Rephonic
Artwork for The First Degree
True Crime
Diddy
Jeffrey Epstein
Domestic Violence
Blake Lively
Justin Baldoni
Murder
Mental Health
Anastasia Witbolsfeugen
Murder Investigation
Byron Case
Stalking
Los Angeles
Serial Killers
Simi Valley Rapist
Law Enforcement
Hollywood
Ryan Reynolds
Sex Trafficking
Brandy Hutchins

Do you ever wonder what it’s like to be friends with a murderer? Or escape a kidnapping? Or have a father who was a serial killer? Join Jac Vanek and Alexis Linkletter on a chilling ride into the darkest corners of your worst nightmares. Murders, cults, kidnappings, and conspiracies—all told through the eyes of a guest who is one degree of separation from the story itself. From infamous serial kil... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes886Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
True CrimeSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The First Degree

Latest Episodes

In October 2002, a 25-year-old mother is preparing to leave Valdosta, Georgia, with her 3-year-old son and move back home to be closer to family. She has accepted a new job, packed up her apartment, and is just days away from starting a new chapter. ... more

We’ve got two very important topics to talk to you about today. One, hackers revealed Peter Theil’s “list”, aka the people who meet up in black cloaks at 3am and chat about how they’re gonna make money while they ruin the world. And second, Alexis is... more

In July 1990, a 13-year-old girl disappears in the early hours after sneaking out to see her twin sister in Killeen, Texas. When she is reported missing, police quickly classify her as a runaway and the case receives little to no investigation, leavi... more

We are concluding our 2 part series on the missing and murdered scientists today, and it gets more bizarre the farther you fall down the rabbit hole. Why these specific scientists being targeted, what did they know that the powers that be wanted dest... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Melissa Merryfield
Sister of Deanna; advocate and investigator in Deanna Merryfield case
Family of Deanna Merryfield
Episode: Episode 408: Deanna Merryfield
Jamie Aviles
Brother of Jeremiah Aviles
Family of Jeremiah Aviles
Episode: Episode 407: Jeremiah Aviles
Olga Aviles
Mother of Jeremiah Aviles
Family of Jeremiah Aviles
Episode: Episode 407: Jeremiah Aviles
Kourtney Nichole
Host of The Final Hours
The Final Hours / Crime House original podcast
Episode: Presenting: The Final Hours with Sarah Turney and Kourtney Nichole
Sarah Turney
Host of The Final Hours
The Final Hours / Crime House original podcast
Episode: Presenting: The Final Hours with Sarah Turney and Kourtney Nichole
Marty Arnett
Mother of Amber Arnett and primary interviewee
Family of Amber Arnett
Episode: Episode 405: Amber Arnett
Josh Zeman
First Degree guest, documentary filmmaker
Filmmaker (Sons of Sam, Descent into Darkness)
Episode: Episode 404: Sons Of Sam, Part 2
Josh Zieman
Filmmaker, podcaster, friend of the show
Filmmaker; The Killing Season (A&E)
Episode: Episode 403: Sons Of Sam, Part 1
Clayton Echard
Former Bachelor star from Season 26
The Bachelor franchise
Episode: Episode 399: Clayton Echard

Hosts

Jac Vanek
Host of The First Degree; one of the primary voices driving investigations and narrative framing.
Alexis Linkletter
Co-host who drives interviews, hosts analysis, and shares the narrative voice.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 13.8k ratings
  • Murdaugh retrial

    Becky Hill isn’t the judge - she was the court clerk.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Law wannabe
    United States2 months ago
  • Internalised misogyny

    So disappointed with the way you cover Blake Lively, take a listen to Laura Richard’s podcast Crime Analyst for some intelligent analysis of this case.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Madasmelppp
    Australia2 months ago
  • This pod is the best!

    Perfect balance of research and humanity. Stories are interesting and they’re communicated in an engaging way. It’s obvious the groundwork that goes into building these episodes. I appreciate the variety of cases and perspectives included in the writing. The reporting quality and programming continues to grow and improve over time. Loves it! 💕

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sowamazing
    United States2 months ago
  • Obsessed!

    You guys are amazing and I look forward every week to your podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mo2422
    United States2 months ago
  • Just one small thing….

    Can Lex like not clear her throat right into the microphone? It’s really distracting. Otherwise, love the deep dives!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lkg814
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Great balance of research and empathy, though at times heavy topics require focus
Deep dives are a strength, offering context often missing in mainstream coverage
Engaging storytelling with thorough research and a human-centered approach
Audience engagement and community feel are consistently highlighted by listeners
A few criticisms about pacing and audio clarity in some episodes

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#97
United States/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#203
Canada/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#37
Philippines/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#158
South Africa/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#198
Brazil/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#231
Chile/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 407: Jeremiah Aviles
Q: Can you walk us through how you first learned about Jeremiah's death and what you did in the immediate aftermath?
Olga recounts receiving a police call, the first rushed drive to the family home, and the overwhelming need to understand what happened to her son, followed by a vow to seek truth and accountability.
Episode 404: Sons Of Sam, Part 2
Q: At the end of all of this, what was the truth?
The hosts discuss that the official police narrative is likely incomplete or oversimplified, and that there are indications others may have been involved; however, definitive truth remains elusive as Berkowitz himself shifted stories over time and Maury Terry's theories remain contested.
Episode 405: Amber Arnett
Q: What role did Amber's family play in the investigation?
Amber's mother led an ongoing, grassroots search, distributed flyers at homeless camps and bike trails, created yard signs, contacted friends, and pressed authorities for action, often challenging the police's response while maintaining hope for Amber's safe return.
Episode 405: Amber Arnett
Q: What were the key turning points in the police response to Amber Arnett's disappearance?
Initially, police treated Amber as an adult who could go missing by choice, which caused delays in taking a missing-person report and escalations; a detective visit in August was a turning point, but still did not lead to immediate, active search actions. The family continued independent outreach and public appeals.
Episode 391: Danny Rex Harris
Q: How did you discover Andrew Hayes' case?
Stephanie met with Jason from the Tennessee Innocence Project, who introduced her to Andrew's case and the audio recording tied to it that suggested his innocence.

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 The First Degree

What is The First Degree about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A dialog-driven true crime show that pairs two hosts with investigative guests to explore cases through the lens of individuals who are one degree removed from the story. Episodes blend archival context, firsthand testimony, and critical analysis of mainstream narratives, often expanding into media ethics, legal complexities, and the personal toll on families and survivors. Noteworthy is the platform's recurring emphasis on audience engagement through deeper multi-part deep-dives and behind-the-scenes content, plus sponsorship integrations that target listeners who crave rigorous research paired with empathetic storytelling.

Where can I find podcast stats for The First Degree?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The First Degree. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The First Degree and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The First Degree get?

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What are the audience demographics for The First Degree?

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How many subscribers and views does The First Degree have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The First Degree has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The First Degree?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The First Degree:

1. LadyGang
2. Love Trapped
3. The Knife: A True Crime Podcast
4. Serialously with Annie Elise
5. Crime Junkie

How many episodes of The First Degree are there?

The First Degree launched 8 years ago and published 886 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 The First Degree?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The First Degree?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The First Degree from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on The First Degree?

Recent guests on The First Degree include:

1. Melissa Merryfield
2. Jamie Aviles
3. Olga Aviles
4. Kourtney Nichole
5. Sarah Turney
6. Marty Arnett
7. Josh Zeman
8. Josh Zieman

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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