Criminal

Criminal Productions
  • 4.7 (35K)
  • DOCUMENTARY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Criminal
CRIMINAL+

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Criminal is the first of its kind. A show about people who’ve done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle. Hosted by Phoebe Judge. Named a Best Podcast of 2023 by the New York Times. Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

  1. Extraordinary and Compelling Reasons

    6 DAYS AGO

    Extraordinary and Compelling Reasons

    In 1993, Gary Settle was sentenced to 177 years in prison. Twenty-six years into his sentence, he started helping other inmates get out of prison through something called compassionate release - a policy that allows people in prison to petition to be let out for “extraordinary and compelling” reasons. You can learn more about Gary Settle in Anna Altman’s piece, "The Quality of Mercy," in The Atavist Magazine. Say hello on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Sign up for our occasional newsletter, The Accomplice. 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, 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

    44 min

  2. NOV 11 • CRIMINAL+ ONLY

    20 Nice Things (Criminal+)

    This week felt like a good one for a “things we’re enjoying” extravaganza. Plus, the time Phoebe had to wear a gladiator costume, and other mixups that have happened over the years. Thank you for being a member of Criminal Plus. We’d love for you to send us your questions – give us a call and leave a message at (833) 822-7850. Say hello on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. We also make This is Love and Phoebe Reads a Mystery which you can subscribe to ad-free on your account page. Sign up for our occasional newsletter, The Accomplice, at thisiscriminal.com/newsletter.

    39 min
  3. The Reverend

    NOV 8

    The Reverend

    In 1977, a man named Robert Burns went to a funeral and shot someone, in the head, in front of 300 people. He didn’t deny it, and his lawyer didn’t deny it. Burns told a police officer: “I had to do it. And if I had to do it over, I’d do it again.” Casey Cep’s book is The Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee. This episode was originally released in 2019. Say hello on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Sign up for our occasional newsletter, The Accomplice. 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, 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

    40 min
  4. The Family Land, Part 2

    NOV 1

    The Family Land, Part 2

    This week, part two of the Reels family story – how two brothers went to jail in an attempt to save their family land, and were held there for eight years without being charged with a crime. “I’m not going to give up. I don’t think I’m wrong, and I’m willing to fight for it.” For more on the Reels family’s story, you can read Lizzie Presser’s article, “Their Family Bought Land One Generation After Slavery. The Reels Brothers Spent Eight Years in Jail for Refusing to Leave It.” Say hello on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Sign up for our occasional newsletter, The Accomplice. 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, 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

    32 min
  5. The Family Land, Part 1

    OCT 25

    The Family Land, Part 1

    Melvin Davis and Licurtis Reels refused to leave the land that had been in their family for generations – so they were sent to jail. They expected to be in jail for 90 days. They were there for 8 years. This week, part 1 of their story. For more on the Reels family’s story, you can read Lizzie Presser’s article, “Their Family Bought Land One Generation After Slavery. The Reels Brothers Spent Eight Years in Jail for Refusing to Leave It.” Say hello on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Sign up for our occasional newsletter, The Accomplice. 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, 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

    36 min

  6. OCT 24 • CRIMINAL+ ONLY

    Ambush! (Criminal+)

    The Criminal team played laser tag, and really went for it. Plus, the saga of how Phoebe almost missed the Criminal Times Square billboard. We hope you’ll join us at our next virtual gathering next Wednesday, October 30 at 8 pm ET - Criminal trivia is back! Thank you for being a member of Criminal Plus. We’d love for you to send us your questions – give us a call and leave a message at (833) 822-7850. Sign up for our occasional newsletter, The Accomplice, at thisiscriminal.com/newsletter.

    36 min
  7. Valentine

    OCT 18

    Valentine

    Today, a personal story from Phoebe about her mother, Valentine, who died this spring. Say hello on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Sign up for our occasional newsletter, The Accomplice. 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, 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

    43 min
  8. Under the Wall

    OCT 11

    Under the Wall

    Soon after the Berlin Wall went up, a group of students knocked on Joachim Rudolph’s door. They told him they were trying to get people out of East Germany - and they wanted his help.  Helena Merriman’s book and BBC podcast are called Tunnel 29. You can hear the episode of AirSpace with Günter Wetzel here. Say hello on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Sign up for our occasional newsletter, The Accomplice. 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, 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

    41 min
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Shows with Subscription Benefits

  • Love is more than you think. From the creators of Criminal. New episodes twice a month. Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

    • 4.7 (8788)
    • PERSONAL JOURNALS

  • Phoebe reads a mystery novel. Our other shows are Criminal and This is Love.

    • 4.8 (5355)
    • DRAMA
CRIMINAL+

Get 2x-monthly bonus episodes & ad-free listening.

$5.99/mo or $50.00/yr after trial

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Hosts & Guests

4.7
out of 5
35,321 Ratings

About

Criminal is the first of its kind. A show about people who’ve done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle. Hosted by Phoebe Judge. Named a Best Podcast of 2023 by the New York Times. Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

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