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Crossing the Line with M. William Phelps

M. William Phelps
True Crime
Murder
Natalee Holloway
Missing Persons
Cold Cases
Investigative Journalism
Joran Van Der Sloot
Molly Young
Domestic Violence
High-Profile Cases
Sean Moore
Aruba
Ronald Lloyd Bailey
Nancy Grace
Mental Health
Richie Minton Jr.
Reeves Johnson
Bob Seaman
Nancy Seaman
Ford Motors

Crossing the Line is a true crime podcast revealing cases of the missing and murdered, told start-to-finish each week. Using the campfire storytelling style that made Paper Ghosts a #1 hit on the charts, host M. William Phelps connects deeply with families touched by violent crime - he understands them, because he is one of them. Having gone through the murder of his own pregnant sister-in-law, Ph... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes199Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
True Crime

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Artwork for Crossing the Line

Latest Episodes

A college student abruptly gets up from a poker game, says nothing, and leaves the dorm. With a five-minute walk ahead of him home, somewhere in between … he vanishes… never to be seen again.

Welcome to a bonus feature here on the Crossing the Line... more

YouTube

Sixty kids show up to a house party one night and dance the night away, get their drink on, and stay until the pre-dawn hours of the following morning… Unbeknownst to everyone is that there are two mutilated bodies hidden inside the same house, with ... more

YouTube

It's called the Village of Drummond, an exclusive neighborhood in Chevy Chase, Maryland. On a pleasant spring morning, homicide investigators are called out to a swanky brick colonial with blood smeared all over the walls. It takes decades, but two d... more

YouTube

It's the day after Christmas. A young man takes off on his motorbike and heads out to a popular Connecticut trail to meet a young woman. By late evening, when he fails to return home, his parents call the state police and a search gets underway.

Fo... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Eugene Glegor
Dated former boyfriend of the victim's daughter and suspect in the original investigation
Unspecified; subject of the interview
Episode: EP163 | The Genetic Murder Ghost - The True Crime of Guilt By Association
Thien Ho
District Attorney and prosecutor of the Golden State Killer case
Sacramento County District Attorney's Office
Episode: EP143: We Are the Sin Eaters: The District Attorney Who Prosecuted the Golden State Killer Explains
Robyn Peery
Susan Marable's sister and a dedicated advocate searching for answers regarding Susan's disappearance.
Episode: A Sister Searches For Her Missing Sibling: The 'True Crime' of Susan Marable's Disappearance
Dr. Peter Vronsky
An investigative historian and author specializing in serial killers
Toronto Metropolitan University
Episode: Serial Killer Richard Cottingham & Dr. Peter Vronsky – Part 1
Brendan Cain
John O'Keefe's best friend.
Episode: 34 FAIRVIEW ROAD: Episode 10 – Occam's Razor
Jeffrey Smalldon
Forensic psychologist and author of 'That Beast Was Not Me'
Episode: Monsters Among Us: John Wayne Gacy and the Real World of Psychopaths
John Wayne Gacy
Notorious serial killer known as the 'Killer Clown.'
Episode: Monsters Among Us: John Wayne Gacy and the Real World of Psychopaths
Aidan Kearney
Investigative reporter and blogger at TBDailyNews
tbdailynews.com
Episode: The Karen Read Murder Trial: Michael Proctor, Dr. Turtleboy, & the Misogynistic Mass State Police - Part 1
Kristen Seavey
Host of Murder, She Told and investigative podcaster
Murder, She Told
Episode: Reeves Johnson: Missing in Maine

Host

M. William Phelps
Host and investigative journalist; leads true crime narratives with a background in investigative reporting and a personal connection to crime impact.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 5.3k ratings
  • Great Journalism

    I think the story telling is perfectly structured. Phelps has a great story telling voice and tone that makes it easy to fall into a binge fest. The story is always easy to follow along and full of information. Definitely need to read some of his books next.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cassarella2016
    United Statesa month ago
  • Captivating

    Absolutely fabulous show. Captivating respectful and heartfelt delivery off some of

    life’s worst moments. Love listening and don’t miss an episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Me2ulova
    Australiaa month ago
  • One of my favorites!

    I truly enjoy listening Crossing the Line with M. William Phelps. His investigative reporting is thorough, compelling, and incredibly well-researched. You can tell he puts real care into telling each story accurately and respectfully, especially when it comes to the victims and their families.

    He has a way of presenting complex cases clearly without sensationalizing them, which makes the podcast both informative and engaging. His experience as an investigative journalist really shines through i... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    J7mom
    United Statesa month ago
  • Great podcast!

    Appreciate the hard work of Mr. Phelps and all the research, passion, and personality he puts into these episodes, including the weekly and more long form series podcasts as well. He has the chops and experience to back up what he says, and he always encourages empathy and care toward the families impacted by crime.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bsols86
    United Statesa month ago
  • Best True Crime

    Very well organized and presented information. The only true crime podcast I listen to.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MoBama68
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

The host is described as knowledgeable, credible, and respectful, with strong investigative rigor.
Some feedback notes strong advocacy for victims and critical views on sensationalism in true crime media.
Overall, the series is seen as high quality, well-researched, and engagement-worthy for serious crime enthusiasts.
Shows are valued for careful reporting and avoidance of sensationalism, with praise for depth and pacing.
Listeners praise thorough, compassionate storytelling that centers victims and families.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#203
United States/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#222
Canada/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#111
South Africa/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#115
Brazil/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#154
Ukraine/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#195
Ireland/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

EP159 - Part 3 - The Fort Worth 3: An Iconic True Crime Missing Persons Mystery - Still Searching
Q: Do you think that these cases are connected to any of the other cases in the area and the same era?
Deep in my heart, I don't. I am open-minded because, like I said, until we know for sure, then we don't know.
EP159 - Part 3 - The Fort Worth 3: An Iconic True Crime Missing Persons Mystery - Still Searching
Q: What do you think the biggest blockade is in getting some answers to this case and your cousin?
One, we have no bodies. Two, there was no evidence collected in the very beginning outside of the letter.
EP143: We Are the Sin Eaters: The District Attorney Who Prosecuted the Golden State Killer Explains
Q: How do you compartmentalize?
Thien admits that he struggles to fully compartmentalize his work, as he often carries the weight of his cases into his personal life.
EP143: We Are the Sin Eaters: The District Attorney Who Prosecuted the Golden State Killer Explains
Q: Tell me about that.
Thien describes his experience of how he came to be involved in the prosecution of DeAngelo after a breakthrough in connection with the East Area Rapist.
EP134 - The Delphi Murders: Remembering Abby and Libby, Sorting Fact From Nonsense - Part 1
Q: On February 13th, 2017, tell me what happened?
Abby and Libby were dropped off to walk the trails, intending to cross the Monon High Bridge. They posted on social media before going missing, which started the search.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Crossing the Line

What is Crossing the Line about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Across episodes, the show consistently explores missing-persons cases and violent crimes through meticulous, archival storytelling that centers victims and families. The host combines decades of investigative journalism with personal experience to guide listeners through complex investigations, often highlighting media dynamics, justice system responses, and the human impact of crime. Notably, the format blends thorough research with empathetic narration, and occasional cross-promotional touches, keeping a steady focus on accountability and truth-seeking while maintaining a compelling, story-driven pace for true-crime enthusiasts.

Where can I find podcast stats for Crossing the Line?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Crossing the Line. 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 Crossing the Line and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Crossing the Line get?

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What are the audience demographics for Crossing the Line?

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How many subscribers and views does Crossing the Line have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Crossing the Line 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 Crossing the Line?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Crossing the Line:

1. Paper Ghosts: The Texas Teen Murders
2. Hell and Gone
3. Culpable
4. The Binge Crimes: Fatal Fantasy
5. The Vanished Podcast

How many episodes of Crossing the Line are there?

Crossing the Line launched 4 years ago and published 199 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 Crossing the Line?

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 Crossing the Line?

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What guests have appeared on Crossing the Line?

Recent guests on Crossing the Line include:

1. Eugene Glegor
2. Thien Ho
3. Robyn Peery
4. Dr. Peter Vronsky
5. Brendan Cain
6. Jeffrey Smalldon
7. John Wayne Gacy
8. Aidan Kearney

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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