There’s definitely no scarcity of content material out there to true crime aficionados – between Dateline episodes, documentaries and podcasts there’s not sufficient time within the day to devour all of it – however, in case you’re in search of a deep dive into detective work, you’ll want to add Small City Dicks to your streaming queue.
Small City Dicks is a true-crime podcast co-hosted by Yeardley Smith (the long-lasting voice of Lisa Simpson and star of the traditional movies The Legend of Billie Jean and Most Overdrive), equivalent twin detectives Dan and Dave and acclaimed Chilly Case investigator, NYT best-selling creator, and true crime skilled Paul Holes. Every week, the crew take an in-depth take a look at a case from the detectives viewpoint, talking with officers in addition to households of the victims to supply listeners with insights it’s possible you’ll not often get from different reveals.
The podcast, which is kicking off its sixteenth season on Friday, April 18, has received Adweek‘s 2022 Podcast of the Yr Awards for Hosts of the Yr, 3 Sign Awards in 2023 (together with Finest Co-Host Group, Particular person Episode: True Crime, and Finest Unique Content material + Experiences), and is at the moment nominated for the Folks’s Alternative Podcast Awards this 12 months within the True Crime class.
We had the prospect to speak with Yeardley, Dan and Dave in regards to the present, touring and what followers can count on to listen to this season in our unique interview.
What was the inspiration between behind Small City Dicks? How did it come about?
Yeardley: I’m married to Dan. We met in 2014 and didn’t dwell in the identical state. Once I would go to him, Dave lived a block away and Dan would come over we’d open a bottle of wine and they’d simply discuss their Wednesday. It was jaw dropping.
And, in 2017, podcasts had been kind of coming on-line and we had the concept that we might do a real crime podcast, however what could be totally different about it and what could be nice was the entire tales advised by the detectives who investigated them. So actually, you realize, I believe all of us thought like, oh seven folks and our mothers will pay attention. That’ll be nice – and now we’re at like 60 million downloads.
There was not numerous technique in it. These are unbelievable tales and particularly so as a result of they’re coming from the supply versus, as an example, me retelling them as a lay individual. However then my job was to ask any and all questions each in regards to the humanity of those individuals who do that very extraordinary and strange job and in addition clarifying questions like, what’s that acronym? Why do you do it this manner? What about this process? That kind of factor.
Why do you assume there’s such a fascination with true crime?
Yeardley: I believe it’s as a result of for so long as folks have been telling tales, folks wish to know that if shit goes sideways, there’s different folks on this planet, in your group, who’re keen to place the prepare again on the observe, so to talk.
So, no matter your relationship to legislation enforcement is, I’m fairly positive that if someone breaks into your home or you end up in actual bother, the primary individual you’re going to name is the cops. Even when on a day-to-day foundation you’re like, I don’t just like the cops, as a result of the understanding is that if the job is finished proper, that these folks will come and assist get justice for the victims.
Now Dave and Dan, you’re brothers, and also you’re each detectives. Is that this one thing you’ve at all times wished to do? How did you get into all for detective work?
Dan: Rising up I had cousins that had been firefighters, and I keep in mind after I was 4 or 5 years outdated, Dave and I had been down in Phoenix, Arizona, visiting my cousins, and we went right down to the fireplace station and so they obtained a name out and to see these guys with all their gear on, I simply thought it was the good factor and I simply idolized these guys who went out and confronted hazard.
And I believe for me after looking for my toes and discover which means I wished to go in my profession, I went on a journey together with a good friend of mine who I went to varsity with – he was a Ok-9 officer – and inside 10 minutes we had been doing a code three run with lights and sirens via the town and I stated, I’ve to do that.
Dave: Rising up, I wished to be a police officer. I believe I had the identical expertise as Dan down in Phoenix the place I checked out these firefighters and I used to be like, that appears actually cool and so they have wonderful gear and funky lights. I’m afraid of heights, so firefighting was by no means going to work for me. Dan obtained employed in 2005 by our former company, I obtained employed in 2007.
I used to be working as a administration marketing consultant in Washington, DC and I did a couple of journey alongs with Dan. I knew, type of like him inside the first 10 or quarter-hour of the primary journey alongside, I used to be like, that is what I’ve to do and that type of began the method to get me out of the consulting gig and over to legislation enforcement. And, as soon as I used to be employed as a police officer, I believe there’s some type of…I wouldn’t name them boring calls that you just get on patrol that don’t require a ton of mind exercise to resolve, however they’re actually like order upkeep and conserving the town working effectively. That stuff was thrilling for slightly bit however you then begin determining that I actually wish to get into the interview room with these guys which might be accused of horrible issues and work out who did it and ask why’d you do it? , it’s the last word puzzle to attempt to remedy and there are nice stakes concerned for the victims getting justice and for the suspects avoiding going to jail for many years. It’s a excessive stakes sport of can you work this out? And that type of problem actually appealed to me.
Now for each of you, what has been essentially the most rewarding factor about your line of labor?
Dan: I believe for me, whenever you’re on patrol, numerous the calls you go on, it’s very transactional. Dispatch sends you to a name and also you attempt to resolve the issue. Plenty of instances it’s a home dispute or a loud noise criticism, and it’s very transactional.
As soon as you allow the decision, it’s over. Once you’re a detective, you get the preliminary report from a patrol officer and you’re taking that case from its infancy right through to conviction. Or, possibly you don’t get a conviction, or possibly the DA doesn’t file prices on it, however to see a case go all the way in which from A to Z is admittedly rewarding.
Dave: Yeah. And I believe for me, simply the caseload that I labored, little one abuse and sexual assault, was the payoff for me. I used to be on the finish, the decision, whenever you see a sufferer that will get to face as much as the person who wronged them, both in courtroom or another method, which requires this unhealthy man to go off and go to jail as a result of a sufferer stood up and stated, “I’m not doing this anymore. You don’t get to harm me like that.”
I believe the payoff that you just get outdoors the courtroom after a conviction. Particularly on a baby abuse case, there’s no feeling prefer it. I wouldn’t say it’s an adrenaline dump. It’s extra for the detective and the prosecutor. It’s extra aid, like I didn’t fail – as a result of whenever you fail in these circumstances, it’s not simply me going house and having a nasty night time. It’s a sufferer who mainly is being advised by the courts, we didn’t imagine you. And that to see that’s actually horrible. So, the conviction actually was the payoff for me. It’s not the one factor, however actually it’s victims feeling like they had been represented and that unhealthy man doesn’t get to harm folks anymore.
How do you select what circumstances you’re going to cowl?
Yeardley: Plenty of it relies on, clearly, the visitors, however when Dan and Dave vet the visitors and so they’re like, I don’t know what to speak about, as a result of oftentimes you’ll hear circumstances that aren’t the nationwide information, which is among the appeals I consider our podcast is that we’re not rehashing BTK once more. I believe there’s at all times a spot for that, particularly if in case you have a specialty in a type of, you realize, like offender conduct type of issues. However there’s additionally a spot for the big-time crime that’s occurring in small cities in all places, proper?
And so, we at all times say to the detective give us the case that’s most significant to you, or most memorable. It doesn’t need to be the one which was essentially the most sensational on your company that made the press. That was, it’s what’s the one that you just’ll always remember? What’s the one which sticks with you and why?
Is there a case that sticks to both of you essentially the most out of all of the circumstances you’ve lined?
Yeardley: It’s like asking me “what’s your favourite Simpsons episode?”
Dan: I type of categorize the circumstances that we profile on our podcast. There are circumstances that imply rather a lot to me and that I can put myself again in a state of affairs and keep in mind the smells and the sounds that I used to be experiencing throughout that case. Then you could have different classes, something that Paul Holes talks about. I’m riveted. The person is an encyclopedia. He tells a fantastic story and he’s only a good man and I like these circumstances.
After which, you realize, this different class is we get to fulfill so many individuals from totally different components of the world. We’ve had detectives from Eire, Scotland, England, Australia and Canada and to listen to the similarities – as a result of you concentrate on the variations of all these international locations, however there’s so many similarities in how legislation enforcement operates irrespective of the place you might be on this planet.
You latterly took the present on the highway. What was that have like – going from a studio to going out in entrance of audiences?
Dave: I’ll say for folks like Yeardley whose house is on the stage and beneath the brilliant lights, she definitely mentored me via my stage fright and the nervousness and the sweaty palms.
It was actually unnerving. However I believe whenever you’re up there with folks you belief, like Dan and Yeardley and Paul and the remainder of our workers. We now have only a nice workers of those that I do know are at all times going to care for us. So, I believe that half type of settled me however it’s simply totally different being on a stage, telling tales whenever you don’t come from an entertainer’s background. I believe for me, it was actually eye-opening, it was enjoyable however slightly bit nerve wracking at instances, however general it was a fantastic expertise.
Yeardley: You guys had been nice. They had been actually nice. And the audiences, it was very attention-grabbing. We did 4 cities and every metropolis was very totally different when it comes to the tone of the viewers. We went from actually type of very convivial, virtually raucous in Portland to very reserved in Salt Lake Metropolis. I might say they neither of these polarities had been any much less attentive, you realize, each viewers has its personal character and so they feed off their very own power in addition to ours.
I might say the true problem, I believe at all times for a performer and for these guys. Paul is a bit more well-versed when it comes to talking in entrance of enormous crowds as a result of he’s accomplished numerous lectures and stuff like that. However Dan and Dave even have additionally accomplished plenty of group lectures too.
However the hardest factor, I believe – talking for myself, is that if the viewers is quiet. You might be telling a narrative and also you’re anticipating some kind of verbal response, one thing you could key off of and also you don’t get it. You don’t wish to sink into some kind of backdoor narrative like, oh shit, they don’t like me. This isn’t going nicely. Oh my God, I’m screwing up. That could be a hundred % in all probability not true. My motto is whether or not you’re performing in entrance of 5 folks or 5,000, your job is similar. Inform the story in one of the best ways you understand how to and belief that you’ve got this since you do.
And these guys had been nice. They had been cash. The viewers completely cherished it. We might have a meet and greet afterward. They had been all offered out. Folks stayed and stayed and I used to be actually glad to see that they obtained to be showered with the love of the followers in a means that I’m extra aware of and isn’t as common for them.
Are you planning on doing extra excursions sooner or later with the present?
Yeardley: I don’t know. TBD. I might say it’s laborious sufficient to get 4 folks to agree on the place to have dinner on any given night time. To get all 4 of us on a stage for even every week shouldn’t be simple.
We’re going to Crime Con once more in September. I believe it’s September fifth this 12 months and that will probably be our third – which is nice. The followers there are nice, after all. It’s, once more, it’s type of a captive viewers. However we haven’t stated sure or no to a different tour but.
What are you hoping that folks take away from listening to Small City Dicks?
Dave: I can say for me personally, I believe simply providing listeners an alternate image of what’s occurring with law enforcement officials and detectives and simply exhibiting what it truly means to legislation enforcement after they get a case and they’re advocating for a sufferer and attempting to get a case prosecuted and tried. I believe simply to indicate what that requires from an investigative standpoint.
Yeardley does a very good job of pulling the humanity out of our visitor detectives. We make jokes like Yeardley goes to make you cry in case you come on our present and inform a narrative as a result of she’s going to get a pair layers deeper than you’re used to with cops being like, the way you doing, man?
So, I believe that’s the profit. We attain folks on a degree they in all probability don’t count on from legislation enforcement. That’s been rewarding for us, exhibiting a distinct facet than is portrayed within the media and within the films.
Dan: And simply so as to add on to that, when Dave and I began this podcast…we’re not entertainers and podcasts are leisure. I believe Dave and I approached this undertaking that we had been taking over as we’ve got a chance to coach folks. Once I current a case, I wish to educate folks on what was occurring and all of the steps I took to attempt to remedy the issue and if I used to be excited about being an entertainer, I don’t assume it will come off nicely.
Yeardley: However I additionally assume it’s actually an attention-grabbing distinction since you’re proper, podcasts are thought of leisure and we even stroll a really effective line of not exploiting the horrible experiences that these folks, that Dan and Dave and our different visitors are speaking about, proper?
Once you’re speaking in regards to the victims, which is why we at all times depart it as much as the detective, however we received’t let you know the place the crime occurred. We’ll change all of the names. We’ll kind of blur relationships. We’ll add siblings. We’ll say it’s an aunt, not a mom, type of stuff like that. In order that we attempt to not re-traumatize the sufferer.
The sufferer is clearly important, however what we’re doing on this podcast is providing you with a really behind the scenes take a look at what it took for the entire dominoes to line up completely to ensure that justice to be served. It’s such it’s such a tenuous course of.
As Dan and Dave stated earlier, possibly you collect essentially the most extraordinary proof and nonetheless your DA doesn’t file. On the finish of the day, you’re nonetheless coping with human beings and irrespective of how devoted they’re to the job, all people could have a sense and a response to the factor that they’re doing, and also you hope that you’re coping with a system by and enormous that’s kind of” simply the details, ma’am”, and “I care about you as a result of the factor that occurred to you is flawed”, but when God forbid someone had been assaulted by their very own uncle and there’s not sufficient proof to convict this one that’s on the docket, and also you’re like, nicely, fuck it. My uncle assaulted me and he was by no means caught. So now I’m going to convey the hammer down on this individual.
You wish to be sure that there’s a separation between the non-public and the skilled. It’s such a effective line although, and these guys do it so fantastically, and that’s after I assume the system works finest, you realize?
What are you able to inform me in regards to the new season?
Yeardley: Our new season drops on the 18th of April. Season 16. It’s actually implausible. We truly begin out with a two-parter by from Paul Holes, which is nice. , it’s laborious to get the A crew, the OGs to convey us a case anymore. We actually have rung them out, actually. Like, come on, another. However we even have a fantastic season. We even have Matt Murphy, who, in case you watch any true crime on television, Matt is the previous Orange County DA, Murder DA. He does numerous widespread session or, or kind of evaluation on ABC Information. He’s terrific. He brings us a few circumstances. We now have outdated and new visitors. I’m very, very glad about this season. I’m the final set of ears that listens to every episode. I’m the final edit cross, so I’m fairly acquainted and I believe we’ve set the bar very excessive. We goal to proceed to the touch the bar, so I believe we’ll be alright this season.
Season 16 of Small City Dicks premieres on Friday, April 18. The present is out there to stream on Spotify,Apple Podcasts, SmallTownDicks.com, and wherever else you wish to pay attention. Observe the present on Instagram (and observe Yeardley, Dan, Dave and Paul too.)
HOT DEALS
Save $29 on Apple AirTag – 4 Pack, Merchandise Tracker with Apple Discover My! [Walmart]
Save 46% on Hero Cosmetics Pressure Defend Superlight Sunscreen SPF 30. This broad-spectrum sunscreen is reef-safe, clinically examined, and non-irritating—even on delicate pores and skin. It makes solar safety a breeze with a makeup-gripping components that received’t clog pores. [Amazon]
Lego Buddies Botanical Backyard 41757, now 30% off! Youngsters who love vegetation, flowers, and butterflies can take pleasure in an immersive undertaking as they assemble the small print of this LEGO Buddies Botanical Backyard set. [Amazon]
Save 30% on the Fiesta Bistro Coupe 12-Piece Dinnerware Set, Service for 4. The 12-piece Bistro Set contains 4 Bistro Dinner Plates, 4 Bistro Salad Plates, and 4 Small Bistro Bowls. [Macy’s]
Save 47% on the Arlo Video Doorbell 2K 2nd Era & Chime 2 Bundle! This wi-fi video doorbell digicam presents 2K HDR video for vivid particulars and notifies you when movement is detected. [Amazon]
Get $180 off the Dell Inspiron 15 Laptop computer. A 15.6-inch laptop computer made for on a regular basis important computing. That includes a trendy design and as much as twelfth Gen Intel® Core™ processors.[Dell]
Save Up To 50% on tenting gear, coats, garments, and Extra throughout Columbia’s spring sale! [Columbia]
It can save you $100 on the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Further Upright Vacuum, a Bagless multi-surface cleaner with a pet hair instrument, 3 speeds, and a 35-foot twine in silver. [Target]
Like most web sites, Socialite Life makes use of affiliate hyperlinks the place out there, which suggests we earn slightly fee in case you click on via and purchase one thing. Additionally, as Amazon Influencers, we earn from qualifying purchases. Financial savings proven are these from the date and time of this text’s publication.
TRENDING ON SL
Male Mannequin Monday: Jesse Cronk, Henrique Fraga, Roman Minaev, and extra
Celeb Snaps: Christina Aguilera, Matt Rutler, Jeremy Robust, Gwyneth Paltrow, and extra
Celeb Snaps: Kristen Stewart, Equipment Connor, Tayme Thapthimthong, and extra
