The first cyber-sleuth, why you shouldn't buy an island online, and more of our June favourites

This week, we're sharing new and notable podcasts from June.

First, Todd Matthews was one of the first internet sleuths. He made it his life's mission to give unidentified bodies back their names, and helped create two databases as part of that goal.

For years, Todd was haunted by a cold case about two missing boys. Then one day, one of those boys called him. 

The new podcast Hello, John Doe has that story. We hear from producer Kate Mishkin about working with Todd, making the show, and how an unexpected tragedy changed its meaning. 

Plus, these days, it feels like online ads know exactly what we want—new shoes, the latest tech, a nine-acre island off the coast of Nicaragua…

Or at least, that was the case for Jayne Gaskin. She was surfing the web one day when she saw a shockingly affordable island for sale. The price was just too good to pass up, so Jayne abandoned a quaint life in the English countryside and moved there with her entire family. 

While Jayne initially thought that her dreams had come true, not everything was as it seemed. The podcast The Price of Paradise explores the violent consequences of Jayne's decision. 

All that and more, this week on Podcast Playlist.

Hello, John Doe: "At age 45, Steve Patterson made a shocking online discovery: his own missing person's page… In this ten-episode narrative series, Todd Matthews, an amateur sleuth from Tennessee, tells the story of a family torn apart by tragedy and his quest to bring them back together."

The Price of Paradise: "Jayne Gaskin bags a bargain when she swaps her English village home for nine acres of freedom off shore in Nicaragua. But paradise is not all it seems."

Who Killed the Video Star: The Story of MTV: "Today, MTV is a household name. And everyone knows what a music video is. But there was a time when MTV and the art form it championed were crazy ideas that nobody believed in. Well, almost nobody... This is how it all started, told by the people who made it happen."

Go Touch Grass: "This week Milly and Alise discuss the viral scam that got a woman to give away $50,000 in a shoebox, introduce a new segment called "Polititok," and name a grasshole of the week."

Mortified: "This week, Mortified's Portland chapter faces off against Mortified's Austin chapter.  Stories include: A middle schooler turns detective in her pursuit of her crush. And, a boy who turns into Medieval royalty to feel better about his social status."

What are your top releases from June? Email our team at podcastplaylist@cbc.ca. Or find us on Facebook.

For more great podcasts, check out CBC's podcast portal, and subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.