Best Close Reads Podcast Network Podcasts (2025)

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Michael Beach Nichols: Perfect Wife 1:03:52

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6d ago1:03:52

1:03:52

Most of us have heard about Sherri Papini. She’s the woman who faked her own kidnapping in 2016, which terrified her husband and soon sparked outrage in her Northern California community. Michael Beach Nichols is the director and producer of the Hulu series, “Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini.” He tells US about his experi…

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Bryan Burrough: The Gunfighters 50:22

12d ago50:22

50:22

We’ve heard from my buddy Bryan Burrough before for one of his Audible books based on a true crime story. His new book is very different. It’s called The Gunfighters: How Texas Made the West Wild. Enough said. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/4gF2K18 See more information on my boo…

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James Polchin: Shadow Men 59:21

19d ago59:21

59:21

Our story this week is set in the 1920s in Westchester County, New York…it’s a Jazz Age mystery. A young ex-sailor is found dead on a desolate road. A suspect from a wealthy family admits to the murder, but he claims that he was trying to protect a dangerous secret. Author James Polchin’s book, Shadow Men unravels a mystery more than a century old.…

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Dan Slater: The Incorruptibles 59:01

27d ago59:01

59:01

New York in the early 1900s was filled with people trying to make their lives better. But for many, the rise of organized crime kept them in constant fear. On the Lower East Side, Jewish criminals from Eastern Europe formed crime syndicates. There were gangs of horse poisoners, casino owners, thieves and thugs. But then a group of Jewish uptowners …

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Tanya Talaga: The Knowing 56:48

1M ago56:48

56:48

If you’ve ever dug deep into your family history, you know that there are sometimes surprises. Author Tanya Talaga discovered that the life of her great-great grandmother Annie Carpenter was mostly unknown because she was Indigenous. It’s a struggle that many Indigenous people in Canada have: how do you learn about your family’s past without crucia…

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5. Is EfW a transitional technology? With Dr Stephen Wise and Philip New 42:07

1M ago42:07

42:07

Welcome to the fifth episode of the Energy from Waste Podcast, brought to you by the Energy from Waste Network. Every couple of episodes, we are joined by a new host and their episode guest. For this episode, our host is Dr. Stephen Wise, Director at Ceres Waste, Renewables, and Environment, and his guest - Philip New, Non Executive Director at Nor…

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Alex Eliseev: Cold Case Confession 56:51

1M ago56:51

56:51

This week on Wicked Words on Exactly Right: in 1999, a woman named Betty Ketani went missing in Johannesburg, South Africa. She just vanished from the restaurant where she was working. Then a letter found 13 years later changed everything. Author Alex Eliseev tells me about his book Cold Case Confession—a real Agatha Christie story. Support this po…

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Megan Abbott: El Dorado Drive 58:40

2M ago58:40

58:40

New York Times’ best-selling author Megan Abbott often uses true crime stories as a jumping off point for her wildly popular novels. Now she has a new book out called El Dorado Drive. It’s about three sisters who become entangled in a pyramid scheme that turns very dark. The real story behind the novel is so strange, it’s hard to know what really h…

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Caroline Fraser: Murderland 53:12

2M ago53:12

53:12

This week’s author grew up in the Pacific Northwest with the memories of notorious serial killers like Ted Bundy and the Green River Killer, who also lived there. But the region wasn’t just home to those two murderers: there were many more. Was there a connection between the Pacific Northwest’s most infamous killers…and its incredible amounts of po…

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4. Navigating the EfW legal landscape with Dr. Stephen Wise and Dr. Anna Willetts 40:00

2M ago40:00

40:00

Welcome to the fourth episode of the Energy from Waste Podcast, brought to you by the Energy from Waste Network. Every couple of episodes, we are joined by a new host and their episode guest. For this episode, our host is Dr. Stephen Wise, Director at Ceres Waste, Renewables, and Environment, and his guest - Dr. Anna Willetts, Partner at Gunnercook…

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Matthew McGough + Rick Jackson: Black Tunnel White Magic 1:03:43

2M ago1:03:43

1:03:43

In 1990, a UCLA student was found murdered in a tunnel in LA. Detective Rick Jackson and his partner were assigned to the complicated case. Who had a motive to stab Ronald Baker? Was the pentagram pendant around his neck a clue? Author Matthew McGough and Detective Rick Jackson tell the story in their book, Black Tunnel White Magic: A Murder, a Det…

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Elon Green: The Man Nobody Killed 48:29

2M ago48:29

48:29

We’ve had journalist Elon Green on before to talk about his fantastic book Last Call. His new book is about an inspiring young Black artist in 1980s New York. Michael Stewart ended up dead after encountering a Transit Authority police officer at a 14th Street subway station late one night. Witnesses say that police beat him to death, and it made na…

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Jonquilyn Hill: Through the Cracks 52:19

3M ago52:19

52:19

When an 8-year-old disappeared from a homeless shelter in Washington, D.C. in 2014, nobody noticed for 18 days, even her family. Seven years later, Relisha Rudd has never been found. The Through the Cracks podcast investigates gaps in our society and the people who fall through them. Host Jonquilyn Hill asks what could have been done to find Relish…

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Mary Kay McBrayer: Madame Queen 47:02

3M ago47:02

47:02

This week on Wicked Words we’re traveling back to 1923 Harlem and its seedy world of gambling and racketeering. Author Mary Kay McBrayer tells me about Stephanie St. Clair. She was one of the only female crime bosses in the city. Madame Queen was also a Black, self-made businesswoman. And a legend. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponso…

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Duncan McCue: Kuper Island 1:02:41

3M ago1:02:41

1:02:41

Kuper Island is a remarkable podcast, an investigation into one of Canada’s most notorious so called Indian residential schools. Journalist Duncan McCue explores the unsolved death of a student, a tragedy that sheds light on rampant abuse and exposes the trauma of three survivors. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promot…

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Hamlet: Q&A (rerun) 1:28:37

3M ago1:28:37

1:28:37

Join Tim, Heidi, and Andrew as they answer your questions about Hamlet! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Thomas Maier: The Invisible Spy 1:00:08

3M ago1:00:08

1:00:08

I love a good spy story. We’ve talked about spies embedded with the American government. We’ve discussed librarians and academics researching in the basement of the Library of Congress during World War II. And now we’re talking with Thomas Maier about a very unlikely spy, a former football player turned spy for Churchill. It’s all in his book, The …

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Hamlet: Act V (rerun) 1:15:44

3M ago1:15:44

1:15:44

Join Tim, Heidi, and Andrew as they discuss the concluding act to Shakespeare's masterpiece, an act in which we get the famous graveyard scene and the stage littered with bodies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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3. CCS - what does the future hold? With Dr Adam Read and Mike Maudsley 40:47

4M ago40:47

40:47

Welcome to the third episode of the Energy from Waste Podcast, brought to you by the Energy from Waste Network. Every couple of episodes, we are joined by a new host and their episode guest. For this episode, our host is SUEZ UK’s Dr Adam Read, and his guest - CEO of enfinium Mike Maudsley. In this episode, they dig a little deeper into the technic…

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Virginia Feito: Victorian Psycho 49:49

4M ago49:49

49:49

Occasionally we interview fiction authors who use true crime stories as jumping off points for their novels. Virginia Feito wrote a book called “Victorian Psycho.” And it’s based on several cases you’ve likely heard of. There’s a lecherous head of house, a jealous wife…and a violent governess. Very violent. Feito uses gallows humor to take real sto…

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Hamlet: Act IV (rerun) 1:16:15

4M ago1:16:15

1:16:15

Join Tim, Heidi, and Andrew as they dig into the crucial fourth act of Hamlet. They discuss Laertes coming the fore, Ophelia's tragic demise, Claudius devious behavior, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Claire St. Amant: Killer Story 59:39

4M ago59:39

59:39

I’m so excited about this interview. It’s with Claire St. Amant. She’s a journalist and an author. And she was a TV producer for 48 Hours and 60 Minutes. Now she’s pulling back the curtain on true crime television. I learned a lot from her. She’s talking about her memoir: Killer Story. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and p…

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Hamlet: Act III (rerun) 1:22:22

4M ago1:22:22

1:22:22

Join Tim, Heidi, and Andrew as they dive into the crucial, famous third act of Hamlet. In this episode they discuss the "to be or not to be" speech, Claudius' prayer, and Polonius death. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Hamlet: Act II (rerun) 1:34:33

4M ago1:34:33

1:34:33

Join Tim, Heidi, and Andrew as they dive into the drama of Hamlet, Act II! They discuss the way everyone is watching everyone else in this act, Pelonius as parent, the appearance of Rosencrans and Guildenstern, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Gilbert King: Bone Valley 1:04:29

4M ago1:04:29

1:04:29

We might have our first Pulitzer Prize winner on our show. Author Gilbert King digs into cases of wrongful conviction. Today, we’re talking about his outstanding podcast, Bone Valley Season 2. Gilbert explores the 1987 murder of Michelle Schofield in Florida. It’s a story of justice, forgiveness, and the possibility of redemption. Support this podc…

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Hamlet: Act I (rerun) 1:05:39

4M ago1:05:39

1:05:39

It's finally time to discuss the grandaddy of all of Shakespeare's plays! That's right, it's time for Hamlet and Tim, Heidi, and special guest Andrew Kern are ready to dig deep. In this episode they discuss why this play matters so much, the initial structure of the play, the themes and problems Act I introduces, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See…

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Christopher Goffard: Crimes of the Times 44:46

5M ago44:46

44:46

LA Times reporter Christopher Goffard was the voice behind the hit podcast “Dirty John.” And now he has a new podcast that covers crimes in Los Angeles that made headlines, stories like the murder of actress Rebecca Schaeffer at the hands of a stalker. He tells me about his show, “Crimes of the Times.” Support this podcast by shopping our latest sp…

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Henry V: Act V (rerun) 1:04:26

5M ago1:04:26

1:04:26

Join Heidi and David for the conclusion of their conversation about Shakespeare's classic history play, Henry V. Conversation explores King Henry's honesty (or lack thereof) in the final scene with Princess Katherine, the role of the commoners in the play, performing Henry, and (of course) more on teaching Shakespeare. Remember: subscribe, rate, an…

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2. Green skills - ensuring we close the gap with Dr Adam Read, Amy Bloom & Molly Bell 48:44

5M ago48:44

48:44

Welcome to the second episode of the Energy from Waste Podcast, brought to you by the Energy from Waste Network. Every couple of episodes, we are joined by a new host and their episode guest. For this episode, our host is SUEZ UK’s Dr Adam Read, and his two guests, Amy Bloom and Molly Bell. As well as discussing the latest news they discuss the imp…

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Pagan Kennedy: The Secret History of the Rape Kit 51:29

5M ago51:29

51:29

This week on Wicked Words, years ago author Pagan Kennedy wondered about the history of the rape kit, a crucial tool for investigators today. Who designed it? She found out that it was Martha Goddard, a pioneer who wanted to help police catch sexual predators using forensics. But sometime after she made history, Goddard vanished. Listen to Kennedy’…

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Henry V: Act IV (rerun) 1:12:32

5M ago1:12:32

1:12:32

Welcome back to The Play's the Thing! Join David and Heidi as they continue their conversation about Shakespeare's legendary history play, Henry V. Conversation touches on the build-up to the battle, stage/film interpretation of Henry's famous speech, the historical context of the battle and Shakespeare's take on it, Henry finally showing some emot…

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Brendan Koerner: The Skies Belong to Us 57:37

5M ago57:37

57:37

Plane hijackings aren’t very common anymore. But in the late 1960s and early 1970s, armed criminals were forcing commercial airliners to divert their flights, oftentimes demanding ransom. Author Brendan Koerner tells the story of an American couple turned hijackers, whose journey ends with some surprising twists. Koerner’s book is called: The Skies…

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Henry V: Act III (rerun) 1:18:44

5M ago1:18:44

1:18:44

Welcome back to The Play's the Thing! Join David and Heidi as they continue their conversation about Shakespeare's legendary history play, Henry V. Conversation explores the way Shakespeare brings the artifice of the play to the fore, the double meaning of the word "breach," Henry's obsession with duty (and chivalry), the way act three treats the h…

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Hallie Lieberman: The Devil Went Down to Georgia 53:56

5M ago53:56

53:56

For years, a predator preyed on gay men in Atlanta. He was known as the Handcuff Man. He attacked male sex workers, disfigured them, and then left them for dead. Journalist Hallie Lieberman wrote a fantastic piece for The Atavist Magazine called The Devil Went Down to Georgia. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions…

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Henry V: Act II (rerun) 1:25:52

5M ago1:25:52

1:25:52

Welcome back to The Play's the Thing! Join David and Heidi as they continue their conversation about Shakespeare's legendary history play, Henry V. Conversation explores the role of the commoners in the play, The Falstaff-effect, Henry vs the French Prince, Henry's rejection of his passions, Shakespeare's enduring legacy, and much, much more. Remem…

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Joseph Cox: Dark Wire 1:01:05

6M ago1:01:05

1:01:05

In 2018, the FBI discovered that high level criminals around the world were using encrypted devices to plot intricate crimes. When a powerful, secure new app began courting these syndicates, members of the underworld flocked to it. One problem for the criminals: the app was created by the FBI. Joseph Cox tells us the incredible story from his book,…

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Henry V: Act I (rerun) 1:15:05

6M ago1:15:05

1:15:05

Welcome back to The Play's the Thing! Join David and Heidi as they kick off a conversation about Shakespeare's legendary history play, Henry V. Conversation touches on the historical background behind the story, the role of the church in the play, the complicated nature of the character of King Henry, and much more. Remember: Subscribe, rate, revie…

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1. Capacity - how much is too much? With Dr Adam Read & Paul James 45:15

6M ago45:15

45:15

Welcome to the FIRST EVER episode of the Energy from Waste Podcast, brought to you by the Energy from Waste Network. Every couple of episodes, we are joined by a new host and their episode guest. For this episode, our host is SUEZ recycling and recovery UK’s Dr Adam Read, and his guest is the technical director at SLR Consulting, Paul James. As wel…

1
Macbeth: Q&A (rerun) 53:35

6M ago53:35

53:35

In which David, Tim, and Heidi answer listener questions about Macbeth. Remember: Subscribe, rate, review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.