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
True Crime
Murder
Serial Killers
Death Penalty
Ted Bundy
John Wayne Gacy
Los Angeles
Cold Cases
Child Abuse
Mental Health
Mafia
Alex Murdaugh
Murder Investigation
Investigative Journalism
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes905Founded16 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

Texas Deputy Kent McGowen shot and killed Susan White after she pulled a gun on him.It seemed like an open-and-shut case of an officer acting in self-defense. But before his first court date, the Houston region was inundated with rumor, innuendo and ... more

The District Attorney began his opening statement with, "If you don't know what hell is like, you're about to find out." In 1979, Lawrence Bittaker and Roy Norris went on a rape and killing rampage. The pliers, screwdrivers, hammers, sledgehammers, a... more

Truth is supposed to be a journalist’s north star. But during the 2010s, the fourth estate lost its way, abandoning reporting for straight-up activism.

In Crimes of Omission, seasoned investigative journalist Rob Rosen will reveal the full story of t... more

Why do certain women become icons of evil? This book offers the first comparative, non-sensationalist account of five of the most reviled women in the modern Anglophone world: Myra Hindley, Rosemary West, Aileen Wuornos, Karla Homolka, and Karla Faye... 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

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
Rob Rosen
Investigative journalist and author
Episode: CRIMES OF OMISSION—Rob Rosen
Joanna Bourke
Professor of History and author
Episode: FIVE EVIL WOMEN—Joanna Bourke
James B. Longshore
Author of The Death of Kyle Clinkscales
Author, James B. Longshore Books
Episode: THE DEATH OF GEORGIA'S KYLE CLINKSCALES—James B. Longshore and Sheriff Donny Turner
Donny Turner
Sheriff and interview guest
Sheriff, Troop County (Georgia)
Episode: THE DEATH OF GEORGIA'S KYLE CLINKSCALES—James B. Longshore and Sheriff Donny Turner
Rodney K. Harrison
Former police commissioner and author
NYPD, Suffolk County Police Department
Episode: THE COMMISSIONER—Rodney K. Harrison
Raul J. Diaz
Lieutenant, Miami Police Department (retired)
Miami Police Department
Episode: KILLING THE LIEUTENANT—Lt. Raul J. Diaz and Sean Oliver
Sean Oliver
Author, co-writer of Killing The Lieutenant
Author
Episode: KILLING THE LIEUTENANT—Lt. Raul J. Diaz and Sean Oliver
James Lasdun
Journalist and author, specializes in true crime
The New Yorker (interviewee)
Episode: THE FAMILY MAN—James Lasdun

Host

Dan Zupansky
Host of True Murder: The Most Shocking Killers in True Crime History; journalist and author

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 States4 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 States4 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 States5 months ago
  • Great podcast ads are annoying

    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 States8 months 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 States8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Fans note high-quality guests who add valuable context and book-centric insights.
Some listeners want faster production or audio quality improvements but value the depth of conversations.
A segment of feedback calls out audio issues in older episodes but acknowledges overall strong content.
Listeners praise the host's prepared, concise interviewing style and credible guest lineup.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#143
Chile/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#234
Israel/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
THE TRIAL OF ARTHUR J. SHAWCROSS—Michael Benson
Q: Why was the Shawcross trial so historic in Rochester?
Because it was televised in its entirety, turning a local murder case into a televised event that captivated audiences for weeks and changed how trials could be consumed by the public.

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?

This program concentrates on in-depth conversations with true crime authors and investigators, often tying the subject's book or case to broader themes in policing, justice, and history. Episodes frequently center on investigations, courtroom dynamics, and the social context surrounding notorious murders, with a strong emphasis on narrative detail, source material, and the author's perspective. A notable strength is the host's focused, question-driven interviewing style that lets guests tell their stories with minimal sensationalism, plus a track record of bringing together historical cases, legal insights, and first-hand professional experience. The show stands out for its breadth of guests—from prosecutors and detectives to journalists an... 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. The Serial Killer Podcast
2. Serial Killers: Real Life Documentaries
3. Killer Stories with Harvey Guillén
4. The Minds of Madness - True Crime Stories
5. 48 Hours

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 16 years ago and published 905 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. Laura Brand
2. Rob Rosen
3. Joanna Bourke
4. James B. Longshore
5. Donny Turner
6. Rodney K. Harrison
7. Raul J. Diaz
8. Sean Oliver

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