Rephonic
Artwork for The First Degree
Murder
Christmas
Murdaugh Family
Joey Comunale
True Crime
Family Traditions
Gift Exchange
Holiday Gifts
New Year's Resolutions
Max Kolb
Holidays
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pamela Kay Wills
Patricia Ann Mizell
Festivus
Marie Buck
Revenge
Violence
Community Grief
Family Impact

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes763Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
True CrimeSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The First Degree

Latest Episodes

Move over octopuses, eels are the REAL alien in town. Jac accidentally fell into the Bermuda Triangle and she’s sharing all of her eel facts with the class (spoiler alert….we don’t know ANYTHING about them???). Plus Dancing with the Sharks and a quic... more

Shortly after 9 p.m. on January 8th of 1993, seven people begin the closing routine for the Brown’s Chicken & Pasta restaurant located in Palatine, Illinois. Of the seven people, five are employees: 16-year-old Michael Castro, 17-year-old Rico Solis,... more

This week we’re going all over the place, so buckle up for the ride. Starting off with a dead body being found in a TikTok star’s Tesla trunk (but he’s been on tour so who put it there???), UFOs are all over the damn place, just released terrifying ... more

On the afternoon of October 9, 2010, police in Hickory, North Carolina, receive a report of a missing 10-year-old girl. Everyone in her life is desperate for her safe return. But as the search continues, it emerges that she hasn’t been seen outside t... more

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

Patrick Wohl
A lawyer and author who has written a detailed account of the Brown's Chicken Massacre
Book Author of 'Something Big, The True Story of the Brown's Chicken Massacre'
Episode: Episode 369: Brown's Chicken Massacre, Part 1
Dr. Steve Sparks
Behavioral analyst and former PhD student witnessing the events
Western Michigan University
Episode: Episode 366: The Kalamazoo Uber Murders
Don Tabek
Retired LA homicide investigator and friend of the show
LAPD
Episode: Episode 365: Carrie Lepak
Don Tabak
Retired LAPD homicide investigator and private investigator.
Episode: Episode 360: Jessica Gutierrez
Joshua Ritter
Criminal defense attorney, podcaster, YouTuber, and former LA prosecutor
Episode: Episode 356: Christy Giles Cilliers & Hilda Cabrales-Arzola
Jerry Jamison
Author of Vanishing Act: A Crashed Airliner, Faked Death and Backroom Abortions
Episode: Episode 355: Vanishing Act
Brenda McClain
Mother of Destiny McClain and founder of the Our Destiny, Our Future Foundation
Our Destiny, Our Future Foundation
Episode: Episode 354: Destiny McClain
Matt Ploety
Father of Melissa's unborn child and prime suspect in her murder
Episode: Episode 353: Melissa Lamesch
Melissa Lamesch
Victim of murder and mother-to-be
Episode: Episode 353: Melissa Lamesch

Hosts

Jac Vanek
Co-host, known for her engaging storytelling and deep dive into disturbing subjects, often brings a personal touch to the narratives.
Alexis Linkletter
Co-host, recognized for her insightful commentary and ability to handle sensitive topics with empathy and humor, contributing a dynamic balance to discussions.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 13.4k ratings
  • Good show

    The show is interesting and entertaining and has the feel of friends chatting. The only thing I don’t like is they make conjectures about how things were “way back when” and it usually isn’t even accurate.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    gayleauro
    United States19 days ago
  • Too far

    This recent deep dive, Alexis really said that rape accusations were 50/50. Only 50% are true stories?! What the eff?! In actuality, women shy away from even reporting SA because they fear that they will not be believed. You girls love to talk about Epstein, etc etc… then go on to say something so incredibly off-base and frankly disgusting. The random conspiracy theories you love to tout as fact, and then throw in that insane 50% idea based on zero reported research. Seems a little hypocritical.... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Hopelater333
    United States20 days ago
  • So out of touch

    They are getting a little hypocritical and ridiculous. So it’s okay to beat up cops but Will is vilified bc he slapped someone. This show is starting to sound like a tacky gossip column. I used to look forward to this show but they have become extremely judgy and privilege sounding.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    BowieCat44$
    United States23 days ago
  • INTRO WAY TOO LONG

    The podcast is good but the intro is WAY too long. Not interesting or funny just chit chat

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    WalterEmma
    Canadaa month ago
  • Luka M

    I just wanted to say that your podcast is great very interesting and funny and also tragic at times. FYI Luca Magnotta was transferred to a medium prison from a maximum not a medium to a maximum. I just wanted to let you know because there is a lot of controversy about it in Canada about him and also Paul Bernardo.who were both transferred to the same medium security prison and many Canadians disagree with us.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dollbreath🌷
    Canadaa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners enjoy the blend of personal narratives with true crime elements, highlighting the engaging storytelling and emotional depth of the hosts.
Critics have mentioned a perceived drop in quality over time, comparing earlier episodes favorably to more recent ones, which they feel lean into gossip.
Some express discomfort with the podcast's handling of sensitive subjects, noting a shift towards less research-based discussions.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#159
United States/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#243
Canada/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#104
Russia/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#153
Argentina/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#183
Indonesia/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#205
United Arab Emirates/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

DEEP DIVE: HOLLY MADISON RETURNS
Q: What are your thoughts on the recent arrests of female teachers for relationships with students?
Holly discusses the emotional immaturity and manipulation involved in recent cases and the different societal reactions to such incidents, especially towards male victims.
Episode 351: Slanz Bilello
Q: What happened the night Slanz was shot?
He was driving home from work when a stray bullet hit him, causing a fatal accident.
Episode 351: Slanz Bilello
Q: What would you do if you learned that you accidentally killed someone?
You might find yourself wondering about the karma for your actions and how it would affect your life.
Episode 343: Jonathan T. Schwartz
Q: So how do you go from someone who has everything to your personal and professional life falling off a cliff in such a dramatic way?
Jonathan discusses internal struggles from family trauma and escalating gambling addiction that led to theft from clients.
Episode 341: Anastasia WitbolsFeugen, Part 1
Q: What were some of the rumors surrounding Byron and Justin?
There were rumors of a possible suicide pact and speculations of Byron manipulating events leading to Anastasia's murder.

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?

Exploring the darkest aspects of human behavior, this podcast offers an intimate—often chilling—look into true crime narratives through the eyes of those directly connected to the stories. With episodes focusing on murders, kidnappings, cults, and conspiracies, the content often features guests who share first-hand accounts of their harrowing experiences, providing a unique perspective on well-known and obscure cases alike. Additionally, the light-hearted aftershow segment allows for a blend of heavy topics with humor, catering to a range of listener emotions while keeping the content engaging and multifaceted. This dual approach likely makes the podcast appealing to both serious true crime enthusiasts and casual listeners seeking entertain... more

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How many listeners does The First Degree get?

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Which podcasts are similar to The First Degree?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The First Degree:

1. LadyGang
2. Going West: True Crime
3. Moms and Mysteries: 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 7 years ago and published 763 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?

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

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What guests have appeared on The First Degree?

Recent guests on The First Degree include:

1. Patrick Wohl
2. Dr. Steve Sparks
3. Don Tabek
4. Don Tabak
5. Joshua Ritter
6. Jerry Jamison
7. Brenda McClain
8. Matt Ploety

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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