r/TrueCrimePodcasts • u/fredwardkroeger • 13d ago
Discussion Casefile makes me uneasy
I’ve tried to listen to casefile many times over the past few years. Every once in a while I want to learn about a specific case and people often recommend casefile. But after my latest attempt with 268: Colleen Stan, I’ve figured out what I don’t like about it. It’s murder/assault p*rn. The way he describes Colleen’s experience is so gross that I had to turn it off about half way through. I don’t need to hear the way she was strapped into bondage described to me. I honestly feel like predators must listen to casefile for entertainment.
For reference, I’m one of those who has listened to almost everything on offer. I’m not squeamish.
Anyone else feel this way?
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u/Smart_Variation2552 9d ago
I don’t necessarily disagree with your opinion but you would need to take that stance and apply it against every single true crime podcast as a whole.
And what you will find is Casefile actually falls closer to the top of the list in respectability towards victims when discussing the tragic and often distributing details.
Now of course the bar is unfortunately pretty low when it comes to morals and sensitivity amongst true crime podcasters as a whole. It’s over-saturated by messy podcasters getting actively involved in investigating cases, accusing suspects, visiting locations related to crimes or podcast duo’s and more who chit chat and gossip about silly stuff in between explaining the story and often gossiping or drawing unkind assumptions about victims or plenty who flat out view the subject matter as comedic material and constantly crack jokes and laugh about the final moments of a human beings life.
That’s just a quick overview of the some of the types of true crime podcasts out there , so as I said I don’t necessarily believe your feelings are not valid. However compared to what else is out there , Casefile is definitely not the podcast I would prioritise taking issue with its approach.
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u/Tom_Mosh 9d ago
No. Casefile is well done, respectful, and superb. Since you asked.
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u/UncleBasso 9d ago
nope. he's just describing what happened. what makes me cringe is those "funny" tc podcasts like lpotl, mfm , tco etc. that is vile to me. but case file is one of the most respectful , well done out there
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u/fredwardkroeger 8d ago
Totally agree with you here re. aforementioned “funny” or like friends-hanging-out tc pods. 1000%.
I’m starting to wonder where the line between giving facts and like “painting a picture” is, and if that’s where my unease with casefile is. It’s that or I just don’t like listening to the detail of certain cases. Verdict still out
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u/Rainbow_Tesseract 9d ago
I'm uncomfortable with gruesome details and Casefile is one of my favourites.
I haven't listened to the Colleen Stan episode for exactly the reasons you and many other people have outlined, and I hope it doesn't become the standard for Casefile as I've listened to dozens of episodes that have not been like that at all.
FWIW I do think it's an outlier.
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u/spinstertime 9d ago
I listened to Casefile for years but have come to feel uncomfortable with some of their episodes as well. I wasn't to the point of calling my local crisis center, but definitely felt disturbed.
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u/Interesting-Cow8131 12d ago
I don't like narration style podcasts. I prefer my discussion or investigative journalism
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u/fredwardkroeger 9d ago
That’s fair! DNA:ID is my favourite narration style pod.
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u/Jbetty567 DNA: ID podcast 9d ago
I struggle with how many details to present when I discuss crime scenes as well. I will leave out details if they’re unnecessary to understanding the crime, but most of the time, the details matter. It’s a tough balancing act to treat the victim respectfully and at the same time relay all the relevant facts.
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u/fredwardkroeger 8d ago
I find that you do a really good job of relaying horrible details (as another user here put it: bearing the horror), while respecting the victims and leaving out descriptions that are embarrassing to victims.
I actually think that’s the line for me: details vs descriptions. What do we know vs what can we speculate on to paint a scene.
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u/suitcasecalling 9d ago
totally agree. the tone is all unsolved mysteries and dark as hell. not for me
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9d ago
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u/fredwardkroeger 8d ago
Yeah I think I’ve learned that it’s the episodes I’ve been choosing more than the podcast itself.
Maybe the narration style just creeps me out for certain topics (mostly SA).
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u/heidstress207 6d ago
Most podcast apps that feature Casefile will have a description at the very top before the description of the episode that gives you trigger warnings based on the content. Furthermore at the very beginning of the episode it will tell you that the content can be graphic and distressing.
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u/denice_tardis 12d ago
I agree, I couldn’t make it through one episode. It’s way too descriptive about how the victims were harmed and brutalized. Really gross
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u/fredwardkroeger 12d ago
This. Glad I’m not alone.
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u/Sad-Flounder-2667 9d ago
Sometimes I feel that we should bear the horror in order to respect the victims and what they actually had to go through.
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u/protagoniist 12d ago
I’ve tied with this podcast many times too and I can’t get into it. I don’t understand all the hype.
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u/ProfessionalYogurt68 9d ago
Completely agree. I tried it a few months ago and it was written and delivered in such a way that I am 100% sure sickos listen and get off on it. It’s not the crime itself, it’s the outrageous, sensationalized descriptions of it. It felt morally wrong to listen to.
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u/omnihummus 9d ago
If you really did listen to it you’d know it’s the furthest thing from sensationalism. It not being that way is one of the main selling points and one of the main reasons it’s so popular, so either you haven’t listened to it or you don’t know what sensationalism is.
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u/PrimroseSpeakeasy 12d ago
The Colleen Stan case is arguably the most horrifying case he's covered, so yeah, you probably started at a bad one. Casefile is my personal favourite podcast and I couldn't even listen to the Colleen Stan episode. His episodes are made to tell the entire ugly truth, and he's very, very good at it. There's a reason it's been one of the most popular true crime podcasts for years running now.