"We are not crooks." This episode we'll circle back to Slate's excellent Watergate-based series, " Slow Burn ." Look what happens when those who believe in conspiracies learn those conspiracies are actual conspiracies. (And no, Toby still doesn't believe in conspiracies!) Speaking of conspiracies within conspiracies, we ponder Netflix's " Wormwood ." The genre-blending documentary about a secret CIA LSD-induced suicide is only the first layer in a trippy, troubling tale from Oscar winner directo...
Jan 12, 2018•1 hr 15 min
The Crime Writers might be from New Hampshire, but the shizz that's been going down with our weather has been BANANAS. Seriously, by the time you hear this, we might all be dead. BUT - we're not dead yet, so we responded to some sassy listener emails, talked about OUTSTANDING finale of John David Booter's podcast Done Disappeared , and reviewed The Pope's Long Con , a pretty great podcast from the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting. (To skip to the review, go to 56:10) Then, our Crime o...
Jan 05, 2018•1 hr 11 min
In our last installment of 2017, we have an exclusive interview with Undisclosed ’s Rabia Chaudry. She’ll be talking about a defense alibi witness for Adnan Syed, whose recent arrest again points to prosecutors looking the other way when it came to witnesses in Adnan's case. Also, is there a new lead in the mystery of Robert Durst's missing wife? Then we shoot it out about Netflix’s new limited series “ Godless .” In an Old West town where the men have been killed in a mining accident, the women...
Dec 22, 2017•1 hr 18 min
Well, lookie lookie here. We've got the latest disappointing news for Brendan Dassey's hopes of a new trial, get to spread some podcast love to both Amber Hunt and Bill Rankin, and take the hit from Done Disappeared's wicked send up, "Crime Writers Off." (Spoiler alert: Bobby Tall needs to count to ten and cool off). Then we look through the peephole at Netflix's " Voyeur ." This odd tale pivots from its subject - a motel owner who spied on guests for years - to the famous journalist so enamored...
Dec 15, 2017•1 hr 9 min
The Crime Writers dig in to the problem with sending flowers to a judge, even when said judge has just ruled the way you wanted her to in the Steven Avery case. Also, a cow named Lara? Toby's daughter is a star? And only Rebecca swears too much? Then, we respond to some ire around our mixed review of the Netflix show Alias Grace. Finally, a review of the (spoiler alert) OUTSTANDING new podcast from Slate about Watergate. It's called Slow Burn , and if you want to hear our spoiler-free recommenda...
Dec 08, 2017•1 hr 9 min
OMG - We can't get enough of Done Disappeared, the amazing parody true crime podcast by the unparalleled talent that IS John David Booter. We review that show and try to figure out the mystery of just what happened to missing 1987 woman Clara Pockets. Then, a more earnest review of the Netflix series Alias Grace. Based on a Margaret Atwood novel, does this show resonate? Or does it's less-than-Handmaid's Tale production values take away from what could have been a compelling view of a fascinatin...
Dec 01, 2017•1 hr 12 min
It's our 100th episode and we're celebrating by...doing what we always do. We'll look at the times and crimes of the late Charles Manson . The panel offers holiday travelers some recommendations of podcasts and TV shows that will make Thanksgiving bearable. The crime writers dig into " Long Shot ," the new Netflix documentary. It tells the story of how an innocent man stayed off of death row because of the Los Angeles Dodgers and HBO's Larry David comedy of manners, " Curb Your Enthusiasm ." FOR...
Nov 22, 2017•1 hr 13 min
Watch out - this episode is punchy! The Crime Writers settle a beef, play a couple of games, and yes, talk about Payne Lindsey's new TV deal AND his YouTube music video alter ego. Then, a look at the Elizabeth Smart case through the lens of the new A&E 2-part documentary, the super confusingly named Biography Presents: Elizabeth Smart Autobiography . Plus, our Crime of the Week cuts the cheese! For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon . Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson...
Nov 17, 2017•1 hr 8 min
The Crime Writers complain about Rebecca's jet lag and a certain crappy airline, and Lara is LITERALLY about to become a crazy cat lady. Plus, Toby's book is classy AF. Then, a trio of True Crime Updates: Bowe Bergdahl's been sentenced! That Maura Murray TV show made a crazy claim! And Making a Murderer's Steven Avery still has a filing-happy lawyer who seems to love accusing every single one of his relatives of something. The panel does a deep dive review of Stranger Things 2 - and gives a pret...
Nov 10, 2017•1 hr 18 min
No more Amazon list??? Yup, the behemoth site kicked us out of their affiliate program, so we'll have to find something else for Toby to do... The Crime Writers open up the hit podcast Heaven's Gate, and, KNOWLEDGE ALERT, one of the panel is kind of an expert on the cult phenomenon. Plus, the panel will dive into Stranger Things 2 in full next week, but isn't shy about sharing first impressions. And no, Toby STILL hasn't seen Goonies! Also, an update from the courtroom in the Serial Season 2 sub...
Nov 03, 2017•1 hr 11 min
The Crime Writers dive in to Mindhunter - a series from Netflix about FBI profilers that even Rebecca can get behind. Plus, Stampy died! Lara does a little PSA every pet lover should listen to. DONATE TO CATS 1ST , THE RESCUE ORGANIZATION THAT GAVE STAMPY A CHANCE And, yet another filing in the never-ending paper trail for Making a Murderer's Steven Avery. Is his lawyer Kathleen Zellner a genius? Or is she a little cuckoo? Finally, our Crime of the Week asks a critical question...what would *you...
Oct 27, 2017•1 hr 20 min
The Crime Writers review the second season of Rebecca's favorite true crime podcast from last year, Accused by the Cincinnati Enquirer. Will the story of the unsolved murder of Retha Welch stand up to the success of season one? (Spoiler alert: one of us has issues!) In a pair of true crime podcast updates, we talk about the surprising plea deal made by S-Town subject Tyler Goodson, as well as the maybe-surprising plea in Bowe Bergdahl's case. Our crime of the week will make you high...especially...
Oct 20, 2017•1 hr 6 min
Rebecca met Sarah Koenig!! She fills us in on that awkward encounter. What's the latest with Serial season two subject Bowe Bergdahl? Seems he's made some kind of deal with the government. We invite back retired USMC Lt Col James Weirick of the Military Justice podcast to explain why he thinks some of the early media reports are wrong and what a plea for a lighter sentence might look like. Then the panel digs into the new hit podcast from the LA Times, Dirty John . TO SKIP PAST THE SPOILERS AND ...
Oct 13, 2017•1 hr 19 min
The Crime Writers review the totally not Law & Order take on a famous case: Law & Order: The Menendez murders. Plus, a big setback for Stephen Avery has the panel revisiting our opinions on the Making a Murderer protagonist's guilt. Also in question...the guilt of Scott Peterson. Yeah, we know. In the Crime of the Week, things go wrong when a school administrator tries to pull a silly prank For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon . Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson...
Oct 06, 2017•1 hr 8 min
Did Brendan Dassey's dubious confession on "Making a Murderer" make your skin crawl? The Chief Circuit Judge in his ongoing appeal said it did. But the other two federal judges may be leaning the other way. In podcast news: " Accused " will roll out a new season next month. Also, the teams behind HowStuffWorks and Up & Vanished are getting together to re-investigate a series of child murders in Atlanta that were solved in 1981. This week's podcast focuses on two very different series from Ne...
Sep 29, 2017•1 hr 12 min
The Crime Writers change the way we do business because someone told us to. We dive into a bunch of updates on cases surrounding the S-Town podcast and the super-creepy stabbing at the center of the HBO documentary "Beware the Slenderman," plus Kevin holds Rebecca hostage and forces her to watch the rest of that ridiculous Unabomber show. Speaking of being held hostage, will the team force Kevin to listen to even more Someone Knows Something? (Yeah, we hope get to do that!) We then dig in to The...
Sep 22, 2017•1 hr 18 min
Weekly episodes have returned (no more goldbricking for Bricker - no more laying about for Lavoie)! The Crime Writers revisit some of the content they've recently discussed and give final verdicts on Homecoming , The Murder of Laci Peterson , and updates in the Slenderman case. Toby offers a preview of next week's topic: HBO's The Deuce. And the blowback about the Payne Lyndsey - Up and Vanished controversy is deafening...not. The panel dives into the new podcast from the Mercury News, " Hanging...
Sep 15, 2017•1 hr 8 min
Red-eyed and jet-lagged, Rebecca and Kevin are back from Podcast Movement in Anaheim with stories of their exploits with your (and their) favorite podcasters. They'll spill some tea over what caused some controversy a big name - "NOT a podcaster" Payne Lindsey from Up & Vanished - made an audacious, self-congratulatory presentation...and how some even bigger names in the room reacted. Plus, a true crime podcast update! A hungover R&K met up with old friend Lt Col James Weirick for an upd...
Sep 01, 2017•1 hr 24 min
We're ready for our close ups! Our listeners asked and answered the hypothetical question, "If there were a movie about the Crime Writers, who would be cast to play them?" The results are in from #crimewriterscasting. Let's say three out of the four of us are satisfied with the picks. We grapple with " Black Hands " (see the play on words there?) - a true crime podcast about New Zealand's Bain family murders. Rather than a re-investigation or reexamination of the case, the ten-part series is a d...
Aug 18, 2017•1 hr 16 min
The Crime Writers tackle a pair of hot media properties this week with a look at the Discovery Channel's latest foray into crime with Manhunt: The Unabomber. This leads to a heated debate about how FBI profilers are portrayed in crime drama...and Rebecca joins #TeamToby for the first time! Then, a review of the second season of Homecoming, the dramatized podcast with a stellar cast from Gimlet Media. Is the show in a second season slump? Will Rebecca ever stop calling David Schwimmer "Ross from ...
Aug 04, 2017•1 hr 7 min
So that happened...OJ Simpson got early release for his 2007 Las Vegas robbery conviction. After watching the "Parole Hearing of the Century," what do the Crime Writers think? Should the parole board have considered his past arrest in that infamous double murder case when making their decision? Since every other podcast is talking about Game of Thrones this week, we ask Toby to give his take on HBO's swords-and-sex mega-hit. Only problem is...he hasn't watched the first six seasons, so his WTF p...
Jul 21, 2017•1 hr 13 min
As David Lee Roth said, "I heard you missed us. We're back." A one-week break gives us plenty of time to listen to stuff. And catch up on the latest news from the world of true crime. We circle back for a listen to the sophomore installment of "Ear Hustle." Thank you again to Lt. Sam Robinson for approving this story. Lara reports on the whirling dervish that is the Brendan Dassey appeal. He wins. He loses. He loses again. The "Making a Murderer" supporting player isn't going anywhere soon. Will...
Jul 07, 2017•1 hr 7 min
Love mail galore as listeners weigh in on Ear Hustle, Toby's dog-like voice, and listening to our show during the most important moments of their lives (really!). Then, our take on the not-so surprising (but still upsetting) verdicts in the trials of Bill Cosby and Jeronimo Yanez, the cop that killed Philando Castille. In the back half, we look at a documentary that even Lara Bricker's fire chief husband enjoyed, Sour Grapes on Netflix. This tale of a high-end wine con man had us asking - do we ...
Jun 23, 2017•1 hr 11 min
What should Toby's standard karaoke song be? THE WORLD IS WEIGHING IN. Rebecca heard something in this week's Undisclosed episode on Adnan Syed's cross appeal proceeding that she REALLY wants you to hear. The judges really seem to get it...we think? S-Town is making SO much news as the trial of Tyler Goodson will now incorporate his part in the podcast as evidence. Should Brian Reed have used tape that put Tyler in legal peril? The panel is split. (Note: This episode was recorded before news of ...
Jun 15, 2017•1 hr 10 min
The State of Maryland got its bite at the apple, asking a three judge panel to reinstate Adnan Syed's conviction. The hour-long hearing dove more into Asia McClain and not-so-much into fax cover sheets. What's next for the "Serial" season one subject? We also talk about the latest epic filing in the Steven Avery case. Will "brain fingerprinting" save the day for the man at the middle of Making a Murderer? And what's up with Brendan Dassey's case? Did we forget to mention the CRAZIEST thing that ...
Jun 09, 2017•1 hr 16 min
We start with a pat on the back for Kevin, as our spin-off podcast "...These Are Their Stories" has been nominated for Best TV/Film Podcast by the Academy of Podcasting. No one know how or why the show was picked, but they needed 10 to fill out the category, so... Thanks to the many listeners who helped fill in some of the narrative holes left by "Mommy Dead and Dearest." Among the questions answered from last week include facts about feeding tubes, Dede's medical knowledge, and reasons why she ...
Jun 02, 2017•1 hr 27 min
The crime writers take on the super weird and (sort of) satisfying HBO film Mommy Dead and Dearest. Plus, we explain why we talk about some podcasts and not others, Rebecca asks our listeners for a HUGE favor, and a listener schools the panel on how to pronounce a certain city in Maine. Then, in the crime of the week, we make a BIG decision about doody. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon . Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com....
May 26, 2017•1 hr 12 min
First: More listener-driven shenanigans Next: The panel makes recommendations for podcasts you should be downloading. Further: Undisclosed just dropped a special pre-appeal episode about the Adnan Syed case. In it, Rabia poses the question of whether justice is served when the appellate judges know less about the case than the general public. The main event: The crime writers discuss Hulu's adaptation of "The Handmaid's Tale." Is the story about a nation of subjugated woman - forced either into ...
May 18, 2017•1 hr 11 min
We open up the mail bag and let you weigh in on our discussions about "13 Reasons Why" and the former-profiler-turned-podcaster who's caused a bit of a dust-up among our fans. Richard Simmons may have lost touch with many people, but his lawyers aren't among them. The now-reclusive fitness guru is suing the National Enquirer for a story saying he's had a sex change operation. He also says he's being blackmailed by (say it ain't so!) former companion Mauro. If the stories are false, we think it s...
May 12, 2017•1 hr 14 min
We needed that week off. Seems like everyone's got a podcast side gig now. Toby's hosting Radio Free Dystopia, Kevin's making an appearance on Jed Bartlet is My President, and Rebecca is a new permanent panelist on Slate's Mom and Dad Are Fighting. Rebecca didn't get verified on Twitter and she's PISSED! In a true crime podcast update podcast update, we'll give our take on how the experts from Real Crime Profile used their profiling skills on John B. McLemore from S-town. For a character who's s...
May 05, 2017•1 hr 24 min
