
John J. Lennon
Contributing editor and author reporting from Sing Sing Correctional Facility; discusses his book The Tragedy of True Crime and how true-crime storytelling affects incarcerated people and public perception.
Top 5 podcasts with John J. Lennon
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30 snips
Oct 17, 2025 • 51min
Big Tech is Silencing the ICE Watchers. Plus, Why a Scholar of Antifa Fled the Country.
Joseph Cox, an investigative reporter and co-founder of 404 Media, reveals how tech giants are removing apps documenting ICE activities, discussing the implications for future accountability. Mark Bray, a historian known for his work on Antifa, shares his harrowing experience of being doxxed, leading him to flee the country amidst a smear campaign. John J. Lennon, an editor and author from Sing Sing, critiques true crime narratives and their impact on public perception of incarcerated individuals, advocating for more nuanced storytelling.

16 snips
Nov 24, 2025 • 1h 5min
The Tragedy of True Crime
Join John J. Lennon, an author and journalist serving time at Sing Sing, as he dives into the complexities of true crime narratives. He shares his personal journey, including the emotional impact of seeing his crime dramatized on screen. Lennon critiques how the media sensationalizes the lives of the guilty, exploring the cost of our obsession with true crime. He reflects on accountability, the limits of restorative justice, and how writing helped him confront his past, while introducing a more humane perspective on his fellow inmates.

16 snips
Oct 8, 2025 • 24min
What's Wrong with True Crime?
John J. Lennon, a contributing editor at Esquire and author serving time at Sing Sing, dives into the dark allure of true crime. He reflects on his own experience appearing in a documentary and critiques the genre's good vs. evil narrative, arguing it fuels societal fears. Lennon discusses how immersive literary approaches differ from sensational TV, even as he shares the transformative narratives of inmates. With a focus on remorse and accountability, he challenges media portrayals and explores the emotional toll of crime on both victims and perpetrators.

9 snips
Nov 12, 2025 • 45min
John J. Lennon — "I'm Owning My Sh*t on the Page"
In this engaging discussion, John J. Lennon, an incarcerated writer and journalist at Sing Sing, shares insights from his book, *The Tragedy of True Crime*. He critiques the genre's obsession with innocence, arguing it obscures the realities of guilt and redemption. Lennon reveals his experience on Chris Cuomo's show, describing it as exploitative, which fueled his desire to rethink true crime narratives. He advocates for a more nuanced approach that acknowledges punishment and rehabilitation, while critiquing the media's framing of crime.

8 snips
Nov 19, 2025 • 33min
Why America Is Obsessed With True Crime
Incarcerated journalist John J. Lennon, author of *The Tragedy of True Crime*, dives deep into the ethics of the true crime genre. Having committed murder in 2001 and now reflecting from behind bars, he critiques the genre’s exploitation of tragedy as entertainment. Lennon shares his journey from a life-changing prison stabbing to discovering journalism, arguing that true crime feeds a thirst for punishment. He also discusses how his writing aims to humanize inmates and challenges conventional storytelling by focusing on their lives beyond their crimes.


