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
Crime
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes468Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureTrue Crime

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Criminal

Latest Episodes

Phoebe interviews crime novelist Patricia Cornwell about how working in an autopsy suite inspired her to create her most famous character: forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta. Plus, Phoebe and Patricia talk about visiting “body farms,” listening to po... more

YouTube

The “body farm” at Texas State University is a place almost no one is allowed to see, because it’s one of very few places in the world that deliberately puts out human bodies to decompose in nature. We asked if we could visit, and they agreed.

This ... more

YouTube

In 2008, an article in the monthly FBI bulletin argued that 911 calls could contain clues for homicide investigations. “The caller, in fact, may be the killer.”

Brett Murphy investigated 911 call analysis for ProPublica. You can find their new show,... more

In November 2019, nineteen-year-old Zac Brettler went missing. When his parents began looking for him, they discovered that Zac had been living a double life.

Patrick Radden Keefe’s book is London Falling.

Say hello on Facebook, Instagram and TikTo... 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

Patricia Cornwell
Crime novelist and memoirist, author of the Scarpetta series
Author
Episode: What Nobody Tells You About the Morgue (with Patricia Cornwell)
Erlon Woods
Ear Hustle co-host; incarcerated individual, San Quentin
Ear Hustle (San Quentin)
Episode: All the Time in the World
Nigel Porter
Ear Hustle co-host; visual artist
Ear Hustle (San Quentin)
Episode: All the Time in the World
Antoine Williams
Ear Hustle co-host; sound designer
Ear Hustle (San Quentin)
Episode: All the Time in the World
Elaine Walker
Retired private investigator
Episode: All the Time in the World
Dr. Daniel Wescott
Director of the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State University
Texas State University
Episode: All the Time in the World
Grady Early
Retired computer science professor and body donor
Donor
Episode: All the Time in the World
Dr. Bill Bass
Pioneer in body farm concept
University of Tennessee
Episode: All the Time in the World
Kate Spradley
Lead excavator for the project
Colorado Forensic Investigation Research Station
Episode: All the Time in the World

Host

Phoebe Judge
Host of Criminal

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 58k ratings
  • The MOST interesting stories

    Brilliant stuff 🤓

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Wolfsdayout
    New Zealand24 days 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
    Canadaa month 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 Statesa month 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 Statesa month 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 Statesa month 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.

What Nobody Tells You About the Morgue (with Patricia Cornwell)
Q: How did you decide to make Scarpetta the main character?
An editor who had rejected several of her prior books suggested focusing on Scarpetta, recognizing that the character's scientific approach and procedural authenticity could drive a successful series.
What Nobody Tells You About the Morgue (with Patricia Cornwell)
Q: What got you into the morgue and into crime writing after journalism?
She describes starting as a journalist, working the police beat, and how the firsthand exposure to autopsies and crime scenes inspired a shift toward writing crime fiction and later memoirs, driven by a desire to tell the truth behind the investigations.
What Nobody Tells You About the Morgue (with Patricia Cornwell)
Q: Can you tell me about this picture on the cover of your book?
Cornwell explains the photo shoot by Annie Leibovitz for Vanity Fair, the Richmond location, and how the iconic look captured the tension between glamour and the stark reality of autopsy work.
Mantrap
Q: Why did the court decide in favor of Katko, and what did that mean for property owners?
The court found the use of deadly force to protect property was inappropriate, especially in an unoccupied dwelling, setting a precedent that property defense cannot justify lethal traps and leading to damages awarded against the homeowners.
Mantrap
Q: What exactly happened when Marvin Katko broke into the Briney farmhouse?
He entered the unoccupied house, triggered the home-made shotgun trap and lost part of his leg, which led to medical treatment and eventually to legal action against the homeowners.

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?

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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. Heavyweight
4. Serial
5. Ear Hustle

How many episodes of Criminal are there?

Criminal launched 12 years ago and published 468 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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What guests have appeared on Criminal?

Recent guests on Criminal include:

1. Patricia Cornwell
2. Erlon Woods
3. Nigel Porter
4. Antoine Williams
5. Elaine Walker
6. Dr. Daniel Wescott
7. Grady Early
8. Dr. Bill Bass

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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