
Criminal is the first of its kind. A show about people who’ve done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle. Hosted by Phoebe Judge. Named a Best Podcast of 2023 by the New York Times. Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 413 | Founded | 12 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | True CrimeSociety & CultureDocumentary | |||

In 1883, a sailing captain named Thomas Dudley accepted a job no one thought was a good idea: to sail a small ship called the Mignonette halfway across the world.
Say hello on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Sign up for our occasional newsletter. Fo... more
When Audrey Ryan’s father told her he once found 20 pounds of hash while he was fishing for scallops, she didn’t believe him. But he said that he wasn’t the only one who had found drugs in the ocean.
Audrey Ryan wrote about the Tusker for Boston Glo... more
In 2006, a group of young men and teenagers were arrested under the Canadian Anti-Terrorism Act for planning to set off bombs in Toronto. They were known as the Toronto 18. One of the group’s leaders was a 20-year-old named Zakaria Amara.
Michelle S... more
One Saturday morning in 2018, the police showed up at Patience Rousseau’s door, and started asking her questions about something she'd posted on Facebook after she'd had a miscarriage.
Caroline Kitchener’s article for The Washington Post is “She sai... more
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Long time listener, first time reviewer.
This is a well-crafted, well-researched and informative podcast that will make you think, learn, laugh, cry, and even possibly - *gasp* - consider another point of view.
It delves into all aspects of crime, without being exploitative or graphic.
Congratulations Phoebe, Lauren, and everyone at Criminal on your continued success - and thank you for always bringing us stories that invite us to think!
Long time listener, first time reviewer. Criminal is my go to podcast (after leaving most behind) for road trips, commutes, and cleaning! Thank you for being brave and honest in your storytelling and finding such compelling, human stories. Oh, and don’t listen to the negative reviews!
Love love this podcast! I listen to every episode and have seen them live. Excellent mix of deep and challenging stories with light and fun ones. I am just confused about the reporting of the Patience episode. She was much further along than what is considered a miscarriage but this is the term used in the episode, which also makes the loss seem more mundane and commonplace. That causes me to wonder about the reliability of the reporting of the whole episode. And then from there all of them? May... more
As with most podcasts, they started strong and then made the inevitable slide into woke shitification.
Avoid if you can.
Don’t listen to the little babies giving this one star because “PoLiTiCs”
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Spotify | #173 | |
Spotify | #22 | |
Apple Podcasts | #116 | |
Apple Podcasts | #4 | |
Apple Podcasts | #10 | |
Spotify | #165 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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Offering rich storytelling and diverse narratives, the show examines a range of criminal experiences from various perspectives, often spotlighting profound social issues and the human condition. Topics discussed include identity theft, human trafficking, police brutality, and unique personal accounts from individuals who have been intricately involved in or impacted by criminal events. The show is characterized by its focus on depth and the emotional resonance of storytelling, rather than merely sensationalism, making it stand out from typical true crime content. Its approach not only informs but also aims to provoke thought and discussion around larger societal implications.
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Criminal launched 12 years ago and published 413 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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Recent guests on Criminal include:
1. Audrey Ryan
2. Lee Strimple
3. Zakaria Amara
4. Michelle Shephard
5. Caroline Kitchener
6. Patience Russo
7. Denise Chan
8. E. Jean Carroll
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