Welcome to the next in the Podcast Showcase series, where we share podcasts with you in the words of the podcasters themselves. This time, we talk to Crimelines
Sum up your podcast in three sentences
Crimelines walks you through true crime events, pairing captivating tales with clear storytelling. As host, I bring in appropriate historic and cultural context to look beyond what happened and consider why it happened. I work to keep things victim and issue-focused without glamorizing or sensationalizing.
Who is your ideal listener? Who loves your show?
My listeners are people who want to see things from a different angle and are ok being a little uncomfortable as we discuss issues that aren’t always clear cut. They’re people who are ok with disagreeing with me and engaging in that conversation.
What made you start this podcast?
I started podcasting when my homeschooled children all went to school. I found success with a co-hosted true crime show called In Sight. When it ended, I decided to try it out solo. It turned out that I much prefer a solo show. While there is more work, I prefer having all the say!
What have you learned about your subject thanks to this podcast?
When I started covering cases of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, I didn’t want to just sit in the trauma. I began incorporating tribal and regional history, learning right along with my audience things we were never taught in history class.
I have an upcoming episode where we discuss the history of the written Yup’ik language. It isn’t something I would expect to learn from a true crime podcast, but I’m thankful for the opening to do so.
What has your experience of podcasting been? What do you love / hate about the process?
My podcasting experience, over the last 6 years, has been a rollercoaster. Anyone dealing with true crime podcasting has to be ready to face ethical questions, especially with how rampant victim blaming and plagiarism are in the industry. That has been the hardest part but is something I am grateful for because it forces growth.
As for the process of making the podcast, I love researching and writing. I don’t love editing but I do like hearing the show come together.
If someone wants to start listening to your podcast, which episode would you recommend they start with? Why?
I always recommend people look through my most recent episodes and pick a topic you haven’t heard. Even if you didn’t love the show and you never listen to another episode, you’ll have walked away hearing something new.
If you want a specific suggestion, the Barbara Gibbons or Sonya Ivanoff episodes were both very well received.
Which other podcasts do you love listening to?
Already Gone and The Trail Went Cold are my top two shows.
8. If people want to find you online, where can they do so?
https://twitter.com/crimelinespod is the best way to reach me. I’m all over social media if you search for Crimelines but I’m on Twitter the most by far.
Crimelines is also available in all podcast apps and on Patreon.
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Image: Melanie Pongratz