This 2019 podcast could be pegged as true crime but it listens more as an investigative journalistic piece. Looking into who could be culpable in the second worst road disaster in Australian history, the show by the Daily Examiner is a six part series. 30 years ago near the small town of Cowper sometime between 3-4 am a semi truck carrying pineapples drifted onto the opposite side of the road and collided with a commuter bus carrying 45 people. This caused the entire right side of the bus to be sheared off, passengers to fall out onto the roadway, and the vehicle to flip into a roll. 21 of the passengers were killed and the incident led to calls for upgrades in the road that would take three decades and hundreds of lives to make. This pod’s intimate details of the last moments of the victims lives as well as those following the crash, is something I had to hear to get the gravity of. It is the brainchild of Jenna Thompson and narrated by Mary Gardiner with interview help from Kathryn Lewis, and Lesley Apps. The script writing was done by Michelle Gately. Side note: I LOVE when all involved with a show are credited both in audio and written somewhere. Not only is it easy to give them the credit they deserve in reviews like these but makes for a searchable text on the interwebs. Apple Podcasts has 5.0 out of 5 stars BUT ONLY ONE RATING which I can not believe. Episodes are all 29 minutes and commercials are average. One thing I do like about the breaks in this show is they have mental health hotline PSAs which with the topic covered is needed. The music is fitting and there’s only one instance of the host seeming to use heavy emphasis for dramatic effect (just once). Trigger warnings for description of injury, suicide, fear and hopelessness. It’s a hard listen but worth hearing the stories told of those affected. Similar Pods: Where's William Tyrrell?, Black Box Down, and On The Frontline.

This late Wondery podcast is about people who’ve found themselves in life threatening situations with a focus on whether their decisions or luck caused them to be where they are and if they’re get out alive. Hosts of the show are podcast veterans Justin Evans of Generation Why and Tyler Allen of Minds of Madness. They take turns narrating the tales of survival with a balance between the two that eliminates the monotony that can be found in single host shows. I really love the show because it always make me feel thankful for what I have while thinking about what I would do and how I would prepare for these situations. It’s a great reminder that suspenseful stories can be found in other genres besides true crime. Apple Podcasts has 4.5 stars and 813 ratings which is pretty good considering the number of silly one star reviews about the show ending. As mentioned the 2020 show has finished with the last episode airing in May of that year. Trust me it’s still worth it to check out the 8 episode that were released. On average they’re about 30 minutes long and ranged from covering airplane crashes to ships sinking. Owltail’s highest ranked episodes are Stranded In The Sea Of Cortez and A Watery Grave. I really also really enjoyed A Watery Grave and found Little Boy Wonder to be heartbreakingly harrowing. Script consists of Evans and Allen sharing the narration of the story which might be a turn off for some but I think the stories have enough thrill to them to keep listeners entertained. Music is fit for the topic and the perfect length. Trigger warnings for death, suffering and bleak situations that envolve children.Similar pods: Hope in Darkness, I, Survivor, and SurvivalFor more reviews check out @themastercast on Instagram and @mastercastpods on Twitter

This serialized podcast tells the story of how the fight between Oregon activists and the logging industry over old growth trees and an owl turned into one of the biggest environmental debates in our nation’s history. If you’re like me you’ve probably looked at the dense beautiful forests of the Northwest and thought we’ve always considered them a national treasure. However, this show airing on the Oregon Public Broadcasting explains how that wasn’t always the case. It covers a transition between seeing forests as crops like corn or wheat to valuing them as complex elements of ecology. It does a great job of unbiased reporting, taking care to make both sides seem relatable and reminding us that through communication and compassion we can solve problems much faster and fairer. The only gripe I have on that element is that it would have been great to hear the perspective of indigenous peoples which the podcast lacks entirely. The seven part series has an astounding 4.9 stars and 745 ratings. Each episode is about 30 minutes long and brief commercials are only about supporting OPB which is a member station of NPR. Script involves first person interviews with those involved in the dispute and the music is very short and subtle. This podcast isn’t one to miss as it examines a history that still continues to impact Oregon communities today and how the timber wars were about much more than the spotted owl. Similar Pods: This Land is Our Land, Blood River, and How To Save a PlanetFor more reviews check out @themastercast on Instagram and @mastercastpods on Twitter