Bundyville: The Remnant and The Clearing

A Double Review: The Remnant and The Clearing

As summer rolls on, so do the hot new podcasts. First, the panel revisits the Patriot Movement in the sequel to Bundyville: “The Remnant.” It’s a deep look at how a bomber who targeted a former co-worker may be tied to the larger anti-government movement.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “BUNDYVILLE: THE REMNANT,” GO TO 26:26

Then the crime writers dive into “The Clearing,” an investigation into serial killer Edward Wayne Edwards. A journalist and the killer’s daughter try to sort out what other crimes he committed…and which ones he didn’t.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “THE CLEARING,” GO TO 53:16

Then in crime of the week, do chickens have felons?

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Double Review: I Love You, Now Die & Exhibit A

We're back with a double review. First, HBO's “I Love You, Now Die,” exams the strange case of a teenager accused of ordering her boyfriend to commit suicide over text message. The documentary tells a deeper story than was presented on TV news, probing the troubled lives of both young people to offer more complex reasons Conrad Roy might have wanted to die and why Michelle Carter didn’t stop him.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “I LOVE YOU, NOW DIE,” GO TO 34:40

Next, Netflix's “Exhibit A” looks at four court cases in which questionable forensic science was used to secure otherwise shaky convictions. The documentary goes at the public’s blind trust in science, giving real-life examples of how it can be misused or misinterpreted.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “EXHIBIT A,” GO TO 1:03:32

Then in Crime of the Week: traffic cop-out.

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In the Dark Revelations and Atlantic

Following the US Supreme Court striking down Curtis Flowers’ conviction, In The Dark has returned with what could be the final episode of season two. The Polk Award-winning podcast saved some of its most compelling journalism for its final hour, accomplishing more in 56 minutes than most podcasts do in their entire series.

FOR OUR THUMBS UP OR THUMBS WAY UP REVIEW OF THIS EP OF IN THE DARK, GO TO 25:04

The Irish Times’s podcast “Atlantic” examines the unsolved mystery of Peter Bergmann, a tourist found dead on a beach in County Sligo in 2009. The question remains - not how did he die - but why did he come to Ireland to disappear?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “ATLANTIC,” GO TO 46:55

Then in Crime of the Week: burn, baby, burn.

Big Little Lies and Slate's The Queen

Big Little Lies returns and The Queen reigns

Sisters are doing it for themselves.

This week, the panel talks about Madeline Baron’s rapid response episode of “In the Dark” following the SCOTUS decision on Curtis Flowers. What was the response from residents in Winona…including prosecutor Doug Evans?

The crime writers review “The Queen,” a new podcast from Slate. It follows the story of Linda Taylor, the con woman whose brazen public assistance scam gave rise to the “welfare queen” narrative. The mixture of crime, politics, and dog-whistle racism has left a legacy which resonates today.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “THE QUEEN,” GO TO 31:13.

HBO offers a second season of “Big Little Lies,” as we see the fallout from Perry’s death on the women who keep the secret. Relationships become more complicated and the stakes get higher.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “BIG LITTLE LIES,” GO TO 1:00:00.

Then in Crime of the Week: you’re not the sauce of me.

Double review: Confronting OJ and Man in the Window

Double review: Confronting OJ and Man in the Window

Lots of true crime podcast updates this week! The US Supreme Court has vacated the conviction of In The Dark S2 subject Curtis Flowers in a 7-2 decision. Will he be tried for a seventh time? There’s a shocking discovery in NPR’s White Lies podcast. We have a verdict in the Escaping NXIVM case and a new plea from the suspect in The Teacher’s Pet podcast.

After their hit Dirty John, the LA Times and Wondery have paired up again to tell the story of California’s most infamous serial killer. “Man in the Window” charts the evolution of the Golden State Killer. Will they capture lightning again or simply re-tread a significantly covered crime?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF MAN IN THE WINDOW, GO TO 33:34.

“Confronting: OJ Simpson,” hosted by Kim Goldman, sister of murder victim Ron Goldman, revisits some of the primary and peripheral figures of the crime. Does it bring anything new to this well-known case?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF CONFRONTING: OJ SIMPSON, GO TO 59:18

Then in Crime of the Week: cat-astrophe.

When They See Us and This Land

When They See Us and This Land

In True Crime Update, a listener of the “Bear Brook” podcast solved a big part of the cold case. We hear from Rebecca’s colleague Jason Moon, as well as giving a plug for NHPR’s new podcast about parole, “Supervision.”

The panel offers a first-impressions review of Crooked Media’s “This Land.” It touches on a murder conviction from 2000, but the legal case has less to do about what happened and more to do about where it happened.

FOR A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “THIS LAND,” GO TO 38:22.

Then the crime writers dig into Netflix’s “When They See Us.” It retells the 1989 story of the Central Park Five, showing how the five black teenagers falsely confessed to a rape they didn’t do and challenges they faced even after serving their sentences.

TO HEAR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "WHEN THEY SEE US," GO TO 1:05:41.

In Crime of the Week: Taco Hell.

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The Legend of Cocaine Island and Crime Writers Against Humanity!

The Legend of Cocaine Island and Crime Writers Against Humanity!

In a break from format, this episode was recorded before a live audience at PodX in Nashville!

The panel discusses the stylized, semi-serious Netflix documentary "The Legend of Cocaine Island." Is this story of buried treasure about the American Dream or about American excess?

TO HEAR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE LEGEND OF COCAINE ISLAND," GO TO 24:59.

With the help of the audience, the team plays a few rounds of CRIME WRITERS AGAINST HUMANITY! Using cards from the very-adult, delightfully-offensive game, the panel answers podcast-specific questions in terribly naughty ways. The show ends with some Q&A from the crowd.

In Crime of the Week: a bat out of Dell!

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Yeah, we put Chernobyl and Killing Eve in the SAME SHOW!

Yeah, we put Chernobyl and Killing Eve in the SAME SHOW!

Kevin makes his return from his latest surgery to sound that call: TRUE CRIME PODCAST UPDATE! From Paris, the trial of "West Cork" subject Ian Bailey is underway.

Call it the “feel-bad show of the summer.” HBO and Sky Atlantic have teamed for the five-part series “Chernobyl.” We know going in that “Chernobyl” will be scary and depressing...but will it also be entertaining?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "CHERNOBYL," GO TO 29:51

It was one of our favorite shows from 2018. BBC America’s "Killing Eve" just wrapped up its second season. Emmy winner Sandra Oh reprises her role as Eve Polastri, the MI-6 analyst obsessed with the delightfully-psychopathic assassin Villanelle, played by Julie Comer. Does the show work better when the frenemies are together or apart?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "KILLING EVE" S2, GO TO 51:55

In Crime of the Week - a clean getaway.

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White Lies and that Game of Thrones finale

White Lies and that Game of Thrones finale!

With Kevin taking a week off to recuperate from cancer surgery, Rebecca, Lara, and Toby nerd out on the series finale of Game of Thrones. (Bran the Broken? WTF?) Then the panel digs deep into NPR's new podcast, "White Lies." This look at the cover-up around a 1965 civil rights crime is just as resonant today.

FOR A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF THE GAME OF THRONES FINALE, GO TO 26:54.

FOR A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF WHITE LIES, GO TO 50:53.

In Crime of the Week: hey, it's that guy.

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A double review: That Zac Efron Bundy movie and The Last Days of August

That Zac Efron Bundy movie and The Last Days of August

This week on the podcast: TWO REVIEWS!

The panel breaks down the latest film in the Ted Bundy canon: It's called Extremely Wicked Shockingly Evil and Vile and it's on Netflix.

Then, a review of Jon Ronson's latest take on the porn industry, the podcast The Last Days of August.

Plus, a true crime update about the Madeleine McCann case.

In Crime of the Week: winner winner, chicken dinner.

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A double review of "Charged" and "At the Heart of Gold"

The panel begins with some appearance announcements, plus the reveal of our PodX ticket giveaway winner. Then somehow we get on a tangent about the 1978-1981 TV series, "The White Shadow."

There's a new HBO documentary looking at the USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal. "At the Heart of Gold" doesn’t have the amount of time the podcast "Believed" enjoyed, so it goes for breadth instead of depth.

In "Slate Presents: Charged,” host Emily Bazelon spent two years examining New York’s special gun court for defendants of firearms charges. The series attempts to do what Serial season three could not...turn its longform investigation into a unified narrative about the justice system.

Then in Crime of the Week: getting stiffed.

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A Running from COPS podcast review

A Running from COPS podcast review

Kevin begins with a health update. Then the panel then wields their Valyrian steel and takes a stab at The Battle of Winterfell episode of Game of Thrones.

TO SKIP SPOILERS FROM EP 3 OF GoT, go to 18:12

Moving on, the crime writers talk about the new series from Dan Taberski, "Running from COPS." It's a look at law enforcement reality TV and a contemplation on what it's doing for the public, the police, the suspects, and the system.

TO HEAR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "RUNNING FROM COPS," GO TO 56:23

In Crime of the Week: beat the rap.

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Netflix's Madeleine McCann doc and a Make-a-wish mystery podcast

With Rebecca and Lara on school vacation, Kevin and Toby are joined by special guest Sarah D. Bunting from "The Blotter Presents...."

First off the panel reacts to the Maryland Court of Appeals' refusal to reconsider its recent decision reinstating Adnan Syed's conviction. Next Toby introduces us to an up-and-coming podcast, "What Happened to Holly Bartlett." This six-part series looks at the 2010 death of a blind woman from Halifax. Then we give a glowing review to the mystery podcast from five-year-old Make-a-Wish recipient Azka Sherief, "The Stealer of the Diamonds." It's the best five minutes you'll spend.

To listen to "The Stealer of the Diamonds," click here.

Netflix is offering up the eight-part series "The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann." After the three-year-old British girl vanished from her bedroom while on vacation in Portugal, the crime became an international media sensation.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE DISAPPEARANCE OF MADELEINE McCANN, GO TO 58:20.

In crime of the week: That's why they call me Thumper.

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The Murder Squad! A Blackout podcast review! And Billy Jensen!

A spotlight on Blackout and joining the Murder Squad

We take a quick look at “Murder Squad.” The concept of the podcast from journalist Billy Jensen and cold case investigator Paul Holes is to not only chat about crimes, but ask listeners to help solve them too. Rebecca has an interview with Jensen, too.

Then, we review “Blackout,” which follows a northern NH disc jockey as he attempts to navigate a world suddenly without power,wondering whether there are nefarious actors bent on forcing modern society to revert to simpler times.

TO GET OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "BLACKOUT," GO TO 53:44

In Crime of the Week: dog day afternoon.

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A double review! Uncover: The Village and The Ballad of Billy Balls!

A double review! Uncover: The Village and The Ballad of Billy Balls!

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“Uncover: The Village,” investigates a series of murders in Toronto’s Gay Village. Despite a 2018 arrest, gay residents of The Village have been vanishing since the mid-70s with the police taking little notice.

TO HEAR OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEW OF "UNCOVER: THE VILLAGE," GO TO 29:38

“Crimetown Presents” is back with a new series about true love and true crime. “The Ballad of Billy Balls” looks at the mysterious death of a New York punk-era musician, told mostly through the eyes of his long-devoted, troubled girlfriend.

TO HEAR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE BALLAD OF BILLY BALLS," GO TO 1:02:23

In crime of the week: Lions and rhinos and elephants, oh my!

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To Live and Die in LA. - NOPE. Plus, an In The Dark SCOTUS update!

To Live and Die in LA - NOPE. Plus, an In The Dark SCOTUS update!

In this episode, we review the podcast "To Live and Die in LA" from Tenderfoot TV. We also discuss the latest developments on the Curtis Flowers case.

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The Case Against Adnan Syed Part 4 - what did we learn?

The Case Against Adnan Syed Part 4 - what did we learn?

The crime writers give some hot takes on SCOTUS oral arguments on the Curtis Flowers case. Which justices shocked the panel? Plus, we get a hilarious sneak-peek at Lara's new Patreon-exclusive podcast, The Brickter Scale Podcast.

The group gives their thoughts about the conclusion of HBO's "The Case Against Adnan Syed." The series has provided some emotional notes along with its revealing investigation. The documentary uncovers some explosive evidence on DNA...but would you even know it?

TO HEAR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF THE CASE AGAINST ADNAN SYED, GO TO 1:07:10

In crime of the week: won't you see my neighbor?

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Breaking: Adnan Syed's DNA was NOT found in new evidence tests. But what does that mean?

Breaking: Adnan Syed's DNA was NOT found in new evidence tests. But what does that mean?

Ahead of this weekend's final episode in "The Case Against Adnan Syed," the Baltimore Sun broke the news with an article that says the State of Maryland ran DNA tests in October 2018 on previously untested evidence from the Leakin Park burial site of murder victim Hae Min Lee. And Adnan Syed's DNA was not discovered on any of the samples.

This has sparked a torrent of discussion and misinformation online. So, Rebecca and Kevin discussed the findings and their implications with attorney Susan Simpson of "Undisclosed."

The Case Against Adnan Syed Part 3 - Did we get that bombshell yet?

The Case Against Adnan Syed Part 3 - Did we get that bombshell yet?

Listen to the episode:

After an announcement about Kevin's health, Rebecca gets straight to business with Colin Miller. Legal Siri himself discusses an error he discovered in the Court of Appeal's recent decision against Adnan Syed that could be grounds for reconsideration. Plus, he shares his thoughts on The Case Against Adnan Syed. Have the documentarians discovered the smoking gun which might turn it all around?

Then Rebecca, Kevin, Lara, & Toby dive into episode three of the HBO series. The audience finally learns of the biggest flaws in the state's case: the cell tower evidence. What do they make of the many narrative threads still loose heading into the final episode...and what about that email cliffhanger?

TO REMAIN SPOILER-FREE FOR EPISODE 3 OF THE CASE AGAINST ADNAN SYED, GO TO 1:00:07

In Crime of the Week: method acting.

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The Case Against Adnan Syed (on HBO) and the case against Adnan Syed (in the courts)

The Case Against Adnan Syed (on HBO) and the case against Adnan Syed (in the courts)

Rebecca and Kevin discuss Adnan Syed’s recent legal setback with Rabia Chaudry. She also dishes on what’s missing from the HBO documentary (of which she is an executive producer).

Then the full panel weighs in on episode two of The Case Against Adnan Syed. Important witnesses are introduced, and the new investigators focus on grass. Are these developments going somewhere?

TO REMAIN SPOILER-FREE FOR EPISODE 2 OF THE CASE AGAINST ADNAN SYED, GO TO 1:09

In Crime of the Week, be cruel to your school.