Listener Reviews

First discovered Laura Richards (a New Scotland Yard/FBI-trained criminal analyst) years ago on “Real Crime Profile “ and was fascinated by her unique experience & extensive research-based feminist perspective on crime, especially those against women & children. Followed her career ever since & was in awe of her relentless behind the scenes work changing domestic violence & stalking laws in the UK - not to mention the overwhelming victory of making coercive control a criminal offense. This podcast offers everything a true crime aficionado could want, from “in the weeds” deep dives into infamous historical murders and into Laura’s personal process of analyzing & solving crimes; to live Parliamentary hearings on anti-crime bills in process; to fascinating interviews with survivors, victims, professionals & advocates. Above all, Laura stresses a focus on honoring the victims of crime, & dustbinning the near-glorification of infamous criminals. I wholeheartedly agree with her core assessment - in order to reduce the outrageous frequency of crimes against women & kids, we need to focus not just on women protecting themselves, but on changing the pervasive attitudes of entitlement & toxic masculinity behind the men who commit them.

Thank you Laura for affirming the struggle and pain of so many women who endure abusive relationships and feel isolated and trapped with no hope for escape.Becoming a successful survivor is a reachable goal with your support and experience.

Laura is such a breath of fresh air. Inspiring and tenacious, she has been working tirelessly for women these past 25+ years. As someone who grew up in the 90s, I was always aware of the imbalance I experienced in narratives about men and women, in the ways in which my elders would describe domestic violence…. But I never knew how to put it into words. Laura articulated it so clearly and consistently that it gave me the vocabulary I needed to form my thoughts and communicate them with others. This show (and real crime profile) gave me the arsenal I needed to do my part to help women and myself make the right choices and keep ourselves safe. I am so grateful for resources like this - we need more voices like this in the world. Voices that are informed, educated, balanced, clear and not sensationalizing crime, but humanizing the people involved. Remembering the humanity at the heart of it all. Kudos to laura and all the work everyone like her does.

Laura Richards has absolutely changed my perspective on coercive control, domestic violence and putting victim rights and stories at the center of conversations about crime. There have been enough podcasts and documentaries who focus on perpetrators, who glorify and elevate them. The Yorkshire women who lost their lives in the 70’s and 80’s not only were cut from history, but they were also mis-characterized and demonized…Laura has given them back their dignity through the voices of their children. She’s a hero and her work needs a Netflix documentary now…

I have learned so much from Laura

First rate. I have learned so much from Laura and love her passion to protect women.

This podcast is just amazing. Laura rightly focuses on the victims of each crime she covers and spends time educating us about warning signs of abuse and “murder in slow motion.” I’m a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner and have found this so helpful in my work, as I feel I can better evaluate my patients and give them tools to recognize their dangerous situations, and encouragement to get out. A friend of mine recently found out her husband was cheating on her and this was her final straw in the marriage; she filed for divorce but he was not aware she was planning this. He threatened to kill himself with a butcher knife while standing right in front of her, and when she told me this I knew it was absolutely a major red flag. Using tools from Laura’s podcast and Instagram account I was able to help my friend understand just how dangerous this behavior is for her and her kids; she has since filed a restraining order and out multiple security measures in place, and is in therapy. I’m so proud of her and so thankful for Laura’s deeply meaningful and important work!

This is such an important podcast. Firstly, it respects the victims of these heinous crimes rather than focusing on the perpetrators. Laura, having years of professional training and expertise, does not sensationalize or try to make these stories cheap “entertainment”, but rather explains, educates, gives voice to victims and through this method, empowers. Excellent and valuable work.

The first series, Forgotten Victims, is a lengthy analysis of pretty much all perspectives of the Yorkshire murders. It’s respectful of the victims and their families and goes through in detail how bungled the investigation was due to male chauvinism and misogyny.

Laura Richards is so great. I love listening to her. I lover her passion and her knowledge. I learn something everytime I listen. If I were younger I'd want to grow up to be her.

Love to listen to Laura Richards and learn, learn, learn. At times I get a numb to the violence of the world but Laura Richard explains and breaks things down to understand. There is a 3part episode with a 17 year old Georgia (apologies for forgetting last name) - but oh! I instantly loved this person - I think we are all better off having these people share their stories and I am very thankful.

I feel as though I have lived something so similar . Laura, your ability to listen and educate is just wonderful. I was lucky as the San Antonio police and my attorney were awesome and my family helped me right when I filed for both a protective order and a divorce. I still was terribly abused after the separation through the divorce ….. but I’m out and free. I started over at 56 and didn’t look back. So much more happened and I’ll share when I can. Thank you for your podcast, your advocacy and for giving us voices.

Laura has taught me so much about coercive control, stalking, femicide, and intimate partner abuse. I recommend this podcast to everyone I meet, especially the episodes on Deconstructing Coercive Control and Preventing Murder in Slow Motion. Thank you for your tireless (<—stupid word because it’s exhausting) work and congratulations on the new little man in your life.

Thank you Laura for creating this very special podcast, there are not many that are in-depth at this level - one can tell that you have been working for the police for years. So thanks for showing us your way of approaching and going through cases step by step, professionally.You‘re also a role model for me, as I‘m training to be a trauma therapist for victims of violence and abuse but will also do my Master‘s in Forensic Psychology to get the big picture & in order to understand the criminal behaviour of the perpetrators more.Keep up the amazing work supershero!Can’t wait for the cases to come Happy holidays

As a survivor of coercive control , physical , mental , financial and legal abuse …. I am consistently amazed at how similar our stories are. The Asia’s is real. Why we stay is real. How we get out safely is a miracle. Therapy helped be realize the enormity of what I survived. This podcast helped me feel more normal. Prayers to all of the survivors and for those who didn’t make it out. Thanks Laura Richards for your insightful and compassionate coverage. You make a difference.

I have listened to thousands of hours of true crime podcasts. This one is by far the most educational. It has changed the way I think about victims, survivors, criminals and the role the media plays in covering crimes. She helps to challenge many of our current views. She is bright, well spoken and is extremely knowledgeable. Hearing the perspectives of the survivors is very beneficial. She shows how their lives are impacted - not just the gory details. Thank you for being so respectful and giving names to those who have been affected by the perpetrator. Thank you for showing us that true crime stories can be told in very interesting ways, while being respectful, instead of sensational. Thank you for not blaming the victims and survivors and instead placing the blame where it belongs - on the perpetrators.

As a professional in this field (and a survivor) I can’t recommend this podcast enough. Laura Richards is whip smart, not at all able to be intimidated, and an absolute warrior for women. Thank you Laura! You inspire me to keep going back on tough days

Supremely educational and mandatory listening for anyone that wants to understand human behavior in relation to crime.

I listen to this podcast every week and have learnt so much.

Empathy and concern for victims takes the front seat with sharp intellect and analysis by its side. I loveeee this host, she makes me feel less alone. My one complaint is in an early episode a woman’s vagina was referred to as her womanhood and as someone with lots of trans people in my life, it kinda stung. Is my friend not a woman because she doesn’t have a vagina? Of course not. I think this podcast would be perfect with some trans inclusivity because as the host says, language matters.

Another incredible podcast. The information relating to the DPP report is staggering. Delighted you focused on the crime scene photos Bailey had developed, the tips of the shoes, whose were they? Photos taken in the dark before crime scene sealed off. Thank you for unravelling another layer of of this complicated and deeply tragic story. Thank you for your untiring work. Justice for Sophie. Countess.

Super interesting and insightful podcast from the brilliant Laura Richards. Her descriptions of the location make you feel like you’ve been there. Her knowledge and understanding of human behavior and criminal behavior is unsurpassed and makes this a gripping listen.

I've been listening and reading true crime for years and the insights Laura gives are truly astounding, her wealth of knowledge about domestic abuse is extremely important to people of all genders and honestly, I recommend any podcast she's on.

Fantastic forensic analysis, putting the victims at the center of their own narrative—which often changes/challenges points of view at a critical time. The detail in these episodes is so detailed, I find myself going back to listen to episodes again and again, catching more and more detail as I do. It’s an enjoyable process that I probably would not enjoy if other podcasters did this. The empathy and action that Ms. Richards brings to every case and survivors in general is nothing short of a game changer. She has helped to go start to reclaim my own personal narrative and—although I don’t even know her—I am forever grateful for her and her work, whether or be podcasting or championing legislative change. Thank you Laura Richards!