Rephonic
Artwork for Criminal
FBI
Ken Etto
Bank Robbery
Alton Sterling
Chicago Outfit
Bolita
Crime
911 Emergency Services
Nellie Bly
Organized Crime
Texas
Baton Rouge Police Department
East Baton Rouge Parish Prison
Johnny Gattuso
J. Campisi
Vincent Solano
Japanese Internment Camps
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
Police Response
Emergency Dispatch

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes448Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
True CrimeSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Criminal

Latest Episodes

On Christmas Eve in 1926, a man came running into Bellevue Hospital in New York screaming that Santa Claus had been chasing him for blocks with a baseball bat. Not long after that, he died. And then another person arrived in the emergency room. And t... more

When Elzire Dionne gave birth to five identical babies, she caught the attention of reporters and doctors hundreds of miles away, the Chicago World’s Fair – and the Ontario government. Before the quintuplets were ten months old, they passed a new law... more

When Cecilia Gentili was growing up in Argentina, she felt so different from everyone around her that she thought she might be from another planet. “I think that we are all aliens until we find our communities.”

This episode was originally released ... more

When Angelo Quinto died, his family said police were responsible for his death. But a lawyer told them his official cause of death would likely be something called “excited delirium.”

You can read more of Renu Rayasam's reporting on "excited deliriu... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

This is Love
This is LoveVox Media Podcast Network
This American Life
This American LifeThis American Life
Heavyweight
HeavyweightPushkin Industries
The Binge Cases: Killer Story
The Binge Cases: Killer StorySony Music Entertainment

Recent Guests

Cecilia Gentili
Transgender woman from Argentina, advocate for decriminalization of sex work
Trans Equity
Episode: Cecilia
Cassandra Quinto Collins
Mother of Angelo, interview subject
Quinto Collins family
Episode: Excited Delirium
Bella Quinto Collins
Sister of Angelo, interview subject
Quinto Collins family
Episode: Excited Delirium
Ben Nissenbaum
Attorney for the Quinto Collins family
Nissenbaum law firm
Episode: Excited Delirium
Matthew Guichard
Hearing officer in coroner's inquest
Contra Costa County
Episode: Excited Delirium
Renu Rayasam
Reporter
News organization
Episode: Excited Delirium
Julie Ha
Journalist and filmmaker featured in the episode
Documentary subject, journalist
Episode: The Mug Book
Kate Clifford Larson
Historian and author
Episode: The Plot
Makita Brotman
Author and expert on the case
Episode: The Test

Host

Phoebe Judge
Host of the show, known for narrative-driven interviews and ethical exploration of crime and justice.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 57.7k ratings
  • Excellent show

    So many interesting stories over such a broad range of topics and time. Phoebe and Lauren, you guys are great, much love from Alaska!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jen_in_alaska
    United States18 days ago
  • Disappointed

    Super disappointed that this podcast that has always stayed neutral and just given facts and back stories to crimes and criminals has decided to go political.

    Painting criminals who interfere with law enforcement doing their jobs as heros. Painting criminals who have come into this country illegally and committed additional crimes as heros is disgraceful and is not something I ever would've expected from this podcast. All these people are criminals, breaking laws and doing extremely dangerous an... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    No names left35353
    United Statesa month ago
  • ARCADE

    SMALL TOWN BOY IN A JAMES ARCADE WE WERE ALWAYS IN A LOSING GAME OHH OHHHHH OH OH OHHHHH ALL I KNEW ALL I KNEW IS LOVING U IS A LOSING GAME

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Why r u reading this STALKER
    Australiaa month ago
  • It used to be great before Vox

    It’s disappointing how far this podcast has fallen. Now they’re just airing episodes from other podcasts AND airing old episodes.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Lauren 654321
    United Statesa month ago
  • A treasure

    I love Phoebe’s delivery, the unique structure, the fascinating stories. Keep it up.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    GeneralConflict
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

A few listeners chafe at perceived political slants and paywalls.
Some reviews highlight the show's consistency and varied, compelling guests.
Fans praise the storytelling and host delivery, noting deep, engaging interviews.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Excited Delirium
Q: Why did the family pursue an autopsy and legal action?
Because independent findings contradicted official conclusions, revealing asphyxiation as a contributing factor and prompting a civil suit and reforms, including a state-level approach to restraints and inquest processes.
Excited Delirium
Q: What does excited delirium mean in the medical and legal context?
It is described as a condition where the body supposedly dysregulates, leading to death, but the episode emphasizes that there is no standardized test or diagnostic code, and the term has a contested history and dubious scientific basis.
Cecilia
Q: What do you want to say now to that little girl thinking she was an alien, given all you've seen and become?
I think we are all aliens until we find our communities, and when you find them, you will find your family and your planet, and the journey can be hard but beautiful, with the reward being belonging.
The Big Lie
Q: So you're Gavin and you're Billy, and I know it all?
The lawyer wanted to see their American passports, realizing they were actually from Scotland, not America.
Sister Helen
Q: What can you say to make someone feel better?
You simply tell them, 'I am here for you.' It's about presence.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Criminal

What is Criminal about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, narrative-driven series that centers real people and their stories around justice, crime, and history. Episodes often blend intimate personal experiences with broader social issues—ranging from wrongful convictions and investigative reporting to civil rights and policy shifts affecting vulnerable communities. The show is notable for its original storytelling, diverse guest mix, and a willingness to tackle morally complex topics without sensationalism, making it a compelling listen for audiences who value context, nuance, and human impact.

Noteworthy elements include a reputation for rigorous interviewing, a focus on underrepresented perspectives, and episodes that connect historical events to contemporary debates. The format,... more

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 three 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. Heavyweight
4. My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
5. The Binge Cases: Killer Story

How many episodes of Criminal are there?

Criminal launched 12 years ago and published 448 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. Cecilia Gentili
2. Cassandra Quinto Collins
3. Bella Quinto Collins
4. Ben Nissenbaum
5. Matthew Guichard
6. Renu Rayasam
7. Julie Ha
8. Kate Clifford Larson

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days