“Once Upon a Crime” - How Esther Ludlow Became a True Crime Trailblazer

Joshua Ritter from ‪@CRConfidential‬ sits down with Esther Ludlow, creator and host of the hit true crime podcast Once Upon a Crime, to talk about her journey from podcasting pioneer to one of the genre’s most popular storytellers.

With a background in psychology and a passion for true crime, Esther launched her show in 2016—and within just eight months, Once Upon a Crime surpassed one million listens. Since then, she’s written, produced, and edited over 300 episodes, drawing more than 36 million downloads and national media recognition.

In this episode, Esther shares how she built her podcast from the ground up, what inspires her storytelling style, and how she’s expanded her reach to YouTube and beyond.

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Video editing: Keilyn Abe

https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/

YouTube: / @onceuponacrimepodcast
Instagram: / onceuponacrimepod
X: https://x.com/UponACrime
Facebook: / onceuponacrimepod
TikTok: / ouacpod

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Introduction
00:35 Welcome Esther!
01:34 Esther’s Background
05:12 Her Experience Working in the Juvenile Justice System
10:36 Transitioning to Family Counseling
13:23 ‘The Stranger Beside Me’ by Ann Rule and How It Inspired Her
17:08 Launching the ‘Once Upon a Crime’ Podcast
25:13 Early Growth of the Podcast
28:54 When Did Podcasting Become More Serious?
36:21 How Have Things Changed in The True Crime World?
47:36 Transitioning to YouTube
51:12 Experience Joining Docuseries
54:43 What’s Next?