Criminal

Latest Episodes:

Haywire Oct 23, 2026

Show notes

Two days before New Year’s Eve in 1975, a bomb exploded at LaGuardia Airport in New York City. 75 people were injured and 11 people were killed. The bombing has never been solved.

Elon Green wrote “The Forgotten Bombing of LaGuardia Airport” for Slate Magazine.

Bryan Burrough’s book is Days of Rage: America's Radical Underground, the FBI, and the Forgotten Age of Revolutionary Violence.

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.

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

Bulldozer Oct 16, 2026

Show notes

Muffler shop owner Marvin Heemeyer bought a 45-ton Komatsu bulldozer and parked it on his lot in Granby, Colorado. When someone asked him what he was planning to do with it, he said, “I think I'm going to bulldoze the town."

Patrick Brower's book is Killdozer: The True Story of the Colorado Bulldozer Rampage.

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.

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

He Talked About Killing Tupac for Years. Why Did It Take Three Decades to Bring Him to Trial? Oct 13, 2026

Show notes

Phoebe interviews journalist and podcast host Joel Anderson about why it took 30 years for prosecutors to bring someone to trial for the murder of Tupac Shakur. Earlier this year, Duane "Keffe D" Davis was convicted of first degree murder in the 1996 shooting death of the rapper - after having talked about his involvement in the crime for years.

You can hear Season 3 of Slow Burn - about the murders of Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. - here.

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.

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

Donor 106 Oct 09, 2026

Show notes

One night when Eve Wiley was 16, she started reading through her mother’s emails, and discovered a secret her mother had been keeping from Eve her whole life. “I always knew there was something. I just didn't know what it was.”

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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