By Allison Ortega-Benites ’26
Many people use their free time for different things. This can be reading a book, painting, exercising, or even listening to a podcast. Many people around the world have mixed opinions about podcasts. People can think that they are interesting or boring, but a specific podcast titled “Nightmare Next Door” is a very interesting true crime podcast.This is a podcast that reveals the dark secrets of small towns throughout the United States, though it is mostly focused on the state of Idaho. Greg Diefenbach is the main narrator of this podcast. The information that he shares can make people want to listen to it more and more, especially the tone and the vibe he uses. He makes it seem serious, yet in a positive way. People are intrigued and wonder what will happen next while hearing about real murder cases.
This podcast is found on multiple platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeart. Each of these platforms are audio and not video. Listening to this podcast would be perfect for someone who likes to hear new things on the radio while driving or when they are cleaning. On average each episode is 45 minutes long. They can seem very long, but the catch is that you will end up wanting to listen to what will happen next in the tragic case. The information that is shared between each episode will have you paying attention to every little detail. The investigative storytelling draws listeners in from the very start.
There is a specific episode titled “The Art of Murder”, and this episode is one of the most interesting episodes in the whole podcast.This case happened in the state of New Jersey. The narrator explains the story about a woman named Kristian Huggins who randomly disappeared one night before her artistic debut. There were many investigators trying to find her, and all they found was her car. The police took a very long time to find her killer, Ambrose Harris.When you listen to this podcast, it will start off with the little details first to make you interested. It will not get right to the point because this podcast wants the listeners to be there, having that desire of what will happen next. While I was listening, it made me want to stay there listening until the episode was over to know what would happen.
This podcast does a fantastic job of exploring the dark secrets of extraordinary and often horrifying events. The narrator’s voice is engaging and the pace of each episode will keep you on the edge of your seat. The general production is really good and little details are what makes every episode successful. The best part is that listeners feel as if they are the ones unfolding the drama.
Overall, “Nightmare Next Door” is recommended for those who are really interested in true crime. It is haunting; an exploration of crime and the unexpected horrors that can occur when the night falls.
The Raider Press 