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

True Murder: The Most Shocking Killers in True Crime History

Dan Zupansky
True Crime
Murder
Serial Killers
Death Penalty
Ted Bundy
John Wayne Gacy
Los Angeles
Cold Cases
Child Abuse
Mental Health
Mafia
Alex Murdaugh
Investigative Journalism
Murder Investigation
Organized Crime
Charles Schmid
Route 91 Harvest Festival Shooting
FBI
I-70 Serial Killer
Melissa Witt

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes911Founded16 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
True CrimeHistory

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

Latest Episodes

The Ravenous Paparazzi had descended on Winnipeg, anxious for any photos, or any story involving Jennifer Lopez and her castmates, Susan Saarndon and Richardf Gere, in the Miramx 's followup to "Chaicago", being filmed in Winnipeg, instead of Toronto... more

A self-proclaimed vampire.

His harem of “witches.”

And the small-town murder that shocked America.

When twenty-four-year-old Sydney Loofe disappeared after a Tinder date, the quiet town of Wilber, Nebraska was stunned. Days later, her dismembered bod... more

A riveting new look at the parallel lives of Charles Manson and Roman Polanski reveals connections beyond the notorious Tate-LaBianca murders.Since the horrific murder of Sharon Tate in 1969, the names Charles Manson and Roman Polanski have been brut... more

A startling profile of one of the most prolific serial killers and the disturbing experience of the journalist who earned his trust for the sake of justice.

When crime journalist Maria DiLorenzo mailed a letter to Gary Ridgway, she never expected hi... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Sidney Teerhuis
Accused in the Sidney Teerhuis murder case; interviewed by the host
Incarcerated individual involved in the case
Episode: TROPHY KILL:The Sequel—Dan Zupansky
Alex MacDonald
Former Attorney General of British Columbia; author of Outrage, Canada's Justice System on Trial
Raincoast Books / Vancouver publisher context
Episode: TROPHY KILL:The Sequel—Dan Zupansky
Chet Hardin
Investigative journalist and author
Author of The Vampire's Cult
Episode: THE VAMPIRE'S CULT—-Chet Hardin
Peter Rowe
Filmmaker, journalist and author
Blood and Fame author
Episode: BLOOD AND FAME—Peter Rowe
Maria DiLorenzo
Investigative journalist and author
Beyond the Crime
Episode: CONFESSIONS OF THE GREEN RIVER KILLER—Maria DiLorenzo
G. H. Cliff
Former police commander and author
Author of Serial City, Detroit and the Hunt for Multiple Serial Predators
Episode: SERIAL CITY—G.H. Cliff
Jerry Langton
Veteran investigative journalist and bestselling author of Reasonable Doubts
Bronx Kill (publisher)
Episode: DEPUTY KENT McGOWEN and REASONABLE DOUBTS—Jerry Langton
Kent McGowen
Deputy Kent McGowen, subject of the book and interviewee
Deputy, Harris County/Houston area (Texas)
Episode: REASONABLE DOUBTS—Deputy Kent McGowen
Laura Brand
Criminologist and author of God's Not Here, Only Devils
Author of God's Not Here, Only Devils
Episode: GOD'S NOT HERE, ONLY DEVILS—Laura Brand

Host

Dan Zupansky
Host of the show and interviewer for true crime history interviews with authors, prosecutors, journalists, and law-enforcement guests.

Reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars from 3.7k ratings
  • Love this podcast

    Team Dan for years here. He keeps it real, reports facts and works hard on these episodes. Great interviews!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    The Real Mr. 305
    United States2 months ago
  • this show is fn amazing

    Podcast Addict
    5
    lwood2425
    3 months ago
  • 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 States6 months 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 States6 months 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 States7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

High-quality depth and context, though some listeners want faster pacing.
Sound quality and episode consistency are critical for ongoing engagement.
Consistently solid coverage of overlooked cases and legal angles.
Engaging, well-researched interviews with authors and investigators.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#225
Israel/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

BLOOD AND FAME—Peter Rowe
Q: Now, Peter, one of the things that many people know, or many people believe they understand, is the connection between a film called Rosemary's Baby, which I happened to see when I was a child, very affected by it. Roman Polanski was the director of Rosemary's Baby. It's interesting, what they called it at the time was a satanic horror movie. Now, they didn't call The Exorcist a satanic horror movie or Omen, and yet Satan was a theme in The Exorcist.
Rowe explains that Rosemary's Baby is often cited as a satanic horror work while acknowledging that Polanski's broader body of work includes diverse influences; he argues the connection lies in how the era's occult fascination intertwined with artistic ambition, and how public perception framed Polanski's films as darker reflections of the era, which also colors how Manson's crimes are interpreted in relation to pop culture.
FIVE EVIL WOMEN—Joanna Bourke
Q: How does media depiction influence public perception of these cases, particularly for Hindley and Tucker?
Media focus on faces, mugshots, and sensational narratives amplified fear and moral panic, shaping how society judges these women beyond the facts of the crimes.
THE COMMISSIONER—Rodney K. Harrison
Q: What were the key steps in rebuilding the Gilgo Beach case after taking over as police commissioner in Suffolk County?
He details forming a cross-agency task force, digitizing decades of files, challenging investigative work, and coordinating with DA and FBI to drive the case forward.
THE COMMISSIONER—Rodney K. Harrison
Q: How did you approach the Harlem experience and community relations to avoid policing in a vacuum?
He emphasizes open-door policy, accessibility, and proactive community engagement, arguing that strong relationships with residents and leaders are essential to effective policing.
THE COMMISSIONER—Rodney K. Harrison
Q: Tell us about your life growing up in South Jamaica, Queens, and how it shaped your view of policing.
Harrison describes a challenging urban upbringing that exposed him to violence and the importance of mentorship, leading him to pursue a career in policing as a way to help communities and protect victims.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

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

Bringing together interviews with prominent true crime authors, journalists, and law-enforcement figures, this show centers on in-depth discussions about notorious cases, investigative processes, and the justice system. Episodes frequently explore legal doctrines, investigative strategy, media influence, and the psychology of killers, all anchored by detailed book-centric conversations and firsthand accounts. Noteworthy traits include long-form, author-first interviews, a willingness to tackle controversial topics, and a consistency that has sustained engagement for over a decade, making it a go-to for listeners who want thorough context, case history, and expert analysis on major crimes.

Potential listeners may find the show's approach es... more

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. The Serial Killer Podcast
2. True Crime All The Time
3. Killer Stories with Harvey Guillén
4. The Minds of Madness - True Crime Stories
5. Murder In America

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this podcast launched 16 years ago and published 911 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Sidney Teerhuis
2. Alex MacDonald
3. Chet Hardin
4. Peter Rowe
5. Maria DiLorenzo
6. G. H. Cliff
7. Jerry Langton
8. Kent McGowen

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