Criminal
Vox Media Podcast NetworkCriminal 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 | Twice weekly | Episodes | 502 | Founded | 13 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | True CrimeSociety & Culture | |||
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Latest Episodes
“There are no roads that connect Utqiagvik with any other community. Nobody can get on the freeway and head for Fairbanks. That’s 500 miles of open tundra. So the killer was still in town.” Today, a murder case in the northernmost community in the Un... more
Today, an unlocked episode of Please Continue, in which Phoebe and Lauren discuss tense driving moments - including one encounter that still gives Phoebe chills. Plus, Phoebe’s mortifying habit, the next big trend in New York City, and very small pum... more
Earlier this year, labor and delivery nurse Jen Hamilton announced to her millions of followers on social media that her marriage was ending. Now, she’s trying to change the state divorce law that’s keeping her married.
You can also watch this inter... more
Two days before New Year’s Eve in 1975, a bomb exploded at LaGuardia Airport in New York City. 75 people were injured and 11 people were killed. The bombing has never been solved.
Elon Green wrote “The Forgotten Bombing of LaGuardia Airport” for Sla... more
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Reviews
- I’ve been listening since the WUNC days
’ve been listening since the WUNC days and this new format of interviewing journalists who rehash their sun writing is unsatisfying and feels lazy. Please bring back the old Crimibal.
Apple Podcasts1rave.
United States22 days ago - Donor 106
I just finished listening to the latest episode, Done 106. Outstanding story and piece of reporting! I have *always* loved Criminal, and though I have listened for years, I feel like things have really been cooking lately. Bravo! Thanks for a beautiful show.
Apple Podcasts5Clemmy86United States25 days ago - Great content
Interesting and engaging stories. The only note which can be kind of annoying is Phoebe’s odd pronunciation of the letter “o” in some words especially when she says .com which she says a lot.
Apple Podcasts5ALF_86United States25 days ago - Skipping a lot lately
Listened since 2019, lately, I have not listened as much. Every episode comes to be about people wrongfully jailed versus all the interesting criminal episodes that used to have me excited for a new episode every week. Seems to be coming very wokeish. It really used to have really unique stories that had me waiting for Fridays next episode. Now I go months before I click on something.
Apple Podcasts1Ka27272United Statesa month ago - Storytelling or Sermonizing?
I wrote a critical review of Criminal some time ago, after years of being a loyal listener. At the time, I felt the show had drifted away from the thoughtful, curious storytelling that originally made it so exceptional. I worried that the stories were becoming increasingly shaped by a particular political lens, at the expense of the nuance, ambiguity, and genuine curiosity that had once made the podcast so compelling.
Over the past several months however, Criminal has consistently returned to t... more
Apple Podcasts2laqiur22United Statesa month ago
Listeners Say
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Spotify | #33 | United States/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #52 | United States/Top Podcasts |
Apple Podcasts | #11 | United States/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #63 |  Canada/Top Podcasts |
Apple Podcasts | #225 |  United Kingdom/Top Podcasts |
Apple Podcasts | #11 | Canada/True Crime |
Talking Points
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Audience Metrics
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Criminal
What is Criminal about and what kind of topics does it cover?
A historically grounded true-crime and society-focused program that uses intimate storytelling, expert interviews, and archival context to explore complex cases, investigative methods, and human consequences. Episodes span from individual intrusions and wrongful identifications to courtroom struggles, forensic science, and historical justice, often weaving professional analysis with personal perspectives. Notable for its calm storytelling voice, rigorous sourcing, and willingness to tackle nuanced topics without sensationalism, it tends to attract listeners who enjoy thoughtful, well-researched narratives that connect crime to broader social issues.
Where can I find podcast stats for Criminal?
Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Criminal. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Criminal and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.
How many listeners does Criminal get?
Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Criminal, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.
What are the audience demographics for Criminal?
Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Criminal, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.
How many subscribers and views does Criminal have?
To see how many followers or subscribers Criminal has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.
Which podcasts are similar to Criminal?
These podcasts share a similar audience with Criminal:
1. This is Love
2. This American Life
3. Serial
4. Heavyweight
5. In The Dark
How many episodes of Criminal are there?
Criminal launched 13 years ago and published 502 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
How do I contact Criminal?
Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.
Where can I see ratings and reviews for Criminal?
Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Criminal from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.
View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.
How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Criminal?
Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Criminal. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.
What guests have appeared on Criminal?
Recent guests on Criminal include:
1. Jen Hamilton
2. Elon Greene
3. Bryan Burrough
4. Patrick Brower
5. Joel Anderson
6. Eve Wiley
7. Mikita Brottman
8. Isabella Scott
To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.