Rephonic
Artwork for True Murder: The Most Shocking Killers in True Crime History

True Murder: The Most Shocking Killers in True Crime History

Dan Zupansky
Scott Christopher Dove
Colonial Parkway Serial Killings
Charles Starkweather
Gary Lamont
Homicide
Thunder Bay Police
Murderabilia
Alan Wade Wilmer Sr.
Caril Ann Fugate
Drugs
Thunder Bay
Dolly Dove
Mervin Dove
Blaine Pardoe
FBI Profiling
Lincoln, Nebraska
Serial Killers
Wild Blue Press
Aiden Gabor
Marijuana

TRUE MURDER—The Most Shocking Killers in True Crime History.Every week host Dan Zupansky will interview the true crime authors that have written about the most shocking killers of all time. From true crime history, comes the preeminent true crime authorities in America and the world today.From infamous serial killers, mass murderers, cult leaders and mafia hitmen to family murderers, nazis and hom... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes890Founded16 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryTrue Crime

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for True Murder: The Most Shocking Killers in True Crime History

Latest Episodes

This story seems impossible. But every word is true.

Convergence is the account of a vicious double homicide in 1970s Chicago and a trial that almost didn't happen.

This is a different kind of true crime book. It isn't a mystery, because the killer w... more

From the author of the national bestseller The Dark Queens, an incandescent work of true crime and feminist history about Elizabeth Bathory, the woman alleged to be the world's most prolific female serial killer.

There have long been whispers, coming... more

Chicago, 1982. Seven people swallowed Tylenol capsules meant to heal, then they died within minutes. America changed overnight, then the killer vanished into darkness, and that darkness lived in my home.

I was eleven, and my father was The Tylenol Ki... more

Homicide historian David Kulczyk releases 1926—Murder in America—New and Expanded Edition for the 100th anniversary of the deadliest year in American history.

While researching his seven true crime books, Kulczyk noticed that there was an extraordina... 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.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Shelley Puhak
Writer and author of The Blood Countess, Murder, Betrayal, and the Making of a Monster
Bloomsbury / author
Episode: THE BLOOD COUNTESS—Shelley Puhak
Joseph Cibelli
Forensic psychologist and author
Episode: THE TYLENOL MURDERS—Joseph Cibelli
David Kulczyk
Homicide historian and author
Episode: 1926—MURDER IN AMERICA—David Kulczyk
Kathryn Canavan
Journalist and author
Episode: KILLER IN THE HOUSE—Kathryn Canavan
Heather Ann Thompson
Historian and author of "Fear and Fury"
Penguin Random House
Episode: FEAR AND FURY—Heather Ann Thompson
Michael Kelly
Author and investigator focused on true crime cases
Wild Blue Press
Episode: IN PUBLIC RECORD—Michael Kelly
Suzanne Huntington
Author and researcher of the Thames Torso Murders
Episode: THE THAMES TORSO MURDERS— Suzanne Huntington
Burl Barer
True crime author and journalist
Episode: WHERE MURDER LIES—Burl Barer and Frank C. Girardot Jr.
Frank C. Girardot Jr.
True crime author and journalist
Episode: WHERE MURDER LIES—Burl Barer and Frank C. Girardot Jr.

Hosts

Kathryn Canavan
Journalist and author with expertise in high-profile crime cases.
Dan Zupansky
Host of True Murder; author and journalist with long-running interview experience.

Reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars from 3.7k ratings
  • Mr. Dan Zupansky

    Mr Z will you be attending crimecon in Las Vegas in may 2026? I’m crossing my American fingers you can attend. I LOVE YOUR PODCAST!! Hope your lovely wife is coming

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Babsy bell
    United States10 days ago
  • Good variety and professionally done

    Host is great interviewer and the variety of authors/ guests keep it fresh. Nice variety,

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Metal and water
    United States14 days ago
  • One of my favorite true crime podcasts

    It’s not as fancy as some of the more popular true crime podcasts out there but I like his no frills, just the facts, no big opinions style of the show. He lets the author tell their story about their book and I have even bought some of the books after listening. Some of the earlier episodes have a weird audio thing going on but the newer ones are better. Thanks Dan for a solid option for true crime fans.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cmbb74
    United Statesa month ago
  • I started listing to Dan Zupanski on speaker. Through a phone change I lost track and finally found him again on Audible. I love this podcast and the different stories from people who have researched these stories but the random ads that pop up randomly throughout this podcast have me to the point where I am almost done. Especially since the ads are so much louder than the actual talking. It feels like it’s blowing out my ear drums when I have my headphones in. It’s just annoying and they will c... more

    Audible
    4
    AIMEE LINGLE
    United States5 months ago
  • Is this available anymore?

    Can’t download new episodes. Has this been discontinued?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rvgirl42
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The show has strong, well-prepared interviews and deep book-centered discussions.
Production quality is sometimes criticized, with episodes varying in audio quality.
Listener feedback often notes solid guest selection and informative storytelling.

Top True Crime Podcasts

Crime Junkie
Crime JunkieAudiochuck
Dateline NBC
Dateline NBCNBC News
Morbid
MorbidAsh Kelley & Alaina Urquhart
48 Hours
48 HoursCBS News
Love Trapped
Love TrappediHeartPodcasts and Glass Podcasts
20/20
20/20ABC News
Betrayal Season 5
Betrayal Season 5iHeartPodcasts and Glass Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

THE BLOOD COUNTESS—Shelley Puhak
Q: How do you address the sensational elements of Bathory's legend, such as the blood-bathing myth?
The blood-bathing detail was propagated by later historians and a priest who mythologized the tale; the book traces how this trope entered popular lore and why it persisted long after factual accountability faded, urging readers to separate legend from archival record.
THE BLOOD COUNTESS—Shelley Puhak
Q: What role did the post-World War II archival openings play in reshaping the Bathory narrative?
Access to archives after the fall of the Iron Curtain allowed scholars to reassess sources, verify documents, and distinguish evidence from myth, which shifted the narrative away from sensationalism toward a more nuanced historical account.
THE BLOOD COUNTESS—Shelley Puhak
Q: How did you become involved in writing about Elizabeth Bathory, and what drew you to this book project?
I had personal ties to the region and became intrigued by the enduring legend versus the archival record, leading me to investigate whether Bathory was truly guilty and how myths formed around her; the project evolved into testing historical truths and encouraging careful sourcing when labeling historical figures.
1926—MURDER IN AMERICA—David Kulczyk
Q: What are some factors that contributed to the chaos in 1926?
Prohibition, societal changes post-World War I, and the Spanish flu contributed to widespread disillusionment and violence.
1926—MURDER IN AMERICA—David Kulczyk
Q: Tell us the difference between the two editions.
The new edition is at least twice the size, with 475 pages, and contains more accounts of murders from 1926.

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 This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thorough, author-focused true crime podcast that centers on deep-dive conversations with writers, historians, journalists, and legal professionals who have researched and written about infamous killers, high-profile cases, and historical murders. Episodes frequently explore the social context, investigative details, and human stories behind revolutions in public perception—ranging from early 20th-century crime to modern cases—offering meticulous research, candid reflections, and a clear emphasis on the books and sources behind each narrative. Listeners can expect well-prepared questions, historical framing, and a preference for nuanced discussions over sensationalized takes, with occasional criticism about production quality noted by some... more

Where can I find podcast stats for this podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for this 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 this podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does this podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for this 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 this podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for this 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 this podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers this 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.

Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Killer Stories with Harvey Guillén
2. The Serial Killer Podcast
3. The Minds of Madness - True Crime Stories
4. True Crime All The Time
5. Generation Why: True Crime

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 16 years ago and published 890 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 this 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 this podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for this 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 this podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of this 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 this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Shelley Puhak
2. Joseph Cibelli
3. David Kulczyk
4. Kathryn Canavan
5. Heather Ann Thompson
6. Michael Kelly
7. Suzanne Huntington
8. Burl Barer

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