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Serial Killers & Murderous Minds

Crime House
Murder
Mental Health
Serial Killers
True Crime
California
Domestic Violence
Psychopathy
Jeffrey Dahmer
Childhood Trauma
Psychology
Child Abuse
Florida
Richard Ramirez
Trauma
Violence
Aileen Wuornos
Ted Bundy
Joel Rifkin
John Wayne Gacy
Family Dynamics

Serial Killers & Murderous Minds takes you deep into the psychology of history's most chilling murderers, from infamous serial killers like Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy to ruthless cult leaders, deadly exes, and spree killers. Every Monday and Thursday, hosts Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristin Engels, a clinical and forensic psychologist, blend gripping true crime storytelling with expert analysis... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes195Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
True Crime

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Artwork for Serial Killers & Murderous Minds

Latest Episodes

For this episode, Vanessa and Dr. Engels are joined again by Alexis Linkletter, co-hose of Crime House's newest show Crimes of Reddit. Between 1968 and 1985, a killer known as the Monster of Florence murdered eight couples on remote roads outside Flo... more

For this episode, Vanessa and Dr. Engels are joined by Alexis Linkletter, co-hose of Crime House's newest show Crimes of Reddit. In 1968, a young couple was shot dead in the Italian countryside while their six-year-old son slept in the back seat: a c... more

On February 12, 2010, biology professor Amy Bishop opened fire on her colleagues at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, killing three and wounding three more after being denied tenure. But investigators quickly discovered the shooting wasn't her... more

In July 2000, 21-year-old British hostess Lucie Blackman vanished after a date with a man she knew only as Mr. Kowa. In reality, he Joji Obara, a serial predator who had drugged and assaulted over 200 women across three decades in Japan. It was Lucie... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Andrea Gunning
Host of Betrayal Weekly Podcast
Betrayal Weekly
Episode: SERIAL KILLER: Ed Kemper Pt. 1 with Andrea Gunning of Betrayal Weekly
Greg Jackson
Co-host of Government That Doesn't Suck
History That Doesn't Suck / Utah Valley University
Episode: Introducing: Government That Doesn’t Suck
Lindsey Cormack
Co-host of Government That Doesn't Suck
History That Doesn't Suck / DC Inbox
Episode: Introducing: Government That Doesn’t Suck
Katie Ring
Host of America's Most Infamous Crimes
America's Most Infamous Crimes (Crime House Original)
Episode: SERIAL KILLER: "The Ypsilanti Ripper" John Norman Collins Pt. 1 with Katie Ring from America's Most Infamous Crimes
Harini Bhat
Host of Hidden History
Hidden History (PAVE Studios)
Episode: SERIAL KILLER: "The Blood Countess" Pt. 2 with Dr. Harini Bhat from Hidden History
Dr. Harini Bhat
Doctor of Pharmacy and history-focused researcher featured on Hidden History
Hidden History with Dr. Harini Bhat
Episode: The Case Files History Left Unsolved | Hidden History with Dr. Harini Bhat
Alexis Linkletter
Guest from The First Degree Podcast
The First Degree
Episode: Heaven's Gate Pt. 2 with Alexis Linkletter and Jac Vanek
Jac Vanek
Guest from The First Degree Podcast
The First Degree
Episode: Heaven's Gate Pt. 2 with Alexis Linkletter and Jac Vanek
Sarah Turney
Host of The Final Hours, advocate for justice
Crime House / The Final Hours
Episode: The Black Widow of Idaho Pt. 1

Hosts

Vanessa Richardson
Host with storytelling focus and long-running role overseeing narrative direction; frequently collaborates with forensic psychologist.
Dr. Tristin Engels
Forensic psychologist providing clinical analysis and psychological context to cases.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 3.2k ratings
  • My new favorite true crime podcast. Vanessa is always great with whatever the subject matter, and Dr. Engels brings a professional viewpoint sorely lacking in most true crime podcasts. Vanessa, any chance you'll bring back Mythology and other Parcast shows you used to do? Really miss them!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Lynda315
    12 days ago
  • Fascinating

    Such an excellent show.

    I love the combination of ‘the story’ and the insight into the psychology.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    123hazelyf
    Australia18 days ago
  • Great podcast

    I love this show! Vanessa’s voice is so great, the way she tells the story immediately gets me interested and then Tristin’s voice totally compliments Vanessa’s voice. I love how this podcast tells the history, basically from birth, and then Tristin comes in with the psychology behind it all, to help the listener understand. Definitely one of my favorites.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ggram13111
    United Statesa month ago
  • I love this Podcast!!!

    Podchaser
    5
    rohto789
    2 months ago
  • Andrea Yates episode

    Did they do any research? The doctor told them to stop having kids but rusty pushed it on her even after her suicidal attempts. He had a part of it even if it wasn’t direct. He put them in that position. Also she was supposed to stay hospitalized but rusty promised the doctor he would watch her 24/7. But he left her alone. He is do blame as well. I don’t like how they completely missed this and kept saying it wasn’t his fault. Now I’m wondering what they missed in other episodes

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Alliesonfin
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the insightful psychology and thorough research.
Many appreciate Vanessa's narration and Dr. Engels' expertise.
Some critique the balance between storytelling and analysis or script-like delivery.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Villisca Axe Murders: Eight Victims, No Answers Pt. 1
Q: In your professional opinion, what does it take for someone's behavior to be considered a true pattern?
A true pattern is consistency across multiple situations, showing up over and over in different contexts to allow prediction of future responses, rather than a single isolated incident.
The Villisca Axe Murders: Eight Victims, No Answers Pt. 2
Q: How can juries interpret a confession when memory and coercion concerns arise, and what should be considered in evaluating such testimony?
Jurors weigh the credibility of the confession against potential issues like memory gaps, possible coercion, and the defendant's mental state; the reliability of the confession depends on corroborating evidence and the consistency of the defendant's account with objective facts.
The Villisca Axe Murders: Eight Victims, No Answers Pt. 2
Q: Do you think authorities were reaching for a blanket explanation for multiple violent crimes, and if so, why would they do that?
From a psychological perspective, authorities often seek a unifying theory when evidence is sparse, because a single narrative feels more satisfying and manageable than a collection of disparate, ambiguous clues; however, this can lead to confirmation bias and overlook important subtleties in the case.
SERIAL KILLER: Israel Keyes Pt. 2
Q: Do you think there's a point where Israel's confidence might have spiraled into self-sabotage?
Overconfidence likely crept in as he trusted his system too much, leading to occasional rule violations and critical mistakes that ultimately exposed him to investigators.
SERIAL KILLER: Israel Keyes Pt. 2
Q: At this point, do you think Israel was changing or maybe his perception of risk was changing?
Yes, risk perception can change with experience; objective risk stayed the same, but his sense of it likely shifted after years of success and the Bob/Lorraine case, making him feel more confident or emboldened to act despite the danger.

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 Serial Killers & Murderous Minds

What is Serial Killers & Murderous Minds about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show blends gripping true-crime storytelling with psychological analysis, exploring how killers think and operate across a wide range of cases—from serial murders to cults and historical crimes. Episodes typically pair narrative reconstruction with expert commentary from forensic or clinical psychologists, offering context on childhood trauma, power dynamics, and social influences that shape violent behavior. A standout element is the dual-host dynamic: a storyteller with a calm, engaging voice and a credentialed psychologist who dissects motives and methods, which many listeners find insightful and authority-building. The format often includes in-depth case exploration, historical context, and occasional guest perspectives that broade... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Serial Killers & Murderous Minds?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Serial Killers & Murderous Minds:

1. Murder: True Crime Stories
2. Crime House 24/7
3. Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes
4. America's Most Infamous Crimes with Katie Ring
5. Crimes Of Reddit with Sabrina Deana-Roga & Alexis Linkletter

How many episodes of Serial Killers & Murderous Minds are there?

Serial Killers & Murderous Minds launched 2 years ago and published 195 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 Serial Killers & Murderous Minds?

Recent guests on Serial Killers & Murderous Minds include:

1. Andrea Gunning
2. Greg Jackson
3. Lindsey Cormack
4. Katie Ring
5. Harini Bhat
6. Dr. Harini Bhat
7. Alexis Linkletter
8. Jac Vanek

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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