Criminal Records Podcast
195 episodes - English - Latest episode: 25 days ago - ★★★★★ - 57 ratingsCriminal Records Podcast is a history show exploring the weird history of crime and punishment, from the earliest recorded murder case to the origins of laws that are in effect today. Join hosts Isaac Meyer and Demetria Spinrad on a wild journey through criminal justice systems all over the world.
You can listen to our episodes in any order, but we recommend starting with our most recent cases and working your way back through our catalogue. We’ve learned a lot about audio editing and structuring hour-long episodes since we first started in 2018!
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Episodes
The Boston Massacre Trials
October 10, 2019 11:00 - 58 minutes - 42.5 MBJoin us as we demystify even more American history! No sacred cow of the American past is safe!
Episode 27 - Socrates
September 26, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 47.2 MBThis time, Isaac and Demetria go back in time to answer the age old question: if Socrates was such a great philosopher, why couldn't he figure out not to drink all that poison? That plus long digressions about the nature of democracy and medieval theology (of course)!
Socrates
September 26, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 47.2 MBThis time, Isaac and Demetria go back in time to answer the age old question: if Socrates was such a great philosopher, why couldn't he figure out not to drink all that poison? That plus long digressions about the nature of democracy and medieval theology (of course)!
Al Capone
September 12, 2019 11:00 - 55 minutes - 41.8 MBThis week, grab your tommy guns and fedoras as we make our way to Chicago to cover the meteoric rise (and equally meteoric fall) of one of America's most famous gangsters, Al Capone!
Episode 26 - Al Capone
September 12, 2019 11:00 - 55 minutes - 41.8 MBThis week, grab your tommy guns and fedoras as we make our way to Chicago to cover the meteoric rise (and equally meteoric fall) of one of America's most famous gangsters, Al Capone!
Episode 25 - Gaius Verres
August 29, 2019 11:00 - 53 minutes - 38.3 MBThis week, it's time for a fun case of ancient Roman slander as we talk about the corrupt politician Gaius Verres. What was he accused of? Are the charges real, or were they embellished to help the career of an upjumped lawyer named Cicero? And what's up with everyone always making analogies between Rome and America?
Gaius Verres
August 29, 2019 11:00 - 53 minutes - 38.3 MBThis week, it's time for a fun case of ancient Roman slander as we talk about the corrupt politician Gaius Verres. What was he accused of? Are the charges real, or were they embellished to help the career of an upjumped lawyer named Cicero? And what's up with everyone always making analogies between Rome and America?
Episode 24 - Sakakibara Seito/"Boy A"
August 15, 2019 11:00 - 50 minutes - 36.9 MBThis week, Isaac and Demetria discuss the gruesome series of child murders that took place in Kobe in 1997, and the circumstances surrounding the eventual capture and trial of the killer -- a 14 year old high school boy.
Sakakibara Seito/"Boy A"
August 15, 2019 11:00 - 50 minutes - 36.9 MBThis week, Isaac and Demetria discuss the gruesome series of child murders that took place in Kobe in 1997, and the circumstances surrounding the eventual capture and trial of the killer -- a 14 year old high school boy.
Olympe de Gouges
August 01, 2019 12:00 - 1 hour - 45.9 MBThis week, Isaac and Demetria unpack the career of the firebrand revolutionary playwright Olympe de Gouges. Along the way, we tackle such important questions as: what was the French Revolution about? What even is feminism? And why is Isaac's French accent so bad?
Episode 23 - Olympe de Gouges
August 01, 2019 12:00 - 1 hour - 45.9 MBThis week, Isaac and Demetria unpack the career of the firebrand revolutionary playwright Olympe de Gouges. Along the way, we tackle such important questions as: what was the French Revolution about? What even is feminism? And why is Isaac's French accent so bad?
Episode 22 - Fred Korematsu
July 18, 2019 12:00 - 51 minutes - 38.2 MBThis week, we're talking about Fred Korematsu, whose great crime was being in the place where he was born. How did America get to the point of incarcerating its own citizens in the 1940s? And what does that story have to tell us about today?
Fred Korematsu
July 18, 2019 12:00 - 51 minutes - 38.2 MBThis week, we're talking about Fred Korematsu, whose great crime was being in the place where he was born. How did America get to the point of incarcerating its own citizens in the 1940s? And what does that story have to tell us about today?
Episode 21 - Nannie Doss
July 03, 2019 12:00 - 42 minutes - 28.4 MBThis week, Demetria and Isaac investigate the serial killer Nannie Doss, whose husbands kept mysteriously dying after eating things she'd prepared. Surely that must be some sort of unfortunate coincidence! We're releasing this one a day early since the American crowd will be celebrating on July 4th. Watch out for any suspicious pies!
Nannie Doss
July 03, 2019 12:00 - 42 minutes - 28.4 MBThis week, Demetria and Isaac investigate the serial killer Nannie Doss, whose husbands kept mysteriously dying after eating things she'd prepared. Surely that must be some sort of unfortunate coincidence! We're releasing this one a day early since the American crowd will be celebrating on July 4th. Watch out for any suspicious pies!
The Jews of Trent
June 20, 2019 14:14 - 53 minutes - 37.2 MBThis week, Isaac and Demetria discuss an infamous blood libel trial: the story of St. Simon of Trent, and the Jews who were tortured and executed after the city authorities blamed them for the boy's murder.
Episode 20 - The Jews of Trent
June 20, 2019 14:14 - 53 minutes - 37.2 MBThis week, Isaac and Demetria discuss an infamous blood libel trial: the story of St. Simon of Trent, and the Jews who were tortured and executed after the city authorities blamed them for the boy's murder.
Episode 19 - Robin Hood
June 06, 2019 12:00 - 57 minutes - 39.5 MBThis week, we cover our first fictional criminal, the famous Robin Hood! Where do his stories come from? How have they changed? What can they tell us about the relationship between anachronistic fictional criminals and the people who wrote about them?
Robin Hood
June 06, 2019 12:00 - 57 minutes - 39.5 MBThis week, we cover our first fictional criminal, the famous Robin Hood! Where do his stories come from? How have they changed? What can they tell us about the relationship between anachronistic fictional criminals and the people who wrote about them?
Episode 17 - William Chaloner
May 23, 2019 12:00 - 42 minutes - 29 MBThis week: what do painted clothing, fake coins, and dildoes have in common? All of them factor into the career of one of England's most fascinating conmen, the forger William Chaloner!
William Chaloner
May 23, 2019 12:00 - 42 minutes - 29 MBThis week: what do painted clothing, fake coins, and dildoes have in common? All of them factor into the career of one of England's most fascinating conmen, the forger William Chaloner!
Eugène François Vidocq
May 09, 2019 12:00 - 1 hour - 49.3 MBAmanda Jean of the Red Pen Podcast joins Demetria for the story of France's most notorious criminal turned cop. If you enjoy fiction about crime today, you're probably reading something inspired by Vidocq's legacy. Where to find more from our lovely guest: The Red Pen Podcast: RSS feed The Red Pen Podcast: Patreon Less Than Three Press's Creature Feature fiction call
Episode 16 - Eugène François Vidocq
May 09, 2019 12:00 - 1 hour - 49.3 MBAmanda Jean of the Red Pen Podcast joins Demetria for the story of France's most notorious criminal turned cop. If you enjoy fiction about crime today, you're probably reading something inspired by Vidocq's legacy. Where to find more from our lovely guest: The Red Pen Podcast: RSS feed The Red Pen Podcast: Patreon Less Than Three Press's Creature Feature fiction call
Episode 15 - The Chicago Black Sox
April 25, 2019 12:00 - 42 minutes - 29.6 MBThis week, Isaac tortures Demetria by forcing her to listen to him talk about baseball. But really, baseball is fun so we should all take joy in her learning about it. Oh also we'll cover one of the biggest sporting scandals in American history or whatever. It's a tale of labor laws, sports gambling, legal shenanigans, and all other things classically American as we all go out to the ball game!
The Chicago Black Sox
April 25, 2019 12:00 - 42 minutes - 29.6 MBThis week, Isaac tortures Demetria by forcing her to listen to him talk about baseball. But really, baseball is fun so we should all take joy in her learning about it. Oh also we'll cover one of the biggest sporting scandals in American history or whatever. It's a tale of labor laws, sports gambling, legal shenanigans, and all other things classically American as we all go out to the ball game!
Narutaki Mansuke
April 11, 2019 04:00 - 45 minutes - 22.3 MBThis week, Isaac and Demetria make use of a tale of revenge from 1820s Japan to discuss one of the most interesting legal practices we've ever seen: kataki-uchi, the system of legally permitted revenge of Japan's samurai era. Why turn revenge into something akin to getting your license renewed at the DMV? What are the rules? And what can we learn about the nature of justice from thinking about this?
Episode 14 - Narutaki Mansuke
April 11, 2019 04:00 - 45 minutes - 22.3 MBThis week, Isaac and Demetria make use of a tale of revenge from 1820s Japan to discuss one of the most interesting legal practices we've ever seen: kataki-uchi, the system of legally permitted revenge of Japan's samurai era. Why turn revenge into something akin to getting your license renewed at the DMV? What are the rules? And what can we learn about the nature of justice from thinking about this?
Niccola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti
March 28, 2019 04:00 - 46 minutes - 47.5 MBThis week, Isaac and Demetria investigate the case that grabbed headlines across 1920s America. We'll talk about the intersection of xenophobia, violent anarchism, and the American legal system, and how all of them manifested in a bungled case that remains divisive to this day. Sacco and Vanzetti's letters from prison are available here.
Episode 13 - Niccola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti
March 28, 2019 04:00 - 46 minutes - 47.5 MBThis week, Isaac and Demetria investigate the case that grabbed headlines across 1920s America. We'll talk about the intersection of xenophobia, violent anarchism, and the American legal system, and how all of them manifested in a bungled case that remains divisive to this day. Sacco and Vanzetti's letters from prison are available here.
Episode 12 - The Dead Body of Pope Formosus
March 14, 2019 04:00 - 47 minutes - 21.6 MBThis episode has it all: Pope-on-pope legal drama! Corpse desecration! 3 separate French kings named Charles! Come for an explanation of the corpse synod, stay to find out why it's not easy being pope.
The Dead Body of Pope Formosus
March 14, 2019 04:00 - 47 minutes - 21.6 MBThis episode has it all: Pope-on-pope legal drama! Corpse desecration! 3 separate French kings named Charles! Come for an explanation of the corpse synod, stay to find out why it's not easy being pope.
Benedict Arnold
February 28, 2019 05:00 - 48 minutes - 49.5 MBThis week, Demetria and Isaac tackle America's great traitor! Who was Arnold, and what did his trial for a series of ridiculous charges have to do with his decision to betray his country?
Episode 11 - Benedict Arnold
February 28, 2019 05:00 - 48 minutes - 49.5 MBThis week, Demetria and Isaac tackle America's great traitor! Who was Arnold, and what did his trial for a series of ridiculous charges have to do with his decision to betray his country?
Margaret "Mother" Clap
February 14, 2019 17:00 - 46 minutes - 47.5 MBThis week, Isaac and Demetria discuss the story of Margaret Clap, proprietor of a coffee house with a big secret. What was a molly house, why was the government prosecuting men for buggery, and why are trial records some of our best surviving documents about gay culture in 1720s England?
Episode 10 - Margaret "Mother" Clap
February 14, 2019 17:00 - 46 minutes - 47.5 MBThis week, Isaac and Demetria discuss the story of Margaret Clap, proprietor of a coffee house with a big secret. What was a molly house, why was the government prosecuting men for buggery, and why are trial records some of our best surviving documents about gay culture in 1720s England?
Govinda Prasad Mainali
February 07, 2019 06:00 - 37 minutes - 38.5 MBThis week, Isaac and Demetria tackle the case of Govinda Mainali, a Nepalese man accused in Japan of a murder he obviously didn't commit. But obviously he didn't do it, so there's no way he could end up serving 12 years in prison just to make the Japanese government look more efficient at solving crimes than it really is, right?
Episode 09 - Govinda Prasad Mainali
February 07, 2019 06:00 - 37 minutes - 38.5 MBThis week, Isaac and Demetria tackle the case of Govinda Mainali, a Nepalese man accused in Japan of a murder he obviously didn't commit. But obviously he didn't do it, so there's no way he could end up serving 12 years in prison just to make the Japanese government look more efficient at solving crimes than it really is, right?
Episode 08 - Bo Xilai and Gu Kailai
January 17, 2019 17:00 - 47 minutes - 65.3 MBThis week, we cover the fall from grace of Bo Xilai and Gu Kailai. From rising stars of the communist party to convicted murderers, what does their story tell us about the workings of the modern Chinese Communist Party?
Episode 07 - Willem Arondeus
January 03, 2019 05:00 - 29 minutes - 39.9 MBThis week, we cover the Dutch resistance fighter Willem Arondeus, and his sabotage of government archives being used by the Nazis to hunt down the Jews of the Netherlands.
Episode 06 - Naftaly Frenkel
December 20, 2018 05:00 - 36 minutes - 49.8 MBThis week we cover one of the architects of the infamous Soviet GULAG system, who started his career as an inmate of the very system he would reshape forever!
Episode 05 - Bjorn Petursson
December 06, 2018 05:00 - 30 minutes - 41.7 MBThis week, we tackle Iceland's most famous (and only) serial killer, Axlar-Bjorn. Who was he? Why is his case difficult to reconstruct? Why do all these dead bodies keep mysteriously showing up on his farm in a totally inexplicable way?
Episode 04 - Li San
November 22, 2018 06:00 - 45 minutes - 51.1 MBThis week, we cover a fratricide from China's Qing dynasty. Who were the Li family? Why did one of the brothers of the family kill another? And how was the case handled by one of the world's most complex justice systems?
Episode 03 - Abe Sada
November 08, 2018 06:00 - 42 minutes - 38.8 MBThis week, we cover one of the most scandalous criminal cases in Japanese history. In 1936, Abe Sada commits a grizzly murder that captures the attention of all of Japan. Why did she do it? How was the crime investigated? And why do we care so much? All of that, plus some tasteless genital jokes (far fewer than we could have made!)
Episode 02 - Arnaud du Tilh/"Martin Guerre"
October 25, 2018 04:30 - 37 minutes - 42.1 MBThis week, we cover one of history's most famous imposture cases. Eight years after leaving his home town of Artigat, Martin Guerre comes home. But of course, all of us change after a long time away -- sometimes into different people altogether!
Episode 01 - Introduction
October 18, 2018 05:00 - 23 minutes - 25.3 MBWelcome to Criminal Records! Your hosts Isaac and Demetria will talk you through what this show is all about, why you should listen to it, and all the other fun stuff you're used to from intro episodes. Crime and history: what's not to love?