Most podcast fans are familiar with the marquee true crime podcasts — Serial, Dr. Death, S-Town, Criminal, and handful of others. But — as this site will gladly attest — there are some excellent lesser-known true crime podcasts that deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as some of their staple counterparts. We’ve covered both Swindled and The Cleaning of John Doe before, but there’s another deserving candidate: Direct Appeal.

Direct Appeal discusses the case of Melanie McGuire, who’s been incarcerated the last 13 years for the murder and dismemberment of her husband. Along with hearing directly from McGuire, Direct Appeal is co-hosted by two criminologists, Meghan Sachs and Amy Shlosberg, who analyze the evidence and dissect the trial in retrospect. Through a 13-episode series, Sachs and Shlosberg weigh the evidence and walk through the supposed crime scene and ultimately weigh in on their thoughts on McGuire’s role in the crime.

We were fortunate to talk with Shlosberg about the podcast, how they differentiate from a crowded true crime field, and their future plans in podcasting. See below for our full Q&A.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

DISCOVER PODS: How’d you get into podcasting?

Shlosberg: The idea for this podcast happened organically and was not something we sought out to do. My co-host Meghan asked me if I would be interested in working with her on examining the Melanie McGuire case. Melanie wanted to tell her story and was eager for a second look at her case from someone not involved in the original trial. When trying to decide what outlet would be best, a podcast seemed like the obvious choice.. We are also avid listener of podcasts, so had a natural interest in the medium.

DISCOVER PODS: In your own words, why should listeners tune in to Direct Appeal?

Shlosberg: This is a riveting case, regardless of whether you believe Melanie is guilty or innocent of the murder of her husband. Over the course of thirteen episodes we pick apart the evidence that was presented at trial, and that which was not (but perhaps should’ve been). We also include extensive interviews with Melanie McGuire herself from Edna Mahan Correctional Facility. At the conclusion of the podcast we will come to our own conclusions about whether we believe Melanie McGuire is innocent and whether or not she received a fair trial.

DISCOVER PODS: Obviously true crime has a strong presence within podcasting, how is Direct Appeal different?

Shlosberg: While there are other podcasts that question the outcome of a criminal trial in a serialized fashion, we are the first to do so as content matter experts. Both Meghan and I are Criminology professors and have worked with offenders in various capacities for over 15 years. In addition, we have over 25 hours of exclusive interviews with Melanie who is currently serving a life sentence for the murder and dismemberment of her husband. At the conclusion of season one of the podcast, listeners can submit their questions and Melanie will answer them. As far as we are aware, this has not been done before.

DISCOVER PODS: As criminologists, you’ve likely seen tons of cases. What stood out with Melanie’s case that led you to working on the podcast with her?

Shlosberg: As New Jersey residents we had knowledge of this case and were aware of some of the issues with her trial. However, it was only after Melanie’s family contacted Meghan that we decided to take a closer look. Once we started the investigation several interesting questions emerged and we felt that the story needed to be told. On the surface it seemed that Melanie got a fair trial and that she was guilty, but once we dug into this case, we could see that all of the pieces did not quite fit.  Many of the offenders we work with are honest about their crimes, however Melanie adamantly maintains her innocence. 

DISCOVER PODS: Describe your recording set up? What equipment are you using?

Shlosberg: We record at JC Studios in Jersey City, New Jersey. The studio has everything we need to record. Meghan uses a Zoom H4n recorder when she interviews in the field and records phone calls with Melanie. 

DISCOVER PODS: Where do you want to take your podcast?

Shlosberg: We are currently in the process of developing another podcast that will focus exclusively on women and crime. We are very excited for this new endeavor, however there is still a lot to be done before we conclude the Melanie McGuire investigation. At this point we are focusing on the follow-up episodes. However, we are also getting requests from people who want us to look at their cases, so we are considering taking on a new case in the future.

DISCOVER PODS: What other podcasts are you listening to now?

Shlosberg: We both listen to many podcasts, so rather than list them all; here are a few of our recent favorites: Casefile, Bear Brook, Armchair Expert, To Live and Die in L.A., Ear Hustle, Trace Evidence, Dr. Death, Big Savage and The Drop Out.

DISCOVER PODS: Anything else you’d like to add?

Shlosberg: This case is a real roller coaster with lots of ups and downs and so many pieces on both sides that just don’t fit.  We are on this ride with our audience and look forward to finding the truth in the end, or at least, getting as close to it as possible. 

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