To Die For

Over the past year, people While definitely a fan favorite, true crime is not solely about everywhere have been murder and serial killers. Both of these podcasts cover a wide scouring the nooks and variety of topics, which is what keeps audiences engaged. crannies of music, tele- “We try to mix it up, so it’s not just all the same,” Wallace vision, movies, books said. “One, because we like to talk about other stuff, but also for and podcasts to find some sort of entertainment. Among mental health. It is a little daunting to just do straight murder all them is the overwhelming trend of people listening to and the time, but we try to do 2-3 true crime episodes and then we’ll watching true crime podcasts and TV shows. throw in something fun like a cult or haunting.”

Christie Wallace and Heather McKinney, hosts of the pop- The same goes for Homicide Homegirls. “As far as our catular true crime podcast, Sinisterhood, can understand why so egories go, if I noticed in our lineup we haven’t covered a many people have developed this interest. “I think it’s similar to missing person in a while, I’ll choose that or if it’s preparing for a disaster, but on a micro-scale,” McKinney said. been a while since I’ve covered an infamous “Asking why other people got attacked, what they did and what murder I’ll do the same,” Tamplain said. they should have done.” They have recently added a new survi-

Hearing these cases allows people to analyze certain scenar- vor category and have been considerios in retrospect and think about what they should have done to ing the possibility to add topics like have a different outcome. “It’s a way for people to cope and deal cults and scams. with the fears that they may have,” Wallace said. “I think people As the interest in True Crime find it fascinating to watch from a birds-eye view. People like podcasts has increased, so has scary movies because they’re thrilling and get their adrenaline the number of podcasts which running and what’s scarier than a real-life horror movie?” increases the competition.

Similarly, Amanda Tamplain and Arielle Collins, hosts of the “Many of the hosts are female, Homicide Homegirls podcast, have also noticed this spike in true so you have to really be able to crime curiosity. “I think the whole fascination of why true crime set yourself apart and not get is so popular right now is because of the psychology behind it,” lost in the crowd,” Wallace said. Tamplain said. “Understanding what made someone commit a In order to maintain a steady crime and thinking about at what point does someone cross the stream of listeners, each of these line to commit a murder.” podcasts has to provide a unique an“My favorite cases are proba- “People like scary movies gle when it comes to analyzing cases. “I think because [McKbly serial killers,” Collins said. “I’m because they’re thrilling and inney] is a lawyer, we offer a totally different spin on things and just a wealth of so fascinated by the reason and get their adrenaline running knowledge,” Wallace said. “She does a great job of explaining concepts in layman’s terms, so people who understanding what makes a and what’s scarier than a rearen’t lawyers can really understand.” “I think our backgrounds make us uniquely qualperson become a serial killer.” al-life horror movie?” ified. Christine worked in a domestic violence shelter. My current job is working with over 60 year old When it comes to serial killer cas- - Christie Wallace victims of crime, exploitation and abuse,” McKinney said. es, Collins and McKinney’s co-host Wallace also has a degree in Tamplain take psychology, so when the word ‘psychopath’ is used in time on their podcast to examine each criminal’s behavior and an informal context, she has the tools and knowledge to unpack how their past could have influenced their actions. “We that. ”[Wallace] knows that just because somebody is an a**hole, talk a lot about nature versus nurture on our doesn’t mean they are a psychopath,” McKinney said. podcast, and just about how [someone] Homicide Homegirls have the same desire to stand out in the decides to one day kill some- sea of podcasts. They attack their cases from a different angle. “I body and take a human was a dispatcher for four years,” Tamplain said. “I have been on life,” Collins said. the other side of it. So I have some knowledge of criminal law codes and things like that.” While each host brings a different area of expertise to each episode, there are other reasons that make these true crime podcasts so stand out. “We do try to focus on the victims,” Tam-

plain said. “Sometimes it tends to be more about their murder ing answers for the families of those impacted by these heinous than them as a person, and we want to individualize them. They crimes. weren’t just a news article, they lost their life.” “The show was created to help solve mysteries and bring clo-

When people think about famous cases, rarely are they re- sure to people and their families,” Ava Feneberger, the executive membered by the victims’ name. “Everyone knows Ted assistant, said. Bundy’s name, but unless you’re super into true crime, Unlike many other true crime shows that end with the capyou couldn’t tell me one of his victims’ names,” Col- ture and arrest of the perpetrator, “Unsolved Mysteries” calls on lins said. their viewers to In one of their episodes about Louisiana serial killer, Ronald Dom- “I’m so fascinated by the help them solve these gruesome inique, Tamplain makes sure her listeners pay attention to the vicreason and understanding cases. The involvement of the tims as well as the murderer. “He what makes a person become public is what murdered 23 men, most of them makes this show, were homosexual,” Tamplain a serial killer.” in particular, said. “And while we didn’t have enough information on all of - Arielle Collins more engaging and memorathem, I made it a point to read all ble compared to of their names.” other true crime The Sinisterhood podcast makes shows. it a point to use their platform to help alter the “‘Unsolved Mysteries’ was the first show of its kind to ask the systemic issues that cause many of these deaths. “At audience to help solve mysteries, and that remains at the core the end of every case we try to zoom out and have of every episode we do,” Feneberger said. “We always want the a call to action,” McKinney said. “Asking listeners audience to submit their tips. Out of more than 1,300 mysteries, to call your senator, or look at your state law, for the series has helped solve over 260.” example.” When deciding which stories get aired on the show, the creators Wallace and McKinney are both come- take their time to read every story submission and carefully pick dians, that is how they met. So although those that they believe have the most potential to be solved. there are many podcasts hosted by suc- “There are so many stories that need to be told,” Feneberger cessful people in their field, rarely do said. “We read every story submission we receive and keep them they have the combined experience all in a database. Sometimes law enforcement recommends cases that goes past their knowledge on a sin- to us.” gular subject. “There are podcasts hosted The ‘Unsolved Mysteries’ team hopes that their show will be by law- yers; they’re not comedians. There able to reach viewers all around the world so more people can are podcasts hosted by comedians that are not help those in need of answers. “We hope everyone will watch lawyers,” McKinney said. the show and help us solve a mystery!” Feneberger said.

It is no wonder that true crime podcasts have become When it comes to true crime entertainment, there is so a phenomenon. The content stretches beyond the entertaining much more to it than just the retelling of cases about sehauntings, cults and infamous serial killers, and into social anal- rial killers and heinous murders. Whether you listen or ysis of violence in our society. watch your true crime there is something out there

As many diehard fans know, true crime entertainment does for everyone to enjoy because there are so many not just come in the form of a podcast. In the Netflix reboot of different categories and subsections to this genre. “Unsolved Mysteries,” John Cosgrove and Terry Dunn Meurer’s It is no wonder true crime entertainment is “to original show from 1987 brings to life spine-chilling cases that die for” when creators take so much time to had previously been tossed aside and declared cold cases. The develop their episodes and connect with show aims to showcase these forgotten events in hopes of find- their audience.