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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes464Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
True CrimeSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Criminal

Latest Episodes

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

Sheriff Buford Pusser said he and his wife had come under gunfire early one morning on a country road - leading to her death. He told one reporter, “I'm pretty sure about who did it, and I'm pretty sure about where he is."

Jason Guerrasio's article ... more

This episode is unlocked and available for everyone to listen to!

It took some trial and error, but Phoebe finally figured out how to put on makeup. Plus, Lauren asks for advice on delivering bad news, and we hear the latest in a crime story involvi... more

Ed and Bertha Briney’s unoccupied farmhouse was reportedly broken into 50 times over 10 years. They put up “No Trespassing” signs, repeatedly complained to sheriffs in two different counties, nailed doors shut, and boarded up windows – but nothing wo... 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

Patrick Radden Keefe
Author, interviewed for the episode
Author of London Falling
Episode: Riverwalk
Akbar Shamji
Friend/mentor figure connected to Zac
London businessman with Mount Street ties
Episode: Riverwalk
Varinder Sharma
Business associate with criminal history
Rubber tycoon, associate of Akbar Shamji
Episode: Riverwalk
Rochelle Brettler
Zac's mother
Private individual
Episode: Riverwalk
Matthew Brettler
Zac's father
Private individual
Episode: Riverwalk
Jason Guerrasio
Writer who covers crime and film
Episode: A Man to Be Afraid Of
Cammie Wilson
Former investigative reporter
Episode: A Man to Be Afraid Of
Oakley Dean Baldwin
Former Sheriff's Deputy, relative of Pauline
Episode: A Man to Be Afraid Of
Mike Elam
Former deputy sheriff from Arkansas, researcher
Episode: A Man to Be Afraid Of

Host

Phoebe Judge
Host of Criminal

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 57.9k ratings
  • The MOST interesting stories

    Brilliant stuff 🤓

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Wolfsdayout
    New Zealand4 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
    Canada6 days 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 States7 days 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 States12 days 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 States13 days 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.

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.
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.

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.

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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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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 12 years ago and published 464 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.

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What guests have appeared on Criminal?

Recent guests on Criminal include:

1. Patrick Radden Keefe
2. Akbar Shamji
3. Varinder Sharma
4. Rochelle Brettler
5. Matthew Brettler
6. Jason Guerrasio
7. Cammie Wilson
8. Oakley Dean Baldwin

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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