Rephonic
Artwork for The Knife: A True Crime Podcast

The Knife: A True Crime Podcast

Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts
True Crime
Domestic Violence
Mental Health
Missing Persons
The Knife Podcast
Romance Scams
Fraud
Trauma
Scams
Child Welfare
Legal System and Parents' Rights
Online Identity Theft
Drug Trafficking
Identity Theft
Mountain Park Baptist Boarding Academy
Terrorist Organizations
AI Technology
Social Media Safety
Crime Victims
Stalking

The Knife: A True Crime Podcast is a weekly true crime podcast from journalist/producers Hannah Smith and Patia Eaton.It's a show about people who’ve been dropped into a story they didn't start, but are left to finish. In-depth interviews take the listener behind the punchy headlines to hear what really happened from the people who lived it. The Knife reveals the ripple effect of crime.Through emp... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes63Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategory
True Crime

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Knife: A True Crime Podcast

Latest Episodes

Paul Fronczak discovered that he was not biologically related to his parents, Dora and Chester Fronczak, but was born in New Jersey as Jack Rosenthal. He also learned he had a twin sister, Jill, who was missing. Paul's search for his identity had exp... more

In 1964, Paul Fronczak was kidnapped from a Chicago hospital just one day after he was born. Miraculously found and returned two years later, he grew up unaware of his past until a childhood discovery sparked a search for the truth. As an adult, Paul... more

Investigative reporter Samantha Michaels of Mother Jones spent a year digging into Oklahoma’s controversial “failure to protect” laws—statutes meant to safeguard children, but that can also send victims to prison. At the center of her reporting is Ke... more

Patia tells Hannah the story of LaVonne Skalias and her fight to survive two brutal attacks by her stalker, a man she barely knew.

Recommendation: Girl on the Run: The Hunt For America's Most Wanted Woman

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i... more

Key Facts

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

Recent Guests

Paul Fronczak
Protagonist and subject of the investigation, later known as Jack Rosenthal
Independently speaking (subject of the episode)
Episode: Kidnapped at Birth (Part 1 of 2)
Samantha Michaels
Investigative journalist, Mother Jones Magazine
Mother Jones Magazine
Episode: Off Record: A Mother on Trial (with Samantha Michaels)
Chancy Lewis
Retired school teacher, widower, Colorado Springs resident
Independent,
Episode: Scam, Continued
Dusty Turner
Formerly incarcerated individual and guest on this episode
None specified in episode
Episode: Off Record: A Conversation with Dusty Turner
Erin Lottman
Advocate and friend of the case, who walks listeners through the investigation and aftermath
Virginia-based advocate and friend of Dusty Turner
Episode: The Night That Changed Everything
Lou Calvarese
Former FBI undercover agent involved in Operation Royal Charm
FBI
Episode: Off Record: Operation Royal Charm
April Barbara Scales
Subject of the episode; survivor, former convict
Self
Episode: House on Fire
Rebecca Peluso
Parent seeking autism service dog for daughter
None specified
Episode: Service Dog Fraud
Lee Barnett
The woman known for kidnapping her own child and evading authorities for many years.
Episode: The Fugitive Mother (Part 1 of 2)

Hosts

Hannah Smith
Co-host and producer; experienced journalist focused on empathetic true crime storytelling.
Patia Eaton
Co-host and producer; journalist with a focus on storytelling and context in true crime.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • A favorite podcast

    Big fan of this podcast. Hannah and Patia interview interesting people, are super thoughtful and professional, but also fun. Also, keep up the recommendations on off-record, they’re always good!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Whitney Brad
    United States16 days ago
  • One of the best!!!

    One of the most fascinating and interesting podcasts around! These two women are just “pitch perfect” episode after episode…

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ColHomer
    United States20 days ago
  • Amazing pod!

    I quickly fell in love with Patia’s and Hannah’s story telling style. Their care and compassion for telling the right story, being victim centric, and supporting 2nd chances is amazing. What a perfect addition to ERM!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ShoegrlRox
    United States20 days ago
  • Clear, concise, and respectful

    Just love this show! So glad they came to Exactly Right

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TKB0603
    United States22 days ago
  • Fraudulent

    If you enjoy podcasts that participate in victim erasure and promote the voices of criminal sex offenders, you may be able to stomach this podcast. If not, I wouldn’t recommend.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    SarahChaya
    United States23 days ago

Listeners Say

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

Many appreciate host chemistry and empathetic interviewing.
Some critique perceived bias or a preference for certain perspectives, noting a desire for broader viewpoints.
Listeners praise thoughtful, victim-centered storytelling and careful reporting.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#134
United States/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#158
United Kingdom/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#159
Canada/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#52
Chile/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#70
Argentina/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#109
Philippines/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Scam, Continued
Q: When did you first start talking about investing, and how did the idea progress?
Isabella introduced the investing idea gradually, first suggesting a potential opportunity, then guiding him through setting up wallets and moving money as the scheme expanded.
Scam, Continued
Q: What can you tell us about Sandy and how did you two meet?
He describes meeting Sandy in Sunday school, falling in love, getting married, and sharing a long, caring partnership before her passing.
Service Dog Fraud
Q: How did the investigation unfold and what were the outcomes for Mark Mathis and Rycon Service Dogs?
Rebecca helped coordinate a community push that led to the North Carolina AG investigating Rycon; Mark Mathis was indicted, Rycon filed for bankruptcy, and he eventually pleaded guilty years later, with restitution ordered.
Service Dog Fraud
Q: What happened when Rebecca picked up Puzzle, the dog they were promised would help Ella?
Puzzle was aggressive, untrained, and not properly conditioned for home life; the dog was scared, dirty, and failed to perform basic tasks, leading to immediate doubts about the dog's suitability and the organization's claims.
The Fugitive Mother (Part 2 of 2)
Q: What prompted you to flee with Savannah and start a new life under aliases?
Lee explains she believed the custody system would not protect her child and that staying would put Savannah at ongoing risk, so she chose to act to safeguard her daughter despite the severe consequences.

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 Knife: A True Crime Podcast

What is The Knife: A True Crime Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, victim-centered true crime show that blends in-depth interviews with investigative reporting. Foundations include first-person accounts from survivors, family members, and professionals, plus expert analysis to unpack complex cases beyond headlines. Episodes span scams, wrongful convictions, domestic violence, stalking, custody disputes, and institutional failures, with a consistent emphasis on empathy, accountability, and practical takeaways for listeners who want to understand the human impact of crime. A standout is the steady pairing of two hosts who foster calm, respectful conversations, often cycling between interviewees, on-record investigations, and off-record discussions that illuminate broader systems at work. The sh... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Knife: A True Crime Podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Knife: A True Crime Podcast. 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 Knife: A True Crime Podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Knife: A True Crime Podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Knife: A True Crime Podcast, 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 Knife: A True Crime Podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Knife: A True Crime Podcast, 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 Knife: A True Crime Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Knife: A True Crime Podcast 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.

How many episodes of The Knife: A True Crime Podcast are there?

The Knife: A True Crime Podcast launched a year ago and published 63 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 Knife: A True Crime Podcast?

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 Knife: A True Crime Podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Knife: A True Crime Podcast 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 Knife: A True Crime Podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Knife: A True Crime Podcast. 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 Knife: A True Crime Podcast?

Recent guests on The Knife: A True Crime Podcast include:

1. Paul Fronczak
2. Samantha Michaels
3. Chancy Lewis
4. Dusty Turner
5. Erin Lottman
6. Lou Calvarese
7. April Barbara Scales
8. Rebecca Peluso

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