‘Dr. Death,’ ‘Song Exploder,’ ‘The Dropout,’ and more: 8 podcasts adapted for TV

Some stories are stranger than fiction. Sometimes we want to hear how our favorite artist made their hit song. We hear these compelling stories in podcasts all the time, and some have been adapted for TV in recent years. Whether we’re tuning in for Hulu’s iteration of The Dropout or Apple TV+’s The Shrink Next Door, the stories fleshed out in podcast form are worth a listen.

We’ve created a guide of podcasts that translated well on-screen. There are true crime podcasts, a horror sci-fi series recently adapted for Netflix, a comedy podcast, and more. Here are 8 popular podcasts adapted for TV.

Song Exploder

Hrishikesh Kirway’s “Song Exploder” segued into a Netflix series in 2020. The podcast interviews artists and they dissect their songs. Isolated tracks from their recordings are played, and they share how their songs were made. The TV version follows the same format with video interviews, and they’ll also chat with additional producers and songwriters from the featured track. The Netflix series included Alicia Keys, Lin-Manuel Miranda, R.E.M., Ty Dolla $ign, Dua Lipa, Nine Inch Nails, The Killers, and Natalia Lafourcad.

The Dropout

We tuned into “The Dropout” for updates on Elizabeth Holmes’ trial, Theranos’ former CEO, who claimed to be at the forefront of revolutionary medical testing for diseases by using a single drop of blood. Theranos raised millions of dollars from venture capitalists and private investors and was found guilty on four counts of fraud this year. Hulu’s released a scripted series based on Holmes’ saga in March, starring Amanda Seyfried.

Dr. Death

Wondery’s “Dr. Death” was adapted by Peacock TV in 2021, starring Joshua Jackson, Alec Baldwin, and Christian Slater. The show was inspired by the podcast’s first season about the former Texas-based neurosurgeon, Dr. Christopher Duntsch, reported by Lauren Beil. He claimed he could fix patients with surgeries that resulted in complications and irreversible damage. IRL, Dr. Death is currently serving a life prison sentence.

Archive 81

On “Archive 81,” an archivist named Dan is hired to restore tapes and suddenly finds himself entrenched in a mystery beyond what he signed up for. The podcast has released 3, sci-fi filled seasons. In 2022, Netflix released one season based on the podcast.

Bodega Boys

Desus Nice and The Kid Mero take on pop culture, comedic storylines, and more on “Bodega Boys.” In 2013, the New Yorkers hosted a Complex TV series that eventually led to a podcast. Now, the duo stars on Showtime’s late night talk show, Desus & Mero, and they chat with guests like Mark Wahlberg, Tom Holland, Pusha T, and Damson Idris.

The Shrink Next Door

“The Shrink Next Door” shares the true story of psychologist Ike Herschkopf and his patients, investigated by journalist Joe Nocera. It’s a tale of abuse, power, and manipulation exploring Ike’s practice and the devastating experiences patients faced when they believed they were receiving professional treatment. All episodes of Apple TV+’s version starring Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd are now streaming.

Lore

Since 2015, Aaron Mahnke’s “Lore” has shared dark, historical tales in podcast form for over 220 episodes and counting. Netflix’s anthology series by the same name dives into tragic events, surprising places, and mysterious creatures. Mahnke also hosts podcasts like “American Shadows,” “Cabinet of Curiosities,” and more presented by Grim & Mild.

Dirty John

Interior designer Debra Newell met her new beau, John Meehan, who appeared to fit all her criteria. John was handsome, charming, and he said he was back from a year in Iraq with Doctors Without Borders. Debra was head-over-heels, and her family sensed something was off with John. Wondery’s “Dirty John” shares the complicated story of love, lies, denial, forgiveness, and survival. 2 seasons are available to watch on Netflix.