Criminal Records Podcast is a true crime show about history’s weirdest criminal cases. Co-hosts Isaac Meyer and Demetria Spinrad profile criminal cases throughout history. Our philosophy behind the show is that students of history can learn a lot about a society by what it chooses to criminalize, and studying criminal records as primary sources can reveal crucial information about the lives of people who might otherwise have been left out of the historical record entirely. Many of the criminals in our episodes weren’t bad people–in fact, some deserve to be remembered as heroes for their courage in breaking unjust laws.
Where to Listen
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Who We Are
Isaac Meyer is a historian, high school teacher, and podcaster. He started The History of Japan Podcast in 2013. Isaac believes that history should be accessible for everyone, both because it is important for us to know our common past and because really, who doesn’t love a good story?
Demetria Spinrad is an author and digital marketing professional. As a storyteller and a true crime fanatic, Demetria likes to use criminal records to help show you the humanity behind the history.
Isaac Meyer
Demetria Spinrad
Episodes Listen in your web browser
Recent Episodes Find out more about these historic figures in our show notes
The Luddites
This secret society of criminals had a fake leader, but their grievances were very real. Were the Luddites just a…
Jaywalking
The invention of one incredibly minor traffic offense had massive consequences for legal systems around the world. When did we…
Publius Horatius
One of the most important trials in recorded history might not have happened. But the story of a Roman hero…
Stede Bonnet, the Gentleman Pirate
It’s time to take to the sea in style. Why did a gentleman abandon a life of luxury to become a pirate? And how did one of the most incompetent ship captains in history end up sailing with Blackbeard himself?
The White Lotus Rebels
The interrogation records of three criminals tell part of the story of a secret religious movement that tried to topple…