This is a good podcast. Some eps are downright gripping. Some less so. Content- and production-wise, it's a solid 4 stars. But the downside is a pervasive one. It is the delivery of Phoebe, the creator/narrator. You can hate me if you want; I get it, a lot of you love her. But i'm sorry- as a student of human behavior, I see her as the walking definition of "affectation." Every little stammer, every pause, every overly enunciated syllable... it's all so overdramatic and measured for effect. If there were an Oscar for Podcast Narration Pretentiousness, this woman would be a heavy favorite. I understand that what I call "affectation" is heard by some of you as an urgent, interesting narration style. But to me it is affectation all day, and affectation equals phony.

Just a question do you just hire women to work on your show love the podcast

I started listening just because I really enjoyed the variety of stories. I keep listening because I love learning about the early history of our country, and hearing the stories many of us have never heard. Thank you for using your platform to make these stories heard.

I love the variety of the stories and tell everyone about the stories I learn from here!

Like the show if you stay away from politics. I’m unfollowing after listening to about 10 seconds of your latest episode. I’m disappointed to miss out on your content I enjoyed but I’m done hearing political opinions.

First couple of minutes are all ads!

Start listening and you will be hooked! Storytelling at its finest and it gives you the opportunity to learn something new about the world, change the wya you think, or discover a piece of history.

I love Criminal but after buying i’m very disappointed. I’m still waiting on the Friday episode when the free criminal subscribers have already had theirs released. It’s already Friday night and I still don’t have criminal plus version. I am definitely not renewing my subscription. Silence all the time. The regular criminal comes out before the plus version. I’ll go ahead and keep listening to the regular criminal, but it doesn’t seem worth it to get a subscription. But I should say two people who don’t want to support criminal because they vote Democratic are you really that daft? It’s pretty obvious. Intelligent people aren’t Maga. Remember: the opposite of woke is asleep.

I have been listening to Criminal for years. It’s podcasting perfection. Plain and simple. Story telling of the best kind. Interesting, succinct, and with heart. This past year a became a paid subscriber and love the chatty Criminal + episodes. My work day companions. Criminal is a shining example of what podcasting can and should be!

Greatest podcast on the air!!!

This podcast is great; it discusses topics that are so original. I wonder how you find out about these things, it’s endless. Anyway, keep writing about these unknown and interesting topics!

Absolutely amazing! Wish they let us learn some of this important history in school.

It is truly lovely to listen to this podcast. It even helps me mentally as I work towards being the best version of myself. Seeing that I have to pay and fund her abundant life when I’m doing my best living paycheck to paycheck for 30+ minutes of a reprieve is sometimes disheartening. I know my message won’t be seen. Who pays attention to anything less than 5 stars? It just saddens me. But, such is life, right. As an aside, Phoebe, you pronounce “.com” as “.calm”. Common Phoebe. Please tell me us you truly know there is no “l” in “com”? Love you work. Wish you’d grown this many years later.

In one of the best podcasts out there, Phoebe and company illuminate our ever-changing definitions of what’s considered a crime and who’s considered a criminal, with top notch narration, production, music - and even illustrations! I’ve been listening for years and am always excited to see a new episode drop.

This is my favorite true crime podcast. Phoebe’s voice is just so nice and she makes the ads sound genuinely interesting. Also I have never enjoyed podcasts that are all on one case unless they are super well executed and I love that all of the episodes are on something different. Also they get people that are involved in the case which I truly enjoy. Anywho, this is a great podcast and any true crime fans should listen to this :)

Production, hosting & story telling quality are top notch

The quality has remained top notch for years. I love you Phoebe! And Lauren! And the whole team. What a treat you all provide us with. Thank you.

Everything is political. Keep up the good work Phoebe and team. When the 47cult members are complaining, you’re doing it right ❤️❤️❤️❤️

as is the fake reviews claiming that the show has become more "woke" are full of it. nothing has changed, the podcast hits the same diverse topics it always has. it's unfortunate that some people are such snowflakes that they don't want anyone, anywhere discussing issues that make them uncomfortable.

Judge is really just another a woke, liberal social justice warrior who would rather alienate the majority of the country than keep her radical political beliefs to herself. This ideology and insistence for people like Judge to cram it down peoples throats is why the country swung back to the right. Keep it up, Phoebe, the conservatives appreciate your service!

I listen to this first whenever a new episode shows up in my feed. This is not your typical true crime podcast - it’s rarely the kind of true crime most people seek out. Criminal focuses on historical and offbeat stories that have some crime element to them. It’s very well researched and the storytelling is excellent. I saw the live show a few months ago and was impressed with the level of craft that went into the visuals, too.

One of the best pods out there. I never miss a show.

I’ve been listening for years but lately the stories are less interesting. Some of the narration from actual people being interviewed are painful like the Dexter episode. I had to bail on that one. Hoping the content will get a lot better in 2025. Love Phoebe always regardless.

I can not stand her voice and pronunciation of certain words. It’s a me thing…..

Criminal Plus is the only podcast to which I have a paid subscription. I love the lack of ads but even more I love the bimonthly Phoebe and Lauren chats!

I guess this speaks to this podcasts range of episodes, which is impressive and worth appreciating. So many reviews are hating on the “social justice episodes.” Meanwhile, my review was going to be as follows. “I love your episodes highlighting the failings of justice system and experiences of people impacted by it. I’m always disappointed when you follow cops and investigators setting people up.” But honestly now that I’ve read the other reviews, I think it’s cool you probably have a diverse range of listeners, some who love the true crime or cop point of view and some like me who enjoy the meaningful look at how people experience incarceration. There’s an especially good episode on serving on a jury and how difficult that can be. I recommend listening and finding the episodes you like. People who are so against the “social justice” episodes, try to keep your hearts open. It’s probably uncomfortable to hear because it makes you realize it’s often your luck, skin color and social class that keep you free vs. you being a better person than the people locked up.

Extremely long time listener here. Love this podcast but taking a political stance against the next president (who was just voted in by the majority) is sad to hear just as others have stated in their recent reviews. The audience doesn’t come here for that.

Keep politics out. About done with this podcast that I use to love. F* liberals.

AD/FLUFF RATIO. [ATBF : Fluff%] 10.25 : 25% Episode length: 41 mins Total ad time (round): 10 mins. Avg time between fluff: 10.25 Fluff%: 25%

Reliably one of the best podcast of its kind out there. Always a meaningful message and a historic or cultural insight such important work.

This show has more ads than any other podcast I listen to and makes listening painful

My favorite podcast - always something new and different to hear. I’ve learned so much. It’s made me laugh, made me cry, made me feel. And I love Phoebe’s voice!

This show used to be a nice variety but good grief it’s nothing but racial injustice stories anymore. Those stories absolutely deserve their time but mix it up for crying out loud. Pretty obvious the woke mind virus has taken Phoebe prisoner.

Long time listener… I tend to skip over the episodes that emphasize social justice, but overall great content! I was disappointed to start today’s episode with an ad that was straight propaganda. The nation is divided enough and we want to heal. The folks who run Criminal can and should do better.

Hey Phoebe. You make amazing content; however, why botch the letter “o”? You do this random, not from the states thing when you pronounce the letter “o”. Fo example, when you say “dot com”. Please stop. Quite frankly you sound unnatural and pretentious. Very off putting. Please stop

The ACLU uses less than 5% of their donated funds towards their causes. 95% of funds in go to make their directors and lobbyists VERY wealthy. This podcast shouldn’t accept their support. It is better than that.

Interesting story, well written and produced, but the host’s halting delivery and awkward intonation made it hard to listen to the fascinating story.

Thought this was actually a great and interesting podcast in the past, started listening again recently and realized they had to infuse their storytelling, entertainment based channel with incendiary political content - making the grave mistake and going where so many companies and services go to get it entirely wrong. No one cares what you think or who you personally choose to support/ not support and what you waste your money on. Lost a long time subscriber. Stick to your industry.

I’ve listened to Criminal for years and recently subscribed. However, Phoebe‘s cluelessness at thinking that Covid is over (as millions of immunocompromised people continue to be ostracized and isolated) was only interrupted when her own co-producer got sick. And then, has the gall to think that vaccines and masking on a plane is all she needs to do. Unbelievable.

I’ve listened to a lot of true crime podcasts(actually, all kinds of podcasts), and nothing compares to Criminal. Brilliantly written and delivered, I always learn something new and interesting while being fascinated with the storyline. I think Phoebe Judge’s voice is the most soothing voice I’ve ever heard— how else could I absorb all the cruelties of crime without feeling assaulted? Five stars all the way, and it just keeps getting better!

What fun to listen to the two of you banter and to aurally witness your grand friendship. Swift Quick Spa ?? Rapid Pampering. (Or we can take all day) Spa N Go,, drive thru Pamper you Promptly Quick Fix Spa QuickSilver Spa 10 minute seated upper back/neck massage a must, ! And I’ve been spreading Avocado rather than butter on toast, sandwiches and will now use the built in bowl and scoop it up as well. Clever ! I adore both of your shows and share often. Full of humanity, curiosity, hard truths, levity, lessens to learn and wonder. it is refreshing and necessary to twist our perspective, our sense of justice/injustice, to understand our biases and that rushing to judge and winning convictions is not always a measure of success. It’s healthy to lquestion practices , admit we erred and work to perfect our complex , evolving system and sense of right and wrong. I think you are providing great insight and a public service and am grateful. I’m sorry some find fault , it’s puzzling really for you are merely the messenger and sharing history without opining. Leave that to others. Plus I love the unusual, offbeat characters you uncover and reframe criminality through history. I do go on!! This is Love is spectacular, original, beautiful and poignant. And I love your voice, sense of adventure and wonder. Applause , bravos and cheers for continuing all these years.

I’ve always enjoyed Criminal, but was convinced I needed to subscribe to Criminal + after hearing a sample of the content at the end of the latest Criminal episode. Listening to Phoebe and Lauren shoot the breeze was the highlight of my day. Let’s all subscribe so that we can keep this team entertaining us for years to come.

Awesome show. Yes! Part 2 of All the Time in the world! Other favorite episodes, He’s Neutral. Also the one about the CSI Blood expert Mom & Daughter. 💙

I enjoy this show and love the variety of subjects. The depth of research is admirable and very interesting. Phoebe seems like a genuinely caring person. I just flinch every time Phoebe pronounces “.com” in such a strange way. I think this must be intentional, as it’s just not the way we say “.com” in this country. So it has to be a very strange affectation. With such lovely voice, why intentionally annoy so many people? Please consider changing this habit. I honestly cringe when ever I hear it - which is during every commercial. Aside from this, thank you for a wonderful show :-)

Why do so many podcasts feel they need an affected, contrived voice? Is it because Keith Morrison’s ridiculous phony affection is on a successful broadcast? No one on earth, from any part of any English-speaking country pronounces “dot com” the ridiculous way Phoebe does. That’s just one example of why this good podcast becomes unlistenable.

This pod is the best in my lineup. A truly great bright spot in my day. It is the side of crime that makes you think. Also her podcast This is Love is fantastic and and gives my mind a rest from the daily grind.

This podcast is not biased and is a great podcast I have been here for years and know that this podcast rarely talks politics and doesn’t care who created the crime, was a victim or somewhere in the middle. And according to DeacRipps, DNA is good for cases except for gender which is untrue DNA is used to determine gender in cases where the police don’t know much. Thank you

Politically way too far left. Anti Law enforcement, newspeak, racist toward caucasians, heterophobic, DNA is good for everything except gender identification… This podcast could have been so good, but this is criminal!!

Valentine episode really got me, I just lost my grandmother and hearing those wonderful stories and insight was so amazing. Forwarded the episode link to my aunt and mom. 🥰 The most recent episode “family land part one“ I literally guessed at the end! Can’t wait for part two Phoebe! And almost drove off the road lol

I have listened to and enjoyed this podcast for several years now, and Phoebe never disappoints. The recent episode, Valentine, touched me deeply, and I thought it was such a beautiful way to honor her Mother.