The Greatest True Crime Stories Ever Told

True Crime & Paranormal

About

The Greatest True Crime Stories Ever Told S2 is an anthology of the most layered and engrossing true crime stories of female killers, cops, scientists, lawyers, scammers, activists, and more. Hosted by true crime writer, Mary Kay McBrayer, this podcast series tells stories at the intersection of society, justice, and the human psyche, siphoning wisdom and understanding from these truly great stories.

Episodes

  • Jenny Geddes and Her Revolutionary Stool

    This episode details the 17th century actions of Jenny Geddes in Scotland, highlighting how one voice can influence a nation and impact empires.

  • The Real Scarlet Letter

    This episode details the true story of Sarah Cornell, a young Methodist textile worker whose life and death mirrored and diverged from the character of Hester Prynne in Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'The Scarlet Letter'. The episode is hosted by M…

  • The Snakehead of Chinatown

    This episode delves into the life of Sister Ping, examining the world of human smuggling, the desperation and ambition driving the pursuit of a better life, and the empires built upon facilitating such journeys.

  • Teresita Basa: Stretching the Boundaries of Belief

    This episode covers the Teresita Basa murder case, notable for the claim that the victim's spirit returned to help solve her own murder. The events were presented as evidence in a U.S. court, leading to a conviction.

  • The Woman Who Went Off the Grid

    This episode covers the story of Rebecca Vance, exploring themes of misdirected parental love, the ambiguity between self-determination and mental illness, and how conspiracy theories can lead to dangerous actions, even when motivated by p…

  • Diane Schuler: The Wrong Way Home

    This episode of The Greatest True Crime Stories Ever Told covers the story of Diane Schuler, an ordinary suburban mother who committed an extraordinarily terrible act. It delves into her story and the questions left behind by those affecte…

  • Harvard's Forgotten Murder/Suicide

    This episode of The Greatest True Crime Stories Ever Told discusses the tragic case of Sinedu Tedesse at Harvard, delving into broken friendships, extreme ambition, and the dark side of the American dream.

  • Gloria Allred: The Most Famous Female Lawyer in the World

    This episode examines the career of Gloria Allred, a famous lawyer involved in significant cases such as OJ Simpson, Bill Cosby, the fight for gay marriage, priest abuse, and AIDS discrimination over nearly fifty years of practice.

  • Family Betrayal: The Susie Newsom Lynch Story (Pt 3)

    This episode, part three of a series, delves into the troubled life of Susie Newsom Lynch, presenting a story filled with paranoia and deceit, characteristic of a southern gothic narrative. The series is hosted by Mary Kay McBrayer.

  • Family Betrayal: The Susie Newsom Lynch Story (Pt 2)

    This episode, the second of three parts, delves into the troubled life of Susie Newsom Lynch, exploring themes of paranoia and deceit in a southern gothic narrative. The series is hosted by Mary Kay McBrayer.

  • Family Betrayal: The Susie Newsom Lynch Story (Pt 1)

    This episode details the troubled life of Susie Newsom Lynch, exploring themes of paranoia and deceit. It is the first part of a three-part series presented in a southern gothic style.

  • Coco Chanel and the Aryan Laws (Pt 2)

    This episode, the second of two parts, investigates Coco Chanel's relationships with Nazis during their occupation of Paris in World War II. The series is hosted by Mary Kay McBrayer.

  • Coco Chanel and the Aryan Laws (Pt 1)

    In the first of two parts, this episode looks at the public and private lives of Coco Chanel following the fall of France in WW2. Coco Chanel adapted to the new circumstances better than many.

  • The Real Witches of Macbeth

    This bonus episode investigates the lore behind Shakespeare's 'Weyward Sisters' in Macbeth, exploring the historical basis for the three witches who prophesied Macbeth's rise to power. The episode is hosted and written by Mary Kay McBrayer.

  • The Gold Club: Sex in the Champagne Room

    This episode focuses on Atlanta's Gold Club in the 1990s, recounting the story of how women were manipulated into participating in mafia-funded fraud.

  • Criminal Cremators

    This episode details the alleged illegal and unethical practices of the Lamb Family Funeral Home, focusing on their pursuit of profit. The story is presented as a "Family Business" and is hosted by Mary Kay McBrayer.

  • The Great Con-Woman of the Gilded Age (Pt 2)

    This episode concludes the story of Cassie Chadwick, detailing her elaborate cons in American history. It includes an interview with Annie Reed, author of "The Impostor Heiress: Cassie Chadwick, The Greatest Grifter of the Gilded Age."

  • The Great Con-Woman of the Gilded Age (Pt 1)

    This episode details the story of Cassie Chadwick, also known by many aliases, who successfully infiltrated and conned her way into the upper class of east coast American society during the Gilded Age.

  • The Sicilian Photographer Who Shot the Mafia

    This episode profiles photojournalist Letitzia Batagliga, whose art and reporting in Palermo were instrumental in the legislative efforts to dismantle the Cosa Nostra.

  • Agatha Christie: The Original Gone Girl

    This episode of The Greatest True Crime Stories Ever Told investigates Agatha Christie's 11-day disappearance in 1926, a real-life mystery involving love, loss, and betrayal. The beloved crime fiction writer's own story became a mystery.

  • The Housewife Who Tried To Kill The President (Pt 2)

    This episode, part two of a series, details the life of Sarah Jane Moore, the woman who attempted to kill the president. It includes an interview with Geri Spieler, author of "Housewife Assassin: The Woman Who Tried To Kill The President".

  • The Housewife Who Tried to Kill the President (Pt 1)

    This episode covers the first part of a two-part series on Sarah Jane Moore, the woman who attempted to assassinate the president. It delves into her life beyond what was reported in the headlines.

  • True Crime Writing's Gold Standard, Ann Rule... and Her Friend Ted Bundy

    Ann Rule, a prolific true crime author and icon of the genre, wrote numerous bestsellers and befriended serial killer Ted Bundy. This episode explores her significant contributions to true crime writing and her complex connection to Bundy.…

  • The Most Nefarious Welfare Queen

    This episode details the crimes of Linda Taylor, a woman who committed extensive fraud and other offenses using assumed identities. The story is presented by Mary Kay McBrayer and is a production of Diversion Audio.

  • Pablo Escobar's Hostages

    This episode details Pablo Escobar's resistance to extradition to the US, focusing on his kidnapping of journalists Maruja Pachón and Beatriz Villamizar to pressure the Colombian government. The episode is part of 'The Greatest True Crime…

  • Postpartum Psychosis Horror Story

    This episode details the story of Andrea Yates, examining the severe impacts of postpartum depression, particularly in the context of the digital age. The episode is part of 'The Greatest True Crime Stories Ever Told' series and is hosted…

  • Introducing: 'The Greatest True Crime Stories Ever Told' Season 2

    The Greatest True Crime Stories Ever Told Season 2 is an anthology series focusing on true crime stories involving women in various roles like killers, cops, and activists. Hosted by Mary Kay McBrayer, the podcast explores the intersection…

  • Bonus Episode: True Crime as an Entertainment Genre w/ Keith Wallman

    In this bonus episode, producer Emma DeMuth talks with Keith Wallman, Editor-in-Chief of Diversion Books, about the reasons behind the popularity of true crime as an entertainment genre.

  • Finding My Brother's Killer

    Penny Farmer spent 40 years searching for her brother who disappeared at sea in the late 1970s. This episode details her long search for answers.

  • People Don't Sleep in Bras

    This episode of The Greatest True Crime Stories covers the murder of Steve Beard, reportedly by his wife's lover. The series is hosted by Mary Kay McBrayer and produced by Diversion Audio.

  • The Murder Factory (Pt 2)

    This is part two of a mini-series about the Archer House, which was intended as a comforting home for seniors but became infamously known as a murder factory. The episode is hosted and written by Mary Kay McBrayer.

  • The Murder Factory (Pt 1)

    This is the first episode of a two-part series about the Archer House, a place that became a "murder factory" instead of a home for older adults. The series is hosted by Mary Kay McBrayer and is a production of Diversion Audio.

  • I Survived a Serial Killer

    This episode recounts the survival story of Holly Dunn, the sole known survivor of the 'railroad killer.' It focuses on her resilience and empowerment after escaping the attacks.

  • The First American Female Serial Killer (Pt 3)

    This episode concludes a three-part miniseries focusing on Jane Toppan, identified as the first American female serial killer. The episode is part of The Greatest True Crime Stories podcast, produced by Diversion Audio and hosted by Mary K…

  • The First American Female Serial Killer (Pt 2)

    Part 2 of a miniseries on the first American female serial killer, detailing her transformation from an orphan indentured servant into a prolific 19th-century murderer and mad scientist. This episode was written and hosted by Mary Kay McBr…

  • The First American Female Serial Killer (Pt 1)

    This is the first part of a three-part miniseries about America's first female serial killer. The episode covers her abusive upbringing, neglect, and how these experiences escalated into her committing multiple murders.

  • Like a Hot Knife Through Butter

    This episode of The Greatest True Crime Stories Ever Told details the case of Marjorie Orbin, a Vegas showgirl and stripper involved in a murder. The podcast is a production of Diversion Audio and hosted by Mary Kay McBrayer.

  • Sex Workers' Tip Line

    This episode details the story of Eunice Hunton Carter, a pioneering African-American female lawyer, and her success in prosecuting a powerful mobster. The episode is part of "The Greatest True Crime Stories Ever Told" and is produced by D…

  • The Catfish Killer (Pt 2)

    This episode details the conclusion of “The Facebook Murders” in Mountain City, Tennessee, where an online conflict led to a double homicide. This is the second part of the story.

  • The Catfish Killer (Pt 1)

    This episode details the "Facebook Murders" of Mountain City, Tennessee, where an online feud led to a double homicide. The series is hosted by Mary Kay McBrayer.

  • Introducing: The Greatest True Crime Stories Ever Told

    Introducing "The Greatest True Crime Stories Ever Told," an anthology podcast hosted by Mary Kay McBrayer. The series focuses on true crime narratives where women are the central figures, not just victims, across various roles.