kevin flynn
Murder in Glitterball City

A pair of lovers point the finger at each other when a body is unearthed in their basement. Which one is responsible for the deadly encounter?

Murder in Glitterball City
kevin flynn
Out Like Serial's Flynn, Etan's Legacy, and ...
Out Like Serial's Flynn, Etan's Legacy, and Shadow of Truth

S2 Ep 10.5: JAGged Little Pill, Your Questions, & A People Vs. OJ Breakdown

JAGged Little Pill, Your Questions, & A People Vs. OJ Analysis

It's yet another a super long episode! (Sorry about that.)

But hey, at least there are t-shirts you guys can buy. Here's the link to those. 

For civilians, is there something about Serial Season 2 that neither we nor Sarah fundamentally get?

Rebecca and Kevin have a talk with JAG Lt Col James Weirick (ret), one of the hosts of the Task and Purpose Radio podcast. Weirick shares his take on Bowe, how the legal case against him is playing out, and what military listeners are saying about Serial Season 2. He also confesses to stalking Sarah Keonig in a "non-criminal" way.

We also answer a few listener questions (including one from Michael Jackson's old house!) and Kevin makes yet another terrible transition into our sponsor's ads. There's also a meaty discussion about our latest TV obsession, "The People vs OJ Simpson." What started as a cheesy, escapist miniseries has become a riveting character study - and maybe a feminist manifesto?.

So a guy walks into a sushi bar with a giant snake.  And he says, "This sounds like it could be the Crime of Week." Let the good times maki roll. 


James Weirick's webpage

Task & Purpose website (podcast)

S2 Ep 10: We Never Promised You A Rose Garden - Serial Season 2

We Never Promised You A Rose Garden

The Crime Writers dissect almost every aspect of Serial, Season 2, Episode 10, "Thorny Politics." It gets so deep that Rebecca feels the need to include extra out-takes for comic relief.

Plus, Kevin explains what a "news fixer" is and makes a better-than-last-week transition into our ads, Rebecca asks whether or not public radio reporters are SO committed to journalistic neutrality that they only talk to Republicans, we hear what a traffic report in New Hampshire would have sounded like a decade ago, and the panel discusses a Crime of the Week designed for the twenty-five percent.

Related:

Here's the New York Times article that gets mentioned about twelve times during this episode

An Atlantic story about news fixers and how they decide which crimes you actually hear about on network TV

Rebecca mentioned this reddit thread in which a user made a comment about Sarah Koenig's use of sources and public radio's reporters' fear of being seen as "liberal shills"

The Crime of the Week: An Alabama man faces charges for stealing almost $200,000 in quarters, which weighed about 10,000 pounds.

S2 Ep 9.5: Ruff Week, Trumping Bowe, OJ on the Side, & Downton's Downturn

S2 Ep 9.5: Ruff Week, Trumping Bowe, OJ on the Side, & Downton's Downturn

The Crime Writers talk about why it's not a good idea to say you think someone committed a murder in public and also  cover some new developments around Bowe Bergdahl media projects and his lawyer's request to interview Donald Trump.

Plus,  there are some silly ads, and after those, a discussion about The People Versus O.J. Simpson and that Downton Abbey finale, which Toby has a whole lot of opinions about. 

Also, the Crime of the Week gives Kevin a case of the 'Green Apple Splatters.'

 

S2 Ep 9: Trade...Ahem...Secrets - Serial Season 2

S2 Ep 9: Trade...Ahem...Secrets

The Crime Writers zoom all around a huge episode of Serial in which Sarah unpacks the attempts at diplomacy that led (and didn't lead) to Bowe Bergdahl's release. 

Also, we talk about that mysterious throat clearing incident, beg our listeners to start watching The Grinder, and frame a whole episode around what you thought we should talk about. Plus, THAT KNIFE FOUND AT OJ SIMPSON'S HOUSE!!!

Listen:

Related:

Here are the books recommended by the panel during our ad for Audible.com (we're linking to the physical books through Amazon):




S2 Ep 8.5: Bowe's Brain, Loose Story Threads, & Listener Questions - Serial Season 2

Bowe's Brain, Loose Story Threads, & Listener Questions

The Crime Writers pick at some loose threads from Serial's recent episodes, and talk with an actual expert on about how Bowe's personality disorder may have led to his walking away but also helped him cope with five years in captivity.

Plus, Toby's away! But we have an able-bodied PT Stud sitting in his place, reporter and Outside/In podcast host Sam Evans-Brown.

Also, the Crime of the Week puts the Crime Writers on the spot when it comes to internet sleuthing.

Links:

Here's that Daily Mail article about the girlfriend Bowe Bergdahl had when he walked away.

Remember when Sam Evans-Brown said he "wasn't that fast" a runner? Yeah, he's a liar. Check out the results of this 2014 5K in Concord, NH, in which nearly 3,000 people participated. Spoiler alert: he placed 7th.





S2 Ep7/8: Hindsight, in Two Episodes - Serial Season 2

S2 Episodes 7 and 8: Hindsight, in Two Episodes - Serial Season 2

The Crime Writers dissect the most interesting aspects of this week's 2-part Serial Season 2 release, 'Hindsight.' Highlights include Rebecca's unprecedented disagreement with Sarah Koenig, Toby's astute analysis of "slippery slope," the over-use of the word "hippie," and a the beginning of a feline face-off.

Plus, the Crime of the Week - and a special surprise we've all been waiting for right in the middle of the ep. 

Links:

Toby talked about white supremacists being let into the military on special wavers. Here's some reporting on that.

Additional episode scoring music from Jahzzar, via the Free Music Archive.

S2 Ep 6.5: Making a Murderer's 'Silver Fox', Adnan Syed's PCR Wrap, Bowe's Brain, & The People Vs. O.J. Simpson

S2 Ep 6.5 Megasode: Making a Murderer's 'Silver Fox', Adnan Syed's PCR Wrap, Bowe's Brain, & The People Vs. O.J. Simpson

Rebecca's dream comes true as she gets the chance to chat with Making a Murderer's breakout press-pool guy Aaron Keller. Well, it would have been her dream come true if Kevin hadn't tagged along.

Anyway, the Crime Writers also talk about how Adnan Syed's PCR hearing wrapped up, dive into reactions about their Bowe Bergdahl Autism speculations, talk about their initial impressions of 'The People v. OJ Simpson' on FX, and tackle yet another compelling Crime of the Week. Plus, a listener clears up a mystery sparked by Toby's misread of one of those Amazon items.

Related links:

Making a Murder journalist Aaron Keller wants everyone to read the Wisconsin Rules of Conduct for attorneys. So, here they are.

Listen to the episode of This American Life Toby mentioned, the one in which you get to find out just how weird OJ Simpson actually is.

Rebecca mentioned a story about Gawker reporters being allowed to make political donations. Here's that article. 

S2 Ep6: Adnan's Hearing & Bowe's 5 O'Clock Shadow - Serial Season 2 (and 1!)

S2 Ep6: Adnan's Hearing & Bowe's 5 O'Clock Shadow - Serial Season 2 (and 1!)

The Crime Writers take on Sarah Koenig's  phoned-in updates on Adnan Syed's PCR hearing and try to solve the mystery of why she's staying in a hotel that provides animal-print bathrobes.

Plus, we dissect Serial Season 2 Episode 6: 5 O'Clock Shadow. What do we think of Bowe's story now that we know he smoked a pipe? And how about the idea that he'd get picked first for a fantasy sports team of soldiers? And what, exactly, are the major exports from Amsterdam?

All this, plus Toby reads Amazon items, the team shares their best NH Primary stories, takes on the Crime of the Week, and much, much more.

Related:

The Baltimore Sun's coverage of Adnan Syed's PCR hearing. 

Colin Miller's blog on the hearing

View the Guardian photos and their video - the final footage of Bowe before he walked away

Top hearing tweeter Jessie DaSilva (@jdasilva)

Star witness twitter feed Asia (McClain) Chapman (@AsiaRChapman)

 

S2 Ep 5.5 Mega Show: Kratz's Book, Your Questions, & The Black Tapes Tanis Guys

S2 Ep 5.5 Mega Show: Kratz's Book, Your Questions, & The Black Tapes/Tanis Guys

It's Serial's off-week, so we turn our attention to the prosecutor you love to hate, Ken Kratz. Will he trump our panel of crime writers by authoring his own book on the Avery case? Then the gang takes listener questions which cover jury views, blood splatter, press conference protocol, and whether the Crime Writers On cast was too hard on Nancy Grace (spoiler: nope).

Rebecca shares her interview with the creators of the hit podcasts "Tanis" and "The Black Tapes," Paul Bae and Terry Miles. They're very Canadian chaps who refuse to break character even when on another podcast. The writers weigh in on what works for these Serial-influenced thriller shows.

The Crime of the Week brings us back to the gridiron, as another football legend is under suspicion just days before the Super Bowl.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Comedian Jena Friedman Interviews Former Prosecutor Ken Kratz from Making a Murderer

S2 Ep 5: We Zoomed! To Tampa! - Serial Season 2

S2 Ep 5: We Zoomed! To Tampa! - Serial Season 2

Holy cow did this episode take us places! We talk all about Serial's episode 'Meanwhile, In Tampa.'

We also get the lowdown on how Lara would commit murder, hear more on why Rebecca's convinced Obama might show up on Serial, and find out why Toby can relate to super soldier Jason Amerine.

Plus, Kevin gives an inappropriate response to the Crime of the Week.



Related:

Rebecca mentioned reading up on Jason Amerine, the "super soldier" who tried to bring Berdahl home. Here's one story from Bustle about him. 

Lara talked about committing the perfect murder, and here's how she would do it. 

Rebecca and Kevin talked about the documentary called 'Manhunt,' about the hunt for Osama Bin Laden. Here's the trailer for that film:

S2 Ep 4.5: Sarah Pauses, Colin Ponders, & Nancy Grace Interrupts

Sarah Pauses, Colin Ponders, & Nancy Grace Interrupts

We THOUGHT we'd be talking about the Bergdahl story this week, but instead, we talk about Sarah Koenig's big announcement about Serial going biweekly, and return to our dissection of the Netflix series "Making a Murderer."

Colin Miller makes an appearance, and Toby talkind about watching Nancy Grace for the first time - it's pretty traumatic.

Plus, we answer some listener questions and talk about the Crime of the Week!

Related:

In this episode, Rebecca mentions Colin's blog, which you can read right here

We also talk about the O.J. Simpson trial - here's the Wikipedia on that

And did you miss that episode of Nancy Grace we were talking about? Well, you can watch the raw interview with Steven Avery's ex-fiancee right here:



S2 Ep4: 'Making a Murderer' is Still Our Captor, But So is Serial Season 2

'MAKING A MURDERER' IS STILL OUR CAPTOR, BUT SO IS SERIAL SEASON 2

The gang talks some more about the Netflix hit documentary series "Making a Murderer," and then chats about Serial's "Captors."

Also, Rebecca makes the case for "Poorfluenza," Jon Cryer humiliates Kevin, someone barely tolerates Toby, and Lara learns about the supernatural powers of asparagus. 

Links:

Here's the Slate piece Rebecca mentioned in which Dean Strang discusses his heart-throb status

Here's some of the Rolling Stone coverage of the Avery/Dassey cases

Here's a little something on debtors prisons in N.H







S2 Ep3.5 Bonus: We Talk About 'Making a Murderer'

Serial's holiday break couldn't have been better timed...as the world is going crazy this week over the Netflix 10-part documentary "Making a Murderer." The Crime Writers have been flooded with tweets, posts, and emails asking - nay, DEMANDING - that we talk about it. So, who are we to disappoint all of you? 

(Spoiler alert: if you haven't finished "Making a Murderer," you may want to leave this episode in your feed until you do.)

Find out who is skeptical, who is outraged, and who's been yelling at the TV (hint: it's the former defense investigator). Also, we respond to voice messages left by listeners around the country.

We wrap things up with our Crime of the Week...and a not-so-romantic anniversary card.\

S2 Ep3 The Escaping Clause

Just in time for Christmas, Serial left this episode in our stocking. It might just be the feel-bad story of the holidays. 

The Crime Writers discuss every aspect of Episode 3 of Serial, including Bowe Bergdahl's twin escape attempts, those propaganda videos, and Bowe's cool affect when recounting his captivity. Also, Lara has a big theory, Toby talks about Mad Dog 20/20, and Kevin makes a HUGE confession. 

Plus, the Crime of Week looks at the scandal involving a lottery official who "won" millions in rigged jackpots (and who single-handedly just ruined Kevin's new book). 

Related:

In Serial's opening montage, we hear brief bits of Bowe Bergdahl pleading for his release . In this extended clip (taken before his second escape attempt), listen to the normally taciturn Bowe hold back tears as he talks for two whole minutes about seeing his family, ending the fighting, and releasing all the prisoners of war.

S2 Ep2: Why Did the Golden Chicken Cross the Road?

The Crime Writers dissect every aspect of Serial Season 2 Episode 2, "The Golden Chicken," and it gets pretty heated. Also, Rebecca is afraid of accidentally being racist, Toby and Kevin disagree on a bunch of stuff, and Lara didn't bring cheesecake. But harmony is restored by our Crime of the Week.

Related listening:

During our show, Rebecca talked about an old story on This American Life in which Sarah reported on a soldier's true motivation for going to war. You can listen to that right here:

Serial is Back...And So Are We!

Rebecca reveals the deets on when the Crime Writers will return to your feed with some fresh new episodes.

Serial Season Two Rumors, Limetown, and What's Missing from the Maura Murray Podcast?

The Crime Writers respond to rumors that Serial season two will revolve around the Bowe Bergdahl case. While Serial took off thanks to the little-known case of Adnan Syed, can Sarah and company deliver an equally compelling podcast from a story we already (think) we know?

Related: Rebecca mentioned NPR reporter Wade Goodwyn's excellent reporting on Bergdahl. You can listen to one of his stories right here. 

Then, a look at the some other media influenced by "the Serial Effect." Fox is producing a TV show. And the fictional "Limetown" uses Serial's story-telling devices to deliver a (maybe) spooky mystery.

Rebecca interviews producers Lance Reenstierna and Tim Pilleri about their "Missing Maura Murray" podcast. After, Kevin, Toby, and Lara dive into what's missing from the Maura Murray podcast.

Then the Crime of the Week looks at Pope-gate.

WTF, True Detective? Plus, We Answer Your Questions!

We get the world (and TV series) we deserve.

We get the world (and TV series) we deserve.

In this episode, we ask if "Undisclosed" has anything left to disclose and whether the new season of "True Detective" has lived up to the hype (spoiler alert: it hasn't). Is Sarah Koenig taking notes on how disappointing a second season can be?

We also take your email, Facebook and Twitter questions - and Kevin explains the difference between "a nice deal" and just "a deal."

We also make some awesome TV recommendations, and Toby's has the rest of us doing a spit-take.

Plus...the latest installment of the Crime of the Week!

Lividity, Brian Williams, and Book Picks

summerreading.jpg

Rebecca and the panel talk about the possibilities for Serial seasons two and three. Will Sarah K. and company have the same success without a murder mystery to solve?

Next, with Rebecca lending technical assistance to the "Undisclosed" podcast, Kevin takes over and quizzes Lara and Toby about developments on that show. Forget "tap, tap, tap"...isn't the livdity evidence the biggest reveal?

The crime writers give their summer reading picks in the areas of true crime, mystery, and seasonal must-read. They also talk about journalism, including Brian Williams' dubious comeback.

And our monthly "Crime of the Week" (see what we did there?) tracks down those daring escapees from that NY prison. Note to convicts: don't go to Lara's aunt's house.

Crime Writers On...Summer Reading:

Rebecca:

true crime: Lost Girls by Robert Kolker

mystery/thriller: Dare Me and The Fever both by Megan Abbot

other: The Vaults by Toby Ball (who's that?)

Kevin:

true crime: The Onion Field by Joseph Wambaugh

Mystery/thriller: Drizzled with Death by Jessie Crockett

Other: Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

Lara:

true crime: The Corpse Had a Familiar Face by Edna Buchnan

mystery/thriller: The Light in the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian

other: Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver

Toby:

true crime: People Who Eat Darkness by Richard Lloyd Parry

mystery/thriller: A Place of Execution by Val McDermid

other: The Financial Lives of Poets by Jess Walter