Once Upon A Crime is a true crime and history podcast hosted by Esther Ludlow, with 431 episodes since 2016. It covers notorious cases in thematic series, typically 30 to 45 minutes, on a weekly schedule with short trailers. Estimated downloads are 20,000 to 60,000 per episode, implying about $360 to $1,500 per host-read mid-roll. Recent series cover Scott Peterson and Sylvia Likens.
A ten year true crime brand with a loyal weekly audience
- Apple shows 4,737 ratings at 4.6 stars, with 431 episodes since 2016.
- Weekly full episodes of about 36 minutes suit mid-roll placement without long listener drop-off.
- Themed series with trailers create repeat touchpoints across a story arc.
Brand fit report
Content
- Formats
- narrative, themed series, bonus discussion
- Tone
- suspenseful, thoughtful
- Language
- English
- Production
- Studio production
- Typical length
- 30 to 45 minutes
Audience
Commercial
- Brands seen
- None yet
- Categories promoted
- None yet
- Affiliate links
- No
No sponsor mentions found in the feed; the show is hosted on Art19, which supports dynamic ads.
Suitability GARM Brand Safety Floor + Suitability
Titles such as 'The House on New York Street: The Sylvia Likens Case' and 'Taylor Parker — Deadly Deception' cover violent real crimes.
We classify content, never people. No age, gender, ethnicity, religion or political views are inferred about the creator. Audience figures are estimates unless marked verified. Creators can correct anything on their profile.
Where to listen
| Platform | Link |
|---|---|
| Website | art19.com/shows/once-upon-a-crime |
| Apple Podcasts | podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1122650415 |
| RSS feed | rss.art19.com/once-upon-a-crime |
Benchmark score: 95 / 100
Public rule, same for everyone. How it works.
Recent episodes
| Episode | Date | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Rocktober: Axl Rose — Welcome to the Nightmare | 2026-10-12 | 38 min |
| Axl Rose, American Cults & Mexico’s ‘Reformed’ Serial Killer - Welcome | 2026-10-05 | 4 min |
| Taylor Parker — Deadly Deception | 2026-09-28 | 37 min |
| Mackenzie Shirilla: Behind the Image — The True Story Behind Netflix’s | 2026-09-21 | 41 min |
| BONUS: Why Did They Stay? Inside the Sedona Sweat Lodge Tragedy: A Dis | 2026-09-18 | 1 h 0 min |
| The Sedona Sweat Lodge Tragedy | 2026-09-14 | 32 min |
Last six episodes from the show's feed, latest 7 days ago, a new one about every 7 days.
Step into the darker side of history with Once Upon A Crime, a true-crime podcast that delves deep into some of the world’s most gripping cases. Hosted by an expert storyteller, Esther Ludlow, each episode unravels the mysteries behind notorious crimes, exploring the lives of victims, perpetrators, and the intricate details of the investigations that followed. With carefully researched…
About Once Upon A Crime
Once Upon A Crime is a true crime podcast hosted by Esther Ludlow, who is listed as the feed's author and owner. The feed description says each episode examines notorious cases, including the lives of victims, perpetrators and the investigations that followed. Recent episodes include a multi-part Scott Peterson revisit, a two-part Sylvia Likens series and a seasonal Rocktober episode on Axl Rose.
The feed lists 431 episodes since 2016, with a full episode usually every Monday and short trailers in between. The median length is about 36 minutes. Apple Podcasts shows 4,737 ratings with a 4.6 average.
Estimated downloads are 20,000 to 60,000 per episode. No sponsors appear in the feed. At $18 to $25 per 1,000 estimated downloads, a host-read mid-roll would run about $360 to $1,500 per episode. It suits brands seeking a established true crime audience.
Written from the show's public RSS feed, its Podcast Index listing and episode titles. Numbers updated 2026-10-19. Once Upon A Crime can edit or remove this page at any time.
Questions about Once Upon A Crime
How much does Once Upon A Crime charge for a podcast sponsorship?
Starbooked estimates a host-read mid-roll at about $360 to $1,500 per episode, based on 20,000 to 60,000 estimated downloads. The show does not publish download numbers, so these figures are estimates.
What is Once Upon A Crime about?
It is a true crime podcast hosted by Esther Ludlow that covers notorious cases, including victims, perpetrators and investigations. It runs themed series and occasional bonus discussions with authors.
How do I contact Once Upon A Crime about sponsoring an episode?
The show's contact email unlocks on Starbooked for $0.80. Boosted shows can also be booked directly through Starbooked, so you can arrange a sponsorship without hunting for contact details.
Similar creators
Podcast and other creators in true crime, ranked by score.
| Creator | Niches | Est. downloads | Median views | Rate | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Right Answers Mostlypodcast | historypop culture | 15k | – | $90–620 | 96 |
| historytrue crime | 15k | – | $90–620 | 96 | |
| true crimecriminal psychology | 35k | – | $360–1250 | 96 | |
Infamouspodcast | true crimecelebrity news | 50k | – | $360–2000 | 95 |
FBI Case File Reviewpodcast | true crimefbi history | 50k | – | $360–2000 | 95 |
| paranormaltrue crime | 15k | – | $90–620 | 95 |