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Once Upon A Crime

Esther Ludlow
True Crime
Ruth Ellis
Elizabeth Short
Ted Bundy
Black Dahlia Murder
David Blakely
Los Angeles
Colleen Stan
Kidnapping
Murder
Sean Diddy Combs
Domestic Abuse
Lizzie Borden
California
Cameron Hooker
Violence
Janice Hooker
Hollywood
Andrew Borden
Crimecon UK

Step into the darker side of history with Once Upon A Crime, a true-crime podcast that delves deep into some of the world’s most gripping cases. Hosted by an expert storyteller, Esther Ludlow, each episode unravels the mysteries behind notorious crimes, exploring the lives of victims, perpetrators, and the intricate details of the investigations that followed. With carefully researched narratives,... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes418Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
True CrimeHistory

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Artwork for Once Upon A Crime

Latest Episodes

Some crimes are so shocking that they force us to ask a question that seems impossible to answer. Not 'Who did it?' We know who did it. Not even 'Why?' Though we'll spend this series trying to understand that. The question is this:

How did an entire... more

How does an ordinary home become the scene of extraordinary evil, and how does a community fail to save a sixteen-year-old girl?

This week on Once Upon a Crime, we begin a two-part series on the murder of Sylvia Likens, examining the heartbreaking ... more

In the summer of 1965, 16-year-old Sylvia Likens was left in the care of a mother of seven while her parents traveled for work. What should have been a temporary arrangement turned into one of the most horrifying child abuse and torture cases in Amer... more

A black widow. A poisoner. A con artist. A master manipulator.

This week on Once Upon a Crime, Esther dives into the unbelievable case of Marie Hilley. A woman accused of murdering her husband, nearly killing her own daughter, disappearing while out... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Crystal Gutierrez
Former TV news reporter, Emmy award-winning journalist, and host of Beyond the Case, focused on missing person cases
Beyond the Case
Episode: Interview: Crystal Gutierrez on the Disappearance of Anthonette Cayedito
William J. Mann
Author of the forthcoming book, Black Dahlia, Murder, Monsters, and Madness in Midcentury Hollywood
Episode: Broken: The Black Dahlia Murder - Part Six: The Black Dahlia Legacy
Brian Buckmire
Legal contributor for ABC and co-host of Law and Crime Daily, former senior staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society, and a homicide defense attorney in New York.
ABC
Episode: The Case Against Diddy: An Update with Legal Expert Brian Buckmire
Marcia Clark
Famed prosecutor, author of 'Trial by Ambush'
Episode: True Crime Trailblazers: Exclusive Interview with Marcia Clark, Trial by Ambush
Cassandra Ventura
A former romantic partner of Sean Combs and model.
Episode: The Life and Crimes of Diddy - Part 1
Edna Cowell Martin
Cousin of Ted Bundy and author of "Dark Tide, Growing Up with Ted Bundy".
Episode: Buried Family Secrets: Dark Tide: Growing Up with Ted Bundy
Deb Miller Landau
Author of 'A Devil Went Down to Georgia'
Episode: Bonus Episode: The Murder of Lita McClinton - A Conversation with Author Deb Miller Landau
Gareth Russell
Author of 'The Palace: From the Tudors to the Windsors'
Episode: The Palace with guest Gareth Russell
Jerri Williams
Retired FBI agent and podcaster
FBI Retired Case File Review
Episode: 2023 True Crime Year in Review

Host

Esther Ludlow
Host of Once Upon A Crime

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 6.8k ratings
  • One of my faves but…

    I don’t love the new format of 6 or 7 brief episodes dribbled out over several weeks. I’d rather have one long episode once a month. A 24 minute episode with ad breaks isn’t keeping me engaged. I’ve been a listener for a long time and I’m hoping that this isn’t the new format going forward. Pretty sure I’ll start saving up the episodes, only to eventually forget about it altogether.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    UserUserUserUser4
    United States5 months ago
  • I am out, not worth the time

    15 minute episodes…NAH don’t waste your time

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Devine Ms D
    United States5 months ago
  • Her stories

    I love this podcast. Esther has this certain kind of voice that makes her a great story teller of true crime.

    Audible
    5
    Colleen Bavins
    United States5 months ago
  • I love this podcast. Esther has this certain kind of voice that makes her a great story teller of true crime.

    Audible
    5
    Colleen Bavins
    United States5 months ago
  • It’s fine

    It’s fine

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    gonefishcaking
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners want less interview format and more solo deep-dives.
The host delivers fast, well-researched storytelling with a compelling voice.
Research quality and narration are consistently praised, with appreciation for psychological insights.
Production and pacing can be polarizing depending on episode format and ads.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#242
United States/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#145
Denmark/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#160
Hong Kong/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#220
Singapore/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#244
Colombia/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Bonus Episode - Bill Mann - “The Black Dahlia” follow-up interview - The Suspect
Q: Why is Marvin Margolis often dismissed despite being a serious suspect?
Mann explains that busy investigators during the initial investigation had overlooked Margolis amidst the numerous other suspects, despite having credible information about him.
Bonus Episode - Bill Mann - “The Black Dahlia” follow-up interview - The Suspect
Q: What was your reaction to seeing the story break about Marvin Margolis?
Mann expressed excitement but also concern about the misinformation surrounding Margolis as a new suspect, stating that he has been a serious candidate since the 1940s based on thorough investigations.
Interview: Crystal Gutierrez on the Disappearance of Anthonette Cayedito
Q: What are your thoughts on why Anthonette's disappearance still matters after all these years?
Crystal emphasizes the ongoing pain for families and the importance of advocating for missing individuals to ensure they remain in the public's consciousness.
Interview: Crystal Gutierrez on the Disappearance of Anthonette Cayedito
Q: How did you get involved with this case?
Crystal, as a retired news anchor and investigative reporter, sought to give attention to missing persons cases that often go unnoticed. She began collaborating with retired detectives to reinvestigate such cases actively.
Broken: The Black Dahlia Murder — Bonus Episode: Series Wrap-Up + Q&A
Q: Was the killer medically trained?
It is speculated that the killer may have had some knowledge of anatomy, potentially implying experience as a butcher or a person with an education around the body, rather than a formal medical training.

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 Once Upon A Crime

What is Once Upon A Crime about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show delivers tightly researched true crime storytelling with a historical lens, often revisiting notorious cases through psychological analysis, victim perspectives, and investigative context. Episodes frequently feature deep dives into case chronology, courtroom dynamics, and media influence, while exploring the societal impact of crimes and the people connected to them. A standout trait is the host's psychological framing and narrative precision, which helps illuminate why cases unfolded as they did and what they reveal about human behavior. Listeners can expect well-structured storytelling with a focus on victims, perpetrators, and the investigations that followed, plus occasional guest perspectives that add historical or investiga... more

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How many listeners does Once Upon A Crime get?

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How many subscribers and views does Once Upon A Crime have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Once Upon A Crime?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Once Upon A Crime:

1. Generation Why: True Crime
2. Crimelines® True Crime
3. The Minds of Madness - True Crime Stories
4. MURDERISH
5. True Crime Garage

How many episodes of Once Upon A Crime are there?

Once Upon A Crime launched 10 years ago and published 418 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 Once Upon A Crime?

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What guests have appeared on Once Upon A Crime?

Recent guests on Once Upon A Crime include:

1. Crystal Gutierrez
2. William J. Mann
3. Brian Buckmire
4. Marcia Clark
5. Cassandra Ventura
6. Edna Cowell Martin
7. Deb Miller Landau
8. Gareth Russell

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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