{"id":139,"date":"2026-09-14T08:18:21","date_gmt":"2026-09-14T08:18:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ytvideosummarizer.online\/blog\/?p=139"},"modified":"2026-09-14T08:18:21","modified_gmt":"2026-09-14T08:18:21","slug":"dateline-podcast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ytvideosummarizer.online\/blog\/dateline-podcast\/","title":{"rendered":"Dateline Podcast: 10 Episodes That Will Keep You Hooked (2026 Selection)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What Makes the Dateline Podcast a True Crime Staple<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Dateline podcast draws from NBC’s longest-running primetime series, which has been investigating mysterious deaths and unsolved cases since 1992. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Correspondent Keith Morrison, who joined Dateline in 1995, became the voice most associated with the podcast version of the show, known for his distinctive narration and knack for finding the strange details buried inside a case. The podcast has since expanded into standalone spinoff series, several of which have become chart-topping true crime hits on their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are looking to start or expand your queue, here are ten Dateline podcast episodes and series worth your time in 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10 Dateline Podcast Episodes That Will Keep You Hooked<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. At the Bottom of the Lake<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This episode follows the decades-long investigation into a young woman found drowned inside a small plane submerged in a Montana lake. Keith Morrison himself called it one of the most interesting and bizarre stories he has ever covered, and it remains a fan favorite for its twisting timeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. The Thing About Pam<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The case behind this breakout episode, centered on the murder of Betsy Faria and the unraveling of suspect Pam Hupp, became so popular it spun off into its own podcast series and an NBC limited series. It is one of the most requested entry points for new Dateline podcast listeners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Mommy Doomsday<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This coverage of Idaho mother Lori Vallow and her husband Chad Daybell digs into the apocalyptic beliefs behind the deaths of Lori’s two children. The case drew international headlines and remains one of the more unsettling stories in the catalog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. In a Lonely Place<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This episode investigates the 2010 disappearance of California entrepreneur Chris Smith, whose family believed he was traveling the world based on a series of convincing emails. The slow reveal of what actually happened makes it a standout mystery episode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. The Women and Dirty John<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Keith Morrison reports on con man John Meehan, whose manipulation of the women in his life later became the basis for the popular podcast and television series Dirty John. It is a strong example of how a single case can ripple across multiple true crime formats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Mother God<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This episode covers the mummified remains of Amy Carlson, the self-proclaimed spiritual leader of the cult Love Has Won, found wrapped in Christmas lights in a Colorado home. Between the conspiracy theories and cult dynamics, it is one of the stranger cases in the archive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. The Moriah Wilson Case<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This episode covers the 2022 murder of professional cyclist Moriah Wilson in Austin, Texas, and the investigation that followed. It reflects Dateline’s continued focus on cases that draw national attention as they unfold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. When the Smoke Clears<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A Dateline classic revisited from its original October 2009 broadcast, this episode unpacks the mystery surrounding a young woman’s death in her own home. It is often cited as a good example of the show’s slow-burn storytelling style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. The NXIVM Investigation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Correspondent Megyn Kelly reports on actress Catherine Oxenberg’s fight to save her daughter India from the self-help group NXIVM. The episode captures one of the most talked-about cult cases of the past decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. Letters From Sing Sing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hosted by longtime Dateline producer Dan Slepian, this spinoff series follows the story of a man convicted of murder and the years-long effort to examine his case. It is a strong pick for listeners drawn to the show’s wrongful conviction reporting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why These Episodes Stand Out in the Catalog<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Each entry on this list shows a different side of the Dateline podcast. Some are classic Keith Morrison mysteries, others gave rise to entire spinoff franchises, and a few reflect the show’s growing focus on wrongful convictions and cult investigations. That range keeps the catalog feeling fresh even for listeners who have followed the show for years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Start Listening to the Dateline Podcast in 2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

New episodes and spinoff series publish weekly across Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major platforms, with a Dateline Premium subscription available for ad-free listening and early access. Starting with a self-contained classic like At the Bottom of the Lake is an easy way to get a feel for the show before diving into the multi-episode spinoff series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frequently Asked Questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Is the Dateline podcast the same as the TV show?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The podcast draws from the same reporting and correspondents as the NBC television program, with some episodes adapted directly from broadcasts and others produced as original standalone series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How often does the Dateline podcast release new episodes?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

New episodes and spinoff series episodes are released weekly, with several ongoing series running alongside the core Dateline feed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where can I listen to the Dateline podcast?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The show is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major podcast platforms, with a premium subscription option for ad-free access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Dateline podcast has stayed a true crime staple by pairing decades of investigative reporting with Keith Morrison’s distinctive storytelling voice. From classic mysteries like At the Bottom of the Lake to breakout spinoffs like The Thing About Pam, these ten picks offer a strong way to explore the catalog in 2026.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What Makes the Dateline Podcast a True Crime Staple The Dateline podcast draws from NBC’s longest-running primetime series, which has […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":140,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-139","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ytvideosummarizer.online\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ytvideosummarizer.online\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ytvideosummarizer.online\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ytvideosummarizer.online\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ytvideosummarizer.online\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=139"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ytvideosummarizer.online\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":141,"href":"https:\/\/ytvideosummarizer.online\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139\/revisions\/141"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ytvideosummarizer.online\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/140"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ytvideosummarizer.online\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=139"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ytvideosummarizer.online\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=139"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ytvideosummarizer.online\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=139"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}