How to start a true crime podcast (responsibly)

Famous cases have been covered dozens of times. A new show needs a reason to exist: a local case few people know, a new interview, a focus on the investigation rather than the crime, a legal or forensic expertise, or a regional focus.

Ask what you can add that a listener cannot get elsewhere. Access, research depth and perspective are the three things that set a true crime show apart.

Good true crime is built on court records, police reports, contemporary news coverage, books and interviews, not on other podcasts. Many court records are public, and local libraries and newspaper archives are underused.

Keep a source document for every episode, listing where each fact came from. Read sources out loud in the episode where it helps, and publish a source list in the show notes. It builds trust, and it protects you if something is challenged.

If you interview people connected to the case, record the conversation with consent and keep the full recording. See how to record an oral history interview for a respectful interview process.

Victims and their families are not characters. They can hear your show. Use victims' names with respect, avoid graphic detail that adds nothing to understanding, and do not speculate about living people for entertainment.

Consider reaching out to families before covering a case, and respect a request not to. Add a content warning at the start of episodes that describe violence or abuse. Many listeners appreciate it, and it is the right thing to do.

Saying someone committed a crime they were not convicted of can be defamatory. Stick to what is documented: "was charged with", "was acquitted of", "police named him as a suspect". Separate fact from your opinion clearly, and say when you are speculating.

Be especially careful with cases that are still open or under appeal, and with private people who were only briefly involved. If you are unsure, leave it out or seek legal advice. This is general information, not legal advice.

True crime works as narrative. Decide whether you are telling one case per episode or one case across a season. Map each episode: where it starts, what the listener learns, and where it ends to bring them back.

Most shows use a mix of scripted narration and conversation. Script the facts so they are accurate, then talk around them naturally. See podcast script examples for formats.

Mood matters. Quiet, licensed background music and clean audio help listeners stay with a long story. Avoid sound effects that dramatise real violence.

True crime listeners binge. Launch with two or three episodes so new listeners can settle in, then release weekly. Seasons with a planned end are easier to finish than an open-ended show, and give you a natural break to research the next case.