Criminal
Vox Media Podcast Network
Criminal is not your typical true crime podcast. Rather than focusing on sensational headlines or graphic violence, host Phoebe Judge explores the human side of crime with a curiosity and empathy that sets this show apart from the rest of the genre. Each episode acts as a deep dive into the unexpected, the peculiar, and the often-overlooked stories that sit at the intersection of law, history, and human behavior. Whether the subject is the cold, scientific reality of a body farm, the troubling pseudo-science behind 911 call analysis, or the myth-busting investigation into legendary lawmen, Criminal consistently challenges listeners to look beyond the surface. The show moves between the macabre and the mundane, effortlessly balancing heavy, investigative journalism with lighter, off-the-cuff conversations about the strange habits and complex emotions that define us. What makes the podcast stand out is its commitment to storytelling that asks big questions: What happens when private citizens take the law into their own hands? How does fiction shape our perception of real-world forensics? What does the way we die say about the way we lived? With a thoughtful, narrative-driven style and an inquisitive spirit, Criminal invites you to think critically about justice, morality, and the fascinating, messy reality of the world we share. It is essential listening for anyone who wants to understand the human experience through a lens that is as haunting as it is enlightening.
Updated Jun 30, 2026
Episodes
What Nobody Tells You About the Morgue (with Patricia Cornwell)
Crime novelist Patricia Cornwell details her transformative years working in the morgue and the reality of the dead.
All the Time in the World
Go behind the scenes at a forensic research facility where donated bodies help investigators solve death mysteries.
The Caller
Law enforcement and prosecutors increasingly rely on controversial linguistic analysis of 911 calls to identify killers.
Riverwalk
A teenager with a taste for luxury fell to his death after entangling himself with two men from London’s underworld.
A Man to Be Afraid Of
The legendary sheriff Buford Pusser built a heroic image on violence, but evidence suggests he murdered his wife.
Breaking Up is Hard to Do (Criminal+)
Navigating the delicate social dilemma of breaking up with a long-term therapist while tackling new video projects.
Mantrap
Property owners who use deadly booby traps to protect vacant buildings face severe legal and moral consequences.
The Big Lie
Captain's Orders (Criminal+)
The Test
An American Original
Amok
Gone
Like a Bad Dream
Sister Helen
The Speeding Duck, the Hungry Javelina, and “Leonardo da Pinchy”
The Knock
Fall River
The Manual
The Post Office
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