Foul Play: A Historical True Crime Podcast
Author: Shane L. Waters, Wendy Cee, Gemma Hoskins
Subscribed: 13,934Played: 308,461Description
Foggy gaslit streets. A quiet courtroom. And crimes that history tried to bury.
Foul Play is a historical true crime podcast that investigates the most chilling murder cases from the 1800s and early 1900s across the United States and the United Kingdom. Hosted by investigative crime journalists Shane Waters — who pioneered crime podcasting in 2008 — and Wendy Cee, each season unravels one complete criminal case through original research, court records, and primary source material.
This isn't sensationalized true crime. Every season of Foul Play puts victims first — their names, their stories, their humanity — before examining how murder investigations unfolded in an era before modern forensics, when justice was far from guaranteed.
From Victorian poisoners in London to Gilded Age killers in America, Foul Play brings historical true crime to life with cinematic storytelling and relentless accuracy. Every fact is verified. Every claim is sourced. Every story is told with the gravity it deserves.
New seasons of this historical true crime podcast release throughout the year, with episodes dropping weekly on Tuesdays.
Hello, friend. Welcome to Foul Play.


























nauseating that even smart folks say crap lik the Anthony's "enabled" Casey. A Sociopath or Psychopath is perfectly capable of "enabling" THEMSELVES, being impervious to any attempts to guide, correct, or discipline. Consequences, to these kinds of people, are just opportunities to perfect their method of operating. Also, the Anthony's were not frantic just because they "missed" Caylee. They knee their monster of a daughter well enough to be afraid and had reasons they never publicly explained.
Great show but I have to say as a former vodka drinker and recovering alcoholic, vodka is not nearly odorless. You can definitely smell vodka on someone’s breath.
wow!!! I love the story of your dad!! very inspiring! I love his attitude!! I enjoyed hearing your aunts tell the story
they really were serious about Sister Cathy laying her life down to try to protect these girls.
Why are you giving all this time to charlatans? Filling minutes with rubbish. WTF? Garbage!
Fascinating first story of Catherine Winters. Well told, informational, and well produced. Looking forward to the other episodes.
what's the name of the song ?
A bit confusing because it sounds like the friend is talking about Linden, Clements(Old Corner Salloon), and Lodi (movie theaters and bowling alley)
With the small stature and defiant attitude, I can't help but wonder if she had Turner syndrome.
The profiling work is well intended but a lot of what this guy and his class came up with should be scrutinized with healthy skepticism. Especially the "domineering mama" theory, and the "mission oriented" theory. We have here one or maybe more sadistic creeps, that like to sexually assault and kill women and teenage girls with a particular appearance. And this society has made it extremely easy for him/them to do exactly this. It does not make him/them "the greatest serial killer(s) ever" that their victims are unidentified as of yet. It just means there are a lot of vulnerable, throwaway women that "no one cares about". Hah, scratch the surface more and you may find families who tried to file missing reports and were treated like crap by police, or their reports were never officially filed. Or families who have been searching for decades but their efforts get diverted into the void.
Now that we have the legal concept of human trafficking (and though law enforcement is still pretending that trafficking does not exist), part of understanding and perhaps someday solving these murders, and giving these women and girls back their names, should include a more realistic view of what happened to them. how they ended up in a dangerous horrific and dehumanizing industry. how they ended up as "transient" people who "moved from place to place" and ended up raped and murdered and dumped like garbage hundreds or thousands of miles away from home. These women deserve the benefit of the doubt. The one woman who disappeared from her own home, her baby left behind wet and screaming? after having attentive and regular caring habits? maybe she was lured from her home and taken by coercion before entering the industry. she had been in a mental hospital prior. one of the possible victims disappeared on her way home from some group home and was found dumped several states away. both typ
Heard some good things about this podcast, but nothing is more annoying than hosts who don't do their research enough to learn the correct pronunciation of words and places.
From Canada, Quebec. My diocese has gotten a huge scandal in the last 10 yrs, victims are still fighting in court. I’m behind them 100% but I’ve gotten good friends and one I call grandpa and believe me, he wasn’t part of anything and other priests (retired I know) that are on the victim’s side and don’t have contact with the abusers. Tbh, at 42 I don’t know what I believe in but I don’t attend church and my grandpa (retired priest of 88) loves me as I am. Was raised no religious beliefs, atheists. Converted in 2000 and left in 2013. I questioned too much for some ppl. I agree about the devil in organized religion. Love the podcast guys
Hearing that letter at the end gave me insane goosebumps
What a convoluted story.
Audio is terrible 😭 Garbled !
As far as West Memphis police helping you,I highly doubt you'll EVER get a good answer or even an acknowledgement from that pack of wolves! I'm sure you recall the WM3 ! I however will share what information do I get from your podcast on social media and see if maybe this will go viral! Surely family and friends across the country know of a red headed family or friend missing!
not sure I like all the over the phone interviews I can barely understand what there saying
The first time I heard your voice Gemma , I knew you were a special person to everyone you touch. Even though you didn't know at the time, you were. You are definitely someone I would want on my side in a fight for truth.
My heart goes out to Charles...he was royally f*&cked over. The Catholic Church should be so unbelievably full of shame. Maskell stole his innocence and, in turn, a chance at a normal life. I am disgusted to my core. I wish great blessings to Charles and thank him for his extreme bravery.