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Death Row Stories

François Picard
Death Penalty
Perry Cobb
The Prison Show
Death Row
Lethal Injection
Taos Revolt
Taos
Texas Hangings
Chicago
Memphis
Abram Ortiz
Three-Drug Protocol
Intellectual Disability
Edward Busby
Houston, United States
Museum Of South Texas History
Darryl Atkins
Innocence
Death Row Stories
Edinburgh, United States

Welcome to Death Row Stories, a podcast dedicated to exploring the complex and often harrowing world of the death penalty in the United States. I’m François Picard, a journalist and documentary director with over 20 years of experience. Throughout my career, the most impactful reports I produced were those about death row. In this podcast, I shed light on the human stories behind the death penalty... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes34Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentarySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Death Row Stories

Latest Episodes

For 35 years, Eugene Broxton has lived in a tiny death row cell in Texas.

He insists he did not commit the murder that sent him there. He says he has maintained his innocence from the very first police interrogation until today.In this exclusive int... more

YouTube

What do medieval witch hunts, public guillotines, and America's death penalty have in common? More than you might think.In this episode of Death Row Stories, I leave the United States and travel across France in search of places where people were onc... more

YouTube

On May 14 2026, Death Row Stories takes you inside a race against time as Texas prepares for what could become its 600th execution since 1976. From an early morning abolitionist press conference to a long, uncertain wait outside the prison, everythin... more

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Texas is about to carry out its 600th execution since 1976. But this case is different.Edward Lee Busby Jr is scheduled to die for a brutal 2004 murder in Fort Worth. What he did was horrific. A 77-year-old woman, Laura Lee Crane, was taken at random... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Eugene Broxton
Death Row inmate on Texas death row who maintains innocence in multiple cases
Texas Department of Criminal Justice (implied)
Episode: 35 Years on Death Row. He Still Says He’s Innocent.
Sylviane Vieillard
Local guide
Independent guide in Alsace region
Episode: I Visited Europe’s Execution Sites to Understand America’s Death Penalty
Tyrone Williams
Former death row inmate
Texas Death Row (subject of prior episodes)
Episode: I Visited Europe’s Execution Sites to Understand America’s Death Penalty
Richard Burr
Attorney with expertise in intellectual disability and mental health evidence
Independent attorney (expert)
Episode: Texas' 600th Execution: Inside the Fight Over Intellectual Disability
Amanda Fernandez
Director of Communications for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Episode: Outside James Broadnax’s Execution, as Doubt Hung Over It
Corinna Lain
Author of Secrets of the Killing State, The Untold Story of Lethal Injection; George E. Allen Chair in Law at the University of Richmond School of Law
University of Richmond School of Law
Episode: Secrets of Lethal Injections EXPOSED
Francisco Guajardo
CEO of the Museum of South Texas History
Museum of South Texas History
Episode: They Executed a 21-Year-Old Who Couldn't Understand His Trial
Bob Romero
President of the Taos County Historical Society, historian
Taos County Historical Society
Episode: 28 Hanged in the Square:America's Forgotten Mass Execution
Tyrone Jamal Williams
Death Row inmate on Texas Death Row, subject of case and interview
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Episode: 30 Brain Lesions, Multiple Sclerosis, On Death Row… and Smiling (with names withdrawed)

Host

François Picard
Host of Death Row Stories

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 12 ratings
  • Death Row Stories

    I’m glad Francois (a non- American) is producing these stories because only someone not from Texas can communicate this story in a neutral way.

    He also has done some interesting documentaries on migrants.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ellis Island 11350
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Francois brings a calm, probing interviewing style that works across sensitive stories.
Insightful, human-centered framing of heavy topics.
Shows strong research and on-site reporting.
Guest variety adds depth to the death-penalty conversation.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

28 Hanged in the Square:America's Forgotten Mass Execution
Q: Let's talk about the different reasons that led these people to protest and to kill the US governor.
The host and guest describe a mix of motivations: national pride and resistance to foreign occupation, concerns over land grant dispossession and governance under new authority, and economic tensions such as bootlegging and tax policies that disadvantaged local communities; these factors collectively fueled unrest and violent actions.
Outside James Broadnax’s Execution, as Doubt Hung Over It
Q: How did the execution unfold in terms of procedure and timing?
Officials described the lethal injection as proceeding normally with no complications, and the duration from the start of the drugs to pronouncement was about 20 minutes.
Secrets of Lethal Injections EXPOSED
Q: Have reforms or independent investigations led to meaningful changes?
Reforms tend to follow embarrassing public botches, but investigations are frequently criticized as not truly independent, and real changes appear limited or temporary.
Secrets of Lethal Injections EXPOSED
Q: What are the main problems with the drug supply for executions?
States rely on compounding pharmacies or overseas suppliers, often with weak regulatory oversight, leading to aging drugs, expired batches, and unverified sources that increase risk of botched executions and legal challenges.
35 Years on Death Row. He Still Says He’s Innocent.
Q: What was your relationship to the victim, and how did that affect your charges?
I did not know the victim or the circumstances; the case relied on another person's statements and a photo spread that misrepresented the situation, leading to my wrongful association with the crime.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Death Row Stories

What is Death Row Stories about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A deeply human-centered exploration of capital punishment in the U.S., with a focus on individual experiences, legal battles, and the broader system. Across recent episodes, the show blends on-the-ground reporting, first-person narratives from death-row inmates and their families, and expert analysis on forensic evidence, intellectual disability standards, and lethal-injection debates. With a patient, documentary style and on-site historical context, it offers nuanced perspectives on innocence claims, prosecutorial strategy, and the evolving legal landscape. A standout throughline is the tension between justice and humanity, examined through intimate interviews, archival context, and regional histories that illuminate the death-penalty conv... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with Death Row Stories:

1. Sword and Scale
2. Snapped: Women Who Murder
3. The Trial: USA
4. Locked In with Ian Bick
5. British Murders with Stuart Blues

How many episodes of Death Row Stories are there?

Death Row Stories launched 2 years ago and published 34 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Death Row Stories?

Recent guests on Death Row Stories include:

1. Eugene Broxton
2. Sylviane Vieillard
3. Tyrone Williams
4. Richard Burr
5. Amanda Fernandez
6. Corinna Lain
7. Francisco Guajardo
8. Bob Romero

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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