Rephonic
Artwork for Criminal
True Crime
Civil War
Criminal Justice
New York City
FBI
Helen Wilson
Hurricane Katrina
Ghostwatch
Fraud
South Carolina
Harriet Tubman
Crime
Cold War
North Carolina
Ken Etto
Police Brutality
Berlin Wall
BBC
Combahee River Raid
Jabar Gibson

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes491Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
True CrimeSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Criminal

Latest Episodes

In 1992, a young man walked into a police station and said he wanted to turn himself in for a crime. When the police asked if there was someone at home who they could call, he said, “That’s who I killed. I killed my parents.”

Mikita Brottman’s book ... more

Phoebe interviews author Izabella Scott about an unusual trial in England. One woman, referred to as Miss X, accused her best friend Gayle of posing as a man and tricking her into having a sexual relationship. But Gayle said there was no deception – ... more

In June of 1985, police followed in pursuit as Fritz Klenner drove through the streets of Greensboro, North Carolina, with his cousin Susie Lynch and her two sons. When the chase eventually ended, it was like “something right out of a movie.”

This i... more

In 1985, college student Ian Perkins reconnected with a family friend, Fritz Klenner, who told him a secret. He said he was a CIA agent — and offered to let Ian come along on his next mission.

To listen early to Part 2 of this story, sign up for Cri... 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.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

Alan Gentry
Detective, Forsyth County Sheriff's Department
Forsyth County Sheriff's Department
Episode: Family Secrets, Part 1
Alexis Okeowo
Journalist
The Guardian
Episode: He Was Told It Was a Job. It Was His Kidney They Wanted.
Pamela Colloff
Journalist and author interviewed about the case
Author of Catch the Devil (about the Gulf Coast case)
Episode: The Informant
Jenny Kleeman
Investigator/journalist who covered the story for the BBC
BBC
Episode: What Happened When 33,000 People’s Therapy Notes Were Released Onto the Internet
Reg Spiers
Former javelin thrower and subject of the story
Self (and co-joined with John McSorley)
Episode: Out of the Box
John McSorley
Friend and partner in Reg's journey, co-conspirator in the story
Self/Associated with Reg's journey
Episode: Out of the Box
Amber Dawn
Animal trainer at Shedd Aquarium in Berwyn, Illinois
Shedd Aquarium
Episode: A Bump in the Night and Unexpected Guests
Erin Peters
Guest who recounted a bed and breakfast mystery from 1997 in Etna, California
Self (story subject)
Episode: A Bump in the Night and Unexpected Guests
Emily Clark
Journalist on the foreign desk for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
ABC
Episode: How a Volcanic Eruption Led to a Criminal Trial

Host

Phoebe Judge
Host of the show; renowned for measured narration and in-depth interviews.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 58.3k ratings
  • Cool

    Great Podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Javas 🐸😤
    Germany19 days ago
  • Long-time listener

    Host Phoebe Judge and her brilliant team have created the best True Crime podcast out there, minus the gore/sensationalism that most podcasts of this sort are guilty of. The stories are always empathetic, tackle a broad base of crime and are heavily researched. Phoebe’s interviews are both engrossing and she may have the most soothing vocals of any host.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Willa N.
    United States19 days ago
  • The Best

    The absolute best. Examines what does crime mean? Stories are presented with empathy and professionalism. Most are also ok to listen to with my preteen (screened by me first of course). We especially love Animals Really Going For It.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hoj215
    United States21 days ago
  • Voice of an angel

    I just wanted to say regardless of the story just listening to your voice brings a smile to my face. Your voice feels like home. Your personality is amazing and I am so glad I found you. Thank you for being you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tigiloo
    United States23 days ago
  • best podcast of all time

    been listening for 10+ years, the only podcast i’ll ever recommend to others. incredible journalism and storytelling - I learn something new every episode!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    emdewdew
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise calm, thoughtful storytelling and strong expert interviews.
Feedback highlights high production quality and diverse guest perspectives.
Fans appreciate historical context and nuanced treatment of crime without sensationalism.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Out of the Box
Q: When you first brought this idea to John, what did he say?
John advised against it at first, calling Reg crazy, but after considering the circumstances and Reg's determination, he agreed to help build and conceal the crate for the journey.
She Killed Three People with Poisonous Mushrooms. Did She Mean To?
Q: What was the end of the trial like?
The trial concluded with Erin Patterson being found guilty on all charges after weeks of intense testimony, followed by discussions of sentencing and ongoing appeals, illustrating the gravity and complexity of the case.
She Killed Three People with Poisonous Mushrooms. Did She Mean To?
Q: What was the trial like?
The trial was described as a seemingly uncontrollable, dramatic, and lengthy affair that nonetheless revealed moments of doubt about guilt, as the jury weighed whether intent could be proven beyond reasonable doubt.
She Killed Three People with Poisonous Mushrooms. Did She Mean To?
Q: What did Erin say when she testified?
Erin testified that she did not follow a recipe exactly, improvised with ingredients she had, and claimed she had no intent to harm; she stressed she did not know the mushrooms were dangerous and that she cooked with good intentions.
She Killed Three People with Poisonous Mushrooms. Did She Mean To?
Q: Where did the prosecution say Erin got the mushrooms?
The prosecution suggested Erin could have sourced the death cap mushrooms from locations identified by location data and public iNaturalist posts, indicating she may have been in proximity to those sites in the weeks before the luncheon.

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 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?

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What are the audience demographics for Criminal?

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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. In The Dark
5. This Is Actually Happening

How many episodes of Criminal are there?

Criminal launched 13 years ago and published 491 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?

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What guests have appeared on Criminal?

Recent guests on Criminal include:

1. Alan Gentry
2. Alexis Okeowo
3. Pamela Colloff
4. Jenny Kleeman
5. Reg Spiers
6. John McSorley
7. Amber Dawn
8. Erin Peters

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.

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