How to Start a True Crime Podcast

True crime is one of the most listened-to genres in all of podcasting — and one of the most competitive. Audiences are loyal, engaged, and hungry for well-researched, responsibly told stories. That combination makes it a fantastic genre to launch in, but it also raises the bar: the best true crime shows are built on careful sourcing, real empathy for victims, and a strong narrative craft, not on shock value.

This guide walks through everything specific to starting a true crime podcast — how to find and research cases, the formats that work, the gear you actually need, the ethical and legal lines to respect, and how to publish and eventually monetize. For the universal mechanics of launching any show (hosting, artwork, directories), pair this with our complete guide to starting a podcast and the full content hub.

1. Why True Crime Works

True crime taps into deep human instincts: the pull of an unresolved mystery, the drive to understand why people do terrible things, and the desire to see justice done. Well-told cases carry the tension of a thriller with the weight of reality, which is why listeners binge entire seasons and stay subscribed for years.

For a new podcaster, that means a built-in appetite — but also an audience with high standards. They will notice sloppy facts, they respect shows that treat victims with dignity, and they reward hosts who bring something new: a fresh case, deeper research, local knowledge, or a distinctive point of view. Before you record, decide what your angle is. Unsolved local cases? Historical crimes? Wrongful convictions? Cold cases with new forensic developments? A clear lane is how you stand out in a crowded genre.

2. Find and Research Your Cases

Research is where true crime shows are won or lost. Your credibility rests entirely on getting the facts right and being able to show your work.

• Start with primary sources: court records, police reports, official filings, coroner's reports, and contemporaneous news coverage. Many court documents are public and available through county clerk offices or online databases like PACER (for US federal cases).
• Cross-check everything: never rely on a single article or a Wikipedia summary. Confirm each key claim against at least two independent sources, and note where sources disagree.
• Keep a research trail: maintain a document with every fact, its source, and the date you verified it. This protects you legally and makes it easy to publish citations on your episode page.
• Separate fact from inference: when you narrate, be explicit about what is confirmed versus what is theory, speculation, or your own opinion.
• Consider interviews carefully: firsthand accounts from investigators, journalists, or (respectfully) people close to a case add enormous depth — but approach families and survivors with sensitivity and be ready to accept "no."

Need help shaping episode angles once you've picked a case? Our free podcast topic generator can help you brainstorm episode framings.

3. Choose a Format

True crime shows generally fall into three formats, and your choice shapes your research and production workload:

• Narrative serial: one case investigated across an entire season, in the tradition of long-form audio documentaries. Highest production value and most immersive, but very research- and edit-intensive.
• Case-of-the-week: a self-contained case each episode. Easier to sustain a regular schedule and great for discoverability, since each episode targets a specific case people search for.
• Co-host commentary: two or more hosts discuss a case conversationally, often blending research with reaction and humor. Lower production overhead and highly bingeable, but tone management matters — commentary about real tragedies can easily tip into disrespect.

Whichever you choose, a consistent episode structure — cold open, context, timeline, investigation, where the case stands now — helps listeners follow complex stories.

4. Gear at a Glance

You do not need a studio. A clean, clear voice recording matters far more than expensive equipment.

• Microphone: a USB dynamic mic like the Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB (~$80) or Samson Q2U (~$70) rejects background noise well and sounds professional.
• Headphones: closed-back headphones (e.g. Audio-Technica ATH-M20x, ~$50) so you can monitor audio without it leaking into the mic.
• Pop filter and quiet room: a ~$10 pop filter plus a room with soft furnishings tames plosives and echo.
• Field recording (true crime specific): if you interview investigators, journalists, or witnesses in person, a portable handheld recorder like a Zoom H5, or a clip-on lavalier mic, captures usable audio on location. For remote interviews, use Riverside.fm or SquadCast so each voice is recorded locally in high quality.

For a full equipment walkthrough, see the gear section of our complete starting guide.

5. Sensitivity and Legal Do's and Don'ts

This is the section that separates a respected true crime show from one that gets called out. Real people are affected by these stories.

• Do center victims as people, not plot devices. Use their names, tell us who they were, and treat their deaths with gravity.
• Do present unproven allegations as allegations. Say "police alleged" or "prosecutors claimed," not "he did it," when guilt isn't legally settled.
• Do cite your sources — on air and on your episode page. Transparency builds trust and protects you.
• Do add content warnings for graphic or disturbing material.
• Don't state defamatory claims about living people as fact. Defamation — a false statement of fact that harms someone's reputation — can expose you to legal liability. When covering living people or open cases, be especially careful and consider legal review.
• Don't dramatize gratuitous detail for shock, name people entitled to anonymity (such as certain minors or sexual-assault survivors), or speculate in ways that could implicate innocent people.

This is general guidance, not legal advice. For sensitive or recent cases, talk to a media lawyer before you publish.

6. Three Shows to Study

The best way to learn the craft is to analyze shows that do it well. Listen for structure, sourcing, and tone:

• Serial — the show widely credited with popularizing the modern narrative true crime format. Study how it follows one case across a season and foregrounds the reporting process itself.
• Casefile — a meticulously researched, tightly narrated case-of-the-week show. Note the sourcing discipline and the restrained, respectful tone.
• My Favorite Murder — a hugely popular co-host commentary show that built a massive community. Study how it balances conversational warmth with the subject matter (and the debates that balance provokes).

Study these factually and find your own voice — imitation won't stand out, but understanding why these shows connect will.

7. Publish and Give Every Episode a Landing Page

Once an episode is edited, you publish it through a podcast host, which generates the RSS feed that feeds Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and the rest. Any reliable host works.

The step most true crime podcasters skip — and the one that compounds over time — is giving every episode its own landing page. True crime listeners actively search for case names, so a page that ranks in Google for "[case name] podcast" can pull in new listeners for years. OnPodium sits on top of whatever host you already use, reads your RSS feed, and automatically generates a fast, SEO-optimized landing page for every episode on your own custom domain — the perfect place to publish your sources, a case timeline, content warnings, and a link to follow the show. It includes PodcastEpisode schema, email capture to build your audience, and AI-generated moment teasers with deep-link timestamps so you can share the exact second of a key revelation. Paid plans start at $9/month with a free trial and a free domain included.

8. Monetize Your True Crime Podcast

True crime has some of the most monetizable audiences in podcasting because fans are so engaged. Once you have a consistent listenership:

• Memberships and bonus episodes: Patreon or Apple Podcasts Subscriptions let superfans pay for ad-free feeds, bonus deep-dives, and early access. This is usually the fastest path to revenue for true crime.
• Sponsorships and ad reads: once you have steady downloads, host-read ads at typical CPMs of $15-50 per thousand downloads become viable.
• Live shows and events: engaged true crime communities turn out for live recordings and tours.
• Merchandise: a strong show identity translates well into merch for dedicated fans.

Every one of these converts better when you can point listeners to a polished page. Link your membership and support options right from your OnPodium episode pages, and read our guide on building an email list to turn one-time listeners into a lasting audience. To get discovered by search in the first place, our podcast SEO guide is essential reading.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to name your show? Try the free podcast name generator or browse true crime podcast name ideas. Running an interview-driven investigative show? See the best podcast website for interview shows.