Six Podcasts About Strange Disappearances

When someone goes missing and it’s unexplained, a podcast is a great way to learn what really happened. These podcasts explore strange vanishings in Japan, a hiker in India who never came home, a 20-year-old cold case, an eccentric who faked his own death and the quest to find a biological father. These are much better than the back of a milk carton!

1. Status Untraced

Adventurer Jason Alexander plans a spiritual trek into the Himalayan Mountains and mysteriously disappears. He posts cryptically on instagram, “I should return mid-September or so. If I’m not back by then, don’t look for me.” But, host Liam Luxon looks anyway. His social-media history, his parents and his nomadic friends help unravel his complicated backstory and why he was determined to go. We learn he may not be the only one who has gone missing in India.

2. Dead Man Running

A mysterious drowning in Northern California leads to an international manhunt. Turns out, he may have faked his own death. Kim Aviss was known in Inverness, Scotland, for his crafts, love of wolves and generally being a creepy dude. He was arrested for rape and somehow fled the country. BBC journalist Myles Bonnar seeks to track down the fugitive.

3. Media Pressure

Maura Murray was a 21-year-old nursing student who vanished in 2004.The case made national news, but the way it was portrayed muddied the waters. Did she have a bad relationship? Did the police botch the investigation? What makes this series interesting is that it’s told from the perspective of her own family with first-hand interviews. After all these years, they’re still looking for answers.

4. The Evaporated, Gone With The Gods

When Host Jake Adelstien’s (Tokyo Vice) accountant mysteriously disappears without a trace, he tries to figure out why. In Japan there’s a phenomenon called Johatsu or “evaporated” people. People vanish to escape financial trouble, domestic disputes or just want to try a new life. He and co-host Shoko Plambeck interview the people who have done this and the accomplices who help them vanish.

5. The Girlfriends, Season 2 - Our Lost Sister

Season 1 tells the true story of host Carole Fisher and a group of women who all dated the same guy. Bob Bierenbaum seemed like the perfect Jewish doctor until he murdered his wife Gail Katz—but that’s only half of the story. When a torso that was thought to be Gail was misidentified, they join forces again to figure out who the body belongs to. This series gives voice to domestic violence victims with women coming together for justice.

6. Inconceivable Truth

When journalist Matt Katz took a DNA test, he discovered the man who he thought was his biological father wasn’t. His multi-year journey into finding his real dad traces the shady and unvetted fertility practices of the 1970s. While he’s investigating, his mom and stepfather are learning about it too. Some of the discoveries are downright shocking. The end is rewarding, even if it’s not what you expect.

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Fur And Loathing

In 2014, FurFest at the Chicago Hyatt was supposed to be freaky, furry fun. Instead, there was a powerful biological weapons attack that sent 19 people to the hospital. Fur And Loathing investigates why this happened. Were they targeted? Why was it so underreported? Did the FBI do a proper investigation? The case has been cold for a decade.

Who Killed The Video Star

MTV was the pinnacle of the pop culture landscape by which all else was measured. From 24/7 music videos to the birth of reality TV, shows like The Real World and The Osbournes, MTV defined the zeitgeist. This series takes you through the ups and downs of the network. The groundbreaking content, disastrous mistakes and ultimately the struggle to become relevant in the internet age.

Mara Davis is a media personality based in Atlanta, Ga. In addition to hosting the VoteHer podcast with Senator Jen Jordan, she also is a senior talent booker for various television networks and podcasts.