in 1974, Creech was sentenced to death, later had his sentence commuted to life imprisonment, and then returned to death row following the murder of another inmate behind bars. After surviving a failed execution attempt in 2023, he now fights for clemency while questions about justice, punishment, and rehabilitation remain unresolved.Through direct correspondence and approved recordings with Creech himself, this podcast explores the man behind the headlines and the deeper issues surrounding capital punishment. Along the way, it examines claims of false confessions, stories of outlaw gangs and ritualistic violence, and the lasting impact of crime on victims' families.Created and produced by an Australian criminal justice and criminology undergraduate, this series is both an investigation and a personal journey — asking difficult questions:Can those on death row ever change?What does justice truly look like?And how does the state justify taking a life as punishment?Featuring real conversations with Thomas Creech from Idaho Maximum Prison in Boise, this podcast invites listeners to confront one of true crime's most complex cases and a highly debated form of punishment from a perspective rarely heard. more

True crime cases that all end in the death penalty. We look at the history of the death penalty, last meals, and what abhorrent things a person can do that results in the ultimate punishment. more

Scheduled: An American Execution is a true-crime podcast about upcoming executions in the United States and the cases behind them. Hosted by Kayla Shannon, each episode follows a case from the crime and investigation through the trial, death sentence, appeals, and the execution date now on the calendar.The goal isn't to tell you what to think about the death penalty. It's to slow down, look at the full record, and understand how a case moves from a crime to a date on the calendar. more