Wicked Words - A True Crime Talk Show with Kate Winkler Dawson
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts
Welcome to Tenfold More Wicked Presents: Wicked Words, Kate Winkler Dawson's true crime talk show. On each new episode of Wicked Words, Kate interviews journalists, podcasters and authors about their fascinating behind-the-scenes stories from their investigations in the world of true crime, many of which have never been shared before.
Kate interviews Patricia Cornwell, the prolific true crime author about her book Portrait Of A Killer: Jack The Ripper – Case Closed, she heads to Texas with veteran journalist Rena Pederson to discuss her coverage of an uncatchable jewel thief during the swinging sixties, chats with podcaster and journalist Mandy Matney from the Murdaugh Murders Podcast and so much more. These are the stories behind the stories.
Also in this feed is host Kate Winkler Dawson’s true crime limited series, Tenfold More Wicked.
Season 12 - A Blessing and a Curse
Season 11 - Fire and Brimstone
Season 10 - Entitled
Season 9 - The Wolf Among Us
Season 8 - The Morphine Murderess
Season 7 - The Annihilator
Season 6 - The Echo of Murder
Season 5 - Blood Feud
Season 4 - Tiger Woman
Season 3 - Murder in the Court
Season 2 - The Body Snatcher
Season 1 - All That is Wicked
Wicked Words is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
Kate interviews Patricia Cornwell, the prolific true crime author about her book Portrait Of A Killer: Jack The Ripper – Case Closed, she heads to Texas with veteran journalist Rena Pederson to discuss her coverage of an uncatchable jewel thief during the swinging sixties, chats with podcaster and journalist Mandy Matney from the Murdaugh Murders Podcast and so much more. These are the stories behind the stories.
Also in this feed is host Kate Winkler Dawson’s true crime limited series, Tenfold More Wicked.
Season 12 - A Blessing and a Curse
Season 11 - Fire and Brimstone
Season 10 - Entitled
Season 9 - The Wolf Among Us
Season 8 - The Morphine Murderess
Season 7 - The Annihilator
Season 6 - The Echo of Murder
Season 5 - Blood Feud
Season 4 - Tiger Woman
Season 3 - Murder in the Court
Season 2 - The Body Snatcher
Season 1 - All That is Wicked
Wicked Words is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 6, 2025 • 1h 5min
Patricia Cornwell: Scarpetta
I’ve interviewed quite a few authors who are inspired by real people or real crimes. And then they write these fantastic novels. Patricia Cornwell’s iconic character, Dr. Kay Scarpetta, has a legion of fans because of how clever she is as a medical examiner, how she solves a mystery. Cornwell was working with Virginia’s first female chief ME Dr. Marcella Fierro, and was an invaluable source to a young writer. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/4gF2K18 See more information on my books: katewinklerdawson.com Follow me on social: @tenfoldmore (Twitter) / @wickedwordspod (Facebook) / @tenfoldmorewicked (Instagram) 2025 All Rights Reserved See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 29, 2025 • 1h 6min
Ross Halperin: Bear Witness
A gang in a mountain barrio in Honduras terrorized the people there for years. The police claimed that their hands were tied because witnesses refused to testify. An American sociologist and a Honduran schoolteacher devised a plan to protect their neighbors by taking matters into their own hands. Author Ross Halperin tells me the story in his book: Bear Witness: The Pursuit of Justice in a Violent Land. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/4gF2K18 See more information on my books: katewinklerdawson.com Follow me on social: @tenfoldmore (Twitter) / @wickedwordspod (Facebook) / @tenfoldmorewicked (Instagram) 2025 All Rights Reserved See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 22, 2025 • 1h 4min
Michael Beach Nichols: Perfect Wife
Most of us have heard about Sherri Papini. She’s the woman who faked her own kidnapping in 2016, which terrified her husband and soon sparked outrage in her Northern California community. Michael Beach Nichols is the director and producer of the Hulu series, “Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini.” He tells US about his experience spending time with Sherri’s husband, Keith, for the documentary series. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/4gF2K18 See more information on my books: katewinklerdawson.com Follow me on social: @tenfoldmore (Twitter) / @wickedwordspod (Facebook) / @tenfoldmorewicked (Instagram) 2025 All Rights Reserved See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 15, 2025 • 50min
Bryan Burrough: The Gunfighters
We’ve heard from my buddy Bryan Burrough before for one of his Audible books based on a true crime story. His new book is very different. It’s called The Gunfighters: How Texas Made the West Wild. Enough said. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/4gF2K18 See more information on my books: katewinklerdawson.com Follow me on social: @tenfoldmore (Twitter) / @wickedwordspod (Facebook) / @tenfoldmorewicked (Instagram) 2025 All Rights Reserved See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
13 snips
Sep 8, 2025 • 59min
James Polchin: Shadow Men
James Polchin, author of Shadow Men, reveals the haunting true crime narrative of the 1920s Jazz Age murder of ex-sailor Clarence Peters in Westchester County. He discusses the complexities surrounding the case, including the confession from a suspect tied to a wealthy family and the early days of homicide investigations before the FBI's formation. Polchin explores themes of privilege, victim portrayal, and the social dynamics of the time, providing a gripping glimpse into a century-old mystery with modern implications.
Sep 1, 2025 • 59min
Dan Slater: The Incorruptibles
New York in the early 1900s was filled with people trying to make their lives better. But for many, the rise of organized crime kept them in constant fear. On the Lower East Side, Jewish criminals from Eastern Europe formed crime syndicates. There were gangs of horse poisoners, casino owners, thieves and thugs. But then a group of Jewish uptowners stepped in and created a vice squad that worked in secrecy. Author Dan Slater tells us the story from his book: The Incorruptibles.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 25, 2025 • 57min
Tanya Talaga: The Knowing
If you’ve ever dug deep into your family history, you know that there are sometimes surprises. Author Tanya Talaga discovered that the life of her great-great grandmother Annie Carpenter was mostly unknown because she was Indigenous. It’s a struggle that many Indigenous people in Canada have: how do you learn about your family’s past without crucial records? Talaga’s incredible book, The Knowing lays out Annie’s story and Tanya’s journey to find the truth. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/4gF2K18 See more information on my books: katewinklerdawson.com Follow me on social: @tenfoldmore (Twitter) / @wickedwordspod (Facebook) / @tenfoldmorewicked (Instagram) 2025 All Rights Reserved See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 18, 2025 • 57min
Alex Eliseev: Cold Case Confession
This week on Wicked Words on Exactly Right: in 1999, a woman named Betty Ketani went missing in Johannesburg, South Africa. She just vanished from the restaurant where she was working. Then a letter found 13 years later changed everything. Author Alex Eliseev tells me about his book Cold Case Confession—a real Agatha Christie story. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/4gF2K18 See more information on my books: katewinklerdawson.com Follow me on social: @tenfoldmore (Twitter) / @wickedwordspod (Facebook) / @tenfoldmorewicked (Instagram) 2025 All Rights Reserved See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 11, 2025 • 59min
Megan Abbott: El Dorado Drive
New York Times’ best-selling author Megan Abbott often uses true crime stories as a jumping off point for her wildly popular novels. Now she has a new book out called El Dorado Drive. It’s about three sisters who become entangled in a pyramid scheme that turns very dark. The real story behind the novel is so strange, it’s hard to know what really happened. And luckily, Megan has done a huge amount of research. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/4gF2K18 See more information on my books: katewinklerdawson.com Follow me on social: @tenfoldmore (Twitter) / @wickedwordspod (Facebook) / @tenfoldmorewicked (Instagram) 2025 All Rights Reserved See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 4, 2025 • 53min
Caroline Fraser: Murderland
This week’s author grew up in the Pacific Northwest with the memories of notorious serial killers like Ted Bundy and the Green River Killer, who also lived there. But the region wasn’t just home to those two murderers: there were many more. Was there a connection between the Pacific Northwest’s most infamous killers…and its incredible amounts of pollution? Caroline Fraser thinks so and she explains why in her book: Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/4gF2K18 See more information on my books: katewinklerdawson.com Follow me on social: @tenfoldmore (Twitter) / @wickedwordspod (Facebook) / @tenfoldmorewicked (Instagram) 2025 All Rights Reserved See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
