Santa Maybe, a Criminal

Ear Cult, LLC
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It’s like Santa Claus. As a suspect. On Dateline. In the South. Basically… everything your meemaw warned you about. When Santa gets booked into the county jail, amateur podcaster Richie Buck fires up his microphone and his best “investigative” voice to clear the Big Man’s name. What follows is a holly-jolly whodunnit featuring disgruntled elves, an Easter Bunny with IBS, and some of your favorite true crime podcasters narrating the chaos. Santa Maybe, a Criminal is a festive true-crime satire that asks the only question worth asking this holiday season: Is Santa… maybe… a criminal?

  1. EPISODE 1

    The First Day of Christmas - A Partridge in a Pine Tree

    Episode 1: The First Day of Christmas – A Partridge in a Pine Tree It's like Santa Claus. As a suspect. On Dateline. In the South. Santa Claus expects milk and cookies on his Christmas route. What he does not expect is a cup of hunch punch strong enough to stun a reindeer. But one wrong sip in a tiny south Georgia town sends the big man spiraling into trouble - serious trouble. By dawn, he’s the prime suspect in a DUI and the hit-and-run death of Ruthie Barker Guest, a sweet grandmother who was just trying to drop off her scuppernong preserves on County Line Road. Enter Richie Buck - pest control tech, makeshift carpenter, and the third-best wise man in his church’s nativity. When Richie hears the news, he refuses to believe it. Santa? A killer? Not on Richie’s watch. And so begins the most bizarre investigation the South has ever seen. Head Elf, Jason Usry Co-Executive Elves: Rebekah Sebastian, Dr. Shiloh Catanese, Dr. Scott Musgrove, and Michelle Kaz. Santa Maybe, a Criminal is written and produced by Jason Usry Cast:  Richie Buck - Jason Usry Santa Claus - Pat Picone Rodney Dale Murphy - Frank Barnas (host of Voca Vacay) Sheriff Bradley Dewberry - Kevin Grogan Music and Sound FX sourced through Epidemic Sound, Soundstripe, Audiio, Universal Music for Creators and more.  Additional music and atmospheres provided by Captain Fathands. Follow the show on social media: X - @santamaybe Facebook - @SantaMaybePodcast Web - santamaybe.com Until next time: BE NICE

    20 min

  2. EPISODE 2

    The Second Day of Christmas - Vehicular Man's Laughter

    Episode 2: The Second Day of Christmas – Vehicular Man's Laughter It's like Santa Claus. As a suspect. On Dateline. In the South. Christmas Eve takes a bizarre turn when Sheriff Bradley DeBerry discovers an abandoned sleigh, nine restless reindeer, and a tragedy in the ditch off County Line Road. With one reindeer sporting a suspiciously glowing nose, and jars of Ruthie Barker Guest’s scuppernong preserves cracked open nearby, the scene looks less like a traffic call and more like a Christmas myth gone sideways. Detective Samantha Strong arrives - rigid, razor-sharp, and not amused. She soon zeroes in on the unthinkable suspect: Santa Claus himself. Richie Buck retraces the investigation, from the sheriff’s run-in with live reindeer to Santa’s tense interrogation, where ho-ho-hos sound more like a nervous tic than holiday cheer. And when Richie spots an edit in the interrogation tape, he starts questioning whether the case against Santa is as airtight as the Sheriff’s Office claims. Now Richie has to ask: Is Santa really guilty of vehicular homicide… or is something not adding up? Cast:  Richie Buck - Jason Usry Santa Claus - Pat Picone Sheriff Bradley Dewberry - Kevin Grogan Rita Barker - Marie Barnas Detective Samantha Strong - Shiloh Catanese Head Elf, Jason Usry Co-Executive Elves: Rebekah Sebastian, Dr. Shiloh Catanese, Dr. Scott Musgrove, and Michelle Kaz. Santa Maybe, a Criminal is written and produced by Jason Usry Music and Sound FX sourced through Epidemic Sound, Soundstripe, Audiio, Universal Music for Creators and more.  Additional music and atmospheres provided by Captain Fathands. Follow the show on social media: X - @santamaybe Facebook - @SantaMaybePodcast Web - santamaybe.com Until next time: BE NICE

    22 min

  3. EPISODE 3

    The Third Day of Christmas – Reindeer Games

    The Third Day of Christmas – Reindeer Games It's like Santa Claus. As a suspect. On Dateline. In the South. As the community gathers in a packed country church to honor Ruthie Barker Guest, Richie Buck can’t shake a gnawing question: if Santa was arrested on Christmas Eve… then how did the rest of the world wake up to presents under the tree? While the vigil lifts Ruthie’s life and legacy, Richie is pulled even deeper into the mystery Santa left behind. Denied access to Santa, Richie turns his attention to the impounded reindeer — where he and Detective Strong discover tension in the herd, suspicious injuries, and one very isolated Rudolph. Between Vaseline-slick fur, skittish behavior, and the “Hateful Eight” icing out their glowing-nosed brother, the reindeer may be hiding more than anyone expected. Then a mysterious envelope appears in Richie’s mailbox, leading to a face-to-face conversation with Santa himself at the local correctional facility. Clean-shaven, tired, and stripped of his iconic image, Santa finally hints at an answer to Richie’s biggest question… but he’s not ready to reveal it yet. With emotions high, clues piling up, and Christmas mythology starting to crack at the seams, Richie inches closer to the truth  - or at least to someone who wants to tell it.   Cast:  Richie Buck - Jason Usry Santa Claus - Pat Picone Preacher Ronnie Douglas - Joseph O'Steen Action 10 News Reporter, Amanda Jergenson - Rebekah Sebastian Rita Barker - Marie Barnas Rodney Dale Murphy - Frank Barnas Bart from the State Farm - Chris Helton Gary, the Guard - Jeremy Hutson Sheriff Bradley Dewberry - Kevin Grogan Rita Barker - Marie Barnas Detective Samantha Strong - Shiloh Catanese Head Elf, Jason Usry Co-Executive Elves: Rebekah Sebastian, Dr. Shiloh Catanese, Dr. Scott Musgrove, and Michelle Kaz. Santa Maybe, a Criminal is written and produced by Jason Usry Music and Sound FX sourced through Epidemic Sound, Soundstripe, Audiio, Universal Music for Creators, and more.  Additional music and atmospheres provided by Captain Fathands. Follow the show on social media: X - @santamaybe Facebook - @SantaMaybePodcast Web - santamaybe.com Until next time: BE NICE

    24 min

  4. EPISODE 4

    The Fourth Day of Christmas – Naughty or Nice

    The Fourth Day of Christmas – Naughty or Nice It's like Santa Claus. As a suspect. On Dateline. In the South. Richie Buck returns to the correctional facility for a second conversation with Santa Claus — now stripped of his iconic beard, dressed in a red jumpsuit, and looking more like a weary small-town umpire than the mythic keeper of Christmas. As Richie presses him on how the presents were delivered after his arrest, Santa leans close to the glass and offers only two words: Christmas magic. But the way he says it makes Richie wonder whether that’s an answer… or a warning. Determined to understand Santa’s behavior, Richie turns to expert help. First up is Dr. Peter Vim­sickle, a forensic psychologist with a velvet mustache, seersucker suit, and enough ego to fill a sleigh. He breaks down possible explanations for Santa’s compulsive “ho ho hos,” shifting demeanor, and emotional responses — including the possibility of neurological or personality disorders. But a second opinion paints a very different picture. Over tacos and margaritas, Dr. Myra Abernathy — blunt, brilliant, and absolutely uninterested in holiday sentimentality — insists Santa is guilty and cracking under the weight of the identity the world forced onto him. To her, this isn’t magic gone wrong… it’s pressure finally breaking. While Richie wrestles with conflicting evaluations, a barrage of online ads leads him to a bizarre new idea: a crowdfunding platform that might just be the key to financing Santa’s defense — and maybe even his bail. With expert opinions clashing, Santa withholding answers, and a new plan forming in Richie’s mind, the line between naughty and nice has never felt blurrier. Cast:  Richie Buck - Jason Usry Santa Claus - Pat Picone Dr. Peter Whimsickle - Scott Musgrove Dr. Myra Abernathy - Cherry Bail Buddy - Elon Muskrat Head Elf, Jason Usry Co-Executive Elves: Rebekah Sebastian, Dr. Shiloh Catanese, Dr. Scott Musgrove, and Michelle Kaz. Santa Maybe, a Criminal is written and produced by Jason Usry Music and Sound FX sourced through Epidemic Sound, Soundstripe, Audiio, Universal Music for Creators and more.  Additional music and atmospheres provided by Captain Fathands. Follow the show on social media: X - @santamaybe Facebook - @SantaMaybePodcast Web - santamaybe.com Until next time: BE NICE

    24 min

  5. EPISODE 5

    The Fifth Day of Christmas - The Case Against

    The Fifth Day of Christmas - The Case Against Richie Buck heads straight into the lion’s den - the prosecutor’s office.  There, he hopes to understand exactly what Santa Claus is up against. But what he finds isn’t a quiet room of legal briefs… It’s a true-crime trophy hall, every wall plastered with mugshots of past convictions like hunting mounts. And the prosecutors, Chet and Sally, treat justice like a competitive sport. Or worse, a hobby. Between high-fives, Top Gun references, and a surprising admission that they nickname Santa “Iceman,” the duo walks Richie through the massive charging document: vehicular manslaughter, breaking and entering, reckless endangerment, unlawful surveillance, cruelty to animals, violating airspace, and even “kissing without consent.” It’s a mountain of accusations, and the prosecutors seem a little too eager to plant a flag at the summit. Overwhelmed, Richie turns to Detective Samantha Strong for clarity, reading each charge aloud over donuts at The Bacon Shack. But every explanation she gives feels more like a nail in Santa’s coffin, especially when the evidence doesn’t look nearly as shaky as Richie hoped. With prosecutors circling, the community whispering, and Santa’s mugshot already hanging on their wall as if the verdict were a done deal, Richie faces his most brutal realization yet: the case against Santa is massive… and belief alone might not be enough to save him. It's like Santa Claus. As a suspect. On Dateline. In the South. Cast:  Richie Buck - Jason Usry Santa Claus - Pat Picone Chet - Brett, from The Prosecutors Podcast Sally - Alice, from The Prosecutors Podcast Detective Samantha Strong - Shiloh Catanese Head Elf, Jason Usry Co-Executive Elves: Rebekah Sebastian, Dr. Shiloh Catanese, Dr. Scott Musgrove, and Michelle Kaz. Santa Maybe, a Criminal is written and produced by Jason Usry Music and Sound FX sourced through Epidemic Sound, Soundstripe, Audiio, Universal Music for Creators and more.  Additional music and atmospheres provided by Captain Fathands. Follow the show on social media: X - @santamaybe Facebook - @SantaMaybePodcast Web - santamaybe.com Until next time: BE NICE

    25 min

  6. EPISODE 6

    The Sixth Day of Christmas - The Case For

    The Sixth Day of Christmas - The Case For Richie Buck returns to the correctional facility, only to discover that Santa’s arrest has turned the mailroom into a 24/7 operation, overwhelmed with letters from children who still believe. When he finally sits across from Santa, the jolly man drops the “ho, ho, ho” act and speaks like a regular person, revealing cracks of doubt, frustration, and fear beneath the persona the world expects him to uphold. But Santa has bigger worries: his court-appointed attorney is a disaster. After a hilarious and deeply concerning encounter, Richie fires the public defender himself and replaces him with someone bold enough to take on the world’s most mythic client - a flashy, fearless, red-nosed (literally) defense attorney named Derek Rudolph. Equal parts showman and legal bulldog, Derek promises Santa will walk out “guilty free”… guaranteed. Just as hope starts to rise, a mysterious caller summons Richie to a late-night meeting behind The Bacon Shack. There, a disguised informant delivers a bombshell: the blood on Santa’s sleigh wasn’t human at all. It belonged to a bird—an owl. If true, the entire case could unravel. And then, as Richie’s mind reels, another message arrives. A green envelope. Block letters. No postage. Inside, a summons to travel north. Far north. Someone at the top of the world wants to see him. With a new defense team, a shocking twist in the evidence, and a summons from the North Pole itself, Richie’s investigation is about to cross a line he can’t uncross. It's like Santa Claus. As a suspect. On Dateline. In the South. Cast:  Richie Buck - Jason Usry Santa Claus - Pat Picone Gary the Prison Guard - Jeremy Hutson Detective Samantha Strong - Shiloh Catanese Trip Tripley - Kyle Burnsed Derek Rudolf - Bob Motta Sebastian Blue - Adam Messer Head Elf, Jason Usry Co-Executive Elves: Rebekah Sebastian, Dr. Shiloh Catanese, Dr. Scott Musgrove, and Michelle Kaz. Santa Maybe, a Criminal is written and produced by Jason Usry Music and Sound FX sourced through Epidemic Sound, Soundstripe, Audiio, Universal Music for Creators and more.  Additional music and atmospheres provided by Captain Fathands. Follow the show on social media: X - @santamaybe Facebook - @SantaMaybePodcast Web - santamaybe.com Until next time: BE NICE

    27 min

  7. EPISODE 8

    The Eighth Day of Christmas - Intercontinental Ballistic Mistletoe

    The Eighth Day of Christmas - Intercontinental Ballistic Mistletoe Richie Buck’s journey through the North Pole takes a sharp, disorienting turn as he finds himself deep inside the abandoned institution where elves once labored until their final cuckoo clock. There, amid smoke, shadows, and the lingering scent of some "elfin tobacco,” Richie meets the elusive Todd O. Tannenbaum - better known as The Toddfather. At first, Richie thinks he’s finally reached the North Pole official who can help him prove Santa’s innocence. But the longer he sits in that haze, the clearer it becomes: Todd didn’t bring him here to save Santa… he brought him here to bury him. When Richie refuses to bend, Todd flips a radio knob, and Richie collapses into a drug-induced sleep. He wakes in a strange room with Ellie, the world’s most impatient elf - who informs him they’re late for a meeting with the mayor. Nothing at the North Pole looks the way Richie imagined. No lights, no candy-cane cottages. Just industrial gray, weary elves, and simmering unrest. Mayor P.P. Patenaude greets Richie with eggnog, charm, and a political request that makes Richie’s head spin: an endorsement from Santa Claus himself. And later, at the North Pole’s exclusive “NOPO Cabana,” Todd and the mayor ply Richie with Liquid Christmas and dense political riddles, turning the evening into a blur of smoke, neon, and escalating tension. But the night isn’t over. Outside, an elf in a heavy coat stops Richie and ushers him into a black sleigh. The elf flashes a badge. Cameron D. Kane Head of the ELF-BI. According to him, Santa’s arrest has created an international hostage crisis. Power is shifting. Alliances are forming. If Richie wants to straighten the mess out, he’ll need to meet someone who knows Santa better than anyone. Mrs. Claus.   It's like Santa Claus. As a suspect. On Dateline. In the South. Cast:  Richie Buck - Jason Usry Santa Claus - Pat Picone Todd O'Tannenbaum AKA: The Toddfather - Chris Helton Ellie the Elf - Sydney Catanese Mayor P.P. Patenaude - Lance Reenstierna of Crawlspace and Missing Cameron (Cam) D. Kane, head of the Elf B I - Tim Pillieri of Crawlspace and Missing Special drink of the podcast created by Nina of The Already Gone podcast. Head Elf, Jason Usry Co-Executive Elves: Rebekah Sebastian, Dr. Shiloh Catanese, Dr. Scott Musgrove, and Michelle Kaz. Santa Maybe, a Criminal is written and produced by Jason Usry Music and Sound FX sourced through Epidemic Sound, Soundstripe, Audiio, Universal Music for Creators and more.  Additional music and atmospheres provided by Captain Fathands. Follow the show on social media: X - @santamaybe Facebook - @SantaMaybePodcast Web - santamaybe.com Until next time: BE NICE

    27 min

  8. EPISODE 11

    The Eleventh Day of Christmas - An Elfic Surprise

    The world is talking about Santa Claus. True crime podcasters are weighing in, conspiracy shows are spinning theories, and Richie Buck finds himself caught in the crossfire as the story explodes far beyond his small podcast. Richie pushes the chatter aside and throws himself back into the investigation, beginning with a meeting he both needs and fears. Dr. Peter Vimsickle has completed Santa’s psychological evaluation, and the results are not what Richie hoped for. According to the doctor, Santa shows signs of narcissistic and histrionic disorders, obsessive tendencies, and a level of paranoia that has only intensified since his arrest. Even worse, Dr. Vimsickle plans to testify for the prosecution. The assessment forces Richie to confront a truth he has been avoiding. His faith in Santa might be less about evidence and more about the comfort the holiday has always given him. Looking for a wider perspective, the doctor sends Richie to meet cult and ritual expert Dr. Princess Jesper. Their encounter takes place in a cemetery by a lazy river, where Richie discovers a hidden shrine and a voodoo-style Santa doll complete with a shaved-off beard and the scent of hunch punch. Dr. Jesper raises a chilling possibility. Someone may have cursed Santa long before Christmas Eve. Over pancakes and bacon at The Bacon Shack, Dr. Jesper and Richie discuss the elves, the factions at the North Pole, and whether Santa’s continued absence could destabilize the entire operation. Richie leaves with more questions than answers and a growing fear that Santa’s world might be more divided than he realized. Back home, Richie sorts through his mail and finds a package containing old VHS tapes labeled Barker Christmas. When he loads the first tape into his ancient VCR, it jams immediately. But Richie has a guy who can fix it, and he knows the contents of those tapes might finally reveal the truth about Ruthie Barker Guest. Next episode, those tapes will speak from beyond the grave. And Richie will follow the evidence straight to the person he believes framed Santa Claus. Cast:  Richie Buck - Jason Usry Santa Claus - Pat Picone Dr. Peter Whimsickle - Scott Musgrove Dr. Prentice Jesper - Rebekah Sebastian Head Elf, Jason Usry Co-Executive Elves: Rebekah Sebastian, Dr. Shiloh Catanese, Dr. Scott Musgrove, and Michelle Kaz. Santa Maybe, a Criminal is written and produced by Jason Usry Music and Sound FX sourced through Epidemic Sound, Soundstripe, Audiio, Universal Music for Creators and more.  Additional music and atmospheres provided by Captain Fathands. Follow the show on social media: X - @santamaybe Facebook - @SantaMaybePodcast Web - santamaybe.com Until next time: BE NICE

    27 min

  9. EPISODE 12

    The Twelfth Day of Christmas - Down the Rabbit Hole

    Richie Buck finally has the evidence he has been waiting for. After Sheriff Bradley Dewberry repairs Richie’s ancient VCR, Richie plays the 1985 Christmas tape Ruthie Barker Guest recorded in her living room. What he discovers is explosive. Ruthie rants about Santa, threatens revenge, and whispers a strange clue that rewrites everything Richie thought he knew. She mentions the Easter Bunny. And the Tooth Fairy. With this revelation echoing in his head, Richie retreats to his garage headquarters. Fishing line replaces yarn as he connects every clue from the crime scene. The missing mitten. The owl blood. The suspicious Easter-themed sponsors. The tunnels. The burrow. The grass green Kia Soul with a smashed headlight. Every detail begins to point in one direction. Richie follows the trail to the home of the Easter Bunny, AKA - EB Cooper. Inside a mound-like dwelling that smells like carrots and damp earth, Richie finds jars of preserves, stacks of baskets, and a mitten identical to the one found near the crime scene. The Easter Bunny brags about Santa’s downfall, complains about holiday politics, and slips up. He admits he set a trap for Ruthie Barker Guest. He admits he wanted her gone. And he admits Santa reached the scene before he could finish the job. Richie leaves shaken and triumphant. For the first time, he has a fully formed theory of Christmas Eve. The Easter Bunny hit Ruthie Barker Guest with his Kia Soul. The owls followed his scent. Santa crashed into the panicked birds. And the sheriff arrived moments later to arrest the wrong mythical figure. Richie is ready to take everything he has learned to Detective Samantha Strong. But before he can, a package appears on his porch. Inside are files, photos, and dental x-rays. The sender warns him about another danger lurking in Santa’s circle. A woman named Wanda Van Bratton. Richie knows her by a different name. The Tooth Fairy. Santa’s story may be ending, but Richie’s new investigation is just beginning. It's like Santa Claus. As a suspect. On Dateline. In the South. Cast:  Richie Buck - Jason Usry Santa Claus - Pat Picone Sheriff Bradley Dewberry - Kevin Grogan Ruthie Barker Guest - Kristi Chandler Grogan Detective Samantha Strong - Shiloh Catanese The Easter Bunny - The Easter Bunny Head Elf, Jason Usry Co-Executive Elves: Rebekah Sebastian, Dr. Shiloh Catanese, Dr. Scott Musgrove, and Michelle Kaz. Santa Maybe, a Criminal is written and produced by Jason Usry Music and Sound FX sourced through Epidemic Sound, Soundstripe, Audiio, Universal Music for Creators and more.  Additional music and atmospheres provided by Captain Fathands. Follow the show on social media: X - @santamaybe Facebook - @SantaMaybePodcast Web - santamaybe.com Until next time: BE NICE

    29 min

  10. SEASON 1 TRAILER

    Santa Maybe, a Criminal Trailer

    It’s like Santa Claus. As a suspect. On Dateline. In the South. Basically… everything your meemaw warned you about. When Santa gets booked into the county jail, amateur podcaster Richie Buck fires up his microphone and his best “investigative” voice to clear the Big Man’s name. What follows is a holly-jolly whodunnit featuring disgruntled elves, an Easter Bunny with IBS, and some of your favorite true crime podcasters narrating the chaos. Santa Maybe, a Criminal is a festive true-crime satire that asks the only question worth asking this holiday season: Is Santa… maybe… a criminal?

    1 min
See All Season 1 (10)

Trailer

About

It’s like Santa Claus. As a suspect. On Dateline. In the South. Basically… everything your meemaw warned you about. When Santa gets booked into the county jail, amateur podcaster Richie Buck fires up his microphone and his best “investigative” voice to clear the Big Man’s name. What follows is a holly-jolly whodunnit featuring disgruntled elves, an Easter Bunny with IBS, and some of your favorite true crime podcasters narrating the chaos. Santa Maybe, a Criminal is a festive true-crime satire that asks the only question worth asking this holiday season: Is Santa… maybe… a criminal?

Information

  • Creator
    Ear Cult, LLC
  • Episodes
    14
  • Seasons
    1
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    Santa Maybe, a Criminal