Rephonic
Artwork for Criminal
True Crime
Civil War
Criminal Justice
New York City
FBI
Helen Wilson
Hurricane Katrina
Ghostwatch
Fraud
South Carolina
Harriet Tubman
Cold War
North Carolina
Crime
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes480Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
True CrimeSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Criminal

Latest Episodes

Amber Dawn was 20 when she moved into a one-bedroom apartment in Enumclaw, Washington. On her very first night, she began to notice strange sounds. And they didn’t stop.

These episodes were originally released in 2017.

Say hello on Facebook, Instag... more

Today, an unlocked episode of Criminal Plus that's full of exciting updates, public service announcements, and Tom Cruise's teeth.

If you enjoyed listening to today's Criminal Plus episode and you'd like to hear more - ⁠⁠join us on Patreon⁠⁠. It's t... more

In 2019, a volcano erupted off the coast of New Zealand - killing 22 tourists who were on it at the time. Four years later, a criminal trial began - where prosecutors claimed that several individuals and companies had violated workplace safety laws, ... more

In 1980, posters appeared in subway stations and on telephone poles in New York City with a phone number to call. When you called it, you would hear a message: “This is Apology. Apology is not associated with the police or any other organization but ... 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

Recent Guests

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
Sam Knight
Writer and author of The Premonitions Bureau
Author
Episode: The Premonitions Bureau
Nino Bucci
Justice and courts reporter at Guardian Australia
Guardian Australia
Episode: She Killed Three People with Poisonous Mushrooms. Did She Mean To?
Rachel Waters
Narrator of the story; daughter advocating for her dying mother
Individual caregiver
Episode: The Comfort Kit
Ben Montgomery
Author featured in the episode
Author of A Shot in the Moonlight
Episode: 125 Acres
Anthony Denning
George Denning's great-grandson, interviewee
Descendant of George Denning
Episode: 125 Acres
Valerie Borline
Wall Street Journal reporter and author of The Devil at His Elbow
Wall Street Journal
Episode: Why Alex Murdaugh is Getting a Do-Over

Host

Phoebe Judge
Host of Criminal

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 58.1k ratings
  • The MOST interesting stories

    Brilliant stuff 🤓

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Wolfsdayout
    New Zealand2 months ago
  • Love Pod! Price Crazy

    Love the pod - listener for a few years now, has to be! But I pay $7.99/month for Netflix… the entirety of Netflix… that monthly cost for this is out of bounds! Come on, Phoebe… you be the Judge! Pun intended!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    ReasonableRob
    Canada2 months ago
  • A FAVORITE!!!

    Absolutely in my top 5 podcasts that I religiously listen to. At first I was not a big fan of the extra show with the two of them chatting, but they have grown on me big time and I love listening to them now. They are unique in their thoughts and so smart, that we all still learn a few new things every episode. I hate not being challenged mentally and they always have me doing some sort of deep thinking. Do NOT bypass this podcast…. IT IS A MUST KEEP; MUST LISTEN TO ALL EPISODES…..WORTHY WORTHY ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    white witch brewing
    United States2 months ago
  • A Man to be Afraid of

    Great episode as usual but Phoebe, surely you know grand juries do not find someone not guilty or acquit them. They indict or don’t indict based on the evidence they are presented with. Both you and your guest say Pusser was found not guilty by a grand jury. That’s just not true and shame on both of you for not catching that error. But a fascinating episode nevertheless!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    amym61)
    United States2 months ago
  • Obsessed

    (Reviewers should have to take a short class on the art of reviewing before skewing the numbers with their personal preferences.)

    Listen to Criminal Plus; this is Phoebe’s voice. If it’s not for you, move on. Not everything is curated for your own special enjoyment. (Also applies to the “political” complaints.)

    The stories are fascinating, and they seem to magically show up when my partner and I are debating about that specific issue (curated for me, perhaps?), and Criminal Plus makes me laugh ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lightning121710
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some feedback notes perceived political framing by critics but overall consistency and depth remain valued by core listeners.
Many appreciate the balance of history and crime context without sensationalism, making complex topics accessible.
Listeners praise the calm, engaging delivery and rigorous storytelling, with interviews and expert input cited as strengths.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
She Killed Three People with Poisonous Mushrooms. Did She Mean To?
Q: How quickly did the police launch an investigation after the deaths?
Police quickly escalated their inquiry within days, bringing in toxicology expertise and examining hospital records to determine the scope of the incident, before expanding to look for a possible deliberate poisoning rather than a simple foodborne illness.

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 thoughtfully engineered true-crime/history show that blends investigative reporting, expert analysis, and personal narratives to explore cases at the intersection of crime, law, and society. Episodes frequently center on legal principles, historical context, and human impact, featuring voices from academia, journalism, and affected communities. Notable strengths include meticulous storytelling, credible sourcing, and a calm, steady hosting style that elevates complex topics without sensationalism. For potential listeners, the show offers clear case backgrounds, multiple perspectives, and accessible takes on legal and ethical questions that resonate with both history buffs and true-crime enthusiasts.

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. This Is Actually Happening
5. My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

How many episodes of Criminal are there?

Criminal launched 13 years ago and published 480 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. Amber Dawn
2. Erin Peters
3. Emily Clark
4. Sam Knight
5. Nino Bucci
6. Rachel Waters
7. Ben Montgomery
8. Anthony Denning

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