We can’t get enough of podcasts here at Female First. That’s why every week we’re reviewing our favourite one to binge-listen to.
Podcast of the Week: Crime Junkie
The great thing about podcasts is how conveniently simple they are to consume – you could be driving, cooking, working out – they require no visual engagement. All you need is a handy device and you can go about your daily life listening to whatever you enjoy.
From crime to comedy, history to health, there’s something for everyone in the wonderful world of audio programmes.
Our favourite podcast this week is Crime Junkie.
Why: Crime Junkie is the podcast that anyone who loves true crime needs to listen to. We chose this podcast as our first Podcast of the Week because it’s just so easy to listen to and follow along. If you love binge-watching true crime shows on Netflix, Crime Junkie will make you fall in love with podcasts.
Who’s the host? Ashley Flowers is the main presenter and she is joined by co-host and bestie, Brit. Ashley usually tells the story (sometimes we get to hear Brit do it!) and Brit comes in to help speculate and give her opinion. The way they communicate the story is generally quite chatty – but always detailed and clearly very well-researched.
What’s it about? It’s kind of in the name – everything you need for your fix of true crime is in this podcast. From missing person cases to murders, Ash and Brit tell stories of all kinds of true crime cases. Some remain unsolved and others have closure.
Where can I listen? You can listen on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, any other pod-catcher or on their website CrimeJunkiePodcast.com. A new epsiode comes out every Monday.
We spoke to Ashley about the show, who says she has always been interested in true crime and told us how she turned that into a passion for podcasting.
“I have been interested in true crime for as long as I can remember. When I was very little, I would watch fictional shows with my Mom like Perry Mason or Columbo and that blossomed into an interest for real stories.
“Because of my love for true crime I wanted to volunteer with an organisation that helped solve cold cases. I reached out to my local Crime Stoppers and started doing some volunteering for them which lead to a position on their board of directors. I quickly found out many people my age didn't know who Crime Stoppers are or what they do, so I was charged with finding a new way to reach millennials.
“I had been a fan of podcasting since 2014 when Serial came out, and I thought a podcast could be the perfect way to do this. I took it on as a solo project without Crime Stoppers’ help but told them I would do some advertising for them. It's been a huge success and they have seen new volunteers and donors because of it.”
Whether you want to listen to episodes on missing person cases or serial killers, there is a bit of everything with this show – Ashley says she gets most passionate when talking about the April Tinsley case.
“It was local – it was unknown and then after 30 years it got solved which is so rare.”
If you listen to the show, you’ll notice Ash and Brit mention CrimeCon. Ashley explained to us why anyone who is a Crime Junkie needs to go.
“CrimeCon is an incredible experience. Brit and I went before we even had a podcast and it's what inspired me to start the show. You get to meet so many of the voices you hear week to week, so many of the people you see on TV, and there are so many educational sessions to attend that you'll come out of it a bonified armchair detective if you aren't already.
“And for anyone who is planning on going, we have a promo code to get 10% off your ticket CRIMEJUNKIE19”.
Ash and Brit also encourage listeners to download their ‘If I go missing’ file – something that would be instrumental in helping anyone should they ever go missing.
“These folders give people the best opportunity to track you down if you're in trouble.
“Getting warrants for things like your cell phone or bank can take hours or days but if a trusted friend or family member can log into you 'find my iPhone' for example it could be life-saving.
“There was actually a story in the news recently about a girl who was abducted and because her sister knew her password, they were able to find her in her abductor's apartment alive.”
So, what does Ashley want her listeners to take away?
“I hope people listening always leave with a sense that we are talking about real people and true crime should be more than entertainment.
“There are so many ways to get involved by signing petitions, donating to organisations like Crime Stoppers, the DNA Doe Project, or NAMUS. And even if we aren't real detectives, we as the community can contribute in different ways to help solving cold cases.”
For more info visit https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/
And don’t forget to follow Crime Junkie on social media to keep up with everything new from Ash and Brit!
https://www.instagram.com/crimejunkiepodcast/
https://twitter.com/CrimeJunkiePod
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Tagged in Podcast True Crime