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Artwork for Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words

Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words

Justin Shepherd
Black Dahlia
Elizabeth Short
Los Angeles
George Hodel
Kidnapping
Mark Hansen
Robert Red Manley
Sonya Massey
California
Justice System
Law Enforcement
Trauma
American Horror Story
Lie Detector Tests
Sean Grayson
Cleveland Torso Murders
Chicago
Los Angeles Examiner
Ruth Boulding
Hollywood Canteen

Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words is a podcast that strips away the sensational headlines and lets the people at the heart of true crime stories speak for themselves. From survivors and families to investigators, journalists, and insiders, these are raw, unfiltered conversations that rarely make it into mainstream coverage.Hosted by Justin Shepherd, a creator and advocate with millions of fol... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes25Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
True CrimeNewsNews Commentary

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Artwork for Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words

Latest Episodes

Content warning: This episode contains discussion of sexual assault and other potentially disturbing subjects.

Former Miss Switzerland and international model Beatrice Keul sits down with Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words for an extensive conve... more

Who holds the prosecutor accountable?

Prosecutors are some of the most powerful people in our criminal justice system. They decide what charges to bring, what plea deals to offer and what evidence to put before a jury. But what happens when a prosec... more

Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words returns in early August with brand-new episodes and incredible guests.

In the meantime, please make sure you're following the podcast, leave a five-star review if you've enjoyed the show, and share it with some... more

When Jessica Vestal's son Dax started coming home with bruises and injuries, she knew something wasn't right.

The problem was that Dax is nonverbal. He couldn't tell her what was happening.

What Jessica eventually uncovered led to criminal charges,... more

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Recent Guests

Iris Eytan
Former deputy state public defender and longtime criminal defense attorney; founder of Protect Ethical Prosecutors
Protect Ethical Prosecutors
Episode: When Prosecutors Break the Rules: Who Holds Them Accountable? | Iris Eytan
Jessica Vestal
Mother of non-verbal autistic son and survivor advocate
Private individual
Episode: My Nonverbal Son Was Being Abused and Couldn't Tell Me | Jessica Vestal
David Garlock
Survivor of severe abuse and murder case, author, TED Talk speaker, advocate for criminal justice reform and abuse survivors
Advocate/Author
Episode: He Killed His Abuser and Went to Prison | David Garlock
Mark Geragos
American defense attorney known for high-profile cases
Geragos & Geragos / private practice
Episode: Mark Geragos on Diddy, the Menendez Brothers & Defending America's Most Controversial Clients
Selwyn Jones
Uncle of George Floyd, activist, co-founder of Justice 929
Justice 929
Episode: George Floyd’s Uncle on Justice, Rage, and What Changed America
John Michael Jones
Private prison phone call collector and co-creator of Making Manson documentary
Making Manson (documentary)
Episode: What If Everything You Know About Charles Manson Is Wrong?
Billie Mintz
Director of Making Manson
Peacock
Episode: What If Everything You Know About Charles Manson Is Wrong?
Jesse Weber
Attorney, legal analyst, journalist, and broadcast host
Law&Crime, NewsNation
Episode: The Legal Analyst Millions Watch: Jesse Weber on True Crime, Trials, and Media
Allison Hope Weiner
Senior producer for News Nation and investigative journalist
News Nation
Episode: The Cases We Get Wrong | Allison Weiner on True Crime, Media, and Missteps

Host

Justin Shepherd
Host of Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 174 ratings
  • Bad sound

    Poor sound quality

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Ipshee
    United Statesa month ago
  • Concept of the podcast is great but….

    the host never lets their guest speak! He continuously interrupts them with personal anecdotes that don’t relate to what they’re saying and frankly, don’t matter to the case. If you want to give a voice to victims & their families then do so. If you want to make a podcast about yourself and your life, do that instead. I also agree with other reviews- the sound quality is a huge issue. It goes in and out constantly even when the host isn’t interrupting the guest. Difficult to focus on the episode... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    ToriKat74
    United Statesa month ago
  • Sound quality

    Am I the only one who gets weird sound quality on these audios? It seems like the people he interviews the sound distorts.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Nikkidebbaudt
    United States3 months ago
  • David Garlock Episode - Audio issues

    I’m new to this pod and can’t wait to listen to more episodes! However, the audio from the David Garlock episode is super choppy.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Freckles1025
    United States3 months ago
  • Very Bad Audio

    Love the idea of hearing a story first hand. I really wanted to hear David Garlock’s story but he kept cutting out. Stopped listening after a few mins because it was so frustrating!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    NH Shopper
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Fans highlight depth over headlines and survivor-centered storytelling.
Many appreciation for real stories that aid understanding and advocacy.
Listeners praise the host for giving victims a voice and delivering thoughtful, respectful interviews.
Some note audio quality inconsistencies but still value the content and guests.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#217
United States/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#239
Canada/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#130
Spain/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#154
Denmark/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#236
Argentina/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

When Prosecutors Break the Rules: Who Holds Them Accountable? | Iris Eytan
Q: What role can the public play in this reform?
Public awareness and ballot engagement are crucial; voters can demand accountability, support campaigns to remove immunity, and encourage lawmakers to act on prosecutorial ethics and reform.
George Floyd’s Uncle on Justice, Rage, and What Changed America
Q: What was George Floyd like as a person beyond the headlines?
Selwyn shares that George was a loving, funny, and family-oriented person who valued humor and connection, and he reflects on how the tragedy reframed public memory of his nephew and highlighted ongoing struggles with mental health and poverty.
The Missing Person Case That Makes No Sense: Bryan Vladek Hasel
Q: How has the community and authorities reacted over the years since Vladek disappeared?
The family describes initial setbacks with detectives, but notes that current detectives are more proactive and collaborative, with advocates and community members playing a critical ongoing role in pursuing leads and organizing outreach.
The Missing Person Case That Makes No Sense: Bryan Vladek Hasel
Q: What is Vladek's sister Bethany hoping listeners will do to help the case?
Bethany asks listeners to resharing Vladek's flyer and story across their networks, contacting the show with any tip or information, and helping spread awareness so that a tip can come from anywhere and potentially lead to new evidence.
What If Everything You Know About Charles Manson Is Wrong?
Q: How did the tapes influence your view of who ordered the murders and the state of mind of Tex Watson?
They suggest that the traditional idea of a clear command from Manson is not supported by trial transcripts, and that drug use and personal psychology played a larger role in the night of the murders than the myth of mind control implies.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words

What is Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers survivors, families, investigators, and experts, offering intimate conversations that foreground firsthand accounts and personal perspectives over sensational coverage. Episodes span abuse, missing persons, criminal justice reform, and high-profile investigations, with a consistent focus on accountability, systemic failures, and the human impact of crime. Notable strengths include survivor-led storytelling, ethical interrogation of difficult topics, and a willingness to tackle complex cases beyond headlines, which can be especially compelling for audiences seeking depth and context. A standout quality is the host's confrontational yet respectful interviewing style that invites guests to tell their stories in their own word... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words:

1. Frozen Files
2. Trace of Suspicion
3. The Binge Cases: What She Buried
4. Bridge of Lies
5. 20/20

How many episodes of Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words are there?

Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words launched a year ago and published 25 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words?

Recent guests on Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words include:

1. Iris Eytan
2. Jessica Vestal
3. David Garlock
4. Mark Geragos
5. Selwyn Jones
6. John Michael Jones
7. Billie Mintz
8. Jesse Weber

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