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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
Domestic Violence
Wrongful Conviction
Bertha Manchester
John Chiswell

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes293Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
True Crime

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Latest Episodes

This is the third time I’ve had Dawson Fearnow on the show—he writes about Arizona and some of the bad things that happened there. He’s talking to me about a piece he wrote for Phoenix Magazine called "Incognito, Inc.: Arizona’s Secret, Starring Role... more

Alright, I have a great podcast for you. It’s called Criminal Broads and it’s hosted by Tori Telfer. The stories focus on women as criminals. She tells me about a bank robber and a dirty doctor, as well as some others.

Join my Patreon! patreon.com... more

I’ve had my buddy, Maurice Chammah, on the show before. He’s a journalist with the Marshall Project, and a leading authority on the death penalty. He has a podcast out called: The Last Twelve Weeks. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at how the attorneys ... more

The 1975 murder of 15-year-old Martha Moxley made national headlines because of its brutality, but also because the main suspect was a cousin of the Kennedys. Michael Skakel was tried, convicted and then released from prison. Many felt like he might ... more

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Recent Guests

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
Kate Casey
Podcaster, Reality Life with Kate Casey
Reality Life with Kate Casey
Episode: Kate Casey: Martha Moxley
Justine van der Leun
Author of Unreasonable Women: Three Stories of Self-Defense, Wrongful Imprisonment and Extraordinary Survival
Author, Journalist
Episode: Justine van der Leun: Unreasonable Women
Eva Benefield
Survivor and author of Ghost Girl, Surviving the Black Swan Murder
Author, Speaker, Entrepreneur
Episode: Eva Benefield: Ghost Girl
Emily Winslow
Crime novelist and sexual assault survivor
Author, Jane Doe January
Episode: Emily Winslow: Jane Doe January
Pam Colloff
Criminal justice reporter and author of Catch the Devil
Author, Catch the Devil
Episode: Pamela Colloff: Catch the Devil
Michelle Pitcher
Journalist with the Texas Observer, contributor to Unforgiven podcast
Texas Observer
Episode: Michelle Pitcher: Riding Shotgun

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
  • Add for AI?

    Ew.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Prawn Travolta
    United Statesa month 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 Statesa month 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 Statesa month ago
  • Just okay

    Listened to several episodes, and this just isn’t up to the standard set by Kate with Buried Bones. Some authors are interesting, but most are dry and never hold my interest to listen to the end.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Rock Jayhawk
    United States3 months ago
  • Such an insightful show

    The double episode about the Dyatlov Pass mystery was one of the best examples of why this show is so good. Going deep into the story but also the work of the documentary maker, what he included and what he didn’t, but most importantly why, is so fascinating and his leading theory makes so much sense. A great extended interview with Kate’s sharp interviewing style so beautifully matched.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fail log
    Australia3 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
#243
United States/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#90
South Korea/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#102
Saudi Arabia/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#187
Philippines/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#232
Indonesia/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Tori Telfer: Criminal Broads
Q: What happened with Lisa Tseng and the opioid crisis depicted in this episode?
Lisa Tseng presided over a high-volume clinic that prescribed opioids and other powerful drugs to many patients, with inadequate checks; DEA escalation and undercover investigation revealed systemic failures and led to charges including murder.
Tori Telfer: Criminal Broads
Q: How did the media treat Peggy Jo's case compared to the reality of her crime?
The media framed the case with a Cowboy Bob persona but Peggy Jo's reality was far less glamorous, highlighting the discrepancy between sensational headlines and the sobering details of her financial desperation and eventual capture.
Tori Telfer: Criminal Broads
Q: Tell me about Peggy Jo and how her crimes started.
Peggy Jo, a young Texan in the 60s, developed an awareness of an armored car and a dream of freedom, eventually escalating from small thefts to multiple bank robberies with careful planning and disguise before a fatal misstep.
Maurice Chammah: The Last Twelve Weeks
Q: What have they figured out about the investigation's timeline and location?
The timeline shows a cluster of disappearances across a broad desert area near El Paso, with some victims last seen at specific locations like middle schools or bars, making the exact dates variable but pointing to a broader months-long window.
Maurice Chammah: The Last Twelve Weeks
Q: Is he indicted for all six victims?
Yes, he is indicted for all six murders, but the charges are brought as one combined case rather than six separate prosecutions.

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 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 293 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. Dawson Fearnow
2. Tori Telfer
3. Maurice Chammah
4. Kate Casey
5. Justine van der Leun
6. Eva Benefield
7. Emily Winslow
8. Pam Colloff

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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