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Wicked Words - A True Crime Talk Show with Kate Winkler Dawson

Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts
True Crime
Murder
Lizzie Borden
Fall River
Justice System
World War II
Historical True Crime
Jack the Ripper
Mental Health
Family Dynamics
Rebecca Briggs Cornell
Grant Amato
Incel Community
Relisha Rudd
Stephanie St. Clair
New York City
Serial Killers
Domestic Violence
Wrongful Conviction
Bertha Manchester

Welcome to Tenfold More Wicked Presents: Wicked Words, Kate Winkler Dawson's true crime talk show. On each new episode of Wicked Words, Kate interviews journalists, podcasters and authors about their fascinating behind-the-scenes stories from their investigations in the world of true crime, many of which have never been shared before. Kate interviews Patricia Cornwell, the prolific true crime auth... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes300Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
True Crime

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Artwork for Wicked Words

Latest Episodes

Rene Denfeld is not only a novelist; she’s also an investigator who works on wrongful conviction cases. In her thriller, The Talking Bone, Denfeld uses her background and some of her cases to tell the story of a female investigator looking into the c... more

In the 1930s, a Indigenous man was targeted by prosecutors in the murder of his wife. He claimed he was innocent. And a high-profile author who created an iconic detective series believed him. Jack El-Hai tells me the story at the center of his book:... more

In 2010, Joseph and Summer McStay were living in California with their two young sons when they vanished from their California home. They were missing for three years before their skeletal remains were found in an unmarked grave in the Mojave Desert.... more

James T. Bartlett has been with us before. He wrote a book called The Alaskan Blonde, about a woman who was accused of murdering her husband in 1953. Now James and I are traveling from Alaska down to Burbank, California with his new book, True Crime ... more

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Recent Guests

Ashan Singh
ABC News correspondent
ABC News
Episode: Ashan Singh: What Happened to the McStays?
James T. Bartlett
Author focused on historical true crime in Burbank, including The Alaskan Blonde and True Crime Burbank
Author/Historian
Episode: James T. Bartlett: True Crime Burbank
Maria DiLorenzo
Journalist and author of Confessions of the Green River Killer
Author, Journalist
Episode: Maria DiLorenzo: Confessions of the Green River Killer
Shawn Johnson
FBI agent who chased the Hollywood-era bank robbers
FBI
Episode: Steve Meyers + Shawn Johnson: How to Rob a Bank
Steven Meyers
Accomplice involved in the bank robberies and prior drug operation
Private associate (investigative recount)
Episode: Steve Meyers + Shawn Johnson: How to Rob a Bank
Kimberly Sheeter
Author of Air-Minded (biography turned narrative nonfiction and novel)
Author
Episode: Kimberly Sheeter: Air-Minded
Dawson Fearnow
Writer who contributed a Phoenix Magazine piece Incognito Inc: Arizona's secret starring role in the Federal Witness Protection Program
Phoenix Magazine
Episode: Dawson Fearnow: Incognito Inc.
Tori Telfer
Host of Criminal Broads, author
Criminal Broads podcast
Episode: Tori Telfer: Criminal Broads
Maurice Chammah
Journalist with the Marshall Project; author of The Last Twelve Weeks
Marshall Project
Episode: Maurice Chammah: The Last Twelve Weeks

Host

Kate Winkler Dawson
Host of Wicked Words, nonfiction author and journalism professor; interviews journalists and authors about true crime behind-the-scenes.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 11k ratings
  • Ad for AI?

    Ew.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Prawn Travolta
    United States2 months ago
  • Best Story Teller

    I adore Kate! She is a fantastic journalist and story teller. I could listen to her for hours…. I do! Ten Fold was such a wonder series and I’m said it came to an end but, I am happy she has continued her story telling with Buried Bones. Exactly Rights researchers and Kate herself do a spectacular job. They do their absolute best to gather the most information and details. This series and Buried Bones are must listens .

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NinaGarrRawr
    United States2 months ago
  • Add for AI?

    Ew.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Prawn Travolta
    United States2 months ago
  • I was hoping she wouldn’t suck

    But I’m disgusted. I was disgusted by Paul Holes and his prejudice and misogyny and homophobia…. And now I’m listening to this “black swan” episode with a daughter deeply attracted to her father and exuding her father’s violence (firing a gun to tell someone to shut up is great!!!!! REALLY)

    This is awful. Gross.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    it was recommended
    United States3 months ago
  • Emily Winslow

    Started out liking it. I knew things were going south when she reiterated several times: “I was deeply religious but now I’m still religious just in a different way.” That quote preceded her discussion about how her OB/GYN prescribed the morning after pill following her sexual assault and she refused to take it on the grounds of her “religious beliefs.” Then she goes on to tell us that this practitioner slipped her a Mickey. A concoction or a pill that prevented conception. And she says two or... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    NikkiPonce
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Ethical, careful storytelling earns strong listener trust.
Ad-heavy episodes reduce listening flow; sponsorships affect rhythm.
Long-form interviews with investigative professionals are highly valued.
Adapting to new formats drew mixed reactions from longtime fans.
Guest quality and interview depth are praised; some episodes feel uneven.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#146
United States/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#209
Canada/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#63
Singapore/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#120
South Korea/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#136
Finland/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#156
Israel/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ashan Singh: What Happened to the McStays?
Q: How did the CCTV footage influence the case?
The footage initially suggested potential suspects at the border, but experts later argued the footage did not match the McStays, which kept the case from advancing on that lead for years.
Maria DiLorenzo: Confessions of the Green River Killer
Q: What was your feeling or goal when you started corresponding with him?
My goal was to keep him talking as long as possible because the longer the conversation, the higher the chance he would reveal information about other cases or victims.
Maria DiLorenzo: Confessions of the Green River Killer
Q: So tell me about the blog, because this is sort of where it started, right? You interview, is it serial killers only or any kind of killer?
I started focusing on serial killers because I find their psychology and behavior fascinating, but I would interview anyone incarcerated for murder to understand patterns and context.
Steve Meyers + Shawn Johnson: How to Rob a Bank
Q: What ultimately connected the criminals' plans to the investigation that led to their capture?
Electronic tracking devices, ProNet tags, and the scanners that allowed law enforcement to triangulate the suspects' movements, combined with meticulous surveillance of bank vaults and routes, culminated in a coordinated arrest and a high-profile end to the case.
Steve Meyers + Shawn Johnson: How to Rob a Bank
Q: When did the FBI first consider Scott Hollywood a real threat, and what tipped them off beyond local police work?
The FBI began treating the case as high-priority after the fifth or sixth robberies when vaults were targeted and the scale and sophistication escalated, signaling a move beyond bungled teller jobs to organized, high-value vault incidents.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Wicked Words

What is Wicked Words about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Wicked Words features long-form conversations with journalists, authors, and podcasters who share behind-the-scenes insights from true crime investigations. Episodes tend to center on storytelling craft, investigative ethics, and the human impact of crime, with a focus on historical cases, investigative processes, and how media shapes public perception. Notably, the show often pairs seasoned reporters with book authors or filmmakers to dissect cases, the writing/storytelling process, and the evolving landscape of true crime media. A standout is its emphasis on responsible, ethical storytelling and the intersection of memoir, journalism, and documentary-style inquiry, which can appeal to listeners who enjoy depth, context, and professional p... more

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Wicked Words launched 6 years ago and published 300 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 Wicked Words?

Recent guests on Wicked Words include:

1. Ashan Singh
2. James T. Bartlett
3. Maria DiLorenzo
4. Shawn Johnson
5. Steven Meyers
6. Kimberly Sheeter
7. Dawson Fearnow
8. Tori Telfer

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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