Criminal Records Podcast is a history show exploring the weird history of crime and punishment, from the earliest recorded murder case to the origins of laws that are in effect today. Join hosts Isaac Meyer and Demetria Spinrad on a wild journey through criminal justice systems all over the world.
You can listen to our episodes in any order, but we recommend starting with our most recent cases and working your way back through our catalogue. We’ve learned a lot about audio editing and structuring hour-long episodes since we first started in 2018!
Where to Listen
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Not sure where to start? Listen to some of our fans' favorite episodes
Con artists and impostors Check out some of our best episodes about scams and lies throughout history
Queer history Learn about the history of sodomy laws, trans rights, and more
Magic, mysticism, and religion Witchcraft, spirit channelling, divine intervention, and other legal strategies
Episodes Listen in your web browser
Recent Episodes Find out more about these historic figures in our show notes
The Principality of Hutt River
When you’re unhappy about the price of wheat, there’s only one solution: Send a telegraph to the Australian government declaring…
The James Flint Incident
When an Englishman with the rare ability to speak Mandarin Chinese got into a dispute with a corrupt local official…
Simas Kudirka
A negotiation over fishing rights took an unexpected turn when a Lithuanian fisherman jumped onto an American Coast Guard ship…
ONE Magazine
In a country where gay sex is illegal, is a magazine for gay people a publication for criminals? Is the…
The Ulysses Trial
If the obscene material you’re distributing is so avant-garde that most readers can’t tell it’s actually obscene, did you commit a crime or not? This week, we’re getting into the trial of the scandalous literary magazine editors who brought the work of James Joyce to America.
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
