Pick of the week
Unicorn Girl
Following her hit podcast Scamanda, host Charlie Webster follows another twisty scandal. Candace Rivera built a flawless online brand as a divorced single mother, nurse and CEO of multimillion-dollar companies. But was any of it actually real? Webster unpicks what was happening behind the scenes and the events that ultimately led to this “unicorn girl” being sentenced to a minimum of three years in prison. Hollie Richardson
Widely available, episodes weekly
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Hands Tied
This collaboration between BBC Studios and American giants iHeart tells the true story of a grim murder in Texas and a woman, Sandy Melgar, wrongfully convicted for the death of her husband, Jim. In a genre where grieving relatives are often bit-part players, the presence of their daughter, Lizz, pushes it above the competition. Hannah J Davies
Widely available, episodes weekly
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The Mystic and the Mayor
It’s an uncertain moment for the podcast world, as Wondery’s true-crime treats may soon be absorbed into the Amazon stable. In the meantime, enjoy what it does best: a ripped-from-the-headlines hoot about a French town where the mayor devolved his power to the local psychic. Mon dieu! Anna Richardson and Leo Schick host. HJD
Widely available, episodes weekly
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Floodlines
The Atlantic’s podcast about Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath returns for a special 20th anniversary episode, and it’s a stirring portrait of one family. Le-Ann Williams wants a better life for daughter Destiny, but – as host Vann R Newkirk II notes – “maybe she’s got it backwards … maybe they’ve got what other people are searching for”. HJD
Widely available, out now
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The History Podcast: The Second Map
Kavita Puri hosts a three-part series marking the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, and considering the events that preceded it – namely, Britain’s often downplayed role in the war against Japan on the Asian front. There are even eyewitness testimonies, which are all the more impressive given just how long ago these events took place. HJD
Widely available, episodes weekly
