Rephonic
Artwork for The First Degree
True Crime
Diddy
Jeffrey Epstein
Blake Lively
Justin Baldoni
Domestic Violence
Murder
Mental Health
Anastasia Witbolsfeugen
Byron Case
Stalking
Simi Valley Rapist
Ghislaine Maxwell
Los Angeles
Law Enforcement
Ryan Reynolds
Murder Investigation
Luigi Mangione
Counterfeiting
Hollywood

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes917Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
True CrimeSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The First Degree

Latest Episodes

It’s another variety show type of week over here at the Deep Dive and we’ve got something for everyone. D4VD’s lawyers dump him, Laura Owens pleads guilty, a budding serial killer is out on the streets doing god knows what, and the Los Angeles butt s... more

The Lindsay Clancy case has brought renewed attention to postpartum psychosis, a rare but potentially devastating condition that, when left untreated, has been associated with an estimated 5% risk of suicide and 4% risk of filicide. This week, Alexis... more

No, for real, what is wrong with everyone lately? This week we’re discussing a woman who was giving sex eyes to the camera during the Lindsay Clancy trial, Hilary Duff feeding her children pizza on stage at her concert, Alcohol being advertised to k... more

Growing up in suburban Chicago, a young girl is raised to trust the adults around her. Her church, her school, and her family all feel like safe places. But years later, she learns that two people she once looked up to and loved are accused of horrif... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Going West: True Crime
Going West: True CrimeDark West Productions
Serialously with Annie Elise
Serialously with Annie EliseAnnie Elise & Audioboom Studios
LadyGang
LadyGangPodcastOne
The Knife: A True Crime Podcast
The Knife: A True Crime PodcastExactly Right and iHeartPodcasts
10 to Life
10 to LifeAnnie Elise

Recent Guests

Carrie Anne
Family member and interviewee
Family of Trish Haynes
Episode: Episode 416: Trish Haynes
Tom O'Neill
Author of Chaos, investigative journalist
Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the 1960s Counterculture
Episode: DEEP DIVE: AUTHOR SESSIONS - CHAOS
Mary Wade
Sister of Paula Wade, family advocate
Family of Paula Wade
Episode: Episode 409: Paula & Brandon Wade
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

Hosts

Jac Vanek
Host providing narrative framing, interview leadership, and case context.
Alexis Linkletter
Co-host driving analysis, interviewing, and thematic framing alongside Jac.

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 States4 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
    Australia4 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 States4 months ago
  • Obsessed!

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mo2422
    United States4 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 States4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Smart, insightful deep dives with a human touch.
Strong on ethics and media context, though some episodes feel long for casual listeners.
Occasional critiques on delivery consistency; otherwise consistently compelling.
Guests and stories are well-researched and engaging.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#145
United States/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#236
Canada/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#227
Australia/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#63
Argentina/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#65
Brazil/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#109
Philippines/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 417: Stozek/McBrien
Q: What has been the impact on Courtney's view of the church and community?
She emphasizes a loss of faith and trust, the difficulty of reconciling loved ones with such acts, and a push toward transparency and accountability in institutions.
Episode 417: Stozek/McBrien
Q: How did Courtney first react when she learned about her uncle's crimes and the priest's allegations?
She describes disbelief, confusion, and a tension between loyalty to family and recognizing the harm caused, followed by a shift toward seeking truth and healing.
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.

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?

This show blends deep-dive true-crime storytelling with sharp media and culture commentary. Episodes typically pair two hosts as they unpack cases through intimate memories, courtroom details, and the broader media ecosystem that frames each story. A hallmark is the mix of survivor or family perspectives, investigator insights, and pop-culture references, producing a narrative that is both emotionally resonant and analytically critical. Noteworthy is the commitment to long-form storytelling while maintaining a conversational, often humorous banter that invites listener engagement and community-building around a shared interest in how crimes are reported and consumed. Expect a strong emphasis on ethics, accountability, and the human impact b... more

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?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The First Degree, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The First Degree?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The First Degree, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

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. Going West: True Crime
2. Serialously with Annie Elise
3. LadyGang
4. The Knife: A True Crime Podcast
5. 10 to Life

How many episodes of The First Degree are there?

The First Degree launched 8 years ago and published 917 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.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The First Degree?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The First Degree. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The First Degree?

Recent guests on The First Degree include:

1. Carrie Anne
2. Tom O'Neill
3. Mary Wade
4. Melissa Merryfield
5. Jamie Aviles
6. Olga Aviles
7. Kourtney Nichole
8. Sarah Turney

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days