Podcast Spotlight: Swindled
Think corporate greed, business corruption, Ponzi schemes, and the like. That’s Swindled‘s wheelhouse. A wheelhouse it does a tremendous job discussing in their not-like-the-rest true crime podcast. Using historical footage, excellent narrative writing, and immersive sound editing, Swindled is on par with the quality of top tier podcasts.
Hosted by the anonymous (and pseudonymous), A Concerned Citizen, Swindled focuses on the crime itself rather than anything else.
I got a chance to trade emails with A Concerned Citizen to talk about the podcast, future crimes they’re eager to discuss, and some of their favorite podcasts. See below for our Q&A.
Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher
Discover Pods: How’d you get into podcasting?
A Concerned Citizen: I wanted to make the podcast that I wanted to hear. I had been searching for a very specific type of podcast but never found it. True crime narrative style with all of the details, but with a focus on white-collar crime. Ponzi schemes, corporate negligence, frauds, con artists, etc. I wanted to shine a light on a darkness that hadn’t been explored. There were shows in a similar vein (very good ones) but they weren’t quite scratching that itch. So Swindled is my attempt at making that show.
I played music in high school and college so I knew the basics of recording in a bedroom. I was a freelance web designer at one point so I knew how to build a website. I was familiar with RSS feeds, graphic design, etc. All I had to do was buy a better mic and sit down and write and go for it. So, why not?
DP: As a true crime podcast, how do you try to differentiate yourself?
A Concerned Citizen: Swindled covers very different topics than a traditional true crime show. They cover serial killers, cults, and murders. We cover corruption and greed and backroom deals. Sometimes the two worlds collide, but our focus is different. All of the crimes we cover are financially motivated in one way or another. Whether it be a company selling a dangerous product to maximize profit, or someone rigging a lottery. The end goal is always money. How certain businesses and individuals attempt to reach that goal, and the fallout from those attempts, is what the show is about.
In terms of the structure or form of the show, I don’t think it’s a conscious effort to differentiate. Like I said earlier, I’m trying to make the show that I want to hear, which means get straight into the story and set a tone.
DP: Any future plans to cover Bernie Madoff?
A Concerned Citizen: Of course! But I want to get really, really good at making these before tackling the big ones: Madoff, Enron, Shkreli. They’re all coming, I just don’t know how soon. We will be covering Martha Stewart in a bonus episode soon though.
DP: Why do you think true crime podcasts are so popular?
A Concerned Citizen: It’s entertaining. I think it’s just another way we scare ourselves. That genre exists in every medium: music, movies, books, video games. It’s just entertainment, but I think the reality of the crimes adds an extra layer of intrigue.
Or maybe people just need a reminder that terrible shit can happen and not to take anything for granted.
DP: What’s the most difficult part of podcasting for you?
A Concerned Citizen: Time management. Editing. Writing. The ideas are easy. Everything else can be a struggle.
DP: What podcasts are you listening to now?
A Concerned Citizen: 99% Invisible is always a classic.
I really like the ESPN 30 for 30s.
Slow Burn was awesome.
Ear Hustle and The Cleaning of John Doe. Both of which just started their second seasons.
Excited about a new one called Hoax from the guy who does Unresolved.
True crime stuff, like True Crime Story Time, Gone Cold, Southern Fried True Crime, Cold Traces.
DP: Anything else you’d like to add?
A Concerned Citizen: Please vote. Thanks for having me!
Previous Story
Empire On Blood: the newest true crime podcast to binge
Next Story
Pods Review Pods: The Countdown, Girl in Space, & Film Roast
Comments
Comments are closed.