By: Alex Smith
The co-creators of the hit podcast reflect on eight years of truth-telling, community building, and creating one of the successful shows in the world.
In 2016, Gillian Pensavalle was living in a tiny Manhattan apartment with her husband. The space was so cramped that the only place to find a semblance of privacy was behind a pair of sliding French doors that barely hung on their hinges. One day, as Pensavalle sat on her bed with the doors shut, she made a call that would change everything.
“I want to make a true crime podcast,” she told her new friend, Patrick Hinds. “And I want it to be with you.”
At the time, Pensavalle had already launched The Hamilcast, a podcast centered on the musical Hamilton, and Hinds was the host of Theater People, another Broadway-focused show. They had connected on Twitter after Hinds reached out to offer support as a fellow podcaster.
Their digital introduction turned into real-life happy hours and long conversations about crime documentaries, conspiracies, and justice. It was an unlikely friendship that formed in their thirties, during a season of life when making new friends isn’t always easy. Both were married, creatively driven, and full of curiosity.
“I’d been wanting to make a true crime podcast for a while,” Hinds said. “When Gillian mentioned Helter Skelter was a book she read at a young age, something clicked. I knew she was the person I wanted to create this with.”
They remember the podcast’s origin story a little differently. Pensavalle recalls making the call, while Hinds remembers nervously bringing it up over coffee.
“I was extremely nervous to broach the subject,” Hinds said. “I think I would’ve been heartbroken if she said no. But in my memory, I asked if she’d ever want to do a true crime podcast, and she said yes right away. She’d been thinking the same thing.”
What they both agree on is what came next. Pensavalle went home and made a logo. Hinds bought the domain. True Crime Obsessed was born.
They got to work quickly, trying out several formats before discovering what felt right.
“Meeting Patrick was unexpected,” Pensavalle said. “It’s rare to find someone you connect with creatively on such a deep level, especially as an adult.”
A New Show Is Born: ‘We Knew We Loved True Crime’
The duo’s initial concept for a podcast was wildly ambitious. Inspired by the Zodiac Killer case, they dove headfirst into research, envisioning a show that would investigate unsolved crimes. Pensavalle even went to the library to study original Zodiac letters, sketching graphics in Photoshop late into the night. But it did not take long for them to realize they were not cut out to be amateur detectives.
“We were not journalists or private investigators,” Pensavalle said. “But we knew we were fascinated by true crime, and we had something to say about it.”
The next version of the podcast was more structured. They recorded an episode with three segments: news, media analysis, and expert interviews.
“We quickly hit the ground running,” Hinds added. “The podcast went through a few iterations before we landed on what we wanted to make. First, we were going to solve the Zodiac case. And not, like, investigate, but solve. Once we realized that that would be impossible, we decided to make an NPR-style podcast with three segments: a true crime news segment, an interview segment, and a segment where we reviewed and recapped a piece of true crime content like a documentary of a podcast.”
The highlight, by far, was a 20-minute tangent where they riffed on “The Imposter,” a documentary about a French con artist who convinces a Texas family that he is their missing son. The absurdity of the case, paired with their genuine reactions, lit a spark neither of them could ignore.
“We brought such passion to the recap,” Hinds explained. “We knew we were onto something. There were lots of true crime podcasts out there already, and so many of them were great, but none of them sounded like this. We both knew at the end of that first recording that we were creating something very special.”
Hinds and Pensavalle talked it through and decided to shift directions. They scrapped the original format and re-recorded the episode with a single focus on the documentary.
“That’s when we knew we had something,” Pensavalle said.
Their dynamic, a blend of sharp commentary and spontaneous humor, formed the foundation of True Crime Obsessed.
In May 2017, the show launched its first regular episodes.
In the years since, Hinds and Pensavalle have grown True Crime Obsessed into a global phenomenon, with 200 downloads and counting, and building a dedicated and engaged podcast community. In 2022, the pair made history as the first podcast to perform live on Broadway.
From Pilot to Powerhouse in the Podcasting Industry
In the years since its revamped pilot episode, True Crime Obsessed has grown into a popular podcast, with a large number of episodes and consistent rankings on major podcast charts.
The show is approaching a decade of podcasting excellence, a rare milestone in podcasting. Only a handful of true crime shows have achieved such longevity. Even more rare is the show’s continued momentum.
The show has steadily increased its output, growing from about 46 episodes per year to around 125 annually across its regular and Patreon feeds.
Since launching in early 2018, the show’s Patreon has grown into a major driver of its success, consistently ranking among the platform’s popular creators.
Their newly launched YouTube channel is gaining traction as the team expands into video. With more podcasts embracing visual content, they are stepping into this space with intention, determined to meet fans wherever they are.
A Bond Beyond the Mic
Part of what makes True Crime Obsessed resonate is the real-life bond between its hosts.
Authenticity is the show’s backbone. That extends to how they interact with fans, too. Whether through fan meet-ups, Discord channels, or the show’s Facebook group of more than 50,000 members, Pensavalle and Hinds are intentional about cultivating genuine connections.
Still, it is the heartfelt messages from listeners that keep her going.
“When someone says they feel less alone because of something I shared,” Pensavalle said, “that reminds me why we do this.”
Still Standing: Eight Years In, And Just Getting Started
In a podcasting world where longevity is rare, True Crime Obsessed has defied the odds.
“TCO has always been set apart from other podcasts for several reasons,” Hinds said. “From the moment Gillian and I pressed record on our first episode, we decided to bring who we are as people to the show unabashedly. She’s a passionate and opinionated woman. I’m a flamboyantly gay man. There was no hiding any of that. So we sounded different than a lot of other podcasts out there, and people either loved it or didn’t love it so much. But leading with authenticity, I believe, was the first thing we did right in the magic formula of creating TCO.”
“This has already been more than I ever dreamed,” Pensavalle added. “We started this show as two people with a shared passion and a lot to say. Everything since has been a bonus.”
The team is not only reflecting on what they have built but also focused on what comes next. From expanding their video presence to deepening connections with their global community, the goal remains the same: to tell honest stories that matter.
“The vision has never changed,” Hinds said. “Tell the truth. Show up fully. Be a voice for the people who do not always get one.”
“We are not slowing down,” Pensavalle said. “If anything, we’re just getting started.”
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and editorial purposes only. It is an independent profile highlighting the work and journey of Patrick Hinds and Gillian Pensavalle as co-creators of True Crime Obsessed. The content reflects publicly available information and direct statements attributed to the individuals featured. It should not be construed as an endorsement, partnership, or formal representation of the podcast, its creators, or affiliated platforms. All trademarks, service marks, and brand names mentioned belong to their respective owners.
