Do you ever wonder what it’s like to be friends with a murderer? Or escape a kidnapping? Or have a father who was a serial killer? Join Jac Vanek and Alexis Linkletter on a chilling ride into the darkest corners of your worst nightmares. Murders, cults, kidnappings, and conspiracies—all told through the eyes of a guest who is one degree of separation from the story itself. From infamous serial killers to the unbelievable unknown murder in your own backyard, The First Degree delivers a new perspective to the already fascinating true crime landscape. And who knows... you may be our next guest. (Plus, join them every Thursday for Killing Time, the light-hearted, true crime-adjacent aftershow!)
The First Degree
Claim This Podcastby Alexis Linkletter, Jac Vanek
4.5(11,751 reviews)
690 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
86
Podcast Authority
BetaExcellentBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality99
Social0
YouTube82
Engagement100
Podcast Overview
Do you ever wonder what it’s like to be friends with a murderer? Or escape a kidnapping? Or have a father who was a serial killer? Join Jac Vanek and Alexis Linkletter on a chilling ride into the darkest corners of your worst nightmares. Murders, cults, kidnappings, and conspiracies—all told through the eyes of a guest who is one degree of separation from the story itself. From infamous serial killers to the unbelievable unknown murder in your own backyard, The First Degree delivers a new perspective to the already fascinating true crime landscape. And who knows... you may be our next guest. (Plus, join them every Thursday for Killing Time, the light-hearted, true crime-adjacent aftershow!)
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
8/8/2018
Unlock The Full Podcast Authority Score Report
See how your podcast performs across key metrics
86
Podcast Authority
BetaExcellentBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality99
Social0
YouTube82
Engagement100
12
Excellent Areas
1
Good Performance
6
Growth Opportunities
excellent
Publishing Consistency
Every 4 days
Performing excellently!
good
iTunes Tags
6.5/10
Recommendations available
Unlock the full report to see detailed tips
poor
Episode Thumbnails
Recommendations available
Unlock the full report to see detailed tips
+16 More Metrics
Unlock comprehensive insights including:
- • YouTube presence analysis
- • Social media reach metrics
- • RSS compliance scoring
- • Podcast 2.0 features
- • Technical standards
What's Included in Your Full Report
Detailed Analytics
- Complete breakdown of all 19 authority metrics
- Personalized recommendations for each metric
- Industry benchmarks and comparisons
- Technical RSS feed analysis and compliance scoring
Growth Strategies
- Step-by-step action plans for improvement
- Quick wins to boost your score immediately
- Pro tips from successful podcasters
Get your free podcast insights report
See how your show performs across every key metric
Instant delivery
No spam
Attract Better Guests
High authority scores make your podcast more attractive to industry leaders and influencers who want to appear on credible shows.
Secure Sponsorships
Sponsors look for podcasts with proven authority and engagement. Your score demonstrates your podcast's value to potential partners.
Grow Your Audience
Understanding your strengths and weaknesses helps you make data-driven decisions to expand your listener base effectively.
1 verified contact email on file for The First Degree
Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.
Recent Episodes
June 3, 2026
Episode 405: Amber Arnett
Jac and Alexis interview Marty Arnett about her daughter Amber Arnett's mysterious disappearance and the lengths a mother will go to find answers.
May 28, 2026
DEEP DIVE: MACKENZIE SHIRILLA
Host Billy Jensen interviews journalist and author Alexis Tereszczenko about the shocking details of the Mackenzie Shirilla case beyond the Netflix documentary, revealing her manipulative schemes and hidden life.
May 27, 2026
Episode 404: Sons Of Sam, Part 2
Host Jac and Alexis interview filmmaker Josh Zeman about the Sons of Sam murders, exploring cult connections and the possibility of multiple perpetrators.
690 total episodes available with 114 transcripts
Recent guests on The First Degree
Guests from recent episodes — sign up to see every guest that has ever appeared on this show.
Josh Zeman
Guest
Peggy Klinke
Guest
Similar Podcasts
Discover related shows you might enjoy
Unraveled
ID
LadyGang
PodcastOne
Crime Junkie
Audiochuck
Going West: True Crime
Dark West Productions
SERIALously
Annie Elise & Audioboom Studios
Something Was Wrong
Broken Cycle Media
The Knife: A True Crime Podcast
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts
Betrayal
iHeartPodcasts | Glass Podcasts
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts
Morbid
Ash Kelley & Alaina Urquhart
Small Town Dicks
Audio 99
Park Predators
Audiochuck
Buried Bones - a historical true crime podcast with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts
LOVE MURDER
Jessie Pray and Andie Cassette
Deep-dive analytics for The First Degree
Frequently asked questions
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- What is The First Degree?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 10 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
Legal Disclaimer
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.