Atlanta filmmaker Payne Lindsey created the Up and Vanished podcast while he was looking for an idea for a documentary. His topic was one of Georgia’s most notorious missing persons cases, the 2005 disappearance of Tara Grinstead. But his investigation turned up far too much for one film to contain. A new true crime podcast sensation was born.

Lindsey delved into the Grinstead case for a year and a half. His investigation yielded a 24-episode first season in 2016. The show was a hit and reignited local interest in the story. Lindsey also released many live bonus episodes. The season ended by reporting the arrest of two men in connection with Grinstead's murder. Local authorities praised the investigative podcast for playing a key role in apprehending the men.

Each season of the podcast focuses on another long-unresolved missing person case. Lindsey looked beyond Georgia for these stories. Season two investigated a disappearance in Colorado. It, too, was a hit and led to the reopening of the case. The third season covered the disappearance of Ashley Loring HeavyRunner in Northwest Montana.

Up and Vanished is a fine example of podcasting that strives for answers and prioritizes the dignity of victims. It won a Webby Award in 2017. The following year, true crime network Oxygen adapted the podcast to TV. Up and Vanished is a accurately reported and empathetic series. It is a gem of the true crime genre.