The many kinds of true crime podcasts, all with the same addictive stories. Photo courtesy of sophomore Zara Sedeek. 

  Lots of students at San Luis Obispo High School are obsessed with podcasts. 

  Specifically, true crime podcasts are taking over the time of SLOHS students. 

  All the blood, gore, serial killers, and otherworldly stories faze them no longer. Episode after episode, students are downing unhealthy amounts of cases horrible enough to keep them up at night.

  But why? Why are these stories more intriguing than any other average podcast found on streaming platforms? 

   “If I had to pick one thing to listen to all day, it would be true crime podcasts. The stories are super engaging, and I think it is good to learn about these kinds of situations in case you ever end up being in one. It’s also cool to learn about the way law enforcement works to stop things like this from happening,” said sophomore Claire George. 

  In a recent study on listeners of true crime, the average respondent listened to five true crime episodes monthly, with 75 percent saying they watch the latest episode the second it’s released, and 71 percent saying they typically binge-watch the entire thing in one sitting. That is some serious addiction! 

  These podcasts are more than just a listening experience. They can become addictive because of the adrenaline rush that they give to students. One that can only come from listening to something that seems too horrible to be true. 

  “I love to hunt down the steps to finding clues and the mistakes in criminal behavior. I also love to test my ability to discover the clues before they are exposed in the documentary or podcast! I have always been fascinated by detective work. I am not really very interested in the actual crime or the purpose—just infatuated by the detective’s abilities,” said freshman English teacher Lynnly Sainsbury. 

  All four ninth grade English teachers are actually doing a “True Crime” unit, which is featured in the newly adopted curriculum.

  The addictive aspect also comes from the problem-solving part of true crime. When indulging in a podcast, listeners put their detective hats on to try and figure out who committed the murder before law enforcement can. 

  This kind of stimulation comes from the feeling of solving puzzles, humans don’t ever want to stop until they have the answer. Listeners keep on guessing, leading them to listen to the next case and the next case. The trend never stops.

  So, Tigers, next time someone catches themselves falling into the never-ending pit of true crime, advise them to take a break and listen to something a little more lighthearted. 

  And, if someone has never given them a listen, suggest giving it a try! It’s uncertain what one might find in the vast chasm of true crime. 

Sources: disctopia.com, independent.co.uk