Best Wicked Words Podcasts (2024)

1
Hal Higdon: Leopold and Loeb: The Crime of the Century 55:30

1h ago55:30

55:30

One of the most famous crimes in American history was the murder of 14-year-old Bobby Frank. Two young men, Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, wanted to plan the perfect murder. And they didn’t. Author Hal Higdon wrote THE book on this case, called Leopold and Loeb: The Crime of the Century. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals a…

1
Karen Jacobs and Rob D'Amico: Shane and Sally 1:05:30

2d ago1:05:30

1:05:30

Here's our story this week: in the summer of 1988, 16-year-old Shane Stewart and 18-year-old Sally McNelly went missing in the West Texas town of San Angelo. After their remains were found, the mystery began. Texas Monthly reporters Karen Jacobs and Rob D’Amico pick up the cold case of two murders that have haunted their family, their friends, and …

1
Paul Thomas Murphy: Pretty Jane and the Viper of Kidbrook Lane 1:04:57

9d ago1:04:57

1:04:57

A murdered teenage girl. A suspicious, affluent family. And a lot of sticky social situations. They’re all in our story, which is set in nineteenth century London. Who killed 16-year-old Jane Maria Clouson? Author Paul Thomas Murphy details it in his book: Pretty Jane and the Viper of Kidbrooke Lane: A True Story of Victorian Law and Disorder: The …

1
Abbott Kahler: Eden Undone 55:39

16d ago55:39

55:39

At the height of the Great Depression, an oil mogul from LA decided to escape society with his mistress to create their own utopia on a faraway land. The problems started with other people following them there. My friend, Abbott Kahler, is my guest today. She used to write under the name: Karen Abbott. Abbott tells me the story at the center of her…

1
Jared Fishman: Fire on the Levee 1:06:36

23d ago1:06:36

1:06:36

Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005. Four years later, a young prosecutor in the Justice Department was drawn into examining a mysterious death after the storm. Henry Glover was found dead in a burned-out car two weeks after Katrina. And who he was last seen with became the center of controversy and reform. Jared Fishman tells me the s…

1
Kathleen Brunelle: She’s Gone: Five Mysterious Twentieth- Century Cold Cases 57:54

1M ago57:54

57:54

I’ve said this many times: unsolved cases frustrate me. I need a solution, or a conclusion. But cold cases are so important: and my next guest wants to talk about missing women…several that are more than 100 years old. And she can use our help. Author Kathleen Brunelle tells me about her book called: She’s Gone: Five Mysterious Twentieth- Century C…

1
Anirban Bhattacharyya: Swipe Right to Kill 47:42

1M ago47:42

47:42

For this episode of Wicked Words, we travel to India, where some of the world’s most complicated, most compelling true crime stories come from. This story is one of those. It’s about a female grifter, turned killer, who seduced men for money, but murdered one…out of fear. The book we’re talking about is called Swipe Right to Kill. The author is Ani…

1
Colin Archdeacon: Ctrl+Alt+Desire 1:03:45

2M ago1:03:45

1:03:45

Filmmaker Colin Archdeacon had an unusual relationship with convicted killer named Grant Amato in Florida. Amato murdered his parents and his brother in 2018. And the media blamed his obsession with a cam model. But Archdeacon found out that Amato had very different motive. Let’s find out more about the three part series, Ctrl+Alt+Desire on Paramou…

1
Rebecca Morris: Boy Missing: The Search for Kyron Horman 55:01

2M ago55:01

55:01

This is one of the most shocking unsolved missing-child cases in the world. A 7-year-old boy named Kyron Horman went missing in 2010 in Portland, Oregon and he’s never been found. The last person to see him was his stepmother. Author Rebecca Morris details Kyron’s story and the mystery of his disappearance in her book, Boy Missing: The Search for K…

1
David Dominé: A Dark Room in Glitter Ball City: Murder, Secrets, and Scandal in Old Louisville 50:00

2M ago50:00

50:00

I love a good murder story set in the South and this is an intense one. It centers on a vicious murder in a crumbling Kentucky mansion and a killer who managed to cover it up for months. Author David Domine writes about it in his book: A Dark Room in Glitter Ball City: Murder, Secrets, and Scandal in Old Louisville. Support this podcast by shopping…

1
Rena Pederson: The King of Diamonds 55:58

2M ago55:58

55:58

We’re now digging into a real Texas story. We’re talking about a brazen jewel thief in the 1960s who burgled some of the wealthiest homes in Dallas. But he was an odd thief. Sometimes he took just one diamond earring, probably because he knew it would ruin the set. He would put down a towel so he wouldn’t sully an expensive chair by stepping on it.…

1
Hedley Thomas: The Teacher’s Pet 58:34

2M ago58:34

58:34

This next story needs a trigger warning: it’s about the grooming and the sexual assault of children. But it was an important case in Australia and author Hedley Thomas tells it well. He details the murder case of Chris Dawson in his book The Teacher’s Pet. It was based on Henley’s record-breaking podcast that eventually attracted the attention of t…

1
Brittany Caffet: The Shell Lake Massacre 1:14:38

3M ago1:14:38

1:14:38

In the summer of 1967, a family of nine was murdered in their home by a stranger in rural Canada. It was one of the worse random mass murders in the country’s history. There’s a podcast that covers the whole story called “The Shell Lake Massacre.” The host, Brittany Caffet, grew up not far from Shell Lake. And she has a very personal connection to …

1
Wenguang Huang: A Death in the Lucky Holiday Hotel: Murder, Money, and an Epic Power Struggle in China 1:10:55

3M ago1:10:55

1:10:55

A murder conspiracy in China is at the center of a fascinating true crime story involving politics, greed and deception. There are no heroes in this book, but boy, what a drama. Author Wenguang Huang tells me about his fantastic book, A Death in the Lucky Holiday Hotel: Murder, Money, and an Epic Power Struggle in China. Support this podcast by sho…

1
Michael Wolraich: The Bishop and the Butterfly: Murder, Politics, and the End of the Jazz Age 54:52

3M ago54:52

54:52

I had never heard of the tragic case of former Vaudeville star Vivian Gordon in 1930s New York. She had threatened some of the city’s most powerful men and at least one of them wanted her dead. Her murder in 1931 caused the downfall of the mayor of New York City. Author Michael Wolraich wrote a book about Gordon and her death called: The Bishop and…

1
Mandy Matney: Blood on Their Hands: Murder, Corruption, & The Fall of the Murdaugh Dynasty 50:47

3M ago50:47

50:47

I’ve listened to many versions of the story of the Murdaugh dynasty and I’m always interested in hearing new, fresh details. Well, author and podcast host Mandy Matney didn’t disappoint with her book, Blood on Their Hands: Murder, Corruption, and the Fall of the Murdaugh Dynasty. She told me details that I’ve never heard before after she talked wit…

1
Gregg Olsen: The Amish Wife 51:30

4M ago51:30

51:30

One of the most interesting aspects of true crime is how we’re able to explore cultures and societies that are unfamiliar to us. That was the case for me when I talked with author Gregg Olsen about his book, The Amish Wife. It’s about a killer in the Amish community in Pennsylvania. There are many twists and turns in this story, I promise. Support …

1
Patricia Cornwell: Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper, Case Closed 56:20

4M ago56:20

56:20

Several years ago, Patricia Cornwell wrote a book about Jack the Ripper called, Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper, Case Closed. This book presents Patricia’s opinion on his identity based on her extensive research. She believes that Jack the Ripper was a German-British artist named Walter Sickert. A controversial opinion, according to some Ripp…

1
Introducing Wicked Words - A True Crime Talk Show with Kate Winkler Dawson 1:40

4M ago1:40

1:40

Kate Winkler Dawson's true crime talk show Wicked Words is back! On each new episode of Wicked Words, Kate interviews journalists, podcasters and authors about their fascinating behind-the-scenes stories from their investigations into the world of true crime. On Wicked Words, Kate talks to prolific true crime author Patricia Cornwell, award-winning…

1
Tenfold More Wicked - A Blessing and a Curse: Panic 43:04

4M ago43:04

43:04

Lizzie Borden is acquitted but that section of Fall River isn’t free from its murderous past. Less than a century later, the nearby Catholic church is the focus of a mystery and a murder as Satanic Panic grips the United States. How will this end? Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/…

1
Tenfold More Wicked - A Blessing and a Curse: Family Ties 45:17

5M ago45:17

45:17

Bertha Manchester and another familiar name are whispered throughout Fall River in connection to Lizzie Borden’s upcoming trial. Eliza Borden and her family's history will also come into play during the trial. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/4dsqzI1 Learn more about your ad choic…

1
Tenfold More Wicked - A Blessing and a Curse: …Took an Ax 43:07

5M ago43:07

43:07

Decades after the death of Eliza Borden, someone is murdered with an ax. Not Lizzie Borden’s parents, but an innocent farm girl. How is she connected to Lizzie Borden’s case? Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/4dsqzI1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

1
Tenfold More Wicked - A Blessing and a Curse: Drowning 43:23

5M ago43:23

43:23

In 1848 Fall River, Eliza Borden clearly needs help. She is struggling with depression and her husband, Lawdwick appears to be of little help. This will not end well. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/4dsqzI1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

1
Tenfold More Wicked - A Blessing and a Curse: A Hellscape 43:28

5M ago43:28

43:28

On July 2, 1843, a deadly fire ripped through that section of Fall River, nearly destroying a large portion of the city, including the house next door to Lizzie Borden’s future home. Five years later in that house, the Borden family experiences continued tragedy when Lizzie Borden’s great aunt, Eliza Hathaway Darling Borden, appears to have severe …

1
Tenfold More Wicked - A Blessing and a Curse: Cursed 45:28

6M ago45:28

45:28

There is a section of Fall River, Massachusetts spanning just two blocks, where several media-grabbing tragedies occurred over a century. These were not simple domestic disputes or deadly bank robberies, they were deaths that seemed so out of the norm that perhaps they were triggered by something other-worldly. Written, researched and hosted by Kat…

1
Introducing: Tenfold More Wicked, Season Twelve 2:00

6M ago2:00

2:00

This is “A Blessing and a Curse,” the twelfth season of Tenfold More Wicked on Exactly Right. This season is very different from what we’ve done before. It isn’t just about one crime or one tragedy within one family…it’s about a section of a city that has seen many atrocities over the years. It’s also about one family with many connections, reachin…

1
Tenfold More Wicked - Fire and Brimstone: Innocent 45:22

6M ago45:22

45:22

Thomas Cornell Junior is arrested and put on trial for his mother’s murder. Rebecca’s spirit, which visited her brother, was a central witness. Would Thomas be wrongfully convicted? Would he get away with murder? Or was he really guilty? Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/4dsqzI1 Le…

1
Tenfold More Wicked - Fire and Brimstone: Wronged 45:12

6M ago45:12

45:12

As investigators interview more witnesses, someone comes forward and recalls a disturbing conversation with Rebecca Briggs Cornell. She feared her son, but she was also severely depressed. Had she even contemplated suicide? Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/4dsqzI1 Learn more about…

1
Tenfold More Wicked - Fire and Brimstone: A Wounded Family 45:35

7M ago45:35

45:35

Rebecca Briggs Cornell’s body is reexamined and something odd is found. Her son, Thomas, is interrogated for her murder if there was one. Was there evidence to prove the case against him in 1673? Is there now? Thomas Cornell Junior might be guilty, it might have been an accident and there may be other possibilities. Support this podcast by shopping…

1
Tenfold More Wicked - Fire and Brimstone: Burned 45:17

7M ago45:17

45:17

Thomas and his family make a terrible discovery in his mother’s room one night in February of 1673. Rebecca Briggs Cornell led a respectable life only to have it end in tragedy. She’s buried, but she’s not gone. One night, Rebecca’s brother falls asleep and receives a supernatural visitor. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals a…

1
Tenfold More Wicked - Fire and Brimstone: A Cold Winter 41:13

7M ago41:13

41:13

Rebecca Briggs Cornell really dislikes her son’s new wife Sarah Earle. Rebecca is concerned that his daughter-in-law is violent. Her son, Thomas, neglects her and he clearly wants to take over the property, striking fear in Rebecca. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/4dsqzI1 Learn m…

1
Tenfold More Wicked - Fire and Brimstone: Pioneers and Puritans 46:53

7M ago46:53

46:53

It’s 1673 in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. Rebecca Briggs Cornell and her husband Thomas are the town’s founders and have already survived a raft of trauma. They’ve seen their closest friend murdered in New York and were banished from Boston for their religious beliefs. Now they’re concerned about the safety of their family. When Thomas dies, their son…

1
Introducing: Tenfold More Wicked, Season Eleven 2:26

7M ago2:26

2:26

This is “Fire and Brimstone,” the eleventh season of TENFOLD MORE WICKED, our oldest story yet. This time we’re traveling to colonial Rhode Island in 1673. This story came from a longtime Tenfold More Wicked listener and distant relative of the victim. Believe it or not, this case is still local lore for residents of the area. Support this podcast …

1
Tenfold More Wicked - Entitled: Consecrated Ground 44:46

8M ago44:46

44:46

John Chiswell is found dead in his home. Was it suicide, murder, or even an accident? The middle and lower classes of Williamsburg don’t believe he’s really dead. Are they right? Will Robert Routledge’s friend ever see justice for his death? Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/4dsqzI…

1
Tenfold More Wicked - Entitled: …Or Give Me Death 43:11

8M ago43:11

43:11

John Chiswell’s well-connected friends have saved him from a public jail, but they might not be able to save him from the noose. As his murder trial approaches, Chiswell goes quiet and that’s not good. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/4dsqzI1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visi…

1
Tenfold More Wicked - Entitled: The Secret Court 43:52

8M ago43:52

43:52

John Chiswell holds a bloody sword, a blade he pulled from the body of Robert Routledge, a man he once considered his friend. But was it murder or self-defense? Luckily for John Chiswell…he has some very powerful friends. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/4dsqzI1 Learn more about y…

1
Tenfold More Wicked - Entitled: The Mosby Tavern 40:50

8M ago40:50

40:50

One morning in June, John Chiswell visits a favorite tavern, only to be confronted by a drunk, abusive merchant. At least that was Chiswell’s version of events. So he picked up a sharp sword…and nothing good can come of that. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/4dsqzI1 Learn more abo…

1
Tenfold More Wicked - Entitled: Treason 44:51

9M ago44:51

44:51

John Chiswell’s powerful son-in-law, John Robinson is gravely sick. Robinson is Chiswell’s most important business partners. They’re both keeping secrets and, if Robinson dies, Chiswell’s secret will be uncovered. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/4dsqzI1 Learn more about your ad c…

1
Tenfold More Wicked - Entitled: The Virginia Elite 44:09

9M ago44:09

44:09

Colonel John Chiswell is one of Colonial Williamsburg’s most respected men. He married into a famous family and his daughter married one of the most powerful people in Virginia. But Chiswell’s life was a house of cards…and by 1766, it was teetering. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.l…

1
Introducing: Tenfold More Wicked, Season Ten 1:55

9M ago1:55

1:55

“Entitled” is the tenth season of Tenfold More Wicked. It’s a historical true crime story that meets a political scandal in the colony of Virginia, ten years before the Revolutionary War. “Entitled” is about the deaths of three men in the 18th century, how they changed history and about protecting the wealthy and the powerful. Support this podcast …

1
Wicked Words - Michael Finkel: The Art Thief 45:34

9M ago45:34

45:34

This episode isn’t about a typical true crime story. There’s no murder, but there doesn’t need to be to make it a wild story. This is about manipulation, tragedy…and obsession. Lots of obsession. Author Michael Finkel documented all of it in his book: The Art Thief. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this li…

1
Wicked Words - Robert Wilhelm: So Far From Home 44:25

10M ago44:25

44:25

One of my most favorite blogs is one called Murder by Gaslight. It focuses on historical true crime. The writer behind it is Robert Wilhelm and he’s also a nonfiction author. He tells us the story of Pearl Bryan from his book, So Far From Home. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/4ds…

1
Wicked Words - Lisa Belkin: Genealogy of a Murder 49:57

10M ago49:57

49:57

A writer’s stepfather is a researcher in a prison when he meets a prisoner---and they’ll change each other’s lives forever. This is a tragic true crime tale about regret…lots of regret. Could one decision have saved the life of a police officer? Author Lisa Belkin tells us her very personal story from her book: Genealogy of a Murder: Four Generatio…

1
Wicked Words - Casey Sherman: Helltown 45:44

10M ago45:44

45:44

In the late ‘60s, a serial killer stalked women in New England. His name was Tony Costa. He was unusual because he spent a lot of time drawing in his victims. We’ve heard this story from a woman who Costa babysat, but this is a different account. Journalist Casey Sherman tells the story from his book, Helltown: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer o…

1
Wicked Words - Roseanne Montillo: The Wilderness of Ruin 45:09

10M ago45:09

45:09

I’ve been fascinated with the story of Jesse Pomeroy in 1870s Boston. He’s the boy who murdered kids for quite a while before he was caught. What does this story tell us about crime today? Author Roseanne Montillo talks about her book, The Wilderness of Ruin: A Tale of Madness, Fire, and the Hunt for America's Youngest Serial Killer. Support this p…

1
Wicked Words - Nic Edwards: The Delphi Murders 45:29

11M ago45:29

45:29

By now, most of you know the story of the Delphi murders. Actually, this wasn’t a case that I had kept up with. So that’s why this episode is interesting for me. My guest is Nic Edwards—he’s the host of the True Crime Garage podcast. He’s also an author. Nic wrote a book about the murders of Libby and Abby in 2017 called The Delphi Murders: The Que…

1
Wicked Words - William J. Mann: Tinseltown 49:46

11M ago49:46

49:46

I love 1920s Hollywood…it was full of glitz, glamour, controversy and murder. William J. Mann’s wonderful book: Tinseltown: Murder, Morphine, and Madness at the Dawn of Hollywood details the story of a mysterious, unsolved murder of film director William Desmond Taylor. Did Mann solve Taylor’s murder, 100 years later? Maybe. Support this podcast by…

1
Wicked Words - Jennifer Wright: She Kills Me 47:16

11M ago47:16

47:16

Most of us know this, but women are just as capable of killing as men are. Yet most true crime stories cover men killing women, which makes sense, considering the statistics. Author Jennifer Wright wrote a book called She Kills Me. She did research on dozens of stories, where women are the killers. And now she tells us why. Support this podcast by …

1
Wicked Words - David Nelson: Boys Enter the House 47:36

11M ago47:36

47:36

Most of us know the story about serial killer John Wayne Gacy. I frankly don’t want to know more about Gacy. But I do want to hear about his victims. So I had a great discussion with author David Nelson, who focuses on the boys who were Gacy’s victims in his book, Boys Enter the House: The Victims of John Wayne Gacy and the Lives They Left Behind. …

1
Wicked Words - Mikita Brottman: Couple Found Slain 45:20

12M ago45:20

45:20

In February of 1992, a 22 year old walked into a police station in Florida and confessed that he’d shot and killed his parents. He claimed that he had been possessed by the devil. He was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia and ruled “not criminally responsible” for the murders on grounds of insanity. But after the trial, where do the "criminall…

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Wicked Words Podcasts

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