Criminal

Latest Episodes:

The Midnight Slider Oct 02, 2026

Show notes

In 2013, a small boat called the Midnight Slider was found floating empty in the waters off of Isle Madame in Nova Scotia. “Murder is not something that occurs in this neck of the woods very often. There’s always been a tradition of taking care of families, watching out, looking out for one another.”

This episode was originally released in 2022.

Tickets for our brand new live show, Don't Worry with Phoebe Judge, are on sale now! Learn more and see all of our tour dates at ⁠⁠thisiscriminal.com/live⁠⁠.

Say hello on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Sign up for our occasional newsletter. Follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts.

Sign up for Criminal Plus to get behind-the-scenes bonus episodes of Criminal, ad-free listening of all of our shows, invitations to virtual events, special merch deals, and more.

We also make This is Love and Phoebe Reads a Mystery.

Artwork by Julienne Alexander. Check out our online shop.

Episode transcripts are posted on our website.

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Not Criminally Responsible Sep 25, 2026

Show notes

In 1992, a young man walked into a police station and said he wanted to turn himself in for a crime. When the police asked if there was someone at home who they could call, he said, “That’s who I killed. I killed my parents.”

Mikita Brottman’s book is Couple Found Slain.

Tickets for our brand new tour, Don't Worry with Phoebe Judge, are on sale now! Learn more and see all of our tour dates at ⁠thisiscriminal.com/live⁠.

Say hello on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Sign up for our occasional newsletter. Follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts.

Sign up for Criminal Plus to get behind-the-scenes bonus episodes of Criminal, ad-free listening of all of our shows, invitations to virtual events, special merch deals, and more.

We also make This is Love and Phoebe Reads a Mystery.

Artwork by Julienne Alexander. Check out our online shop.

Episode transcripts are posted on our website.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Boyfriend Who Never Existed: Inside The "Bed Trick" Trial Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

Phoebe interviews author Izabella Scott about an unusual trial in England. One woman, referred to as Miss X, accused her best friend Gayle of posing as a man and tricking her into having a sexual relationship. But Gayle said there was no deception – and that Miss X knew who she was with the whole time.

Izabella Scott's book is called The Bed Trick: Sex and Deception on Trial.

You can also watch this interview at ⁠youtube.com/criminalpodcast⁠.

Phoebe is going on tour this fall! Get tickets and see all of our tour dates at thisiscriminal.com/live.

Say hello on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Sign up for our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠occasional newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow the show and review us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for Criminal Plus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get behind-the-scenes bonus episodes of Criminal, ad-free listening of all of our shows, invitations to virtual events, special merch deals, and more.

We also make ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This is Love⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Phoebe Reads a Mystery⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our online shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Family Secrets, Part 2 Sep 18, 2026

Show notes

In June of 1985, police followed in pursuit as Fritz Klenner drove through the streets of Greensboro, North Carolina, with his cousin Susie Lynch and her two sons. When the chase eventually ended, it was like “something right out of a movie.”

This is the second part of a two-part story. You can listen to Part 1 here.

Jerry Bledsoe's book is called ⁠⁠Bitter Blood⁠⁠. You can read more of Susan Spear's reporting in the Greensboro ⁠⁠News and Record⁠⁠.

We're going on tour - and it's a different kind of show than any we've done before. Tonight we'll be in Portland, ME. Find ticket links and updates at ⁠⁠⁠⁠thisiscriminal.com/live⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Say hello on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠. Sign up for our ⁠⁠occasional newsletter⁠⁠. Follow the show and review us on ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠.

⁠⁠Sign up for Criminal Plus⁠⁠ to get behind-the-scenes bonus episodes of Criminal, ad-free listening of all of our shows, invitations to virtual events, special merch deals, and more.

We also make ⁠⁠This is Love⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Phoebe Reads a Mystery⁠⁠.

Artwork by ⁠⁠Julienne Alexander⁠⁠. Check out ⁠⁠our online shop⁠⁠.

Episode transcripts are posted on ⁠⁠our website⁠⁠.

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Family Secrets, Part 1 Sep 11, 2026

Show notes

In 1985, college student Ian Perkins reconnected with a family friend, Fritz Klenner, who told him a secret. He said he was a CIA agent — and offered to let Ian come along on his next mission.

To listen early to Part 2 of this story, sign up for Criminal Plus at patreon.com/criminal.

Jerry Bledsoe's book is called Bitter Blood. You can read more of Susan Spear's reporting in the Greensboro News and Record.

We're going on tour - and it's a different kind of show than any we've done before. Next week, we'll be in in Durham, NC, and Portland, ME. Find ticket links and updates at ⁠⁠thisiscriminal.com/live⁠⁠.

Say hello on ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠TikTok⁠. Sign up for our ⁠occasional newsletter⁠. Follow the show and review us on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠.

⁠Sign up for Criminal Plus⁠ to get behind-the-scenes bonus episodes of Criminal, ad-free listening of all of our shows, invitations to virtual events, special merch deals, and more.

We also make ⁠This is Love⁠ and ⁠Phoebe Reads a Mystery⁠.

Artwork by ⁠Julienne Alexander⁠. Check out ⁠our online shop⁠.

Episode transcripts are posted on ⁠our website⁠.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He Was Told It Was a Job. It Was His Kidney They Wanted. Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

In 2021, a Nigerian man heard from a friend who offered him a job opportunity in the U.K. After he arrived he was taken to a hospital, where he found out that he wasn’t there for a job at all - but instead, for a kidney transplant. Today, Phoebe interviews journalist Alexis Okeowo about an organ trafficking scandal involving one of Nigeria’s most senior politicians.

You can read Alexis Okeowo’s piece for the Guardian here.

You can also watch this interview at youtube.com/criminalpodcast.

Say hello on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Sign up for our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠occasional newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow the show and review us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for Criminal Plus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get behind-the-scenes bonus episodes of Criminal, ad-free listening of all of our shows, invitations to virtual events, special merch deals, and more.

We also make ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This is Love⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Phoebe Reads a Mystery⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our online shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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The Informant Sep 04, 2026

Show notes

In 1978, an investigator in the Harris County DA's office in Houston got a call from an old friend. He told the investigator that he was in jail, that he wanted him to come pick him up — and that he had some information about a case that he thought the investigator would be very interested in.

Pamela Colloff’s book isCatch the Devil: A True Story of Murder, Deception, and Injustice on the Gulf Coast

We're going on tour - and it's a different kind of show than any we've done before. Upcoming dates in Durham, NC, and Portland, ME, are on sale now. Find ticket links and updates at ⁠thisiscriminal.com/live⁠.

Say hello on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Sign up for our occasional newsletter. Follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts.

Sign up for Criminal Plus to get behind-the-scenes bonus episodes of Criminal, ad-free listening of all of our shows, invitations to virtual events, special merch deals, and more.

We also make This is Love and Phoebe Reads a Mystery.

Artwork by Julienne Alexander. Check out our online shop.

Episode transcripts are posted on our website.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

911 Aug 28, 2026

Show notes

A conversation with a 911 operator about what happens on the other end of the line – and the day she heard her daughter's voice on the phone.

This episode was originally released in 2024.

Say hello on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Sign up for our occasional newsletter. Follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts.

Sign up for Criminal Plus to get behind-the-scenes bonus episodes of Criminal, ad-free listening of all of our shows, invitations to virtual events, special merch deals, and more.

We also make This is Love and Phoebe Reads a Mystery.

Artwork by Julienne Alexander. Check out our online shop.

Episode transcripts are posted on our website.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What Happened When 33,000 People’s Therapy Notes Were Released Onto the Internet Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

Imagine receiving an email from a stranger that said your therapist’s notes about you would be released onto the internet for all to see — unless you paid a ransom. That’s exactly what happened to 33,000 people in Finland in 2020, and it became the biggest criminal case in the country’s history.

You can read Jenny Kleeman's reporting on this case here, and listen to her BBC podcast, called Ransom Man, here.

You can also watch this interview at ⁠youtube.com/criminalpodcast⁠.

Say hello on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠. Sign up for our ⁠⁠⁠⁠occasional newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow the show and review us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠.

⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for Criminal Plus⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get behind-the-scenes bonus episodes of Criminal, ad-free listening of all of our shows, invitations to virtual events, special merch deals, and more.

We also make ⁠⁠⁠⁠This is Love⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Phoebe Reads a Mystery⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠our online shop⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Out of the Box Aug 21, 2026

Show notes

In 1964, one of the best javelin throwers in Australia traveled to England to see if he could qualify for the Olympics. But, because of an injury, he didn’t make the team - and he couldn’t afford a plane ticket home. So he came up with an idea while working a cargo job at Heathrow Airport: “I saw them shipping animals. And I thought, well, if the dogs can survive it, I could.”

Marcus and Julie McSorley’s book about Reg Spiers is Out of the Box: The Highs and Lows of a Champion Smuggler.

This episode was originally released in 2023.

Say hello on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Sign up for our occasional newsletter. Follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts.

Sign up for Criminal Plus to get behind-the-scenes bonus episodes of Criminal, ad-free listening of all of our shows, invitations to virtual events, special merch deals, and more.

We also make This is Love and Phoebe Reads a Mystery.

Artwork by Julienne Alexander. Check out our online shop.

Episode transcripts are posted on our website.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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