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Artwork for Obscura: A True Crime Podcast

Obscura: A True Crime Podcast

Justin Drown
Mental Health
True Crime
Murder
Domestic Violence
Florida
Brian Cohee Jr.
Child Abuse
Violence
Jessica Lunsford
Gun Violence
Joe Winko
Baylee Wylie
Jerad Miller
Pornography
Crime
Trauma
Mental Illness
Warren Barnes
Colin Reeves
Tina Brown

The darkest true crime cases are the ones you've never heard of. Obscura investigates murders written off as accidents, disappearances dismissed as runaways, and obscure cases buried in forgotten files. Host Justin Drown delivers unflinching investigations through real archival audio, court records, and graphic forensic detail. No comedy. No sanitized narratives. Only the complete truth. New episo... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes391Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
True CrimeHistory

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Artwork for Obscura: A True Crime Podcast

Latest Episodes

The Harold Easter case involves the tragic in-custody overdose death of 41-year-old Harold Easter in January 2020 after an arrest by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) in North Carolina.

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John Michael Hughes is a convicted murderer from Simpsonville, South Carolina, who, along with members of his family, orchestrated the January 2015 ambush and slaying of his estranged son-in-law, John Michael Ferrell.

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Paul Michael Stephani, known as the "Weepy-Voiced Killer," was an American serial killer who murdered three women and attacked two others in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area between 1980 and 1982.

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George T. Greer is a Kentucky man who was arrested in February 2024 for a violent samurai sword attack that killed one woman and severely injured two other people while he was under the influence of drugs.

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Recent Guests

George Thomas Greer
Subject of the case, referred to as Tommy, recounts events
Episode: George "Tommy" Greer - Meth Swordsman
Lauren Taber
Lauren, girlfriend of Tommy who survived the attack
Personal testimony
Episode: George "Tommy" Greer - Meth Swordsman
Amanda Hancock
Individual involved in the case; mother of Data Hancock
Unknown (investigated by Douglas County Sheriff's Office)
Episode: Milk Money: The Death of Data Hancock
Stephen Williams
Individual involved in the case; partner of Amanda Hancock
Unknown (investigated by Douglas County Sheriff's Office)
Episode: Milk Money: The Death of Data Hancock
Carrie Mazuka
Subject of the case; mother who was inter viewee in the investigation
Episode: Baby Moses - Citizen of Albany, Child of God - Part 02
Valerie Haythorne
Dairy Queen manager who reported Tina Herman missing
Dairy Queen (Mount Vernon, Ohio)
Episode: Matthew Hoffman - House of Leaves
Edward Martinez
19-year-old who moved into the house; later convicted of murder
Sacramento, California / Spokane, Washington
Episode: Edward Martinez - The Third Wheel
Tricia Hendricks
12 News journalist providing external reporting on the case
12 News
Episode: Christopher Scholtes - An Unrepentant Man
Charlene Childers
Central figure who drove the plot, testified in court
Texas/Ohio connections mentioned in episode
Episode: Timothy Dean - Empty Inside

Host

Justin Drown
Host of Obscura: A True Crime Podcast

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 4.7k ratings
  • New Fan

    Great show A+++

    perfect in presentation- right amount of rawness, compassion, and opinions. Thanks to Gemini for recommending- true story I had to search/asked bec I needed change.

    I used to listen to S&W until it lost its edge or host.

    Dark topic too but his presentation oftentimes lacks empathy, rushed, maybe because of hangovers.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Neah SC
    United Statesa month ago
  • Host Here

    Responding to Iowa22 and Potcha. I am in no way an “AI”. I’ve been doing this for nearly ten years. My voice can be polarizing for sure. Some like it. Some dislike it. I use a Shure SM7B Microphone and spend a lot of time editing. If you’re going to dislike my narrative style do it for the right reasons. Don’t put that AI nonsense on me. I despise AI.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Justin S. Drown
    United Statesa month ago
  • The podcast is AI now

    Believe the reviews when they warn you that it is AI. The profiteer will insist up and down it is not in these reviews but he is lying. He has chatgpt write these scripts using every five-dollar word if can find to try to sound intelligent, but just sounds pretentious and monotone. So very inhuman like that it is shocking. If you don’t like AI SLOP, run the other way.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Potcha
    United Statesa month ago
  • Holy bland

    I listen to so much true crime and I was excited here. I’ve never even made a review But omg it’s just the guy straight talking like a bot. No ambient sound, no inflection of the voice. Just a robot reading a script.

    We gotta learn building and adapting a story. Ur only using sound. So use what your given. Take a page out of the sword and scale handbook.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Butthole_snorkler
    United States2 months ago
  • Most Memorable Stories in True Crime Podcasts

    Obscura always has the stories that stay with you. Justin is truly great at what he does. I look forward to every new episode. Only one criticism, the rhythm of the story is broken by commercial cut ins. I wish they could be gotten over with at the start.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bebe551
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some critique occurs around pacing or heavy use of audio clips in long cases, but overall quality is valued.
Listeners praise the thorough, archive-driven storytelling and the host's compassionate yet hard-hitting narration.
Fans highlight the show's focus on lesser-known cases and sensitivity to victims and families.
Many appreciate integrating real audio and documents, giving a sense of being in the room with investigators.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#108
Saudi Arabia/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#196
Hong Kong/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#202
India/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Baby Moses - Citizen of Albany, Child of God - Part 02
Q: Would you be willing to take a polygraph examination for us?
The interviewee agrees, indicating willingness to undergo testing.
SERIAL KILLER: The Butcher Baker (Part 2 of 3) | Anchorage, AK 1970s
Q: What happened during Cindy Paulson's abduction?
Cindy was abducted by Robert Hansen, who restrained her with handcuffs and threatened her with a gun. During her captivity, she fought back and managed to escape, later providing police with a detailed account of her experience.
MURDERED: The Pensacola Massacre (Part 3 of 3) | Pensacola, FL Unknown Year
Q: Did he say why?
He said she left him at the will. That really made him mad, he said.
MURDERED: The Pensacola Massacre (Part 3 of 3) | Pensacola, FL Unknown Year
Q: Was there any indication that those bodies were placed in any way in a ritualistic manner?
Absolutely none.
MURDERED: The Pensacola Massacre (Part 3 of 3) | Pensacola, FL Unknown Year
Q: Is there anything such as sacrificing either of animals or people in the wicca religion?
No, there is not. One of the things that characterizes the modern religious world is that we have abandoned completely human sacrifice.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Obscura: A True Crime Podcast

What is Obscura: A True Crime Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program delivers immersive, narrative true crime investigations built on archival audio, court records, and forensic detail. Episodes spotlight lesser-known cases, exploring motives, evidence, and timelines with careful reconstruction and firsthand material—from bodycam footage to interrogations—often challenging dominant narratives about whether crimes were accidents, suicides, or intentional acts. With a clear emphasis on thorough research, ethical storytelling, and a respect for victims, the show consistently crafts cinematic, evidence-driven stories that appeal to listeners who crave depth, context, and unflinching honesty about dark topics.

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How many listeners does Obscura: A True Crime Podcast get?

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How many subscribers and views does Obscura: A True Crime Podcast have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Obscura: A True Crime Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Obscura: A True Crime Podcast:

1. Dark Topic
2. Invisible Choir
3. Nightmares
4. The Minds of Madness - True Crime Stories
5. Sword and Scale

How many episodes of Obscura: A True Crime Podcast are there?

Obscura: A True Crime Podcast launched 8 years ago and published 391 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 Obscura: A True Crime Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on Obscura: A True Crime Podcast?

Recent guests on Obscura: A True Crime Podcast include:

1. George Thomas Greer
2. Lauren Taber
3. Amanda Hancock
4. Stephen Williams
5. Carrie Mazuka
6. Valerie Haythorne
7. Edward Martinez
8. Tricia Hendricks

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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