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

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes386Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureTrue CrimeDocumentary

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Criminal

Latest Episodes

In the late 1960s, a yogi named Swami Rama came to the United States. His followers believed he could read their minds, visit them in their dreams, and manipulate reality. Shruti Swamy was one of them.

Shruti Swamy wrote a version of this story for ... more

John Buettner-Janusch was one of the first Americans to study lemurs. He held prestigious faculty positions at Yale, Duke and NYU, before surprising everyone with a series of increasingly bizarre crimes.

Phoebe and Lauren got to visit the Duke Lemur... more

Two years ago, we started making Criminal Plus episodes — behind-the-scenes conversations featuring Phoebe and Criminal co-creator Lauren Spohrer. Today, we’re sharing some of those conversations with you — about everything from Phoebe’s jangly brace... more

“Anyone who went to Action Park understood you could get really messed up going there. It was part of why you wanted to go.”

Seth Porges made a documentary about Action Park, along with Chris Charles Scott. It’s called Class Action Park.

Say hello ... more

Key Facts

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

Barry Yeoman
Journalist who worked on the Jolene Strickland project
The Independent Weekly
Episode: The Pride of Pine Hill
Tricia Romano
Former intern and writer at The Village Voice, shares her insights on media and journalism
The Village Voice
Episode: The Pride of Pine Hill
John Mooney
Investigative journalist with the Sunday Times, reporting on organized crime.
Sunday Times
Episode: Five Stars
Kayla Kuo
Reporter for the Texas Tribune
Texas Tribune
Episode: The Stay
Michael Boulware Moore
Great-great-grandson of Robert Smalls.
Episode: Robert Smalls
Saladin Ahmed
Comic book writer for publishers like Marvel
Marvel Comics
Episode: For the Sake of American Youth
Adam Berenbach
Archivist for the Center for Legislative Archives
Episode: For the Sake of American Youth
Josh Levy
Historian and comic book expert
Episode: For the Sake of American Youth
Joachim Rudolph
Engineering student involved in escape efforts from East Germany
Episode: Under the Wall

Host

Phoebe Judge
Host of the show, renowned for her captivating storytelling and in-depth explorations of crime and societal issues.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 56.2k ratings
  • Ritual ad

    Auburn University, not University of Auburn

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Meatplow
    United States7 days ago
  • Mixed feelings

    Phoebe has undoubtedly the best voice in podcasting at the moment. She is a master of voice. That said, the stories have been lacking. I started listening because I wanted a true crime podcast, however, the creators take the idea of “criminal” in directions that at times are horrendously boring.

    If you want to do a social justice podcast, by all means do that, but do not do it under the guise of a true crime podcast. You are alienating a lot of loyalist listeners by continuing to do this.

    Plea... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    tis but a scratch 11
    United States10 days ago
  • Just okay

    Not crazy about this true crime show. The pace of the hosts voice throws me off listening and most stories have no end. Which I know is the point. Just unsatisfying to listen to.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    finnigan111
    Canada15 days ago
  • Always Interesting

    I love the unique stories revealed on this show. Excellent research and coverage of diverse stories.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Texas Olivia Pope
    United States15 days ago
  • 10 year a Fan

    I’ve listened to Criminal for the past ten years, and it’s been a constant companion through so many chapters of my life. I first found the podcast as a student working a job that required repetitive, mind-numbing tasks—her voice and storytelling were the only things that got me through those long shifts. Now, my husband and I love listening during autumn road trips, and I often tune in on peaceful postpartum walks during my maternity leave. Thank you for creating something so consistently compe... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    FanThroughTheSeasons
    Canada15 days ago

Listeners Say

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

There are mentions of the high production quality and captivating narration, with many listeners feeling transported by the narratives.
Listeners praise the fascinating storytelling and unique perspectives on crime and morality, highlighting the show's ability to make complex subjects engaging.
The diverse range of topics keeps the audience engaged, prompting them to explore unfamiliar aspects of criminal history and justice.
Some critiques include concerns about political interpretations within certain episodes, though this does not detract from overall appreciation for the content's depth.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Action Park
Q: What were some of the other rides that you looked at and just thought, no?
Chris Gethard recounts how he chose to avoid certain rides like the aqua scoot, considering the risks too high. He went on the Tarzan swing and the Alpine slide, despite knowing they were dangerous.
Tabatha
Q: Do you think that things would have been different for you if you had had someone counseling you?
Tabatha believes that having someone to provide support and advice would have made a significant difference in her experience as a young mother.
Tabatha
Q: Do you remember the first incarcerated woman that you saw that you were going to work with?
Tabatha recalls how she felt nervous but invested in providing support, recalling her own experiences.
Tabatha
Q: Was there a point when you realized, I'm good at this?
Tabatha reflects on her calling and how she felt she was good at supporting others despite the challenges she faced.
High Tide
Q: Why do you think Harriet Tubman was recruited as a spy?
They were looking for people who knew how to navigate safely within Confederate territory, people who could learn the land, and were used to operating in disguise.

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?

Exploring the intricate narratives surrounding crime, morality, and societal issues, the episodes bring to light a diverse range of stories, including historical figures, contemporary injustices, and bizarre crimes. Topics span from organized crime and wrongful convictions to peculiar smuggling operations, emphasizing both individual experiences and larger cultural implications. The podcast stands out by weaving compelling, often untold tales that engage listeners' curiosity and stimulate thought about the nature of justice and human behavior.

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?

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

How many episodes of Criminal are there?

Criminal launched 11 years ago and published 386 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.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Criminal?

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What guests have appeared on Criminal?

Recent guests on Criminal include:

1. Barry Yeoman
2. Tricia Romano
3. John Mooney
4. Kayla Kuo
5. Michael Boulware Moore
6. Saladin Ahmed
7. Adam Berenbach
8. Josh Levy

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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